KULGAM
A former BJP office bearer, Mukhtar Ahmad Mir, was arrested for allegedly stealing Rs 30 lakh worth of laptops and desktop computers from a polytechnic college in Kulgam. He also faces charges of forging official stamps. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. The BJP clarified that Mir was expelled in December 2024, asserting its stance against crime and corruption.
More than 1.66 lakh kanals of Custodian land are under illegal occupation across Jammu and Kashmir
SRINAGAR
Cyber Police Srinagar has taken legal action against individuals misusing social media to “glorify militancy” and spread anti-national propaganda. During cyber surveillance, eight individuals were identified, with four detained for security proceedings and four juveniles counselled and released under parental supervision. Authorities warn against promoting extremism online, vowing strict legal action against violators.
Jammu and Kashmir recorded over 1,800 cases of drug smuggling between 2022 and 2024, with cannabis being the most commonly trafficked substance.
QAZIGUND
Brothers Riyaz and Showkat Bajad, along with their cousin Mukhtar Awan, went missing on February 13 while en route to a wedding in Kulgam. A month later, Riyaz and Showkat’s bodies were found in a near-dry stream, raising suspicions of foul play. Their families allege injuries to their bodies and demand a judicial inquiry. A past family feud and a mysterious man seen with them before they vanished add to concerns. Protests erupted after a video showed a police officer assaulting a woman. The J&K government has ordered an investigation, with police awaiting forensic reports to determine the cause.
JAMMU
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regulating the personal appearance of Government officials in court proceedings. Following a Supreme Court directive, the SOP aims to prevent unnecessary summons while ensuring due process. It categorises cases into evidence-based adjudication, summary proceedings, and non-adversarial matters, mandating personal appearances only when essential. Officials may appear via video conferencing where possible. Courts must provide advance notice, uphold officials’ dignity, and avoid humiliating remarks. In contempt cases, preliminary notices must precede summons, allowing officials time to respond before enforcing personal appearances.
NOWHATTA
Authorities in Kashmir closed Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid for the second time in a week, preventing congregational prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan, known as Juma-tul-Vida. The move followed the mosque’s closure on Shab-e-Qadr, one of the holiest nights in Islam. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under house detention, strongly criticised the decision, questioning why the mosque, a key symbol of Kashmir’s religious identity, was repeatedly targeted while claims of normalcy were being made. He said barring worshippers from the mosque on such an important occasion was a serious violation of their fundamental rights. In Budgam, police said, they registered a case against participants of a Youm-e-Quds procession in Sonpah, Beerwah, for allegedly disrupting law and order. The police stated that the gathering led to road blockages and raised objectionable slogans. An FIR has been filed, and investigations are ongoing.
SAMBA
A Malayali soldier, Pallikkara Nidheesh (31), and his wife, K R Rinsha (31), died after consuming poison in their quarters in Samba. Rinsha passed away on Tuesday, and her last rites were held in Kerala on Thursday, hours before news of Nidheesh’s death arrived. Nidheesh, a Naik in the Madras 3 Regiment, had served for 13 years, while Rinsha was a Kerala Police trainee. The reason for their deaths remains unclear.
DELHI
Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh attended Parliament’s Budget session “in-custody” on Wednesday, but the Delhi High Court refused an urgent hearing on his plea to waive Rs 1.45 lakh daily travel expenses imposed by jail authorities. Rashid argued he lacked the financial means to bear the Rs 8.74 lakh cost for the six-day session, noting no such charges were imposed in previous attendances. Rashid, facing trial under UAPA in a 2017 terror funding case, was allowed by the High Court to attend Parliament under police escort but without phone access. He had initially sought interim bail or custody parole but later agreed to attend “in-custody.” The National Investigation Agency opposed his presence, fearing he might misuse the platform, but the High Court ruled that the Lok Sabha Speaker controlled parliamentary proceedings. In Parliament, Rashid engaged in a discussion with Minister Nitin Gadkari, who provided updates on infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Zojila tunnel and road expansion proposals. Rashid had defeated Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha election but remains in Tihar Jail, having been arrested in 2019 over alleged terror funding links.
KASHMIR
Jammu Kashmir Police conducted multiple raids across Kashmir last week, and intensified a crackdown on proscribed organisations. Raids were carried out in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Shopian, and Baramulla districts, targeting individuals associated with banned groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, and the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League. Law enforcement officials claimed they seized incriminating material, which is now under investigation as part of multiple cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). In Baramulla, police registered a case against Jammu and Kashmir Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen (JKIM), which remains active despite a central ban. Authorities allege the group’s continued involvement in anti-national activities. In Shopian, police conducted raids linked to the Democratic Freedom Party, while similar operations were carried out in Srinagar against members of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League. Police secured search warrants from the Special Judge under the NIA Act and conducted operations in the presence of Magistrates and independent witnesses to ensure legal compliance. The crackdown follows the Union Government’s intensified efforts since the abrogation of Article 370, with multiple separatist groups and leaders facing legal action. Several separatists have since distanced themselves from the movement. Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed this shift, attributing it to the government’s policies, and urged separatist groups to abandon their agenda.
JAMMU
Amid heightened political tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, an unexpected display of Iftar diplomacy has emerged between the rival National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). On Wednesday, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti attended an Iftar hosted by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, reciprocating her own reception in Jammu, where the Abdullah family was in attendance. Earlier, the entire family of Dr Farooq Abdullah, including his son and Omar and his twins Zahir and Zamir, joined Mehbooba at another Iftar gathering. While the two parties remain at odds politically, analysts suggest this exchange of courtesies reflects personal ties rather than any immediate shift in their strained political relationship.
DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first train service to Kashmir on 19 April, marking a historic milestone in rail connectivity to the Valley. The train will depart from Katra, the base camp of the Vaishno Devi shrine, and travel through the Pir Panjal range to Baramulla. Before the inauguration, Modi will visit the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, where he will be briefed on its construction. The train will initially operate between Katra and Baramulla, with services expected to commence from Jammu by July or August. The Rs 41000 crore Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, spanning 272 kilometres, has been completed in phases, overcoming engineering challenges. Successful trial runs, including those of the Vande Bharat Express, have confirmed the track’s readiness. The train service promises year-round connectivity, boosting tourism, trade, and economic growth. This marks a significant development for Jammu and Kashmir’s transportation infrastructure.
SRINAGAR
Srinagar’s iconic Tulip Garden, one of the largest in Asia, was thrown open to the public on Wednesday, drawing an overwhelming response as 17,000 visitors thronged the floral expanse on its opening day. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the garden, which boasts over 17.5 lakh tulips of 74 varieties, many of them in full bloom. Braving mild rain, tourists relished the picturesque setting against the backdrop of the Zabarwan hills overlooking Dal Lake. Donning a traditional white Pheran, Omar took photographs, posed for selfies with visitors, and later expressed his delight on microblogging platform X. The 4,500-kanal terraced garden remains open for just four weeks every year, with tulips at their peak bloom creating a stunning visual spectacle. Officials anticipate a record-breaking footfall this season, expecting visitors to surpass last year’s all-time high of 4.65 lakh. The garden also features daffodils, hyacinths, and roses, enhancing its charm.
JAMMU
The Government has terminated five employees for their involvement in the narcotics trade under Article 311(2) of the Constitution. Those dismissed include workers from the Irrigation, Jal Shakti, and Hydraulic divisions across Jammu and Kashmir. The employees were linked to cases involving heroin, ganja, charas, and poppy straw, with some serving prolonged judicial custody. The Government deemed their retention in public service a security risk, disqualifying them from future employment. The dismissals follow a similar termination earlier this year, reinforcing the administration’s strict stance against narcotics-related offences among Government officials.
JAMMU
The Jammu and Kashmir government disclosed that most claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) have been rejected, with only 6,020 titles issued across 20 districts, covering 3,312 hectares. Of 46,090 claims, 39,906 were rejected, primarily due to insufficient evidence. The government maintains a structured process for claim scrutiny, with appeals handled by the District Level Committee. Rajouri and Poonch recorded the highest land allocations, while Srinagar saw none. Since 2022-23, 594.74 hectares of forest land have been reclaimed from encroachment in Kashmir, with 5,868.65 hectares still encroached. In Jammu, 224.24 hectares were restored, with overall encroachments at 13,618.52 hectares.
URI
The Kaman Bridge, which divides India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, was reopened after six years under tragic circumstances to facilitate the return of two bodies. A 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman from Basgran and Kamalkote had drowned in the Jhelum River on March 5. Their bodies drifted across the Line of Control, with the man’s body found near Chinari on the other side and the woman’s recovered a day earlier. In a rare humanitarian gesture, Indian and Pakistani military authorities coordinated the return of the corpse.
