Locals from Solina area of Srinagar on Friday staged a protest against what they termed the use of substandard material in the ongoing macadamization process of their lanes, alleging large-scale corruption and negligence by officials supervising the work. Locals said that the roads in Solina had been macadamized after a gap of nearly 15 years, but the excitement quickly turned into anger as the freshly laid surface began to wear off within just a day. Protesters gathered in the locality, raising slogans against the executing agency and concerned officials. “The blacktopping has started peeling off already. This is the height of corruption and malpractice,” said Rouf Bhat. “We had waited for over a decade for proper road repair, but the work done is of such poor quality that even vehicl...

Meer Irfan A policeman from Police Lines Bandipora died on duty on Thursday after his service rifle went off accidentally, officials said. The deceased has been identified as Constable Arfeen Lone, aged 32, son of Darwesh Lone, a resident of Malangam Tulail in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. According to police, Lone sustained grave injuries when his rifle accidentally discharged. He was immediately rushed to the Government Hospital Bandipora, where doctors declared him brought dead. An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the incident, officials told The Kashmiriyat.

Danishwar Hameed A 16-year-old girl was found dead under mysterious conditions in Ghat Qaimoh area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said on Friday. An official told The Kashmiriyat that the minor girl (name withheld) was found unconscious at her residence and was immediately shifted to PHC Qaimoh for treatment, where doctors declared her brought dead. He said the body was later taken to GMC Anantnag for medico-legal formalities to ascertain the cause of death. Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and started further investigation.

Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Thursday said that more than 1,614 Jammu Kashmir policemen have laid down their lives in the past three decades while fighting Pakistan and its proxies in the Union Territory. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 10th All India Police Games Judo Cluster at the Indoor Stadium, Prabhat said the sacrifices of police martyrs stand as proof of the force’s courage and dedication. “The JK Police has played a pivotal role in fighting the enemies of peace. Our personnel continue to work with utmost commitment to ensure public safety and stability,” he said. The DGP said the force has remained at the forefront of counter-militancy operations and has also engaged in youth and sports outreach programmes to strengthen ties with local communi...

The National Conference government’s recent announcement on smart meter installation in Jammu Kashmir has sparked anger among opposition parties and residents who see it as a complete reversal of previous promises. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the government aims to achieve 100 per cent metering for uninterrupted power supply across the union territory. “Meters are the best solution for uninterrupted electricity supply. The more meters we install, the less electricity curtailment people will face, and the government will be able to supply more electricity. We are committed to achieving full coverage and 24x7 electricity for consumers,” Omar Abdullah told reporters. Opposition parties and local residents have criticized the move, highlighting that the NC had consis...

Meer Irfan A court in Kupwara has acquitted Khursheed Ahmad Chohan, a Jammu Kashmir Police constable who was earlier brutally tortured in custody, along with Farooq Hassan Shah, in a high-profile narcotics case under Sections 8/21-29 of the NDPS Act. The ruling comes after the court found serious contradictions in forensic reports and insufficient direct evidence against the accused, even as alleged cross-border connections with Pakistan continue to be investigated. The case originated from FIR No. 17/2023, filed at Police Station Karnah, after police claimed to recover 2.674 kilograms of contraband suspected to be brown sugar from Shah’s courtyard on February 23, 2023. Initial chemical analysis at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Srinagar returned a negative report, wh...

Jammu Kashmir Police have arrested a private school staffer for allegedly sexually assaulting and molesting a minor student in a private school in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Reports reaching news agency Kashmir Dot Com said that the father of the victim lodged a complaint alleging that his minor ward was allegedly assaulted and molested by staffer of the school falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Beerwah. A police officer confirmed to Kashmir Dot Com that following the complaint, Beerwah Police registered an FIR No. 147/2025 under Sections 5 and 6 of the POCSO Act. “The accused has been taken into custody, and necessary medico-legal formalities are being carried out,” the officer added.–(KDC)