CHATROO
The death of a 12-year-old schoolgirl in Chatroo has exposed a disturbing question beyond the criminal investigation: how did a child allegedly remain pregnant for months without her family, school or authorities detecting that something was wrong?
The Class 5 student from Gurinalla died at Batote while being taken towards Jammu for medical treatment after her pregnancy was discovered. Police have arrested a government school headmaster and his brother, alleging sexual assault and attempts to suppress the matter. The allegations are yet to be established in court.
The girl was reportedly 28 to 32 weeks pregnant. Her family says it was unaware of the pregnancy until she developed fever and was examined by a local practitioner. The case has triggered protests and a shutdown in Chatroo, but the questions it raises extend beyond the immediate crime.
Kashmir has witnessed several cases involving sexual violence against minors, including the Galwanpora rape-and-murder case and cases involving pregnant minor survivors.
Kashmir’s Karewa landscape has suffered extensive excavation, with an NGT panel recording 1.3 lakh MTs extracted from Gowherpora and Rangeen Kultreh in Budgam and around 5 lakh MTs from Zadoora in Pulwama.
LADAKH
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Ladakh. Home Minister Amit Shah said the move would significantly improve access to justice for people living in the remote and far-flung areas by reducing the time and travel required to access High Court services.
At present, cases from Leh are heard by the Jammu wing of the High Court, while matters from Kargil are dealt with by the Srinagar wing, requiring litigants and lawyers to undertake long journeys. Judicial sources said around 500 cases relating to Ladakh are currently pending before the two wings. The proposed bench could initially function from the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in Leh until permanent infrastructure is established. The decision comes as the High Court faces a wider shortage of judges. Against a sanctioned strength of 25, only 12 judges are currently in position, while 11 names have been recommended for appointment.
Jammu division accounts for nearly 65 per cent of the 971 industrial units registered under the Centre’s Rs 28,400-crore New Central Sector Scheme-2021, with 630 units against Kashmir’s 341 as of August 19, 2026.
DELHI
The Centre has amended the Citizenship Rules, 2009, empowering district collectors to grant citizenship under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act to eligible non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The new mechanism covers Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, besides several border states. Pending applications will be transferred to jurisdictional Collectors, who can verify documents, conduct inquiries, administer the oath and grant citizenship.
Of the 37 degree colleges currently operating from makeshift campuses, 25 are in Jammu division and 12 in Kashmir division.
MADHYA PRADESH
Two Kashmiri pharmacy students in Bhopal, studying under the PMSSS, allegedly faced pressure to vacate their rented accommodation after some residents objected to their presence on regional and religious grounds. The allegations prompted intervention by Madhya Pradesh Police, with a team visiting the students, hearing their concerns and questioning individuals allegedly involved in the intimidation.
Heavy rains wreaked havoc across Jammu, killing three family members after their vehicle plunged into a gorge in Reasi, damaging at least 11 houses in Kheri village and triggering landslides that disrupted traffic on several roads.
JAMMU
A Jammu court has ordered a preliminary police inquiry into allegations that BCCI president Mithun Manhas fabricated his date of birth to gain eligibility for junior-level national cricket. The order, passed by a Special Railway Magistrate, directs the Nowabad police SHO to investigate the complaint and submit a report by September 3. The complaint alleges that Manhas provided different dates of birth for national sub-junior and junior competitions, with school records reportedly showing December 9, 1977, while the DDCA website lists October 12, 1979. The complaint was filed by former J&K Cricket Association joint honorary secretary Sudershan Mehta. Manhas, who was elected BCCI president last September, is the first J&K-born president of the cricket board.
DELHI
Doctors in Delhi have performed a rare four-way paired kidney swap, involving eight simultaneous surgeries to provide compatible organs to four patients from Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Bihar and Nagaland. The procedures, conducted on July 13 at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, involved four donor nephrectomies and four kidney transplants across five operating theatres. The patients had willing donors but were unable to undergo direct transplantation because of blood-group or immunological incompatibility. Using HLA typing, cross-matching and specialised paired-donation software, doctors created a four-way exchange involving all eight participants. The chain enabled each donor to provide a kidney to a compatible recipient from another pair. Regulatory approval required extensive documentation and a formal appeal before the procedure was cleared. The transplant team said all four recipients and donors recovered well and have since been discharged.
POONCH
The Armed Forces Tribunal has upheld the Army’s decision to award “severe displeasure” to Brigadier P Acharya over the deaths of three civilians during interrogation following the December 2023 militant ambush in Poonch that killed four Army personnel. The Chandigarh Bench of the AFT, comprising Justice Sudhir Mittal and Lt Gen Rambir Singh, dismissed Acharya’s challenge on August 20, finding no illegality or procedural violation in the disciplinary action.
The tribunal noted that officers had directed the use of “slightly harsh” methods to extract information from suspects. It also found that Acharya had assaulted a suspect and failed to ensure restraint by personnel under his command. A Court of Inquiry subsequently examined the deaths, leading to administrative action against the Brigadier.
While acknowledging the intense emotions among soldiers after the ambush, the tribunal stressed that such emotions cannot override military discipline or legal obligations. Even during conflict, it observed, soldiers must adhere to the law and Geneva Conventions.
DRASS
A viral video of a 25-year-old tourist confronting security personnel over a road closure near the Minimarg checkpoint in Drass has triggered a debate, with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and retired Lt General KJS Dhillon reacting to her remarks.
The video, recorded in July, shows the woman questioning security personnel after her group was reportedly stopped for several hours amid restrictions on the Minimarg-Zoji La-Sonamarg road. She is heard saying, “We are Gen Z. We won’t tolerate this nonsense,” and alleging that authorities were treating tourists like Kashmiris.
Abdullah, reacting on X on August 19, said “We are Gen Z” had become the new “jaantay nahin ho mera baap kaun hai”, arguing that using the phrase as a threat could undermine the goodwill associated with Gen Z. Dhillon also criticised the woman, urging respect for security personnel and linking her language to parenting and schooling.
The woman has since apologised to the Army, JK Police and Ladakh Police, saying she reacted out of frustration after waiting for hours and acknowledging that her language was inappropriate.
TEHRAN
Iranian clinical psychologist and mountaineer Arzoo Eskandari, who has cycled through 10 countries, has reached Kashmir during an Asia-wide journey promoting “slow life” and peace. She has covered around 8400 km by bicycle in Iran and travelled through Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand and India. After failing to secure sponsorship, she sold her car and left her psychology job to finance the expedition, cooking her own meals and avoiding hotels. Eskandari said Kashmir has been among her most meaningful stops, citing its natural beauty, hospitality and cultural links with Iran. Her journey was also complicated by the recent war, when internet disruptions in Iran left her unable to contact her family in Isfahan for weeks. Travelling alone as an Iranian woman, she says security remains a concern but has encouraged women to pursue their ambitions. Her bicycle, named Afra, carries her message: “slow down and open your eyes to see the world around.”
SHALIMAR
SKUAST-K researchers have standardised captive breeding and larval rearing of the vulnerable Himalayan snow trout, producing around 10,000 eggs in a breakthrough aimed at conserving Kashmir’s indigenous cold-water fish. The success could support restoration of snow trout populations in the Jhelum and other water bodies amid pollution, mining, construction, climate change and recent fish deaths. Researchers said controlled breeding could help replenish declining stocks, while also strengthening future aquatic restoration programmes.
JAMMU
The Jammu and Kashmir BJP appears to be facing signs of internal disquiet, with questions emerging over party discipline, differences among legislators and the UT’s exclusion from the BJP’s newly announced national office-bearers’ team.
The party has taken note of Udhampur West MLA and Deputy Leader of Opposition Pawan Gupta repeatedly praising Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for allocating Rs 124.19 crore to his constituency under centrally sponsored projects, without acknowledging the Centre. His remarks also drew a sharp response from BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, who said Gupta should have credited the Government of India.
Gupta’s absence from the BJP’s August 17 protest against the Omar Abdullah government has further fuelled speculation about differences within the party.
The BJP’s internal concerns come amid a broader political challenge in Jammu, where its protest against the NC government drew a relatively modest turnout despite the party having 29 of Jammu division’s 45 MLAs.
Adding to concerns, Jammu and Kashmir has received no representation in BJP president Nitin Nabin’s new 65-member national team.
DELHI
The Supreme Court has directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to compensate a family whose seven kanals and 18 marlas of land in Kangan, Ganderbal, was taken over in 1953 for a police station without formal acquisition. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said fresh acquisition proceedings could not be ordered retrospectively after the 68-year delay, but directed the authorities to initiate proceedings from 2021, when the claimant approached the High Court. It also ordered calculation and payment of rentals for use of the land since 1953. The High Court will determine the final compensation and rental amount. The case was filed by Abdul Rashid Wani, whose petition had earlier been rejected by the High Court on grounds of prolonged delay.
