JAMMU
The Jammu district administration has ordered the disconnection of water and power supply to a plot in Trikuta Nagar illegally occupied by Rohingya refugees, following a complaint by Nideesh Enclave residents. Authorities said the refugees built unauthorised sheds and ran a scrap business, raising safety and hygiene concerns. They later shifted their base and moved to another place.
UDHAMPUR
A Jammu and Kashmir court has sentenced Mohammad Arshad alias Nikka to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 50,000 for raping a minor girl in Udhampur. The conviction followed a 2020 POCSO case registered at Ramnagar Police Station after a detailed trial before the Principal Sessions Judge.
SRINAGAR
Cricket icon Chris Gayle, the Universe Boss, will return to Kashmir for the inaugural Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), beginning October 25 at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar. The two-week T20 extravaganza will feature eight teams: Pulwama Titans, Srinagar Sultans, Jammu Lions, Gulmarg Royals, Ladakh Heroes, Kishtwar Giants, Patnitop Warriors, and Uri Panthers, bringing together 32 international stars, domestic players, and Kashmiri talents. Authorities have finalised arrangements for crowd management, security, and uninterrupted water and power supply, with daily attendance expected between 25,000 and 30,000. The IHPL, themed Valley of Cricket, Spirit of India, aims to blend sport, tourism, and culture, spotlighting Jammu and Kashmir as a new cricketing hub. Alongside Gayle, players like Shaun Marsh, Imran Tahir, Gurkeerat Mann, and Parvez Rasool will headline the league, which promises to revive cricketing excitement and community pride across the valley.
LADAKH
After a five-month hiatus, talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ladakh representatives resumed in New Delhi, marking the first formal dialogue since the September 24 violence in Leh that left four dead and nearly 100 injured. The meeting, attended by senior MHA officials, Ladakh MP Hanifa Jan, and members of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), focused on demands for statehood, Sixth Schedule status, revocation of the NSA against activist Sonam Wangchuk, release of detainees, and compensation for victims of the violence. The MHA assured participants that a High-Powered Committee (HPC) meeting would soon follow, likely in early November. The talks were described as cordial and constructive, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions. The dialogue resumed after the MHA ordered a judicial inquiry into the Leh clashes, led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice BS Chauhan. The renewed engagement has revived cautious optimism among Ladakh leaders for a political resolution and constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory.
BUDGAM
Seventeen candidates remain in the fray for the November 11 Budgam Assembly bypoll, with nine being crorepatis and three facing criminal cases. National Conference’s Aga Syed Mehmood is the richest, declaring assets worth over Rs 15 crore. Apni Party’s Mukhtar Ahmad follows with Rs 9 crore in assets and Rs 6.59 crore in liabilities. Most other wealthy candidates include independents and the BJP’s Aga Syed Mohsin. Only eight candidates have passed Class 12, while five hold postgraduate degrees. PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi is among the least wealthy. The bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacated the seat.
KUPWARA
Jammu and Kashmir Police constable Khursheed Ahmad Chohan, who suffered brutal custodial torture, has been acquitted in the narcotics case that led to his illegal detention. Principal District and Sessions Judge Manjeet Singh Manhas discharged Chohan and a co-accused, citing contradictory forensic reports, delayed evidence handling, and lack of direct recovery. The court ruled that no prima facie case existed under the NDPS Act, formally clearing Chohan. The Supreme Court later condemned the incident as one of the most barbaric examples of police atrocity, highlighting medical evidence of mutilation inconsistent with self-infliction. It ordered the arrest of six police officers, including a DySP and Sub Inspector, and directed the CBI to investigate, awarding Rs 50 lakh compensation to Chohan. The CBI subsequently arrested eight police personnel and began probing systemic abuse at Kupwara’s Joint Interrogation Centre, where Chohan was unlawfully detained and tortured for six days in February 2023.
ANANTNAG
The Anantnag district administration has banned courier companies from transporting narcotic and psychotropic drugs without prior authorisation, following reports that traffickers were using courier networks to smuggle large consignments of Tapentadol and Pregabalin into Kashmir. The order mandates clearance of such parcels through the Assistant Drug Controller’s office. Addiction specialists have hailed the move as a long-overdue measure against the unchecked flow of prescription drugs driving Kashmir’s new addiction crisis.
CHINA
Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at multiple Line of Actual Control points on Diwali, continuing a tradition aimed at maintaining peace along the frontier. The exchange, held at all border meeting points in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim, followed recent diplomatic progress, including NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s August talks agreeing on expert and working groups for boundary management. Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and senior IAF commanders celebrated Diwali with troops in Ladakh and Siachen, praising their commitment to safeguarding the borders and highlighting the Air Force’s role in winter logistics.
NAGROTA
The Nagrota Assembly by-election features four main candidates with varied educational and financial backgrounds. BJP’s Devyani Rana, 30, US-educated in Economics, has movable assets worth Rs 91.23 lakh, including bank deposits and shares in two companies, with no land or liabilities. Harshdev Singh, 65, former Education Minister and JKNPP-I nominee, has movable assets of Rs 11.71 lakh and immovable property worth Rs 44 lakh, while his wife Manju Singh holds movable assets of Rs 62.73 lakh and immovable assets worth Rs 98 lakh. NC candidate Shamim Begum, 37, has only Rs 1.03 lakh in cash and no land, but owns 27 tolas of gold valued at Rs 35 lakh. Independent Anil Sharma, 52, declares movable assets of Rs 28.55 lakh, his wife’s movable assets of Rs 38.22 lakh, and immovable assets worth Rs 3.21 crore, including land, houses, shops, and plots, making him the wealthiest among the contestants. Voting is on November 11.
JAMMU KASHMIR
Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, have called for increasing the residency requirement for non-locals to obtain domicile status, currently set at 15 years. Abdullah urged parity with Ladakh, where non-locals will be eligible for domicile rights only after 2034. The Apni Party has proposed raising the requirement to 50 years, emphasising protection of local land and jobs. Domicile status determines eligibility for government jobs and land ownership. Since 2020, over 83,000 domicile certificates have been issued to non-state subjects in the Union Territory, prompting concerns from NC and Congress leaders about competition for jobs and land.
RAJOURI
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has quashed the Public Safety Act detention of social activist Mohammad Waqar Bhatti from Rajouri, terming it arbitrary and passed without application of mind. Justice M A Chowdhary observed that the detention violated constitutional safeguards under Article 22(5), as Bhatti was neither informed of his right to make representation nor supplied the full material relied upon for his detention. The court noted that the grounds of detention were mere photocopies of the police dossier, and Bhatti had been acquitted in one FIR cited by the authorities. Emphasising personal liberty as a fundamental freedom, the court ruled that even procedural lapses justify quashing preventive detention. Bhatti, 40, was released after nearly eight months in custody. The High Court directed his immediate release unless required in other cases, restoring his liberty and highlighting the necessity of strict adherence to statutory safeguards in preventive detentions.
KARGIL
The Kargil-based School of Agriculture Science and Technology, University of Ladakh, has successfully extracted honey from buckwheat crops for the first time, advancing sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods. Following a floral calendar, bee colonies were introduced in sync with the flowering period of alfalfa and buckwheat, yielding honey after one and a half months. The unique altitude and climate of Kargil impart a distinct aroma and taste to the honey. The institute plans to expand bee colonies to more villages, develop branding and marketing strategies, and pursue a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kargil Buckwheat Honey, establishing it as a distinctive regional product.
BEJBEHARA
Parvez Rasool, the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to represent India internationally, has announced his retirement at 36. The Bijbehara-born all-rounder played one ODI against Bangladesh in 2014 and one T20I against England in 2017. Rising from a conflict-affected region with limited facilities, Rasool became a mainstay in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy team, leading them to historic wins, including over Mumbai in 2014-15. He also played in the IPL for Pune Warriors, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Despite challenges, including infrastructural gaps and disputes with the state cricket board, Rasool emerged as a trailblazer, inspiring young cricketers. He plans to continue contributing through domestic cricket, coaching, and mentorship, leaving an enduring legacy as a pioneer who proved that talent from Jammu and Kashmir can shine on the national stage.
BARAMULLA
Dr Itinder Pal Singh Bali, a 51-year-old dental surgeon from Baramulla, widely known as the First Aid Man of Kashmir, has dedicated over two decades to voluntary work, disaster management, and first aid training. Inspired by the 2005 earthquake in Uri and Kupwara, Dr Bali has trained hundreds of youth across Jammu and Kashmir and other states in rescue missions, CPR, and emergency response. During Operation Sindoor, he and his team conducted relief operations under heavy shelling near the LoC. Honoured with state and national awards for his contributions, he also serves as the divisional warden of North Kashmir Civil Defence and actively leads programmes on drug addiction awareness. A master trainer in CPR and first aid, Dr Bali emphasises practical, hands-on sessions to equip participants with life-saving skills. Committed to public service, he continues to train and inspire youth nationwide, aiming to safeguard lives and promote civil defence and voluntary engagement.
SHALIMAR
Srinagar’s City Centre at Lal Chowk has come alive with the vibrant display of nearly 3,000 Chrysanthemums, aka Gul-e-Dawood, marking the first major effort to promote autumn tourism in Kashmir. Organised jointly by SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar Smart City Limited, and Srinagar Municipal Corporation, the two-day Autumn Flower Festival showcases 15 indigenous varieties and over 80 colours, transforming the iconic Clock Tower into a stunning floral mosaic. The initiative aims to extend the Valley’s tourist season beyond spring and summer, positioning Gul-e-Dawood as the signature bloom of autumn, much like tulips in spring. The major part of the event, the Chrysanthemum exhibition, was in SKUAST’s Shalimar campus, which drew tourists, students, and residents, serving as both a photogenic attraction and an educational platform linking science with society.
