The killing of two village defence committee (VDC) members by terrorists in the forest areas of J&K's Kishtwar district has sparked outrage, with political leaders such as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta condemning the act. The VDC members, who were initially given .303 rifles, have now been equipped with automatic weapons to better defend against the terrorists. However, this has made them targets for the terrorists, with incidents like this highlighting the ongoing security concerns in the region.
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.
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 The special provision, which granted Jammu and Kashmir considerable autonomy, was repealed by the Central Government in 2019, leading to ongoing conflicts within the state's government.
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.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his sorrow over the passing of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana, his former close confidante. Sharing pictures of their "fun times" together, Abdullah focused on their friendship and the work they did together. Rana's untimely death at the age of 59 has left his family, friends, and colleagues in shock. Political leaders, including Jitendra Singh, rushed to Rana's residence in Jammu to pay their respects. The National Conference also issued a statement expressing their condolences and acknowledging Rana's dedicated service to Jammu and Kashmir.
With a resounding mandate in the recently-held elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference party must now grapple with the challenges that lie ahead for the newly sworn-in government. From addressing the expectations of the people to tackling the issue of unemployment, the new Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will have to make a fresh start while keeping in mind the ground realities of the region. However, it remains to be seen if the government will be able to deliver on its promises and alleviate the struggles of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
After deciding to vacate the Budgam Assembly seat, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has officially announced that he will be representing the Ganderbal constituency. He expressed his gratitude towards the people of Budgam and promised to continue working for them over the next five years. This move marks the end of the six-year period when J&K didn't have an Assembly and the NC, with support from other parties, will continue to hold the majority in the 95-member Assembly.
A terror attack in the Gagangir area of the Sonamarg region in Kashmir resulted in the death of one doctor from Kashmir and six labourers. Five others were injured and are currently receiving treatment. The attack occurred as the workers were returning to their camp after working on a tunnel project. The area has been cordoned off by security forces and a search operation is underway to find the attackers. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has condemned the incident and fears the death toll may rise.
Two migrant labourers from a company constructing the Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, were killed and several others were injured in a suspected militant attack at their camp. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack and the injured have been taken to hospital. The tunnel project aims to provide all-year connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg and falls in a district with little militant presence. BJP has also made a surprise change to its candidate for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Assembly seat.
The National Conference (NC) leader, Omar Abdullah, took oath as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Along with five other ministers, the NC government made efforts to ensure equal representation from both Jammu and Kashmir provinces. In his first address, Omar made it clear that his government will work towards bridging the gap between people and the administration, and prioritizing balanced political representation. Despite facing criticism for not including the Congress in the government, senior Congress leaders and other political leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi guaranteed his support and cooperation for the progress of Jammu and Kashmir under Omar's leadership.