Kashmir continues to reel under an intense heat wave, with Srinagar recording a maximum temperature of 35.3°C, making it the hottest day of the summer so far.

The Meteorological Department has forecast that the scorching weather will persist for the next 48 hours, with daytime temperatures expected to remain between 33.5°C and 34°C across the Valley.

Director of the Meteorological Department, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, said the southwest monsoon is likely to enter Jammu and Kashmir within the next 72 hours, with the first spell of rainfall expected to begin on July 1.

He warned that July 2 and July 3 could witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, particularly across the Jammu region, where some districts may experience intense downpours over a short period. Such conditions could trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and waterlogging, especially in vulnerable and low-lying areas.

Dr. Ahmad advised residents to remain alert and follow official weather advisories as the monsoon advances. He noted that the monsoon has already covered parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and is expected to progress further into the northern Himalayan region before entering Jammu and Kashmir.

On the current weather conditions, he said there is no significant weather system active over Kashmir for the next 40 hours, and the Valley will continue to experience dry and unusually hot conditions, with only isolated afternoon activity.

Issuing an advisory for the farming community, the MeT Department said farmers may continue field preparation and paddy transplantation activities but should avoid irrigation from July 1 onwards. Spraying of pesticides and fertilizers should be carried out only during the morning and evening hours.

The department has urged the public to stay updated through official weather bulletins and take necessary precautions during both the ongoing heatwave and the expected heavy rainfall.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, seeking his immediate intervention to address the alleged unauthorized collection of fees from livestock transport vehicles passing through Punjab and to ensure the smooth movement of consignments destined for Jammu and Kashmir.

In his letter, Omar Abdullah highlighted concerns raised by the All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Union regarding the difficulties being faced by livestock traders and transporters while transporting livestock through Punjab.

The Chief Minister stated that livestock-laden vehicles carrying valid permits and statutory documentation are reportedly being stopped by certain contractor groups operating in connection with cattle fairs and compelled to pay unauthorized charges during transit.

He said such practices are resulting in avoidable delays, financial losses for transporters and traders, and unnecessary hardship, while also adversely affecting animal welfare.

Referring to the findings of an internal committee constituted by the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Omar Abdullah said the committee had found that transporters were allegedly being forced to make substantial payments per vehicle without any apparent legal sanction.

The Chief Minister further noted that livestock movement is exempt from Goods and Services Tax (GST), adding that the continued imposition of such unauthorized charges is placing an additional financial burden on the livestock trade. He warned that the increased transportation costs could eventually impact meat prices, affecting consumers across Jammu and Kashmir.

Emphasising the longstanding relationship between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said the two neighbouring states share strong bonds of friendship, cooperation and economic interdependence. He observed that if such practices are indeed occurring, they are inconsistent with the spirit of mutual cooperation that has traditionally existed between the two governments and have caused concern among the trading community.

The Chief Minister also drew attention to reports that the tendering process for cattle fairs in Punjab is likely to begin shortly. He conveyed the apprehensions expressed by stakeholders that unless appropriate safeguards are introduced, the alleged unauthorized fee collection could continue during the upcoming contract period, resulting in recurring financial hardship for livestock traders.

Seeking Punjab’s intervention, Omar Abdullah requested Bhagwant Mann to have the matter examined and to ensure the smooth, secure and unhindered movement of livestock transport vehicles through Punjab. He also urged that no unauthorized interference or collection of charges be permitted from transporters carrying valid documents and complying with all statutory requirements.

Expressing confidence in the spirit of cooperation between the two governments, Omar Abdullah thanked the Punjab Chief Minister in advance for extending support to resolve the issue in the interest of traders, consumers and the seamless movement of essential livestock supplies between the two neighbouring regions.

Srinagar, June 27: In a significant development in one of Jammu and Kashmir’s oldest unresolved terror cases, the State Investigation Agency (SIA), Kashmir, has filed a 737-page chargesheet before a Special Court in Srinagar in connection with the abduction and murder of SKIMS staff nurse Sarla Bhat in April 1990.

The chargesheet was filed before the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, TADA/POTA and Special Judge designated under the NIA Act, Srinagar, marking a major step in the investigation nearly 35 years after the incident.

According to officials, the investigation was transferred to the SIA by the Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, on March 18, 2024. Following the transfer, the agency conducted an extensive investigation involving protected witnesses, eyewitness accounts, forensic and ballistic examinations, medical records, documentary evidence, electronic material and field investigations.

The SIA stated that the comprehensive chargesheet is supported by oral testimonies, forensic findings, documentary records and other evidence gathered during the course of the investigation.

According to the agency, Sarla Bhat, a staff nurse at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), was allegedly abducted near the hospital on April 18, 1990. Investigators allege that she was subjected to torture before being shot dead in the Omer Colony area of Malbagh, Srinagar.

Officials said the case remained unresolved for decades due to the prevailing security situation and an atmosphere of fear that discouraged witnesses from coming forward. Following the reopening of the investigation, the SIA reconstructed the sequence of events with the help of protected witnesses, eyewitness testimonies and scientific evidence.

The chargesheet names former JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik along with Khurshid Ahmad Chalkoo, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Mohammad Yousuf Sofi alias Idrees and Ghulam Mohammad Taploo as accused in the case.

According to the SIA, three of the accused—Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Mohammad Yousuf Sofi alias Idrees and Ghulam Mohammad Taploo—have since died, while Mohammad Yasin Malik is presently in judicial custody in another case. The agency also stated that proclamation proceedings have been initiated against Khurshid Ahmad Chalkoo, who is alleged to have fled to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The chargesheet invokes offences under Sections 364, 341, 302 read with 34, 201 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), relevant provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), 1987, and Sections 7 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959.

According to the investigation, allegations portraying Sarla Bhat as an informer were found to be baseless and were allegedly used as a pretext for her targeted killing. The agency has alleged that the murder formed part of a broader campaign intended to spread fear and facilitate the displacement of members of the Kashmiri Pandit community during the early years of militancy.

The SIA described the filing of the chargesheet as an important milestone in its efforts to pursue justice in long-pending terror-related cases. The agency reiterated that the passage of time would not prevent investigation into serious offences and reaffirmed its commitment to bringing those allegedly responsible before the judicial process in accordance with law.

The matter will now proceed before the designated Special Court, which will examine the chargesheet and determine the subsequent course of legal proceedings.