DELHI
The government of India-owned NBCC has claimed to have secured a Rs 15,000 crore contract from the Srinagar Development Authority to develop a 406-acre satellite township at Rakh-e-Gund Akshah, Bemina in Srinagar. The project involves comprehensive township development, marking a significant addition to NBCC’s portfolio in project management consultancy and real estate. The building company has been not doing well for various reasons and has been working in Kashmir for around a decade.
More than 13.67 lakh pending cases have been disposed of in the Lok Adalats conducted since 2021.
DELHI
Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik informed the Delhi High Court that he will defend himself in the appeal by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which seeks the death penalty for him in a 2016 terror funding case. During a video conference from Tihar Jail, Malik raised concerns about a recent order mandating his appearance via video conferencing, arguing that he was not heard before the decision was made. Although the court suggested he could challenge this in the Supreme Court, Malik declined, expressing distrust. The bench offered to appoint amicus curiae, but Malik insisted on representing himself. The court granted him time to respond to the NIA’s appeal, which seeks to upgrade his life sentence to the death penalty. The case is scheduled for further hearing on September 19.
The Government sacked six government employees, including five policemen and a teacher, for anti-national activities.
UNITED NATIONS
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq reiterated that the UN’s position on Kashmir remains unchanged, emphasising that the issue should be resolved peacefully under the UN Charter with full respect for human rights. He recalled the 1972 Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan, which prohibits third-party mediation in the Kashmir dispute and advocates for bilateral discussions and peaceful dispute resolution. This statement comes amid tensions following India’s revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which removed Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and led to its reorganisation into two Union Territories. Relations between India and Pakistan have since deteriorated. India has consistently asserted that Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, is an integral part of the country and has expressed a desire for peaceful, violence-free relations with Pakistan.
Kashmiri Pandits have reclaimed over 3000 kanals of land by way of property dispute redressal mechanisms in Jammu and Kashmir. Of 10,000 complaints, almost 8000 stand resolved.
PUNJAB
The Jammu Kashmir Police arrested two Punjab residents in Srinagar for impersonating police officers. They were found in the Nehru Park area and are under investigation. This incident follows last year’s arrest of Kiran Patel, a conman from Gujarat, who posed as a senior PMO officer and deceived people in Kashmir by promising government jobs and business deals. Patel allegedly duped victims of over Rs 5 crore and posted videos of his visits to Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) joined JK Police to investigate Patel’s network and his access to government officials.
Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul awarded Rs 20 lakh compensation to Abrar Ahmad, 21, for surviving a serious electrocution on March 9, 2007. He has a 78 per cent disability.
MUMBAI
After completing the Mumbai schedule, actor Alia Bhatt will resume filming her spy thriller Alpha in Kashmir in September 2024. Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha is a high-stakes espionage drama where Bhatt plays a super-agent, undergoing extensive training for intense action sequences. Sharvari Wagh also stars in the film, adding to the anticipation surrounding this addition to the YRF Spy Universe. Meanwhile, Laila Majnu (2018), a film set in Kashmir, saw a houseful re-release in Srinagar, highlighting its cultural resonance. This romantic tragedy, appreciated for its authentic portrayal of Kashmiri life, has become a cult classic in the Valley.
The total number of homestays in Jammu and Kashmir has increased to 1942 with a bed capacity of 14,180.
BUDGAM
Usually in Kashmir, people would fall from walnut trees or electric poles and die. Now it is the Base Tower Station (BTS), the mobile towers. A 35-year-old man, Waseem Sadeeq Bhat, from Lasjan, Srinagar, died after falling from a mobile tower in Cheki-Kawoosa, Budgam district. The incident occurred while he was working on the tower. Waseem sustained severe injuries and was rushed to SKIMS Soura Hospital in Srinagar, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Following the completion of legal formalities, his body was returned to his family for last rites.
The national full immunisation coverage for 2023-24 was 93.50 per cent. Jammu and Kashmir has 108.66 per cent.
SRINAGAR
Rashmi Ranjan Swain, the newly appointed Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir, has been pivotal in combating militancy as the region’s intelligence chief since 2020. Talking to a Delhi-based newspaper, he has emphasized the importance of maintaining law and order to ensure a peaceful society, attributing disorder to a minority of disruptive elements. Swain highlights the challenge of rising militancy in Jammu, noting the shift from local to foreign militants due to weak local support. He defends the security establishment’s measures, including removing individuals from service and denying security clearances, as necessary for public safety. He acknowledges the geographical challenges in counter-terrorism efforts in Jammu and refutes accusations of targeting innocents, citing the small percentage of denied security clearances and job rejections. Swain also touches on the “politician-terror” nexus, stressing the need to protect political parties from militant influence. He maintains that these actions are essential for ensuring security and preventing the resurgence of terrorism in the region.
In the first half of 2024, road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir surged to 2,864 incidents resulting in 417 fatalities and 3,894 injuries.
LADAKH
PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
India is significantly bolstering its infrastructure and military readiness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh amid ongoing tensions with China. The government has approved the construction of five new roads and the upgrading of existing roads to enhance connectivity and support troop movements. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and other agencies will lead these efforts, with a substantial budget allocated for the projects, including the Vibrant Village Programme targeting border villages. In parallel, India has initiated extensive military exercises in the region to test and improve the armed forces’ preparedness against potential challenges posed by the Chinese military. These exercises, involving new technologies like loitering munitions and swarm drones, aim to refine strategies for high-altitude warfare. The Army has stationed significant armoured units, including tanks and missile systems, close to the LAC since 2020, supported by newly built infrastructure to sustain operations in the harsh winter conditions. Both initiatives underscore India’s strategic focus on ensuring robust defence capabilities and infrastructure development in Ladakh, reflecting the ongoing seriousness of the Sino-Indian conflict in the region. Senior military officials, including the Army Chief, are actively involved in overseeing these developments to maintain high operational readiness.
Highest-ever number of pilgrims to visit the Amarnath cave shrine was 6.35 lakh in 2011. This year, it has crossed five lakh.
KATRA
A 25-year-old man, Anmol Dogra, allegedly died by hanging while in police custody at Katra police station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. His death triggered protests from his family, who questioned how he could have obtained a rope in the lockup. The incident has led to an inquiry ordered by Sub-divisional Magistrate Piyush Dotra. Following a post-mortem, Dogra’s body was handed over to his family, who then blocked a main road in protest, demanding a magisterial probe. Local officials assured the family that an investigation into the circumstances of his death is underway.
Jammu and Kashmir has received 6,851 investment proposals to the tune of Rs 1.19 lakh crore ever since Article 370 was abrogated five years ago.
JAMMU
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh criticised the administration of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for its disregard of court orders, resulting in a backlog of 6000 contempt petitions. Justices Javed Iqbal Wani and Atul Sreedharan condemned the administration’s approach, which they described as turning justice into a “cruel joke.” The court’s frustration intensified after Chief Secretary Atul Dullo and other senior officials failed to appear for a court hearing, providing conflicting reasons for their absence. The court had previously ordered the rectification of a pay scale anomaly, but the government’s non-compliance and delays in appealing the decision exacerbated the situation. The court warned that it would take “precipitate measures” to enforce compliance, emphasising that future orders must be followed diligently or face consequences.
ANANTNAG
In Kashmir, the drug crisis continues to escalate despite significant efforts by authorities to combat it. A distressing case from South Kashmir highlights the severity of the issue: a couple spent nearly Rs 1 crore on their drug addiction before seeking help. Initially, Sameer (name changed) started smoking and later became addicted to drugs, which led his wife, Sumaiya (name changed), to also fall into addiction. They sold their possessions to fund their habit but began to recover after intervention from family and treatment at an Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF). While Sumaiya is nearly recovered, Sameer continues his treatment. Compounding the problem, synthetic heroin is now prevalent in Kashmir, posing severe health risks. Doctors at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) have reported alarming cases of chronic vein damage and other complications due to synthetic heroin, which mixes pharmaceutical opioids with opium. This shift from pure heroin to synthetic forms, driven by stricter drug enforcement and reduced heroin availability, is stressing the region’s healthcare system. A 2018 national survey revealed that over 14 lakh people in J&K are affected by substance abuse, with significant numbers using opioids, alcohol, cannabis, and inhalants.
TRAL
In Kashmir, apple growers face severe challenges as a leaf miner pest infects their orchards for the fourth year, exacerbated by a prolonged dry spell. The pest, likely introduced via imported roots, has persisted despite frequent insecticide applications, leading to premature fruit fall and reduced quality. The dry weather has worsened conditions, also causing red mite infestations. In South Kashmir’s Amirabad village, paddy fields are affected by a fungal disease resembling rice blast, prompting fungicide treatments and further examinations by agricultural experts. Ongoing reports reveal widespread pest and disease issues, with experts recommending targeted treatments to mitigate the impacts.
SRINAGAR
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have filed a case under the POCSO Act 2012 for sexual abuse involving a minor at a prominent private school in Srinagar. The incident, involving two fellow students accused of sodomy, was reportedly unreported for three years. The victim initially denied the abuse due to threats from the accused but later disclosed the situation with the encouragement of teachers. Social media outcry and pressure led the school administration to file a formal complaint. The case, now registered as FIR no. 44/2024, includes charges under sections 377, 511, and 506 of the POCSO Act and section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
