GANDERBAL
The killing of a 28-year-old man in an alleged encounter in Ganderbal has sparked a major controversy in Jammu and Kashmir, with serious questions raised over the circumstances of the operation and the identity of the deceased. The man, identified as Rashid Ahmad Mughal, was described by his family and acquaintances as an orphan who spent his childhood at Bait-ul-Hilal orphanage run by the Jammu and Kashmir Yateem Foundation in Srinagar. Coming from an extremely poor background, he was known to wear simple kameez-shalwar and worked with Common Service Centre (CSC) units, helping people prepare documents such as Aadhaar and domicile certificates. His father and brother had earlier been killed by unknown gunmen around 2000.
On the intervening night of March 31 and April 1, security forces, including Assam Rifles, Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police, carried out a cordon-and-search operation in the Arhama forest area of Ganderbal. The Army later claimed that one militant was killed in the encounter and that arms and ammunition, including an AK-56 rifle, were recovered. However, the family has strongly contested the claim, stating that Rashid had no links to militancy. According to them, he had left home on the morning of March 31 and went missing. They alleged he was picked up before the encounter, and that when his body was shown to relatives, he was dressed in clothes different from what he had been wearing. The family further claimed they were not allowed to take the body home and that he was buried in a designated graveyard in north Kashmir without their presence.
The incident has drawn sharp political reactions. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for a “transparent and time-bound probe,” stating that the family’s claims cannot be dismissed. MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi termed the allegations “gravely serious,” while Mehbooba Mufti questioned the shifting official narrative, noting that the Army initially described the slain as a foreign militant before calling him local.
Amid growing outcry, LG Manoj Sinha has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The probe will examine all aspects of the operation, including the identity of the deceased, the sequence of events, and adherence to procedure. The case has intensified concerns over alleged “fake encounters” and raised broader questions about accountability, transparency, and the credibility of counter-insurgency operations in the region.
Government data shows zero-enrolment schools in Jammu and Kashmir rose from 65 in 2023–24 to 146 in 2024–25, despite 61 teachers still being posted in these institutions.
RAJOURI
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to bring back a Pakistan-born youth deported after the April 2025 Pahalgam massacre. Justice MA Chowdhary ordered authorities to retrieve Aasim Sajjad, son of an Indian citizen, and allow him to pursue extension of his long-term visa and citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955. The court asked the MHA to act within eight weeks. The petitioner said his son was taken by police and deported via the Wagah border without due process, despite pending applications for citizenship. Observing that “human values and rights” warranted intervention, the court said the youth’s case must be reconsidered. The deportation followed a broader crackdown on Pakistan-born residents in Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam massacre in which 26 visitors were killed.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government said over Rs 18,000 crore has been disbursed in 2025–26 to clear liabilities, including payments to contractors and retired employees.
JAMMU
The High Court has upheld the exclusive right of one daughter to Rs 2 crore land acquisition compensation, dismissing claims by her deceased sister’s heirs who surfaced after the acquisition. In its March 30 judgment, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi framed the father’s property distribution as an act of care, observing he gave his unmarried daughter “roots” for stability and his married daughter “wings” to build her life.
The court noted that revenue records consistently reflected the aunt as the sole owner, while the petitioners and their mother never challenged the mutation for nearly 70 years. Their claim arose only after the land was acquired for a National Highways Authority of India project. Finding no documentary proof of ownership from the petitioners, the court directed the release of compensation to the aunt. It clarified that the petitioners’ pending civil suit on title may still determine future entitlements.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has introduced QR-based GI labelling, enabling real-time verification of around 70,000 certified handmade handicraft products.
JAMMU
Assembly data has revealed that power dues owed by government departments and state-linked entities in Jammu and Kashmir have climbed to Rs 3,747.35 crore. The government said Rs 2,310.22 crore is outstanding under Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) and Rs 1,437.13 crore under Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL).
Among departments, the Public Health Engineering Department tops the list with Rs 1,300.43 crore, followed by Irrigation and Flood Control at Rs 580.60 crore. The Home Department owes Rs 223.06 crore, while the Power Development Department itself has dues exceeding Rs 107 crore. Security forces account for notable arrears, with the CRPF owing Rs 296.38 crore, the Army Rs 197.20 crore, and the BSF Rs 11.76 crore.
Student enrollment in Government Degree Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir rose from 43,030 in 2024 to 48,641 in 2025, marking an increase of over 5,600 students and signalling a recovery in the higher education sector.
HYDERABAD
Lemon Tree Hotels has announced the signing of a 60-room Keys Prima property in Srinagar, strengthening its footprint in the region amid rising tourism. With this addition, the company will have four operational hotels in Jammu and Kashmir, along with two under development. The property will be managed by Carnation Hotels. Located about 2 km from Srinagar International Airport, the hotel will offer modern amenities including a restaurant, banquet and conference facilities, swimming pool and fitness centre, targeting both business and leisure travellers. The company said growing domestic tourism and evolving traveller preferences are driving demand for branded hospitality in the Valley.
As many as 48,958 non-gazetted and 10,217 gazetted posts remain vacant across 38 government departments in Jammu and Kashmir.
KULGAM
The Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has filed a chargesheet against a husband-wife duo under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) before a designated NIA court in Srinagar, accusing them of spreading false and distorted narratives on social media to promote separatist sentiment and disturb public order.
The accused, Dr Umer Farooq Bhat and his wife Shahzada Akther from Kulgam, have also been charged under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to acts endangering the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
According to officials, the case was registered based on credible inputs indicating that the duo, in alleged connivance with the proscribed outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat, used social media and encrypted platforms to circulate fabricated content and manipulate facts. Investigations found the material aimed at fostering disaffection, inciting violence, and creating communal disharmony, including attempts to radicalise youth. Police said sufficient evidence has been gathered, and the chargesheet has been filed for judicial determination.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government said 527 of 691 stone crusher units are currently operational, asserting that the closure of non-compliant units has not significantly affected ongoing developmental works.
BIJBEHARA
The debate over reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir turned charged in the Assembly as Bashir Ahmad Veeri broke down while pressing for changes to the existing framework. The National Conference legislator sought the introduction of his long-pending bill proposing the restructuring of reservations, including raising the open merit to at least 65 per cent and rationalising category allocations. Citing personal distress and public pressure, he said the delay had taken a toll, even referring to his son’s reluctance to return due to limited opportunities.
The proposal, linked to the Indra Sawhney vs Union of India ceiling of 50 per cent on reservations, runs counter to the current framework in J&K, where quotas exceed that limit. The government maintained that the issue is under review, with a Cabinet sub-committee report awaiting approval from the Lieutenant Governor. Veeri’s move, seen as defiance of the party and government, drew criticism, with Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary terming it “drama.”
The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Development Corporation recorded revenues of Rs 158.67 crore in 2023–24, Rs 125.65 crore in 2024–25, and Rs 127.10 crore in 2025–26, totalling Rs 411.42 crore.
KASHMIR
At least five glacial lakes in the Kashmir Himalayas have been identified as highly susceptible to Glacial Lake Outburst Flood events, raising concerns over downstream risk to infrastructure and habitations. A study by the University of Kashmir, published in the Journal of Glaciology, assessed 155 lakes using hydro-geomorphic indicators such as expansion rate and dam stability. Bramsar, Chirsar, Nundkol, Gangabal and Bhagsar were classified under “very high susceptibility”.
A preliminary geospatial analysis found that 2,704 buildings, around 15 major bridges, road networks, and at least one hydropower project in districts including Ganderbal, Shopian and Kulgam could be impacted. The government clarified that the lakes are not currently unstable but vulnerable under specific triggers. It highlighted gaps in bathymetric data and said surveys using a robotic echo-sounding system are planned in 2026, alongside strengthened monitoring and early warning systems.
JAMMU
Sajad Lone flagged “structural flaws” in the identification of poor families in Jammu and Kashmir, citing conflicting official data between regions. Speaking in the Assembly, he said Food Department figures show 39 lakh people in Kashmir and 27 lakh in Jammu as poor, while Social Welfare data suggests 90 per cent in Jammu and only 10 per cent in Kashmir are economically weak. Calling it a “policy failure,” Lone said the mismatch distorts fairness in jobs and welfare, particularly under the EWS quota. He urged a uniform, income-based definition of poverty, warning that the current framework disadvantages Kashmiri youth and needs urgent revision.
ANANTNAG
The High Court has quashed the preventive detention of Javid Ahmad Zargar, terming it a “sheer abuse of process of law,” and ordered his immediate release. The order was passed by Justice Rahul Bharti at the Srinagar bench on March 24. The court noted Zargar had already been acquitted in a prior case but was detained without legal basis or proper communication to authorities. Holding that his fundamental right to personal liberty was violated, the court restored his liberty, while clarifying that any pending cases against him would proceed as per law.
