JAMMU
A court in Jammu has granted bail to Kashmiri post-doc scholar Abdul Aala Fazili, nearly three years after his arrest under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) over an article allegedly published in 2011. The court ruled that Fazili’s detention was unjustified, as there was no evidence linking his writing to terrorism or inciting violence. It noted that the government ignored the article for over a decade, indicating it posed no threat. Fazili, a PhD scholar from Kashmir University, was arrested in April 2022 after the Special Investigation Agency (SIA) termed one of his articles, “provocative and seditious.” However, the court found weak evidence connecting Fazili to its authorship and highlighted that none of the ten examined witnesses had testified against him. Granting bail, the court imposed strict conditions, including a Rs one lakh bond, weekly police reporting, passport surrender, and a ban on leaving Jammu and Kashmir without permission. It warned that any violation, including contacting witnesses or engaging in criminal activity, would lead to bail cancellation. Fazili was released from Jammu’s Kot Bhalwal Jail and returned home, following the earlier release of a now-closed website editor, who was also arrested in connection with the case.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has disclosed that since 2019, one Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and 89 Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officers have been named in various First Information Reports (FIRs).
SRINAGAR
Kashmir observed Shab-e-Baraat on the night of February 13 and 14, with worshippers offering prayers and visiting cemeteries. However, for the sixth consecutive year, authorities sealed Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid, barring congregational prayers. The Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid stated that Jammu Kashmir Police closed the mosque gates after Asr prayers, asking worshippers to vacate the premises. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was to lead the prayers, was placed under house arrest earlier that day. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the decision, calling it “unfortunate” and a sign of the administration’s lack of confidence in maintaining law and order. He said people deserved better than such extreme measures on an important religious night. The Anjuman Auqaf condemned the repeated restrictions, stating they hurt religious sentiments and violated fundamental rights. Since 2019, authorities have consistently barred prayers at the mosque on significant religious occasions. The police did not provide an official explanation, but the Kashmir Zone Police posted a message on X, wishing people harmony and prosperity on Shab-e-Baraat.
Jammu and Kashmir received only Rs 642.59 crore of the Rs 1481.43 crore allocated for waste management under the Swachh Bharat Mission in the past five years.
KASHMIR
The Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Srinagar, will distribute Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms to registered carpet weavers in Kashmir to enhance their working conditions and improve carpet quality. A draw of lots will be held on February 18 at IICT, Nowshera, to select 100 beneficiaries. IICT Director Zubair Ahmad stated that the Central Wool Development Board, under the Union Ministry of Textiles, has allocated Rs 43.70 lakh under the Wool Processing Scheme for 2024-25 to fund the initiative. The modified looms, designed by IICT, aim to address health concerns arising from prolonged use of traditional wooden looms, particularly back pain. The department plans to distribute these looms in phases to all active weavers. Beneficiaries must report to IICT, Nowshera, on February 18 at 11:00 AM for the selection process, ensuring a fair and transparent allocation. Meanwhile, The Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, is set to commission a modern Common Facility Centre (CFC) for Yarn Dyeing at the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) in Nowshera. Built for Rs 2.59 crore, the CFC will adhere to international standards and enhance the quality of handicraft products for global markets. It will feature dyeing machines for silk, wool, cotton, and viscose yarn, along with a water-softening system, dryers, and an effluent treatment plant. The facility will also offer natural dyeing for Pashmina. Stakeholders can avail of the services at nominal rates through the IICT Director.
Jammu and Kashmir has 10,848 urban homeless people.
SAMBA
In a solemn wreath-laying ceremony, #GOC #WhiteKnightCorps laid a wreath to pay homage to #Braveheart Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas, who made the supreme sacrifice on 11 February in the highest traditions of the #IndianArmy.
Their sacrifice will… pic.twitter.com/ZKESIABeTW
— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) February 12, 2025
Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas and Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi, both engaged and set to marry in April, were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor on Tuesday, leaving their families devastated. Manhas, 29, from Samba, had returned to his Army unit on January 28 after finalising his wedding and house preparations. Having served for over nine years in Siachen, and Punjab, he was remembered as an energetic and helpful individual. Bakshi, 27, from Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh, belonged to the Punjab Regimental Centre. His cremation in Khirgaon was marked by an outpouring of grief, with his parents and fiancée, an Army doctor, mourning in silence. His family, expecting a wedding on April 5, was shattered by his untimely death.
As many as 2053 students from Jammu Kashmir benefitted from the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PM-USP CGFSEL) in the last five years
LADAKH
Ladakh’s hot springs in the Galwan Valley near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China will be opened for domestic tourists from June 15 as part of battlefield tourism. The initiative, backed by the Ministry of Defence and the Army, marks the fifth anniversary of the 2020 clash in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. A recce was conducted on January 19 to assess infrastructure needs. Facilities, including a museum, accommodations, and a souvenir shop, are being developed. The project aims to boost border tourism, honour soldiers’ sacrifices, and generate economic benefits for local communities.
JAMMU
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has directed Jammu Kashmir’s security grid to adopt a ‘zero tolerance policy’ against militancy and given them a ‘free hand’ to neutralise the terror ecosystem. Chairing a high-level security review in Srinagar, he stressed intensifying counter-insurgency efforts, targeting foreign terrorists, and taking strict action against those financing or supporting terrorism. Sinha emphasised a 360-degree approach to security challenges, including tackling cyber threats, disinformation, and extremist propaganda. He also called for strict enforcement of property attachment in terror and narco-terror cases. Senior police and paramilitary officials briefed him on counter-insurgency operations, law and order, and public confidence-building measures. The meeting followed a similar review by Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Security measures in Srinagar were tightened in light of the discussions. The backdrop to the meeting included recent incidents of alleged security force excesses, sparking political criticism. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for a probe and questioned his exclusion from the meeting. However, as Jammu and Kashmir remains a Union Territory, key security decisions remain under Sinha’s authority.
KUPWARA
Sahil Ahmad Bhat, an 18-year-old from a remote village in Kupwara, has achieved an outstanding 99.229 percentile in JEE Main without private coaching. Coming from a financially challenged background, his father, a labourer, could not afford private schooling or coaching. Sahil relied on self-study and online resources, dedicating 10-12 hours daily to his preparation. Bhat apart, Kashmiri students Sadaf Mushtaq and Simrah Mir from Pulwama and Kulgam scored 99.50 and 99.39 percentile, respectively. Both aspire to crack JEE Advanced and pursue engineering at IITs. Sahil, inspired by his elder brother, discovered engineering in Class 9 and excelled despite limited resources. His success is a testament to self-belief and dedication, serving as an inspiration for students from underprivileged backgrounds. His story, along with Sadaf’s and Simrah’s, highlights the resilience of Kashmiri students striving for excellence against the odds.
JAMMU
A man arrested in a theft case died at Government Medical College Jammu after complaining of chest pain while in police custody. Suresh Anuragi was detained on February 4, for allegedly stealing household items and was under police remand at Bahu Fort. Police said he was regularly examined, but on February 11, he developed severe pain and was shifted to GMC Jammu, where he collapsed during treatment. Anuragi had a history of drug addiction, police said. A magistrate inquiry has been requested, and the NHRC has been informed. Police have assured a fair investigation and a post-mortem has been ordered.
PUNJAB
In the third such incident in six weeks, a Kashmiri shawl seller, Fareed Ahmad Bajad from Kupwara, was brutally attacked and robbed in Kapurthala, Punjab. Miscreants assaulted him, leaving him with multiple bruises, and stole shawls worth Rs 25,000, Rs 8,000 in cash, and his mobile phone. Police suspect drug addicts and petty criminals were involved, ruling out a hate crime. An FIR has been registered, and efforts are underway to arrest the culprits. Authorities have advised shawl sellers to move in groups for safety. Similar attacks on Kashmiri traders occurred on January 18 and earlier this month.
DELHI
Jailed Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, attended Parliament for the first time on February 11, raising concerns over the recent deaths of two civilians in Jammu Kashmir, allegedly involving security personnel. He demanded a thorough investigation into the killings of Waseem Ahmad Mir in Baramulla and Makhan Din in Jammu’s Kathua district. Rashid also urged the government to construct a tunnel in Kupwara to improve connectivity. Elected while in jail on terror funding charges, Rashid was granted two-day parole to attend the Budget Session but is restricted from interacting with anyone outside Parliament. He was escorted under heavy police protection. The Delhi High Court granted Rashid parole following his hunger strike demanding his right to represent his constituency. The court acknowledged the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Suresh Kalmadi case, which denied similar parole, but stated such decisions depend on case-specific circumstances. Rashid was previously released for his oath-taking and election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir. The Budget Session will conclude on April 4.
BARAMULLA
Auqib Nabi, a 28-year-old pacer from Baramulla, set a new record for the most wickets in a single Ranji Trophy season for Jammu Kashmir, claiming 43 wickets and surpassing Parvez Rasool’s 2016-17 record of 38. His achievement also marks the highest tally by a JK pacer in over a decade, breaking Samiullah Beigh’s 35-wicket record. Despite initial struggles with injuries and limited infrastructure, Nabi’s determination saw him rise through domestic cricket, debuting in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2018 and the Ranji Trophy in 2019. His standout performance in the quarter-final against Kerala, where he took 5 for 36, played a crucial role in J&K’s resurgence in the tournament. Despite going unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Nabi remains a dominant force in domestic cricket. His record-breaking season signals a bright future, with his pace and accuracy making him one of J&K’s most promising fast bowlers.
SONAMARG
A massive fire broke out in Sonamarg on February 8, destroying at least 50 structures, mostly shops, and highlighting the absence of a fire brigade in the area. The blaze originated in a hotel and quickly spread, destroying 25 structures and partially damaging another 25. Locals criticised authorities for failing to establish a fire station despite previous fires in 2007, 2012, and 2016. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed sorrow over the incident, while Kangan MLA Mian Mehar Ali blamed the Sonamarg Development Authority for not ensuring fire safety measures. A separate fire on February 9, in Gagangir, damaged a two-storey building housing multiple shops. Timely intervention by firefighters and security forces prevented further losses.
