FARIDABAD/SRINAGAR – In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested prominent Kashmiri Pandit activist Rakesh Handoo, alias Bunty, from Faridabad, Haryana. The arrest, executed by the Baramulla Police on October 17, relates to FIR No. 151/2026, which involves serious allegations under the Information Technology Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Investigators allege that Handoo was involved in the circulation and amplification of digital threat letters purportedly issued by a “militant outfit.” These messages specifically targeted minority employees serving under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package (PMRP) and other migrant workers in the Valley, reportedly exposing their personal information. Inspector General of Police Sujit Kumar confirmed that substantial evidence had been gathered against Handoo, following a complaint filed by a PM Package employee currently stationed in Baramulla.
The arrest has sent shockwaves through activist circles, as Handoo had previously positioned himself as a vocal advocate for the security of PM Package employees. He had frequently demanded security audits and improved, safe accommodation for these workers, even publicly warning authorities in September about the risks posed by potential data leaks. Handoo had reportedly requested that investigations be conducted via video conferencing, citing security concerns regarding travel to Kashmir.
In other major legal developments, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has delivered a landmark ruling striking down the government’s “water usage charges” imposed on hydropower projects. A Division Bench declared the levy to be an unconstitutional tax on electricity generation, noting that the erstwhile State Legislature lacked the authority to impose it. The court rejected the government’s argument that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, validated the levy, stating that a law void at its inception cannot be retroactively legalized.
On the political front, National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah has sparked a heated controversy with his remarks regarding Pakistan. Addressing party workers on October 24, Dr. Abdullah suggested that Pakistan’s frequent interventions at international forums had acted as a form of protection for the people of Jammu and Kashmir against alleged designs by New Delhi. The statement drew swift condemnation, with the BJP labeling the comments “seditious” and demanding a public apology. Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also distanced himself from the assessment, calling it “completely incorrect.”
Meanwhile, the administrative landscape is set for a change as 1995-batch IAS officer Sajan Singh Yadav is slated to take charge as the new Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir on November 1. Succeeding the retiring Atal Dulloo, Yadav’s appointment marks a departure in administrative tradition, as he becomes the first core AGMUT cadre officer to head the administration since the merger of the state cadre in 2021.
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