JAMMU
Panun Kashmir, a fanatic group seeking a separate homeland for minority Pandits in Kashmir Valley, has expelled its chairman, Ajay Chrungoo, over a series of serious charges, including alleged links and interaction with Ghulam Nabi Fai, controversial foreign engagements, alleged sponsored offshore visits and failure to clarify their purpose or permissions. He has also been accused of criticising the emergence of the Ram Mandir. The organisation accused Chrangoo of anti-organisational conduct, deviation from core ideology, attempting to dissolve the body without mandate, obstructing expansion, defuncting units, creating parallel structures, and targeting senior activists through proxies. Tito Ganju is now leading the group.
LG Manoj Sinha handed appointment letters to 27 next of kin of militancy victims in Srinagar, taking the total number of such government jobs to around 400 in Jammu and Kashmir.
DELHI
The Supreme Court granted bail to Shabir Shah in a terror-funding case, citing prolonged custody, trial delays, and his advanced age. Shah, arrested in 2019 by the National Investigation Agency under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, had spent nearly eight years in jail, while only 34 of 248 witnesses were examined. The court, however, imposed strict conditions: Shah cannot leave Delhi without trial court approval, must surrender his passport, avoid media statements on the case, and use only one monitored phone number. He must report to the NIA every fortnight and refrain from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence. The bench emphasised that the delay in the trial could not justify indefinite incarceration. Shah’s counsel argued that the slow proceedings were not attributable to him and highlighted his past engagement in dialogue with Indian leadership.
Nearly 77.76 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir’s female workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors, among the highest in India, according to PLFS 2023-24 data.
BANDIPORA
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court quashed the preventive detention of Ehtsham ul Haq Dar under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, holding that authorities showed “no application of mind”. Justice Rahul Bharti observed a “unity of mind” between the Bandipora SSP and the district magistrate to justify detention on weak grounds. The court found the allegations vague and largely unsupported, noting that the detention order was a verbatim reproduction of the police dossier. It remarked that the district magistrate acted as a “mouthpiece” of the police rather than exercising independent judgment. Emphasising constitutional safeguards, the court ruled that such mechanical use of preventive detention violates the right to personal liberty under Article 21. Dar, detained since May 2025 and held in Kishtwar jail, was ordered released unless required for another case.
A total of 117 civilians were killed in 657 militancy-related attacks in Jammu and Kashmir between 2019 and 2023.
LADAKH
Activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur Central Jail after nearly six months in detention under the National Security Act, following the Centre’s decision to revoke his detention to promote “peace, stability and mutual trust” in Ladakh. His wife, Geetanjali J Angmo, described the release as the end of a 170-day ordeal marked by biweekly prison visits and emotional strain. Wangchuk was detained in September after violent protests linked to demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards, led by groups including the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance. His release came amid legal challenges and renewed public mobilisation pressing for dialogue with the Centre. In his first remarks, Wangchuk welcomed the move as an “extension of hand” and called for “meaningful, constructive dialogue”. Stressing a conciliatory approach, he said talks must involve “give and take” and flexibility from both sides. He emphasised that the goal was a “win-win” outcome for Ladakh’s long-term interests rather than confrontation.
Over 1.6 lakh voters were added to Jammu and Kashmir rolls during SSR, while 67,690 were deleted and 2.29 lakh entries corrected.
PAHALGAM
A 31-year-old man, Manjeet Singh, died after being critically injured during a fire incident at Asal Resort in Pahalgam. Officials said he was allegedly struck by a reversing Fire and Emergency Services vehicle during the response. The blaze gutted two buildings and damaged property.
Under a sustained crackdown on illegal mining across Jammu and Kashmir, more than 13,600 vehicles have been seized and 446 FIRs registered over the past two years
DELHI
Srinagar MP, Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, sparked disruption in Parliament while speaking on the railway budget, briefly raising the West Asia conflict. He expressed condolences over killings in Iran and criticised Israel, prompting objections from treasury benches. When a member told him to “go to Iran”, he reacted sharply, questioning the remark and asserting his right to speak. Defying repeated directions from the chair to confine himself to the budget, he countered that condemning Israel should not provoke outrage. He remarked that others may treat Israel as a “fatherland”, but he did not. Amid the escalating exchange, his microphone was switched off. Resuming briefly, he reiterated that attempts to label or push him towards Iran or Pakistan were misplaced, asserting his stance was guided by justice. He invoked his ideological lineage to underline that his position stemmed from principle, not allegiance, before the chair moved to the next speaker.
LADAKH
Scientists from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research identified a rare compound, Pimprinethine, in the soil bacterium Streptomyces netropsis from Ladakh. The compound demonstrated broad therapeutic potential, including anti-tuberculosis, anticancer, immunomodulatory, and antidiabetic properties. Researchers isolated 13 alkaloids, with Pimprinethine emerging as a key bioactive agent. The study highlights the promise of natural microbial compounds as safer, multifunctional alternatives to synthetic drugs. It also underscores the importance of extreme environments like Ladakh, a hotspot of microbial diversity, in discovering novel bioactive molecules with applications across communicable and non-communicable diseases.
KISHTWAR
One person died, and another was injured after a rain-triggered landslide struck a hydropower project site near Dangduru in Kishtwar district. Two workers were trapped; one was found dead while the other was rescued and hospitalised. In a separate incident, over 230 people, including women and children, were rescued after being stranded in heavy snowfall at Sinthan Top along National Highway 244. A joint operation by the Army, police, and civil administration evacuated passengers from 38 vehicles and provided food, shelter, and medical aid under extreme conditions. Additional civilians were also rescued from nearby high-altitude passes, including Margan Top. Authorities ordered the closure of schools outside municipal limits in Kishtwar and Doda as a precaution. The large-scale rescue, supervised by senior officials, highlighted coordinated emergency response efforts amid severe weather and treacherous terrain.
SRINAGAR
In an interesting development, a delegation of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference legislators met Lt Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar, seeking the release of individuals detained after protests and mourning gatherings in Kashmir earlier in March. The protests followed reports of the killing of Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, with party leaders estimating over 200 detentions across the Valley. Led by Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Tanvir Sadiq, the delegation raised humanitarian concerns, particularly as Eid approaches, urging the release of detainees to ease the distress of their families. The LG assured that the cases would be reviewed. The party reiterated its opposition to what it termed a “prison policy” and called for a compassionate approach. It also raised the issue of detained MLA Mehraj Malik, stressing continued advocacy for his release and that of others.
PUNJAB
Four suspects were arrested in Leh for the daylight murder of Moga sarpanch Harvinder Singh and brought back to Punjab. Police said the March 6 killing involved multiple gunshots and was driven by personal enmity. The accused allegedly used a rented SUV and fled, only to be recovered from Ladakh.
KATHUA
Union Minister Jitendra Singh laid the foundation of a Rs 600–700 crore pharmaceutical unit by Orchid Pharma in Kathua, marking a major boost to the region’s pharma sector. The facility will manufacture Amino Cephalosporanic Acid (ACA), a key antibiotic intermediate currently imported largely from China, thereby reducing import dependence and strengthening India’s drug security. Supported by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, the unit is expected to place Jammu and Kashmir on the pharma export map, generate direct and indirect employment, and enhance domestic production of cost-effective medicines while advancing India’s self-reliance in critical pharmaceutical supply chains.
KASHMIR
Khyber Aquaculture emerged as a key private-sector participant at the National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries in Srinagar, showcasing its technology-driven trout-farming model and outlining a Rs 56.33-crore cluster initiative to scale production and integrate local farmers into a modern aquaculture ecosystem. Central to its presentation was the Rs 47.12-crore Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) facility at Akhal in Ganderbal, designed to recycle up to 98 per cent of water and enable year-round, climate-controlled trout production. The project targets an annual output of 1,500 metric tonnes, along with the creation of 300 direct and over 3,000 indirect jobs. The company also highlighted its hatchery capacity of 20 million fingerlings annually and supporting infrastructure, including IQF processing, cold-chain logistics, and quality-testing labs, to meet export standards.
Khyber’s intervention apart, the conference reflected a broader policy push to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a hub for cold-water fisheries. The Centre announced a Rs 100-crore Integrated Aquaculture Park in Kokernag to strengthen the value chain, while officials emphasised cooperative-based models, technological adoption and improved market linkages. With trout production in the Union Territory rising significantly in recent years, stakeholders underscored the need for balancing expansion with ecological sustainability. The discussions positioned cold-water aquaculture as a high-potential sector for livelihood generation, value addition and export growth across Himalayan regions.
