REGIONAL

In a continued effort to curb the misuse of social media for radical activities and to save the Kashmiri youth from becoming the fodder of terrorism by following radical Social Media handles, the Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) Tuesday detained a radical social media user from Bemina Srinagar along with digital devices including a mobile phone, laptop etc. “The radical social media user, operating social media X-Handle ‘hilal mir’ and Facebook account ‘Mir Hilal, used to disseminate extremist / distorted content with an intention to disturb peace and promote disaffection and secessionist ideology and present India in a bad shape,” a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) The social media abuser Hilal Mir @ Hilal Saqi was also found to be actively engaged i...

Directorate of SDRF and Civil Defence Kashmir will hold Civil Defence Mock Drill in various places in Kashmir on Wednesday (7th May). In a handout to GNS, a spokesman for Commandant General SDRF & Civil Defence said to enhance the Civil Defence preparedness for emergencies, a Civil Defence Mock Drill will take place on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 4:00 PM. According to spokesman as part of the drill, sirens will be activated at various locations in Kashmir. This is a practice exercise to test our emergency response systems. We kindly request all members of the public to remain calm and not be alarmed. Your cooperation is essential in making this safety initiative a success, reads the statement.(GNS)

Massive outrage has gripped Jammu and Kashmir following the alleged sexual assault and death of a nomadic woman from Rajouri in Srinagar’s Nishat area. The woman, a member of the Bakerwal tribe, was reportedly attacked by a group of intoxicated men near Water Works Road while grazing her livestock on Sunday evening. She later succumbed to her injuries en route to the hospital. Police have arrested four individuals in connection with the case and registered an FIR. Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar has remanded the accused to six days of police custody as investigations continue. Markets in Brein and Nishat remained shut on Monday as locals protested the incident. “This inhuman act has shocked us all. We want justice and strict punishment for the guilty,” said Abdul Rashe...

In the ongoing investigation of the alleged sexual assault and death of a woman near Water Works Road in Nishat, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar on Monday sent all four arrested accused to six days of police custody. Official sources said the four individuals were arrested soon after the incident and were produced before the CJM Court today, where police sought their remand to further probe the case. The court granted six days of police custody, allowing the investigators to intensify questioning and gather more evidence related to the heinous crime, sources said. Earlier, a top police officer confirmed that an FIR under relevant sections has been registered following the assault, after which the woman succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The officer said, “A...

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday visited Panthachowk area of Srinagar to assess the ongoing construction of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board’s new office and Yatri Niwas. During the site visit, LG Sinha reviewed the pace of the work and stressed the need for its timely completion. Officials briefed him that construction of four out of six floors has been finished, while the remaining two are expected to be completed by the end of June. He also interacted with engineers and officials on-site, urging them to expedite the remaining works to ensure smooth arrangements for pilgrims ahead of the Amarnath Yatra season. The LG was accompanied by Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the LG and CEO of the Shrine Board; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri; Srin...

The Meteorological Department on Monday forecast light rain, thundershowers, and gusty winds across parts of Jammu Kashmir until May 11. Officials urged the public to avoid boating and shikara rides in Dal Lake, Wular Lake, and other water bodies during this period of unsettled weather. On May 5, a spell of rain and thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds is expected at scattered locations across the Union Territory, an official said. From May 6 to 8, the weather is likely to remain partly cloudy, with light rain and thundershowers at isolated places. Between May 9 and 11, more widespread spells of light rain, thunder, and gusty winds are expected. The department also warned of intense thundershowers, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 km/h at isolated to sca...

A woman died after reportedly being assaulted near Water Works Road in Srinagar's Nishat area late Saturday evening. Police, as per local news agency, Kashmir News Trust, said they have taken cognisance of the incident and arrested one of the two accused. According to initial reports, the woman—(name with held by The Kashmiriyat, as per legal procedures), originally from Reasi and presently residing in Nishat—was allegedly attacked by two intoxicated men. Two of the four accused who have been arrested were identified as Suhail Bashir Bhat and Adil Ahmad Dar from Nishat. Police said the woman sustained serious injuries in the assault and was shifted to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Officials said more details will be shared as the probe progresses....

  Hours after the death of 22-year-old youth from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, whose body was found in a river, Police sources said that the deceased was an Over Ground Worker (OGW) who died by suicide after jumping into a river during a counterinsurgency operation. According to the sources, the deceased, Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray, son of Najir Ahmad Magray, and a resident of Tangmarg in Manzgam, had “confessed knowledge” of a terrorist hideout sheltering two Pakistani militants. Officials said that on the morning of May 4, during a cordon and search operation (CASO), Magray was taken to the suspected hideout near the riverbed under “close supervision,” which was being monitored via drone and videography. “It is reliably learnt that he was aware of the first terrorist hideo...

Meer Irfan A brief but intense hailstorm pummeled several villages in Tral, South Kashmir, on Sunday, damaging vast swathes of agricultural land at a time when orchards were beginning to bloom. The storm, which battered areas including Machama, Bagandar, Syeadabad, and Aripal, lasted for about half an hour. Large hailstones and heavy rain left fields strewn with damaged flowers and crushed crops, with farmers left scrambling to assess the losses. Apple growers were hit the hardest. The storm arrived just as trees were in their flowering phase—a critical window for fruit formation. Many expressed fears that this year’s yield might be compromised, with the damage visible across entire orchards. Other crops—vegetables, and even patches of saffron—did not escape unscathed. Fa...

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V. K. Birdi Sunday held a joint security review meeting at PCR Kashmir, which was attended by officers from multiple security forces, including the Police, Army, Intelligence Agencies, and CAPFs. A police spokesman in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the meeting was attended by IG BSF FTR Kashmir, IG CRPF KOS, IG CRPF Srinagar, DD IB Srinagar, DIG SSB Kashmir, DIG RPF, DIG BSF Srinagar, DIG CRPF North/South Srinagar, DIG ITBP, DIG CKR, DIG Traffic Kashmir, Col GS (IS) 15 Corps, SSP Srinagar, SSP Railways, SSP Traffic Rural, SSP CID CIK, SSP APCR Kashmir, SSP SDRF, DC SB Srinagar, SP PC Srinagar, SP Telecommunication, and other officers, and was virtually attended by DIG CISF, DIG SKR, and other SSP...