Budgam, Nov 15: A devastating road accident on the New Ring Road near Waterwani in central Kashmir’s Budgam district claimed several lives on Saturday, triggering widespread grief across the district. Officials said a Sumo vehicle carrying passengers from Mahwara was hit by a dumper on the stretch, causing fatal injuries to all several occupants of the passenger vehicle.

Preliminary reports indicated that the Sumo was on its way towards Budgam when the dumper coming from the opposite direction collided with it at high speed. The impact was severe and left the passenger vehicle completely mangled. Locals rushed to the location and, assisted by police teams, pulled the injured from the wreckage. Initial reports said that at least 5 passengers lost their lives, however, Aga Mujtaba- the brother of newly elected Legislature in a Tweet claimed that 10 persons died in the accident.

Authorities said the accident occurred on a section of the Ring Road known for heavy commercial traffic. Both the dumper and the Sumo suffered extensive damage in the mishap. More details awaited. [KNT]

Kupwara, Nov 15: Grief spread through this small Kupwara village on Saturday as residents gathered outside their homes and along the narrow lanes to mourn State Investigation Agency (SIA) Inspector of J&K Police, Asrar Ahmad, who was among nine people killed in the accidental blast at Nowgam Police Station on Friday night.

Muqam-e-Shahwali, a village in Kupwara located about 82 km from Srinagar and 7 km from the district headquarters, came to a standstill on Saturday as hundreds assembled for Inspector Asrar Ahmad’s last rites.

Many struggled to absorb the sudden loss of a man widely regarded as one of the most respected figures in the area.

People moved in groups, speaking in hushed voices, stopping occasionally to wipe their eyes. “There is a strange stillness here,” said Shabir Ahmad, a resident, while speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

“It feels as if the breath of this whole village has been taken away with Asrar Sahab,” Ahmad said, trying to steady his voice.

For many in this close-knit settlement, Inspector Asrar was not just a government officer; he was a son of the soil, someone who carried the warmth of the village into his uniform. “He never behaved like he was above us,” recalled Tariq Ahmad. “To us, he was a neighbour first. A friend. Someone who made you feel respected no matter who you were.”

A large crowd, including several government officials, attended the funeral, which drew hundreds of residents from the area.

Mothers stood at their doorsteps with trembling hands, and young boys who once looked up to him as a symbol of achievement watched silently.

Asrar was laid to rest in the presence of a large crowd, many of whom had grown up with him or known him since childhood.

Another villager, Shakir, remembered how the entire area celebrated when Asrar was selected for the police force in 2010. “We all thought he would rise to great heights. He had that spark,” he said. “No one imagined we would be preparing his grave this early.”

Locals described him as someone who was always the first to stand with the needy. Whether it was arranging medicines, helping with paperwork, or simply sitting with an elder for company, he was known for small acts that left deep marks. “He lived with such decency,” said an elderly resident. “If goodness had a face in our village, it was his.”

The grief in the Muqam-e-Shahwali neighbourhood was amplified by the sight of his father, retired headmaster Haji Habibullah Shah, walking behind his son’s coffin.

“A father waits all his life for his son to support him,” said Nazir Ahmad, a relative. “But today he carried his son on his shoulders. That image will haunt us forever.”

Inspector Asrar leaves behind his wife, three young children, his parents, siblings, and an entire village that repeatedly called him its “pride”.

Meanwhile, SSP Imtiyaz Hussain shared an old post Asrar had written in 2020, a poem in which he asked to be remembered for his smile, his good deeds and “only my best”. Reacting to it after the tragedy, Hussain wrote that Asrar had served with honour and lived with grace, adding that his memories would remain with colleagues and that he was “gone too soon”۔

Srinagar, Nov 15: Jammu and Kashmir Police in Baramulla conducted a series of coordinated preventive measures across the district to enhance public safety and address activities linked with anti-national elements.

An official said that during the course of these operations, three individuals with verified subversive links were summoned and bound down under preventive law. He said that seven locations linked with OGWs were searched, and seven persons were bound down.

The official said that two individuals booked under UAPA (presently on bail) were examined; while one was bound down under preventive provisions. Moreover, seven UAPA-accused (on bail) were identified for bail cancellation, and two related cases were submitted to the court. 29 CASOs were conducted in sensitive areas to strengthen area domination and surveillance.

The official further said that 244 vehicles were checked at various points to monitor movement and verify credentials, 18 SIM vendors were checked. Besides, 4 persons linked with E&IMCO-related activities were examined for compliance with guidelines.

These measures were aimed at preventing potential threats, ensuring adherence to law, and maintaining an atmosphere of peace across the district, he said.

Police remains committed to upholding public order and will continue such preventive activities to maintain stability and security, he also said.

Srinagar, Nov 15: Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker and National Confernce Senior leader, Abdul Rahim Rather on Saturday said that the National Conference’s defeat in the Budgam by-election must be viewed in a wider political context, adding that the votes secured by the winning PDP candidate were not solely his own.

“This is not a PDP vote. This is Ruhullah’s vote, Maulvi Ansari’s vote and the candidate’s own family vote,” Rather said, adding that the combined support of these leaders increased the PDP tally by nearly 3,500 votes compared to previous elections.

He said that in the 2024 Assembly polls, the PDP had secured around 17,000 votes in the constituency, and this time the total had risen to over 21,000 only because “both Ruhullah and Ansari brought their respective support bases together.”

Commenting on the NC’s first-ever loss in Budgam, the Speaker said that democratic results must be respected. “In elections, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. There is no problem in accepting the people’s decision,” he said, as per KNS.

He also said that, as Speaker, he does not participate in active politics but can comment on the election trend from a “financial and numerical perspective.”

Speaking about the Nowgam Police Station blast, which killed nine people and injured 32, Rather described the incident as tragic and said it must be investigated thoroughly.

“It is a matter of great misfortune. It should be investigated, and we must reach the bottom of it. Those responsible should be prosecuted according to law,” he added.

He urged people not to speculate about the cause of the blast and emphasized the need to uphold law and order.

“My only appeal is that nobody should be punished without reason, and nobody should be harmed unjustly,” he said.

When asked whether the government would be able to meet people’s expectations, Rather said the administration is making sincere efforts. “We are trying,” he responded briefly.