URI
A 22-year-old man from Muzaffarabad crossed the Line of Control in the Uri sector, allegedly to meet a young woman from Uri in Kashmir with whom he had developed a relationship through social media. The man, identified as Zeeshan Ahmad Mir, was detained by Army personnel soon after entering Indian territory near Silikote in Uri. Security officials said Zeeshan was carrying a Pakistani identity card and told interrogators he had crossed the heavily guarded border to meet Iram Bano of Tilawari village in Uri. Preliminary investigations suggest the two had remained in contact online for some time and had fixed a meeting near the LoC. Residents said the woman had allegedly crossed a fence gate to meet him in an area lying between the actual LoC and the border fencing. Both were detained after Army personnel found their movements suspicious.
Milk production in Jammu and Kashmir rose steadily to 29.73 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25 from 28.74 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24 and 28.17 lakh metric tonnes in 2022-23.
CHADOORA
The destruction of around 3,500 high-density Italian apple plants in Rangeen Kultreh (Chadoora) during the night of May 29-30 has triggered demands for strict legal action and raised concerns over environmental crime and rural livelihoods. The orchards, spread over 20 to 30 kanals, belonged to local educated youth who had invested heavily in modern horticulture. The incident comes as the village’s karewa lands undergo a major shift from brick kilns to high-density apple cultivation, with nearly 1,000 kanals now under orchards. Affected farmer Asrar Ahmad alleged the attack was linked to opposition against illegal mining and earth excavation in the area, issues already under scrutiny by the National Green Tribunal. Police have detained some suspects, while political leaders and civil society members have sought a transparent probe, strict punishment and compensation for the affected farmers.
Tobacco use among men in Jammu and Kashmir fell from 38.5% in 2019-21 to 30.1% in 2023-24, according to NFHS-6.
BENGALURU
Kashmir fast bowler Rasikh Salam Dar emerged as one of the standout performers of IPL 2026, playing a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning campaign. The 26-year-old pacer from Kulgam delivered a match-winning spell of 3 for 27 in the IPL final against the Gujarat Titans, helping RCB secure a five-wicket victory. Rasikh finished the season with 19 wickets in 12 matches, becoming the leading wicket-taker among uncapped players.
Cricket experts praised his ability to bowl yorkers and slower deliveries under pressure. His rise follows years of struggle, including repeated rejection at local trials, a two-year BCCI ban over a birth certificate discrepancy and injury setbacks. First spotted by Irfan Pathan during talent scouting in Jammu and Kashmir, Rasikh rebuilt his career through persistence and performances across multiple IPL franchises before establishing himself as a key player for RCB in 2026.
In 55 days, Jammu Kashmir police registered 1,036 FIRs, arrested 1,128 drug smugglers, attached over 100 properties, cancelled nearly 700 driving licences, and recommended cancellation of 130 passports.
KATHUA
A rising number of young girls and married women have reportedly gone missing from different parts of Kathua district over the past year, with most cases emerging from the Billawar subdivision, triggering concern among residents and local communities, a Jammu newspaper reported. It mentioned several missing complaints registered at police stations in Billawar, Kathua, Basohli and Hiranagar in which police have issued multiple Look Out Notices seeking public assistance in tracing the women.
The report said fresh cases continue to surface every month, with residents claiming that six to seven new incidents are being reported regularly. Police sources told the newspaper that said some missing women had been traced and reunited with their families, though details of those still untraced were not disclosed. Residents have demanded a detailed inquiry, expressing fears that vulnerable women from remote hilly areas could be getting exploited by anti-social elements.
JAMMU
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir has dismissed a woman’s plea seeking deletion of a controversial “kiss emoji” allegation from the issues framed in her ongoing divorce case, holding that the question causes no legal prejudice as the burden of proof lies on the husband. The dispute arises from a 2018 marriage between two medical professionals, who have a daughter born in 2019. In January 2025, the husband filed for divorce in a Jammu family court, alleging cruelty, including claims that his wife was caught “red-handed sending kiss emojis” to another doctor and had issued death threats. Challenging the family court’s framing of issues, the wife approached the High Court seeking removal of the emoji-related question and inclusion of a preliminary issue questioning the maintainability of the divorce petition. Justice Rahul Bharti observed that the family court may have over-elaborated on the issues, but ruled that the allegations must still be tested during trial. The court also left room for the wife to argue that any alleged acts of cruelty had been condoned by the husband before filing for divorce.
MOHALI
A special NIA court in Mohali has convicted three Kashmiri students for conspiring to wage war against India and collecting arms and explosives as part of a terror plot linked to the proscribed Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH), while acquitting a fourth accused for lack of evidence. The convicted include Zahid Gulzar, Yasir Rafiq Bhat and Mohammad Idrish Shah, all residents of Pulwama. Suhail Ahmed Bhat was acquitted after the court found the evidence against him insufficient. The case originated from a Punjab Police raid on a hostel room at CT Institute, Jalandhar, on October 10, 2018, during which investigators claimed they recovered an AK-series rifle, magazines, live cartridges and explosives. NIA alleged that the accused were acting on instructions of Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Zakir Musa, founder of AGH, who had split from the banned Hizbul Mujahideen in 2017. The prosecution examined around 62 witnesses and relied on digital evidence, including photographs, propaganda material and alleged communication records recovered from electronic devices. The court held that the prosecution had successfully established the concealment and transportation of arms and explosives from locations near Gurdaspur and Amritsar as part of a conspiracy to destabilise Punjab and wage war against India.
BUDGAM
A supervisory committee appointed in connection with proceedings before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has found that more than 15 lakh tonnes of boulders, sand and gravel were illegally extracted from the Sukhnag stream in Budgam, causing major ecological damage. The panel inspected sites in Sail and Kangripora villages in March and reported that large-scale excavation had altered the river’s natural course, damaged aquatic ecosystems and affected groundwater recharge. Based on field measurements, the committee estimated extraction at 15.3 lakh tonnes, with even conservative calculations placing it above 10 lakh tonnes. It recommended an immediate halt to mining within a five-kilometre stretch around Sail Bridge, restoration of the riverbed, CCTV surveillance at mining hotspots and rehabilitation of fish habitats. The report also confirmed losses suffered by a local fish farmer whose trout farm reportedly lost around 2,000 fish worth Rs 3 lakh due to mining activity.
SRINAGAR
Srinagar Airport will remain closed for passenger flight operations twice a week for three months beginning July 1 as authorities undertake major runway repair and resurfacing works. Airport Director said flights will remain suspended every Monday and Tuesday during July, August and September following the revised maintenance schedule. The earlier plan had proposed weekend closures between August 1 and October 15, but authorities have now shifted the suspension to weekdays. The repair works are part of an ongoing runway maintenance programme that has already impacted airport operations, including baggage movement for returning Hajj pilgrims. A previous NOTAM issued by the Indian Air Force had also restricted flight operations till July 31 between 8 AM and 5 PM to facilitate repairs. Srinagar Airport currently handles an average of 35 to 40 arrivals daily. Officials said airlines have been informed to revise schedules, while nearly two lakh passengers are expected to be affected during the closure period.
KULGAM
The Justice and Development Front (JDF), a splinter group of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, joined Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s Nasha Mukt J&K march in Kulgam, marking a significant political development. JDF leaders and workers, led by general secretary Sayar Ahmad Reshi, participated alongside government employees, students and residents in the anti-drug campaign. The group described the initiative as an important step towards a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir and called for wider public participation. The JDF also demanded a ban on alcohol, saying freedom from addiction required tackling both narcotics and liquor. The party had earlier issued online appeals supporting the programme.
CHENNAI
At a session hosted by The Hindu Huddle titled Beyond the Valley: The Role of Kashmir in Great Power Politics, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 as the “biggest policy mistake” made by the Union government in Kashmir. In conversation with Dr Narayan Lakshman, Opinion Editor of The Hindu, Abdullah said the region’s developmental challenges stemmed from decades of violence rather than Article 370. He questioned the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, asking the Centre to spell out a clear timeline and parameters for the move. Abdullah also expressed reservations about the feasibility of One Nation, One Election in a diverse country like India, citing political and constitutional complexities. During the interaction, he highlighted Kashmir’s tourism potential and urged greater participation from South Indian filmmakers and visitors in promoting the region.
LADAKH
Leh Apex Body (LAB) refused to sign the draft minutes of the May 22 meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), alleging that a key understanding reached during the talks was omitted from the official record. LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakruk said the minutes failed to mention a proposal discussed during the meeting under which Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) of officers, including the Chief Secretary, would be written by the proposed elected body in Ladakh.
The issue has emerged despite LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance earlier describing the talks as a breakthrough towards a constitutional framework providing legislative, executive and financial powers to an elected body in Ladakh. However, efforts are underway to resolve the matter. Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said the circulated draft minutes were not final and only reflected the “crux” of lengthy discussions. He said both sides remained committed to dialogue and further consultations would continue to evolve a “customised” constitutional framework for Ladakh.
