KASHMIR
The Jammu and Kashmir Government formally took over the management of 215 schools across 10 Kashmir districts, citing their direct or indirect links with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its affiliate, Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT). The order, issued under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), followed intelligence reports flagging expired management committees and adverse credentials. The schools, with over 51000 enrolled students and around 4000 staff, will now be overseen by district magistrates and cluster principals until new management bodies are formed after CID clearance. Officials clarified that the move is aimed at safeguarding students’ academic future, ensuring continuity of education and compliance with NEP norms. Education Minister Sakina Itoo distanced herself from the final order, saying her draft had been “distorted” and only intended to resolve difficulties faced by students during board examinations due to a lack of registered management committees. She stressed the institutions were not being permanently shut or seized, and that once new verified committees are established, control will be returned. Authorities reiterated that the step is temporary and purely administrative, designed to prevent students’ education from being jeopardised by the schools’ questionable affiliations.
The recruitment for 75 Naib Tehsildar posts has fetched over Rs 6.43 crore in application fees for JKSSB, with more than one lakh aspirants applying before the process was deferred.
SRINAGAR
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Kashmir’s most influential political leader and the Valley’s first native ruler in centuries, continues to inspire debate and reinterpretation. While his autobiography Aatish-e-Chinar and recent works by scholars like Chitralekha Zutshi and Naila Ali Khan keep his legacy alive, a major void persists: the absence of a consolidated archive of his letters, speeches, and personal papers. A recent online discussion led by INTACH’s Saleem Beg reignited calls for publishing his correspondence, akin to the Nehru and Jinnah Papers, to fill critical gaps in Kashmir’s political history. Participants recalled scattered records, speeches, private letters, and correspondence seized during Abdullah’s arrests, some reportedly lost in the 2014 floods. His family members, including grandson Muzzafar Shah, confirmed the existence of historic documents, though many remain inaccessible. While some speeches and letters have appeared in scattered volumes or academic works, experts lamented missed opportunities to preserve his writings systematically in archives or museums. Personal anecdotes, contested memories of his monogram, and reports of lost libraries added to the sense of incompleteness. Despite admiration and criticism of his political contradictions, the consensus was clear: compiling Abdullah’s papers is essential to understanding Kashmir’s modern journey and ensuring his legacy is preserved for posterity.
Surprise inspections on Jammu Rail Division trains have led to a 50 per cent drop in ticketless travel, with 76 passengers fined Rs 36,770 during the latest drive.
RAJOURI
Police in Rajouri’s Dharamsal registered FIR 65/2025 under BNS and POCSO provisions after a 15-year-old girl’s parents complained of alleged gang rape. Eight accused persons have been arrested from different locations, while one is still absconding. Police have launched a manhunt to trace the remaining accused and continue further investigation.
At least 30 women were injured when the ceiling of a preacher’s house collapsed at Pohrupeth village in Kupwara on Sunday afternoon.
KANGAN
Unidentified thieves stole an automatic transformer and curtains from Iqbalabad Masjid Shareef in Kangan, Ganderbal. The incident, discovered Friday morning, angered locals and the Masjid Committee, which suspects drug addicts. They urged stricter night patrolling and swift police action. Police have taken cognisance and initiated an investigation into the theft.
Jammu and Kashmir FDA suspended nine food outlet licences in Srinagar and Anantnag after seizing over 12 tons of rotten meat from markets.
JAMMU KASHMIR
The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board’s cancellation of the Junior Engineer (Electrical) exam amid paper leak allegations has sparked outrage. Students, activists, and political leaders have demanded accountability, citing repeated recruitment scams involving SI, Accounts Assistant, and JE exams. Aspirants and student bodies criticised the collapse of due process, urging intervention by LG Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Student leaders called for the board’s disbanding, while politicians, including Aga Ruhullah, Sajad Lone, and Waheed Para, condemned the scandal as systemic failure and “daylight robbery.” Anger is mounting in a region already reeling under severe unemployment challenges.
KUPWARA
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Jammu and Kashmir administration for permitting large-scale tree felling in Kupwara’s Rajwar forests for the Handwara–Bangus road without depositing Rs 3.81 crore in compensatory payments. Despite clearance allowing felling of 447 mature trees, the Public Works Department never deposited the required Net Present Value or undertook afforestation. The Tribunal, led by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, ordered the Chief Secretary to explain the lapse, identify responsible officers, and disclose whether similar irregularities exist elsewhere. It also flagged illegal mineral extraction of over 2,700 metric tonnes, discrepancies in construction material use, and possible threats to river bridges. Questions were also raised about missing wildlife clearance in an area home to endangered species, including Himalayan black bears and leopards. The petition, filed by activist-lawyer Rasikh Rasool Bhat, also revealed work on Phase II without clearance. The Tribunal has given six weeks for a full affidavit and warned that failure to recover dues within two months could halt the project. The matter is listed for November 11. This case has placed Kashmir’s forest governance under sharp scrutiny, raising wider questions about systemic violations in development projects and their impact on fragile ecosystems.
MUMBAI
Actor Huma Qureshi, visiting Srinagar for the Indian Chamber of Commerce centenary celebrations, launched her book Zeba: An Accidental Superhero, which tells the story of a female superhero who changes the world. Calling the Hindi film industry difficult yet rewarding with hard work and God’s blessings, she encouraged aspiring artists. Emotional about returning to her maternal home, or nanihaal, Qureshi recalled memories of her Kashmiri roots and expressed joy at seeing her relatives cheer during the event, though she missed her mother’s presence. Stressing the Valley’s cultural richness, she said Kashmir deserves its own stories, folklore, and film industry, adding that “Kashmir should support the industry, not the other way round.”
DRASS
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said two people were rescued near Drass in Ladakh after their vehicle fell into a river just ahead of his convoy. He shared on X that timely action saved both occupants. Rijiju expressed relief that lives were spared, underlining the importance of a quick response in emergencies.
PULWAMA
Pulwama witnessed its first-ever day-night cricket match as thousands gathered at the Pulwama Sports Stadium to watch the opening game of the Royal Premier League between Royal Goodwill and Sultan Springs Baramulla. With 12 teams from across Jammu and Kashmir, the tournament marks a historic milestone for local sports. PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para hailed the event as the “start of a new inning” for the valley’s youth, stressing that sports can help counter despair caused by unemployment and political unrest. He said the initiative would keep youngsters away from drugs and provide new opportunities through sport. Organisers echoed the sentiment, saying the league offers a professional platform for local talent to shine. For many spectators, the evening was about more than cricket; it symbolised hope, resilience, and unity in a district better known for tragic headlines. The tournament will extend to other districts, spreading its message of aspiration and change.
PADDER
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, reviewing the aftermath of the devastating August 14 cloudburst in Chashoti, Kishtwar, assured rehabilitation measures including BRO’s takeover of the Kishtwar–Chashoti road and construction of an Army Goodwill School in the ravaged village. The tragedy claimed 65 lives, left 32 missing, and destroyed homes, temples, markets, and vital infrastructure, plunging the pilgrimage route to Machail Mata Shrine into crisis. Singh, unable to reach Chashoti due to bad weather, met the injured in Jammu and chaired a review with J&K leaders and Army officials, stressing that the Centre is committed to relief, connectivity restoration, and long-term rehabilitation.
PAMPORE
Authorities in Kashmir have intensified measures to curb the illegal export of saffron corms and ensure their multiplication locally. The Agriculture Department’s Pampore Zone has formed a special squad to monitor corm extraction and sowing, keeping detailed records of growers, Aadhaar numbers, sources of extraction, and replanting sites. Raids have already led to the seizure of 150 kgs of smuggled corms in Awantipora. Officials stressed that unauthorised export undermines local growers and warned of strict action under the Seed Act, 1966, and Saffron Act, 2007, including fines and imprisonment. Awareness drives are being held across saffron-growing areas, with farmers urged to cooperate in safeguarding Kashmir’s saffron heritage. To encourage compliance, farmers engaged in extraction and sowing will receive financial incentives of Rs 27,000 per kanal under HADP, directly credited to their bank accounts. The crackdown aims to preserve the germplasm of world-famous Kashmiri saffron while boosting local productivity and sustainability.
RAMBAN
Gayabati Devi, wife of CRPF Commandant N Ranbir Singh in Ramban, has transformed waste into functional items and barren land into a botanical garden. Over two years, she has promoted recycling, environmental care, and community goodwill, even crafting 300 Rakhis for officers, while freely training others in creative reuse. Her efforts have enriched the CRPF 84 Battalion campus, transforming discarded bottles, cans, and cartons into useful creations while nurturing greenery and providing food for animals. A housewife by choice, Devi has said her goal is not profit but preventing environmental harm and spreading awareness, blending sustainability with compassion in a unique initiative.
LADAKH
The Ladakh administration has defended its cancellation of land allotted in 2018 to the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), a climate activist organisation led by Sonam Wangchuk, sparking sharp criticism and protests from local groups. The order, issued by Leh’s deputy commissioner, stated that the 40-year lease of 1,076 kanals lapsed due to non-utilisation and non-execution of a formal lease agreement within the stipulated year. Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal clarified that the cancellation was a “unique case” arising solely from procedural lapses and non-establishment of a legally recognised university, insisting no land under agriculture or housing would be touched if documents were proper. However, Wangchuk and his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, rejected the claim, alleging deliberate delay by the administration under the pretext of finalising a New Lease Policy. They argued that HIAL has educated over 400 students and enjoys Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s support. The activist linked the move to his campaign for Ladakh’s inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, accusing the administration of a “witch-hunt.” Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB) warned of mass protests if the cancellation was not rolled back. The controversy has escalated amid rumours of possible sedition charges against Wangchuk, who has opposed large-scale solar projects in ecologically fragile Changthang. While authorities maintain the decision follows legal procedure, civil society views it as politically motivated, vowing to challenge it in court. The standoff highlights deepening mistrust between Ladakh’s administration and regional leadership over land, rights, and ecological safeguards.
JAMMU
Police in Jammu have busted an inter-state racket that staged fake marriages to extort money from unsuspecting grooms. Five people, including a woman from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested after a complaint in Akhnoor exposed the fraud. Investigations revealed the gang operated as a bogus marriage bureau, arranging brides, priests, and rituals before the bride deserted the groom within days. So far, five cases, three in Akhnoor and two in Nagrota, have surfaced, though many victims stayed silent due to social stigma. The arrested include locals from Poonch and outsiders from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Police termed the arrests a breakthrough.
