Srinagar, September 21 – Months after mysterious explosions shook Srinagar in May, remnants of a rocket shell have resurfaced in Dal Lake. During a clean-up drive on Saturday, staff from the Lake Conservation and Management Authority discovered shell debris near the Ontha Kadal area.
Officials confirmed that the remnants were moved to a nearby police station for further examination. On May 10, several loud explosions were heard across the city after a missile-like object fell into Dal Lake, releasing smoke and alarming residents. Another suspicious object was recovered the same day from Lasjan on the city’s outskirts.
Local people recall the panic when smoke rose from the lake, and many questioned the origin of the blasts, which remain unclear. The latest recovery has once again raised concerns among Srinagar’s residents about unexplained military activity in civilian areas.
Armed Clash in Kishtwar
Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, an armed encounter broke out on Sunday afternoon in the Keshwan area. According to initial reports, government troops launched an intelligence-based operation in the forests, which led to contact with armed fighters.
Both sides exchanged heavy gunfire, prompting authorities to rush reinforcements and seal off the area. After the initial firefight, calm briefly returned, but search operations continued late into the evening.
Residents in nearby villages reported being confined indoors as operations spread across the forested terrain. Civil society groups in Kashmir have repeatedly expressed concern that such operations heighten fear among local populations and further restrict their freedom of movement.
As of the latest update, the situation in Kishtwar remained tense, with searches still underway.