Kashmiri Pandits have returned to the historic Ganesh Temple in Kachua village of Baramulla after nearly 36 years, reviving a pre-1989 tradition that once attracted large gatherings from across communities. Located around 15 kilometres from Baramulla town, the temple used to host annual congregations on April 29 and 30 before the eruption of militancy. This year, the return was marked by a Havan performed with active participation of devotees. The event saw support from local Muslim residents, who joined in facilitating the gathering, reflecting a renewed sense of communal harmony in the area. Members of the Pandit community described the…
Author: KO Web Desk
Cyber Police Kashmir has registered an FIR against PDP leader Iltija Mufti and others in connection with alleged separatist-related content circulated on social media, officials said on Thursday. According to sources, the case was initiated after a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Iltija Mufti featuring slain separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani came to the attention of authorities. They said FIR No. 11 has been registered under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to acts threatening the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. Officials further stated that unidentified persons have also been included in…
The long-awaited direct Vande Bharat train service between Jammu and Srinagar is set to be launched today, marking a major milestone in railway connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off the extended Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat Express service from Jammu Tawi Railway Station today. The train, which previously operated from Srinagar up to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, will now run all the way to Jammu Tawi, bringing the country’s most modern train directly to J&K’s largest city and railway hub. Following the flag-off, the Union Minister will subsequently inspect two of…
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved an 18 percent hike in fares for various categories of commercial passenger vehicles across the Union Territory, issuing a fresh notification in this regard. The Transport Department, in a notification issued from Civil Secretariat, has directed the Transport Commissioner, J&K to fix the revised maximum chargeable fares for different categories of vehicles, including stage carriage buses, taxis, maxi cabs and auto-rickshaws. The notification states that the revised fare structure will be applicable over and above the rates notified earlier vide SRO-97 dated March 19, 2021, covering big buses, mini buses, contract carriage taxis…
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir has registered a case after a man was allegedly duped and trafficked to Cambodia in a fake overseas job racket, officials said on Wednesday. According to a complaint received by the EOW, the victim was lured by an unauthorised consultancy operating from the Pattan area with promises of a lucrative job as a computer operator abroad. Believing the assurances, the complainant transferred a substantial amount of money to the operator’s bank account and also spent on travel arrangements and related expenses, officials said. However, upon reaching Cambodia, he was received…
From 17,489 Million Units (MUs) in 2020-21 to just 14,660 MUs in 2025-26, Jammu and Kashmir in nearly past five years has recorded a decline in hydel power generation by over 16 percent—reflecting an average annual fall of nearly 3-5 percent. The official figures available revealing the power generation of J&K in MUs from 2020-21 to January 2026 states that there has been a power generation fall by 16.18 percent. The figures reveal that in the year 2020-21, J&K had generated a total of 17,489.83 MUs of power followed by 17,170.62 MUs in the year 2022-23. It also said that…
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted one weeks’ interim bail to jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid to visit his ailing father, Live Law reported. A division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Madhu Jain allowed Rashid to either remain in the hospital or residence where his father is located, in the presence of at least two police officials in plain clothes. The Court noted that admittedly, Rashid is a member of Parliament and was earlier permitted to file nominations, campaigning and attend the parliament sessions in custody parole. Rashid has been in jail since 2019…
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said declaring Dar Ul Uloom Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian an unlawful entity under the UAPA was a “flagrant injustice” to the underprivileged sections of society. She also alleged that banning such “altruistic institutions” without any solid evidence of anti-national activity “shows a deep seated prejudice and ill intention”. In a post on X, Mehbooba said, “Every single day the j&k government acts as a mute bystander & a timid enabler of vicious assaults on J&Ks identity & dignity. Declaring Dar Ul Uloom Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom as an unlawful…
A special NIA court has extended the remand of separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah by ten more days in connection with a terror case dating back three decades, officials confirmed on Monday. Shah was presented before the court following the conclusion of his previous ten-day remand. He has filed a bail application, which is expected to be heard during the next court session, officials added. During the hearing, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) requested additional custody time for further interrogation. After considering the arguments, the court granted the agency a ten-day extension of his remand. Shah was arrested by the…
The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday quashed detention order of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik, who was booked under Public Safety Act in 2025. Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani announced in open court that the Public Safety Act (PSA) detention of Mehraj Malik has been quashed. Malik was booked under PSA last year.