WRITE-UPS

Shah Basit Mohammed Yusuf Gojri, 61, was having dinner with his family on Sunday night, when he heard a sudden "cracker-like sound." Neighbors rushed out of their homes in panic but eventually concluded it was from a nearby wedding. In Kashmir, the practice of bursting crackers during weddings has become common in recent years. Early the next morning, the villagers learned of the tragedy: Dr. Shahnawaz Ahmed Dar, a well-known doctor from Ganderbal, was among the seven killed in a militant attack. Militants had fired upon a canteen housing non-local laborers working on the Z-Morh tunnel project, a crucial infrastructure development in Kashmir Valley. “He was a role model for all of us,” said a local resident, devastated by the loss. In Shahnawaz's native village Naidgam, thr...

Bhat Yasir Days after it assumed power, the Omar Abdullah-led state government has started pushing for the enhancement of ration supplies in Kashmir and Jammu. Officials confirmed that the Jammu Kashmir government is considering an increase in ration supplies for its residents, with the issue likely to be taken up in the upcoming cabinet meeting. Jammu Kashmir has witnessed numerous protests, primarily in Kashmir, against the reduction of government ration supplies, causing immense hardships for the people. The ration allocation system in Kashmir has undergone significant changes over the past few years, impacting residents' access to essential supplies. Initially, the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme aimed to provide additional food grains to the population but wa...

Mir Muntazir Gull Last month, elections and speculations stirred activity across Jammu and Kashmir. With the polls now concluded, a significant event that will go down deep in history was the participation of banned Jamaat-e-Islami members. Welcomed by almost all regional and national parties, this event marks a pivotal moment in Kashmir’s history, potentially shaping future discussions on representation and politics in the region. Despite the anticipation, most Jamaat candidates and other independents failed to retain their deposits, with the exception of Sayar Ahmed Reshi from Kulgam. Exit polls and several journalists had predicted Reshi’s win, but veteran Marxist Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami retained his seat with a margin of nearly 8,000 votes. Jamaat-e-Islami’s engagement ...

As a new government prepares to take centre stage in Kashmir after nearly six years of central rule, expectations in Jammu Kashmir have reached unprecedented levels. This historical burden has often fallen on the National Conference, whether during the 1996 elections or when Sheikh Abdullah returned to power in 1975. The newly elected government comes in the wake of perhaps the most significant decision since the 1953 amendment affecting regional autonomy: the revocation of Jammu Kashmir's special status on August 5, 2019. On that day, the region was also bifurcated into two federally ruled Union Territories; Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. Following a hiatus of ten years, the elections were conducted in the region on the directions of India’s Supreme court. The elections saw an unpreceden...

Bhat Yasir/ Meer Irfan Ahsan Kak, 68, has just finished harvesting apples for the day. As the evening sun casts its last glow over his orchard, he sits down with his son, Arshid, 37, for a cup of nun chai. The warmth of the tea contrasts with the chill of anticipation in the air. “What is the news? Have they nominated the members yet?” he asks, his voice a mix of curiosity and anxiety as he refers to the selection of five MLAs by LG Manoj Sinha for the Jammu Kashmir assembly polls. The uncertainty surrounding the nominations reflects the region's heightened anticipation for the election results, scheduled to be declared on October 8, 2024. Jammu Kashmir, a region under direct central rule since 2018, has not seen such political fervor for over a decade. Elections, once a routine p...

Farhan Sayeed Masoodi As the season of harvest arrives in Kashmir, the residents of Mawer, about 30 kilometres distant from Kupwara town in north Kashmir، feel anxious, anticipating the increased presence of bears in the area. While bear sightings are not uncommon before the harvest begins in September, the number of bears noticeably rises at the beginning of the month, coinciding with the ripening of crops. This heightened bear presence is causing concern among the villagers as they prepare for the potential impact on their agricultural activities and daily lives. The area is adorned with dense, vibrant forests and majestic, snow-capped mountains. The beautiful Maweri River flows through this scenic landscape, adding to its natural charm. The primary agricultural produc...

Gurez Valley, nestled along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, is heating up—not just in temperature, but politically. As the Jammu Kashmir Assembly elections enter their final phase on October 1, Gurez finds itself at the center of a high-stakes political battle. For the first time in a decade, voters in Gurez will head to the polls, and the stakes are higher than ever. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has historically struggled to gain a foothold in the Kashmir Valley, is eyeing this strategic seat with aspirations of securing its first-ever victory in the region. The BJP National Executive Member, Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, stated that Gurez is poised to make history in the upcoming assembly polls.  Dr. Andrabi emphasized that a BJP victory i...

Simranjeet Kaur I met a 23-year-old who, despite attempting the same competitive examination twice, couldn't qualify. We all understand the difficulty such a situation can pose for anyone. While he spent time with others, sharing meals and sitting together, he began withdrawing from social life, concealing his inner turmoil behind a facade of happiness. The fear of being perceived as weak prevented him from opening up about his struggles. In isolation, he grappled with feelings of guilt and the pressure of unmet expectations. Eventually, he was diagnosed with severe chronic dysthymia. Hidden Battles Behind a Smile: If we can't see something, does it mean it doesn't exist? Many times, we force ourselves to wear a mask of a smile, concealing the internal war we face. We may appear...

As the assembly elections approach, the Uri constituency in Jammu Kashmir has emerged as a critical battleground, drawing attention due to its unique political dynamics. The Uri Assembly Constituency has a total electorate of 1,04,813, with 53,872 male voters and 50,941 female voters. No third-gender voters are registered in this constituency which will go to polls on October 1. The key players are Choudhary Taj Mohiuddin, leader of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and a former Congressman, and Dr. Sajad Shafi Ganie of the National Conference (NC). The recent alliance between Mohiuddin and Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, leader of the Apni Party, has added a new layer of complexity to the contest. On September 9, Bukhari publicly pledged his unconditional support fo...