Tariq Ahmad Bhat (1970–2024)
Senior Kashmiri journalist and Jammu and Kashmir Bureau Chief of The Week magazine, Tariq Ahmad Bhat, passed away in Srinagar on November 4, 2025, morning, following a cardiac arrest. He was 54. According to his family, Bhat lost consciousness at his home in Chotta Bazar and was immediately taken to SMHS Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
A journalist of integrity and rare insight, Bhat dedicated over three decades to chronicling the political and social currents of Jammu and Kashmir. He began his career with The Indian Express in 1997 before joining The Week in 2001, where he remained associated for the next 24 years. Known for his sharp analysis, balanced reporting, and deep understanding of Kashmir’s complex realities, Bhat’s work reflected a blend of intellectual depth and journalistic courage that earned him widespread respect across media circles.
His sudden death has left a deep void in Kashmir’s journalistic fraternity. Hundreds gathered at his Chotta Bazar residence to bid him farewell, and he was later laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Sonwar. Colleagues, friends, and admirers recalled him as a man of honesty, humility, and rare dedication to truth.
Yusuf Jameel, a veteran Kashmiri journalist, described him as “a rare fount of wisdom on Kashmir’s intricate politics” and “a quiet, generous mentor whose voice will echo in every story we tell from the Valley.” Fellow journalists remembered him as a guiding presence, always willing to help young reporters navigate the demanding world of field reporting.
Political leaders and officials also expressed grief. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Bhat’s contribution to journalism in Jammu and Kashmir “will always be remembered.” Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called his death “a huge loss to Kashmir’s journalistic community,” while National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah paid tribute to his “integrity, dedication, and insightful reporting.”
The Week, in a statement on X, called Bhat “a journalist of impeccable integrity,” remembering his 24 years of committed service. The Kashmir Video Journalists Association described him as “a professional who exemplified sincerity and a strong sense of duty.”
Bhat is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. His passing marks the end of an era in Kashmiri journalism, one defined by truth, depth, and an unwavering belief in the power of honest storytelling.
SAHARANPUR
Jammu Kashmir Police have arrested Dr Adil Ahmed, a specialist from Anantnag, on charges of putting up posters supporting the banned militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Ahmed, who worked at a hospital on Ambala Road in Saharanpur, UP, was identified through CCTV footage after posters praising JeM appeared in Anantnag on October 28, causing tension in the area. Following a detailed investigation and mobile surveillance, police traced him to Saharanpur. A joint team, assisted by local police and the Special Operations Group, arrested him from the hospital. After completing legal formalities, Dr Ahmed was produced before a court, which granted Srinagar Police transit remand for interrogation. Officials confirmed he had recently married a local doctor. An FIR has been registered in Srinagar, and authorities in Saharanpur have been alerted.
JAMMU
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted simultaneous raids at six locations—four in Kashmir and two in Jammu, in a drugs-linked money laundering case involving former Minister Jatinder Singh alias Babu Singh and dismissed police constable Saif Din. The searches, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), covered the residences of Singh in Kathua, Saif in Jammu, and four others in Anantnag and Baramulla. The case, first detected in March 2022, began after Mohammad Shareef Shah was caught carrying Rs 6.9 lakh in hawala money from Kashmir to Jammu for Babu Singh to fund separatist groups. Investigations revealed a narco-terror network involving heroin smuggling from Pakistan, generating over Rs 2 crore between 2021 and 2022. The money was allegedly laundered through Dubai and routed to banned outfit Hizbul Mujahideen operatives in Pakistan. The Special Investigation Agency has charge-sheeted 17 accused so far, including Singh and several police officials.
SHALIMAR
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has achieved a landmark by securing its 100th patent, cementing its place among India’s most innovation-driven agricultural universities. Since 2020, under the World Bank-funded NAHEP project, SKUAST-K has transformed its research and academic model to prioritise innovation. It became India’s first State Agricultural University to adopt an Innovation and Startup Policy and establish the SKUAST-K Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Centre (SKIIE), which has since supported 89 startups and facilitated 100 patent filings, including 43 in 2025 alone.
Strengthened by collaborations with DST, NABARD, BIRAC, and MEITY, SKUAST-K has built a dynamic innovation ecosystem linking laboratories with markets. Vice Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai said the university’s shift “from education for innovation to innovation for education” has made research more problem-solving and product-driven. With only five patents in its first four decades, SKUAST-K’s leap to 95 in five years marks a transformation. Its startups, dubbed “SKUAST-K BabyCorns,” symbolise an innovation culture driving Jammu and Kashmir’s bio-economic and sustainable development. Recognised among India’s top three agricultural universities in NIRF 2025, SKUAST-K now embodies a forward-looking model where every research idea holds the potential to become a product, policy, or enterprise.
SRINAGAR
The Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), a privately organised T20 cricket tournament in Srinagar, collapsed abruptly amid allegations of fraud, unpaid dues, and the disappearance of organisers. The league, held by a Mohali-based NGO, Yuva Society, began on October 25 at Bakshi Stadium with much fanfare, featuring international stars such as Chris Gayle, Jesse Ryder, and Thisara Perera, and eight regional teams. However, after 12 matches, it ended abruptly when players refused to play due to unpaid fees. Organisers fled Srinagar, leaving players, umpires, and hotels unpaid, including Radisson Collection Hotel, which claimed dues of Rs 51 lakh. An FIR under the cheating and breach of trust sections has been registered against the organisers, with police confirming an inquiry and possible arrests.
Despite government assistance in logistics and promotion, the event failed to draw crowds. Once touted as a boost to Kashmir’s sports and tourism, the IHPL has instead become a cautionary tale of mismanagement, raising questions about oversight, credibility, and the unchecked proliferation of private leagues in India’s cricketing landscape.
RAMBAN
In a striking blend of art and infrastructure, Gammon Engineers and Contractors Private Limited is turning the inner walls of the Peerah twin tunnels in Ramban into vivid portrayals of Kashmir’s landscape, culture, and heritage. Commissioned under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the project aims to enrich travellers’ experience on the Jammu–Srinagar highway. What makes the effort distinct is that the visual narrative of Kashmir is being shaped by artists from Ayodhya, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar, non-natives interpreting the Valley’s cultural patterns through their own creative lens. Covering 50 metres on each side of both tunnels, the murals depict Kashmir’s natural splendour, crafts, and monuments, blending outside artistry with local imagery. The tunnels now stand as symbols of how non-local hands can recreate native essence through art.
GUJARAT
Afghan apples have entered Pune’s Market Yard, selling for Rs 900–1,000 per 10 kilograms. Normally routed through Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border, imports were disrupted after the Pahalgam massacre, forcing traders to send the fruit through Iran by sea to Mumbai. Despite the longer route and higher transport costs, Afghan apples remain in demand for their freshness and distinct taste. Unlike Iranian and Turkish apples that face 50 per cent import duty, Afghan apples are duty-free. Traders note that though Afghanistan lacks grading and cold storage facilities, its Royal Gala and Royal Delicious varieties continue to attract strong buyers in Pune.
PAHALGAM
Film shooting has resumed in Kashmir after a six-month hiatus following the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, signalling renewed confidence in the Valley’s security and tourism prospects. A South Indian (Tollywood) film crew is currently shooting in Aru Valley, near Pahalgam, underlining a positive revival for the region’s film and hospitality industries. Kashmiri casting director Umer Yousuf (S K Sam) said many crews had cancelled schedules after the attack, but efforts to rebuild confidence are paying off. The shoot, led by director Vimal Krishna of Ahmihasto Film Productions, features Malayalam actor Merit Philips and Rag Mohar, who praised Kashmir’s safety, warmth, and beauty. Local businesses, including hoteliers, taxi operators, and ponywallas, are witnessing renewed activity after months of uncertainty. While filmmakers acknowledge past apprehensions, they say their current experience has been encouraging, describing the Valley as safe and welcoming. Locals hope this marks the beginning of a broader recovery for tourism and film production in Kashmir.
KISHTWAR
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone for 19 new houses in Chishoti, Paddar, and Kishtwar to rehabilitate families whose homes were destroyed in the August floods. Built free of cost with support from HRDS India, these three-bedroom prefabricated “smart houses” will feature durable materials such as fibre cement boards, steel frameworks, and powder-coated GI sheets to withstand harsh weather. Sinha said the project aims to restore normalcy for affected families and praised HRDS India for its support under Operation Sindoor, which plans to rebuild 1,500 fully damaged homes across Jammu and Kashmir. The initiative symbolises resilience and recovery for Chishoti’s flood-hit community.
JAMMU
PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appeared before the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, pressing her Public Interest Litigation seeking the return of all undertrial prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir currently lodged in jails outside the Union Territory. Mufti argued that keeping these detainees far from their families and courts violates their fundamental rights to equality and life under Articles 14 and 21. She said most undertrials are poor and cannot afford travel or legal aid, turning “the process itself into punishment.” Her petition seeks a writ of mandamus directing the government to repatriate such prisoners immediately, ensure regular family and lawyer access, and establish oversight committees for monitoring compliance. She said the practice of sending undertrials outside J&K denies them a fair trial and presumption of innocence. The court, led by Chief Justice Arun Palli, has asked her counsel to justify the maintainability of the PIL and adjourned the matter to November 18.
JAMMU
Martand Singh, great-grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh, has launched the Amar Singh Sports and Youth Initiative under the Hari Tara Charitable Trust to promote sports and youth development in Jammu and Kashmir. The trust, founded by his grandfather, Dr Karan Singh, in 1970, aims to provide opportunities and facilities to nurture young sporting talent. Educated in Scotland and India, Martand also manages the historic Amar Mahal in Jammu. He said the initiative seeks to engage local businesses and individuals to support budding sportspersons and talented youth in fields like sports, art, and academia across the Union Territory.
SRINAGAR
A Srinagar court has convicted 93-year-old Mohammad Shafi Banday, former Managing Director of J-K Cooperative Central Land Development Limited, for forging his date of birth to unlawfully extend his service tenure. The Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch Kashmir found that Banday falsified records, changing his birth year from 1932 to 1939, allowing him to overstay in service by more than seven years. The investigation confirmed the manipulation and the resulting loss to the state exchequer. Following the trial, the court sentenced him to two years of simple imprisonment on each count and fined him Rs 5,000 per offence.
