KULGAM
Tasleema, an Anganwadi worker, starts her day with a visit to Pyare Lal, an elderly Kashmiri Pandit, driven by deep affection and respect. Despite living alone in a deteriorating multi-storey house, Lal remains steadfast in his decision to stay in the valley, even as most of Kashmiri Pandits left due to safety concerns during the 1990s. Lal, a respected landlord, chose solitude after the loss of his parents and never married. Despite declining health and mental instability, he remains adamant about staying in his home. Recently, a viral video prompted Deputy Commissioner Athar Aamir Khan to intervene for Lal’s welfare, yet Lal refused relocation, expressing a profound attachment to his homeland. For three decades, Tasleema and neighbour Bashir Ahmad Lone have selflessly cared for Lal, considering him family. Despite the challenges, their bond exemplifies communal harmony amidst adversity.
As many as 1640 new cancer cases were detected in 2023.
SRINAGAR
Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan has been released from detention after five years. Initially arrested over alleged militancy links, his detention under the Public Safety Act was revoked by the High Court in 2023. Officials stated that delays in his release were due to awaiting clearance letters from Kashmir’s home department and the Srinagar District Magistrate. Upon release, he underwent a check-up at SMHS Hospital for a chest infection. Asif was arrested in September 2018 under a UAPA case while working for a local magazine. Despite being granted bail by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in April 2022, he was subsequently booked under the PSA. “The special NIA judge had said he was granting Sultan bail because he had found “no direct evidence nor any substantial evidence on record that would have connected the accused” to the alleged crimes,” The Telegraph reported. The family and the media suggest he has been rearrested in a different case.
In 2023, Jammu and Kashmir reported C-section deliveries at 42.7 per cent, the second highest in India.
KASHMIR
The Government of India has banned two factions of the Muslim Conference. The Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Sumji faction) and Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction) have been declared Unlawful Associations by the government. Home Minister Amit Shah stated the move aimed at striking terror networks with undiminished vehemence. He said the government was determined to uproot terrorism, emphasising that anyone involved in unlawful activities would face dire consequences. The banning notification stated that the leaders and members of MCJK-S had been involved in raising funds through various sources, including from Pakistan and its proxy organisations, for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting militant activities and sustained stone-pelting on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. The move came days after the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami was extended by five years.
The MHA disclosed that Jammu and Kashmir has garnered 6000 investment proposals, totalling Rs 90,182 crore. These proposals aim to develop 46 industrial estates, to generate over four lakh job opportunities.
LONDON
UK-based Kashmir-origin academic Nitasha Kaul was deported upon her arrival at Bengaluru airport. Her entry was barred due to her “anti-India stance” on Kashmir. Kaul, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) with eligibility for lifelong visa-free travel to India, was scheduled to attend the two-day Constitution and National Unity Convention-2024 in Karnataka but was denied entry. The event was hosted by the Congress. In a series of reactions, she said she supports democracy and opposes authoritarianism but is not anti-India.
Baramulla police have seized properties valued at Rs 24 lakh belonging to a drug peddler identified as Mohammad Zahid Shah (Geelani), son of Peer Hussain Shah, a resident of Basgran Uri.
HANDWARA
In a tragic incident in a Handwara village, a man was arrested for killing his wife. The incident occurred in the Mawerv area’s Check-i-Audoora village. Relatives alleged a dispute between the couple escalated into a fatal confrontation. The accused, identified as Mohammad Maqbool Mir, subsequently surrendered to police in Qalamabad. Police are investigating the case after registering a murder case. The weapon of offence has also been seized, they said. In neighbouring Sopore, a 30-year-old woman attempted suicide by setting herself on fire in an orchard in the Arampora area.
AYUSH medicines worth lakhs of rupees have been found dumped in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
SRINAGAR
A man died of suffocation in the Jamalata area of Srinagar after a massive fire destroyed three residential houses. The victim, identified as Bashir Ahmad, who owned the house is a specially-abled person and was trapped inside his home during the blaze. The fires have become frequent in recent days. Pine Palace Platinum, a major hotel in Gulmarg also went up in flames during the day and by the time firefighters reached the spot, it was almost over.
More than 10 lakh people in Kashmir have not been enrolled in the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and AB-PMJAY-Sehat healthcare schemes.
KATHUA
Following an investigation into an incident where a freight train travelled over seventy kilometres from Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, to Hoshiarpur, Punjab, without drivers, more than six employees have been suspended. Officials reported that a 53-wagon diesel locomotive freight departed from Kathua station without a driver, prompting an inquiry. Preliminary findings suggest the train stopped at Kathua station for a driver change before proceeding to Pathankot due to terrain. The train was eventually halted near Ucchi Bassi in Mukerian, Punjab.
The Drugs and Food Control Organisation (D&FCO) has intensified its market inspections, resulting in the suspension of licenses for 115 establishments.
RUSSIA
Two Kashmiri youths have found themselves stranded near the Ukraine border, seeking to return home to Kashmir. Azad Yousuf Kumar from Poshwan village in Awantipora and Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh fromTangdar Kupwara ventured in search of job opportunities after being lured by fraudulent recruitment through a YouTuber. After contacting the YouTuber, they travelled to Mumbai, then Dubai, where they signed agreements promising jobs in Russia. While Azad managed to establish contact with his family, Zahoor remains missing. Zahoor, previously employed in the private sector in Chandigarh, travelled to Russia last December with two companions.
In Samba’s Nandpur village, farmer Bhagwan Das was rewarded with three lakh rupees for locating a drone.
QAZIGUND
In a recent auction for a vendor in south Kashmir’s Qazigund, the highest bid reached Rs 5.23 crore, contributing to record-high liquor license earnings in Jammu and Kashmir, totalling Rs 2,280 crore. Official estimates show that this year’s liquor license sales exceeded previous records of Rs 1777 crore in 2022 and Rs 1796 crore in 2023. The Qazigund license fetched Rs 5.23 crore, followed by a bid of Rs 3.14 crore for Ramnagar (Udhampur) vend, according to officials. Still, 38 liquor stores remain to be auctioned.
According to official data, Kashmir’s milk exports have increased to 5701.4 metric tons annually.
RAJOURI
A highway robber was apprehended in Thanamandi in what police described as a notable arrest. The suspect, identified as Basharat Mehmood alias Bisha, son of Mohammad Kabir from Nerojal Thanamandi area, faced eleven cases across multiple police stations in districts Rajouri, Jammu, and Samba. Authorities had been pursuing Mehmood for various offences including highway robberies, theft, assault, attempted murder, and rape charges. Police stated, “The accused is notorious, with involvement in multiple FIRs including those from more than a dozen police stations”.
An allocation of Rs 77Cr has been made for the construction of Maharashtra Bhawan in Kashmir.
BARAMULLA
Jammu and Kashmir Police recently seized the property of Afroza Begum, known as Afree, a ‘notorious’ female drug smuggler and wife of Fayaz Ahmad Dar, in Baramulla. Afree, already in Kot Bhawal Central Jail for drug-related charges under the NDPS Act, had a history of drug trafficking in Kashmir. The police action, authorised under NDPS Act sections, targeted a residential property acquired through the illicit drug trade. Afree’s repeated arrests for drug supply led to her incarceration in Jammu. This move, alongside previous arrests of female drug traffickers like Farhat Begum, underscores the rising challenge of countering drug peddling, with several women implicated in drug-related crimes across the region.
GULMARG
Some of the world’s premier ski destinations boast only 30 cm of snow, yet host prestigious championships, thanks to meticulous summer grooming. Renowned winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan highlights the importance of preparing slopes to international standards, crucial for certification by the International Ski Federation. This ensures suitable surfaces for competitive events. Keshavan, also chairman of India’s Olympic ski and snowboarding committee, sees potential in Gulmarg for ski mountaineering, set to debut in 2026. Local hero Arif Khan stresses the need for structured coaching and modern infrastructure, emphasising the role of world-class training and slope maintenance in nurturing future champions and elevating India’s winter sports prowess. Gulmarg is Kashmir’s all-weather destination but is famous as a winter wonderland. It is the only place outside the Alps where powdered snow is available. Planning, however, retains it at a low index in global ski destinations.
RAJOURI
Federal investigator, National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against banned Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) five operatives, including three Pakistan-based handlers, for the Dhangri attack in Rajouri in 2023. Seven civilians were killed and several injured in the attack. The accused include Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt, Mohd Qasim, and Abu Qatal, along with two Over Ground Workers. The charge sheet said Saifullah, orchestrated the conspiracy from Pakistan. Qasim, an exfiltrated LeT member, and Qatal, active in India since 2002-03, played significant roles. The arrested Over Ground Workers provided logistical support, aiding the outlaws for about three months after the attack. Nisar Ahmed facilitated arms and cash consignments from Pakistan, maintaining contact with Qatal.
BANIHAL
An Assistant Engineer (AE) of the Public Works Department in Samagra Shiksha Ramban, Banihal, has been charged with rape by local police. The accusation comes from an 18-year-old domestic worker who, accompanied by her father, reported the incident to the Banihal Police Station. The victim, employed by the accused, alleges that she was sexually assaulted while the AE’s wife was away in Jammu for an extended period. The victim claims to have been drugged and subsequently found herself unclothed the following day, leading her to believe she had been raped. The AE’s wife was informed upon her return, after which the victim was evicted from the house.
