Greater Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 12: Security has been beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Independence Day celebration as the forces intensified area domination, checking and frisking to ensure peaceful and smooth conduct of the event, officials said on Wednesday. Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength at several places in the city and elsewhere in the Valley to thwart any attempts by terrorists to disrupt the celebrations, the officials said. Policemen in plain clothes have been deployed aro

Srinagar, Aug 11: The government on Monday notified a consolidated set of instructions governing sanctioning of ex-gratia relief under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) for persons affected by law and order disturbances, superseding previous order No 1716-JK(GAD) of 2025 dated December 3, 2025. According to the government order issued by the General Administration Department, the new framework covers police personnel, defence and central forces, government employees, civilians, and damage to pr

Srinagar, Aug 06: Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an amalgam of several religious bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday expressed outrage over the alleged sale of pork products on a quick-commerce platform in the valley and asked the company to remove them immediately. In a statement, the MMU, headed by Kashmir's chief preacher Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said screenshots shared by people showed pork products being listed for sale on the online delivery platform in Kashmir. The MMU said it was well k

Jammu, Aug 06: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday visited flood-affected areas of Rajouri district to assess the damage caused by last month's rain fury, and review relief and rehabilitation measures. The chief minister's visit came a day after he toured flash flood and landslide-hit areas of neighbouring Poonch district, where 16 people were killed and six others remain missing following the devastating rains. Continuing my visit to flood-affected areas, I will visit Raj

Srinagar, Aug 06: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Thursday that the measures taken on August 5, 2019, regarding Jammu and Kashmir's special status were unconstitutional, and protests for its restoration will continue. Everyone knows that what happened on August 5, 2019, is unconstitutional. So, the entire country supports the protests right now. Yesterday you saw the protest at Parliament. This will continue, Abdullah told reporters here. The BJP-led central government abro

Jammu, Aug 06: Dr. Tasaduk Hussain Itoo, a noted physician, researcher, and public health advocate, has been conferred with the Prestigious Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) in the United Kingdom, according to media reports. The FRCP is among the worlds highest and most respected professional distinctions in medicine, conferred upon physicians in recognition of their outstanding achievements and significant contributions to clinical practice, medical education, scientific rese

Panaji, Aug 06: The Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal on charges of rape in a 2013 sexual assault case and set aside a sessions court order acquitting him. A bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar of the HC's Goa bench said it would pronounce its order on sentencing in the afternoon. Tejpal has been convicted under sections 376 (2)(f) (person who is a guardian or in a position of trust or authority rapes a woman), 354 (a) (sexual harassment)

New Delhi, Aug 06: Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday alleged that the Centre is planning to introduce ethanol blending in diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), and urged people to avoid buying new vehicles for the next few years. In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal alleged the government planned to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond 50 per cent after introducing E20 fuel. It seems they are going to adulterate petrol with more than 50 per cent. They are just wa

A half-day discussion on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 was held at the Constitution Club of India here on Wednesday, with participants calling for greater democratic engagement and dialogue on the future of J&K. The programme, titled Listening to J&K: Dialogue, Dignity and Democratic Futurity, was organised by Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi under the banner of The Justice Commons. The inaugural session was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Prof. Manoj Jha, former interlo

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted interim relief to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in his defamation suit seeking the removal of AI-generated deepfake and defamatory content linking him and his family to the Centres E20 ethanol-blending programme, Bar & Bench reported. According to Bar & Bench, Justice Arif Doctor directed social media platforms and intermediaries, including Meta and Google/YouTube, to take down the content identified by Gadkari, describing the material as absolutely vile

The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) on Wednesday inaugurated an MSME Business Incubator at its Innovation Campus to strengthen the startup, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. The incubator has been established under the MSME Innovative Scheme of the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). The facility was inaugurated by Dean Academic Affairs, IUST, Prof Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, and Joint Director and Head of Office, MSME Developme

Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Director of the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), through an office memorandum issued on August 3, assigned the additional responsibility following the voluntary retirement of Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany from the post of Director, CSIR-NBRI. According to the order, the

Residents of Handwara have expressed concern over the prolonged failure of street lights in the town, saying the lack of illumination has made commuting difficult and raised safety concerns during evening hours. Locals said many street lights have remained defunct for nearly two years, alleging that the Municipal Committee Handwara has failed to repair or replace them despite repeated requests. According to residents, large parts of the town, particularly the main market, remain shrouded in dark

The Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) was felicitated at the International Conference on Nature-Based Solutions (NBS 2026) organised by the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) for its contribution to environmental conservation and restoration of Kashmirs water bodies through its flagship initiative, Mission Ehsaas. The recognition was presented by IUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo during the conference, which brought together policymakers, scientists, resear

The potholed approach road to the Government Degree College Baramulla ground has become a source of growing public concern, with residents, students and sportspersons saying its deteriorating condition is making commuting difficult and unsafe. The Khawjabagh road connecting the main road to the college ground is riddled with deep potholes and uneven patches. During rainfall, the potholes become waterlogged, obscuring their depth and increasing the risk of accidents for motorists and pedestrians.

The seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 passed off peacefully across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday amid additional measures put across Union Territory even as normal life remained unaffected. Authorities had put in place elaborate security arrangements across the Union Territory ahead of August 5, which marks the Centres decision in 2019 to revoke Jammu and Kashmirs special constitutional status and reorganise the erstwhile state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 5: Former minister Basharat Bukhari on Wednesday expressed concern over acute shortage of doctors and paramedics at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kreeri in Baramulla district, stating that the staff crunch was adversely affecting patient-care. Speaking to reporters after visiting the hospital, Bukhari said he witnessed the situation firsthand while accompanying his father for medical treatment. I had come with my father, who had some health issues. Here I saw a crisis of sorts. Patie

The deteriorating condition of major roads across the summer capital is emerging as a growing concern for commuters who decry failure of authorities to undertake repairs of the damaged roads. Despite improvement in weather, authorities are yet to start repairs of roads or filling up of potholes. Among the worst-affected road stretches is the Noor Bagh-Qamarwari road, which continues to remain without proper macadamisation after drainage works. Commuters said the busy road, linking several Downto

Bandipora, Aug 5:The two-day District Bandipora Cycle Polo Championship 2026-27 concluded on Wednesday at Naidkah Playfield, Bandipora, with the participation of more than 100 boys and girls across the AAG categories. The championship, as per an official statement, saw keen competition over both days, with young cyclists representing teams from across the district. Ulfat Bano, Football Mentor, Khelo India Centre (J&K Sports Council), was the Chief Guest on the occasion. President, District Band

Ramban, Aug 5:Deputy Inspector General of Police, DKR Range, Sargun Shukla, chaired a high-level security review meeting at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner's Office in Ramban to assess the security arrangements for the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY)-2026, review preparedness for the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations, and discuss security measures for other major events in the district, official sources said on Wednesday. Brigadier Ajay Pal Singh, Commander, 11 Sec

Ladakh, Aug 5:A Census Quiz-cum-Awareness Seminar was organised at the Leh Campus of University of Ladakh on Wednesday with the objective of creating awareness amongst the faculty and students about the importance of Census and the upcoming last and most important phase of Population Enumeration of Census 2027 in the UT of Ladakh. The quiz-cum-seminar, as per a statement, was held under the overall mentorship of Prof. Saket Kushwaha, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ladakh wherein Shri Amit Sharma

Jammu, Aug 5: Northern Railway has implemented a new freight rate structure for Roll-on and Roll-off (Ro-Ro) traffic with the objective of making freight movement more affordable, transparent and competitive. It has asserted that the restructured service will be especially beneficial for Jammu and Kashmir which recurrently faces traffic disruptions on the National Highway, particularly during the rainy season. In simple terms, Ro-Ro is a transport service in which trucks or commercial vehicles l

Being in a school in Srinagar in the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s, opened windows to India and to the world. But it kept the shutters firmly closed on Kashmir. We were taken through the broad sweep of Indian history from the Indus Valley to independence, the mechanics of the planned economy, the geography of river systems and mountain ranges. And a broad brush of classical Greco-Roman civilisations and Anglo-Saxon traditions. While far better now, the pedagogical approach continues to be the

For nearly four decades as an operational banker, I was closely involved in evaluating loan proposals across retail, MSME, and business segments. One challenge stood out repeatedly: identifying genuinely creditworthy borrowers who had little or no formal credit history. Many applicants who approached the bank were hardworking entrepreneurs, salaried individuals beginning their careers, or small business owners with stable incomes and sound business prospects. They possessed the intent and capaci

Tourism has traditionally been a major contributor to the economy of J&K, as it is brimming with world-renowned destinations, scenic spots and cultural hubs. Today, the industry constitutes 7% of the UTs GDP, retaining its position as a consistent benefactor of economy. It plays a crucial role in uplifting hospitality, transport, food and retail industries, which employ around 11 lakh people. Since it is semi-structured and labour-intensive, the employment benefits percolate to rural communities

Experts say that one-third of glacier mass has disappeared in last six decades. That is one alarm. On ground we have cloudburst after cloudburst unleashing devastation of magnitude across the valley; village after village is facing the wrath of this worse turn in our weather patters. That is another alarming situation. Now take the third input; rains in almost entire valley are displaying a pattern that was unknown till now. A sudden downpour every now and then. Cumulatively what does all this m

We are standing on a cliff, looking deep into the abyss, waiting for our own doom. We stand helpless. We freeze, as if we were statues: emotionless, yet full of emotions at the same time. We are confused. We pity ourselves and others. We read our stories backwards, and the bygone horrors come crashing down upon us. We feel like hypocrites. Our inner synchronisation feels lost. Between what we are and what we purport to be, an unbreakable, unshakable wall has risen. Scaling it feels like embracin

Some books arrive at the right moment; others wait patiently until life prepares us to read them. I began working on this piece in early April, but a tragedy that struck our family later that month forced me to leave it unfinished. Honestly, I was gone blank. Every time I opened my laptop with the intention of completing the draft, I found myself unable to write. I simply did not have the courage. The person around whom our lives revolved is no longer with us, and the silence left behind made ev

On 6 August every year the world pauses to remember a single morning that changed the course of human history. At 8:15 a.m. on that day in 1945 an American B-29 bomber dropped the first atomic bomb used in war on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. In a flash brighter than the sun the city was destroyed. Tens of thousands of people died instantly. Many more suffered burns, injuries and radiation sickness that killed them in the days, weeks and months that followed. By the end of 1945 the death toll