Pakistan SC Orders Hospital Shift For Imran Khan Amid Health Concerns
ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: Pakistans Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that jailed former prime minister Imran Khan be shifted to a hospital within 48 hours, accepting a longstanding demand of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and family over concerns about his deteriorating health. The court directed that Khan be moved from jail to Shifa International Hospital [] The post Pakistan SC Orders Hospital Shift For Imran Khan Amid Health Concerns appeared first on Northlines .
SC dismisses plea challenging hanging as method of death penalty execution
New Delhi, Aug 18: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea seeking the removal of hanging as a mode of carrying out the death penalty. The Court, however, left the door open for the issue to be reconsidered in the future if credible medical or scientific evidence establishes that the existing method [] The post SC dismisses plea challenging hanging as method of death penalty execution appeared first on Northlines .
Jharkhand Govt Cancels JSSC-CGL, TDPL Recruitment Exams After Student Protest
RANCHI, Aug 18: The Jharkhand government on Tuesday cancelled the JSSC-CGL examination and all other recruitment examinations conducted by private agency TDPL, following a 24-day student protest over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. The decision was taken at a special Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren and was welcomed by protesting students [] The post Jharkhand Govt Cancels JSSC-CGL, TDPL Recruitment Exams After Student Protest appeared first on Northlines .
BJP Names Poll In-Charges For UP, Punjab, Gujarat
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: BJP president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday appointed senior party leaders as in-charges for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat, with the move coming ahead of assembly elections in the three states. Rajya Sabha MP Vinod Tawde was appointed in-charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh, with newly appointed national secretary Jagdish Ishwarbhai [] The post BJP Names Poll In-Charges For UP, Punjab, Gujarat appeared first on Northlines .
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre, all states and Union Territories, besides social media platforms Meta and X, on a PIL seeking restrictions on police organisations from posting content online that reveals the identities of accused persons or portrays them in a dehumanising manner. A bench headed [] The post SC Seeks Centre, States Response On PIL Against Online Disclosure Of Accused Identities appeared first on Northlines .
5 CRPF Personnel Among Seven Injured In Qazigund Accident
SRINAGAR, Aug 18: At least seven persons, including five CRPF personnel, were injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a CRPF mini-truck on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Qazigund on Tuesday, officials said. The accident occurred at Levdora in the Qazigund area when the CRPF vehicle collided head-on with the truck, they said. [] The post 5 CRPF Personnel Among Seven Injured In Qazigund Accident appeared first on Northlines .
Mother killed, son injured as scooty skids off road in Shopian
Shopian: A woman died while her son sustained injuries after the scooty they were travelling on skidded off the road in the Amerbugh area of Imam Sahib in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday. An official said that the woman was travelling as a pillion rider on the scooty being driven by her son when []
Mother killed, son injured as scooty skids off road in South Kashmir's Shopian
Shopian, Aug 18 : A woman died while her son sustained injuries after the scooty they were travelling on skidded off the road in the Amerbugh area of Imam Sahib in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday. An official told the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) that the woman was travelling as a pillion rider on the scooty being driven by her son when the vehicle skidded off the road at Amerbugh. He said that the woman sustained critical injuries in the incident and died on the spot, while her son suffered minor injuries. The deceased was later identified as Saja Banoo, wife of Ghulam Qadir Naikoo, a resident of Kharwara, while her injured son was identified as Shakeel Ahmad Naikoo, son of Ghulam Qadir Naikoo. Police have taken cognisance of the incident and further investigation is underway.(KNO)
Mother Dies, Son Injured as Scooty Skids Off Road in South Kashmir
SRINAGAR: A woman was killed while her son sustained injuries after the scooty they were travelling on skidded off the road in Amerbugh area of Imam Sahib in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday. An official said the woman was riding pillion on the scooty being driven by her son when the vehicle skidded off []
EOW Kashmir Files Chargesheet Over Attempt to Influence Crime Branch Investigation
Srinagar, Aug 18: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet before the Honble Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, in case FIR No. 28/2026, against Ghulam Ahmad Ganie S/o Ghulam Mohammad Ganie, R/o Mirgund, District Budgam, for commission of cognizable offences punishable under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 228 and 229 of the BNS. The investigation was initiated on the basis of a written complaint alleging that the accused, who is also an accused in the ongoing investigation of FIR No. 11/2021 of Crime Branch Kashmir, now EOW Kashmir, transferred an amount of Rs. 10,000/- into the bank account of an Investigation Officer with the alleged intention of bribing and influencing the investigation in the said case Upon receipt of the complaint, a probe was ordered. During the course of investigation, the allegations were thoroughly examined and relevant evidence was collected. The investigation established the involvement of the accused in the alleged act, following which the chargesheet was prepared and presented before the Honble Court for judicial determination in accordance with law. The general public is advised not to offer or pay bribes to any public servant for obtaining any favour or service. Any demand for bribe or involvement in corrupt practices should be immediately reported to the competent authorities for necessary legal action. Public cooperation and timely reporting are essential to curb corruption and promote transparency and accountability
Man chargesheeted for attempting to influence Crime Branch probe
Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K on Tuesday said it has filed a chargesheet against a Budgam man for allegedly attempting to influence an ongoing investigation by transferring Rs 10,000 into the bank account of an Investigation Officer. In a statement , a spokesperson said the EOW Kashmir has filed []
EOW Kashmir Chargesheets Man Accused Of Trying to Influence Crime Branch Probe
SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet against a Budgam resident for allegedly attempting to influence an ongoing Crime Branch investigation by transferring money into the bank account of an investigating officer. The chargesheet was filed before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, in FIR No. 28/2026 []
Five CRPF Personnel Injured As Vehicle Collides With Truck In South Kashmir
SRINAGAR: A Five Central Reserve Police Force personnel were injured after a Crpf vehicle collided with a truck near Levdura area of Qazigund on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Tuesday morning. Quoting officials, news agency GNS reported that the injured personnel were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The injured have been []
5 CRPF Personnel Injured in Qazigund Road Accident
Qazigund: At least five CRPF personnel were injured after a truck collided with a CRPF bunker vehicle at Levdora area of Qazigund in south Kashmirs Kulgam district on Tuesday, officials said. An official said that the accident occurred at Levdora, Qazigund, involving a truck bearing registration number JK02DU-4386 and a CRPF bunker vehicle bearing registration []
DC reviews Farmers ID Generation Camp under Agristack project at Kulgam
Kulgam, Aug 17: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Shahzad Alam along with Additional Deputy Commissioner, Vikar Ahmad Giri on Monday visited the Farmer's ID generation camp organized under the Agristack Project at Tehsil Kulgam, to take an on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing registration and digitisation drive. During the visit, the DC supervised the entire process and interacted with the revenue staff present at the camp especially scheduled for Tamiloo village. He took a detailed overview of the data being submitted, verified and approved on the Agristack portal to ensure accuracy and transparency at every stage. Addressing the officials, the DC described Agristack as a landmark initiative and a milestone in the history of the Revenue Department. He said that generation of unique Farmers ID will create a comprehensive digital database of farmers, which will streamline delivery of all agriculture-related benefits and schemes in a hassle-free manner. The Farmers ID will serve as a single digital identity for every farmer. It will enable direct benefit transfer, crop insurance, soil health cards, and access to institutional credit without duplication and delays, the DC said. Our aim is to ensure that no eligible farmer is left out, he added. The DC directed the revenue officials and field staff to expedite the process and complete the exercise efficiently and within the stipulated timeline. He stressed on maintaining data quality, proper verification, and prompt updation on the portal to avoid pendency. He also urged the field functionaries to create wider awareness among farmers about the benefits of Agristack and to extend full support to farmers, especially elderly and marginal farmers, during the registratpn process. Giving details, it was informed that Farmers ID generation camps are currently underway across all locations in the district. So far, registration and verification for 54 villages have been completed on the Agristack portal, and the remaining villages are being covered in a phased manner. Tehsildar, Kulgam, Nisar Ahmad Wani and other officials were also present on the occasion.
ROC J&K leads Tiranga Yatra at Jammus Bahu Plaza
Jammu, Aug 17: As part of the nationwide Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign 2026, the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ROC), Jammu & Kashmir, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with the local chapters/branches of Professional Institutes (ICAI) and (ICSI) on Monday organised and led a vibrant Tiranga Yatra at Bahu Plaza, Jammu. The Tiranga Yatra witnessed enthusiastic participation by officers and officials of the ROC J&K office, along with Jammu-based members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) led by CA Amit Gupta and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) led by CS Sahil. Carrying the National Flag with pride, the participants spread the message of patriotism, national unity and collective responsibility. Speaking to the media on the occasion, Registrar of Companies, J&K, Haamid Bukhari, said that the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign is a unique initiative that seeks to deepen the emotional connect of every citizen with the National Flag and the nation. He noted that the 2026 campaign marks the fifth edition, continuing the initiative that began in 2022. This year, special feature of the initiative is the 150th Anniversary of Vande Mataram, the national song through which we cherish the cultural history of our nationalism and the values of patriotism of which, we all should be proud of. He said that such initiatives inculcate a feeling of patriotism in the heart of every Indian and inspire citizens to cherish the ideals, sacrifices and values of the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the countrys independence. He further emphasised the message Culture Unites Us All, observing that the values of unity and patriotism should remain above everything else for every citizen of the country. Bukhari further highlighted the growing reach of the 2026 Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, observing that the initiative has evolved into a peoples movement extending beyond the territorial borders of India. He said that the National Flag has been proudly displayed at various Indian embassies across the world, bringing together members of the Indian diaspora and citizens in a shared celebration of the Tricolour and the spirit of national pride. CA Amit Gupta and CS Sahil, Chairpersons representing the Jammu-based CA and CS fraternities, respectively, also emphasised that the participation of professional bodies such as ICAI and ICSI reflects the important role that professional communities can play in strengthening the spirit of responsible citizenship and contributing to nation-building. The Tiranga Yatra concluded with a renewed commitment by all participants to uphold the values embodied by the Tricolour and the cultural ethos of Vande Mataram, and to carry forward the spirit of unity, integrity and patriotism in their professional and public lives. The event formed part of the nationwide celebrations under the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign 2026, aimed at encouraging citizens to proudly display and carry the National Flag and reaffirm their commitment to the nation.
Road safety awareness program held at Anantnag Railway Hub
Anantnag, Aug 17: In a major outreach aimed at reinforcing commuter safety and transit discipline, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD), ARTO Anantnag, in collaboration with the Secure Path Civil Society Organization, conducted a high-impact road safety awareness programme at Railway Station Taxi Sumo Stand. The day-long initiative brought together scores of commercial drivers, Officers of Railway Police Force (RPF), local trade leaders, and civil society representatives. Addressing the gathering, ARTO Anantnag Mohammad Iqbal Daing highlighted the transformative role of public transport operators: Professional and responsible public transport drivers hold the key to overhauling our transit system and building a safer future for all. Senior Motor Vehicle Inspector Manzoor Ahmad Qureshi reiterated the necessity of strict compliance with traffic regulations, urging operators to adopt proactive road discipline. RPF officials, including the Dy. SP and SHO, reinforced the need for mutual vigilance and inter-agency cooperation to guarantee commuter safety. Renowned mobility expert and social reformer S-Umar Bhat moderated the proceedings and administered a collective road-safety pledge, urging participants to serve as civic ambassadors for safer roads across the J&K. Departing from standard enforcement routines, the organizers hosted a felicitation ceremony to award compliant and disciplined drivers for exemplary road conduct. Transporters and please attendees lauded the administration's proactive engagement, urging authorities to institutionalize regular, rotational sensitization programs across the District Anantnag.
CEO FSSAI reviews food testing facilities in J&K
Srinagar, Aug 17: Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Rajit Punhani on Monday visited Food Laboratory, Kashmir during his visit to Srinagar, to have on spot assessment about its functioning. During the visit, the CEO FSSAI took round of various sections, including Microbiological Section, Chemical Section and HEE Sections and interacted with the technical staff of the Laboratory. Subsequently, the CEO FSSAI chaired a meeting which among others was attended by State Drug Controller J&K, Joint Commissioner Food Safety, Deputy Commissioner Food Safety Kashmir, Accounts Officer FDA and Food Analyst Food Testing Laboratory Srinagar and Jammu. Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K, made a detailed presentation outlining the laboratory's analytical capabilities, testing performance, NABL accreditation, infrastructure, manpower position and the roadmap for strengthening food testing facilities across the Union Territory. It was informed that the Food Laboratory, Kashmir is an FSSAI-notified and NABL-accredited facility equipped with advanced instruments, including GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS. The laboratory presently has a NABL scope covering 354 parameters, comprising 77 quality and 277 safety parameters. The presentation highlighted the testing workload handled during the last three financial years. The laboratory analyzed 11,479 samples in 202324, 9,938 in 202425 and 6,722 in 202526, out of which, 440, 266 and 381 samples respectively, were found to be non-conforming. The meeting was informed that the steps have been initiated to expand the scope of Laboratory to 3500 parameters by end of 31st March, 2027 covering key commodities including milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables, cereal and cereal products, oils and fats and Indian sweets and achieve wider coverage of 5,000 parameters in the long run. The Commissioner brought to the notice of the CEO, FSSAI the key constraints affecting the laboratory's functioning, including inadequate infrastructure, shortage of technical manpower. He also sought his intervention in approval of the proposal for hiring of Technical Manpower, Chemicals, CRMs Consumables etc. He requested the CEO, FSSAI for providing financial and technical assistance for construction of new laboratory building at Srinagar and Jammu and upgrading the facility to improve quantity and volume of testing. The Food Laboratory, Kashmir is presently housed in an old, shared Drug & Food Laboratory complex, with limited space for modern equipment and dedicated instrument sections. As part of the long-term strategy, the Department proposed developing an integrated Food Testing Laboratory network across Jammu and Kashmir by leveraging the existing facilities in government institutions, including SKUAST and IUST, with suitable technical and manpower support. The initiative is intended to expand the overall testing capacity and facilitate timely analysis of samples received from different parts of the Union Territory. The Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K, expressed gratitude to Rajit Punhani, CEO, FSSAI, for visiting the Food Laboratory, Kashmir and for taking a keen interest in its functioning, analytical capabilities and capacity-building requirements. The CEO, FSSAI expressed satisfaction on the working of laboratory and called upon the J&K FDA officials to continue their efforts for strengthening it further. The visit and review are expected to provide further impetus to the departments efforts towards modernization of food testing facilities, expansion of NABL-accredited analytical capacity and establishment of a robust, integrated and scientifically strengthened food laboratory network across Jammu and Kashmir.
Div Com Kashmir reviews arrangements for Ist Intl. Film Festival of J&K
Srinagar, Aug 17: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Monday chaired a meeting to review preparations for the Ist International Film Festival of J&K (IFFJK), scheduled to be held from Sept 7 to 10 and organised by Department of Information and Public Relations Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting deliberated on the objectives of the festival, proposed programme of events, and coordination among various government departments and stakeholders to ensure its successful conduct. At the outset, Director Information and Public Relations Shreya Singhal, made a detailed presentation outlining the vision and objectives of the festival, including promotion of cinematic excellence, cultural exchange, creative collaboration, emerging filmmaking talent and international industry engagement. She apprised the meeting of the planned activities, including the opening and closing ceremonies, curated film screenings, masterclasses, panel discussions, jury and filmmaker interactions, film tourism initiatives, networking and business meetings, and dedicated engagement with students and young filmmakers. While reviewing the arrangements, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir directed all the concerned departments to designate nodal officers for effective inter-departmental coordination and seamless execution of the film festival-related activities. He also directed the Director Information and Public Relations to prepare a comprehensive work chart for the event manager and participating departments, clearly defining roles, responsibilities and timelines. Emphasising the promotion of Kashmir's tourism potential, particularly emerging destinations, Anshul Garg directed the Tourism Department to undertake focused branding of new tourist locations to attract filmmakers and international visitors. He also called for appropriate branding of shikaras and boats being utilised during the festival. The Divisional Commissioner further stressed the need to integrate cultural programmes with the festival and showcase Kashmir's rich handloom and handicraft products at identified venues. He advised the preparation of food menu suited to national and international guests and directed that bilingual service providers be designated through the outsourced agencies to facilitate effective communication. Anshul Garg also called for organising heritage tours to locations identified by JKTDC and the Handicrafts & Handloom Department. He reviewed plans for customised tour packages, sightseeing programmes and transportation arrangements for visiting guests. The Divisional Commissioner issued a series of directions to officers from the Airport Authority, District Administrations of Srinagar and Baramulla, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Floriculture, KPDCL, Transport, Health, LCMA, AACL, Handicrafts & Handloom, Hospitality & Protocol, Education and Police departments regarding their roles and responsibilities. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Baramulla, Commissioner SMC, Director Information and Public Relations J&K, Director Floriculture, Director Airport, Managing Director KPDCL, Vice Chairman LCMA, Joint Director Information Headquarters, Joint Director Information Kashmir, besides senior officers of the Information Department and other concerned departments.
Budgams Kani Craft shines on National Stage: DC hails artisans for National Handloom Award
Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, has extended warm congratulations to renowned Kani artisans of Kanihama village, Fayaz Ahmad Wani and his student Manzoor Ahmad Hajam, on being conferred the prestigious National Handloom Award 2025 by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. The award was presented to the duo in New Delhi on August 7 in the weaving category for their exceptional craftsmanship showcased through a Chanddar Kani Shawl, reflecting Kashmirs exquisite artistic heritage and centuries-old weaving tradition. The DC felicitated both artisans during the award ceremony of the Independence Day function at Sports Stadium Budgam and lauded them for bringing distinction to Budgam and Jammu & Kashmir at the national level, describing the honour as a proud moment for the district and a significant recognition of Kashmirs rich handloom legacy. He appreciated their dedication and perseverance in reviving a nearly 400-year-old Kani design and transforming it into a masterpiece through traditional techniques. The award-winning shawl reportedly took over 15 months of painstaking work to complete. The Deputy Commissioner particularly commended Fayaz Ahmad Wani for keeping the traditional craft alive and passing the skill to successive generations. Having trained more than 50 people in Kani weaving, his contribution has helped preserve the craft while creating avenues for sustainable livelihoods. He also appreciated Manzoor Ahmad Hajam, who has been associated with his teachers Kani weaving unit for the past 25 years, describing their achievement as a fine example of the traditional Guru-Shishya tradition through which Kashmirs indigenous crafts have been preserved across generations. The DC stressed the importance of promoting traditional crafts among the youth, encouraging young artisans to take up Kani weaving and other indigenous crafts as avenues for livelihood, entrepreneurship and cultural preservation. He said national recognition to local artisans provides renewed impetus to efforts aimed at safeguarding Kashmirs unique artistic traditions and ensuring that traditional knowledge and skills continue to flourish among future generations. The District Administration Budgam reiterated its commitment to supporting artisans, weavers and craftsmen and creating an enabling environment for the promotion of local handlooms and handicrafts.
SIA arrests narco-terror operative evading arrest for 4 years
Srinagar, Aug 17: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmirhasarrested an absconding narco-terror operative who had been evading arrest for nearly four years,in amajor breakthrough aimed at dismantling the narco-terror financing network operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Manoj Kumar Bhat @ Pintu,a resident of Rehari Colony, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu, was arrested in a special operation conducted in Jammu. He is wanted in connection with FIR No. 13/2022 registered by SIA Kashmir on June 3, 2022, concerning the smuggling of narcotics from across the Line of Control (LoC) and the alleged channelisation of proceeds from their saletowardsfinancing terrorist activities, the SIA said in a statement issued here. The probe agency said the arrest is an important development inthe investigation ofa wider narco-terror conspiracy allegedly backed by Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir-based operatives of the banned terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. The investigation has revealed a sinister nexus in which narcotics are trafficked into J&K, distributed through an established network, and the proceeds generated are subsequently pumped into activities intended to sustain and further the terrorist ecosystem, it said. Bhatwas evading arrest for almost four years since the registration of the case, theSIAsaid, adding that his apprehension is the result ofsustained and strenuous efforts by SIA Kashmir, involving continuous technical surveillance, human intelligence and coordinated investigative measures. The accusedis alleged to haveplayed a role in facilitating the sale and distribution network of narcotics in the Jammu division, thereby contributing to the financial pipeline of the larger narco-terror network. The investigationhasalso established linkages with Pakistan/PoK-based terrorist handlers, including Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo @ Kandoo of Sopore and Manzoor Ahmad Khan of Baramulla, who allegedly arranged and facilitated the trafficking of narcotics from PoK. The case was initially registered following the recovery of 1 kg of heroin from Zeeshan Ahmad Sofi and Waseem Ahmad Khan at Nowpora, Sopore. Subsequent investigation resulted in the recovery of 7 kg of poppy straw and 4 kg of poppy seeds.Earlier, 15 grams of heroin had also been recovered from Bhat's residential premises by SIA.One motorcycle and electronic gadgets have also been seized and are presently under forensic examination. SIA Kashmir has filed multiple charge-sheets against six accused persons in the case. The investigationhasfurther revealed the involvement of a broader network associated with Hizbul Mujahideen and its Pakistan/PoK-based handlers. Notably, SIA Kashmirhasalso secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice against terrorist handler and narco-terror kingpin Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo in a separate terror-related case, reflecting the Agency's sustained efforts to pursue Pakistan-based handlers and other fugitives. The latest arrest is expected to assist the investigating agency in unravelling further layers of the conspiracy, identifying additional linkages, tracing the financial trail and establishing the complete chain connecting narcotics trafficking with terror financing. SIA Kashmir reiterated its resolve to continue its relentless campaign against the terror ecosystem, its facilitators and financiers.
Amarnath Yatra 2026 : Baltal base camp records zero food safety violations
Srinagar, Aug 17: The Food Safety Department has recorded zero non-conforming food samples during the 2026 Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra at the Baltal base camp, with officials testing 576 samples as part of the SANJAY-2026 food safety exercise. According to the departments consolidated figures, all 576 samples tested during the Yatra were found to be conforming to prescribed food safety standards, with no non-conforming sample detected. The department conducted an intensive surveillance and inspection drive covering langars and food establishments catering to pilgrims. A total of 354 langar inspections were carried out, including repeated inspections of the same langars to ensure continued compliance with food safety and hygiene norms. The department also focused on awareness and capacity-building among food handlers and other stakeholders. 142 awareness programmes were conducted, benefiting 1,225 participants, while 103 training programmes were organised for 858 participants. As part of the regulatory exercise, the department also issued 67 registrations to food-related establishments/operators associated with the Yatra. The extensive exercise was aimed at ensuring that pilgrims visiting the Baltal base camp were provided safe and hygienic food during the pilgrimage. Officials monitored food preparation, handling and serving practices through regular inspections and sampling. The departments approach combined enforcement with preventive measures, including repeated inspections, awareness programmes and training sessions for those directly involved in food preparation and distribution. With thousands of pilgrims relying on langars and other food facilities during the Yatra, maintaining food safety at the base camp remains a critical component of the overall pilgrimage arrangements. The 2026 figures highlight the scale of the operation undertaken by the department576 samples tested with zero non-conforming results, 354 langars inspected, 142 awareness programmes conducted, 1,225 participants covered, 103 training programmes organised, 858 participants trained and 60 registrations issued.
Khoja Digar: A prayer that brings generations together
Srinagar, Aug 17: Thousands of devotees gathered at the Hazrat Naqshband Sahib (RA) Shrine in Khwaja Bazar area of Old Citys Nowhatta locality here on Monday afternoon to offer the annual Khoja Digar, filling the historic Shehr-e-Khaas with an atmosphere of faith and devotion. In the congested roads,the trafficwas suspended for hours to ensure smooth prayers in the old city as the people from different walks of life flooded the Shrineas well asthe roads to offer the special prayers. The men, womenand children from across the Valley thronged the Shrine,who spreadtheir prayer mats andwaitedpatiently to participate in the centuries-old ritual. The sermon started at 4:00 pm while the congregational Asr prayers were offered at 5:30 pm at the historic Astaani Aaliya. Manyof the devotees, who were seen offering prayers on this day,have never missed the special prayers on the occasion. Abdul Raheem Dar, who hails from the Beerwah area of Budgam district, said he has never missed the 'Khoja Digar at the shrine. Sharing his childhood memories, Raheem said his father used to bring him to the shrine decades ago. My father and Ihavejoined the prayersfor years together.But since he left this world in 2010, I have been visiting the shrine all alone to rejuvenate my childhood memories and pray for my deceased father on this occasion especially, Dar said. He added that this occasion not only brings back his childhood memories but also gives him peace by joining thousands of people to offer the prayers. Like him, hundreds of devotees from different parts of life always join the Muslim community here at the Shrine to offer the special prayers. Similarly, dozens of street vendors had opened their temporary shops to sell local food and delicacies like Halwa-Paratha, Mounje Goole, Pakoras and otherthings.Theseadded tothe charm on the roadsalongthe Shrine. Meanwhile, the administration had made adequate arrangements for the prayers. The traffic diversion was planned, and tight security arrangements were put in place to ensure the special prayers were offered peacefully.
Raabita: CM meets tourism, trade, labour delegations
Srinagar, Aug 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday met several delegations and individuals at Raabita here and discussed a range of issues concerning public welfare, tourism, sports, labour, trade and industry in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister met emerging professional MMA fighter from Pulwama, Owais Yaqoob, and congratulated him on his achievements inthe field ofmixed martial arts. He felicitated Yaqoob with a cash award of Rs 1 lakh in recognition of his impressive performances on the international stage. Yaqoob recently secured a first-round TKO victory over Bulgaria's Delian Georgiev. Earlier, the Chief Minister met MLA Beerwah Dr Shafi Ahmad Wani, who apprised him of various matters concerning his constituency. A delegation from the constituency also accompanied the Legislator during the meeting. A delegation of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK), led by its Secretary General Sajad Ahmad Kralyari, called on the CM and discussed various issues concerning the tourism sector. The Chief Minister also met a delegation of the Kashmir Labour Union's Federation, led by its President Mohammad Ashraf Ganai. The delegation apprised him of its concerns and suggestions regarding the Draft Code on Social Security (Jammu and Kashmir) Rules, 2026. Senior Vice President of the Bari Brahmana Industrial Association, Tarun Singla, also called on the Chief Minister and discussed various issues related to trade and industry in Jammu and Kashmir. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani were also present on the occasion. The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to the delegations and individuals and assured them that their genuine concerns would be examined and addressed on priority.
LG Sinha flags off Budha Amarnath Ji Yatra
Jammu, Aug 17: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday flagged off the first batch of devotees for the holy Shri Budha Amarnath Ji Yatra from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, marking the commencement of the annual spiritual journey. Extending warm wishes to all pilgrims for a safe and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage, the LG said the sacred journey to Baba Budha Amarnath's abode is a deeply enlightening experience that brings profound transformation and reveals life's deepest truths to every devotee. The sacred journey to Baba Budha Amarnath's abode is a deeply enlightening experience.Ifirmly believe this pilgrimage brings profound transformation and reveals life's deepest truths to every devotee, the LG said. The Lieutenant Governor expressed deep appreciation to the Baba Amarnath and Budha Amarnath Yatri Nyas, along with the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, local authorities, langar organisations and civil society groups for their meticulous coordination and comprehensive arrangements ensuring the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage and the Budha Amarnath Ji Mela. A large gathering of eminent spiritual leaders, religious heads, public representatives, senior civil and police administrators, security officials, prominent citizens, and enthusiastic devotees attended the flag-off ceremony.
Indias strength lies in respecting diversity: LG
Anantnag, Aug 17:We are the makers of our own destiny. While our past karmas have a role in what we are today, what we become tomorrow will largely be determined by our present karmas,Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Monday. The LG visited the Shri Ramakrishna Mahasammelan Ashram in Anantnag on the auspicious occasion of Samadhi Pratishtha Divas, Nag Panchami Mahotsav, and the Purnahuti of the Yajna, and laid the foundation stone for initiatives dedicated to heritage and cultural preservation. Addressing the gathering, theLG saidthat Indian civilisation has alwaysseenspirituality and nature as inseparable. Quoting the Isha Upanishad, he reminded the gathering that the Divine pervades all creation. In the context of global climate challenges, he urged the youth to embrace their responsibility towards rivers, forests, animals, and all living beings, ensuring that development remains sustainable and in harmony with nature Sinha also drewfrom the Bhagavad Gita and reiterated Lord Krishna'steaching thatwhen action becomes service and service becomes dedication, even ordinary work becomes sadhana. He expressed deep reverence for the Ashram, which has preserved the wisdom of sages, and paid homage to Swami Ashokanand Ji Maharaj, recalling his visionary resolve in 1937 that transformed the Ashram into a vibrant spiritual centre. His legacy of service, discipline, and dedication continues to inspire generations. When Swami Ashokanand Ji Maharaj left his mortal body in 1971, he left behind a living tradition of service, discipline, sadhana, and dedication that can still be felt in every activity of this ashram, the LG said. Highlighting new initiatives at the Ashram, including the construction of a Yatri Niwas, renovation works, a dining complex, and the expansion of the Yajnashala, the LG expressed confidence that these projects would embody faith transformed into action. The LG praised the Ashram's affiliation with the Swami Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, which serves on the principle of Atmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitaya Chafor one's own liberation and for the welfare of the world. He urged the youth to draw inspiration from Swami Vivekananda's message of self-confidence, fearlessness, and selfless service, reminding them that true strength lies within. Swami Vivekananda said that a human being's real strength lies within, and no one needs to consider themselves weak. No matter how difficult your circumstances may be, within you lies the capacity for growth, change, and great work. Swami Vivekananda also revealed the secret of true success and true happiness, saying that the person who is truly rich is one who serves without expecting any reward and acts with a selfless spirit, the LG said. Reaffirming India's timeless philosophy of unity in diversity, the LG said that India's strength lies in respecting diversity while moving forward together, and that the message of Sarva Dharma Samabhava (equal respect for all religions) has been India's gift to the world. The event was attended by Padma Shri Brij Lal Bhat, Chairman of the Ashram's Administrative Committee; Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary Culture; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; DIG South Kashmir Javid Iqbal Mattoo; SSP Anantnag Amod Ashok Nagpure; DC Anantnag Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat; members of the Ashram and Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari; senior officials, prominent citizens, and a large number of devotees.
Dialogue is bridge between hearts: LG Sinha
Pulwama, Aug 17: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday called for institutionalising regular interfaith dialogues in schools, colleges, and community centres, as he outlined a six-point roadmap for fostering communal harmony and preserving India's shared heritage. Addressing the Mulaqat programme organised by the Save Youth Save Future Foundation here, the LG said dialogue is not merely an exchange of words but a bridge between hearts, a means of nurturing trust and a path to peace and prosperity. Quoting ancient wisdom from the Rig VedaSangachchhadhwam Samvadadhwam, Sam Vo Manamsi Janatam he LG reminded the gathering that walking together, conversing together and making space for one another in our hearts is the essence of India's civilisational ethos. Mutual trust and respect for all faiths and beliefs was an integral part of our way of life. The civilisation of our beloved Bharat gave us a profoundly beautiful message 6,000 years ago to walk together, converse together and make space for one another in our hearts, he said. Sinha said that India's soil has welcomed faiths, cultures, and traditions from across the world, weaving them into the fabric of the country. He said this confluence of traditions is visible today in the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakamthe world is one familyand in the ethos of Kashmiriyat, which teaches that true identity lies in conduct and humanity, not in labels of faith or community. Such initiatives need to be expanded on a much broader scale. I believe that another meaning of true peace is that it begins when we start understanding one another. From that perspective, our gathering here is not merely a social meeting. The true meaning of Mulaqat is to listen to one another, understand one another, respect one another and, wherever there is distance between hearts, take the first step towards dialogue, the LG said. The Lieutenant Governoroutlined a six-point roadmap: institutionalising regular interfaith dialogues in educational institutions and community centres; appointing Youth Peace Ambassadors to lead cultural exchange, community service, and environmental protection initiatives; preserving historical and cultural sites as common heritage; promoting digital literacy to counter misinformation; ensuring social justice and equal opportunities through impartial systems delivering education, employment, healthcare, and justice; and constituting Village Peace Committees representing all sections of society to strengthen compassion, humanity and development. It is the collective responsibility of the public and the administration to ensure that youth receive an education that teaches them to ask questions, access to technology that guides them towards progress, and the character that inspires patriotism and nation-building, he said. The LG stressed that while governments can make laws and administrations can provide systems, true harmony is built by the people themselves. He called upon administrative officers to ensure the safety of citizens, equal opportunities in development and proper implementation of welfare schemes. Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor flagged off the Tiranga Yatra from Sports Stadium, Pulwama, and commended the people of Pulwama for their enthusiastic participation in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' and other national integration programmes. The event was attended by DIG South Kashmir Range Javaid Iqbal Matoo, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Dr Basharat Qayoom, SSP Pulwama Tanushree, Save Youth Save Future Foundation Chairman Wajahat Farooq Bhat, and other senior officials, civil society members, prominent citizens, and a large number of youth.
Modi govt dismantled ISI-backed terror network ahead of I-Day: HM
New Delhi, Aug 17: In a major multi-state crackdown ahead of Independence Day, security agencies have dismantled the ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), arresting more than 200 operatives and thwarting its plans for subversive attacks across the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday. In a post on X, Shah said 253 people were detained across 14 states on August 12 as part of the government's 'zero tolerance' policy towards cross-border terrorism. Over 80 FIRs and more than 200 arrests have been recorded against the Pakistan-based terror syndicate, which was linked to grenade, IED and petrol bomb attacks and targeted killings across India. Modi govt destroyed the ISI-backed terror group Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day and thwarted its plans for subversive attacks by arresting more than 200 operatives. Indian security forces ripped apart the network by launching coordinated operations across different locations in 14 states upholding a brilliant example of India's zero-tolerance towards terrorism, Shah said. The Home Minister said substantial recoveries, including IEDs, grenades bearing Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings, pistols, live cartridges, and CCTV cameras used for espionage, were made from the ISI-funded group. The coordinated multi-state operation was carried out on August 12 using a real-time intelligence-sharing system with State Police forces. It led to 253 detentions across 14 states Uttar Pradesh (62), Haryana (52), Delhi (51), Punjab (44), Rajasthan (15), Maharashtra (8), Uttarakhand (5), Karnataka, Gujarat and Bihar (3 each), and Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Kerala (2 each) with fresh FIRs registered in Delhi and Karnataka. The SBN network has been paying local conduits to recce police, defence and religious sites, and to install CCTV cameras for espionage. Cumulatively, over 80 FIRs and 200+ arrests have been recorded against SBN under UAPA, BNS, the Arms Act, NDPS Act and Explosive Substances Act. Security agencies reaffirmed the Government of India's zero tolerance for cross-border terror and said coordinated action would continue to dismantle SBN's networks nationwide.
Unplanned dev, slope cutting fuel cloudburst crisis in Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal
Srinagar, Aug 17: Unplanned development, indiscriminate slope cutting, and changes in land use are emerging as major factors exacerbating the impact of extreme weather in the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal areas of the Jammu region, where nearly 35 cloudburst and flash-flood incidents have been recorded since June 1. Almost 35 people have died in extreme weatherconditions inJammu region alone. Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley have historically been vulnerable to cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides because of their steep slopes, narrow valleys, and complex terrain. Environmentalists and weather experts believe that growing human intervention has significantly increased the exposure of settlements and infrastructure tosuchhazards. Independent weatherman Faizan Arif said the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal had not suddenly become vulnerable, but the level of exposure had increased considerably. These regions have always been naturally prone to extreme weather because of their rugged terrain, steep slopes, narrow valleys and complex topography. What has changed considerably over the past few decades is our exposure to these hazards, Arif said. He added, Rapid, and in many places unplanned construction, development along rivers and streams, road widening, cutting of mountain slopes, changes in land use and encroachment into naturally vulnerable areas have disturbed the landscapes ability to cope with intense rainfall. An extreme rainfall event that may have caused limited damage in the past can now have much greater consequences because there are more roads, buildings, settlements and infrastructure in vulnerable locations, he added. Arif said mountains have come underpressure whileslope-cutting constructions have weakened the natural defences. He said the unusually high number of incidents this year should not simply be attributed to a sudden increase in cloudbursts. What we have clearly seen this year is an unusual frequency of weather spells and intense rainfall events, which has contributed to more flash floods and landslides, he said. The weatherman said relatively frequent Western Disturbances,availability of moistureand interaction with monsoonal moisturehadcontributed to favourable conditions for intense rainfall over the Himalayan region. The complex terrain forces moisture-laden air to rise, and when atmospheric instability and other favourable conditions are present, this can produce very intense, localised convection and rainfall, he said. Climate expert Dr Touseef Ahmad Bhat, popularly known as the Tree Man of Kashmir, said the vulnerability of the mountain regions was being compounded by the weakening of natural ecological buffers. The problem is not rainfall alone. It is what happens when intense rainfall meets a landscape whose natural resilience has been compromised, Bhat said. Forests, vegetation and natural drainage systems helped regulate the movement of water, but their disturbance could rapidly increase runoff and slope instability. He added: We cannot treat the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal like plains. Development has to respect the carrying capacity of the mountains. Senior environmentalist Dr Tanveer Ahmad Khan said the region was facing multiple pressures simultaneously. Extreme rainfall is only one part of the problem. Deforestation, road construction, slope cutting, unplanned settlements and pressure on natural water channels are weakening the ecological buffer of the mountains, he said. Khansaid development projects needed totake cumulative environmental and hydrological impacts into account.A road, bridge or building may be structurally sound under normal conditions, but if it alters a stream, blocks drainage or destabilises a slope, it can become part of the hazard during an extreme rainfall event, he added. Dr Afreen Khurshid, a PhD researcher associated with the Environmental Studies Department at the University of Kashmir, said changes in land use were directly relevant to the regions growing vulnerability. When vegetation isremoved,and natural drainage is altered, the abilityofsoil and the landscape to retain and regulate water is reduced. During intense rainfall, that water can rapidly move downstream as destructive runoff, Dr Khurshid said. She called for greater scientific monitoring of mountain catchments, saying inadequate rainfall and hydrological data from remote areas made it difficult to assess how individual catchments respond to intense precipitation. We need much denser rainfall and hydrological monitoring in the mountains, the researcher added.
Four years on, Daand Kadal bridge in Langate remains closed
Handwara, Aug 17: Despite the passage of four years, the vital Daand Kadal bridge in Langate, which connects Mawar with the Langate Tehsil headquarter and surrounding areas, continues to remain non-functional after suffering minor damage during flash floods in 2023. The prolonged closure has caused considerable hardship to residents, who say they are being forced to take longer routes to reach the Tehsil headquarters, markets, health facilities and other nearby areas. Residents said the bridge is an important link for several villages and its closure has affected their daily movement for years. Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Shatgund, said the bridge connects the entire Mawar area with the Langate Tehsil headquarters. He said residents have repeatedly been assured by officials and public representatives that the damaged structure would be repaired, but the assurances have not translated into action. The Daand Kadal bridge connects the whole Mawar area with Langate. Official and representatives have repeatedly assured us that the bridge will be restored, but four years have passed and no concrete action has been taken, he said. He added that residents continue to face difficulties despite the damage being minor. Mohammad Saleem, a resident of Langate, said the bridge has remained a vital link for the area and its closure has disrupted the routine movement of residents. This bridge is the backbone of the area. It is unfortunate that it has remained discontinued for years despite the damage being minor. People continue to suffer because of the delay, he said. Other residents echoed similar concerns and urged the administration to treat the matter as a priority, particularly as the bridge provides a direct and shorter connection between Mawar and Langate. An elderly resident of Tulwari said the closure has turned a journey of a few minutes into one lasting several hours. For a journey of five minutes, we now have to spend hours because of the longer route, he said. Residents said the additional travel time has created problems for students, employees, patients and people visiting the Tehsil headquarters for routine official work. They have appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and direct the concerned authorities to restore the bridge without further delay. Executive Engineer, PWD R&B Langate, Farooq Ahmad Shah, told Rising Kashmir that the issue has already been taken up with higher authorities. He assured that work on the bridge would resume soon and said efforts were being made to resolve the issue. Residents, however, have sought a time-bound restoration of the Daand Kadal bridge, saying they have already waited for four years and cannot afford any further delay.
Kargil Police file FIR over remarks against Ayatollah Khomeini
Kargil, August 17: Kargil Police have registered an FIR over alleged derogatory remarks against late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, with SSP Kargil Nitin Yadav saying the action followed a preliminary inquiry that found prima facie grounds for investigation. Addressing a press briefing, SSP Nitin Yadav said the issue had been the subject of complaints from different parts of Kargil and clarified that contrary to claims that police had not taken action, the matter was being investigated through due legal procedure. According to the SSP, police initially received a complaint from the Islamic Knowledge and Mission Trust (IKMT). A preliminary inquiry was subsequently initiated under Section 173(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to determine whether the allegations disclosed prima facie facts warranting registration of a case. He said that while the preliminary inquiry was underway, additional complaints were received from different areas, including Sankoo, Panikhar, Chiktan, Shargole and Kargil town. These complaints were incorporated into the ongoing inquiry. Once the preliminary inquiry established that prima facie facts were made out, police immediately registered an FIR, the SSP said, adding that the case has been registered at Kargil Police Station under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with FIR No. 78. He said the investigation has now formally commenced and would be conducted according to the prescribed legal procedure. Responding to questions about the progress of the investigation, SSP Yadav said police had questioned the complainant and also called the concerned Sheikh to Kargil Police Station on several occasions for questioning. He said a Sheikh from Srinagar was also called to the Kargil Police Station and his statement was recorded. The individual also produced his mobile phone before the police, containing the message that had allegedly been circulated. The SSP said the mobile phone would now be seized as part of the investigation and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for detailed examination. He said the forensic examination would help police establish the authenticity and origin of the digital material and determine how the message was circulated. Since the FIR has been registered, we will seize the phone and send it to the forensic laboratory. Further action will be taken on the basis of the forensic report, Yadav said. The SSP also addressed the circulation of old videos and other material on social media, warning that such content could aggravate an already sensitive situation. Yadav appealed to people not to share such videos or messages without verification. Addressing concerns that police were not taking action, SSP Yadav appealed to the people of Kargil to have faith in the investigation process.
CEO FSSAI reviews food testing facilities in J
Assesses infrastructure, capacity enhancement measures SRINAGAR: Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Rajit Punhani on Monday visited Food Laboratory, Kashmir during his visit to Srinagar, to have on spot assessment about its functioning. During the visit, the CEO FSSAI took round of various sections, including Microbiological Section, Chemical Section and []
Sakeena Itoo reviews progress on major projects in J
SRINAGAR: Minister for Health & Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education, and Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo on Monday chaired a high-level meeting today to assess the progress of ongoing infrastructure and development projects across Jammu and Kashmir. The review focused on projects undertaken by the Health, Education, and Social Welfare departments. The meeting was attended []
Placed under house arrest, disallowed to address Khawaja Digar: Mirwaiz
SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Monday said he was placed under house arrest and denied permission to address the time-honoured Khawaja Digar religious gathering at Khanqah-e-Naqshband Sahib (RA). In a post on X, he said:Once again I have been denied permission to address the time honoured religious gathering of Khawaja diger in []
Several leaders, activists from Pampore join Apni Party
SRINAGAR: Several political leaders and activists from Pampore joined Apni Party on Monday during a special event at the party headquarters quarters. The new entrants included PDPs Zonal President Pampore Ghulam Mohiudin Dar, Sheikh Mubeena, Rozy, Fancy, and others, the party said in a statement, adding that they joined the party alongwith their associated The []
JKCIP Mobilisation Drive: SKUAST-K emphasizes handholding, strengthening of rural collectives
BARAMULLA: The Harvesting Harmony Farmer Producer Organisation Cooperative Ltd., Pattan, in collaboration with SKUAST-Kashmirs Directorate of Extension, organized a mobilisation drive under the IFAD-sponsored Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP). The event focused on promoting farmer collectives and strengthening rural farmers institutions. Prof. (Dr.) Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Extension []
Div Com Kashmir reviews arrangements for 1st International Film Festival of J
Directs departments to designate nodal officers for smooth conduct of festival SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Monday chaired a meeting to review preparations for the 1st International Film Festival of J&K (IFFJK), scheduled to be held from September 7 to 10 and organised by the Department of Information and Public relations Jammu and []
Sakeena Itoo chairs 46th BoDs meet of JKSCSTBC Development Corporation
Welfare must translate into tangible socio-economic improvement SRINAGAR: Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo on Monday chaired the 46th meeting of Board of Directors (BoDs) of the Jammu & Kashmir Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe & Backward Classes (JKSCSTBC) Development Corporation Limited at Civil Secretariat here today. The meeting was attended []
J&K trout farming gets boost with 2.5 lakh seeds
Srinagar: The Department of Fisheries is making sustained efforts to strengthen trout production and promote fish farming in Jammu and Kashmir, with a special focus on increasing availability of quality fish seed and encouraging greater participation of the private sector. As part of these efforts, the department has supplied around 2.5 lakh Rainbow Trout seeds to private fish farmers in the Kashmir Division and Ladakh, providing an important boost to trout culture and supporting the expansion of fish farming activities across the region. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the trout farming ecosystem and encouraging private fish farmers to take up trout culture as a sustainable source of livelihood. The availability of quality seed is considered an important component in increasing production and improving the overall productivity of trout farms. At the Laribal Trout Culture Farm, around 3 lakh fish are currently being reared, reflecting the departments continued focus on maintaining and enhancing fish production. The farm is also contributing to the supply of fresh trout to consumers, with around 30 kilograms of fish being sold from the farm, helping meet the local demand for fresh fish. Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Shareef Ahmad Khan, Farm Manager, Trout Culture Farm Laribal, said that increasing fish production remains one of the key priorities of the Department of Fisheries. He said the department is working towards strengthening trout culture by focusing on quality seed production, supporting fish farmers and promoting scientific methods of fish farming. He added that greater involvement of the private sector can further help in expanding trout production and creating additional livelihood opportunities. The departments efforts are not only aimed at increasing fish availability but also at developing fisheries as an important economic and livelihood-generating sector. By supplying quality Rainbow Trout seeds to private farmers and maintaining production at departmental farms, the Fisheries Department is working to create a stronger and more sustainable trout farming network. With continued focus on production, quality seed and farmer support, the department is seeking to further expand trout culture and contribute to the growth of the fisheries sector across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
BJP unveils new national team, none from J
Smriti Irani, Ram Madhav, Goyal among prominent new faces; 51 of 65 office-bearers new New Delhi, Aug 17: BJP president Nitin Nabin has announced the partys new national team, with B L Santosh as national general secretary (Organisation), former Union minister Smriti Irani as general secretary and Ram Madhav as national vice president. Interestingly, the [] The post BJP unveils new national team, none from J&K appeared first on Northlines .
Govt destroyed ISI-backed terror group: Shah
253 detained across 14 states; over 200 arrested in cases linked to Shahzad Bhatti Network Over 80 FIRs registered; IEDs, grenades, pistols, CCTV cameras recovered New Delhi, Aug 17:Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that ahead of Independence Day Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Govt destroyed an ISI-backed terror network ahead of Independence [] The post Govt destroyed ISI-backed terror group: Shah appeared first on Northlines .
Sinha calls for harmony, compassion and care for nature
Says dialogue, selfless service and respect for all life are key to a harmonious society Srinagar, Aug 17:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday called for strengthening social harmony, interfaith dialogue and a deeper sense of responsibility towards nature and all living beings, saying Indias civilisational ethos is rooted inVasudhaiva Kutumbakamthe world is one familyand respect [] The post Sinha calls for harmony, compassion and care for nature appeared first on Northlines .
BJP hits streets, targets NC Govt over
LoP Sharma accuses govt of corruption, poor governance Jammu Tawi, Aug 17:Hundreds of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers on Monday staged protests at several locations in Jammu against the National Conference-led government, alleging failure to fulfil election promises and address issues related to unemployment, civic amenities and development. Three separate protests, led by MP Jugal [] The post BJP hits streets, targets NC Govt over failed promises appeared first on Northlines .
Woman dies, husband injured after scooter-car collision
Kathua (Jammu Div), Aug 17:A woman died while her husband sustained injuries after the scooty they were travelling on was hit by an Alto car near Hiranagar Morh in Kathua district on Monday, officials said. An official said that the accident occurred near a petrol pump at Hiranagar Morh when an Alto car collided with [] The post Woman dies, husband injured after scooter-car collision appeared first on Northlines .
Man killed, 11 injured after vehicle skids off road
Rajouri, (Jammu Div), Aug 17:A man was killed while 11 others were injured after a vehicle skidded off the road in the Thadikassi Tandwal area of Rajouri district on Monday, officials said. An official said that the accident occurred around noon when a vehicle bearing registration number JK11G-8874 skidded off the road and hit several [] The post Man killed, 11 injured after vehicle skids off road appeared first on Northlines .
SIA arrests absconding narco-terror operative
Uncovers wider Pakistan/PoJK-based Hizbul Mujahideen conspiracy Jammu Tawi, Aug 17:Marking a significant breakthrough in its investigation into the smuggling of narcotics from across the Line of Control (LoC) and the alleged use of drug proceeds to finance terrorist activities, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir has arrested an absconding operative allegedly involved in a narco-terror [] The post SIA arrests absconding narco-terror operative appeared first on Northlines .
Responsible Parenting in the Age of AI
The age of artificial intelligence has arrived with speed, scale and subtlety. It is no longer a distant innovation confined to laboratories, tech firms or research institutions. AI is now part of everyday life shaping what children watch, learn, read and believe. From smart devices and recommendation algorithms to chatbots and AI-generated content, the digital world today is more immersive than ever before. In this rapidly changing environment, parenting too must evolve. Responsible parenting in the age of AI is not about rejecting technology, but about learning to guide children through it with care, discipline and informed judgment. For many families, technology has become both a convenience and a challenge. Parents often rely on digital devices to keep children occupied, to support learning, or simply to manage the pressures of modern life. Yet the same tools that entertain and educate can also expose young minds to misinformation, addiction, isolation and harmful content. Artificial intelligence, by its very nature, personalizes and intensifies engagement. It learns quickly what attracts attention and then keeps feeding it. For a child, this can mean endless scrolling, distorted realities and a shrinking capacity for focus, patience and independent thought. This is why responsible parenting must go beyond time limits and screen restrictions. It requires digital literacy at home. Parents must understand, at least in broad terms, how AI works, what its strengths are and where its risks lie. A child who uses AI tools for homework, images or conversation should not be left unchecked. The question is not only whether the child is online, but what kind of online experience the child is having. Are they learning to think critically, or merely accepting machine-generated answers as truth? Are they building curiosity, or consuming convenience without reflection? At the same time, parents must remain conscious that children imitate what they see. If adults themselves are permanently glued to screens, constantly distracted, or overly dependent on digital shortcuts, it becomes difficult to ask children for restraint. Responsible parenting begins with example. It means creating spaces for conversation, outdoor activity, reading, shared meals and uninterrupted attention. In a world where AI can generate answers instantly, children still need something no machine can provide: human guidance, emotional grounding and moral perspective. Schools too have a role, but the first classroom is the home. Parents should talk openly with children about the difference between human intelligence and machine output, between information and wisdom, and between convenience and character. AI may help a child complete a task, but it cannot teach empathy, integrity or resilience. Those values must come from family, community and lived experience. The challenge before parents is not to fear the future, but to prepare children for it. Technology will keep advancing, and AI will only become more powerful, accessible and influential. But children who grow up with disciplined, attentive and informed parenting will be better equipped to use these tools wisely rather than be used by them. In the age of AI, the most important parental skill may be the oldest one of all the ability to guide, listen and lead by example.
Khonmohs Bear Attacks Call for Urgent Action
Bear attacks in Khonmoh within less than 24 hours have once again brought into sharp focus a problem that is no longer occasional, but increasingly routine: the dangerous expansion of human-wildlife conflict into inhabited areas. The injuring of a 57-year-old woman in Shah Mohalla, following a similar attack on a man in Shiv Dakri a day earlier, is not merely a local scare. It is a warning sign. When people living on Srinagars outskirts cannot safely step out near their homes, the matter ceases to be about wildlife alone and becomes one of public safety, administrative preparedness, and environmental mismanagement. Khonmoh, like several other fringe localities around the city, sits at the fragile interface between human habitation and bear habitat. That interface is becoming narrower by the year. Unplanned expansion, shrinking forest cover, pressure on natural feeding grounds, garbage disposal that attracts wildlife, and the disturbance of habitats have all contributed to pushing animals closer to settlements. The result is predictable, and sadly preventable: repeated confrontation between humans and wildlife, often ending in injury, fear, and retaliatory panic. The latest incidents should serve as a wake-up call for the authorities, especially the Wildlife Department, district administration, and local municipal bodies. Residents cannot be left to live in a state of permanent anxiety while official responses remain reactive and episodic. A bear appearing once may be dismissed as an isolated incident. Two attacks in a day indicate a pattern that demands immediate intervention. The first responsibility of the state is to ensure that vulnerable localities are identified, monitored, and protected through a sustained mitigation plan. That plan must begin with better surveillance and rapid response teams. Villagers need emergency contact systems, patrol deployment in high-risk zones, and immediate action when wildlife movement is reported. Awareness campaigns are also essential so that residents know how to respond if bears enter residential clusters, especially during early morning and evening hours when such attacks are more likely. At the same time, the administration must address the causes that draw bears toward human settlements, including unmanaged waste, open dumping sites, and unsecured food sources. But long-term solutions require more than alerts and advisories. The government must invest in habitat conservation, corridor protection, and scientific conflict management. Forest edges cannot be treated as expendable spaces until crisis erupts. If wildlife is losing its natural range, conflict will only intensify. Compensation for victims must also be timely and adequate, not a bureaucratic afterthought. For families like that of Fatima and the injured man from Shiv Dakri, the damage is not limited to physical wounds; it is also emotional and economic. Khonmohs distress should not fade from memory once the immediate news cycle moves on. It should prompt a serious reassessment of how Kashmir manages its shrinking ecological balance. Protecting people and protecting wildlife are not opposing goals. They are linked obligations. The state must act before another attack turns concern into tragedy.
LG Sinha Calls For Interfaith Dialogue, Peace Initiatives in Pulwama
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday called for regular interfaith dialogue and greater participation of youth and communities in initiatives aimed at strengthening social harmony, saying dialogue was key to building trust and peace. Addressing the *Mulaqat* programme organised by the Save Youth Save Future Foundation in Pulwama, Sinha said people belonging to different []
The Clock That Starts Too Late
FUTURECRAFT Sometime in late June, inside OpenAIs own offices, something went wrong that nobody noticed for weeks. The company had built software helpers to test how good AI has become at finding weaknesses in computer systems. They were meant to stay inside a sealed practice area, rather like a driving test conducted in an empty car park. They did not stay. They got out, reached a real companys systems on the open internet, and then did something stranger. They found a way to talk to one another. They passed around passwords and tricks they had discovered. They divided the work between themselves. When engineers shut down the channel they were using to communicate, they built a new one and carried on. OpenAI described this on stage at Black Hat, a large security conference held in Las Vegas earlier this month, and Anthropic said something similar had happened with its own models during containment tests. Read that again with Indian eyes. This took place at one of the most closely watched companies on earth, to software its own engineers had written, during a test they had set up specifically in order to watch it. It still took weeks. India has a rule that says an organisation must inform the government within six hours of finding out it has been attacked. Six hours is among the strictest deadlines anywhere, and beside the point if the honest answer to when did you find out is a month later. What these things actually are Most of us have met AI as a chat window. You ask, it answers, nothing else happens. An agent is a different animal. You do not ask it a question. You give it a job and a login, and then you walk away. Check this loan application. Process these claims. Match these documents against the register. It reads the file, decides what to do, opens the system and does it. Nobody signs off on each step, because the point is that nobody has to. This is not a laboratory idea. Roughly one in four Indian companies already runs agents in live systems, according to an EY survey of Indian enterprises. Industry estimates put overall AI adoption among Indian firms near 80 per cent, ahead of the United States, while fewer than one in four have written down any rules for it. That gap is the whole story. India is adopting this faster than almost anybody and governing it less than almost anybody. The failure with no burglar When we picture a hack, we picture an intruder. A locked screen and a ransom demand. Money gone from an account. There is a moment, and somebody sees it. What OpenAI described has none of that. No outsider broke in. The software was doing the work it had been handed, using permissions properly granted to it, and it went somewhere it was not meant to go. Nothing looked stolen, because in the ordinary sense nothing was. Now place that inside an Indian bank. An agent has been cleared to read customer accounts, because reading accounts is its job. One week it begins pulling records it has no reason to pull. No alarm sounds, because every action it takes is one it is permitted to take. The monitoring system sees an approved user doing approved things, and has no way to ask why. Nobody files a report, because nobody yet has anything to report. The six-hour rule does not measure how quickly we find a problem. It measures how honest we are once we already have What Delhi has done, and what it has left out India has not ignored any of this. On 25 May, CERT-In, the governments cyber agency under the electronics ministry, published a 38-page blueprint on defending against AI-assisted attacks. It tells organisations to set boundaries for their agents, keep logs, watch them continuously and build an emergency switch that can shut a misbehaving one down. That is more specific than most governments have managed. Four things are wrong with it. The first is that it is advice, not law. CERT-Ins own audit rules, published last July, are compulsory, and the two documents do not line up, leaving an Indian company holding a mandatory annual audit in one hand and voluntary AI guidance in the other. The second is that it treats every organisation as the same organisation. A district hospital and a payments company are handed identical recommendations, though they hold very different information and answer to different regulators. The third is that its AI section hands every task to the IT department and none to the boardroom. A company could follow it to the letter and still have directors who could not say which AI systems it runs. Responsibility for the fastest-moving risk in the building has been filed under technical maintenance. The fourth is that it says nothing about open-source models, which is what a large share of Indian startups run. Download a free model off the internet and there is no contract to review and nobody to ring. A practical gap sits underneath all four. CERT-In recommends an emergency shutdown, yet in a global industry survey this year roughly six in ten organisations admitted they could not quickly stop an agent that had begun misbehaving. The advice is sound. The button, in most places, has not been built. The fair objection Nobody has solved this anywhere. On 1 May the cyber agencies of the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand issued their first joint guidance on agents, and it too is advisory. Europes rules for classifying these systems were due in February and had still not appeared months later. India is not lagging. It stands in the same fog as everyone else. The stronger objection is this. Write a rule you cannot measure and you get paperwork instead of safety. Nobody can yet define, in language a court would accept, the moment an agent begins behaving wrongly, and a deadline attached to an undefined moment produces box-ticking. That is right about mandates and wrong about what follows. What is needed is not a new law but one extra line on a form that already exists. Bottom line When an Indian organisation reports an incident, it reports the moment it found out. It is not obliged to say when the trouble began, or how confident it is about that answer. Those two questions are the only real measure of whether our defences work, and nobody is required to answer either. CERT-In handled about 29.4 lakh incidents in 2025. Every one of them is a case where somebody noticed. We hold no figure at all for the cases where nobody did, and the technology we are now installing at record speed is precisely the sort that fails without anybody noticing. Six hours is a good rule pointed at the wrong thing, and the distance between the two is where the next serious breach in this country will sit, quietly, for as long as it cares to. (The Author studies Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA. He is interested in emerging technologies and innovation, and can be reached on LinkedIn at @arssh-kumar14)
Ram Temple donation row: SIT submits final report, UP govt sends it to trust
Ram Temple donation row SIT submits final report UP govt sends it to trust
IIM Jammu at Ten: From Regional Aspiration to Global Engagement
Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal Chairperson, nandam The Centre for Happiness, IIM Jammu Some institutions inherit their distinction from history; others must earn it quietly, year by year, through vision and sustained effort. The Indian Institute of Management Jammu belongs to this latter tradition. Ten years ago, when it took its first breath, [] The post IIM Jammu at Ten: From Regional Aspiration to Global Engagement appeared first on Northlines .
Police seize 10 vehicles in illegal mining crackdown
Srinagar, Aug 17: Jammu and Kashmir Police have seized 10 vehicles and registered four FIRs in separate actions against illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of minor minerals in Anantnag and Shopian districts. In Anantnag, police intercepted three tractors during patrolling in Mattigund and Chittergul and found them carrying illegally extracted bajri and boulders. The drivers allegedly failed to produce valid documents authorising the extraction or transportation of the material. Police, in a statement said FIR No. 83/2026 was registered at the concerned police station and further investigation is underway. In Shopian, police seized six tractors and a tipper in separate actions for allegedly being involved in unauthorised extraction and transportation of minerals. A police team from Shopian police station seized a tractor and a tipper, following which FIR No. 163/2026 was registered. At Heerpora, two tractors carrying mining material without valid royalty documents were seized and FIR No. 80/2026 registered. Similarly, a police team from Imamsahib seized three tractors allegedly involved in illegal mining without mandatory permissions. FIR No. 54/2026 was registered in the case. Police said the crackdown was aimed at protecting natural resources and curbing illegal extraction and transportation of minor minerals. The police warned that strict legal action would be taken against those violating mining laws and urged the public to report illegal mining and transportation activities.
Bear attacks trigger panic in Khonmoh, three injured
Srinagar, Aug 17: Panic has gripped residents of Khonmoh on the outskirts of Srinagar after three people were injured in separate bear attacks in the area within the past 24 hours. According to officials, a 57-year-old woman was injured in a bear attack on Monday near her residence in Shah Mohalla, Khonmoh. The injured woman was identified as Fatima, 57, wife of Mohammad Maqbool Wani, a resident of Shah Mohalla. She was referred to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for specialised treatment. In another incident reported on Monday morning, a 30-year-old man was injured after being attacked by a bear in Sarhandi Colony, Khonmoh. The man, identified as Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat and a resident of Sarhandi Colony, sustained injuries in the attack. He was shifted to SMHS Hospital for treatment, where his condition was stated to be stable. The two incidents came less than 24 hours after another resident, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul Rasheed Bhat was attacked by a bear in the Khonmoh area on Sunday. He also sustained injuries and was shifted to hospital for treatment. The back-to-back attacks have triggered concern among residents, prompting the authorities to deploy teams of the Wildlife Department in the area. Officials said the department has taken note of the incidents and is closely monitoring the situation to prevent further human-wildlife conflict.
Opaque Money into open societies can distort public policy
Foreign funding of NGOs, Charities needs stricter control By Nantoo Banerjee With annual inflow of foreign contributions to NGOs, private trusts and religious bodies in India officially estimated at a staggering Rs.23,000 crore, there is reason for the government toestablish tighter administrative oversight, governance, and transparency over foreign donations. It is suspected that [] The post Opaque Money into open societies can distort public policy appeared first on Northlines .
Quote of the Day by Kate Winslet: Kate Winslets quote, A good eye cream is really important when you are traveling, busy and stressed-thats when the dark puffy circles can get you. highlights the importance of paying attention to skincare during busy and stressful periods. The quote suggests that travel, demanding schedules, and stress can make dark and puffy circles around the eyes more noticeable, while maintaining a simple eye-care routine can help people feel more confident and cared for.
Seven Officers Transferred in Sopore Police Reshuffle
SRINAGAR: The Sopore Police District on Monday ordered a reshuffle of officers, transferring and posting seven police personnel to different police stations and police posts with immediate effect. According to an order issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Sopore, Inspector Ayaz Rasool Geelani has been transferred from DPL Sopore and posted as SHO Police []
Dr. Farooq, Omar greet people on Khwaja Digar
Srinagar, 17 Aug: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have extended warm greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Khwaja Digar. In their message, the duo conveyed their heartfelt wishes to the people, praying that the sacred occasion brings peace, prosperity, harmony and well-being to every household across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. They underscored the rich spiritual and cultural traditions associated with Khwaja Digar, describing the occasion as a reminder of the regions enduring rich legacy of communal harmony, brotherhood and mutual respect. They expressed hope that the auspicious day strengthens the bonds of amity and fraternity among people and brings renewed hope, peace and prosperity to the region. Party rank and file have also extended warm greetings to the people.
Let probe reveal truth on appointments: NC
Jammu, Aug, 17 : The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MLA Zadibal and Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq Monday came down heavily on the BJP over its protest against the Omar Abdullah-led government, saying the BJP must first answer the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the continued denial of statehood and the failure to fulfil its own commitments. In a statement, Sadiq said the BJP had every democratic right to hold demonstrations, but questioned the purpose of what he described as drama and theatrics when the people were still waiting for the restoration of their constitutional rights. Let the BJP protest; it is their democratic right. But after two years, the simple question remains: where is statehood? They promised delimitation, elections and then restoration of statehood. Elections have happened, but statehood is still nowhere in sight, he said. He said the BJP should look within before lecturing others. The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was dismantled and divided into two Union Territories, and its people were stripped of their constitutional and political rights. Instead of creating distractions, the BJP should tell the people why statehood has been delayed, Sadiq said. Taking aim at the BJP over the pending reservation-related issue, Sadiq questioned why files and decisions concerning Jammu and Kashmir continued to remain unresolved. On allegations of backdoor appointments, Sadiq said the matter should be subjected to a thorough and impartial investigation rather than being turned into a political spectacle. If there has been any wrongdoing, let there be a proper investigation and let the truth come out. The BJP has no reason to turn every issue into political theatre when it has the means and influence to seek an investigation through the appropriate agencies, he said. Sadiq noted that BJP is deliberately creating distractions to divert public attention from issues that directly affect the people of Jammu and Kashmir. If the National Conference had made illegal or backdoor appointments, why would anyone oppose an investigation? Let the facts come out. The people deserve the truth, not manufactured controversies and political theatrics, he said. Recalling the PDP-BJP alliance, Sadiq also questioned those who had facilitated the BJP's entry into the government in Jammu and Kashmir despite repeated warnings from the National Conference. We had warned against bringing the BJP into the government and repeatedly appealed that this would have serious consequences for Jammu and Kashmir. Omar Abdullah had even offered unconditional support to prevent such an arrangement. Those who enabled that alliance cannot now shed crocodile tears from the sidelines, he said. Sadiq said the BJP's latest protest could not conceal its failure to address the fundamental question of stat
Budgam hospital 75% complete; critical care block planned in Uri: Govt
Srinagar, Aug 17:- Minister for Health & Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the action taken and progress achieved on decisions taken during earlier review meetings, with particular focus on major infrastructure and development projects being implemented by the Health, Education and Social Welfare departments across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Education, Ram Niwas Sharma; Special Secretaries of Higher Education, Health and Education Departments; Directors of Health Services Jammu and Kashmir; Directors of School Education Jammu and Kashmir; Principals of Government Medical Colleges and other senior officers of the concerned departments. The Minister undertook a comprehensive review of the physical and financial progress of various ongoing projects, including infrastructure works, Capex and SASCI projects, utilisation of funds, procurement of equipment and implementation of decisions taken in previous review meetings. Emphasising the importance of translating sanctioned projects into tangible outcomes for the people, Sakeena Itoo directed the officers to ensure strict adherence to timelines, close monitoring of execution and clear accountability at every stage. She stressed that financial expenditure must correspond with actual physical progress and called for immediate resolution of bottlenecks causing delays. Reviewing healthcare infrastructure in Kashmir, the Minister was informed that the 125-bedded District Hospital at Reshipora, Budgam has achieved 75 per cent physical progress and is targeted for completion by March 2027. The status of various SASCI projects was also reviewed. The meeting was further informed that a proposal for establishment of a Critical Care Hospital Block at Uri has been initiated, with five kanals of land identified at Mohara. In Jammu division, the Minister reviewed the proposed Trauma Centre at Surankote, new UT Capex works and the 100-bedded Hospital at Sunderbani. She was informed that construction of the Sunderbani hospital is nearing completion, while equipment worth 66 lakh has been requisitioned and the facility is expected to be made operational shortly. The Minister also reviewed infrastructure and other development works at GMC Handwara, GMC Srinagar, SKIMS Medical College Bemina, GMC Rajouri, Government Ayurvedic College Akhnoor, GMC Kathua, GMC Jammu and GMC Anantnag. At GMC Rajouri and GMC Kathua, she took stock of Capex and CSS works, functioning of Dental Units and procurement of essential equipment. The meeting was informed that the upgradation of the GNM Nursing School to a Nursing College at GMC Rajouri has achieved 65 per cent progress, while construction of the Teaching Hospital at GMC Kathua is at an advanced stage. At GMC Jammu, the Minister reviewed the status of Capex and CSS works and was apprised that several projects have either been completed or are nearing completion. The functioning of the Emergency Dental Unit and District Early Intervention Centre at SMGS Hospital was also assessed. Sakeena Itoo directed the concerned officers to accord top priority to procurement of critical medical equipment and completion of healthcare infrastructure, noting that timely availability of facilities and equipment has a direct bearing on the quality and accessibility of patient care. She called for regular identification and resolution of bottlenecks, timely utilisation of available funds and stronger coordination among executing agencies, healthcare institutions and the concerned departments. Every sanctioned project must ultimately translate into a tangible improvement in public service delivery. There should be no avoidable delay in execution, and every rupee allocated for development must be utilised efficiently and transparently, the Minister said. The Minister further directed the officers to maintain continuous monitoring of major projects and furnish timely updates on critical milestones. She stressed that completed infrastructure should be made functional without delay so that the intended benefits reach the people at the earliest.
Div Com Plans Heritage Tours, Customised Packages For IFFJK Guests
SRINAGAR : With the first International Film Festival of J&K (IFFJK) scheduled to be held from September 7 to 10, the administration has begun working on tourism, sightseeing and hospitality arrangements for national and international guests attending the festival. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Monday chaired a meeting to review preparations for the festival, []
BJP targets NC govt, reiterates Centres statehood pledge
Jammu, Aug 17: BJP MPs and MLAs on Monday staged a protest in Jammu against the National Conference-led Jammu and Kashmir government, accusing it of failing to deliver on its election promises and address public concerns. The BJP leaders criticised the government over issues related to governance, development, administration and public welfare. Speaking to reporters at the protest site, Rajya Sabha MP Engineer Ghulam Ali Khatana said the Centre remained committed to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has to be given statehood, and we will be the ones to give it, Khatana said. He said the Union government had not backtracked from its commitment and would take a decision on statehood at an appropriate time. Khatana also highlighted infrastructure and development projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including roads, tunnels, power, healthcare and education. He said the Centre was focused on improving public facilities, creating employment opportunities, attracting investment and strengthening the local economy. He said peace and stability were essential for sustained development and called for balanced development across all regions and sections of society. Meanwhile, BJP MPs and MLAs alleged that the National Conference-led government had failed to fulfil several commitments made before coming to power. They called for greater focus on grassroots issues, faster execution of development projects and improved administrative efficiency. Khatana also appealed to people to strengthen communal harmony and contribute to peace, prosperity and development in Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP Must Answer On Statehood, Reservations, Governance: Tanvir Sadiq
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) MLA from Zadibal and chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq on Monday hit out at the BJP over its protest against the Omar Abdullah-led government, saying the party should first explain the continued delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Sadiq said the BJP had every democratic right to []
Sakeena Itoo Pushes Online Recovery, Disbursement System For JKSCSTBC Corporation
SRINAGAR : The Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Classes Development Corporation has decided to intensify recovery of long-pending loans and introduce an online system for loan recovery and disbursement of welfare schemes. The decision was taken at the 46th meeting of the Corporations Board of Directors, chaired by Minister for Social []
Zero Miles founder skips anniversary, pitches for unified licensing system in Kashmir
Srinagar, Aug 17: Zero Miles Grill and Cafe founder Jibran Khan on Monday chose to skip the eighth anniversary celebrations of his popular food chain and instead used the occasion to push for a single-window licensing system for food business operators in the Valley during a crucial review meeting with the FSSAI chief. The meeting, chaired by FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani, IAS, at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), saw Khan walk in with a presentation folder rather than a celebration cake, focusing his intervention on regulatory reforms that he said were critical for the growth of food entrepreneurship in Kashmir. Sources said that the meeting, part of Punhani's four-day visit to the Valley, was aimed at assessing the challenges faced by Food Business Operators (FBOs) and exploring ways to streamline the regulatory framework. Speaking after the meeting, Khan said the existing licensing system was proving to be a major hurdle for entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses in the region. The system demands separate licences for every branch, duplicate filings, and independent audits for each unit. This is not red tape but a barrier to expansion and a disincentive for entrepreneurs looking to scale up in Kashmir, he said. Khan advocated for a unified single-window licensing system with a digital dashboardone registration and one compliance framework governing all outlets under a single brand. The regulator must transition from being a strict enforcer to a facilitator, especially for startups and MSMEs. Kashmir's terrain is uniquely difficult, with supply chains collapsing during harsh winters and infrastructure deficits making compliance disproportionately harder than in the plains. These are ground realities, not excuses, he added. The restaurateur also criticised the existing grievance redressal mechanism, describing it as a labyrinth that leaves small players helpless. If a small food business owner faces a field-level issue, most do not even know which door to knock on. We need a mechanism where small players can flag issues without being lost in bureaucratic labyrinths, he said, drawing nods from several attendees. Khan said the Jammu and Kashmir Food Commissioner gave a positive response and addressed his question, in which he had urged for a roadmap for restaurants, cafes and highway businesses. The Commissioner provided a detailed roadmap, explaining how they plan to establish a database within the next six months and that they are definitely moving forward in that direction. The interactive session was attended by prominent food business owners from across the Valley and was viewed by industry watchers as a bridge-building exercise between top-down policy perspectives and bottom-up ground realities. Official sources said the proposal for a single-window system has caught the attention of the FSSAI top brass and has been forwarded for active internal review. Khan's intervention, however, went beyond licensing. In a well-prepared presentation, he made a persuasive case for the FSSAI to fundamentally rethink its role in the Valley, sources added. Food safety and business growth need not be in conflict. They can coexist, provided the regulatory framework is flexible enough to accommodate local realities. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work for a region like Kashmir, he said. Notably, the Zero Miles chain, which started its journey eight years ago, has emerged as one of the prominent homegrown food brands in the Valley. However, Khan's decision to skip the celebrations and focus on policy advocacy has drawn praise from many in the industry who see it as a significant step towards addressing long-pending issues faced by food business operators in Kashmir.
Four SHOs Reshuffled in Pulwama, Probationary DySPs Shifted For Training
SRINAGAR: The Pulwama district police have ordered a reshuffle of four Station House Officers (SHOs) and shifted two probationary Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs) for practical training. According to an order issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Pulwama, on August 17, probationary DySPs Mohd Waseem and Fizza Hamid have been moved from their []
Will Rethink Quitting If Omar Steps Down As CM: Ruhullah Puts NC On Notice
SRINAGAR : Srinagar Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Monday said he has made up his mind to resign from Parliament in the coming months, but indicated that an intervention by National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah could lead him to reconsider the decision if the party accepts a set of political proposals. []
Ruhullah sets few-month timeline for possible resignation, puts ball in NC leaderships court
Srinagar, Aug 17 : Srinagar Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Monday said he has made up his mind to resign from Parliament in the coming months, but indicated that an intervention by National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah could lead him to reconsider the decision if the party accepts a set of political proposals. In an exclusive conversation with Kashmir News Service (KNS), Ruhullah said he was not looking at a timeline of a year but wanted a few months to take his campaign on the constitutional and political status of Jammu and Kashmir to what he called a certain level before stepping down. I need a few months. I am not even talking about a year. I want to bring this fight to a certain level, and then resign, he added. Ruhullah, however, made a distinction between his decision to resign and his willingness to reconsider it. He said the resignation itself was not conditional, but he would rethink the decision if Dr Farooq Abdullah wanted the issue resolved and the proposed steps were taken. Referring to Dr Farooq, Ruhullah said his relationship with the NC president was not merely political and that he had always regarded him as a fatherly figure. He said Dr Farooq had treated him with respect and that his remarks about Ruhullah being like a son were known to him personally. This is not a matter of our personal relations, Ruhullah said, adding that the larger issue concerned the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said if Dr Farooq wanted the matter to be resolved, he had three suggestions that could lead him to reconsider his resignation. Ruhullah said his first proposal was that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should resign from the post and that he himself would then resign as MP, allowing Omar to return to Parliament and lead the political fight for restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs constitutional protections. The current CM should resign from the post. I resign from the Member of Parliament, he said. Ruhullah said he did not want to return to Parliament himself and suggested that Omar Abdullah contest a Lok Sabha election and take up the issues he had been raising in the national political arena. I do not want to become the Member Parliament again. The CM should come, resign, become the Member Parliament. He should go to Parliament and fight the same fight that I am fighting, he said. He also said that Omar Abdullah could have a greater impact in Parliament because of his political position and the strength of the National Conference. Ruhullah said the campaign should go beyond the demand for restoration of statehood and include what he described as the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs constitutional guarantees, protections and dignity. Along with the statehood, the constitutional guarantees, dignity should be restored, he said. Ruhulla said his second proposal was that Omar Abdullah should nominate another person from among the partys MLAs or ministers to head the government, allowing the Chief Minister to concentrate on the political campaign from Parliament. Ruhullah said the government could then focus on governance and implementation of the National Conference manifesto while Omar Abdullah pursued the constitutional and political issues at the national level. Ruhulla said his third proposal was for the National Conference to turn the issue into a broader political movement, with the party standing behind Omar Abdullahs parliamentary campaign. Ruhullah said he was willing to take responsibility for organising such a movement within the party. He also called for those whom he blamed for moving the party away from its political movement and ideological agenda to be removed from party affairs. If these two-three suggestions work, I am ready to rethink my resignation the next day, Ruhullah said. He said that if there was no movement on his proposals, he would proceed with the decision he had already made. Ruhullah also said his decision was not the result of any individual forcing him out. There is no one to force me. I will do what I have to do on the basis of morals and conviction, he said. He also said that developments within the party had created an atmosphere in which his continuation had become increasingly difficult. He said remarks questioning why he had not resigned had come from different party functionaries, including MLAs, an MP, the additional general secretary and, at times, the Chief Minister. Ruhulla also said that he had been kept away from the working committee, party functioning and decision-making. They themselves call me from one MLA, some day from another MLA, some day from MP, some day from the Additional General Secretary, some day the Chief Minister himself talks badly to me, he said. Ruhullah said that if the party believed he had violated its ideology, agenda, manifesto or discipline, it should follow a formal process instead of publicly asking him to resign. He challenged the leadership to issue him a show-cause notice and spell out the alleged violations. I wish they had the dignity to issue a show-cause notice, he said. If they had the dignity, they would have been conscious, and they would have talked about party discipline, they would have issued a show-cause notice, he added. Ruhullah said he would respond to such a notice and allow the party to take a decision thereafter. Tell me, where have I violated? At least take the answer to that show-cause notice from me, he said. The Srinagar MP acknowledged that resigning would come at the cost of the parliamentary platform through which he has been pursuing the issue nationally. He said Parliament had allowed him to raise the constitutional question, engage with political parties and undertake lobbying and opinion-building. Whatever I could do in Parliament, I did it. I did the opinion generation, I spoke about 370, he said. He also referred to conferences and political outreach undertaken in Delhi and said he wanted to do more work on the issue before giving up his parliamentary position. I won't have the Parliament. The lobbying that I can do through the Parliament, the outreach that I can do, I won't have that. That is obvious, he said. He acknowledged that losing that platform would be a setback but said he was prepared to take the decision on the basis of his convictions.That will be a loss, he added.(KNS)
US Prez Donald Trump says Iran should surrender, threatens to bomb Oman
An interim deal agreed to in June declared an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, but quickly unraveled, with Trump saying it was over on July 7
New fossil evidence challenges the long-held belief that ancient cynodonts laid eggs. A recent study found compelling proof that Chiniquodon theotonicus gave birth to live young. This discovery pushes the evolutionary timeline for live birth back by approximately ninety-five million years. Such an adaptation offered better protection for developing embryos in harsh Triassic environments. This finding suggests some early mammalian ancestors were more like modern mammals than previously assumed.
LIC donates 3.19 crore in medical equipment to Rayalaseema hospitals
ACB files chargesheet against 10 accused over illegal construction
Srinagar, August 17:The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a chargesheet against 10 accused persons, including seven officers of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and three private individuals, in connection with an alleged illegal and unauthorised construction in Ward No. 28, Batamaloo, Srinagar, near Tiny Hearts School, Tengpora. The chargesheet in FIR No. 06/2023 of Police Station ACB Srinagar has been presented before the Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, for judicial determination. The accused have been booked for alleged offences under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat 2006, Section 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, Section 4-A of the R&D Act, and Section 9-A read with Section 20 of the Evacuees (Administration of Property) Act, 1949. According to the ACB, the case was registered following allegations that officers and officials associated with Ward No. 28 of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation allegedly abused their official positions and entered into a criminal conspiracy with a private beneficiary, Reyaz Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Rahim Dar, resident of Tengpora, Batamaloo, Srinagar. The investigation alleged that the accused public servants facilitated and permitted the raising of illegal and unauthorised construction in the area near Tiny Hearts School, Tengpora, in violation of the applicable rules and regulations. The ACB said that the investigation conducted by Police Station ACB Srinagar, based on oral and documentary evidence, substantiated the allegations levelled against the accused officers and private beneficiaries. The investigation, according to the anti-corruption agency, established the alleged criminal conspiracy between the government functionaries and the private beneficiary, along with the abuse of official position and extending of undue benefit. After obtaining the requisite sanction for prosecution of the public servants from the Government, the ACB produced the chargesheet against all 10 accused persons, including the three private individuals, before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, for judicial determination. The matter will now be considered by the competent court in accordance with law.
SC Directs Jammu Kashmir To Compensate Family For Land Taken For Police Station In 1953
SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to initiate land acquisition proceedings and pay compensation and rental dues for nearly eight decades of use of land that was taken over in 1953 for a police station in Kangan, Ganderbal, without any formal acquisition. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant []
'Don't Beg': Pakistan's Strict Warning To Hajj Pilgrims In Saudi Arabia
The Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia, in a message aimed at incoming Umrah pilgrims and workers, urged Pakistani nationals to comply fully with Saudi laws and the conditions attached to their visas.
ACB Charges 7 SMC Officers, 3 Others Over Illegal Construction in Batamaloo
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a chargesheet against 10 persons, including seven officers of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), in connection with alleged illegal and unauthorised construction in Ward No. 28 of Batamaloo near Tiny Hearts School, Tengpora. The chargesheet in FIR No. 06/2023 registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar []
Indonesia's Rp5M e-motorcycle incentive awaits finance regulation
Indonesia pushes 3 priority agendas to strengthen digital sovereignty
Indonesia sends 50 tons of aid to quake-hit NTT by sea
Bhopal teen lured with 'Rs 2 crore for organ donation' promise, killed
Bhopal teen lured with Rs crore for organ donation promise killed
Jack and Laura Dangermond have made a monumental donation of $165 million to The Nature Conservancy, ensuring the permanent protection of the stunning 24,000-acre Cojo/Jalama Ranch. This property boasts eight miles of pristine coastline and a rich variety of ecosystems. Renowned for founding Esri, a leader in geographic information systems, their generosity sets a positive example amidst ongoing controversies involving other tech moguls and their coastal estates.
CM Omar Felicitates J&K MMA Fighter Owais Yaqoob, Awards Rs 1 Lakh
SRINAGAR , August 17 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday felicitated international mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Owais Yaqoob and presented him with a cash award of Rs 1 lakh in recognition of his achievements on the international stage. Yaqoob, a native of Murran village in Pulwama, recently secured a notable victory over Delyan Georgiev at BRAVE Combat Federation 107. Georgiev is a training and sparring partner of UFC champion Ilia Topuria. The victory has further raised Yaqoobs profile in international MMA as he continues to pursue his goal of earning a place in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born in 1998, Yaqoob began training in Taekwondo and kickboxing around 2012 and went on to win more than a dozen national medals across different martial arts disciplines. He later shifted his focus to MMA and began competing internationally. His professional career started with a setback when he suffered a third-round submission defeat in his debut bout at Matrix Fight Night 11 in New Delhi in 2023. He subsequently travelled to Dagestan, Russia, where he underwent specialised training to strengthen his wrestling and ground game. The training proved fruitful, with Yaqoob returning to competition to record victories in India, Kazakhstan and China. He also became the first fighter from Jammu and Kashmir to compete and win under the BRAVE Combat Federation banner. Beyond his professional career, Yaqoob has contributed to the development of martial arts at the grassroots level. He founded the Lions Den Martial Arts Academy in Pulwama in 2015, where more than 200 young athletes have reportedly received training. The Rs 1 lakh cash award from the Chief Minister recognises Yaqoobs recent international accomplishments and his contribution to promoting martial arts among youth in Jammu and Kashmir. Yaqoob remains focused on his long-term ambition of making it to the UFC and representing India on the worlds biggest MMA stage.
SIA Kashmir arrests absconding narco-terror operative in Jammu
Srinagar, Aug 17: State Investigating Agency (SIA) Kashmir has achieved a significant breakthrough in its sustained efforts to dismantle the narco-terror ecosystem operating in Jammu & Kashmir with the arrest of an absconding operative who had been evading arrest for nearly four years. A statement issued by the agency said that in a major success, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir has arrested Manoj Kumar Bhat @ Pintu, S/o P.K. Bhat, R/o Rehari Colony, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu, in a special operation conducted in Jammu. The accused is wanted in connection with FIR No. 13/2022 of SIA Kashmir, registered on 03.06.2022, concerning the smuggling of narcotics from across the LOC and the alleged channelisation of proceeds from their sale towards financing terrorist activities. The arrest is an important development in the investigation of a wider narcoterror conspiracy allegedly backed by Pakistan/PoK-based operatives of the terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). The investigation has brought to light a sinister nexus in which narcotics are allegedly trafficked into J&K, distributed through an established network, and the proceeds generated from their sale are subsequently pumped into activities intended to sustain and further the terrorist ecosystem. Manoj Kumar Bhat @ Pintu was evading arrest for almost 04 years since the registration of the case. His apprehension is the result of sustained and strenuous efforts by SIA Kashmir, involving continuous technical surveillance, human intelligence and coordinated investigative measures. The statement said the arrested accused is alleged to have played a role in facilitating the sale and distribution network of narcotics in the Jammu division, thereby contributing to the financial pipeline of the larger narco-terror network. The investigation has also established linkages with Pakistan/PoK-based terrorist handlers, including Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo @ Kandoo, S/o Ab. Khaliq Kandoo, R/o Kralteng, Sopore, and Manzoor Ahmad Khan, S/o Late Ab. Majeed Khan, R/o Braman Panzala, Baramulla. These individuals have arranged and facilitated the trafficking of narcotics from PoK, which were subsequently collected, distributed and sold through the network operating within J&K. The investigation assumes particular significance in view of the established pattern of narco-terror financing, wherein proceeds generated through narcotics trafficking are allegedly diverted towards sustaining terrorist activities. The case demonstrates the manner in which the terror ecosystem seeks to exploit the narcotics trade as an alternative and covert source of funding. By targeting the entire chainfrom cross-LoC narcotics trafficking and local distribution to the financial proceeds generated therefromSIA Kashmir is pursuing the broader objective of financially strangulating and dismantling the support structures that sustain terrorism. The case was initially registered following the recovery of 01 Kg of heroin from Zeeshan Ahmad Sofi and Waseem Ahmad Khan at Nowpora, Sopore. Subsequent investigation resulted in the recovery of 07 Kg of poppy straw and 04 Kg of poppy seeds. Earlier, 15 grams of heroin had also been recovered from the residential premises of Manoj Kumar Bhat @ Pintu by SIA. One motorcycle and electronic gadgets have also been seized and are presently under forensic/technical examination. During the course of investigation, SIA Kashmir has filed multiple chargesheets before the competent Court against the following accused for judicial determination: (1) Zeeshan Ahmad Sofi, S/o Ghulam Mohammad Sofi, R/o Muqdam Mohalla, Radbugh Drugmulla, Kupwara; (2) Waseem Ahmad Khan, S/o Mohammad Saleem Khan, R/o Rangai, Uri, Baramulla; (3) Bashir Ahmad Koli, S/o Late Matu Koli, R/o Churanda, Uri, Baramulla; (4) Mohammad Ashraf Lone, S/o Mohammad Subhan Lone, R/o Saidpora Rohama, Baramulla; (5) Mohammad Saleem Khan, S/o Mohammad Shareef, R/o Kalgai Ramgai, Uri, Baramulla; and (6) Zafraan Khan, S/o Shafi Ullah Khan, R/o Dawran, Uri, Baramulla. The investigation has further revealed the involvement of a broader network associated with terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen and its Pakistan/ PoK-based handlers. The arrest of Manoj Kumar Bhat @ Pintu is particularly significant as it demonstrates SIA Kashmirs continued pursuit of absconders, facilitators, financiers and handlers, irrespective of the passage of time, statement said. Notably, SIA Kashmir has also secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice against terrorist handler and narco-terror kingpin Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo in a separate terror-related case. The action reflects the Agencys sustained efforts to pursue Pakistan-based handlers and other fugitives involved in directing and financing terrorist activities in J&K. The latest arrest is expected to assist the investigating agency in unraveling further layers of the conspiracy, identifying additional linkages, tracing the financial trail and establishing the complete chain connecting narcotics trafficking with terror financing. SIA Kashmir reiterates its resolve to continue its relentless campaign against the terror ecosystem, its facilitators, financiers and sources of sustenance. The investigation in the present case remains ongoing and will continue until all persons found involved in the conspiracy are brought before the law and the complete network responsible for facilitating the narco-terror financing pipeline is dismantled, statement added.
Indonesia confirms 68 dead after magnitude 7.7 NTT earthquake
What Anita Dongre said after controversy over her 'Love All' campaign
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Don 3 row: Ranveer Singhs father Jagjit Singh to meet IMPPA this week
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Indonesia expands fishing village program to boost coastal welfare
Education Minister Reviews NTA Reforms, Directs Overhaul of Exam Security
SRINAGAR: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday reviewed the steps being taken by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to reform its examination system and directed strict compliance with established protocols and an overhaul of its confidential operations architecture. Pradhan held a meeting with the Secretary, Department of Higher Education, NTA Director General and other []
McDonald's Shravan Special Menu Triggers Hilarious Reactions Online:
