Srinagar, Sep 12: Around one lakh devotees thronged the revered Dargah Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar to offer congregational prayers and have a glimpse of the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on the Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW).

The largest congregation was held at Hazratbal, where around one lakh devotees from across the Valley gathered in huge numbers to witness the display of the holy relic, Moi-e-Muqaddas, widely believed to be a hair strand of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), was observed on Monday. Today, the faithful once again assembled to observe the traditional Friday following the occasion with great religious fervour and devotion.

Devotees with moist eyes, amid recitation of Quranic verses, prayed for themselves, their families, and for peace in the world.

Similar congregations were reported at shrines and mosques including Asar Sharif Shahr-e-Kalashpora, Asar Sharif Jenab Sahab Soura, Lal Bazar, Syed Yaqoob Sahab Sonwar, and Makhama Beerwah in Budgam.

Large gatherings were also witnessed in districts such as Shopian (Pinjoora), Anantnag (Khiram Sirhama and Seer Hamadan), Kulgam (Kaba Marg Qaimoh), Pulwama (Khanqahi Faiz Panah Tral), and Bandipora (Aham Sharief).

Religious clerics on the occasion highlighted the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during Friday sermons.

The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board had made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the devotees, while the Traffic Police had issued a route plan to ensure smooth movement of vehicles. (KNC)

Srinagar, Sep 13: The Meteorological Department has forecast pleasant weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir over the next few days, with warm, sunny days and cool, clear evenings expected to continue till September 17.

Director of Meteorology, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, said the prevailing conditions are favourable for outdoor activities and travel.

“Jammu and Kashmir will experience warm, sunny days and clear, cool evenings through September 17, offering perfect weather for outdoor activities,” he told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.

He added that no major weather disturbances are expected during the forecast period, providing much-needed relief to peopleand visitors after recent spells of rainfall and flood scare. [KNT]

Srinagar, Sep 12: Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday claimed he was put under house arrest and not allowed to offer congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid here, calling it an “interference” in religious matters.

“Once again, I have been placed under house arrest by the authorities on the occasion of Majlis-e-Rahmat-ul-lil-Alameen at Jama Masjid, where respected ulema were to participate today,” Mirwaiz, who is also Kashmir’s chief cleric, said on X.

He alleged “relentless interference in our religious matters” by the authorities.

“Our human and political rights already stand denied, and then there is this relentless interference in our religious matters from locking us up to silencing our voice on issues ranging from the Ashoka plaque at Hazratbal to meddling with Muslim calendar holidays, to disallowing religious functions at masjids,” he charged.

Last Friday, a huge controversy erupted in Kashmir after a plaque with the Ashoka emblem was vandalised in the Hazratbal shrine as most political parties accused Waqf Board chairperson Darakshan Andrabi of hurting religious sentiments by using the national emblem in the mosque and demanded registration of a criminal case and her immediate removal.

The pulpit of Jamia Masjid will, however, continue to raise its voice be on matters of “religious interference” or “blatant violation of people’s rights” and their “disempowerment”, he added.

Srinagar, Sep 12: In yet another significant move to combat the drug menace and dismantle the infrastructure supporting narcotics trafficking, Srinagar Police has attached a residential property worth approximately *₹ 50 Lakhs* under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In a statement, a police spokesperson stated, “The attached property comprises a single‑storey residential house, constructed on land measuring 5 marlas and 68 square feet, bearing khasra No. 339 and valued at approximately ₹ 50 lakhs belonging to Waseem Ahmad Bafanda, son of Ghulam Ahmad Bafanda, resident of Lachmanpora, Dandrkha, Batamaloo.”

The action pertains to Case FIR No. 1/2025 U/S 8/21, 29 of NDPS Act of Police Station Zadibal, in which the aforementioned has been found to be involved as the accused person, he added.

Police said the accused person is a notorious drug peddler, and he has a history of involvement in drug peddling, primarily targeting local youth, thereby posing a grave threat to public health and safety.

Investigations have revealed the aforementioned property was acquired through proceeds from illicit drug trafficking. Therefore, acting under Sections 68-E and 68-F of the NDPS Act, Srinagar Police formally seized and attached the immovable property as per the due legal process.

The spokesperson added the property cannot be sold, transferred, or otherwise dealt with without prior approval from the competent authority.

“This development marks a decisive step in the broader strategy of Jammu & Kashmir Police to dismantle the financial infrastructure of narcotics networks.” the statement said

Srinagar, Sept 12: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the Public Safety Act (PSA) detention order wrongfully imposed on Imtiyaz Ahmad Ganie of Anantnag, terming it an act of shamelessness.

After quashing the PSA slapped by the District Magistrate (DM) Anantnag, the court directed the authorities to release Ganie from preventive custody.

The court observed that, “The detaining authority is shamelessly trying support for the issuance of the impugned order from material which does not speak of the involvement of the detenue in a case which has formed basis for issuance of the impugned order, as such the foundation on the basis whereof the detenue has been implicated and detained under preventive detention has collapsed by default”, reads the judgment.

Justice Moksha Kazmi while quashing the PSA, said there is absolutely no justification available on record or in the counter affidavit filed by the respondent-authority as regards the factum of mistaken identity as indicated by the counsel for Ganie during the course of argument. “The prognosis, therefore, is that the submission advanced by learned counsel for the petitioner in this regard is correct”, Justice Kazmi said.

Slapping the PSA on a wrong person the court said it is non-application of mind on the part of the detaining authority in issuing the impugned order is writ large on the face of the record, therefore, the action taken pursuant to such non-application of mind by the detaining authority cannot be sustained in the eyes of law.

The court noted the ground of detention of the detenue-Ganie which the court said is worth serious notice as admittedly the detenue is not involved in a criminal case on the basis whereof he has been detained, as it is someone else who has a similar name, who is stated to be involved in the case which founds basis for prevention detention of the detenue.

The court was convinced with the arguments advanced by the counsel appearing for detenu-Ganie said that he has been able to prove that the detaining authority has not applied its mind while issuing the impugned order and since the petitioner has succeeded in proving his innocence.