The Supreme Court has suggested setting up a courtroom in the Delhi jail for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, in response to the Central Bureau of Investigation's objection to his physical presence in a criminal trial for the killing of four Air Force personnel in 1989. The court also raised concerns about Malik's connections with terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and the risk to his security if he is brought to the Jammu court for cross-examination. However, doubts have been raised about the feasibility of online connectivity for Malik's virtual presence in the trial.
The Jammu Development Authority has sparked protests after demolishing a dozen shops belonging to displaced Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu city without issuing notices. The demolition drive targeted shops built near the Muthi camp three decades ago, leading to demands for action against the officials responsible. Relief Commissioner Arvind Karwani has vowed to construct new shops for the affected families in the area.
The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has released the results for the Class 10 Private/Bi-Annual examinations conducted in August and September 2024. Out of the 50,935 students who appeared for the exam, only 34.69% were able to pass. There are concerns over the declining advertising revenues and the challenges faced by the media in Kashmir in covering the conflict situation in an unbiased manner.
In a united front, legislators from various parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Awami Ittehad Party, Peoples Democratic Party, and J&K Peoples Conference, have moved a resolution against the Centre's decision to revoke Article 370 and 35A. They label the move as "unconstitutional and unilateral" and call for the immediate restoration of the articles in their original form, along with the reversal of changes introduced by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The leaders urge the Union government to preserve the region's distinct identity, culture, and political autonomy, respecting its democratic and constitutional sanctity.
In a tragic incident, two village defence guards were kidnapped and shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. This attack comes in the wake of a grenade explosion at a Sunday market in Srinagar that left 12 people injured. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appealed to security forces to take swift action and put an end to the recent spate of attacks in the Union Territory.
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani called out the Congress-led INDIA Alliance for their attempts to strangle the Indian Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir. She questioned whether the leaders of the alliance would stand in the way of the rights granted to tribal communities after the removal of Article 370. Accusing them of working for their own self-interest, Irani asserted that Article 370 would not be restored and their attempts to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India would not be successful.
Tensions escalated into physical altercations during the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session when a banner demanding the reinstatement of Article 370 was unfurled by the brother of jailed MP Engineer Rashid. The session, the first in six years, has been marked by disputes, including the passing of resolutions opposing the revocation of Article 370 and calling for the state's unique position to be restored. The special provision, which granted Jammu and Kashmir considerable autonomy, was repealed by the Central Government in 2019, leading to ongoing conflicts within the state's government.
Social media users were delighted to see Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg getting into the Halloween spirit as he posted pictures of himself and his family dressed up in costumes. Among the photos was Zuckerberg dressed as the famous assassin from the John Wick movies, leading to a wave of memes and reactions from netizens. This comes as a break from the tech mogul's usual attire of a hoodie and jeans, making for a fun and unexpected surprise for his followers.
Devender Singh Rana, a prominent member of BJP and former provincial president of National Conference, passed away at 59. Rana was a close associate of NC president Farooq Abdullah and present Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. In the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Rana won from the Nagrota segment in Jammu region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and praised Rana's contribution towards the progress of Jammu and Kashmir.
Devender Singh Rana, a prominent BJP leader and MLA from Nagrota constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, passed away at the age of 59 due to undisclosed reasons. Rana, who had just won the Assembly election, was known for his contributions to the development of the region and for his switch from the National Conference to the BJP. His untimely demise has been mourned by politicians and leaders from all parties, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP national president J P Nadda paying their condolences.