Jammu And Kashmir Politics

Resolution condemning Pahalgam attack passed at all-party meeting in J&K

A resolution unequivocally condemning the "heinous and inhumane" attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam was passed at an all-party meeting convened by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday. Reading out the resolution, Abdullah appealed to governments of other states and union territories to protect Kashmiris against any form of harassment in the wake of the Pahalgam killings. "We, the participants of the All-Party Meeting of Jammu & Kashmir, deeply shocked and anguished by the recent barbaric attack in Pahalgam on 22nd April 2025 on innocent civilians, do hereby adopt this resolution in a spirit of collective solidarity," the chief minister said. "We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms the heinous, inhumane attack in Pahalgam that targeted and killed innocent civilians. "Such cowardly acts of brutality against peaceful citizens have no place in society and are a direct assault on the values of Kashmiriyat, and the idea of India which have ..

26 tourists killed in terror attack in J&K's Pahalgam; at least 20 injured

At least 12 tourists were injured in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said. The attack took place at Baisaran, a meadow accessible only by foot or ponies, where a group of tourists had gone visiting this morning, they said. According to an eyewitness, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the tourists from close range, resulting in injuries to several persons. "My husband was shot in the head while seven others were also injured in the attack," a woman survivor told PTI over phone. The woman did not identify herself but pleaded for help in evacuating the injured to the hospital. Authorities pressed a chopper into service for the evacuation of the injured, the officials said, adding some of the wounded were brought down from the meadows by local people on their ponies. A doctor at the Pahalgam hospital said 12 injured tourists were admitted there and the condition of all of them was stable. A little earlier, security forc

Mehbooba backs Rahul Gandhi on EC, flags attack on democratic institutions

Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti on Monday expressed concern over the alleged erosion of democratic institutions in the country and backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks against the Election Commission of India. Mufti also welcomed the registration of an FIR against Army personnel accused of assaulting a professor in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is true that our institutions are being compromised. What Rahul Gandhi said that there was a huge increase in the number of voters between the parliamentary elections and Maharashtra assembly polls needs to be investigated," Mufti told reporters here. She added that even the Supreme Court was not being spared, citing recent backlash from the BJP against the top court's verdicts related to governors and Waqf. "The Supreme Court gave verdicts regarding the governors and Waqf, and the entire BJP attacked it. Even institutions like the Supreme Court are being undermined. The Election Commission consists

Two killed in lightning strike in Jammu, winds damage 100 houses in Rajouri

Two persons, including a woman, were killed and another woman sustained injuries after they were struck by lightning in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on Saturday, officials said. They said that over 100 houses suffered damages due to gusty winds in Rajouri district. Two women, identified as Shahnaz Begum and Rasheed Ahmad, lost their lives when lightning hit their Dharhote village in Arnas area of Reasi late Saturday evening, the officials said. Another woman -- Gulzara Begum -- was also injured in the incident, which also perished nearly 50 sheep and goats, they added. In another incident, over 100 residential houses suffered minor to partial damages after high velocity winds swept Kalakote in Rajouri district. Confirming the damage, Kalakote Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tanveer told PTI that the rooftops of majority of the residential houses were swept away by the gusty winds. However, there was no report of any casualty, he said, adding the

Mehbooba Mufti thanks CMs of Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka for Waqf stance

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday expressed gratitude to the chief ministers of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for their "courageous and principled stand" against the Waqf Amendment Act. Mufti, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, wrote identical letters to the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu's M K Stalin and Karnataka's Siddaramaiah. In a post on microblogging site X, Mufti said, "I have written to @MamataOfficial ji, @mkstalin ji & @siddaramaiah ji expressing heartfelt gratitude for their courageous & principled stand against the Waqf Amendment Bill. In today's India where dissent of any kind is increasingly criminalised their unequivocal voices come as a breath of fresh air." "As residents of Jammu and Kashmir -- the only Muslim-majority region in the country -- we find solace and inspiration in your unwavering stance in these dark and challenging times," Mufti wrote. She also posted

Two terrorists killed in J&K's Kishtwar, combing ops underway in Udhampur

One terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Friday while a separate operation to track down a group of three terrorists is underway in Udhampur district, Army officials said. The security agencies have expanded the scope of surveillance to the Bhaderwah area of Doda district to track the terrorists potentially moving between different locations in the hilly districts of the Jammu region. Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Kishtwar-Doda-Ramban Range, Shridhar Patil said the operations in the region have been going on for the past three days. "One terrorist was eliminated this morning", he told reporters in Kishtwar. Other terrorists in the region are trapped and the operation will continue until they are all eliminated, he added. According to the officials, the encounter in Kishtwar broke out during an intelligence-based search-and-destroy operation launched jointly by Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Chatru forest

Put under house arrest, barred from Friday prayers: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said he was put under house arrest and not allowed to offer the congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid here. The Hurriyat chief was scheduled to visit the Jamia Masjid in the Nowhatta locality of the city to offer the congregational Friday prayers. But, he claimed, he was not allowed to come out of his residence in the Nigeen area of the city. Mirwaiz, who is Kashmir's chief cleric, delivers a sermon at the historic mosque on Fridays. "Yet again, this Friday put under house arrest and barred from offering prayers at Jama Masjid. It's is both heartbreaking and outrageous that authorities continue to trample on my basic religious rights at their will," the Mirwaiz said in a post on X. He also posted a copy of a resolution formulated by the Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU) -- an amalgam of several religious bodies -- against the Waqf Amendment Act. "Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama Jammu & Kashmir, expresses its concern regarding several

Mehbooba urges NC alliance to pass resolution rejecting Waqf amendments

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday urged the Jammu and Kashmir assembly to pass a resolution, rejecting the amendments to the Waqf Act passed by Parliament. Wednesday is the last day of the Budget session of the assembly. "With today possibly marking the end of this assembly session the ruling alliance should prioritise passing a resolution to reject this bill rather than prolonging the political spectacle," the former chief minister said in a post on X. The PDP president also referred to the chance meeting between Chief minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at the Tulip Garden here recently, saying the meeting seemed to be a signal to 24 crore Muslims of the country. The ruling National Conference has already rubbished the charges, saying the opposition was "fishing in the desert". "After bulldozing the Waqf Amendment Bill through Parliament, Minister Kiren Rijiju strategically chose to visit Kashmir. He was given red carpet welcome by the Chief Minister o

Amit Shah chairs meeting to review ongoing developmental projects in J-K

A high-level meeting to review the ongoing developmental projects in Jammu and Kashmir began here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Union home minister Amit Shah, officials said. The meeting at Raj Bhavan is being attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with senior officers from the Union home ministry and Kashmir government, they said. During the meeting, the officers will brief the home minister on the ongoing developmental projects in the Union Territory. Shah, who is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, arrived in the Valley on Monday evening. Immediately after his arrival, Shah visited the house of Kirti Chakra awardee Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Muzammil Bhat, who laid down his life battling terrorists in 2023. He spent nearly 20 minutes with the slain police officer's father, retired Inspector General of Police Ghulam Hassan Bhat, before heading to Raj Bhavan. Posthumously awarded Kirti Chak

Social media post sparks protests in J-K's Bhaderwah; internet suspended

Protests and a partial bandh were observed in the communally sensitive Bhaderwah town of Doda district on Saturday following an objectionable social media post allegedly put up by a leader of a Hindu group, prompting authorities to suspend mobile internet services, officials said. Superintendent of Police, Bhaderwah, Vinod Sharma said an FIR has been registered against the accused, Virender Razdan, and raids are underway to nab him. The officer appealed to the people to maintain peace and communal harmony. Razdan, the head of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha Bhaderwah, allegedly posted communally sensitive content on his social media account, drawing resentment from members of both Hindu and Muslim communities. Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhaderwah on Saturday took out a march from the local Jamia Masjid to Bhaderwah police station, shouting slogans demanding the arrest of the culprit for "hurting the religious sentiments" of Muslims through the objectionable post. The protesters dispersed after t

I am a political leader, not terrorist: Jailed JKLF chief Yasin Malik to SC

Jailed JKLF chief Yasin Malik on Friday said in the Supreme Court that he was a "political leader and not a terrorist" and claimed seven Prime Ministers had engaged in a dialogue with him in the past. Appearing via video-conferencing before a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, Malik referred to the submission of solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, that there were photos of him alongside terrorist Hafiz Saeed and it was covered by all national and regional dailies and television channels "This statement has created a public narrative against me. The union government has not listed my organisation as a terrorist organisation under UAPA. It is pertinent to note that post a unilateral ceasefire in 1994, I was not only provided bail in 32 cases but none of the cases were pursued," Malik said. He added, "During the dispensation during Prime Ministers P V Narasimha Rao, H D Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Dr Manmohan Singh and even the .

Amit Shah's J-K visit not linked to Kathua operation: CM Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Jammu and Kashmir was not linked to the anti-militancy operation in Kathua. The programme was finalised before the operation, he added. "Do not link the Union minister's visit to the Kathua (operation). His programme was finalised before the Kathua encounter. It is a coincidence that his visit comes around the time of the Kathua operation," the chief minister told reporters after launching a free bus service for women at SKICC. The home minister's visit does not have a security agenda only, he added. "While the security (situation) will be reviewed, he (Shah) has planned a public meeting in Jammu as well Then, in Srinagar, he (Shah) will review the development work and inaugurate some projects," Abdullah said. A combing operation is underway at the Panjtirthi site in Kathua to track down three terrorists who escaped after a brief encounter with security forces late on Monday, officials said. As

HC seeks NIA stand on J&K MP Engineer Rashid's plea to attend Parliament

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the NIA to state its stand on jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid's plea seeking permission to attend the ongoing session of Parliament. Rashid is facing charges under the anti-terror law UAPA. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Rashid's appeal against the trial court order which refused to grant him custody parole or interim bail. "Issue notice. Let objections, if any, be placed before this court on Monday," the bench said while listing the case for further hearing on March 18. Senior advocate N Hariharan, appearing for Rashid said, Parliament session was till April 4 and his constituency was going unrepresented. "I represent the parliamentary constituency which has 45 per cent of entire population of J-K. Send me in custody (parole)," he said, adding that he was earlier given the relief of custody parole for two days by

Mirwaiz Farooq condemns ban on J-K groups, says truth won't be silenced

Awami Action Committee chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday condemned the Centre's decision to ban the group and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittehadul Muslimeen, saying the voice of truth may be suppressed through force but will not be silenced. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said the Centre banning the two groups is another blow to the political and social landscape of Kashmir and called on the Jammu and Kashmir government to intervene to stop such actions. Farooq's Awami Action Committee (AAC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), led by Shia leader Masroor Abbas Ansari, were banned by the Centre for five years on Tuesday for their alleged anti-national activities, supporting terrorism and fuelling secessionist activities. Farooq is the chairman of the separatist amalgam All Parties Hurriyat Conference and head cleric of Srinagar's Jamia Masjid, Kashmir's grandest and most influential mosque, where he delivers sermons. "Strongly condemn the b

Govt bans J-K's Awami Action Committee, Ittihadul Muslimeen for 5 years

The central government on Tuesday declared two Jammu and Kashmir-based groups as banned organisations for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The two groups are Awami Action Committee (AAC) headed by Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) led by Masroor Abbas Ansari. In a notification, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said members of the AAC have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in J-K. The outfit is also indulging in unlawful activities that are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country. In a separate notification, the MHA said the JKIM is indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country. Its members have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in J-K, it noted. Considering all the facts availabl

'Country can be called Bharat, India or Hindustan': CM Omar Abdullah to RSS

Abdullah also noted that both 'Bharat' and 'India' are written on the Prime Minister's plane and highlighted the names of the armed forces

Centre, L-G clueless on Kathua security crisis: Congress J-K chief

The Congress' Jammu and Kashmir chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Sunday accused the Centre and the lieutenant governor-led administration of being clueless over the "deteriorating security situation" in Kathua district. Addressing party workers in Samba district as part of the Congress' ongoing campaign for statehood restoration, Karra said the "shocking incidents" in Kathua's Billawar-Bani belt, in the backdrop of terror incidents in the recent past, exposed the false claims of normality. "Such is the state of affairs that the (central) government is clueless about the recent deaths of five persons -- three on Saturday and two on February 16 -- under mysterious circumstances while the administration is behaving in a biased manner instead of seeking cooperation to deal with the situation," he said. Questioning the lieutenant governor-led administration's "inept handling" of the situation, Karra said senior Congress leaders Choudhary Lal Singh and Manohar Lal Sharma, who were heading ...

PDP holds protest march over BJP leader's remarks on 1931 'martyrs'

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday held a protest march here against Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma over his remarks on the 1931 "martyrs" and sought an apology from the BJP legislator. Led by PDP leader Iltija Mufti, party leaders and activists marched from the party head office here towards the Lal Chowk City centre but were stopped by police near Polo View. The protesters, carrying placards reading "Martyrs of July 13, 1931 are our heroes" and "July 13, 1931 sacrifices will never die", raised slogans against Sharma and the BJP. Those martyrs sacrificed their lives to end the "autocratic" rule in Jammu and Kashmir, Iltija told reporters. "We will not accept the disrespect of the martyrs. Had they not sacrificed their lives, democracy would not have been established here," she said. She said the PDP would not allow the BJP to erase "our collective memory". "We will foil all such plans of the BJP. Those 22 martyrs are our heroes an

Delhi court to decide on Engineer Rashid's plea to attend Parliament

A Delhi court on Wednesday reserved for March 7 its decision on the plea of jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid seeking custody parole to attend the upcoming Parliament session. Additional sessions judge Chander Jit Singh reserved the verdict after hearing the arguments on the plea. On March 3, the court had asked the NIA to respond to Rashid's plea. The application, filed by advocate Vikhyat Oberoi for Rashid on February 27, sought the relief on the grounds that Rashid was a parliamentarian and needed to attend the upcoming session to fulfil his public duty. Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, defeated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Baramulla. Rashid's regular bail application is currently pending before the court. The second part of Parliament's budget session would begin on March 10 and end on April 4. The judge on September 10 granted interim bail to Rashid to enable him to campaign for the assembly elections in Jammu and ...

PDP launches signature campaign for complete ban on liquor in J&K

People's Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday launched a signature campaign here to garner support for a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir. The signature campaign, aimed to garner support for a bill proposed by the party MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz that seeks a complete ban on liquor in the union territory, was launched by party leader Iltija Mufti at the PDP head office here. Mufti was scheduled to kick-start the party's campaign at Sher-e-Kashmir Park, however, the police did not allow them to reach the venue and the campaign was launched at the party office instead. "We are here for a serious issue. Drugs and alcohol are spreading like wildfire. PDP MLA from Kupwara has introduced a bill in the J-K assembly seeking a ban on alcohol. We have started the signature campaign from the PDP office," Mufti told reporters after launching the campaign. She said the consumption of drugs and liquor is affecting the moral fabric of society. "Our aim is to create an awareness against drugs.