News Shots – The Kashmir Horizon

Reservation proposal: Cabinet gives go-ahead to reply on RBA, EWS cuts

Agencies — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:35:40 +0000

Srinagar :The Cabinet on Tuesday cleared its response to the queries raised by the Union Government regarding the Cabinet’s proposal on reservation, sources disclosed.
Quoting sources a local new gathering agency reported that the Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, discussed the draft reply prepared by the Social Welfare Department, in consultation with Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, to queries raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the Cabinet proposal for reservation.
“The Cabinet gave its go-ahead to the response,” they said.
According to sources, the reply addresses the query on the justification for a three percent reduction in the Reserved Backward Area (RBA) category and a seven percent reduction in the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category.
The reply, sources added, justified the cut in RBA on the grounds that Ladakh is no longer part of Jammu & Kashmir and its areas were earlier covered under reservation in the RBA category.
It has also been reliably learnt that the government justified the RBA cut by noting that several areas entitled under it are already covered under other categories of reservation.
Sources further said that the government justified the cut in EWS on the grounds that their population in Jammu & Kashmir is smaller compared to other states.
On December 4, 2025, the UT Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had approved the reservation report prepared by a three-member Cabinet sub-committee led by Minister Sakina Itoo.
The Cabinet proposal was forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor for approval, who then sent it to the Ministry of Home Affairs for prior reference. The MHA returned the proposal, raising certain queries on it

Train Ops Affected at Mukerian Station Till July 1 Due to Development Work

K H News Service — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:34:12 +0000

Jammu: Train operations at Mukerian Railway Station in Northern Railway’s Jammu Division will remain affected for nine days from June 23 to July 1 due to ongoing development work aimed at improving passenger facilities and rail connectivity.
According to Northern Railway, the infrastructure upgrade is part of efforts to enhance services and ensure faster and more efficient train operations in the future.
As part of the temporary traffic block, Train Nos. 19224/19223 will operate via the Gurdaspur–Amritsar–Beas route from June 25 to July 1. During this period, these trains will not halt at Mukerian, Pathankot Cantt, and some other stations.
Additionally, stoppages of several trains at Mukerian Station have been cancelled during the development period. The affected trains include 74901, 74902, 74903, 74904, 14609, 14610, 16031, 16032, 11077, 16318, 11078, 13151, 13152, 12237, 12238, 12919, 12920, 54621, 54622, 20433, 20434, 14661 and 14662.
Railway officials said a total of 23 trains will not stop at Mukerian station during the work.
Passengers have been advised to check updated train schedules and route information before commencing their journey. For real-time updates, passengers can contact the 139 railway helpline, use the NTES app, or visit the official Indian Railways website.
Northern Railway acknowledged the temporary inconvenience and said the development work is necessary for better connectivity, improved infrastructure and faster train movement in the long run

Missing Shopian youth found dead in Vishow Nallah

K H News Service — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:21:41 +0000

Srinagar : A youth who had been missing from his home since June 9 was found dead after his body was recovered from Vishow Nallah near Reshinagri Adda in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday, officials said.
An official said that the deceased was identified as Imran Doiey, son of Mohammad Aslam Doiey, a resident of Sedow village. According to locals, he was mentally unstable.
The official said Imran had gone missing from his home on June 9, following which his family and police launched efforts to trace him.
His body was recovered from Vishow Nallah near Reshinagri Adda on Monday and shifted for medico-legal formalities.
After completion of the legal procedures, the body was handed over to his family for last rites, while police have initiated an investigation into the incident

Man dies after being hit by vehicle, case registered

K H News Service — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:20:50 +0000

Srinagar : A 55-year-old man died after being hit by a vehicle in the Qazigund area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday, officials said.
An official said that a vehicle bearing registration number JK01M-6934 hit the man in Y.K. Pora village of Qazigund, leaving him critically injured.
He was immediately shifted to Emergency Hospital Qazigund, where doctors declared him brought dead. He was later identified as Gull Mohammad Itoo, son of Abdul Rahim Itoo, a resident of Y.K. Pora, Qazigund.
Meanwhile, cognizance of the incident has been taken and a case has been registered

Speaker expresses grief over fire incident at Darul Uloom in Pakherpora

K H News Service — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 04:02:34 +0000

Budgam : Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather has expressed deep grief over the fire incident occurred at Darul Uloom in Pakherpora.
Conveying his sympathies to the Intizamiya Committee, the Speaker thanked the Almighty that all the students were safe.
He asked the district administration to immediately assess the damage caused by the fire. He directed the concerned authorities to provide prompt relief and all possible assistance to the affected, enabling them to overcome the difficulties arising from the incident.
The Speaker prayed for everyone’s well-being and hoped for swift restoration of normalcy at the institution.

Northern Army Commander, MP Khatana, MLA Devyani Rana Call on LG Sinha

K H News Service — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 04:02:00 +0000

Jammu :: Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command, called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan here on Friday.
He was accompanied by Lt Gen Balbir Singh, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Chinar Corps, Lt Gen RajanSharawat, GOC 9 Corps, and Lt Gen P. K. Mishra, GOC 16 Corps. Though official details of the meeting were not disclosed, discussions are understood to have focused on security-related matters and the prevailing situation in the region.
Meanwhile, Er. Gulam Ali Khatana, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, also called on the Lieutenant Governor on the same day. During the meeting, various public welfare and developmental issues are believed to have been discussed.
In a separate meeting, Ms Devyani Rana, Member of Legislative Assembly from Nagrota, called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The interaction reportedly focused on issues concerning public welfare and development in her constituency.
The series of meetings reflected continued engagement between the Lieutenant Governor and key stakeholders from defence and political circles on matters concerning governance, security and development in Jammu and Kashmir.

First-of-its-kind initiative: KMCH Sempora starts free bus service for patients and attendants

K H News Service — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:27:14 +0000

Srinagar : On pubic demand, Kashmir Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) Sempora on Thursday launched a free bus service for patients and their attendants aimed at improving access to healthcare services.

The free bus service was formally flagged off from Dalgate to Sempora by Medical Superintendent KMCH, Dr. Syed Mubashir, in the presence of the KMCH team, marking the launch of a first-of-its-kind patient transport initiative in Jammu and Kashmir.

Managing Director KMCH, Tausif Ahmad, said the decision was taken after the hospital received feedback and suggestions from the public regarding transportation difficulties faced by patients and their attendants while visiting the hospital.

“We received several messages from people highlighting the need for dedicated transport facilities. After assessing the demand, we decided to start the service to ensure that patients can reach the hospital comfortably and without any inconvenience,” he said.

In the first phase, the hassle-free bus service has been launched on Dalgate–Sempora and Pampore–Sempora routes, with buses operating daily from 10 a.m. onwards for the convenience of patients and their attendants.

The service is expected to benefit a large number of patients, particularly the elderly, those with mobility issues, and attendants accompanying them for treatment and consultations.

Tausif Ahmad said the initiative reflects KMCH’s commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible and affordable.

“Our OPD consultation fee is just Rs 50, and through this transport facility we want to further reduce the burden on patients and their families. Easy transportation is an important part of healthcare accessibility,” he said.

He added that many patients face challenges while commuting to hospitals, and the service will help them save time, reduce travel-related stress and ensure timely access to medical care.

The Managing Director said the response from the public has been encouraging and that KMCH plans to expand the bus service to additional areas in the future so that more people across the Valley can benefit from the facility.

“This initiative is part of our broader vision to provide patient-friendly services and ensure that no one is deprived of healthcare due to transportation difficulties,” he said.

KMCH Sempora believes in providing quality healthcare at an affordable cost so that advanced medical services become accessible to people from all sections of society across Jammu and Kashmir.

LG Sinha, CM Omar condoles loss of lives in Pahalgam tragic road accident

K H News Service — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:33:53 +0000

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have in their separate statement condoled the loss of lives in a tragic road accident near Aru in Pahalgam.
In his condolence message, the Lieutenant Governor has said: “Pained by the loss of precious lives in the tragic road accident in Pahalgam. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members in this hour of grief. I have directed the District Administration to provide all necessary assistance to those affected.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls. He also prayed for strength and courage to the families to bear the irreparable loss.
Expressing concern over the injured, the Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to ensure that they receive the best possible medical treatment without any delay. He also instructed the administration to extend all necessary assistance and support to the affected families.

CS Dulloo Directs Enhanced POSH Act Awareness & Capacity Building

K H News Service — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:33:21 +0000

Srinagar: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) across J&K, emphasizing the need for ensuring safe, secure and conducive work environments for women in both public and private sectors.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Home Department; Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir; Commissioner Secretary, Law Department; Secretary, Rural Development Department; Secretary, Transport Department; Managing Director, Mission Shakti; Joint Director, Information Department, besides other concerned officers
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary underscored the importance of implementing the provisions of the POSH Act and the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in their true letter and spirit.
Chief Secretary directed Social Welfare Department to create a detailed implementation framework that clarifies responsibilities at various levels to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act, thereby fostering safe and supportive workplaces for women employees. Addressing the meeting Chief Secretary laid strong emphasis on raising awareness among women in government, public, and private sectors regarding their rights and the grievance redressal mechanisms available under the Act. Regular capacity-building programs for stakeholders, including District Nodal Officers and Internal Complaints Committees, are deemed essential for effective enforcement. The Chief Secretary has instructed the Law Department to facilitate training through Legal Services Authorities and enhance legal literacy initiatives related to the Act. Additionally, Mission Shakti is tasked with organizing monthly ‘Mahila Jan Sunwai’ programs, allowing women to voice grievances under the supervision of relevant authorities. The dissemination of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials related to the POSH Act and support resources is also prioritized to improve awareness and accessibility. Commissioner Secretary Sarmad Hafeez reported on the establishment of Internal Complaints Committees in government offices and the identification of 978 workplaces employing women. He stressed the importance of mapping all workplaces in accordance with the Act and Supreme Court directives. Furthermore, he noted that government and private establishments are encouraged to display information about the Women Helpline-181 and the SHe-Box portal prominently. Mission Director Rubina Kousar provided an update on the mapping of 2,826 government offices and 1,048 private establishments, with ongoing efforts to identify more workplaces. She mentioned that three complaints of sexual harassment have been successfully addressed under the Act. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ensuring a safe and dignified working environment for women in Jammu and Kashmir through effective implementation of the POSH Act and continuous awareness and capacity-building initiatives.

Road Mishap in Tangmarg Leaves Two Tourists, Driver Injured

K H News Service — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:32:43 +0000

Srinagar: Two tourists and a driver sustained injuries after a vehicle returning from Gulmarg met with an accident near Tangmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday morning.
Officials said that the mishap occurred when the brakes of a Tempo vehicle reportedly failed, causing the driver to lose control and resulting in the accident.
They said two tourists travelling in the vehicle and the driver were injured in the incident. All the injured were immediately shifted to a nearby healthcare facility for treatment.
Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and initiated further proceedings