Jammu Kashmir Police Station on Tuesday said it removed a graffiti resembling an Israeli flag painted on the road outside the main entrance of Imambara in Zadibal area of Srinagar. According to a statement, issued to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), police received an information about the graffiti and soon a team reached to the spot and removed it to maintain communal harmony and public order. The statement reads that preliminary enquiry revealed involvement of three local teenage girls. “Given their age and the sensitivity of the act, their parents were called to police station and the minors were counselled in their presence”. “They were sensitised about the implications of such actions and the need to uphold communal harmony and responsible civic behaviour. Legal actio...

Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that there was no local involvement in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, and that all the terrorists responsible for killing of 26 innocent people were foreigners. Speaking with reporters in Gulmarg, CM Omar, per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said during the ongoing probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), two individuals have been arrested for sheltering the attackers. "It is possible that these individuals acted under duress. Although they provided food to the terrorists, it could have been done under coercion. Let the investigation continue, following its conclusion, the chargesheet and other legal proceedings will be presented by the NIA," CM Omar added. On Iran-Israel war, the Chief Minister stre...

Former Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has voiced strong support for Iran amid the country’s escalating confrontation with the United States and Israel. Praising Iran’s “brave resistance,” she said Tehran was “fighting like lions” and refusing to surrender to global superpowers. Her remarks come in the wake of Iran’s missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Qatar and Iraq on June 23, a retaliatory move after U.S. airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites. According to reports, most of the missiles were intercepted, with minimal damage reported. Iran is believed to have warned Qatar in advance, suggesting the strike was more symbolic than destructive. Mehbooba invoked the legacy of Imam Ali (A.S) in her statement, aligning Iran’s actions with historical defiance aga...

Jammu Kashmir's Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo Tuesday voiced strong opposition to the rule that ties financial assistance for marriage to a girl’s educational background. She assured that the government will soon review the order that made passing the 8th standard a prerequisite for receiving marriage aid. Speaking to reporters, the minister stressed that marriage is a personal and sacred matter and should never be linked to someone’s academic achievements. “A rule like this creates unnecessary hurdles for underprivileged girls. We objected to it when it was introduced, and we still believe it goes against the spirit of welfare,” Itoo said. The contentious rule, introduced two years ago under the LG-led administration, required girls to have passed the 8th standard in ord...

The dead body of a Kashmiri youth was found on Monday evening at Dharamgund village in Tral, triggering shock and concern in the area. The deceased has been identified as Surjeet Singh Shanty, son of the late Foja Singh, a resident of Dharamgund. On Tuesday morning, the family staged a protest demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the death. Neighbours also joined in, urging authorities to take immediate action to ensure transparency and accountability. “This incident has left us disturbed. We only want the truth to come out,” said a relative of the deceased. Residents have called on senior officials to visit the village and oversee the inquiry. The administration has yet to release an official statement.

In a major ruling highlighting human rights concerns amid national security operations, the High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has ordered the repatriation of Rakshanda Rashid, a woman deported to Pakistan earlier this year during Operation Sindoor, the government’s crackdown following the Pahalgam massacre. Justice Rahul Bharti issued the direction while hearing a writ petition (WP(C) No. 1072/2025) filed by Rashid’s husband, Sheikh Zahoor Ahmed. He challenged her deportation, arguing that she had been living in Jammu and Kashmir for years and held a Long-Term Visa (LTV), which should have protected her from expulsion. The court expressed deep concern over Rashid’s health and humanitarian situation, noting that she had no family or support in Pakistan. Justice Bharti emphasized ...