64-hour weekend restrictions on non-essential movement in J&K

21/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 20: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday announced 64-hour-long restrictions on weekends on non-essential movement to arrest the worrying spike in coronavirus cases, officials said. Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded 5,992 fresh coronavirus cases, its biggest single-day spike in infections so far, pushing the tally to 3,78,661. Seven people also died in the past 24 hours. Announcing the decision of the State Executive Committee (SEC), which met under the chairma...

Chinese bridge at Pangong Tso built around 25 km inside Chinese controlled territory

21/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 20: The bridge, pictures of which were shared by a news channel and then tweeted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to question the silence of the central government over the bridge construction, is built by the Chinese Army on the Pangong Tso Lake around 25 km inside the territory controlled by Chinese Army. The disputed area was captured by the People's Liberation Army even before the 1962 war, sources said. The bridge is around 25 kilometres inside the Chinese-occupied terri...

Spiritual organizations play big role in modernization of education, health sectors: Modi

21/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the next 25 years are important for getting back what our society lost in hundreds of years of slavery. While delivering a keynote address at the national launch ceremony of 'Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore', the Prime Minister said, "This time of Amrit Kaal is not for dreaming while sleeping, but for fulfilling resolutions by waking up. Coming 25 years are the culmination of hard work, sacrifice and austeri...

Fresh snowfall in Gulmarg, Pahalgam

21/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 20: The minimum temperature dropped slightly in most parts of Kashmir where the tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam received fresh snowfall, officials said on Thursday. The minimum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, settled at a low of 2.2 degrees Celsius half-a-degree down from the previous night, they said. Gulmarg, the famous skiing resort in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 5. degrees Celsius. Pahalgam in so...

LeT militant arrested in Budgam

21/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 20: Security forces on Thursday arrested a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant in Budgam district and seized arms and ammunition from his possession, police said. A police official said security forces launched a search operation in the Chadoora area of Budgam in the morning after learning about the presence of an ultra there. He said during the operation, an active terrorist affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT was apprehended. The official identified him as Jehangir Ah...

India, Mauritius exchange agreement on $190 mn LOC for Metro Project

21/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 20: India and Mauritius on Thursday exchanged two agreements, including on extending a US$190 million Line of Credit from India for the Metro Express Project and on the implementation of Small Development Projects. The two agreements were exchanged during the virtual joint ceremony today between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth, to jointly inaugurate the Social Housing Units project and lay the foundation stone of the Civil Service College. The two ...

CAG raps Home Deptt for failing to utilise PMDP funds for purchase of high-end security system

21/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 20: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has pulled up the Jammu and Kashmir home department for failing to utilise over Rs 500 crore funds sanctioned under the Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP) to procure high-end security system to maintain law and order in the union territory. The CAG, in its report, has taken a serious note of the home department's single-vendor purchases without ascertaining the reasonability of rates and avoidable expenditures in pu...

Omar targets Centre over its plan to appropriate powers of transferring IAS, IPS officers

21/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 20: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Centre's plan to appropriate powers of transferring IAS and IPS officers will be "another nail" in the coffin of the country's federal structure. He was reacting to media reports that the Union government is planning to acquire for itself overriding powers to transfer IAS and IPS officers through central deputation, doing away with the requirement of taking the approval of the state governments. "This would be ano...

India successfully test-fires new BrahMos missile with latest tech

21/01/2022
BALASORE, Jan 20: The cruise supersonic BrahMos missile with increased indigenous content and improved performance was successfully test-fired off the Odisha coast here on Thursday, the DRDO said. The missile was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) launch pad-III at Chandipur around 10.30 am by BrahMos Aerospace in close coordination with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it said. "The flight test is a major milestone in the way forward for BrahMos programm...

Centre to release Rs 47,541 crore as advance installment of tax devolution to states

21/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 20: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday authorised the release of Rs 47,541 crore as an advance installment of tax devolution to states. This is in addition to the regular devolution for the month of January 2022 and hence a total of Rs 95,082 crore would be transferred to states during this month. "This is in line with the commitment of Government of India to strengthen the hands of states to accelerate their capital and developmental expenditure to ameliorate the ...

Postings of IAS & IPS officers in J&K, Ladakh to be considered as ‘hard areas’

21/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 20: IAS and IPS officers, belonging to AGMUT cadre, and serving in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will henceforth be considered as "hard areas" postings. According to an official communication, a decision has been taken by the central government in this effect and the guidelines for the transfer and posting of IAS, IPS officers of the Joint Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre-2016 has been modified in this effect. The Jammu and Kashmir cadre had been mer...

Last date of registration for 'Pariksha pe Charcha 2022' extended till January 27

21/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 20: The last date for the registration to participate in the fifth edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' has been extended till January 27. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceptualized a unique interactive programme - 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' wherein students, parents, teachers across the nation and also from overseas interact with him to discuss and overcome the stress of examinations. Like 2021, the format of the programme will be online. School students of classes 9 to 12, teachers a...

J&K REPORTS RECORD 5,818 NEW COVID CASES, 4 DEATHS

20/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 19: In the highest single-day spike so far, Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday recorded 5,818 fresh cases of COVID-19, taking the total infections to 3,72,669, while four deaths were reported in 24 hours, officials said. Of the fresh cases, 4,066 were from the Kashmir division and 1,752 from Jammu, the officials said. They said Srinagar district, with 1,745 cases, recorded the highest number, followed by 1,131 cases in Jammu district. There are 26,236 active cases in the union ter...

Modi lauds youngsters for enthusiasm in getting vaccinated

20/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded youngsters in the 15-18 age group for showing enthusiasm in getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and called for continuing the momentum. While reacting to Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya's tweet the Prime Minister said "Young and youthful India showing the way! This is encouraging news. Let us keep the momentum. It is important to vaccinate and observe all COVID-19 related protocols. Together, we will fight this pand...

7-year-old buried alive under snow in Kishtwar

20/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 19: A 7-year-old boy was buried alive under snow in Kishtwar district, officials said on Wednesday. According to Bashir Ahmed, his child Mutarif Bashir had gone missing in Tilar village of Madwa area Monday evening. Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma said the child was playing outside his house when snow accumulated on the roof rolled down and buried him. The body was recovered from near the house, the officer added. However, the famous skiing resort of Gulmarg and some o...

Dr Jitendra reaches out to employees ‘working from home’

20/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today reached out to employees “Working From home” and also officers and staff of Ministry of Personnel DoPT DARPG, Public Grievances and Pensions who are in quarantine or infected by COVID-19. He inquired about the well -being of each one of them and also asked th...

Cabinet approves Rs 1,500 cr additional equity infusion in IREDA

20/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: The government on Wednesday approved equity infusion of Rs 1,500 crore in the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), which would raise its additional lending capacity by Rs 12,000 crore. "The enhanced lending capacity will enable IREDA to finance addition renewable energy capacity of up 4000MW. Present loan book size of IREDA is around Rs 27,000 crore," an official told PTI. "The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to...

Youth arrested for terror links in Poonch

20/01/2022
POONCH, Jan 19: A youth who allegedly had links with terrorists was arrested in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Tuesday. The accused was identified as Anjum Mehmood. He was arrested on specific information during a joint operation by police and security forces from his Baila village of Mandi tehsil Monday night, said a police spokesperson.

Security forces on high alert along Pathankot-Jammu highway

20/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 19: Security forces are on high alert along the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway to keep a vigil on any suspected movement to foil the designs of terrorists ahead of Republic Day celebrations, officials said. Border Security Force (BSF) troops have been deployed at Himachal Pradesh-Punjab checkpoint as a beefed-up security measure on the highway, they said. The security setup along the highway is on high alertness and checkings have been intensified as a measure to foil any design ...

India, Denmark to work together on green fuels, including green hydrogen

20/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Taking forward their unique Green Strategic Partnership, India and Denmark have agreed to initiate joint research and development on green fuels, including green hydrogen. During the Joint Science and Technology Committee virtual meeting on January 14, 2022, the two sides discussed national strategic priorities and developments in Science, Technology, and Innovation of both countries with special focus on green solutions of the future - strategy for investments in green rese...

Modi to host first India-Central Asia Summit on January 27

20/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the first India-Central Asia Summit in a virtual format on January 27, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Wednesday. The summit will be held with the participation of the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the MEA said in a statement. This will be the first engagement of its kind between India and the Central Asian countries at the level of leaders, it said. The first India-C...

Terrorists fire upon CRPF bunker in Anantnag

20/01/2022
ANANTNAG, Jan 19: Terrorists fired upon a bunker of 40 battalion CRPF near KP road in Kashmir's Anantnag on Wednesday. However, no injuries were reported in the incident. Further details of the incident are awaited.

DGCA extends suspension of scheduled international passenger flights till Feb 28

20/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: The suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country has been extended till February 28, aviation regulator DGCA said on Wednesday. Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020. However, special passenger flights have been operating between India and approximately 40 countries since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements formed with them. In a circular on Wednesday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviat...

Rahul attacks PM over Pangong Tso lake bridge

20/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that China was building a strategic bridge on the Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh, and took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he "may go to inaugurate even this bridge". He also questioned the Prime Minister's "silence" on the issue and said it is emboldening the spirits of the Chinese army. "China is building a strategic bridge in our country. The PLA's spirits are being emboldened due to the silence of the PM. Now,...

Ladakh admin sets up facility for online tickets for Kargil air service

20/01/2022
LEH, Jan 19: In a first, the Ladakh admin-istration has set up online booking of tickets for air services run by the Indian Air Force in the Union territory, officials said on Wednesday. The administration flagged off the operation of subsidised helicopter service from Ladakh. The service will cater to passengers from far-flung areas of Ladakh on approved routes from Leh-Lingshed, Dibling, Drass, Padum, Kargil, Nubra, Nerak, Jammu, Srinagar, they said. "This year, for the first time, tickets ...

J&K sees 3 deaths, 4,651 fresh COVID-19 cases

19/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 18: In the highest single-day spike so far this month, Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday recorded 4,651 fresh cases of COVID-19, taking the total number of infections to 3,66,851 while three deaths were reported in 24 hours, officials said. Of the fresh cases, 1,546 were from Jammu division and 3,105 from Kashmir, the officials said. They said Srinagar district recorded the highest number of 957 cases followed by 919 cases in Jammu district. There are 21,677 active cases in the uni...

SC asks Centre to frame scheme on community kitchen, says hunger has to be taken care of

19/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 18: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to prepare a model to implement the Community Kitchen scheme across the country and for providing additional food grains to states to run it, saying that presently the issue of "hunger has to be taken care of". A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana, during the hearing, took a strong note of the submissions of Attorney General K K Venugopal that no state has reported starvation death by saying, "Are you making a statement tha...

30 civilians stuck in avalanches near Tangdhar pass rescued

19/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 18: Amidst fresh snowfall and two avalanches, the Indian Army and General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) rescued 30 civilians stuck on Chowkibal-Tangdhar road (NH-701) on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. As per the Army's Public Relations Officer (PRO), Srinagar, two rescue teams comprising of avalanche rescue teams from the Indian Army and a team of GREF reached the NC pass as soon as they received the information of civilians being stuck closer to Khooni Nala and...

Dr Jitendra calls for collaboration between India, UK on food security, other issues

19/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday called for collaboration between India and the UK on issues of mutual concern such as achieving the goals of food security and zero hunger. Addressing a joint India-UK meet on 'Sustaining Food Production under Environmental Stress' through virtual mode, Singh said the two countries must invite global collaborations in various dimensions of science like agriculture, medicine, food, pharma, engineering or defense. The workshop is being...

Unvaccinated but certified: Administration launches drive to fix error

19/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 18: Jammu and Kashmir's health department has launched a special drive to identify people who have inadvertently received vaccination certificates without being fully inoculated against COVID-19, a government spokesman said on Tuesday. Authorities have been gathering inputs from such individuals and ensuring that they are fully vaccinated at the earliest, the spokesman said. He said the department has strictly instructed its staff to avoid such mistakes. During COVID-19 vaccinatio...

Youth with militant links arrested in Poonch

19/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 18: A youth who allegedly had links with militants was arrested in Poonch district, police said on Tuesday. Anjum Mehmood was arrested on specific information during a joint operation by police and security forces from his Baila village of Mandi tehsil Monday night, a police spokesman said. He termed as significant the arrest of the youth amid growing terrorist activities in the Pir Panjal area. As per sources, he was connected with militants through social media and was quite ins...

India tackling another COVID-19 wave while maintaining economic growth: Modi

19/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emphasized India's fight against another wave of COVID-19 caused due to the Omicron variant of coronavirus while maintaining the economic growth of the country. Addressing a virtual meeting at the World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda, he said that India is tackling another wave of the pandemic with caution and confidence and moving ahead in the economic sphere with many hopeful results. Underlining India's confident approach, the Prime M...

IED blast in Kulgam; no casualties reported

19/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 18: An improvised explosive device (IED) blast took place in Kulgam district on Tuesday, officials said. No injuries or casualties were reported in the incident, they added. The IED blast took place on a road near a shrine in the Qoimoh area of the district, the officials said.

Youths to play decisive role in fight against BJP’s onslaught on J&K’s identity: Mehbooba

19/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 18: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Ms Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said the youths have a decisive role to take Jammu and Kashmir out of morass of disappointment and hopelessness that had been created by the BJP-led government at the Centre through its wrong policies. She also expressed gratitude to the party workers from across Jammu for standing with the people of Kashmir at the time when people have been pushed to walls and their rights curtailed in the name of security....

For first time in 75 yrs, Republic Day parade to start 30 minutes late than scheduled time

19/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 18: For the first time in 75 years, the Republic Day parade will not start at the scheduled time of 10 am but with a 30-minute delay forced by COVID-19 restrictions and homage to Jammu and Kashmir security personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. A senior police officer said that every year Republic Day parade used to start at 10 am, but this year it will start at 10.30 am. He added the delay is caused due to COVID-19-related restrictions and before the parade begins,...

Air India curtails US operations in view of deployment of 5G communications

19/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Air India has curtailed its operations to USA from India in view of deployment of 5G communications by the United States. "#FlyAI: Due to deployment of 5G communications in USA, our operations to USA from India stand curtailed/revised with change in aircraft type from January 19, 2022. Update in this regard will be informed shortly," said a tweet from Air India. United Airlines said the US government's current 5G rollout plan will have a devastating impact on aviation, negat...

Sanjeev appointed as new Registrar General J&K and Ladakh High Court

19/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 18: In an order issued today in which Sanjeev Gupta has been appointed as new Registrar General Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. According to the order NO 39/2022 dated 18th of January , 2022 that Pursuant to the High Court order No. 19 of 2022/RG dated 14.01.2022 and the approval accorded by the Chief Justice, Sanjeev Gupta, District Judge (Super Time Scale), is appointed as the Registrar General of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Jeema Bashir, District Judge...

2 Indians killed in Abu Dhabi explosions

19/01/2022
ABU DHABI, Jan 18: Two Indian nationals are among the three people killed and six injured in the explosions in Abu Dhabi on Monday, India's envoy to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir confirmed to ANI. The two Indians and one Pakistani national were killed and at least six persons were injured as three petroleum tanker trucks blew up after catching fire near a major oil storage facility in the Mussafah area of the capital of UAE, according to the official state news agency WAM. "Two Indian nationals are d...

India’s growth in next 25 years will be clean, green, sustainable and reliable: Modi

18/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 17: Citing India's commitment to deep economic reforms and ease of doing business, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that this is the best time to invest in the country as policy-making is focussed on the needs for the next 25 years for a 'clean and green' as well as 'sustainable and reliable' growth period. In his special address to the World Economic Forum's online Davos Agenda 2022 summit, Modi underlined a host of reform measures undertaken by his government to...

Longest surviving militant urged by his nephew to surrender

18/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 17: Thanking the Army for imparting him a 90-day carpentry training, a relative of the longest surviving Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Mohammad Amin in Kishtwar district of J&K appealed him to surrender and return to the national mainstream. Amin alias Jehangir Saroori , a resident of Kishtwar, has joined the militant ranks in the early 1990s and has been evading his arrest for over the past three decades. I am thankful to the Army which came to the rescue of our family ...

Terrorists hurl grenade towards Police Control Room in Srinagar, no damage caused

18/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 17: Terrorists Monday hurled a grenade towards the Police Control Room here but there was no damage done in the attack, police said. "At about 1945hrs, unknown terrorists hurled a grenade towards PCR Kashmir. However, in this terror incident no one was injured," a police spokesman said in a statement. He said the area outside PCR Complex, which is located near the Civil Secretariat, has been cordoned off and a search operation was underway. "Police has registered a case in this...

Upper reaches of Kashmir gets light snowfall

18/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 17: Upper reaches of Kashmir valley including the ski resort of Gulmarg received light snowfall while the plains were lashed by mild rains, thereby aggravating the cold conditions and disrupting normal life on Monday. Officials said light snowfall was experienced in north Kashmir areas including in the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, Sopore, Baramulla, Lolab and Kupwara. Upper reaches of Pir panjal range including Peer ki Gali, Baflaiz on Mughal road and Kongwatan, Kokernag in...

J&K records 2,827 fresh COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths

18/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 17: Jammu and Kashmir on Monday recorded 2,827 fresh COVID-19 cases, raising the tally to 3,62,200, while five more deaths pushed the toll to 4,572, officials said. The union territory had on Sunday recorded 3,499 new Covid cases. Of the cases on Monday, 1,093 were reported from the Jammu division and 1,734 from the Kashmir division, the officials said. They said Jammu district recorded the highest of 711 cases, followed by 618 cases in Srinagar district. There are 17,928 acti...

NIA files supplementary chargesheet in LeM terror conspiracy case

18/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 16: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against four alleged Lashkar-e-Mustafa operatives in a case related to a conspiracy to carry terror activities here, an official said on Sunday. The chargesheet against Mohd Arman Ali alias 'Arman Mansuri' and Mohd Ehsanullah alias 'Guddu Ansari', both residents of Bihar, and Imran Ahmad Hajam and Irfan Ahmad Dar of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, was filed in the NIA special court, Jammu, on...

No person can be forced to get vaccinated against their wishes: Centre to SC

18/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 17: COVID-19 inoculation guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry do not envisage forcible vaccination without obtaining the consent of an individual, the Centre has told the Supreme Court. The Health Ministry in an affidavit filed before the top court submitted that India's vaccination programme is the largest in the world and as on January 11, 2022, a total of 1,52,95,43,602 doses have been administered. It said that 90.84 per cent of the eligible adult population has rec...

New Disinfection Technology to combat Pandemic in railways, buses: Dr Jitendra

18/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 17 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said here today that CSIR’s newly developed Disinfection technology is being installed to combat pandemic in railway coaches, AC buses, closed spaces etc. The Minister informed that the UV-C technology developed by the Ministry of Science & Technology throug...

Pak-sponsored agencies engaged in spreading disinformation: DGP

18/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 17: Pakistan-sponsored agencies are circulating concocted stories on social media to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir, the police chief said on Monday. Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said concrete steps are being taken to effectively deal with such type of propaganda. He also proposed a well coordinated surveillance system and beefing up of security to counter the nefarious plans of the enemies of peace to ensure smooth Republic Day celebrations across the Union Terr...

3 dead, another injured as truck plunges into gorge in Rajouri

18/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 17: Three people were killed and another critically injured Monday when a truck skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Rajouri district, officials said. The accident took place at Bhella village of Khawas when the driver of the truck lost control of it while negotiating a blind curve around 8.30 pm, the officials said. They said the rescuers immediately swung into action and retrieved three bodies from the scene. Another person was shifted to hospital in a critical ...

EC reschedules Punjab Assembly polls to Feb 20

18/01/2022
CHANDIGARH, Jan 17: Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S Karua Raju said here on Monday that the Election Commission (EC) has decided to re-schedule the Punjab Assembly elections. As per the new schedule issued by the EC, Raju said the notification will be issued on January 25 and the last date of filing nominations is February 1, while scrutiny will be done on February 2. The date of withdrawal of candidature has been fixed on February 4. Polling will take place on February 20, whereas counting...

2 militant associates arrested

18/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 17: Two militant associates of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were arrested by the J&K police and explosive material were recovered from their possession in Kashmir, police said on Monday. The arrests were made in south Kashmir's Awantipora sub district. Police said the two militant associates were identified as Zahid Ahmad Lone of Naristan Tral and Shakeel Ahmad Malik alias Abu Dujana of Noor Pora Awantipora who were arrested based on a specific input. "Based on specific input, Aw...

Security up in Poonch ahead of R-Day

18/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 17: A joint team of Army and Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday launched Cordon and Search Operation ahead of Republic Day in parts of Poonch district along the Line of Control. "Ahead of Republic Day, the vigil along the Line of Control has been heightened and as a part of this, CASO was launched this morning in Poonch and Mendhar belts," said a senior police officer. The searches were carried out particularly on major infiltration routes and close to th...

Getting rid of BJP will be bigger than freedom from British rule: Mehbooba

18/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 17: Accusing the BJP of “sowing seeds of hatred” among different communities, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said getting rid of the saffron party will be bigger than freedom from British rule. The former chief minister said the existence of Jammu and Kashmir is in danger under the BJP and urged the youth to stand up against the challenges faced by the country by spreading “love and friendship” without getting intimidated by the ruling party who are allegedly using governmen...

Admn takes back Kashmir Press Club premises

18/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 17: The Kashmir Press Club has ceased to exist , the Jammu and Kashmir administration said on Monday as it took back the premises allotted to the largest journalists' body in the Valley following dissensions between two factions, one of which had tacit support from the government. The administration -- which has been facing flak on the issue with the Editors Guild of India terming the events a "coup" and a continuing trend to smother press freedom -- cited "unpleasant development...

Jammu observes weekend curfew

17/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 16: Roads in Jammu wore a deserted look and market places fell silent on Sunday morning with the weekend curfew clamped in the Union Territory to contain the spread of COVID-19. The administration had ordered complete restrictions on non-essential movement during weekends and also extending the existing COVID-19 restrictions till further orders. A shopkeeper selling vegetables said, "We were already suffering because of the previous lockdowns and now this. Doda administration's...

Positive initiatives must for improving living standards of all sections: LG

17/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 16: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha highlighted the success stories, and voiced invaluable suggestions and insights received from citizens in the monthly "Awaam ki Awaaz" radio programme aired today on all local & primary channels of All India Radio (AIR) in the UT and broadcast on DD Kashir. During the first episode of the programme in 2022, the Lt Governor also enlisted various breakthrough steps and initiatives that the administration has been taking for furthering the econo...

Vaccination added great strength to fight against Covid: Modi

17/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 16: Lauding India's COVID-19 vaccination drive as it completes a year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it has added great strength to the fight against the pandemic and has resulted in saving lives and protecting livelihoods. When the pandemic first struck, not much was known about the virus. However, our scientists and innovators immersed themselves in developing vaccines, he noted. India feels proud that our nation has been able to contribute to fighting the pande...

Police personnel, civilian hurt in grenade attack in Srinagar

17/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 16: A police personnel and a civilian were injured in a grenade attack by terrorists on a security forces deployment in the city here on Sunday, officials said. At about 7:20 pm, the terrorists hurled a grenade on a deployment of police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Saraf Kadal area of the city, a police official said. He said the grenade explosion caused injuries to police constable Mehraj Ahmad and a civilian, Sartaj Ahmad, a resident of Saraf Kadal. The ...

4 labourers hurt as landslide hits under-construction railway tunnel

17/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 16: At least four labourers suffered minor injuries in a landslide that struck an under-construction railway tunnel in Reasi district, officials said on Sunday. The landslide, triggered by heavy rains, hit the front side of the tunnel at Sakalkote in Arnas tehsil late Saturday, the officials said. They said four labourers working on an earthmover near the tunnel suffered minor injuries and were shifted to hospital where they were discharged after necessary treatment. An earthmover...

Pak mercenaries tricking J&K youth into terrorism, using them as ‘terror mules’

17/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 16: Pakistani mercenaries operating in Jammu and Kashmir are tricking the youth into terrorism and using them as "terror mules" who can even be eliminated if they plan to shun the path of violence, senior security officials said on Sunday. Referring to an encounter in Budgam earlier this month and the call details of 24-year-old Wasim Qadir Mir, a resident of Shahzadpora, the officials said he was the latest victim of the despotic behaviour of the Pakistani terrorists who elimina...

‘Purple Revolution’ is J&K’s gift to ‘StartUp India’: Dr Jitendra

17/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 16: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that “Purple Revolution” is Jammu & Kashmir’s gift to “StartUp India”, an initiative that was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016 and today we are observing the first National StartUp Day. Briefing about the Aroma Mission launched by th...

Two brothers killed after earthmover plunges into gorge in Doda

17/01/2022
BHADERWAH, Jan 16: Two brothers were killed and a person injured when an earthmover skidded off a road and plunged into a 100-feet-deep gorge in Doda district, officials said on Sunday. The incident occurred at Shahlala around 11.30 pm Saturday when the brothers along with an acquaintance were on their way to Bhatyas from Bharti, they said. Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, Abdul Qayoom said a preliminary probe suggests that the earthmover was being driven at high speed by Mushtaq Ahmad ...

Minimum temperature in some places in Kashmir valley settles above normal

17/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 16: There was some respite from the intense cold wave conditions in Kashmir as the minimum temperature improved by several degrees, officials said here on Sunday. The night temperature at most places in the valley on Saturday night was above normal for this part of the season, the officials said. The minimum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius over three degrees up from the previous night's minus 4.5...

Shah compliments Modi, citizens for successful completion of 1 yr of Covid vaccinationq

17/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday complimented Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful completion of one year of India's Covid vaccination drive and said the country has set an example for the world how the government and the people together can conquer impossible challenges. The countrywide vaccination drive against COVID-19 on Sunday completed one year, during which over 156.76 crore vaccine doses were administered. Shah also congratulated the scientists, he...

India’s Covid vaccination drive completes | 1 year, over 156.76 cr doses administered so far

17/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 16: The countrywide vaccination drive against COVID-19 on Sunday completed one year, during which over 156.76 crore vaccine doses were administered. According to health ministry officials, over 93 per cent of the adult population have received at least one dose while over 69.8 per cent have been fully vaccinated. A commemorative postage stamp on indigenously developed vaccine Covaxin was released to mark one year of the inoculation drive. Earlier in the day, Union Health Minis...

Modi to address World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda on Monday

17/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a 'State of the World' special address at the World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda on Monday via video conference, his office said. The virtual event will be held from January 17 to 21 and will also be addressed by several Heads of State including Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, European Commission President Ursua von der Leyen, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Israeli Prime Minister N...

Kashmir Press Club locked down; Editors Guild of India condemns 'coup', slams J&K administration

17/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 16: A day after it witnessed a virtual coup, the Kashmir Press Club was locked down on Sunday by its new management citing COVID-19 infection of a member, even though the Editors Guild of India and other journalists' organisations condemned the forceful takeover and said it was part of a continuing trend to smother press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir. A notice put up at the club gate stated that it has been shut after the detection of a COVID-19 positive case and an email was sent...

Police, CRPF carry out patrolling in Samba to prevent infiltration

17/01/2022
SAMBA, Jan 16: To upgrade security and prevent infiltration from the other side, Jammu and Kashmir Police along with CRPF personnel are carrying out patrolling in Samba since today morning. "To upgrade security and prevent infiltration from the other side, short-range patrolling including night patrolling is always underway," said Guru Ram Bhardwaj, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Operation. "In this search operation that started in the morning, the personnel searched the entire area so...

ECI allows mediapersons to cast vote via postal ballot facility

17/01/2022
CHANDIGARH, Jan 16: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday allowed the mediapersons authorised by the election body to exercise their franchise using the postal ballot facility, according to a release by Office of Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab. Earlier, the Commission had allowed 80-years-old and above voters, Persons with Disability (more than 40 per cent) and COVID-19 positive patients to cast their vote via postal ballots. This is in addition to the already existing Absentee Vot...

J&K sees 3251 Covid cases, 4 deaths

16/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 15: On a day when J&K re-imposed a weekend lockdown, the Union Territory reported 3251 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths. Of these new cases, 1129 were reported from Jammu region and 2122 from Kashmir Valley, official said on Saturday. Jammu division and Kashmir valley recorded two deaths each since Friday evening. Giving the district wise breakup of the new cases in Kashmir, the officials said Srinagar reported 624 cases, followed by Baramulla 471, Budgam 416, Pulwama 67, Ku...

Weekend restrictions back

16/01/2022
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jan 15: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday imposed "complete restriction on non-essential movement" during weekends in the Union Territory amid a surge in Covid cases that rose by 2,456 a day earlier. District authorities swung into action immediately, closing down markets and asking people to return to their homes. Announcing the decision of the State Executive Committee (SEC), which met under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary A K Mehta, officials said night c...

Won’t let any attempt to change status quo along India’s border: Army Chief

16/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 15: The Indian Army's message is clear that it will not let any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the country's borders succeed, Army Chief Gen M M Naravane said on Saturday. In his address at the Army Day Parade here, he said last year was extremely challenging for the Army and cited the developments on the northern borders with China. Army Day is observed on January 15 to mark Field Marshall K M Cariappa taking over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of ...

Minimum temp settles below freezing point in Kashmir

16/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: The intense cold wave conditions continued in Kashmir as the minimum temperature settled several degrees below freezing point, officials said here on Saturday. The night temperature was several degrees below the normal for this part of the season. The mercury in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, settled at minus 4.5 degrees Celsius down from the previous night's minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, they said. Gulmarg, the famous skiing resort in Baramulla distric...

This decade is being called as ‘techade’ of India: Modi

16/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for innovating for India and from India to tackle challenges facing the country as he counted steps taken by the government in freeing entrepreneurs and innovation from bureaucratic silos. "Our startups are changing the rules of the game. I believe that startups are going to be the backbone of New India," he said interacting with youngsters from the world of startups through video conference. "Let us innovate for India, innovat...

Independent India at 100th year will be world’s technological, economic powerhouse: Dr Jitendra

16/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 15: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said independent India will be the world's technological and economic powerhouse when it turns 100 years in 2047. Chairing the first ever meeting of sectoral experts to deliberate on Vision India @2047 from the governance perspective, organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), he said several initiatives, policies, schemes and programmes during the last seven years have given rise to a new...

46 startups honoured with National Startup Awards 2021

16/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 15: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday honoured 46 startups along with 1 incubator and 1 accelerator with the National Startup Awards 2021. This the second edition of National Startup Awards. In this edition of the awards, applications were invited across 15 sectors and 49 sub-sectors. The sectors included Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Drinking Water, Education & Skill Development, Energy, Enterprise Technology, Environment, Fintech, Food Processing, ...

Man held for 'hate campaign, anti-national activities’ in Pulwama

16/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: Police on Saturday said they have arrested a man on charges of hate campaign, bullying and anti-national activities from Pulwama district. A police spokesman said Mir Mushtaq Ahmad, resident of Bonora area of the south Kashmir district, was allegedly indulging in activities that are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of the Union of India and Jammu and Kashmir, through his social media account. He advocates, abets unlawful activities and commits offences which are like...

Pakistan national held along IB; repatriated within six hours

16/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 15: A Pakistani national was arrested shortly after he inadvertently crossed into the Indian side along the International Border (IB) in Samba sector on Saturday, a senior BSF official said. Deputy Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF), S P S Sandhu said the intruder was repatriated within six hours of his arrest at a flag meeting with Pakistani Rangers after completion of necessary formalities. "One Pakistani national crossed over inadvertently to India on the Balhad bo...

Security forces defuse IED in Bandipora

16/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: Security forces on Saturday detected and defused an improvised explosive device (IED) in Bandipora district, police said. The IED was recovered during a cordon and search operation in the orchards in Mader and Papchan area in the north Kashmir district, a police official said. He said the IED was later destroyed by a bomb disposal squad without causing any damage.

In 2 weeks, over 250 doctors, paramedics test positive for COVID-19 in Kashmir

16/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: At least 250 doctors and paramedics of various hospitals across Kashmir have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last fortnight, an official said on Saturday. He said with such a large number of members from the medical fraternity getting infected with the virus, the valley was finding the situation challenging. Over 250 doctors and paramedics of Government Medical College Srinagar and its associated hospitals tested positive for COVID-19 in last 15 days, professor and head ...

Factional feud at Kashmir Press Club, authorities put its registration in abeyance

16/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: The Kashmir Press Club (KPC) was witness to unfamiliar activities on Saturday when a few journalists accompanied by policemen reached there and claimed to be its "new management", a move that came hours after the Jammu and Kashmir administration had put on hold its registration. The policemen claimed to be Personal Security Officers of one of the journalists who released a statement to the media stating that "some journalist forums" had chosen them to be new office-bearers. ...

Turn to natural farming as overuse of chemical fertilisers causing ill-effects: Shah tells farmers

16/01/2022
AHMEDABAD, Jan 15: Pointing out that the overuse of chemical fertilisers is creating an adverse impact on the quality of land, water and human health, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday urged farmers to launch a "new green revolution" in India by adopting natural farming methods. He said the overuse of chemical fertilisers is turning the farmland infertile and therefore, adoption of natural farming methods is vital to restore the land quality, increase agricultural production and make f...

J&K reports highest single-day jump of 2,456 Covid cases; 5 deaths

15/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 14: Jammu and Kashmir on Friday recorded 2,456 fresh COVID-19 cases that took its tally to 3,52,623, while five fresh fatalities pushed the death toll to 4,557, officials said. Of the fresh cases, 934 were from the Jammu division and 1,522 from the Kashmir division of the union territory, they said. Jammu district recorded the highest number of fresh cases at 588, followed by 464 in Srinagar district. There are 10,003 active COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir. So far, 3,38,06...

India’s desire for peace is born out of strength, should not mistaken otherwise: Army Chief

15/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 14: The Indian Army stands firm to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the country's borders and India's desire for peace is born out of strength and should not be mistaken otherwise, Army Chief General MM Naravane said on Friday. The army chief also said that differences in perceptions and disputes are best resolved through established norms based on the principle of equal and mutual security. The armies of India and China are locked in a military s...

MAJOR RESHUFFLE IN J&K JUDICIARY

15/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 14: In a major reshuffle in J&K Judiciary in which 10 Sessions Judges, S Sub-Judges and 28 Munsiffs transferred. According to the order issued by Registrar Vigilance Shahzad Azeem that Sanjeev Gupta, Spl. Judge Anti Corruption (CBI) Cases, Jammu is transferred and his services are placed at the disposal of Hon'ble the Chief Justice for his appointment as Registrar General, High Court, of J&K and Ladakh vice Shri Jawad Ahmed, Ramesh Kumar Wattal, Chairman, Sales Tax Appellate Tri...

Police destroy grenade found in pressure cooker

15/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: The Bomb Disposal Squad(BDS) on Friday detonated a grenade kept inside a pressure cooker which was in turn kept in a bag in old Srinagar, officials said. They said a suspected bag was found by the forces at Khawjabazar area of Nowhatta and they immediately sealed the area and BDS was called. The traffic on the stretch was also suspended. There were some "wires visible" inside the bag. "The suspected object was opened and a grenade was found inside the pressure cooker," a...

Kashmir valley in grip of severe cold wave, Dal Lake freezes

15/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 14: The minimum temperature dropped at most places in Kashmir on Friday as the intense cold wave conditions continued in the valley, officials said here. The night temperature settled several degrees below normal for this part of the season. Gulmarg, the famous skiing resort in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, was the only place in the valley where the night temperature improved on Thursday night, the officials said. The resort recorded a low of minus 10.5 degrees Celsiu...

Modi govt scraps missile, chopper tenders to push ‘Make in India’, more deals worth over Rs 50,000 under review

15/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 14: In line with the Narendra Modi government's push for promoting 'Make in India', the Defence Ministry on Friday decided to withdraw tenders for deals related to buying short-range surface-to-air missiles and 14 helicopters. The meeting, however, allowed the forces to go ahead with a deal to buy air-to-ground missiles from France and overhaul of Russian helicopters, government sources told ANI. The Defence Ministry has started reviewing the import deals under the Buy Global...

Sudden weather change led to pilot's spatial disorientation: Court of Inquiry on IAF chopper crash

15/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 14: The IAF chopper crash on December 8 that killed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others was the result of "entry into clouds" due to an unexpected change in weather that led to spatial disorientation of the pilot, according to the preliminary findings submitted by the tri-services court of inquiry. A statement by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday said the court of inquiry into the Mi-17 V5 accident has ruled out mechanical failure, sabotage or negligenc...

Farooq asks administration to ramp up efforts to tackle Covid

15/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 14: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) president and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah on Friday asked the administration of J&K to ratchet up a multi-fold strategy to tackle the imminent third wave of Covid. In a statement, Abdullah said, “I hope the incumbent administration is ready to tackle the imminent third wave because they have learnt their lessons from the first and second Covid wave, which had battered Jammu and Kashmir. I hope the imminent third Wave is n...

PM directs Central Ministries, departments to formulate document for 'Vision India@2047'

15/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed all the Central Ministries and Departments to formulate documents for "Vision India@2047" to identify the long-term goals and corresponding outcomes for this decade with timelines and milestones. In order to suggest the structural and institutional reforms necessary to attain the envisaged "Vision India@2047" on governance, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) will convene a meeting with sectoral exp...

Budget Session to begin on Jan 31

15/01/2022
NEW DELHI, Jan 14: The upcoming Budget Session of Parliament will begin on January 31 and conclude on April 8 as per the recommendation of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, sources said on Friday. The President will address both Houses of Parliament at a joint session at 11 am on the first day. According to the recommendation, the Economic Survey will be presented on January 31 and the Union Budget for 2022-23 will be presented on February 1, sources said. There will be no sitti...

9 teachers terminated from services for unauthorized absence

15/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 14: Director School Education Kashmir has ordered termination of services of nine teachers for unauthorized absence. The teachers include Aijaz Ahmad Bhat (GPS Shuloora Kupwara), Saima Gani (teacher BHSS Zadibal Srinagar), Suhail Anees (Teacher BHS Nawagabra Kupwara), Mohammad Rafiq Khan, (RReT MS Fraw GAnderbal),Sheetal Bhat (Teacher PM’s package, posted in BHSS Kupwara), Nazia Mushtaq (BHS Laderwan Kupwara), Arumeall Koul, Ranjeet Kour (Teacher HS Kralweth Baramulla) and Sunil ...

PAGD postpones Jan 15 meeting

15/01/2022
JAMMU, Jan 14: The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has postponed its January 15 meeting here in view of a surge in Covid cases, its spokesman said on Friday. The meeting of the alliance of Jammu and Kashmir-based mainstream political parties, including the National Conference (NC) and the PDP, was to be held to discuss its "future plans", CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami said. "We have postponed the meeting of the PAGD to be held in Jammu tomorrow in wake of the spike in ...

Admin targeting Gujjar and Bakarwal tribals: Omar

15/01/2022
SRINAGAR, Jan 14: National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of targeting the Gujjar and Bakarwal tribals at the behest of its political masters. The former chief minister's remarks came after the houses belonging to the community were demolished by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) as part of its anti-encroachment drive recently. "The government has been selective in its demolition drive, targeting only Gujjar Bakarwal fam...