LONDON
Keir Starmer, soon to become UK Prime Minister, faces the immediate challenge of repairing Labour Party relations with India, strained by past stances on Kashmir. Under Jeremy Corbyn, Labour’s 2019 motion advocating Kashmir intervention and mediation drew Indian criticism as vote-bank politics. Starmer, aware of India’s strategic importance, vowed a new partnership focusing on trade and bilateral issues, distancing from previous contentious positions. His outreach includes cultural engagements and affirmations of Kashmir as an internal matter for India and Pakistan. Labour’s electoral triumph marks a decisive shift, ending Conservative dominance under Rishi Sunak. Starmer’s agenda aims at broader foreign policy realism, prioritising global challenges like climate and security, alongside nurturing UK-India ties crucial for economic growth and community trust. Amidst pledges to reform and unify, Starmer’s leadership signals a new phase in UK politics, aimed at national renewal and responsive governance. Conservatives have ruled the UK for 14 years and now Labour has secured more than 412 from 650 berths.
The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has reported significant financial improvements for the fiscal 2023-24 with revenue touching Rs 190.57 crore.
JAMMU
The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh granted bail to Bansi Lal, a former police officer held in custody for 18 years on charges of staging a false encounter. Justice Atul Sreedharan, in a decision on July 3, 2024, highlighted severe delays in the trial, expressing astonishment that out of 72 witnesses, only 28 had been examined in 17 years. The court identified this as a violation of Article 21, emphasizing the accused’s right to a speedy trial. Represented by Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi and Advocate Shanum Gupta, Bansi Lal’s bail plea underscored his prolonged judicial custody and minimal interim releases. Justice Sreedharan’s order mandated Lal’s immediate release upon posting a personal bond of Rs 50,000/- and one surety of the same amount, citing concerns over trial delays and the state’s failure to justify them. Lal was one of the many officers who were arrested in a sensational fake encounter case during the Ghulam Nabi Azad era.
The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a record 1,600 corruption cases in 2022, with 1,001 charge-sheeted so far, but the conviction rate remains low at only 78 officials convicted from 2010-2023 while 156 were acquitted during this period.
ASTANA
India and China have agreed to expedite efforts to resolve remaining issues in eastern Ladakh and stabilise their relationship. During a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi the importance of respecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and adhering to past bilateral agreements. Both sides committed to intensifying diplomatic and military dialogues to resolve border tensions and restore normalcy in relations. Jaishankar highlighted the necessity of mutual respect, sensitivity, and interest. The meeting comes amid a prolonged standoff that began in May 2020 and includes the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Additionally, Jaishankar urged the international community to isolate countries that support terrorism, indirectly referencing Pakistan and China. He stressed the need for a unified global response to terrorism, underlining its threat to regional and global peace.
The horticulture department estimates Kashmir produced 11,289 and 11,789 metric tons of cherry in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In 2019 and 2020 and 2023, it was around 12,000 MT.
SRINAGAR
Following the devastating floods of September 2014, a comprehensive flood management strategy was implemented to fortify the River Jhelum and its flood spill channels. Under the guidance of the Central Water Commission and backed by substantial funding, immediate and short-term measures significantly increased the river’s carrying capacities at critical points. For instance, capacity from Sangam to Padhshahi Bagh surged from 31,800 to 41,000 cusecs. Approved by the Central Water Commission for Rs 399.29 crore and funded under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP), Phase-I of the project is nearly complete. The carrying capacity of River Jhelum has been significantly enhanced at various points: from 27,000 to 32,000 cusecs at Ram Munshibagh, from 4,000 to 27,000 cusecs at Padhshahi Bagh, and from 20,000 to 227,000 cusecs at Ningli in Wullar Baramulla. The data was released as part of an RTI application.
Eight specialised vehicles, more than 600 workers and 25 management personnel have been deployed across both axes to manage the day-to-day operations of waste collection, transportation, and processing on the Amarnath Yatra routes.
KREERI
Syed Basharat Bukhari has rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after being expelled in 2018. A former MLA from Sangrama, Bukhari has switched affiliations multiple times since leaving the PDP, joining the National Conference in December 2018 and then the People’s Conference in 2021. The People’s Conference expelled him in June 2023 for anti-party activities. Recently, Bukhari supported National Conference’s Omar Abdullah in the Lok Sabha elections. The PDP welcomed his return, highlighting ongoing interest from other political leaders to rejoin the party, though no decisions have been made yet.
School picnics to Gulmarg on weekends has been officially banned.
JAMMU
Jammu and Kashmir Police have established a new specialised force of 960 trained personnel dedicated to combating infiltration and militancy in the border areas. Modelled after the US Marines, this force is uniquely focused, with 560 members deployed in the Jammu division and the remaining in the Kashmir Valley. Unlike other police units, these personnel cannot be assigned to any other duties, ensuring their exclusive focus on border security. According to DGP RR Swain, the recruits, who are locals, possess valuable geographic knowledge which aids in curbing infiltration and gathering human intelligence. This localised expertise is expected to enhance area security and make it more challenging for adversaries to infiltrate. Swain emphasized that supervisory officers have been instructed to ensure that these personnel concentrate solely on their primary duties.
Sangh Parivaar’s student organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has started a membership drive in Jammu and Kashmir to take its members from 50 thousand to one lakh.
SRINAGAR
In Srinagar, four residents have revived the iconic Tonga, a horse-drawn buggy that was once the primary mode of transportation in Kashmir. This initiative, approved by the administration, provides tourists with an alternative to the traditional Shikara ride on Dal Lake, offering a mesmerizing view of the Zabrwan mountain range. The Tonga, a symbol of luxury used by the elite, is now creating employment and reviving a cherished cultural tradition.
Of the 140 SPOs being hired, 47 are in Poonch, 27 in Doda, and 22 each in Rajouri, Reasi, and Udhampur districts.
JAMMU KASHMIR
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited the forward areas of Poonch on his first official trip outside the national capital. This visit highlights the security challenges posed by the Pir Panjal region and adjoining districts, which have witnessed several militant attacks in recent years. General Dwivedi, who has a deep connection with Jammu and Kashmir, having served as the Northern Command chief from 2022 to 2024, reviewed the security situation and operational preparedness along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. He was accompanied by senior Army commanders and interacted with field officers and troops, lauding them for their professionalism and exhorting them to remain steadfast in meeting current and emerging security challenges. He also met with Jammu and Kashmir Police officials and prominent civil dignitaries, appreciating the synergy and cooperation between the military and civil administration in maintaining peace and harmony in the region.
Kashmir recorded a tourist footfall of 15.65 lakh in the first half of 2024, registering an increase of 20 per cent over last year’s 13 lakh in the same period.
NEW YORK
Zahid Rafiq, a former Kashmir journalist, has transitioned to fiction writing with his debut collection, The World With Its Mouth Open. Published by Tin House Books, the book is set to release in December and features eleven stories that delve into the lives of people in Kashmir amidst ongoing turmoil. The stories are praised for their restraint and revelatory nature, capturing the intricacies of daily life under the shadow of turmoil. Each tale is infused with gentle humour and profound grace, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit and finding beauty in unexpected places.
In Kashmir, 32 per cent (318605) of residential metered consumers are billed as per actual metered consumption against the total residential consumer base of 982125.
ANDRA PRADESH
A 22-year-old girl from Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, went missing from Vijayawada six months ago. Her mother met Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who then asked the police commissioner to speed up the investigation. The Police traced the girl to Jammu and Kashmir, where she was found safe with her boyfriend. The couple had been living in Jammu since going missing, with the boy working as a chef in a hotel. The police brought the girl and her boyfriend back to Vijayawada. The girl has told the police that she was allegedly kidnapped by a man named Shaik Amzad. He took the girl to several states before keeping her in a house in Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly with the intention of “selling her to mafia gangs”. The girl’s mother accused Amzad of torturing her daughter and not providing her with proper food. The police arrested Amzad and produced him before the court, and the girl was rescued and reunited with her family.
Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained 43 persons including 24 suspects in connection with the alleged vandalism at a Shiv temple in the Reasi district
LADAKH
Days ahead of the anniversary of Vijay Divas, a tragic incident on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Eastern Ladakh saw the killing of five Army soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO). Their T-72 tank got stuck in the Shyok River during a military training activity. The incident occurred when a sudden increase in the water level was reported in the ferocious river. The Indian Army’s Fire and Fury Corps, which is responsible for the region, expressed regret over the loss of the brave personnel who were operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh.
