IIOJK & Indian Minorities — Daily Report | 1 October 2026 (Evening Edition)

Budgam encounter: India's claim and Pakistan's rebuttal

Representative image — Photo: Abdul Muiz Khan / Unsplash

Kashmir24's evening report brings the main developments of the past few hours from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) and on minorities in India. The day's biggest story is India's claim over a Budgam encounter and Pakistan's rebuttal.

Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir

1. Budgam encounter: India claims it killed an "LeT commander"; Pakistan presents the "slain" man alive

According to the Indian Army's Chinar Corps, a joint operation by the army, police and CRPF in the Korag area of Yousmarg, Budgam district, on the night of 29–30 September killed a militant identified as "Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa", described as a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander (Sunday Guardian, UNI). On 1 October, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry presented retired havildar Mohammad Asif alive at a press conference and called the Indian claim a "false flag". According to Dawn and Arab News, Asif said he joined the army in 2000, moved to the SSG in 2005, retired in 2023 and lives with his family in Rawalpindi. At the time of publication, India had not formally responded to the Pakistani press conference.

Sources: Dawn, Arab News, Sunday Guardian, WebIndia123

2. SIA raids in Kulgam and Qazigund

According to Kashmir Observer, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) searched two houses in Kulgam and Qazigund in south Kashmir on 1 October. The agency said the searches were part of a human-trafficking and cyber-fraud case in which local youth were allegedly lured with promises of jobs abroad and taken via Thailand to Myanmar. It said mobile phones, identity documents and a passport were seized.

Source: Kashmir Observer

3. Srinagar police say narcotics network busted, 8 arrested

Srinagar police said eight people were arrested in action against an inter-state narcotics network. According to The Hans India, police claimed to have recovered about Rs 85.76 lakh in cash and gold worth Rs 1.05 crore.

Sources: Kashmir Observer, Free Press Kashmir, The Hans India

4. New media policy for social-media "journalists" within four months

According to Kashmir Observer, Information Minister Sakina Itoo told the Assembly on 30 September that a new media policy will be framed within four months to regulate unaccredited social-media "journalists". Some legislators cautioned against censorship in the digital age.

Source: Kashmir Observer

Minorities in India

5. Part of Ujjain's historic Shahi Masjid demolished; tear gas used on protesters

According to Al Jazeera, part of the Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, was demolished to widen a road for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Muslims held a night vigil outside the mosque on 28–29 September; police used tear gas and baton charges, injuring at least a dozen people. According to ThePrint, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had dismissed the mosque committee's petition; police detained several people and registered cases against seven. The mosque's imam says it is more than six centuries old. KMS reported on 1 October that the demolition was continuing.

Sources: Al Jazeera, ThePrint, KMS

6. Maharashtra: churches ask worshippers to sign "free will" declarations under anti-conversion law

According to a BBC report of 30 September, churches near Mumbai are asking worshippers to sign written declarations that they "came here to pray of my own free will". According to Outlook India, Maharashtra's new anti-conversion law took effect in late August, with penalties of up to seven years in prison, or ten years for repeat offences, making Maharashtra the 13th Indian state with such a law.

Sources: BBC, Outlook India