Srinagar, Dec 19, KNT: Air traffic at Srinagar International Airport witnessed major disruptions today as dense fog and poor visibility forced the cancellation of seven scheduled flights, officials said. The cancellations affected services of both domestic and low-cost carriers, leaving many travellers stranded and prompting advisories to reconfirm flight status before arriving at the airport.

Airport authorities informed that multiple morning and afternoon flights were unable to operate due to persistent low visibility conditions. Airlines including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet cancelled their inbound and outbound rotations after visibility at the runway dropped below operational limits.

Officials said that Air India’s flights 3423 and 1799 destined for Delhi were among the first to be cancelled early in the day. IndiGo’s flights 6164 and 2044, operating on the Amritsar and Delhi sectors, were also withdrawn from schedule. SpiceJet’s services 661 and 180 bound for Delhi, along with IndiGo 6961 scheduled for Kolkata, could not operate due to the continuous fog cover.

Airport management stated that priority is being given to passenger safety, and operations will resume once weather conditions improve. Locals at the airport reported long queues at airline counters as passengers sought rebooking and clarifications.

Authorities have advised all travellers to contact their respective airlines for updated timings and alternative arrangements, given the possibility of further delays if the fog persists through the evening.

[KNT]

Srinagar, Dec 19, KNT: The Economic Offences Wing Kashmir of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet against three persons for their alleged involvement in a fake Railway recruitment scam, following the completion of investigation in FIR No. 08/2025. The chargesheet has been submitted before the Court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class Beerwah under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC.

Those named in the chargesheet include Abdul Hamid Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Sheikh of Chewdara Beerwah; Adil Shah, son of Abdul Rashid Shah of Sonwar Srinagar presently living in Zewan; and Mufti Ghulam Hassan Kumar, son of Muhammad Ashoor Kumar of Hib-Dangerpora Sopore presently living in Rutsuna Beerwah.

The case originated after a written complaint from Mufti Ghulam Hassan Kumar, who initially alleged that Abdul Hamid Sheikh and Adil Shah had provided him fake Railway appointment letters purportedly issued by the Railway Recruitment Board New Delhi. The forged documents bore fabricated seals and signatures of the DGM Northern Railway.

A detailed probe was initiated during which investigators established that the accused persons had lured victims with promises of government jobs and extracted money using forged appointment orders. The verification process confirmed the documents to be fake.

During the investigation, the complainant himself was also found involved in the fraudulent scheme. According to officials, Mufti Ghulam Hassan Kumar had taken money from other victims on the false promise of providing them employment and had issued fake job orders. His role surfaced as active participation in the conspiracy along with the other accused.

Based on the evidence collected, the Final Report under Section 173 CrPC has been presented before the Court for further judicial proceedings. Officials said the EOW Kashmir remains committed to tackling economic crimes and protecting locals from fraudulent job scams. [KNT]

New Delhi, The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another key accused in connection with the bomb blast that killed 11 persons and injured several others in the area around Delhi’s historic Red Fort last month.

The 9th person to be arrested in the case, Yasir Ahmad Dar is a resident of Shopian, Srinagar (J&K). He was nabbed by NIA from New Delhi, and placed under arrest under relevant provisions of the UA(P) Act 1967 and BNS 2023 in the case RC-21/2025/NIA/DLI.

NIA investigations have revealed Yasir’s active role in the conspiracy behind the car bomb blast that rocked the national capital on 10th November. An active participant in the conspiracy, he had sworn allegiance and taken an oath for carrying out self-sacrificial operations.

Investigations by the anti-terror agency have further shown that Yasir was in close contact with the other accused persons in the case, including Umar Un Nabi (the deceased perpetrator of the bombing) as well as Mufti Irfan.

Working closely with various central and state agencies, NIA continues to move with alacrity to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the terror attack. Earlier this month, it had conducted extensive searches at the premises of several accused and suspects in J&K and Uttar Pradesh and seized various digital devices and other incriminating materials. These were preceded by similar searches at the premises of the prime accused, Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganie and Dr Shaheen Saeed, in the Al Falah University complex and other places in Faridabad (Haryana).

December 18: In a significant action against the drug menace, Police in Srinagar have attached a double-storey residential house along with 12.5 marlas of land, valued at approximately ₹1.6 crore, belonging to a notorious drug peddler.

The attachment was carried out by Police Station Nowgam in connection with FIR No. 128/2022 registered under Sections 8/22–29 of the NDPS Act at PS Nowgam, wherein a substantial quantity of Codeine bottles was recovered from the accused Liyaqat Ali Bhat son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat resident of Auqaf Chowk, Kenihama, Nowgam, Srinagar.

During the course of investigation, it was established that the said property had been acquired through illegal proceeds generated from narcotics trafficking. Consequently, the property was attached under Section 68-F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, after obtaining due approval from the competent authority.

The attachment proceedings were conducted in the presence of the Executive Magistrate First Class, BK Pora, along with independent witnesses, strictly in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure.

As per the attachment order, the owner has been restrained from selling, leasing, transferring, altering, or creating any third-party interest in the attached property.

J&K Police reiterate their firm commitment to take stringent action against drug peddlers and to dismantle the financial backbone of narcotics networks through lawful attachment of illegally acquired assets. The general public is urged to cooperate by sharing credible information to help eliminate the drug menace from society.

Srinagar, Dec 18, KNT: The Economic Offences Wing Kashmir of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a charge sheet against two accused persons for their alleged involvement in a fake government job scam amounting to ₹11 lakh. The charge sheet, filed in FIR No. 08/2024 under Sections 420 and 120 B of the Indian Penal Code, has been presented before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Budgam for further judicial proceedings.

The case originated from a written complaint alleging that Mst. Ishrat Bano, daughter of Muhammad Ayoub Bhat from Zirhama in Kupwara, induced the complainant to pay ₹11,00,000 on the false assurance that a government job would be arranged through her purported contacts. The complainant transferred the amount into a designated bank account but neither secured the promised job nor received a refund despite repeated assurances.

During the investigation, the Economic Offences Wing found that the money had been credited into the account of accused Gulzar Ahmad Wani, also known as Shahid, son of Shamas Din Wani from Zirhama and Liderwan in Kupwara. The probe further established that there was no husband wife relationship between the two accused, contradicting claims made to the complainant and indicating a deliberate conspiracy.

Investigators concluded that both accused were prima facie involved in cheating and criminal conspiracy. After completing all legal formalities, the agency submitted the charge sheet before the competent court for judicial adjudication. [KNT]

• Anantnag, Dec 17, KNT: A Power Development Department employee died after suffering electrocution while repairing a transformer in the Monghal area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Officials said Abdul Hameed, son of Bashir Ahmad of Monghal, came into contact with a live service line during repair work.

He was initially taken to District Hospital Anantnag and later referred to SKIMS Soura, Srinagar, where he succumbed to severe burn injuries after two days of treatment.

Hospital sources confirmed the death of PDD employee. His colleagues have appealed to the government to provide financial assistance to his immediate family. [KNT]

Srinagar, Dec 17, KNT: Two separate fire incidents reported from Srinagar and south Kashmir’s Pulwama district in the predawn hours of Wednesday caused damage to property, officials said.

In Srinagar, a fire broke out at Padshahi Bagh in the early hours, engulfing scrap dealer’s shops and reducing them to ashes. Officials from Fire and Emergency Services said the blaze was reported shortly before dawn, triggering an immediate response from firefighting units stationed nearby.

Several fire tenders were pressed into service to control the flames, which had spread rapidly due to the presence of highly inflammable scrap material. After sustained efforts, the fire was brought under control, preventing it from spreading to adjoining commercial establishments and nearby residential structures.

In a separate incident, a residential house was gutted in a predawn blaze at Pustana village in Tral area of Pulwama district. Officials said the fire erupted during the early morning hours, causing panic among inhabitants of the village.

Fire and Emergency Services personnel rushed to the spot and managed to douse the flames after a prolonged operation. The house suffered extensive damage, rendering it uninhabitable. However, timely intervention ensured that the fire did not spread to nearby houses in the densely built locality.

Police have taken cognizance of both incidents, and further investigations are underway to ascertain the reasons behind the fires. [KNT]

Abu Dhabi, Dec 16, KNT: Delhi Capitals on Tuesday signed Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aquib Nabi for Rs 8.40 crore during the TATA IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi, marking the highest-ever auction price for a cricketer from the region.

Aquib was among eight players from Jammu and Kashmir shortlisted for the auction, reflecting the growing presence of the region’s talent in domestic and national cricket circuits. Other J&K players in the auction list included all-rounder Lone Nasir Muzaffar, pacer Waseem Bashir Khanday, left-arm spin all-rounder Abid Mushtaq, batter Vivrant Sharma, opener Qamran Iqbal, fast bowler Atif Mushtaq, and off-spinner Murgan Ashwin.

Four players from Jammu and Kashmir have already been retained by their respective Indian Premier League franchises. Abdul Samad has been retained by Lucknow Super Giants, Umran Malik by Kolkata Knight Riders, Yudvir Singh Charak by Rajasthan Royals, and Rasikh Salam, now representing Baroda in domestic cricket, by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The auction featured a shortlist of 350 players, including 240 Indian and 110 overseas cricketers, selected by the Board of Control for Cricket in India from an initial pool of 1,390 aspirants.

Aquib Nabi’s selection follows consistent performances in domestic cricket. Since last season, he has taken 73 wickets in 13 First-Class matches. During the 2024–25 season, he claimed 44 wickets in eight matches, including six five-wicket hauls. In the current season, he has added 29 more wickets in red-ball cricket and picked up 15 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy league stage.

Speaking after the auction, Aquib credited the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association for supporting his development and said the IPL would provide an opportunity to perform at a higher level. He also acknowledged the role of his family, coaches and JKCA officials in his journey.

The Jammu and Kashmir cricket fraternity welcomed Aquib’s selection, terming it a significant milestone for the region. Former players and sports administrators extended congratulations, calling the deal a landmark moment for cricket in Jammu and Kashmir. [KNT]