Kohala, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan administered Kashmir: Angry residents have blocked the Kohala–Muzaffarabad road for over two hours in protest against the suspension of police personnel at the Kohala checkpost implicated in a liquor and narcotics case.

According to the demonstrators, officers were initially suspended after seizing liquor and drugs, but were later suspended under political pressure. Locals contend that powerful elites and their patrons are shielding traffickers, highlighting the deeply flawed and biased nature of the system.

“Over the past 77 years, this double-standard system has oppressed the poor. There is no justice or accountability—only favoritism and gangsterism,” a protester said.

The crowd demanded the immediate reinstatement of the suspended police staff and severe punishment for the culprits, warning that public anger could escalate if urgent action is not taken.

The Incident and Its Fallout

Two days prior, law enforcement at the Kohala checkpost intercepted a vehicle transporting a large cache of liquor. However, allegations quickly emerged that influential individuals intervened—either through political clout or bribery—to release both the liquor and the accused. Witnesses who confronted the police were met with silence.

Subsequently, the police chose to suspend their personnel rather than pursue the real offenders. The protesters sharply criticized this move, arguing it rewarded wrongdoing instead of punishing it, and is indicative of institutional decay.

During the crackdown, the Kohala police arrested former Muslim Conference candidate Yasir Kazmi and an associate along with the contraband. The accused were also allegedly involved in aggressive behavior toward the police—attempting to run them over, flee, offer bribes, and exert pressure. A case was registered including the bribe as evidence.

Despite this, the authorities opted to suspend the officers on duty, rather than pursue action against the suspects and their influential backers.

Local voices condemned the decision:

“The wrong people have been penalized. The system protects the powerful, crushing ordinary citizens.”

Broader Implications

This protest is emblematic of long-standing frustrations among Kashmiris regarding institutional corruption, impunity, and the erosion of transparency. The selective enforcement of law—especially targeting those who fall out of favor politically—undermines public trust and fuels social unrest.

As the residents of Kohala maintain their blockade, calls for accountability have intensified. They insist that reinstating the suspended officers and prosecuting the responsible elites is not just a local demand—but a matter of restoring basic rule of law and justice.

Srinagar, September 2025 – The decision by the United States to impose a 50% tariff on Indian exports from August 27 has sent shockwaves through Kashmir’s fragile handicrafts sector, an industry that sustains the livelihood of over 400,000 artisans.

Exporters say the new trade measures have made it nearly impossible to send Kashmiri products to the American market, leaving warehouses piled high with unsold goods and forcing cutbacks in employment. Families that depend entirely on this centuries-old craft are now staring at an uncertain future.

Among the hardest hit are pashmina shawls, woollen blankets, embroidered furniture covers, and silk carpets – traditional products that are shipped annually to the US for the autumn and winter sales season. Traders note that the timing of the tariff has multiplied losses: with the festive and winter markets approaching, consignments have stalled and an entire sales cycle has collapsed.

For decades, the US has been a leading buyer of Kashmiri handicrafts. In the financial year 2023–24, America accounted for nearly 30% of Jammu & Kashmir’s total handicraft exports, valued at ₹1,116 crore. For many exporters, US orders formed the backbone of their annual revenue. With those orders frozen, the sector is scrambling to find alternative markets – but global demand for high-value handmade items like silk carpets and embroidered shawls remains limited.

This crisis comes at a time when the industry is still recovering from the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Traders who recently attended exhibitions in Delhi said American buyers have completely withdrawn, leaving unsold stock to pile up.

Artisans from Srinagar to smaller craft hubs report a sharp decline in new orders. Carpet weavers, papier-mâché artists, and crewel embroidery workers are among the worst affected, with many workshops operating at less than half their usual capacity.

Facing mounting distress, industry associations are calling for immediate support measures: interest subsidies, GST reductions, and a special financial relief package to cushion the blow. Exporters warn that if swift action is not taken, the crisis could result in permanent damage – not only to livelihoods but also to the preservation of Kashmir’s unique handicraft heritage, which has endured for centuries despite adversity.

With the festive season in Western markets drawing near, the outlook remains grim. Traders fear that without urgent intervention or access to new international markets, the losses could cripple the sector for years to come.

Reasi/Mahore, September 2025 – Continuous torrential and stormy rains over the past several days have wreaked havoc across Jammu and Kashmir, leaving behind a trail of destruction in multiple districts. Among the worst-affected regions is the Mahore sub-division of Reasi, where the fury of adverse weather conditions has devastated villages, destroyed homes, displaced families, and claimed lives.

Residents describe the disaster as one that turned lives upside down within minutes — homes built over generations were reduced to rubble, families found themselves under the open sky, and livelihoods disappeared in the blink of an eye.

According to local sources, the worst-hit areas include Bagga Jamsalan and its adjoining localities, around 22 kilometers from Mahore town. Reports confirm that more than 35 residential houses have been severely damaged, while vast tracts of agricultural land have been destroyed. The Morha Chachi area of Jamsalan, already known for past land sinking incidents, has once again collapsed under heavy rains. A similar tragedy years ago had forced dozens of families to abandon their homes when the ground caved in. Despite repeated surveys and visits by officials and expert teams, locals say no substantial rehabilitation measures were ever undertaken.

Today, as history repeats itself, residents accuse authorities of negligence, saying that had adequate relocation and resettlement plans been implemented earlier, hundreds of families would not have been forced into another cycle of displacement. “We are living in fear and despair because the land here is no longer habitable. Every new rainfall threatens our existence,” a local villager told The Azadi Times.

The situation has also affected key infrastructure. A portion of the Mahore–Gool–Ramban highway has been damaged due to land subsidence, disrupting transport and cutting off essential supplies.

Destruction in Saardh Village

The tragedy is not confined to Jamsalan alone. In Saardh village, situated about 7 kilometers from Mahore, thousands of kanals of land have sunk, displacing dozens of families and leaving them under makeshift shelters. Many are reported to be living under the open sky with little access to food, water, or medical aid.

A nearly 400-meter stretch of the Mahore–Chasana–Gulabgarh–Rajouri road has also been washed away, and officials admit that restoring the link may take weeks.

Relief and Official Response

Local administration claims to be on the ground, reaching out to victims with immediate relief. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mahore, Shafqat Majeed Butt, accompanied by Tehsildar Mahore, Javed Iqbal, visited the affected villages to assess the situation. Following local complaints of inadequate aid, the SDM announced the appointment of nodal officers for relief operations — B.D. Mahesh Chander in Bagga Jamsalan and T.S.O. Amit Mangotra in Saardh.

Meanwhile, Engineer Khurshid, MLA Gulabgarh, also toured the devastated areas and met survivors. However, many affected families dismissed these visits as “symbolic” and accused both officials and political leaders of making promises without ensuring long-term rehabilitation.

According to SDM Mahore, as many as 323 houses have collapsed across the sub-division. At least 88 families have been shifted to safer locations, while others have taken temporary refuge with relatives or in nearby villages.

Despite these efforts, survivors remain unconvinced, pointing to past disasters where official assurances of resettlement never materialized. “We are tired of visits and empty words. What we need is secure housing and permanent rehabilitation, not temporary tents and promises,” said another displaced villager.