The Kashmir Pulse

PULWAMA — Panic has gripped Aaligund village of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district following two alleged house robbery incidents involving masked men, with villagers urging police to investigate the cases and strengthen security in the area.

In the first incident, which reportedly took place a few days ago, unidentified masked men allegedly barged into the house of Jahangir Sultan Bhat at around 11 pm, when he was alone as his family members had gone to attend a marriage function.

The intruders allegedly threatened Bhat at knifepoint and demanded gold ornaments and cash. They reportedly fled after taking Rs 9,000 that he was carrying.

A second incident was reported yesterday at the residence of Sajad Ahmad Rather, son of Asadullah Rather. According to family, unknown men allegedly dismantled a kitchen window to gain entry into the house and decamped with gold ornaments reportedly worth around Rs 2 lakh and Rs 2,000 in cash.

The two incidents have triggered concern among villagers, who suspect that the unidentified persons may be involved in drug abuse, although their identities and motives have not been established.

Villagers have appealed to the police to take cognisance of the incidents, investigate the alleged robberies and identify those responsible before any further incident takes place.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has been functioning without a regular Chairman for more than three months, while six member positions also remain vacant, triggering concern among thousands of aspirants awaiting recruitment to gazetted posts in the Union Territory.

The previous Chairman, A.K. Choudhary, retired on July 31, 2026, but no regular successor has been appointed so far. With only two members currently serving on the Commission, aspirants say the prolonged vacancies have created uncertainty over recruitment schedules, examinations, interviews and other selection-related activities.

The Commission is responsible for a range of recruitment functions, including preparation of recruitment calendars, conducting written examinations, evaluating answer scripts, declaring results, holding interviews and recommending candidates for appointment. It also conducts Departmental Promotion Committee meetings for promotions in various government departments.

Aspirants have urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene and ensure the appointment of a regular Chairman and filling of the six vacant member positions, saying the institutional vacuum is affecting the prospects of candidates who have spent years preparing for government jobs.

The uncertainty has particularly affected applicants for 205 Assistant Professor posts advertised by the JKPSC in August 2026 for the Higher Education Department. Candidates are awaiting clarity on the written examination schedule, with some expressing fears that delays could affect their eligibility because of age limits.

An aspirant from Jammu University, who applied for the Assistant Professor posts, told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that he was already 39 and had only one year left before crossing the prescribed upper age limit.

“I do not know when the written examination will be conducted. Such uncertainty is causing immense anxiety among candidates,” he said.

Shazia Lone, who recently returned after completing a postdoctoral fellowship in Zoology from Germany, also expressed concern over the lack of clarity. She said highly qualified researchers returning from abroad with the hope of contributing to higher education were increasingly frustrated by uncertainty surrounding recruitment opportunities.

A senior professor from Jammu University questioned the delay in filling the leadership and member positions in an institution with such significant responsibilities, and urged the Lieutenant Governor to address the issue.

Another aspirant who applied for an Assistant Professor position at SKIMS said he had returned from the United States expecting the interview process to be completed in September, but was still waiting for further developments.

According to aspirants, more than 1,500 posts across different government departments are reportedly at various stages of recruitment. Thousands of candidates, including Ph.D., postdoctoral, MD, MS, DNB, M.Ch. and DM degree holders, are awaiting the completion of selection processes.

Mudasir Ahmad said the prolonged uncertainty had deepened frustration among educated unemployed youth, many of whom had invested years in acquiring specialised qualifications and research experience. He called for immediate steps to restore the Commission’s functioning.

The aspirants have reiterated their appeal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to ensure that the Chairman and vacant member positions are filled without further delay, warning that continued uncertainty could further jeopardise the career prospects of qualified candidates. 

SRINAGAR — National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday ruled out the possibility of a split in the party, acknowledging that grievances raised by a group of legislators were genuine and assuring them that their concerns would be addressed in a phased manner.

Speaking to the news agency KNS, after meeting around 16 party legislators at his Gupkar residence, Abdullah said the leadership had heard their concerns and would take necessary steps to resolve them.

"We have spoken to them. Their problems were genuine and they were heard properly. We will take some steps quickly and some steps slowly," he said.

The NC president said efforts would also be made to strengthen the party organisation and the government to ensure that public grievances were addressed effectively.

Rejecting reports of a possible rebellion within the ruling party, Abdullah asserted that the National Conference remained united despite concerns raised by some legislators.

"The news that a split is taking place in the National Conference is completely baseless. This community is organised, and those who think they can break it should remember that it has never been broken and never will be," he said.

Abdullah's remarks came amid speculation over internal differences within the party following a series of meetings by legislators who had expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of the party's functioning and the government's affairs.

The legislators had sought an opportunity to present their concerns directly to the party leadership and discuss organisational and governance-related issues.

Abdullah also reiterated that the National Conference would continue its political and legal efforts for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood and special constitutional status.

"Our fight for the restoration of statehood will continue. Our fight for Article 370 and Article 35A will also continue, and, God willing, we will take the matter to the Supreme Court," he said.

Restoration of statehood and special status were among the key commitments made by the National Conference ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections.

The Supreme Court, in its December 2023 verdict, upheld the Centre's August 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 while directing that Assembly elections be held in Jammu and Kashmir and statehood restored at the earliest.

Meanwhile, NC legislator Nazir Ahmad Gurezi dismissed speculation about the emergence of a breakaway group within the party, saying the legislators had merely sought to raise their concerns before the leadership.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah along with other party legislators at the Gupkar residence, Gurezi said the leadership had assured them that their grievances would be addressed, with some matters to be resolved immediately and others gradually.

"We are legislators of the National Conference. Whenever we have issues, we take them to our party leadership. A few days ago, we sat together at one place, but social media portrayed it as if a separate party had emerged from the National Conference. There was no such group," Gurezi said.

He said the legislators had placed their concerns directly before Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah during the meeting.

"There were certain issues which we brought before the honourable Chief Minister and Farooq Sahib. They have assured us that whether these are political issues or other matters, some will be addressed immediately while others will be resolved gradually," he said.

The legislators had earlier held consultations among themselves following dissatisfaction among sections of the party after the recent Cabinet expansion, prompting speculation about the possibility of a separate faction emerging within the National Conference.

Gurezi maintained that the meetings were intended to discuss grievances and seek their resolution through the party's established leadership rather than challenge its authority.

He said the latest interaction had provided an opportunity to present their concerns directly and receive assurances from the party president and the Chief Minister.

The legislators are expected to continue pursuing their demands within the party while awaiting action on the assurances given by the leadership.