Daily Excelsior

No one indulging in land grabbing be spared Avtar Bhat JAMMU, May 22: Making it clear in unequivocal terms that all encroachments on Government and Forest land, water bodies and Kascharai land in both regions of J&K should be removed, the BJP today resolved to extend its full support to the administration in its every move in this regard. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The party, which held a meeting of its MLAs from Jammu and Samba districts [] The post BJP fully backs administr

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 22: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired the 5th meeting of the Multi Disciplinary Committee (MDC) on Traffic Management System to review the implementation of a comprehensive action plan aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving mobility in the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar. The meeting was attended by senior administrative and police officers, including Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Departments; Principal Secretary, Home; Commis

Modi, Nikos hold wide ranging talks NEW DELHI, May 22: India and Cyprus on Friday elevated their ties to a strategic partnership and unveiled a five-year roadmap for defence cooperation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The two sides signed six agreements to provide for deeper cooperation in areas of innovation, technology, education and culture besides agreeing to soon conclude a co

Minors sexual exploitation case Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 22: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has expressed serious concern over what it termed a slipshod investigation in a Katra POCSO case and directed the Inspector General of Police, Jammu, to constitute a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to identify the real offender responsible for sexually exploiting a minor girl. Justice Rajnesh Oswal passed the directions while disposing of a petition filed by Pawan Kumar alias Raja

NEW DELHI, May 22: The NDA is likely to lose one Rajya Sabha seat in the biennial elections for 26 seats in 12 states across the country, while the Congress-led opposition is set to gain three. The Election Commission on Friday announced elections for 26 Rajya Sabha seats on June 18 following the retirement of incumbents, including former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Digvijaya Singh, besides two Union Ministers Ravneet Singh and George [] T

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 22: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Jammu today attached the immovable property measuring three marlas situated at village Angralla, Tehsil Mahore in district Reasi belonging to terrorist Mohd Qasim alias Salman alias Waseem s/o Mohd. Shafi r/o Village Angralla. The property was attached in presence of concerned Revenue Officials, Sarpanch and family members. Qasim is presently operating from Pakistan. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Earlier

*Refuses to quash unsafe milk case Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 22: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has underscored that public health is of paramount importance and must prevail over private commercial interests while refusing to quash criminal proceedings arising out of an allegedly unsafe milk sample. The judgment has been passed in a petition filed by the representatives of Gujarat-based M/s Banaskantha District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd challenging the criminal

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a high-level committee to ascertain the factual position regarding the demolition and eviction drive conducted at Raika Bandi, Sidhra on May 19, 2026. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp According to a Government order in this regard, issued today by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, sanction has been accorded for the constitution of a three-member committee to examine the matter i

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 22: Jammu University Academic Council met today under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof Umesh Rai and endorsed several agenda items. Among the major decision, the Council approved the creation of a Faculty of Trans-disciplinary Studies (FTS) in the University. Initially, the Faculty will comprise two units namely the School of Trans-disciplinary Studies (STS) and the Skill Incubation Innovation Entrepreneurship Development Centre (SIIEDC) with an objecti

Cancer declared notifiable disease in J&K Irfan Tramboo Srinagar, May 22: The J&K Government has declared cancer a notifiable disease across the Union Territory, making it mandatory for all public and private healthcare institutions, laboratories and related agencies to report diagnosed and treated cancer cases to authorities in a prescribed format. The Health and Medical Education Department issued notification S.O. 146 under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, saying the move was aim

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 22: In a decisive move to strengthen the fight against substance abuse in Jammu and Kashmir, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today called for adopting a comprehensive roadmap and awareness mechanism in all educational institutions and coaching centres across Jammu and Kashmir to identify and prevent drug abuse among youth at an early stage. Chairing a high-level review meeting on strengthening drug de-add

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 22: The Jammu & Kashmir Junior Mens Basketball team made a strong start to their campaign in the 76th Junior National Basketball Championship at Puducherry by defeating West Bengal 81-59 in their opening match. West Bengal began on a dominant note and took a commanding 28-10 lead in the first quarter. However, the J&K team staged a remarkable comeback in the second quarter, reducing the margin with a 19-10 performance. The momentum shifted completely in

LUCKNOW, May 22: Punjab Kings will need something spectacular to arrest a disastrous slide and keep their fading playoff hopes alive when they take on already-eliminated Lucknow Super Giants, in their IPL clash, here on Saturday. Punjabs campaign has unravelled dramatically since their record 265-run chase against Delhi Capitals on April 25. From remaining unbeaten till the midway stage and looking like genuine title contenders with six wins in seven matches, the last seasons runners-up have cra

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 22: Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command today visited the TRINETRA Artificial Intelligence (AI) Laboratory in Akhnoor to assess the progress of AI-driven military technologies being developed to support the Indian Armys modernization goals. The visit underscored the Indian Armys growing emphasis on integrating advanced technologies into operational systems as part of broader reforms envisioned under Army

RANCHI, May 22: The national record was smashed twice within minutes in mens 100m race as drama unfolded on the opening day of the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition here on Friday. Gurindervir Singh of Reliance first shattered Animesh Kujurs 10-month-old national record of 10.18 seconds, clocking 10.17 seconds in the first semifinals heat. The new mark survived just a few minutes as Animesh ran 10.15 seconds in second semifinals heat to regain his record. Both Gurindervir and Anim

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 22: The Environment Unit of MIER College of Education participated in a Painting and Poster Making Competition organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Biodiversity Council on International Biodiversity Day on the theme Acting Locally for Global Impact. Students from the School of Education (SOE) and School of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSSH) showcased creativity and environmental awareness through paintings and posters promoting biodiversity conservation and su

Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, May 22: BJP MLA from Jasrota constituency, Rajiv Jasrotia today gave a fresh push to rural infrastructure development by launching PMGSY road permanent restoration works and inaugurated two key road projects in Hatli Zone of the constituency. The total cost of the developmental package announced and initiated under PMGSY stands at Rs 67 lakh, aimed at improving road connectivity, easing transportation issues and strengthening basic infrastructure in rural areas. T

HYDERABAD, May 22: Modern T20 cricket continues to be shaped by elite batting consistency, record-breaking partnerships and high-scoring encounters, with multiple statistical landmarks emerging across international and IPL action. Leading the global chart for batsmen involved in the most 50-plus partnerships in Mens T20 cricket is Indias Virat Kohli with 211 such stands, followed closely by Englands Alex Hales on 210. Australias David Warner is third with 200, former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam

Excelsior Sports Correspondent POONCH, May 22: The Department of Youth Services & Sports, J&K Poonch organised the Inter-Zone Cluster Level Under-14 and Under-17 Boys Trial-cum-Selection at Sports Stadium Poonch under the banner of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in a highly disciplined and enthusiastic atmosphere. The event was held for students who qualified in Inter-School Zonal Level competitions from Zone Poonch, Zone Kanuyian and Zone Nangali, which were combined into a single cluster for final

Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, May 22: Member Legislative Assembly, Udhampur East, Ranbir Singh Pathania today kick-started re surfacing work on the Dhar Road axis. Addressing the gathering, Pathania reiterated his commitment towards transforming road connectivity in Udhampur East and said that the Dhar Road as well as the Battal-Mansar Road is of immense strategic, public and tourism importance. He informed that the project shall be executed in multiple stretches, Paldhai to Kishenpur includ

SRINAGAR, May 22: Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Karra on Friday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi lowered the dignity of the office he holds. Referring to the viral video showing Prime Minister Modi gifting a packet of toffee to his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, Karra said such actions were unbecoming of a countrys leader. If we have to talk about Modis casual governance, then it can be talked about in volumes. But Modi has lowered the esteem of [] The post Modi Lowered D

SRINAGAR, May 22: Father of Pulwama attack mastermind Burhan Hamza who was shot dead by unknown assailants in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Friday said his son got what he deserved for treading the wrong path, but the family should not be persecuted. Arjumand Gulzar, alias Burhan Hamza, alias Doctor, a designated terrorist and the mastermind behind the 2019 terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in PoK on [] The post He Got What

NEW DELHI, May 22: India on Friday successfully test-fired short-range ballistic missile Agni-1 from the integrated test range at Odishas Chandipur, the defence ministry said. The launch validated all operational and technical parameters, it said. The test was carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, the ministry said. The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and they have already been deployed. (Agencies) The post India Successfully Test-Launches Agni-1 B

JAMMU, May 22: The Traffic Department on Friday issued a fresh advisory for May 23, cautioning commuters about possible slow traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) due to single-lane stretches, movement of nomadic herds and ongoing road construction works. Officials said traffic remained sluggish on NH-44 from May 21 to May 22, especially between Marog and Kishtwari Pather, because of single-lane road conditions, breakdown of two heavy motor vehicles at Dalwas and moveme

Jammu, May 22 : Police and civil administration said they demolished an alleged illegal commercial property of an drug peddler in Jammu and Kashmirs Udhampur district as part of an ongoing crackdown against narcotics trafficking, officials said. The drive targeted shops allegedly built on government land near Dewal bridge along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in the Samroli area. Officials said the properties belonged to Trilochan Dutt who has allegedly been involved in multiple drug smuggli

SRINAGAR, May 22: Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone, V.K. Birdi-IPS, reviewed security and logistical arrangements during a meeting held at PCR Kashmir to assess preparedness for upcoming festivals and the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY). During the meeting, District SSsP gave detailed presentations regarding security preparedness, deployment plans, traffic regulation, crowd management measures, and other logistical arrangements concerning Eid-ul-Adha celebrations and the forthcomin

CHANDIGARH, May 22: To provide relief to people amid the scorching weather conditions, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced revised working hours for all Punjab government offices, schools, and colleges. Under the new schedule, working hours will change from the existing 9 am to 5 pm to a new slot of 7.30 am to 1.30 pm. This change will apply to all schools and colleges within the state. According to sources, government offices will not have lunch breaks following [] The post Punjab

New Delhi, May 22: The Union Health Ministry has asked all states and Union territories to step up surveillance, hospital preparedness and screening of international travellers following the WHOs declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). In a letter to chief secretaries and administrators of UTs on May 21, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said countries bordering DRC and Uganda, in

KISHTWAR, May 22: The Jammu & Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered a disproportionate assets case against AEE Hydraulic Sub-Division Chhatroo, Kishtwar, alleging possession of assets far exceeding his known sources of income, officials said. They said searches were conducted at multiple locations in Doda and Kishtwar following court-issued warrants. Further investigation is underway. A spokesperson said the J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered FIR No. 01/2026 under Section 13(1)(b)

SRINAGAR, May 22: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired the 5th meeting of the Multi Disciplinary Committee (MDC) on Traffic Management System to review the implementation of a comprehensive action plan aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving mobility in the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar. The Chief Secretary highlighted the significance of the recommendations put forth by the committee headed by the Principal Secretary, Home, and called for a time-bound action plan for their ef

SRINAGAR, MAY 22: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today chaired a meeting of the Sub-Committee constituted to examine the issues related to Gair Mumkin Khads in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting, held at the Civil Secretariat Srinagar, was attended by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmad Rana and Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Elections, Javid Ahmad Dar, who are members of the Sub-C

NEW DELHI, May 22: Observing that with educational and economic empowerment there is social mobility, the Supreme Court on Friday questioned the continued grant of reservation benefits to children of economically and educationally advanced families within backward classes. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a plea challenging a Karnataka High Court judgment which upheld the exclusion of the petitioner, whose parents are both state government employees, from reservati

NEW DELHI, May 22: All central government administrative offices located in Delhi shall remain closed on May 28, on account of Eid-ul-Azha, the personnel ministry said on Friday. Earlier, the Centre had declared a holiday on Eid-ul-Azha on May 27. Central government administrative offices located at Delhi/New Delhi shall remain closed on 28th May, 2026, on account of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) (in place of 27th May, 2026), it said in a statement. The post Central Govt Offices In Delhi To Remain Closed

NEW DELHI, May 22: The Delhi High Court on Friday granted three-day interim bail to activist Umar Khalid, who is in custody in a case under anti-terror law UAPA concerning the larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in the citys northeastern parts. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain permitted Khalid to be released from June 1 to June 3 to enable him to meet his mother who has to undergo a surgery. The bench noted [] The post Three-day interim bail for Umar Khalid in UAP

SRINAGAR, May 22: A political storm erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after the BJP circulated online Omar Abdullah missing posters in a bid to mock the chief minister. The BJPs J&K unit shared the missing posters on its social media handles, seeking information about Abullah and claiming that he has been missing for the last ten days. The saffron partys criticism comes amid reports that the chief minister is outside Jammu and Kashmir on a personal visit. Reacting to the [] The post Omar Abdullah Mis

HELSINBORG (Sweden), May 22: NATO allies and defence officials expressed bewilderment on Friday at US President Donald Trumps decision to send 5,000 American troops to Poland just weeks after he had ordered 5,000 troops to be pulled out of Europe. It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. US defence officials were also

KATHMANDU, May 22: Two Indian mountaineers who summited Everest have died while descending, an official said on Friday. The climbers have been identified as Arun Kumar Tiwari and Sandeep Are. It appears that Are summited on Wednesday and Tiwari on Thursday around 5.30 pm, said Rishi Bhandari, secretary general of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal. The guides worked really hard but were not able to save them, he told PTI. Are died on Thursday and it is not clear [] The post Two Indian

PESHAWAR, May 22:Pakistani security forces killed 23 terrorists during a series of operations conducted on Wednesday and Thursday in the countrys restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the militarys media wing said on Friday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said troops carried out intelligence-based operations at multiple areas, including Datta Khel, Spinwam and Bannu, and engaged terrorists in intense exchanges of fire. As many as 23 terrorists were killed in these operations, it said.

SINGAPORE, May 22: World Bank President Ajay Banga has called for the deployment of Small AI locally deployed artificial intelligence running on inexpensive hardware, speaking local languages and solving daily problems for farmers and rural communities. Speaking at the ATX Singapore 2026 technology summit on Thursday, Banga cited the example of a farmer in Indias Uttar Pradesh sharing a photograph of a diseased crop leaf through an old mobile phone and receiving diagnosis and treatment advice f

NAIROBI, May 22: The United States has sanctioned Tanzanias police chief and barred him from entering the US, citing alleged human rights violations committed by the police force. The sanctions announced Thursday followed a general election in October in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan won a full term with 97% of the vote after a crackdown on opposition figures. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in December said the country was reviewing its ties with Tanzania over repression and [] The

TORONTO, May 22: Canadas oil-rich province of Alberta will hold a referendum in October on leaving Canada, but the provinces premier said it wont actually be a vote on whether to separate. Danielle Smith said voters instead would be deciding whether its time to hold a referendum on quitting Canada. I want to be clear. I support Alberta remaining in Canada, and this is how I would vote on separation in a provincial referendum. It is also the position of [] The post Alberta province plans public v

MUMBAI, May 22: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday injected Rs 81,590 crore transient liquidity into the banking system through a three-day variable rate repo (VRR) auction. Transient liquidity is temporary cash flow fluctuations in a financial or banking system, while a Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction is a monetary tool used by the RBI to inject short-term liquidity into the banking system. In a release the RBI said the funds were infused at a 5.26 per cent [] The post RBI injects Rs 81

JAMMU, May 22: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that drugs and terrorism are two sides of the same coin in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that investigations have revealed direct links between narcotics smuggling networks and terror organisations operating in the region. Addressing a programme on the drug-free Jammu and Kashmir campaign, the LG said evidence gathered during various investigations has shown the involvement of the neighbouring country in promoting drug smuggling to f

NEW DELHI, May 22: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 60,000 kg of smuggled foreign-origin areca nuts in the north-east region and arrested five persons, the finance ministry said on Friday. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI conducted operations in Mizoram and Assam, which led to these seizures. Initial investigations revealed that foreign-origin dried areca nuts were smuggled into India from Myanmar through the Myanmar-Mizoram border. In one of the operations, DRI was a

JAMMU, May 22: A 22-year-old woman allegedly set herself ablaze here after her boyfriend did not respond to her phone calls, police said on Friday. The incident occurred near the Tawi bridge area on Thursday when the woman allegedly poured an inflammable substance on herself and set herself on fire in a fit of rage, they said. Passersby immediately rushed to her aid and managed to douse the flames before police personnel admitted her to a hospital for treatment. The [] The post Jammu Woman Sets

JAMMU, May 22: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the inter-cadre deputation of 1996-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer Mukesh Singh to the Manipur cadre for a period of 3 years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for deputation of Mukesh Singh has been cleared in relaxation of the conditions of inter-cadre deputation. The ACC has also waived the mandatory cooling off period [] The pos

NEW DELHI, May 22: Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist over the plains of northwest India, Central and East India, and parts of Peninsular India during the next six to seven days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. The IMD stated that heatwave conditions are likely in isolated areas of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh from May 22 to May 28. Severe heatwave conditions over East Uttar Pradesh and East Madhya Pradesh are expected during [] The post Se

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NEW DELHI, May 22: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Suhail Ahmad Thokar, who was arrested in a UAPA case for allegedly conspiring with proscribed terrorist groups to recruit hybrid terrorists, radicalise youth and execute acts of terrorism following the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution. The Centre had on August 5, 2019 abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. A bench [] The post S