#Kashmir Archives | Page 5 of 22

NLU Debate in Jammu and Kashmir Rekindles Regional Divide Over Equity and Development

January 20, 2026 Editor

NLU Debate Reignites Regional Divide in Jammu and Kashmir: Education, Equity and the Politics of Place By: Javid Amin | 19 January 2026 When a University Becomes a Political Flashpoint The proposal to establish a National Law University (NLU) in Jammu and Kashmir should, by any objective measure, have been a moment of collective optimism. NLUs are among India’s most prestigious educational institutions, shaping future judges, policymakers, constitutional lawyers, and legal scholars. For a region long plagued by conflict, educational migration, and limited access to elite institutions, an NLU promised…

Kashmiri Students Return from Iran, Slam Media for ‘Distorted’ Portrayal of Ground Reality

January 18, 2026 Editor

Kashmiri Students Back from Iran Reject Panic, Criticise Media Coverage By: Javid Amin | 17 January 2025 Returned students say panic was manufactured by exaggerated coverage, insist life and studies continued normally in Iranian cities Relief at Home, Anger Over Narratives When more than three dozen Kashmiri students arrived home from Iran this week, their return was met with relief, tears, and tight embraces from anxious families. But alongside gratitude for safety, another emotion dominated their voices: anger. Anger not at Iran.Anger not at their universities.But at mainstream television channels…

Beyond Marks: Rethinking Merit, Youth, and Mental Well-Being in Kashmir

January 16, 2026January 16, 2026 Umar Khan Amiri

Beyond Marks: Rethinking Merit, Youth, and Mental Well-Being in Kashmir By Umar Khan Amiri In Kashmir, the declaration of academic results has increasingly become more than a routine educational milestone. It has evolved into a social yardstick—one that often measures not just performance, but worth, intelligence, and future potential. This mindset, deeply entrenched in society, has had a distressing impact on the mental health and self-esteem of young people. Every year, students give their best within the limits of their individual capacities. Yet the first and often the only question…

Delhi Court Convicts Asiya Andrabi Under UAPA in Terror Conspiracy Case

January 15, 2026 Editor

Delhi Court Convicts Asiya Andrabi Under UAPA: A Landmark Judgment in India’s Crackdown on Kashmiri Separatism With sentencing due on January 17, 2026, the conviction of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat founder marks a decisive legal moment in the post–Article 370 era By: Javid Amin | 14 January 2026 A Verdict Years in the Making The conviction of Asiya Andrabi, one of Kashmir’s most recognisable separatist figures, by a Delhi court under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) marks a pivotal moment in India’s long-running legal and security campaign against separatist networks in…

Mosque Profiling Drive in Kashmir Triggers Political and Religious Outcry

January 14, 2026 Editor

Mosque Profiling Drive in Kashmir Sparks Political, Religious Backlash Why a Police Data Exercise Has Reignited Fears of Surveillance, Stigmatization, and Erosion of Religious Freedom in the Valley By: Javid Amin | 13 January 2026 A Data Exercise That Set Off Alarm Bells What began as a police “data-gathering exercise” has rapidly escalated into one of the most sensitive governance controversies in Jammu and Kashmir in recent months. The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s mosque profiling drive, carried out across multiple villages in the Valley, has triggered sharp political criticism and…

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Barred From Friday Prayers for Third Consecutive Week at Srinagar Jama Masjid

January 10, 2026 Editor

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Says He Was Barred From Friday Prayers for Third Week at Srinagar’s Jama Masjid By: Javid Amin | 09 January 2026 Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir’s chief cleric, on Friday said he was prevented for the third consecutive week from leading Friday prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid, alleging that he was placed under house detention by authorities. According to the Mirwaiz, police vehicles and personnel were stationed outside his residence, restricting his movement and preventing him from reaching the mosque. What the Mirwaiz Has Claimed In a…

Over 1.3 Million People Affected by Drug Abuse in Jammu & Kashmir: A Deepening Crisis Threatening Youth, Security, and Social Stability

January 8, 2026 Editor

Drug Abuse Crisis in Jammu & Kashmir: Over 1.3 Million Affected as Heroin Use and Youth Addiction Surge By: Javid Amin | 07 January 2026 A Grim Milestone: Drug Abuse Reaches Alarming Levels in Jammu & Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir is confronting one of the most severe social and public health crises in its recent history, with over 1.3 million people now affected by drug abuse, according to official estimates. The figure represents a dramatic rise from approximately 600,000 cases just three years ago, underscoring the speed and scale at…

Cold Wave Intensifies in Kashmir Valley After Snowfall | Kashmir Chillai Kalan Winter Report

January 3, 2026 Editor

Cold Wave Intensifies in Kashmir Valley After Snowfall: Comprehensive Ground-Verified Report By: Javid Amin | 02 January 2026 Srinagar, Kashmir Valley — A powerful cold wave has tightened its grip across the Kashmir Valley following recent snowfall in the higher reaches, plunging night temperatures deep below freezing and creating stark contrasts between sunny winter days and bone-chilling nights across the region. The situation is unfolding amid the annual winter phase locally known as Chillai Kalan, the harshest 40-day cold spell that began in late December and runs through January. This…

Kashmiri Shawl Seller Assaulted in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur: A Human Story of Fear, Livelihood, and the Fragile Reality of Migrant Traders

December 31, 2025 Editor

Kashmiri Shawl Seller Assaulted in Himachal’s Bilaspur; FIR Registered, Safety Concerns Rise Among Migrant Traders

Kashmiri Shawl Seller Assaulted in Himachal’s Bilaspur | FIR Filed as Migrant Traders Seek Safety & Dignity By: Javid Amin | 30 December 2025 A Quiet Business Trip Turns Into a Nightmare For thousands of Kashmiri artisans, the winter months are not a break from work.They are a lifeline. As snow covers the Valley and tourism slows, many shawl sellers travel across India — to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and beyond — carrying with them hand-woven woolens, traditional Pashmina, and Kashmiri handicrafts passed down through generations. It is part…

25 Winter Blazes Reported Across Kashmir in 4 Days: Causes, Risks, and Safety Lessons for Households

December 26, 2025 Editor

25 Winter Blazes Reported Across Kashmir in 4 Days — A Stark Warning on Heating Safety and Fragile Housing By: Javid Amin | December 25, 2025 Residential houses, livestock sheds, and temporary structures damaged across multiple districts as winter heating practices and aging infrastructure combine to create a silent seasonal hazard. Winter in Kashmir is not just about snow-covered rooftops, frost-lined roads, and breathtaking alpine views. It is also the season when households rely heavily on heating systems — some modern, many traditional, and many more dangerously improvised. In just…