Awoora (Pahalgam), Jul 13: A cloudburst that struck the upper catchment of Awoora village in Pahalgam on Saturday evening left dozens of families homeless after flash floods tore through the Gujjar settlement, damaging 18 residential houses, washing away crops, orchards, livestock and poultry, and forcing residents to flee for safety. According to residents, 10 houses in the upper part of the village and eight in the lower hamlet were damaged, including two that were washed away completely.

The floods also destroyed maize fields, vegetable farms, apple and walnut orchards, buried household belongings under mud and debris, washed away wooden footbridges, and disrupted the village’s drinking water, power supply and road connectivity. For 45-year-old Farooq Ahmad Poswal, the cloudburst wiped out both his home and livelihood within minutes. “It was around 8:30 pm. It was raining heavily when we heard a loud sound. Suddenly, a huge volume of water came rushing towards us. We ran and barely managed to save ourselves,” Poswal said.

The torrent, carrying mud, silt and uprooted tree trunks, entered two houses belonging to his family. “Both houses have been damaged and are no longer fit for living. The floodwaters also swept away our poultry besides destroying our maize and vegetable crops,” he said. Poswal said his family of 14, including women and children, is now living in a neighbour’s house. “We have nowhere else to go. We can stay here only for a few days. We hope the government provides relief and rehabilitates us,” he said. The floods also devastated the house of Fatima, 40, whose family escaped moments before an uprooted tree crashed through their kitchen. “I was preparing dinner when floodwaters entered the village. We ran towards the forest and spent the whole night there without food,” she said.

When the family returned the next morning, they found the kitchen wall smashed by the fallen tree. “Had we remained inside, there would have been loss of lives,” Fatima said.
Her husband, Ghulam Hassan Khatana, 48, said the family lost its cowshed, household belongings and apple orchard. “There is nothing left for us to salvage,” he said. The flash floods also washed away six Kanals of agricultural land belonging to Muhammad Shafi Bokhad, 44. “Our maize and vegetable fields have been washed away. This was our only source of livelihood. We have been left with nothing,” Bokhad said. He said floodwaters also entered his house after the swollen Awoora stream overflowed, causing partial damage to the structure. Junaid Ahmad Khatana, 34 said villagers rushed to higher ground as the floodwaters swept through the area.

“Our apple orchards and maize crops have been destroyed. We have lost our livelihood,” he said. Former Deputy Sarpanch Nazir Ahmad Gegi said the devastation extended across the village. “Several houses have suffered extensive damage and household belongings remain buried under mud and debris. Maize fields, vegetable farms and orchards have been washed away. Some families have also lost cattle and poultry, while the wooden bridges built by villagers have been swept away,” Gegi said.

He said the village water supply scheme and power infrastructure had also been damaged, leaving residents without potable drinking water and electricity. “I myself lost my maize crop and walnut trees. There is nothing left except boulders,” he added. Mohammad Yousuf Gujar Gegi, 41, said his house developed major cracks after being hit by the flood. “There is mud and debris inside. Our bedding, utensils and other household belongings have been washed away. The house is no longer safe to live in,” he said.

His younger brother, Mohammad Rafiq Gegi, 38 also lost his house, walnut orchard and maize fields. “We have lost both our shelter and livelihood. We have nowhere to go,” Rafiq said. Among the worst affected is 65-year-old widow Noor Jehan, whose house and apple orchard were destroyed. “My son, his wife and children lived with me in the same house. Now we have been left with nothing,” she said. Village Numberdar Mohammad Yasin Khatana, 70 said the financial assistance announced so far was inadequate considering the scale of destruction.

“The Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 announced under the disaster relief fund cannot compensate these losses. Houses, orchards, maize fields, livestock and household belongings worth crores have been destroyed. The affected families need rehabilitation, not just temporary relief,” he said. Revenue officials have started assessing the losses.

Tehsildar Sallar Sajad Ahmad said the damage to houses, crops and other infrastructure was being assessed. “The assessment is underway. I am yet to receive the final report on the extent of the damage,” he said.

Srinagar, Jul 13: Authorities imposed security curbs across key areas of Old Srinagar on Monday, rendering Naqshband Sahab completely inaccessible and effectively preventing political leaders, party workers, and the public from paying tributes to the 22 martyrs of July 13.

Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces, backed by extensive concertina wire, barricades, GI sheets, plastic barriers, and checkpoints, sealed off the graveyard and surrounding localities including Nowhatta, Khawaja Bazaar, M R Gunj, and Khanyar. Roads leading to the site were blocked from the previous day, with restrictions extending to a 1-km radius around Naqshband Sahab.

Movement was tightly regulated in downtown Srinagar, and the public was advised to comply with orders or face legal action.

The measures came as a precautionary step to maintain law and order and avert any gatherings on the anniversary, which was once observed as an official Martyrs’ Day with state functions before the 2019 reorganisation discontinued the holiday.

Education Minister Sakina Itoo made an early morning attempt to visit the graveyard around 4:30 am but was stopped by heavy security deployment and barricading.

Accompanied by NC Women’s Wing Provincial President Sabiya Qadri, she highlighted the physical barriers but affirmed that the martyrs’ sacrifices remain etched in memory.

NC General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar and MLA Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar were reportedly kept under house arrest since Sunday, however, they were allowed to attend a function in the morning.

PDP leader Iltija Mufti alleged detention for herself and her mother Mehbooba Mufti, questioning the government’s narrative of normalcy.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said he was placed under house arrest and noted that all roads to the Mazar-e-Shuhada were sealed.

In a social media post, he paid tributes, stating the martyrs’ sacrifices remain central to Kashmir’s struggle for justice, dignity, and human rights.

These curbs echo last year’s events, when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah scaled the boundary wall and gate of the graveyard after authorities locked access, forcing police to eventually open the gates amid high drama involving other NC leaders.

Leaders across parties decried the restrictions as undermining democratic rights and collective memory.

The National Conference described the 1931 martyrs’ sacrifices as an enduring inspiration in the fight for democratic rights and identity.

The July 13 incident commemorates the killing of 22 Kashmiris outside Srinagar Central Jail in 1931 during protests against “autocratic Dogra rule”.

While the day once featured official observances and processions, post-2019 policies have discontinued such state recognition, leading to repeated restrictions on commemorations.

A top police official described the deployments as “precautionary measures,” stating that any attempt by leaders to move would be restricted.

Srinagar, July 13: In a major action against the narcotics ecosystem under the ongoing 100-Day Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan, police in Sopore have attached two immovable properties worth over ₹1.23 crore belonging to an absconding and notorious drug peddler under the provisions of Section 68F of the NDPS Act, 1985.

As per the statement, the attached properties comprise a double-storey residential house with boundary wall, and Land measuring 1 Kanal 10 Marlas under Survey No. 365 Min, having a combined value of over ₹1.23 crore.

The attached properties belong to Mohammad Ashraf Mir @ Ashu son of Late Farooq Ahmad Mir resident of Jamia Qadeem, Sopore, presently residing at Krankshivan Colony, Nageen Bagh-B, Sopore.

The attachment has been made in connection with FIR No. 23/2026 of Police Station Sopore, after a detailed financial investigation revealed that the properties had been acquired through proceeds generated from illicit narcotics trafficking. The attachment proceedings were executed in the presence of independent witnesses in accordance with the provisions of the NDPS Act.

The accused is absconding in the said NDPS case. A Hue and Cry Notice/Look Out Notice has already been issued against him. He is also involved in multiple NDPS cases, indicating his continued involvement in drug trafficking activities.

With this action, Police has further intensified its crackdown on the financial infrastructure sustaining the narcotics trade. By attaching illegally acquired assets, the objective is to deprive drug traffickers of the proceeds of crime and dismantle the economic foundations of the narcotics network.

Police reiterate its zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and substance abuse. Stringent legal as well as financial action shall continue against all those involved in the narcotics trade, police statement reads.

Srinagar, Jul 13: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday accused the BJP of turning the issue of the ‘martyrs’ of 1931 into a communal matter, saying those killed by the Dogra Maharaja’s soldiers sacrificed their lives fighting the “autocratic rule”.

The former chief minister paid tributes to the 22 protestors, who died on this day in 1931, at the PDP headquarters here.

The authorities had placed restrictions around the martyr’s graveyard in Naqshband Sahib area of the city to prevent people, including politicians, from paying their tributes.

Speaking to reporters at the party office, Mehbooba said 22 Kashmiris sacrificed their lives outside Srinagar Central Jail against the “autocratic rule”.

“They raised their voice against the autocratic rule of that time, its oppression and tyranny, and awakened our nation,” she said.

Drawing parallels with Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, and Ashfaqullah Khan, Mehbooba said while the people of Kashmir acknowledge and respect their sacrifices, the BJP has turned the issue of the martyrs of 1931 into a communal issue.

“As far as the sacrifice of Kashmiris is concerned, the BJP has made it a Hindu-Muslim issue, it has made it a Dogra-Kashmiri issue, it has made it a Jammu-Kashmir issue. Our elders raised their voice against the autocratic rule at that time and became martyrs and sacrificed themselves,” she said.

Asserting that the BJP cannot put restrictions on the minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP president said “these martyrs awakened our nation, and laid the foundation for the people’s rule that we see today”.

“So, even if the BJP tries harder, it won’t be able to control our minds. They are our heroes. Just like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Ashfaqullah Khan, and Gandhi ji are. Just as (Nathuram) Godse is the hero of BJP, these people who were martyred in 1931 for the sake of the people’s rule, they are our martyrs and will remain so. No matter how many restrictions they impose, no matter how many barbed wires they put up,” she added.

Terming the restrictions as an “excess done by the BJP”, Mehbooba claimed she was placed under house arrest on Sunday while Naqshband Sahib area was completely sealed and checkpoints were put up on Monday.

“I think this is an excess by the BJP, they should not do this. If they cannot respect our martyrs, then at least they should not stop us from paying tribute to them,” she said.

Mehbooba’s daughter, Iltija Mufti also accused the BJP of trying to “distort” and “erase” J-K’s history.

“The police is not even allowing us to take few steps outside (the party office). They want to erase and distort our history. This Martyr’s day is not illegal, it is not seditious. These are the people who sacrificed their lives, it is because of them that democracy came to Jammu and Kashmir. They raised their voice against the injustice done by Dogra rulers, it is because of them that the seeds of democracy were sown,” Iltija said.

She said the party leaders were “imprisoned”, but they did not want to break any law.

“I want to tell the LG and the administration here that you cannot erase or rewrite our history. The people of Kashmir will themselves decide who their heroes or villains are. The Martyr’s are heroes for us, and we will always salute them and their spirit,” she said.