KS News Desk
Kochi, April 24: Aarti, a mother of twin boys, broke down as she recounted the horrifying moment when her father, 68-year-old Ramachandran, was shot dead by a terrorist in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking to reporters at her residence here on Thursday, Aarti recalled the trauma of the killing. The body of her father is lying in a hospital mortuary, awaiting the final rites on Friday.
We had just reached Pahalgam, often called mini-Switzerland, and the place was buzzing with tourists, she said, adding, Suddenly, I heard what sounded like firecrackers. I asked my father if it could be a terror attack.
What followed was a nightmare.
A man with a gun appeared and started firing. I told my father and my sons to lie down in a nearby bushy, fenced area. The gunman approached us and said something we couldn't understand. I asked what he meant, and then he shot my father. I knew he was gone, she said, breaking into tears.
Aarti said the man, who wasnt in an army uniform, poked her head with his gun. Her terrified sons began wailing. Perhaps hearing their cries, the gunman walked away.
Clutching her fathers lifeless body, Aarti later made her way down the hill with her children. After about 45 minutes, I got the mobile signal and called my driver, she said.
"We reached the Hilton hotel, where the staff offered us a free room and full support. I disconnected the TV to shield my mother, who was staying in the hotel, from the news of my father's death.
Aarti expressed deep gratitude to the locals and authorities who helped her through the ordeal. I especially want to thank our driver, Muzafir, and his brother. They treated me like a sister. At Srinagar airport, I told them I now have two Kashmiri brothers.
Aarti, who lives in the Middle East, had taken a short vacation to Kashmir when tragedy struck.
Ramachandrans body arrived in Kochi on Wednesday night and was received by a Minister, local legislators, and scores of residents. It was then taken to a hospital mortuary.
A former non-resident Indian who had returned from the Middle East five years ago, Ramachandran was a staunch BJP supporter. He had unsuccessfully contested local body polls and was among those shortlisted as a potential BJP candidate for civic elections to be held later this year.(IANS)
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmirās Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). āAbout a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,ā he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.āIf we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,ā he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeebās research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. āIn this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,ā he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. āIt is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,ā he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,ā he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. āMy parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,ā he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. āJust as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.ā āYoung people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,ā he further added.
Srinagar, Jan 8:Ā The University of Kashmir (KU) has made the biometric attendance mandatory for the students of its affiliated colleges from Academic session 2026-27. The development comes in wake of the complaints about the thin attendance of the students in various private B.Ed colleges affiliated with the Kashmir University. A circular in this regardĀ has been issued by the Assistant Registrar Dean Colleges Development Council (DCDC) of the University. "All the Chairpersons and Principals of private affiliated colleges of the University of Kashmir are hereby informed that biometric attendance for all the enrolled students and staff has been made mandatory from the year 2026-27," the KU circular reads. The Principals of all the affiliated colleges have been directed to install biometric attendance machines in their respective institutions on or before the commencement of the Academic year 2026-27 under intimation to the Dean College Development Council of the University. "The college shall also ensure proper upkeep, maintenance, and systematic preservation of all biometric attendance records for future reference and verification," it reads. The Colleges have been directed to comply with this directive "without fail." The move comes in wake of the inspections conducted last year by the DCDC of KU in various B.Ed colleges where most of the students were found absent. An official said that there were complaints about the poor attendance of the students in B.Ed colleges. "The students do not attend their B.Ed classes regularly which defeats the purpose of the course," the official said. Earlier, DCDC of KU earlier barred the B.Ed students to appear in teh semester exams for falling short of attendance. The decision was taken in wake of the surprise inspection conducted by Dean College Development Council (DCDC) in various B.Ed colleges of Kashmir in June-July month of 2025 and several students were found absent from the classes. Following this, the students were directed to attend supplementary classes to complete the recommended attendance for appearing in their exams. Also, the exam of these students was deferred by few months.
Baramulla, Jan 9: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla on Thursday said that the situation caused by the landslides on Ur-Baramulla was temporary and would be resolved once the excavation process of the road is completed. The statement comes amid the concerns over recurring landslides on the UriāBaramulla road due to ongoing road widening project being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Talking to Kashmir Square, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa said that such issues are common during the construction of hill roads and should not be viewed as an unusual development. āThere is no major issue. Whenever a hill road is constructed or widened, such problems are recurrent,ā he said. He further said that the slopes usually take time to stabilise after excavation. "The excavation process affects the natural stability of the hillside and it generally takes one to two years for slopes to fully stabilise," he said. Minga Sherpa said several slope stabilisation measures are already in place to minimise risks. āGrouting has been done and protective walling has also been constructed at several points,ā DC Baramulla told Kashmir Square. He further said that around 200 metres of excavation work is still pending on the stretch and the remaining cutting work is expected to be completed within a month. āOnce the excavation is finished, the BRO and concerned agencies will carry out full-fledged slope stabilisation measures. After that, such incidents will not occur again,ā he said. Over the past few weeks, the UriāBaramulla road, a vital link connecting the border town of Uri with Baramulla district witnessed intermittent traffic disruptions due to landslides triggered by excavation work, raising safety concerns among commuters. The BaramullaāUri National Highway remained closed on Thursday after another landslide struck the stretch - the third such incident reported in the last 20 days, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. A fresh landslide hit the highway on Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to immediately halt traffic movement on the route as a precautionary measure. It was the third such incident in just 20 days on the BaramullaāUri National Highway, following two earlier slides that also triggered full traffic halts and diversions through alternate routes. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass, while all routine traffic was stopped to avoid any untoward incident. An official said the road clearance operations were launched soon after the incident, with personnel and machinery mobilised to remove debris and stabilise the affected area. "The highway was made motorable again from the evening hours," he said. The closure of the main BaramullaāUri National Highway compelled authorities to divert vehicles through the dilapidated KhadniyarāGantamulla road.
Srinagar, Jan 8: The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has pulled up the officers vested with the powers of Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) as their additional assignment, for indulging in administrative works, beyond their domain. As per the order issued by the Director School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Wani, the officers having additional DDO powers, have been reprimanded for going beyond their role of duties. "It has come to the notice of the DSEK that many officers of the department vested with DDOs powers are affecting transfers and doing administrative works having no authority to do so," the order reads. As per the order, all these DDOs holding charge in additional capacity have been asked to utilise the powers for the purpose of drawing and disbursing salary and other financial matters within the limits of the authority. "The officers shall not exercise any administrative powers particularly with respect to the transfer of staff," it reads. The DSEK has warned of disciplinary action in case of violation of the order by any officers. "Any deviation from the instant order shall be viewed seriously and invite disciplinary action," it reads.
New Delhi, Jan 11:Ā Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports and Transport, Satish Sharma Sunday participated in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026. The Dialogue is being at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from January 9 to 12 of 2026. The national level youth dialogue, organised under the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, brings together the young leaders, innovators, policymakers and domain experts from across the country to deliberate on Indiaās journey towards becoming a developed nation. During the programme, Satish Sharma attended multiple thematic tracks focusing on Aatmanirbhar Bharat, MSME support, innovation, skill development and youth entrepreneurship. He actively interacted with the participants and stakeholders and also presided over sessions as a Jury, where innovative ideas and youth-led projects were evaluated. The Minister appreciated the passion and innovative spirit of young leaders. He said that such platforms are vital for nurturing next-generation change makers who will shape Indiaās economic, technological and social future. He said the focus on MSME development and Vocal for Local is especially relevant for empowering grassroots entrepreneurs and strengthening domestic manufacturing. Satish Sharma highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir has immense potential in start-ups, handicrafts, agri-based industries, tourism and IT-enabled services. He assured that the government is committed towards creating a supportive ecosystem for youth-led enterprises. He said that the ideas and innovations emerging from the Viksit Bharat Dialogue would play a crucial role in realising the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, ensuring inclusive growth and sustainable development across all regions of the country. The Minister also commended the organisers for providing a vibrant national platform for youth engagement, leadership and innovation. Later, Satish Sharma met Chairman Infrastructure Committee, BCCI & President Delhi Cricket Association Rohan Jaitley. He held detailed discussions regarding development of new cricket stadia in Jammu and Kashmir. During the meeting, the Minister highlighted the immense sporting talent in the Union Territory. He emphasised the need for world-class cricketing infrastructure to nurture the young players and promote sports culture across the region. The proposed stadia are expected to provide modern training facilities and enable Jammu and Kashmir to host national and international-level cricket events. The Minister also met Union Minister Sh. Jiten Prasada, during which several important issues related to the departments of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports and Science and Technology were discussed. The discussions focused on strengthening coordination between the Centre and the Union Territory for faster implementation of development projects and improving public service delivery. Satish Sharma reiterated the commitment of J&K government to promote sports, improve infrastructure and ensure effective governance through close collaboration with central ministries and national sporting bodies.
New Delhi, Jan 8: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday convened a conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) as part of its preparations for the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026, scheduled to be held from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The meeting was organised at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), where Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, briefed the CEOs on the framework, objectives and operational aspects of the upcoming global conference. The CEOs were also apprised of their specific roles and responsibilities in the run-up to the event. Following the inaugural address, the CEOs deliberated on 36 thematic groups that will form the backbone of discussions during IICDEM 2026, with each group to be led by a designated CEO. The themes cover all critical facets of election management and aim to build a comprehensive knowledge base by drawing on the diverse experiences of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the world. IICDEM 2026 is expected to be the largest international conference of its kind hosted by India in the field of democracy and election management. The event will bring together nearly 100 international delegates representing EMBs globally, besides representatives from international organisations, foreign missions in India, and leading academic and professional experts in electoral processes. The conference will feature a range of general and plenary sessions, including the inaugural session, EMB leadersā plenary, EMB working group meetings and the launch of ECINET. Several thematic sessions will focus on global electoral challenges, international electoral standards, as well as innovations and best practices in election management. Renowned academic institutions will also participate in the deliberations, including four Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), six Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), 12 National Law Universities (NLUs) and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). A total of 36 thematic groups, led by CEOs from states and Union Territories and supported by national and international academic experts, will contribute to the discussions.
KS News DeskNew Delhi, Dec 11: The Indian Army contingent deployed in Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu has set up and is operating a fully functional field hospital in one of the worst flood-affected regions, delivering critical medical support to thousands of citizens.Ā The journey itself demanded exceptional resolve.After landing in Colombo, the team undertook an arduous 18-hour move to the disaster zone, navigating washed-out routes and widespread disruption.Upon arrival, they were confronted with a bare parking lot available for establishing the hospital, interrupted electricity, inconsistent water supply and severely impaired communication networks, conditions that would have paralysed any conventional medical response.Yet, the contingent, in coordination with Local Authorities in Sri Lanka, transformed challenges into opportunities through professionalism, innovation and seamless teamwork.The engineers and medical teams worked through the night to raise fully functional hospital shelters, integrating portable gensets to ensure uninterrupted power for critical care, surgeries and life-saving interventions.They coordinated with district authorities to secure regular water supply and established a robust communication centre, restoring real-time connectivity with India, logistics channels and local agencies, enabling rapid reinforcement and smooth operations.To accelerate setup and enhance patient care, the contingent leveraged new-age technologies.Aerial surveys using surveillance drones enabled optimised hospital layout planning in the flooded terrain. HVAC-equipped medical tents allowed swift establishment of a sterile, fully operational Operation Theatre, while rapid blood and sample movement was facilitated through purpose-designed holistic tools that significantly reduced diagnostic turnaround time.In just a few days, the field hospital has grown into a comprehensive, multi-specialty medical node.The team established Operation Theatre capabilities, X-ray and laboratory facilities, dental care and multiple dedicated OPDs, including surgery, orthopaedics, dental and family medicine. These facilities have enabled the contingent to provide medical assistance to over 5,000 patients, offering not just treatment but also reassurance and compassion to families devastated by the floods.The Indian Army Medical Task Force comprises 85 personnel, including specialist doctors, surgeons, nursing staff, engineers, signalers and logistics teams, working round the clock in close coordination with local administration and NGOs.Their mandate extends beyond medical relief.The signals detachment restored a damaged optical fibre cable supporting a key mobile tower, bringing vital communication services back to the affected populace, a major morale booster for local communities.The contingent is also supplying potable water through portable treatment systems and providing a range of humanitarian assistance wherever gaps are identified.Through determination, professionalism and empathy, the Indian Army contingent has become a pillar of support for Sri Lankan citizens during one of their most difficult moments.Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, Indias commitment to its neighbourhood is once again reflected not only in capability, but in compassion, reaffirming the enduring bonds of friendship between the two nations.