Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed deep sorrow over the tragic demise of the daughter of senior Kashmiri journalist Khurshid Wani, who lost her life in a hit-and-run accident in Hyderabad, Telangana.

In their condolence message, the duo conveyed their heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family, praying for eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the family in bearing this irreparable loss. They described the incident as deeply shocking and expressed solidarity with Wani and his loved ones during this moment of profound grief.

Party’s Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar also expressed grief over the tragic demise of Khurshid Wani’s daughter. They prayed for peace to the departed soul and fortitude to the bereaved family.

Srinagar, Sep 24: According to the Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL, in order to facilitate Replacement of damaged auxiliary cable at Receiving Station GIS Batamaloo, shutdown of 33KV Exhibition line shall be observed due to which 33/11KV Receiving Station at GIS Batamaloo shall remain off while power supply to Batamaloo & Moominabad and adjoining areas will be affected from 08:00 AM to 02:00 PM on 29 September, 2025.

Meanwhile, as per a separate shutdown schedule issued by the Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL, for connecting Tapping point of the under construction 33 KV Wangath Tap line on 33 KV Kangan line, shutdown of 33KV Kangan-Surfraw line shall be observed due to which 33/11KV Receiving Stations at Surfraw, Gagangeer shall remain off while power supply to Gund, Kullan, Gagangeer, Sonamarg, Surfraw, Ganiwan and adjoining areas will be affected from 10:00 AM to 03:00 PM on 25 September, 2025.

Also in this connection, shutdown of 33KV Kangan Kangan line shall be observed due to which 33/11KV Receiving Stations at PDC Kangan, Kangan shall remain off while power supply to Mammer, Wangath, Kangan, Akhal, Baba Nagri, Poshkar, Khanan, Panzin, Wangath and adjoining areas will be affected from 10:00 AM to 03:00 PM on 25 September, 2025.

Srinagar, Sep 24: Police on Wednesday arrested a person from south Kashmir’s Kulgam who had allegedly provided logistical support to terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pahalgham terror attack, officials said here.

“Based on an intelligence lead, Srinagar police arrested an Over Ground Worker from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. He was identified as Mohd Yousuf Katari (26),” an official said.

The officials said that he had a role in providing logistical support to the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack who were later killed during Operation Mahadev. In the July 29 encounter, the Army’s elite para commandos had gunned down the three terrorists on the outskirts of Srinagar.

They included Sulieman alias Asif, who is believed to be the mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 people, mainly tourists, were killed.

The other two were identified as Jibran and Hamza Afghani. Jibran was involved in the Sonamarg Tunnel attack in October 2024.

Kulgam, Sep 24: A terrorist hideout was busted in Brinal village area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday.

A top police officer told news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, that terrorist hideout was unearthed by a joint team of security forces during a search operation launched at village in Brinal village.

The hideout was later destroyed on the spot while searches in the area are continuing, the officer added.

Srinagar, Sept 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday strongly defended the use of the slogan ‘I Love Muhammad,’ saying that only people with a “bankrupt mentality” can oppose it. He argued that Muslims, like adherents of other faiths, have every right to express their love and reverence for their Prophet, and that no one should view the slogan as offensive.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said there was nothing wrong in writing or displaying the slogan. “If you go outside Kashmir, you will find our Hindu brothers and sisters portraying the images and slogans of their Bhagwans, and the same is done by our Sikh brothers in honour of their Gurus. When and how does it become wrong when Muslims express their faith by writing ‘I Love Muhammad’? It is bankruptcy of mentality to react in a negative manner,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister’s comments come amid a growing India wide controversy surrounding the slogan. The issue first came to prominence earlier this month during a Barawafat procession in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where participants displayed the slogan prominently. This immediately drew objections from some groups, leading to confrontations with the police.

Since then, protests, processions and counter-processions have been held across several Indian states, with Muslims openly rallying under the slogan to affirm their religious devotion. In some cases, the situation escalated into clashes with police, resulting in lathi charges, arrests and registration of FIRs. The matter has also spilled onto social media, where heated debates and polarised exchanges continue to trend daily.

Omar Abdullah criticised those who, according to him, were attempting to portray the slogan as provocative. “We must learn to respect each other’s religious sentiments. Just as we respect other communities when they display their faith publicly, we expect the same courtesy in return. The slogan ‘I Love Muhammad’ should be seen for what it is, an expression of love and respect by Muslims for their Prophet,” he said. [KNT]