National Conference betrayed massive mandate: Mehbooba Mufti
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday hit out at ruling National Conference accusing it of betraying a massive mandate and failing to deliver on its promises. Addressing a massive PDP workers convention at SK Park in Srinagar, Mehbooba said NC has failed on all fronts. NC failed to deliver on its promises despite getting a massive mandate. Mehbooba strongly pitched for renewed dialogue between India and Pakistan, reopening of traditional routes connecting Jammu and Kashmir with neighbouring regions, and greater people-to-people engagement, asserting that sustainable peace in Kashmir can only emerge through political reconciliation and regional cooperation., Mehbooba said the partys political roadmap was centred on opening the gates of Kashmir through trade, travel and dialogue rather than creating further divisions in the region. Our roadmap is to open the gates of Kashmir with all neighbours, Mehbooba told party workers, clarifying that the PDPs position was neither anti-India nor aimed at seeking a referendum or transfer of territory. She said the focus instead should be on restoring connections, promoting economic cooperation and facilitating free movement of people across borders in South Asia. The former Chief Minister said Kashmir has suffered due to prolonged political uncertainty and strained relations between India and Pakistan, and stressed that dialogue remains the only viable way forward. We want freedom of trade and travel, she said, adding that engagement and communication between neighbouring countries and regions are essential for peace and prosperity in Kashmir. Mehbooba endorsed recent remarks made by RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who had stated that people-to-people contact should continue between India and Pakistan and that channels for dialogue must remain open despite political tensions. She described his remarks as significant and consistent with the vision advocated by PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed throughout his political life. The solution to Kashmir lies in dialogue and within the framework of the Constitution. Whatever we have to achieve needs to be done from Delhi and here in Jammu and Kashmir. We believe in engagement and talks. We seek peace with dignity, Mehbooba said. Referring to Hosabales comments, which were also supported by former Army chief M. M. Naravane, Mehbooba said the time had come to revive the reconciliation process in the region. She noted that Hosabale had emphasised the cultural and historical bonds shared by people on both sides of the border and the need for civil society to play a greater role in improving relations after India lost trust in Pakistans political and military leadership. What Hosabale has said now is what Mufti Mohammad Sayeed advocated till his last breath. Open our roads leading to the other side of Kashmir, Pakistan, China and Central Asia, she said. In a direct appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mehbooba said if he genuinely wanted to create a historic legacy, he should initiate a meaningful process for resolution of the Kashmir issue and engage Pakistan diplomatically. If Modi ji wants to carve a name for himself, he should resolve the Kashmir issue and involve Pakistan in the process, she said. At the same time, Mehbooba acknowledged the prime ministers earlier outreach attempts, including his surprise visit to Lahore in 2015-16, but said those efforts were derailed by the Pathankot terror attack. She maintained that Pakistan too must reciprocate positively if India extends a hand of peace. I am not saying Narendra Modi has done nothing for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He visited Lahore in 2016, but it was followed by the Pathankot attack. Pakistan will have to respond positively to any efforts of outreach from India, she said. Mehbooba further asserted that New Delhi cannot ignore the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir if a long-term political solution is to be achieved. Delhi will have to listen to the voice of Kashmiris, she said. Invoking Mufti Mohammad Sayeeds philosophy of reconciliation and political engagement, Mehbooba said economic development alone cannot substitute a political solution to the Kashmir issue. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed used to say that even if we build roads of gold and bridges of silver, they will be of no use if the Kashmir issue is not resolved, she said, adding that while development is important, dialogue and peace-building are what can transform leaders into statesmen remembered across South Asia. The PDP president also demanded the release of political detainees ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, describing it as an important confidence-building measure that could help restore trust between the government and the people. Freeing prisoners would be the first real confidence-building measure that would send a strong message of reconciliation and healing to the people of Kashmir, she said. The convention also witnessed sharp criticism of the ruling National Conference government by senior PDP leaders. PDP MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of betraying the public mandate and failing to fulfil commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. NC has betrayed the massive mandate given by the people of J&K. Omar Abdullah has failed to deliver on promises. He preferred to protect his chair instead of leading the people, Para said. Senior PDP leader and former parliamentarian Mehboob Beg said the people of Kashmir had repeatedly demonstrated resilience in difficult times and asserted that the PDP would continue to stand with them politically and emotionally. It is because of your resistance that we the people of Kashmir are existing and our party is determined to stand by you, Beg told the gathering while praising the people of Srinagar for their support to the PDP over the years. Beg also launched a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation over its handling of the Article 370 and Article 35-A issue. He questioned why the matter was not debated seriously in the Legislative Assembly despite a unanimous resolution calling for restoration of the constitutional provisions. Why is it that the ruling party chose not to discuss abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A in the Legislative Assembly? he asked. The senior PDP leader further accused the National Conference government of mocking its own election manifesto by failing to fulfil promises related to free gas cylinders, opposition to smart meters and employment generation. Why is Omar Abdullah Sahab making fun of his own manifesto which talked about free gas cylinders, a big no to smart meters and giving government jobs to unemployed youth, including one lakh jobs in one year, Beg said. He also urged the government to protect the younger generation from the menace of drugs and liquor and instead focus on creating employment opportunities. Former minister and PDP general secretary organisation Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura thanked party workers for making the Srinagar convention successful and alleged that the ruling government had failed to implement promises made during elections. Senior PDP leader Khurshid Alam accused the present government of neglecting Srinagar and ignoring the concerns of the citys residents. Former minister Abdul Rehman Veeri claimed that many development projects being inaugurated by the present administration had actually been conceptualised and initiated during the PDP regime. Former MLA and PDP Womens Wing president Anjum Fazili highlighted the resilience and contribution of women in the political and social life of Kashmir while addressing party workers. Senior PDP leader Asiya Naqash also addressed the convention and reiterated the partys commitment towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Operational period of additional 3rd AC coach in Jammu-New Delhi Rajdhani Express extended
Jammu, May 15: The Jammu Railway Division of the Northern Railway, with the objective to manage the additional rush of passengers during summer vacations and trim the long waiting lists, has decided to extend the operational period of the additional third AC coach in New Delhi-Jammu Tawi-New Delhi Rajdhani Express. The coach was temporarily added to the train to cater to the swelling summer rush. The main purpose of this extension is to provide a comfortable and smooth travel experience to devotees visiting Mata Vaishno Devi, tourists coming to visit Jammu and Kashmir, and passengers returning to their homes from J&K, stated Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Railway Division. Sharing details about the extension, Singh said that the additional third AC coach would be effectively attached to train number 12426 Jammu Tawi to New Delhi Rajdhani Express from May 16 to 29, 2026. With the addition of this coach, the carrying capacity of the train will improve significantly. 72 additional seats or berths will be available for passengers on each trip. This temporary arrangement will benefit most those passengers whose tickets were on the waiting list for a long time. The chances of their tickets getting confirmed will now increase significantly, Singh informed. He said that the benefit of this additional coach would not be limited to passengers of Jammu only. Passengers travelling from major enroute stations such as Pathankot Cantt, Ludhiana and Ambala will also directly benefit due to the availability of additional berths, Singh informed.
J&K police will 'hunt and hound' ISI-linked drug operatives: DGP
Srinagar, May 14: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Thursday issued a stern warning to Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti, accusing him of working in tandem with Pakistans intelligence establishment to push narcotics and fuel narco-terror activities in the Union Territory. Addressing a press conference here, the police chief said security agencies would relentlessly pursue Bhatti and dismantle the infrastructure supporting the narcotics trade. A warning to Pakistan-based Shezad Bhati, who is ISIs acolyte and partner in pumping narcotics into India: We will hunt and hound you and your associates, and decimate your evil infrastructure, Prabhat said. He was flanked by Special DG Coordination SJM Geelani, IGP Kashmir, V K Birdi and IG Crime Sarah Rizvi. The DGP said Jammu and Kashmir Police has intensified its fight against narco-terrorism alongside its counter-terror operations, describing drug trafficking as a major threat to society and national security. While firmly focusing on combating Pakistani-sponsored terrorism, J-K Police has paid equal attention to the menace of narco-terrorism under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha through the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan launched on April 11, he said. Highlighting the achievements of the anti-drug campaign, Prabhat said the police force has registered significant progress since 2023 in curbing narcotics-related crimes, particularly through aggressive property attachments and preventive detentions. J&K Police has shown consistent performance since the year 2023 in all parameters. There have been sustained property attachments, and from 2023 to 2026, in terms of attachment of property, there has been a 12-fold increase, he said. According to the DGP, Jammu and Kashmir Police ranked third nationally in 2025 for property attachments linked to narcotics proceeds and secured the top rank in the country for PIT NDPS detentions. There have been 240 PIT NDPS detentions, for which J-K Police has been ranked number one in the country in 2025, he added. Prabhat said the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan has resulted in a substantial rise in enforcement activity, with a nearly seven-fold increase in NDPS cases across the Union Territory. Eight hundred and six persons have been arrested in 724 cases registered under the NDPS Act, he said. Among the major arrests, the DGP named Gulzar Ahmad alias Lau Gujjar, wanted in 28 cases, and Avneet Singh alias Nagi, wanted in 17 narcotics-related cases in Jammu province. Both have been apprehended recently in successful operations conducted by Jammu Police, he said. Giving details of the seizures made during the campaign, Prabhat said police recovered 667 kilograms of narcotics and 19,000 units of psychotropic substances. He further said preventive action has been initiated against 24 habitual drug offenders and that 97 properties worth Rs 41.85 crore linked to narcotics trafficking have been identified and attached. Anantnag Police attached properties worth Rs 6.17 crore in a single case, which is the largest attachment in one case so far, he said. In a first-of-its-kind action, Jammu and Kashmir Police also attached properties located outside the Union Territory, including in Punjab and Chandigarh. Properties linked with narcotics proceeds have been attached in Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Chandigarh, the DGP said. Prabhat also revealed that 41 illegally acquired properties worth nearly Rs 15 crore, raised through narcotics proceeds, have been demolished after following due legal procedures. On efforts to destroy illegal cultivation, he said police teams destroyed poppy and cannabis crops spread over 117 kanals of land. The DGP said awareness and sensitisation campaigns remain a major component of the anti-drug initiative. More than 2,401 awareness programmes have been conducted across schools, colleges and public places in identified hotspots, covering over three lakh participants, he said. Prabhat also said the police intensified inspections of pharmaceutical establishments to prevent misuse of prescription drugs. A total of 5,238 chemists and druggists have been checked, and action has been initiated against 151 erring establishments, he added. The police chief further said authorities have suspended or cancelled driving licences of 162 persons involved in narcotics cases, besides acting against 92 vehicle registration certificates linked to drug trafficking. Ten passports have also been recommended for impounding, he said, asserting that the crackdown against narcotics networks and their financial ecosystem would continue with full force.
Will hunt down drug syndicates, cross-border handlers: DGP Abid Bashir Srinagar, May 14: Director General of Police (DGP) NalinPrabhat on Thursday saidthat Pakistan-sponsoredterrorism andnarco trade remain the biggest threats facing Jammu andKashmir, asserting thatpolice will continue an aggressive crackdown on drug syndicates, cross-border handlers and terror-linked narcotics networks. Addressing a press conference at the Police Control Room (PCR) here, the DGP said that the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan has significantly intensified anti-drug operations across Jammu and Kashmir. He said police have shown consistent performance in the war against narcotics since 2023, particularly in property attachments, preventive detentions and seizure of contraband substances.There has been a sustained increase in attachment of properties linked with narcotics trafficking from 2023 to 2026. J&K Police has been ranked number three nationally during 2025 in this regard, he said. The DGP said that 240 PIT-NDPS detentions were carried out in 2025, for which J&K Police ranked first in the country. Specifically under the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan, there has been nearly a seven-fold increase in NDPS cases compared to last year, he said. He said 806 persons involved in the narcotics trade have been arrested in 724 NDPS cases registered across Jammu and Kashmir. Among the major arrests was that of Gulzar Ahmad alias Love Gujar, who was wanted in 28 cases and Avneet Singh alias Nagi, who was wanted in 17 cases in Jammu province, he said. Prabhat said police seized 667 kilograms of narcotics and over 90,000units of psychotropic substancesduring the campaign.Preventive action has also been taken against 24 habitual drug offenders, he added. The DGP further said 97 properties worth Rs 41.85 crore linked with narcotics trafficking have been identified and attached so far. Anantnag Police attached properties worth Rs 6.17 crore in a single case. In a first-of-its-kind, J&K Police has attached properties beyond the territorial limits of J&K, including one each in Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Chandigarh, he said. He added that Kulgam Police also attached properties worth Rs 93 lakh in the Beni Charana area of Jammu to establish backward linkages in narcotics cases. The police chief said 41 properties worth nearly Rs 15croreidentified as proceeds ofthe narcotics trade have also been demolished after following due legal process. Illicit poppy and cannabis cultivation spread over 117 kanals of land has been destroyed during the drive, he said. Prabhat said there has been a focused inspection of pharmaceutical establishments. At least 5,238 chemists and drug shops were checked while action was initiated against 151 erring establishments. 4,962 kilograms of narcotics and 6,493 units of psychotropic substances were disposed of during the campaign, he said. The DGP said driving licences of 162 persons involved in narcotics cases were either cancelled or suspended, while registration certificates of 92 vehicles used in drug trafficking were also cancelled or suspended. Besides, recommendations have been made for impounding 10 passports linked to narcotics-related activities, he said.
One more held in Patiala rail track blast
CHANDIGARH, May 2: Punjab Police on Saturday said it has arrested one more person in connection with the freight corridor railway track blast in Shambhu in Patiala. Gurjinder Singh alias Baba Beant has been arrested by the State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar, Patiala Police and Counter Intelligence wing in Pathankot in a joint operation, said Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Gurjinder is a key associate of Jagroop Singh, who was killed [] The post One more held in Patiala rail track blast appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Samba police arrests bike lifter
Excelsior Correspondent SAMBA, Apr, 25: Samba police has arrested an accused person involved in a theft case registered at Police Station (PS), Bari Brahmana and recovered stolen bike from his possession. Police said on April 23 a written report was lodged at Police Station (PS), Bari Brahmana by one Ajay Kumar, son of Kulwant Singh of Sarna, Pathankot regarding theft of his motorcycle bearing Registration Number, PB36H-3464 from industrial area Bari Brahmana. Acting over the complaint, a case FIR No. [] The post Samba police arrests bike lifter appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Hundreds throng Guldanda after fresh snowfall
Excelsior Correspondent BHADERWAH, Apr 5: Though the fresh snowfall in high altitude of Chenab region has brought down the temperature considerably resulting in return of cold wave in the entire region, the positive side of this is that high altitude destinations of Bhaderwah are experiencing sudden and unexpected rush of tourists, much to the delight of locals associated with tourism industry. Local vendors who have set up their small kiosks at high altitude tourist destinations along Bhaderwah-Pathankot and Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate [] The post Hundreds throng Guldanda after fresh snowfall appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Will Raise Ranjit Sagar Dam Issue With Punjab: CM Omar After BJP Flags Commitment Violations
JAMMU, Apr 2: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he will address the issue of pending commitments related to the Ranjit Sagar Dam with his Punjab counterpart. Abdullahs statement comes after the BJP raised concerns about alleged violations of the intergovernmental agreement overseeing the project. The Ranjit Sagar Dam, also known as the Thein Dam, is a major 600 MW hydroelectric project on the Ravi river near Basohli in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir and Pathankot, Punjab, [] The post Will Raise Ranjit Sagar Dam Issue With Punjab: CM Omar After BJP Flags Commitment Violations appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Biometric System Installed In All TTE Lobbies Of Jammu Railway Division
Jammu, Mar 27 : Jammu Division of Northern Railway has successfully implemented a fully biometric sign-on and sign-off system across its TTE lobbies as a significant stride towards modernisation and transparency, an official said on Friday. The Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) lobbies were the modern system was installed include Jammu, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan, Srinagar, and Pathankot, the official said. Under this new arrangement, he said, the attendance of ticket-checking staff will now be entirely [] The post Biometric System Installed In All TTE Lobbies Of Jammu Railway Division appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Snails pace of work on Ravi bridge at Lakhanpur causes traffic hazards on NH
Sahar Khad bridge to be ready by April Avtar Bhat KATHUA, Mar 9: The slow pace of work on the construction of second bridge on river Ravi at Lakhanpur has become a cause of concern for the people especially commuters as movement of traffic on this stretch of Jammu -Pathankot National Highway remains at snails pace since the collapse of the bridge during flash floods in August last year. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp According to sources, though [] The post Snails pace of work on Ravi bridge at Lakhanpur causes traffic hazards on NH appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
GOC Rising Star Corps Reviews Operational Preparedness Of Troops In Mamun Sector
JAMMU, Mar 4: The General Officer Commanding (GOC), Rising Star Corps, Lieutenant General Rajan Sharawat on Wednesday reviewed operational preparedness of the troops in the Mamun sector. The Mamun sector, whose headquarters is located at Pathankot, looks after the operational areas of the twin border districts of Samba and Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. The GOC of Rising Star Corps reviewed operational preparedness of troops in Mamun sector, PRO, Defence, Jammu said on X. The GOC commended the troops for [] The post GOC Rising Star Corps Reviews Operational Preparedness Of Troops In Mamun Sector appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Terror graph declining in J&K, launch pads under watch: Gen Katiyar
Says Pak Army still supporting infiltration; this time our response will be stronger Pathankot, Feb 26: Noting a sustained decline in terrorism indicators in Jammu and Kashmir, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, on Thursday said the security situation in the Union Territory has become very normal, even [] The post Terror graph declining in J&K, launch pads under watch: Gen Katiyar appeared first on Northlines .
Steady Decline In Militancy, Situation Normal In J&K: Western Army Commander
Pathankot (Punjab), Feb 26: Western Army Commander Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar on Thursday said he has noted a sustained decline in militancy indicators in Jammu and Kashmir, and the situation has become very normal. Maintaining that the Army is keeping a close watch on the terror infrastructure, he said plans are being formulated to deal with it accordingly. As you have seen, all militancy parameters in Jammu and Kashmir have consistently declined. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir has [] The post Steady Decline In Militancy, Situation Normal In J&K: Western Army Commander appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Army Ready For Decisive Ground Action, Wont Be Deterred By Nuclear Threat: Western Commander
Pathankot (Punjab), Feb 26: The Army is fully prepared for future contingencies and will not be deterred by nuclear threats, Western Command chief Lt General Manoj Kumar Katiyar said on Thursday, asserting that any future conflict would see decisive outcome on the ground. The Army commander said during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan desperately sought a ceasefire while simultaneously issuing nuclear threats. They said if they go down, they will take half the world with them. During Operation Sindoor, we ignored their [] The post Army Ready For Decisive Ground Action, Wont Be Deterred By Nuclear Threat: Western Commander appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday criticised the India vs Pakistan group-stage match in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, alleging that the high-profile clash leads to large-scale betting and gambling. He further alleged that money from the match goes to Pakistan and further claimed that local brokers, including some politicians from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), benefit from it. Raut's remarks came as India will be playing against Pakistan in international tournaments in Colombo today. While speaking at a press conference, Raut said, This is not an India-Pakistan match. This is a Jay Shah vs Pakistan match. The people of India do not want it. The Indian public does not consent to India playing against Pakistan. The India-Pakistan match generates the highest amount of betting and gambling in cricket, and the money also goes to Pakistan. Even dalals (local brokers), especially politicians in the BJP, benefit from it, as quoted by ANI . PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi Meets Usman Tariq & Pakistan Team Ahead Of IND vs PAK T20 World Cup Match; Video He also slammed Jay Shah and described that India vs Pakistan match not as a contest between the two teams, but as a fixture between the ICC Chairman, Jay Shah, and Pakistan. This is not an India-Pakistan match. This is a Jay Shah vs Pakistan match. The people of India do not want it. The Indian public does not consent to India playing against Pakistan. IND vs PAK T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav Set To Skip Handshake With Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha At Toss; Claims Report He also further alleged, In the last match against Pakistan, Rs 25,000 crore went to Pakistan. That money then reaches terrorists--some go to Pahalgam, some to Pulwama, some to Uri, some to Pathankot. This is what happens with India-Pakistan cricket; money flows this way. He further claimed that a large gambling and betting network operates from Gujarat and Rajasthan, with the proceeds reaching Pakistan. The match is scheduled for today at 7 PM at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (With inputs from ANI)
Congress slams RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over meal with Adnan Sami
The Opposition party said that Adnan Sami's father had served as a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force and was involved in the 1965 India-Pakistan war, including the attack on the Pathankot air base
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Two suspects detained in Samba; searches launched in Udhampur
On Jan 6, Punjab Police detained a minor in Pathankot on charges of spying and for allegedly sharing confidential information via social media to terror agencies, ISI, and Pakistan military officers. The detention prompted a statewide alert for similar espionage activities involving children. Under Operation Trashi-I, security forces have engaged in four encounters with terrorists in the past fortnight.
Car catches fire in Samba, inmates manage to escape
Excelsior Correspondent SAMBA, Jan 20: A private car on way from Kathua to Jammu suddenly caught fire on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway at Ghagwal Chowk near, here on Tuesday morning. According to the information received, the driver, noticing smoke suddenly rising from the moving vehicle, showed presence of mind and stopped the car on the side of the road. The car quickly burst into flames. All the passengers in the car managed to escape and saved their lives. There were four [] The post Car catches fire in Samba, inmates manage to escape appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
