Srinagar, Sep 16: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Wednesday expressed deep concern over reports of a drone attack near the Holy City of Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

In a post on X, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said: “Reports of a drone attack near the Holy City of Makkah Al-Mukarramah are deeply disturbing and condemnable, causing anguish among Muslims worldwide. With the region already reeling under prolonged conflict, all sides must exercise restraint and urgently return to dialogue and diplomacy.”

Reports of a drone attack near the Holy City of Makkah Al-Mukarramah are deeply disturbing and condemnable, causing anguish among Muslims worldwide. With the region already reeling under prolonged conflict, all sides must exercise restraint and urgently return to dialogue and…

— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) September 16, 2026

Srinagar, Sep 16: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone Sujit Kumar chaired a security review meeting at PCR Kashmir to assess the prevailing security situation and review the preparedness of police functionaries across the Central Kashmir Range.

The meeting was attended by DIG CKR Srinagar, SSsP of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal, SSP PCR Kashmir, SO to IGP Kashmir, SsP of Srinagar and Budgam, all SDPOs and other senior police officers.

At the outset, the participating officers briefed IGP Kashmir on the prevailing security situation in their respective areas of responsibility and apprised him of the security grid put in place to maintain peace, public order and a secure environment.

During the meeting, IGP Kashmir reviewed the security grid and preparedness across the Central Kashmir Range, with particular focus on the deployment and operational readiness of personnel. IGP Kashmir stressed the need to enhance CI operations, area domination, intensify naka checking at vulnerable locations and strengthen checking and surveillance along inter-district borders.

IGP Kashmir further directed the officers to ensure that security arrangements remain dynamic and responsive to any vulnerable situation. He emphasized the importance of regular assessment of security arrangements and timely strengthening of deployments wherever required. IGP Kashmir also directed the officers to remain vigilant and ensure that all necessary preventive measures are in place for maintaining peace and public safety.

The meeting concluded with directions to all concerned officers to maintain round-the-clock vigilance, strengthen preventive security measures and ensure close coordination among field formations for maintaining a peaceful and secure environment across the Central Kashmir Range.

Srinagar, Sep 16: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has approached the Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, raising serious concerns over the proposed industrialisation of the flood-sensitive area at Nowgam and seeking protection of the flood-absorption basin.

The matter has been raised in the ongoing PIL No. 8/2017, along with connected matters concerning flood-related issues in Kashmir.

On September 15, 2026, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhatti and Justice Rajnesh Oswal took note of an affidavit dated August 27, 2026, filed on behalf of EPG. The Court observed that the affidavit raises “certain critical issues, including industrialization in the flood zone area” and directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to file a response within one week. The matter has been listed for further consideration on October 29, 2026.

EPG’s General Council member, Advocate Shafqat Nazir, presented the matter before the Division Bench. EPG said his submissions drew the Court’s attention to the history of the issue, the statutory planning provisions governing the area and the potential implications of permanent industrial construction in a flood-absorption zone.

EPG said the issue dates back to the preparation and approval of the Srinagar Master Plan–2035. During the final stages of consideration of the Master Plan, EPG had approached the then Governor, Satya Pal Malik, seeking protection of Srinagar’s flood-absorption areas from development.

The Srinagar Master Plan–2035 was subsequently approved by the State Administrative Council through Decision No. 40/5/2019 dated February 13, 2019.

While approving the Master Plan, the SAC made a specific modification concerning the Pantha Chowk–Nowgam NH Bypass corridor and directed: “No development/construction activity be permitted along the NH Bypass from Pantha Chowk to Nowgam which forms a part of flood absorption basin.”

EPG said this provision assumes particular significance in view of the proposed Industrial Park at Nowgam.

Following approval of the Master Plan, EPG continued to raise the issue through formal letters and representations to the Government and concerned authorities, drawing attention to the planning provisions and the importance of preserving the flood-absorption capacity of the area.

The proposed ₹104.02-crore Plug-and-Play Industrial Park, spread over approximately 50 acres, has brought the issue into renewed focus. EPG clarified that its concern is not against industrial development, investment or employment generation, but against locating a major permanent industrial estate in an area identified as part of a flood-absorption basin.

EPG cautioned that construction of an industrial estate in such an area could have serious consequences during extreme rainfall and flooding. It said permanent structures could reduce natural flood-storage capacity, interfere with drainage and expose industrial infrastructure, workers and surrounding communities to heightened risks, besides potentially aggravating flooding elsewhere.

EPG has urged that the exact location and footprint of the proposed Industrial Park be examined against the Srinagar Master Plan–2035, the SAC decision, historical inundation patterns, flood-storage requirements, natural drainage channels and the wider flood-management system.

The Group has advocated the principle of “No Net Loss of Flood Storage” and maintained that irreversible construction should not proceed until the statutory, planning and hydrological status of the site is clearly established.

EPG welcomed the Division Bench’s direction, saying it provides an opportunity for the Government to place the complete factual, planning, environmental and hydrological position before the Court.

The Group said it would place before the Court the history of its representations, relevant Master Plan provisions, the SAC decision and material concerning the proposed Industrial Park, and await the response of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, before the next hearing on October 29, 2026.

Srinagar, Sep 16: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has cautioned the political leadership in Ladakh and Kargil against relying on verbal assurances from the Centre, advising them to seek written and signed commitments on their demands.

Speaking about the ongoing issues in Ladakh, Abdullah said the region had its own concerns, separate from those of Jammu and Kashmir, but offered its leaders advice based on his own experience.

“Now, Ladakh has its own issues. Our issues are different. But I can only advise the leaders of Ladakh, as a friend and elder brother: please do not believe any promise made by the central government unless it is given to you in writing and signed,” he said.

“Because we have suffered from the same thing,” Abdullah added.

The chief minister referred to the Centre’s alleged verbal assurance regarding restoration of J&K’s statehood after the Assembly elections, saying that the commitment had not materialised.

“We were also given a verbal promise that immediately after the elections, statehood would be restored. It has now been almost two years, and that promise is nowhere to be seen,” he said.

Abdullah’s remarks come amid continuing demands in Ladakh for greater political safeguards and constitutional protections, with the region’s leadership pressing the Centre on issues including statehood and representation.

Addressing the leaders of Ladakh and Kargil directly, Abdullah urged them to insist on formal documentation of any commitment made by the Centre.

“To the leaders of Ladakh and Kargil, my folded-hands request would be: please do not believe verbal promises made by the central government,” he said.

“Unless you get something in writing, in the form of an affidavit, I do not think the people of Ladakh will be able to achieve anything,” Abdullah added.

He said the outcome would ultimately depend on what the people of Ladakh were able to secure through the ongoing process.

“The rest, whatever is in their destiny, they will get,” he said.

Budgam, Sept 16: Tragedy struck a family in Budgam again on Wednesday, as four days after losing his son and three-year-old grandson in a road accident, their grandfather collapsed and died at a graveyard during the funeral rites.

Neighbours and relatives said that the elderly man collapsed at the graveyard in the afternoon while the family was attending the funeral rites.

They said he was shifted to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The deceased was identified as Ghulam Hassan Mir (62), a resident of Ghoom Ahmadpora, Magam.

Pertinently, Mir’s son, Naseer Ahmad Mir (29), and grandson, Hadi Ali (03), were killed in a road accident in the Soibugh area of Budgam on September 12. Naseer’s wife, Dilshada Akhter (26), was critically injured in the accident and shifted to hospital for treatment.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the area, with residents and relatives expressing grief over the successive deaths in the family.—(KNO)

Srinagar, Sep 16: Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Abdul Raheem Rather on Wednesday hit back at Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma over his criticism on the duration of the upcoming Autumn session.

Addressing media persons during a meeting convened ahead of the upcoming Autumn session of the House, Speaker asked the LoP Sunil Sharma to “check facts before raising fingers” saying that J&K’s record of Assembly sittings was better than the national average.

He said the 10-day session, comprising seven working days, was planned in accordance with the business before the House and there was no purpose in extending it unnecessarily.

The Speaker said the Autumn session was traditionally shorter and would deal with government business, including legislative work, besides private members’ business.

“It won’t serve any purpose to have a long session. We have to keep it as per the business,” Rather said.

Taking on the Opposition over its criticism of the session’s duration, Rather cited figures from different state legislatures and said J&K has an average of 28 Assembly sittings against a national average of 24.

“Our position is best when we compare our position with other legislatures. J&K is performing better in terms of holding sittings,” he said.

Rather said the Constitution required that the gap between two sessions should not exceed six months and alleged that some legislatures held sittings largely to fulfil this constitutional requirement.

He specifically referred to Assam, governed by the BJP, and said the state had convened a one-day Autumn session.

“Ask the LoP about Assam which is governed by BJP. Sunil Sharma (our LoP) served as the BJP’s election in-charge for the state. He should answer this,” Rather added.

The Speaker also said that as compared to the sessions, as per the figures, of other states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Goa J&K’s Assembly has performed favourably with legislatures elsewhere.

He said Gujarat, after its Assembly was adjourned in March, met again in September for three days, while Rajasthan had two sittings, Uttar Pradesh four, Madhya Pradesh five, Punjab six and Goa five.

“My request to the LoP is to check facts before raising fingers,” Rather said.

He also referred to the duration of Autumn sessions held under previous governments, saying the J&K Assembly, when the erstwhile state had greater legislative powers, held its 2015 Autumn session from October 3 to 10.

In 2017, he said, the Autumn session lasted four days, from July 4 to 8.

“The present LoP was part of the decision-making process at the time. We are now holding the session for 10 days and opposition (LoP) says we are making a joke of it,” Rather said.

The Speaker said the length of an Assembly session should be determined by the volume of business and not merely extended to increase the number of days.

He also pointed to the expenditure involved in convening the House.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly called upon the media to exercise greater caution and responsibility while reporting the proceedings of the legislature.

“The media is a respected section of society and Journalists act as an important bridge between the government and the people,” he said.

Rather said the media had the responsibility of communicating government policies, programmes and performance to the public while honestly conveying people’s problems and aspirations to the government as well.

On media coverage of the Assembly proceedings, Speaker urged the journalists to prefer quality of legislative proceedings over disruptions and noisy scenes.

“Prefer quality over noise. Make performance primary so that the legislators should realise that adherence to rules, law and meaningful participation in the House will attract greater media attention than disorderly conduct,” he said.

He said excessive focus on ruckus could tempt other members, particularly younger legislators, to resort to similar behaviour for attention.

“Legislators should feel that sensible behaviour in the House will invite more coverage,” he added.

The Speaker also cautioned journalists to report Assembly proceedings with due care and avoid any “breach of privilege.”

He also assured the media of smooth arrangement saying that efforts would be made to address inconveniences faced by journalists during previous sessions.

The Autumn session of the J&K Legislative Assembly is scheduled to commence on September 21, 2026.