REGIONAL

Prominent religious and political leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has voiced deep concern over the recent assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, claiming they were forced to flee the hill town after local police allegedly refused to ensure their safety. Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mirwaiz described the incident as "very disturbing," asserting that it reflects a broader and growing pattern of targeting Kashmiris across India. "The physical and verbal assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie, who had to flee when police refused to guarantee their safety, is very disturbing," he posted. Mirwaiz linked the assault to the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley, where he said ordinary citizens are already reeling under intense pressu...

In a remote village of Bandipora district, growing anxiety grips the residents after a section of the Jhelum River embankment gave way under days of relentless rainfall, raising the specter of devastating floods. The river, swollen by continuous downpours, eroded a significant stretch of the earthen barrier that shields the settlement’s homes, fields, and orchards. Many villagers now fear that if water levels surge again, the breach could widen, unleashing disaster on the community. “The river’s pressure has loosened the soil and eaten into the embankment. It’s now a ticking time bomb,” said an elderly farmer from the area. “We appeal to the authorities to move swiftly. Our families are vulnerable.” Agriculture and fruit cultivation form the backbone of the local economy, and any floodi...

Starting May 1, the Meteorological Center has predicted light rainfall accompanied by thunder and gusty winds at isolated places across Jammu and Kashmir. This weather pattern is expected to continue intermittently until May 5. From May 6 to May 8, the weather is likely to turn generally dry again, with daytime temperatures remaining above normal during this period. A fresh western disturbance may impact the region between May 9 and 10, bringing the possibility of light rain and thunder at a few locations. Residents and travelers have been advised to stay hydrated and take precautions amid the prevailing heat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired the second meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead. The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi, was convened to assess the country's security preparedness following the attack. The CCS met alongside the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) as part of a broader response to the escalating security concerns. A cabinet briefing is expected at 4:00 pm today. In its earlier meeting, the CCS had pointed to cross-border connections in the Pahalgam assault and announced a set of retaliatory measures against Pakistan. These included suspending the Indus Water Treat...

An elderly woman from Palpora Sonwar lost her life on Wednesday morning after allegedly jumping into the River Jhelum from the Aramwari footbridge in the Sonwar-Rajbagh area of Srinagar. According to officials, the incident prompted a swift response from the River Police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), who launched a search operation soon after being alerted. The woman’s body was later retrieved from the river and taken to a hospital for medico-legal procedures. Police have registered the case and initiated an investigation into the matter.

The Government on Tuesday ordered a major reshuffle in administration, transferring and posting as many as 96 officers in the interest of administration with immediate effect. According to an order, a copy of which lies with GNS, Rakesh Magotra, JKAS, Member, JK Services Selection Board, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment. Naseer Ahmad Wani, JKAS, Special Secretary to the Government, Jal Shakti Department, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department, vice Ghulam Rasool Mir, JKAS, who has been asked to await further orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department. Vir Krishan Dhar, JKAS, Secretary, Joint Electricity Regulator...

Security forces on high alert in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack detained a man at Srinagar International Airport after his facial features reportedly matched those of a suspect in a police-released sketch. Official sources told Kashmir Dot Com that Mohd Shafi Khan Pathan, son of Datullah Khan and a resident of Mangah, Manigah in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, was intercepted by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel while attempting to board Indigo flight 6E6051 to Chandigarh. He was accompanied by four others and was scheduled to travel at 1125 hours. During preliminary questioning, the group informed officials that they were working under Deepak Kumar, identified as a Production Manager with a film unit. They claimed they were en route to Chandigarh fo...

Shabir Khan In a significant move against militant infrastructure, Sopore Police on Monday attached immovable property belonging to Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, son of Abdul Khaliq Kandoo, a resident of Kralteng, Sopore — a designated militant under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and a key Pakistan-based handler of the banned outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. The attached asset includes a piece of land measuring 13×12 feet, comprising one shop and one room, located under Survey No. 780 Min at Kralteng, Sopore. The action is linked to FIR No. 201/2013 registered at Police Station Sopore in connection with militant-related activities. The attachment was carried out under Sections 87 and 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) by a joint team of Sopore Police and Revenue officials...

At least ten security personnel were injured on Tuesday when a CRPF vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Tangnar in the Doothpathri area of central Kashmir's Budgam district. The vehicle, belonging to the 181 Battalion of the CRPF, was carrying personnel posted at the Special Operations Group (SOG) camp in Hardu Panzoo, Beerwah. The mishap occurred while the vehicle was navigating the hilly terrain of Tangnar. It reportedly overturned before rolling down the slope, resulting in multiple injuries. Locals and emergency services quickly responded to the scene, evacuating the injured and shifting them to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) in Khansahib for initial treatment. Due to the nature of the injuries, all ten personnel were later referred to the 92 Ba...