SAFAKADAL
Two brave residents of Safa Kadal (Srinagar) heroically rescued a four-year-old boy from drowning in the Jhelum River, turning a serene afternoon into a scene of high drama. Showkat Ahmad and Zahoor Ahmad’s courageous act has sparked widespread admiration, highlighting concerns about parental negligence and the lack of swimming skills in society. With temperatures rising, the river’s swift flow posed a significant risk. Showkat and Zahoor’s swift response, captured in a viral video, saved the child’s life. Their bravery underscores the importance of learning to swim and the potential dangers of summer outings near water bodies.
Election authorities in Jammu and Kashmir seized about Rs 95 crore worth of cash and other freebies like liquor that were meant to influence the minds of voters during the staggered elections to five Lok Sabha seats.
KUPWARA
A First Information Report (FIR) has implicated 16 Army personnel, including three Lieutenant Colonels, for assaulting a police station in Kupwara. The case accuses the soldiers of abduction, rioting, robbery, and attempt to murder, among other charges. The May 27 night incident involved the unauthorised entry of the Army personnel into the police station, where they allegedly assaulted five police officers with rifle butts, kicks, and sticks. The named officers include Lt Col’s Ankit Sood, Raju Chauhan, and Nikhil from the 160 Territorial Army. The confrontation began following a police raid on the home of a Territorial Army soldier in a separate case. CCTV footage purportedly shows soldiers dragging more than a half-dozen men — in plainclothes but said to be cops — one by one out of the police station. The soldiers appear to pounce on one man and force another to sit in a semi-squatting position, leading to an altercation and an exchange of blows. Senior police officers who rushed to the scene to assist were also threatened, and the mobile phones of the injured officers and the Station House Officer, Mohammad Ishaq, were confiscated. Besides, the Army personnel abducted Head Constable Ghulam Rasool. Despite the police’s serious allegations, the Army has downplayed the incident, labelling it a result of minor operational disagreements. A Srinagar-based defence spokesperson asserted that the reports of the altercation and beatings were “mis-founded and incorrect,” claiming that any differences had been amicably resolved. The incident has sparked significant controversy, and an investigation is underway, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Syeed Peerzada Mujahidul Haq. The assault has drawn considerable attention, especially with video footage of the incident circulating widely on social media.
KPDCL field staff conducted over 1.90 lakh inspections in the last six months, uncovering unauthorised power usage, resulting in Rs 11.04 crore recovery from consumers out of Rs 27.74 crore consumed illegally.
SRINAGAR
Amid a tourism boom, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has formed district-level committees to identify land for establishing 5-star hotels in all 20 districts. This initiative, driven by a significant influx of tourists—including record numbers of foreign visitors—aims to enhance the region’s hospitality infrastructure. According to a General Administration Department order dated May 30, 2024, the committees will be chaired by the respective deputy commissioners, with members including the Director of Tourism, DFO, Chief Town Planner, CEO, and General Manager of the District Industries Centre. The committees are tasked with identifying suitable land, including State, forest, and private land, considering factors like accessibility and infrastructure. Proposals will be submitted through the Divisional Commissioners to the Tourism Department. Kashmir has reported the arrival of a million tourists so far in 2024.
The 270-km national highway connecting Kashmir with the rest of the world has 17 critical spots throughout 56 km between Nashri and Banihal.
AKHNOOR
Twenty-two people were killed and 69 others injured, five critically, when an overloaded bus carrying pilgrims from UP and Rajasthan to Shiv Khori in Reasi rolled into a 150-ft gorge in Akhnoor. The accident occurred at Tungi Morh due to the driver failing to negotiate a curve. Most injured were sent to GMC Hospital, Jammu. President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences, with Modi and Lieutenant Governor Sinha announcing ex-gratia for the victims’ families and the injured. The administration is providing assistance and medical care to the affected.
The 100-seat Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla and Rajouri celebrated their inaugural MBBS batch with a 96 per cent pass rate.
BIJBEHARA
Police have filed an FIR against the former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti for violating Section 144 and the model code of conduct after she and her party workers held a protest in Bijbehara (Anantnag). The protest was against the detention of PDP polling agents and workers by the local administration before the elections. Mufti termed the FIR as amusing and accused the administration of intimidating PDP voters. The protest violated prohibitory orders imposed during the election period, blocking the main road for over an hour. “Amusing to find an FIR filed against me for apparently flouting MCC. This is the price the PDP has paid for speaking truth to power. Our protest was against the GOI (Government of India) in cahoots with the local administration for detaining hundreds of PDP polling agents and workers in the hours leading up to voting,” Mehbooba wrote on X. “Still not satisfied, the same administration went on to launch cordon and search operations in traditional PDP stronghold areas to terrorise our voters and prevent them from exercising their right to vote. Ulta chor kotwal ko daante (Pot calling the kettle black).”
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the Anti Rabies Clinic (ARC) at SMHS Hospital documented 8,652 bite cases. These included 5,386 dog bite cases, 2,844 cat bite cases, 27 monkey bite cases, 95 cow bite cases, 14 bear bite cases, 12 wild boar bite cases, and 294 other bite cases involving leopards, jackals, eagles, and more.
KUPWARA
It was a tragic Wednesday when five people died and three were rescued after falling into wells in Budgam and Kupwara. In Budgam’s Khansahib area, three men—Moomin Dar, Amjid Ali, and Gulam Hassan Wani—died during a rescue attempt after Moomin Dar accidentally fell into a 95-foot well. Despite a seven-hour operation involving locals and the NDRF, all three were pulled out dead. In Kupwara’s Kralpora hamlet, five people fell into a well while fetching water due to severe scarcity. Farid Ahmad Khoja and Bashir Ahmad Khoja died, while three others—Safeer Ahmad, Qasim ud Din, and Abdul Hameed—were hospitalised and are recovering. Locals expressed frustration over the government’s failure to address the water crisis, attributing the tragedies to inadequate provision of necessities. They urged immediate action to prevent future incidents.
Srinagar and its surrounding areas are experiencing a daily water shortage exceeding five million gallons. The city’s 1.8 million tap users require 77.53 MGD, but the current generation capacity is only 72.25 MGD.
KARNAH
A woman was allegedly killed by her husband, Amjid Ahmed, in Tangdhar (Kupwara). Ahmed, a driver for SRTC, reportedly strangled her during the night, last week. Following the incident, the police promptly arrested Ahmed and initiated an investigation. An official stated that the investigation is progressing rapidly. A police officer confirmed the incident noting that a comprehensive investigation is underway, examining all possible angles. The autopsy will clarify the cause of death.
BEIJING
PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
China has been enhancing the Pakistani army’s defence capabilities along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three years. This includes building steelhead bunkers, supplying UAVs and combat aerial vehicles, and installing encrypted communication towers and underground fibre cables. Advanced Chinese radar systems and SH-15 howitzer guns have also been deployed. These efforts are linked to strengthening China-Pakistan ties and protecting investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Chinese experts are involved in tunnel construction on the side of the LoC.
KUPWARA
In a rare incident of its kind, a man named Ibrahim vanished after leaving for the market with his father on his wedding day. Despite buying items for the wedding, Ibrahim disappeared, leaving his family puzzled. His brother confirmed Ibrahim’s willingness to marry the woman and denied any coercion. Despite extensive searches and attempts to contact him, Ibrahim remained unreachable. Eventually, the family filed a missing report with the police. Ibrahim was later found by the police and fined for disrupting the wedding arrangements.
DELHI
The Central Pollution Control Board informed the NGT that nine wetlands in Kashmir fail to meet Class B water quality standards, necessitating corrective measures. Despite discrepancies in the number of Ramsar sites reported, the NGT is alarmed by unchecked sediment deposits, illegal encroachments, and waste discharge in Kashmir’s wetlands. Analytical reports reveal failing water quality parameters in several monitored locations, prompting action plans. Efforts to remove encroachments and gather micro-biological data are underway. The NGT directed respondents to provide relevant information within two months and urged further submissions. CPCB assured timely data collection and corrective measures, signalling a concerted effort to address environmental concerns. Kashmir has 11 listed wetlands including five Ramsar sites – Hygam Wetland, Shalbugh Wetland, Hokera Wetland, Wular Lake and Mansar Lake.
SRINAGAR
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed a government communication denying work to contractors with ties to former militants, challenging Home Minister Amit Shah’s tough stance on militancy. Shah’s recent announcement barring government jobs for those with militant kin was countered by the court ruling. Justice Sanjeev Kumar criticised the Rural Development Department’s order barring 345 contractors from tenders due to familial militant ties, demanding their inclusion in the tender process and action against officials. The court deemed the order a violation of fundamental rights, offering hope to individuals with militant connections for fair treatment under constitutional guarantees.
MUMBAI
Director Rohit Shetty who concluded filming his anticipated movie, Singham Again in Kashmir, hailed the shoot as “amazing and emotional,” highlighting the transformation in Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370. The flicker marks the convergence of Shetty’s cop universe, featuring Ajay Devgn, Arjun Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Deepika Padukone. With a promising ensemble cast and the addition of Tiger Shroff, the film aims to continue Shetty’s legacy of entertaining franchises in Indian cinema.
