Jammu And Kashmir

Security forces searched for terrorists in Udhampur on Tuesday, a day after a policeman was killed in a gunfight there, a police officer said. During the encounter on Monday, one terrorist was believed to have been injured, while two policemen suffered minor bullet wounds. "The operation has been resumed in the area to track down the holed-up terrorists. The cordon has been further strengthened," the officer told PTI. A joint team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of police, along with the army and the CRPF, is on the job with sniffer dogs, the officer said. On Monday, forces got locked in a gunfight with terrorists in Soan village of the Majalta area in Udhampur. The village was raided by the police on a tip-off about the presence of three terrorists, believed to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit. The encounter took place in the besieged village around 6 pm and continued for some time, resulting in injuries to one SOG jawan, Amjad Pathan, so

In a sharp retort, India ripped through Pakistan's "divisive agenda" at the UN Security Council, calling out Islamabad's unique way of respecting the will of its people by jailing a prime minister and giving lifetime immunity to its army chief. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, delivered a strong response in the Security Council on Monday after Pakistan's Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad raised the issues of Jammu and Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty during an open debate on 'Leadership for Peace'. "Pakistan's unwarranted reference to Jammu and Kashmir in today's open debate attests to its obsessive focus on harming India and its people. A serving non-permanent Security Council Member that chooses to further this obsession in all meetings and platforms of the UN in pursuit of its divisive agenda cannot be expected to fulfil its designated responsibilities and obligations. Let me be clear -- India will counter Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in

India on Monday (local time) delivered a stinging rebuttal to Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on "Leadership for Peace", firmly rejecting Islamabad's claims over Jammu and Kashmir's "unresolved disputes" as "unwarranted", reiterating that the Union Territory along with Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India, and emphasising that they "were, are, and will always remain so."Referring to Pakistan's comments during the debate, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, labelled Pakistan as the "global epicentre of terror" while calling it out for using the UN platform to further its "obsessive focus on harming India and its people."He added that Pakistan, pursuing a divisive agenda, undermines its international responsibilities as a non-permanent UNSC member."I refer to the statement made by the representative of Pakistan today. India would like to reiterate that the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and ..

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the power projects under execution in the Union territory are construction works of national importance and law enforcement agencies should take action against anyone obstructing those. His remarks came a couple of days after a senior officer associated with the construction of the 850-MW Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district accused a local BJP MLA of interfering in the works, and warned that continued disruptions could force the company to pull out of the project. "There should be no (political) interference and (if there is any) it should be viewed very seriously," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. On December 4, Joint Chief Operating Officer of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), Harpal Singh, claimed that certain politicians and their local supporters, who are neither employees nor workers of the project, attempted to pressure and threaten

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday distanced himself from the "vote chori" issue raised by the Congress and said the "INDIA bloc has got nothing to do with it". His remarks came a day after top Congress leaders attacked the BJP and the election commissioners at a 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally in the national capital, alleging that "vote chori" is in the ruling party's DNA and its leaders were "gaddar" who were conspiring to take away voting rights of people and should be removed from power. Abdullah's National Conference is a constituent of the opposition INDIA bloc. The Congress is the largest party in the coalition in terms of the number of opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha. Asked to comment on the issue of "vote chori" and alleged electoral irregularities being highlighted by the Congress, Abdullah said, "The INDIA bloc has got nothing to do with it. Every political party is at liberty to set its own agenda. The Congress has made 'vote chori' and SIR as its ma

There was a slight respite from cold conditions across Kashmir as the minimum temperatures increased a bit owing to overcast skies, even as the meteorological department forecast light snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches of the valley, officials said on Saturday. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.9 degrees Celsius on Friday night, up from the previous night's minus 3.6 degrees Celsius. The night temperature was 1.7 degrees below the normal for this time of the season, they said. A thick layer of fog engulfed the city and most other parts of the valley, especially the areas around the water bodies, the Met said. Qazigund in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, while the minimum in north Kashmir's Kupwara settled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius. Kokernag in south Kashmir registered a low of 0.1 degrees Celsius, it added. Kokernag, and Gulmarg -- the popular ski resort in north Kashmir -- were the only recorde

Meanwhile, amid the biting cold, a fire broke out in several shops and a furniture godown in the Munwarabad area of Srinagar on Sunday

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday appreciated Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his "focused" approach to restore the Union territory's economy, to which he responded by thanking her and quipping, "Please show me the money ma'am." The finance minister's commendation, delivered at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, came while reflecting on the national economy's journey, and highlighting the specific efforts in Jammu and Kashmir. She recalled how the UT's economy had been picking up under the Central rule, citing the successful "restoration of the J-K Bank", and the Centre's efforts to go into the "granular details" to boost the local economy. However, she noted that the revival took a "major hit" when the crucial tourism sector "came to a standstill" following external factors, in a veiled reference to border troubles and attacks, including the April 22 incident in Pahalgam. "I must appreciate the chief minister of J-K who met me twice, focu

Scores of protesters took to the streets in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra town on Tuesday against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, demanding an immediate rollback of the proposed ropeway project, officials said. Locals of Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, have been opposing the Rs 250-crore ropeway project, which is proposed to connect Tarakote Marg with Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre steep track to the cave shrine in Reasi district. They claim the ropeway would adversely impact the livelihoods of over 60,000 families, particularly hoteliers, shopkeepers, pony operators, pithus and labourers who depend on the pilgrimage for daily income. Carrying placards, scores of men, women and children staged a protest march in Katra under the banner of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti. They raised slogans against the shrine board, demanding the rollback of the project. Leaders of the agitation claimed the project would severely affect local ponywalas, ..

In a major setback to the CBI, a special court on Tuesday set free Shafat Ahmed Shangloo who was arrested by the agency a day before in connection with the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiyya Sayeed, the daughter of the then home minister Mufi Mohammed Sayeed. The court refused to grant Shangloo's custody to the CBI for questioning in connection with the kidnapping that occurred on December 8, 1989, and ended after five days with the release of five dreaded JKLF terrorists by authorities. Rejecting the CBI plea for his custody, the special court noted that there was no mention of him in the charge sheet filed by the agency. The agency had sought the custody of Shangloo, arrested in the 35-year-old case, in the TADA court in Jammu, claiming that he had been absconding all these years. Arrested on Monday by the CBI for allegedly being part of a conspiracy hatched by members of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to kidnap Rubaiyya, Shangloo carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on

A Delhi court on Monday sent Al Falah University founder Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui to 14-day judicial custody in a terror-linked money laundering case. Siddiqui had been sent to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody for 13 days on November 19. On Monday, he was produced before Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan, who sent him to judicial custody till December 15. During the hearing, the ED counsel briefly argued that it was premature to produce him before the court since the 13-day custody would end at 1 am on Tuesday, technically making Monday the 12th day of his custody. Meanwhile, an application was moved by Siddiqui's counsel seeking access to prescribed medication and spectacles during the custody period. The judge allowed the request. ED officials handed over Siddiqui's medical prescription to the court, which directed jail authorities to ensure that he continued to receive the prescribed treatment. The agency had earlier alleged that Al Falah University false

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out raids at eight locations in Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts of Kashmir in connection with a "white-collar" terror module that was behind a car blast near Delhi's Red Fort, officials said here. The NIA teams conducted searches at the residence of Moulvi Irfan Ahmad Wagay in Shopian, officials said. Wagay has emerged as the mastermind of the radicalisation and recruitment of the 'white-collar' terror module busted early last month. He was arrested by police in October, and the NIA took him into custody last month after taking over the probe into the car blast that left 15 people dead and several others injured. Raids were also carried out at Koil, Chandgam, Malangpora and Samboora areas of Pulwama district, officials said, adding these locations were linked to people associated with the Delhi car blast case. Additionally, the agency searched the residence of Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, who was arrested from Uttar Pradesh'

Over 10.07 lakh beneficiaries in Jammu and Kashmir received credit assistance during the first half of the financial year 2025-26, with banks disbursing loans worth over Rs 43,000 crore, an official said on Sunday. The information was given at the 17th meeting of the UT-Level Bankers' Committee (UTLBC) chaired by chief secretary Atal Dulloo here on Saturday to review the performance of banks and financial institutions in providing credit and other banking services during the first quarter and first half of the current financial year 202526, the official said. The official said the meeting was informed that the banks in J&K have disbursed credit of Rs 43,017 crore to 10.07 lakh beneficiaries during the first half of the current financial year 202526. Dulloo said despite the ups and downs caused by the Pahalgam terror attack followed by cross-border tensions and floods that engulfed J&K between April and September, lending to the priority sector has remained ...

The cold wave conditions in Kashmir intensified as the night temperatures fell at most places in the valley owing to open skies, meteorological department officials said on Sunday. A layer of fog engulfed most parts of the valley, especially areas around water bodies. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday night, down from minus 3.1 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature last night was slightly above the season's coldest night recorded in the city when mercury had plunged to minus 4.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday night. The Shopian town in south Kashmir was the coldest place in the valley on Saturday night with a minimum temperature of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius. Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley, recorded a low of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius. The mercury settled at minus 5.0 degrees Celsius in north Kashmir's Kupwara. South Kashmir's Kokernag recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, the officials said. Pahalgam

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri on Saturday ordered an immediate two-month suspension of all Virtual Private Network (VPN) services in the border district, citing public safety and potential misuse of such platforms for unlawful activities. District Magistrate, Rajouri Abhishek Sharma passed the directive under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), following a communication by police, an official said. Rajouri Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Sikarwar, in his letter, reported unprecedented and suspicious use of VPN services in various areas of the district. Sharma's order highlights concerns that VPNs, by masking IP addresses, bypassing website blocks and firewalls, and transmitting encrypted data, are being used by a significant number of suspicious internet users, the official said. Such activities have the potential to be exploited for anti-national purposes including spreading inflammatory content, coordinating activities prejudicial to .

In the wake of the Pahalgam attack and Delhi blast, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said 2025 has not been good for tourism, but pinned hope on snowfall reviving the sector and helping attract more visitors to the valley. "This year has not been easy for us from a tourism point of view. Be it Pahalgam, Delhi, and Nowgam, it has had a huge impact on our tourism," Abdullah told reporters here on the sidelines of a tourism event. "The key to (increasing) footfall is snowfall. We had a totally dry November. It is hoped that God will bless us and we will have good snowfall in December. When it snows, we think places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, and Srinagar will benefit from that, but it is up to God. The sooner it snows, the sooner our winter tourism season will start," he said. The preparations and promotions that needed to be done by the government have been done, the chief minister said. "Promotion is the main thing in tourism. The more promotion and

Cold conditions tightened its grip on Kashmir on Wednesday as Srinagar experienced the coldest night of the season at minus 3.9 degrees Celsius, while the mercury settled below the freezing point at most places in the Valley, officials said on Wednesday. The night temperature in Srinagar was 4 degrees below the normal for the season, officials at the local meteorological department said. Konibal in south Kashmir's Pulwama district was the coldest recorded place in the Valley at minus 5.5 degrees Celsius. The Pahalgam tourist resort recorded a low of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature in Gulmarg settled at zero degree Celsius, the officials said. Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, recorded minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara in north Kashmir settled for a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius. The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather across Kashmir till December 2, with a possibility of a further fall in the night temperature.

The National Investigation Agency has arrested a Faridabad resident for allegedly harbouring Dr Umar-un Nabi, the man who drove the explosive-laden car that blasted outside the Red Fort in Delhi on November 10, killing 15 people. An official spokesperson for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said the agency arrested Soyab, a resident of Dhauj in Haryana's Faridabad, for allegedly providing logistical support to "terrorist Umar Un Nabi" before the Delhi terror bomb blast. Soyab is the seventh accused arrested by the NIA in the case, part of a 'white-collar' terror module busted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. "The agency continues to pursue various leads in connection with the suicide bombing, and has been conducting searches across states in coordination with the respective police forces in a bid to identify and track others involved in the gruesome attack," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has estimated that Jammu and Kashmir holds nearly one billion tonnes of limestone reserves, a senior central government official has said. Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Mines Sanjay Lohiya noted that the Union Territory also has significant potential for other key minerals, which the J&K government intends to explore and utilize for the benefit of the people of the region. Expressing satisfaction over Jammu and Kashmir becoming part of India's mineral block auction map with the launch of the first limestone block auction and roadshow here, the official said the Centre would extend full support to accelerate exploration, development and investments in the sector. Union minister G Kishan Reddy, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah and his deputy Surinder Choudhary jointly launched the e-auction of seven limestone mineral blocks, covering about 314 hectares, across the districts of Anantnag, Rajouri, and Poonch here on Monday. "All

Police have initiated a probe into the alleged tax evasion and Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) irregularities by two educational institutions in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday. The authorities have also registered a case against another educational institution under the Unlawful activities Prevention Act (UAPA). "Baramulla Police initiated inquiry into Al Huda and Salfia Educational Trusts in Baramulla over Tax evasion/FCRA irregularities & land issues. Probe ongoing," Baramulla police said in a post on its X handle. It said an FIR has been registered under the UAPA against Idarah Fallah-u-Darain society for alleged unlawful activities. "Raids conducted; detentions made & unauthorized donation boxes seized. Investigation ongoing to maintain peace & rule of law," the police added.