Official data has revealed that more than 18 lakh kanals of land are under encroachment across Jammu and Kashmir, while only about 29,000 kanals have been retrieved from squatters to date. According to government figures, a total of 18,38,735.42 kanals of land have been encroached upon. This includes 17,22,993 kanals of state land and 1,15,742.42 kanals of forest land. Revenue department officials stated that they have taken action under the Land Revenue Act to remove encroachers. They described the situation as a matter of concern and confirmed that eviction drives are ongoing, though no fixed deadline has been established. “Eviction…
Author: KO Web Desk
A moderate-intensity earthquake rattled parts of the Kashmir valley Friday evening, officials said. The tremors, felt at approximately 9:45 PM, caused momentary panic among residents, who rushed out of their homes in several districts. Official sources told Kashmir Outlook that initial assessments from the ground indicated no loss of life or significant damage to infrastructure. “As per preliminary reports received so far, there have been no casualties or major property damage reported from any district of Jammu and Kashmir,” a senior official from the State Disaster Management Authority stated.
Srinagar: Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, on Friday said Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would “very soon” be reintegrated with India. “I want to say one thing to our neighbouring country from standing here in Kashmir that PoK, which is an integral part of India, will definitely rejoin India because the people of PoK want to have a referendum there,” Ilyasi told reporters here. He claimed that the residents of PoK are keen to reintegrate with India, citing the development and prosperity witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir. “God willing, their ‘ghar wapsi’ will take place soon.…
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a magisterial probe into the encounter in Ganderbal district in which one ‘terrorist’ was killed by security forces. In a post on X, Mr. Sinha said, “I have ordered a thorough and impartial magisterial inquiry into Arhama, Ganderbal incident. The inquiry will examine all aspects related to the incident and ensure that justice is served”. I have ordered a thorough and impartial magisterial inquiry into Arhama, Ganderbal incident. The inquiry will examine all aspects related to the incident and ensure that justice is served. pic.twitter.com/Uu3Mf3yArd — Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) April 3,…
Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday sought a fair probe into the “Ganderbal encounter”. She said that allegations were being raised that the recent encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, in which a local terrorist was gunned down, was “fake”. The Army on Wednesday said that a local terrorist, Rashid Ahmad Mughal from the Lar area of the district was killed in an overnight encounter in the Arahama area. Speaking to reporters here, Mehbooba said, “There was an encounter in Arhama in which a 29-year-old local youth, Rashid Mughal, was killed. There are allegations that it…
Srinagar: The alleged gunfight in Ganderbal in which a local was killed needs a transparent and time-bound probe with the facts made public, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Thursday. The Army on Wednesday said a local terrorist was killed in an overnight encounter in Arahama in Ganderbal district. The family of Rashid Ahmed Mughal said he was innocent and demanded an FIR as well as an inquiry. “I believe the claim of the family should not be dismissed out of hand. At the very least this encounter needs a transparent and time bound probe with the facts made public,”…
Washington: US President Donald Trump ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday after mounting frustration with her performance, especially over the release of files on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump also felt Bondi was not moving quickly enough to prosecute critics and adversaries whom he wanted to face criminal charges, according to sources. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former personal lawyer to Trump, will lead the Justice Department temporarily, Trump said in a social media post. In the post, Trump praised Bondi as a “Great American Patriot and a loyal friend” who had overseen a “massive crackdown in…
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday said there has been no arbitrary hike of 400–500 per cent in Shop Tax and Trade Tax imposed on traders in Srinagar, clarifying that the tax structure was last revised in 2012, after nearly four decades. Replying to an Unstarred Assembly Question by MLA Tanvir Sadiq regarding uniform taxation, the Housing and Urban Development Department, said that before 2012, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) was levying nominal Shop Tax and Trade Tax not exceeding Rs 50 per annum under a tariff structure that had remained in force for nearly three to four decades. The…
The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Thursday introduced the “Jammu and Kashmir Private Universities Bill, 2026” in the Legislative Assembly. The proposed law, introduced by Minister for Higher Education Sakina Masood Ittoo, provides a legal framework for establishing private universities and for regulating their functioning, management, and academic standards. According to the proposed legislation, a sponsoring body can set up a private university in Jammu & Kashmir only if must be registered for at least three years, have education as its primary objective, sound finances, clean credentials, and lawful possession of adequate land and facilities. The sponsoring body must also…
Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday cautioned Pakistan against attempting any provocation, stating that India would respond in a “decisive and unprecedented” manner if challenged. Addressing a Sainik Samman Sammelan in Kerala, Singh, said that the “evolving geopolitical situation could tempt our neighbour to exploit the moment,” but asserted that India remained fully prepared to counter any such move. “Our neighbour, in the current circumstances, may attempt a misadventure. If that happens, India’s response will be firm and decisive,” he said, without naming Pakistan directly. His remarks come ahead of the first anniversary…