JAMMU
A textbook blunder in Jammu and Kashmir has turned a routine Class X book into a source of mockery and a butt of jokes. The state school board, very famous for mistakes in its text and conduct, seemingly using a find-and-replace function, has replaced every instance of “state” with “UT” in a social science textbook to reflect the region’s 2019 downgrading to a Union Territory. While some changes make sense, others result in absurd sentences, such as “unconsciousness or fasting is a UT of the human body.” The mistake went unnoticed until a social media video highlighted it, triggering widespread ridicule and memes. PDP leader Naeem Akhtar, who earlier headed the Education Ministry, termed it a “tragicomedy”. The controversy mirrors a scene from 3 Idiots, where a character unknowingly delivers a speech riddled with errors incorporated by his mischievous classmate to convey how rote learning kills talent.
SRINAGAR
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has upheld the arrest of former Bar Association President, Mian Abdul Qayoom, in connection with the 2020 murder of Advocate Babar Qadri. Arrested on June 25, 2024, Qayoom had challenged his detention as illegal and arbitrary, but the court ruled that due process was followed. Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul found no violation of constitutional rights, stating that Qayoom was informed of the grounds for his arrest and that legal procedures, including videography, were observed. Qayoom also contested the extension of his police custody, but the court upheld the remand orders as well-reasoned. The investigation, initially leading to a chargesheet in 2021 that did not name Qayoom, was later transferred to the State Investigating Agency in 2023. A special court ordered further investigation following a request from Qadri’s father. The High Court ruled that additional investigation was legally justified and dismissed Qayoom’s plea.
SOPORE
A Kashmir court has sentenced self-proclaimed faith healer Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually abusing minors over decades. Convicted under Section 377 of the erstwhile Ranbir Penal Code, Sheikh was found guilty of systematically exploiting his position as a religious teacher to commit repeated sexual offences. The verdict, delivered by Chief Judicial Magistrate Sopore Mir Wajahat, dismissed the defence’s argument about a delay in filing the FIR, affirming that justice prevails despite time. Sheikh, who posed as a teacher and healer, deceived families into entrusting their children to him. He manipulated and abused minors, with one victim testifying that he was raped over 500 times in three years. Sheikh also forced children to engage in sexual acts while he watched. The court described his actions as a prolonged, systematic infliction of trauma that left the victims with lasting psychological scars. The court ruled that Sheikh must pay a fine of Rs 50,000 to each of his victims.
JAMMU
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed the detention order against Majid Hyderi, criticising the government’s “cavalier and casual exercise” of power under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul ruled that vague and non-specific grounds of detention violated fundamental rights, making the order unsustainable. Hyderi, a freelance journalist and television debater, had been detained for 17 months following his arrest in September 2023 on charges of extortion and defamation. Despite being granted bail, he was booked under the PSA, accused of activities prejudicial to public order. The court, however, found that the authorities failed to establish a direct and proximate link justifying his detention. Justice Koul warned that treating people like Hyderi harshly would erode peace and alienate peace-loving citizens. He noted that Hyderi had written against separatists and militants, and his mother, a government broadcaster, had supported India during the 1990s.
DAMHAL
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) searched the residence of Muzaffar Ahmad Wani in Anantnag, as part of its probe into a pan-India fake currency racket. Wani, also known as Sarfaraz, was previously arrested by Bihar Police in connection with a counterfeit currency case registered in East Champaran, Motihari. Wani, alleged to have coordinated with a Pakistani intelligence agency, managed operations behind the scenes. At the same time, accomplices in Bihar smuggled Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) from Nepal to Jammu and Kashmir via Delhi. His associate, Mohammad Nazar Saddam, was caught holding counterfeit notes worth Rs 1.95 lakh during a vehicle check-in in September 2024. The case was transferred to the NIA in December 2024, which has since been investigating the espionage-linked network. Last week, the agency conducted searches at multiple locations in Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, and Telangana, seizing Rs 1,49,400 in cash, digital devices, and incriminating documents. Authorities suspect the network used cryptocurrency for transactions. Wani had been under Military Intelligence surveillance for his alleged ties to Pakistani operatives.
NAGPUR
In Nagpur, a city known for its hot climate, Akshay Holey and his wife, Divya Lohakare Holey, have defied conventional farming by cultivating saffron—one of the world’s most expensive spices—without soil or water. Using an innovative aeroponic technique, they have replicated Kashmir’s climate, generating an annual revenue of up to Rs 50 lakh. Their journey began in 2020 with an 80-square-foot experimental unit on their terrace. Recognising the potential, they spent over three months in Kashmir learning traditional saffron farming before adapting it to their aeroponic setup. Starting with 100 saffron corms, they expanded their operations to 480 square metres across two locations, including their Hingna flat. Last year, they produced 45 kilograms of saffron, including contributions from partner units. Beyond their success, they have trained 150 aspiring growers, 29 of whom have established their units. For Rs 15,000 per participant, they offer training and buy-back saffron for packaging and marketing. With an 80 per cent profit margin, their model is highly profitable. Their saffron, graded by the Saffron Institute of Kashmir, sells for Rs 630 per gram, and their company, Shaya Enterprises, continues to expand.
BANGALORE
A second-year MBBS student from Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag was allegedly assaulted at Al-Ameen Medical College in Vijayapura, Karnataka, in a case of ragging by senior students. The incident reportedly began during a cricket match when Hameem, the victim, was forced to leave the area by seniors from the 2019 batch. Later, they allegedly humiliated him, forcing him to sing and dance, and attempted to coerce him into a car. That night, a group of six to eight individuals stormed into Hameem’s hostel room, physically assaulted him, and forced him to record an apology video under duress. They allegedly threatened him, stating they could make his life miserable and barred him from playing cricket. Following a complaint, the police launched an investigation. Police confirmed that six students were interrogated, and the accused were booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to rioting, wrongful assembly, and voluntarily causing hurt.
KATHUA
Two Kashmiri youth were arrested at Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir with Rs 3.36 crore in cash concealed in a specially created cavity of their vehicle. Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted the Kashmir-bound vehicle from Punjab and discovered the hidden money. The arrested individuals were identified as Fahad Khursheed Wani and Fahad Yousuf, both residents of Srinagar. Superintendent of Police Kathua, Shobhit Saxena, stated that preliminary investigations revealed the vehicle had travelled from Delhi to Kashmir. The recovered cash was handed over to Income Tax officials for counting and further inquiry. While the police have not found evidence linking the money to militancy, investigations are ongoing. The operation was conducted in the presence of a magistrate to ensure transparency and an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the law.
JAMMU
Two teenage sisters from Jammu allegedly abducted a week ago, were rescued from Chhattisgarh and reunited with their family, police said. The accused, Shiva Dass and Manoj Kumar from Chhattisgarh remain at large. Acting on a complaint from the girls’ father, Janipur police launched an investigation and recovered them from Balooda, Chhattisgarh. In a separate case, a girl reported missing from Gandoh, Doda, on January 14 was traced to Pathankot, Punjab, and reunited with her family. Police continue efforts to apprehend the accused in both cases.
LADAKH
GOC, Fire and Fury Corps and All Ranks salute Subedar Santosh Kumar and Naib Subedar Sunil Kumar, who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in #ladakh on 16 Feb 2025 and offer deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief.@adgpi@NorthernComd_IA pic.twitter.com/GkesUYKj81
— @firefurycorps_IA (@firefurycorps) February 17, 2025
Two Junior Commissioned Officers of the Army, Subedar Santosh Kumar and Naib Subedar Sunil Kumar were killed when a swollen 3,000-litre water tank exploded at a camp in Nyoma, Ladakh, officials said. The incident occurred on Sunday, about 150 kilometres from Leh. Both officers are survived by their wives and two children. Police have launched an investigation. Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar and Fire and Fury Corps paid tribute, saluting their supreme sacrifice and expressing solidarity with their families. The Army affirmed its support for the bereaved families in this time of grief.
QAZIGUND
Three nomadic labourers from Qazigund have been missing for the past many days, leaving their families in distress. Identified as Riyaz Ahmad Bajad, his younger brother Showkat Ahmad Bajad, and Mukhtar Ahmad Awan, the trio had left their temporary settlement in Chandan Pajan on February 13 to attend a wedding in Ashmuji, Kulgam. According to their relatives, the men boarded a vehicle from Damjan to Mir Bazar but never reached their destination. Their phones have been switched off since that evening, deepening concerns about their whereabouts. Two of them are married, while one remains unmarried. The families have lodged a missing persons report at Qazigund Police Station and are urging authorities to expedite their search. The men, originally from Rajouri, have been working as labourers in the region for six years. National Conference leader and MP Mian Altaf Ahmed has called for a fast-track investigation, urging authorities to prioritise the case and inform the families about any developments.
JAMMU
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has dismissed three Jammu and Kashmir government employees, citing their alleged links with militant outfits. The sacked individuals include police constable Firdous Ahmad Bhat, school teacher Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, and forest department orderly Nissar Ahmad Khan. They were terminated under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows dismissal without an inquiry in cases concerning state security. Firdous Ahmad Bhat, arrested in May 2024, was posted at the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Electronic Surveillance Unit. Officials claim he worked for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), providing classified information, transporting arms, and orchestrating attacks. His alleged involvement in a 2020 police attack and a 2023 tourist attack was cited. Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, a Rehbar-e-Taleem teacher from Reasi, was accused of being an overground worker for LeT. Security agencies claim he helped radicalise youth, raise terror funds, and coordinate arms transport. His activities reportedly surfaced in 2022, leading to his arrest. Nissar Ahmad Khan, previously accused and acquitted in the 2000 killing of a minister, was again arrested in 2022 for militant funding. Since 2021, 79 government employees have been dismissed for alleged militant links.
