8 civilians injured as Pak troops shell villages along LoC

19/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 18: Eight civilians, including a two- year-old girl, were injured today when Pakistani troops shelled civilian hamlets and forward posts along the Line of Control in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. "Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscri-minate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0745 hours in Bhimbher Gali sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district," a defence spok-esman said. The firing was still...

4 injured as security forces fire on mob after braid chopping incident

19/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 18: Four persons were injured today when security forces fired on a mob in Pahalgam area of Jammu and Kashmir following an alleged braid chopping incident, police said. Residents of a village in Pahalgam area of Anantnag district staged a protest after they caught an alleged braid chopper, a police official said. He said a security forces vehicle passing through the area was stopped by the protesters, who tried to deflate its tyres. As the mob got violent, the security forc...

Alleged Murderous attack on Advocate; Court summons ‘case diaries’ on Oct 20

19/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 17: The Chief Judicial Magistrate Jammu Mr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma Chief Judicial Magistrate Jammu directed the SHO Police Station Channi Himmat/ I/O to produce the case diaries in the Bail application of accused Ankit Gupta and Mohit Gupta who are under arrest for allegedly committing murderous assault on one Advocate Vishal Mahajan. It may be mentioned that a murderous assault on Advocate Vishal Mahajan son of Advocate M P Gupta by committed by his own brothers in law namely A...

HC stays investigations in Rape, Cheating Case

18/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 18: High Court of Jammu and Kashmir at Jammu Bench comprising Justice Janak Raj Kotwal has Stayed the Investigation in F.I.R No. 20 /2017 of police station Arnas Reasi under section 420, 376, 506 R.P.C for Cheating , Rape and Criminal Intimidation. This direction was passed by the Bench of Justice Kotwal after hearing Mr. Aseem Sawhney Advocate for the petitioner Rattan Singh . The Court directed that upon hearing counsel for the petitioner and having regard to the contents of t...

PM asks bureaucrats to break silos to speed up work

18/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said silos are a "big bottleneck" in the functioning of the union government and asked bureaucrats to adopt innovative ways to break these to speed up the processes of governance, which will benefit the people. He has asked the bureaucrats to work with dedication towards creation of New India by 2022. He conveyed the message during interactions with around 380 Directors and Deputy Secretaries working in various departments and ministries i...

After BJP’s Vadra assault, Cong attacks PM

18/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 18: The Congress hit back at the BJP today over allegations of Robert Vadra's links with a fugitive arms dealer, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making 100 tours within India and abroad on private chartered planes as Gujarat chief minister and asking who paid for them. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also accused the BJP of "witch-hunt and vendetta" against party chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law. Singhvi, with Gujarat Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia by his side, ...

Govt working towards Ayurveda hospital in each district: Modi

18/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The government is working towards setting up an Ayurveda hospital in each district of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today and asserted that time had come for a "health revolution" under the aegis of the traditional medicine system. Addressing a gathering after dedicating the country's first All India Institute of Ayurveda to the nation here, the prime minister pitched for affordable and accessible healthcare for the poor on 'Ayurveda Day' today. The day is ...

Mob sets slain PDP leader’s house on fire, family rescued

18/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: A mob instigated by anti-national elements and over ground workers of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group today set on fire a house belonging to a slain PDP leader, who was gunned down by militants in the Shopian district of south Kashmir. Mohammed Ramzan Sheikh, a former sarpanch, was killed by militants last night at his house located at Humhuna of Shopian. Sheikh's family members had a scuffle with the assailants in which one of the militants identified as Showkat Ahmed ...

Protests in Srinagar, other areas over alleged braid chopping incidents

18/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Protests broke out in several parts of Kashmir including the Srinagar city against the unabated braid chopping attacks with at least half a dozen such alleged incidents reported in the past 24 hours, officials said. Angry residents blocked Rambagh-Natipora road in the city in the morning to protest against a braid chopping incident in the Beighpora area, the officials said. They said traffic on the road, which leads to Chrar-e- Sharief, remained suspended for a couple of...

Mehbooba seeks early completion of Katra-Banihal sections, more trains to boost JK tourism

18/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, who is in the national capital, called on the Railway Minister, Piyush Goel here today. She brought several issues of the State pertaining to Railways with the Union Minister and sought their early redressal. The Chief Minister strongly pitched for early completion of Katra-Banihal section of Jammu-Baramulla railway line to connect the State with rest of the country through an all-weather link. She also sought extension of rail link upto Kupwa...

China to speed up construction of power project in PoK

18/10/2017
BEIJING, Oct 17: China plans to complete ahead of schedule a $2 billion hydropower project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to ease energy crisis in Pakistan. Karot Hydropower Project is being built on Jhelum river on "Build-Own-Operate-Transfer" basis for 30 years. It will be owned by the Chinese company for 30 years, after which ownership will be turned over to the government of Pakistan. Karot Power Company Limited, a subsidiary of China Three Gorges South Asia Investment, owns the Karot Power...

Unite to foil ‘evil designs’ against J&K: Farooq

18/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Opposition National Conference's president and Lok Sabha member Farooq Abdullah today asked the people of Jammu and Kashmir to rise above their differences and unite to foil the "evil designs" against the state. The former chief minister made the remarks at the Charar-e-Sharief shrine where he had gone to pay obeisance at the tomb of Shiekh Nooruddin Noorani, the revered Kashmiri saint. "People of the state are going through tough and trying times. It is, therefore, impe...

‘Hizbul posters’ warn migrants to leave Valley; mischief, say police

18/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Posters, attributed to militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, have appeared in parts of Kashmir warning the migrant population to leave the Valley by October 25. The police, however, dismissed the posters as a "mischief" in the wake of increasing incidents of mysterious braid-chopping incidents in the state. "The non-locals mostly work here as labourers. It seems someone has played a mischief," Director General of Police S P Vaid said. With an increase in braid-chopping inc...

BJP questions Sonia, Rahul over charges against Vadra; Cong says hold any probe

18/10/2017
NEW DELHI/ BENG-ALURU, Oct 17: The BJP today mounted attack on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, questioning their "silence" over a claim in a media report that Robert Vadra had "links" with fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. While Vadra did not react to the media report, Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi could get "any investigation" done into any allegations against the party chief's son-in-law to find out if there was any "wrong doing". Th...

Pak seeks extension of Hafiz Saeed’s detention

18/10/2017
LAHORE, Oct 17: The Pakistan government today sought the extension of Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed's detention under the public safety law, two days after withdrawing its application to prolong his house arrest under the anti-terrorism law. The Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head, who has been under house arrest since January, was presented before a three-member Punjab provincial judicial review board amid high security. The Judicial Review Board comprising Justice Yawar Ali, Just...

Investment in technology needs to be stepped up: Naidu

18/10/2017
CHENNAI, Oct 16: Investments in science and technology needed to be stepped up to address various problems the country was facing, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said here today. He listed poverty, unemployment, pollution, diseases, urban-rural divide, lack of clean drinking water and also the issues relating to crime and security as among the problems. Addressing the valedictory session of the India International Science Festival, Naidu said emerging fields of artificial intelligence, robot...

BSF arrests Pakistani intruder along IB

18/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 17: A 22-year-old Pakistani man was today arrested from along the International Border in Suchetgarh sector of R S Pura here soon after he crossed over to this side of the fence, a BSF officer said. During questioning, the man, identified as Ali Raja, said that he was a tailor at Pasroor in Pakistan's Sialkot, the officer said, adding Pakistani currency notes were recovered from him. Border Security Force (BSF) troops noticed that a man was trying to sneak into this side in the ear...

Army jawan beaten by mob on suspicion of being braid chopper

18/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: An Army jawan was beaten up by a mob today in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara town on suspicion of being a braid chopper. The injured jawan was rescued by Army personnel and policemen, officials said. He was taken to a military hospital for treatment. The jawan, who could not be identified, was beaten by people on the allegation of being a braid chopper, they said. A video of the incident was being widely circulated on social networking sites. Army officials did not respond to...

Rajnath assures central help to people of border areas

18/10/2017
FEROZEPUR, Oct 17: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the Centre was committed to extending all possible help to the people of Punjab's border areas and resolve their issues on priority. He stated this after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh sought full support from the central government for the state's development programmes for the border areas, including a proposed special package for the region. Amarinder made the request to Rajnath Singh while accompanying him on a visit t...

Swaraj asks Indian mission to grant medical visa to Pak girl

18/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 17: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has directed the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to grant medical visa immediately to a five-year-old Pakistani girl, suffering from eye cancer, for treatment in India. The child's parents had sought Swaraj's help. "There is a request for medical visa for 5 year old child Anamta Farrukh who is suffering from eye cancer for her treatment in India. I have asked @IndiainPakistan to issue medical visa for treatment of the child in Ind...

Biz dealings of Jay Shah; Cong demands probe by a Commission

18/10/2017
BENGALURU, Oct 17: Congress today demanded a probe by a Commission, comprising two seniormost Supreme Court judges, into the business dealings of a company owned by BJP President Amit Shah's son, for an "independent and credible" inquiry. "We demand that to conduct an independent and credible investigation, a Commission comprising two seniormost Supreme Court judges be appointed to submit a report within a time bound period," party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here. Con...

Militant module unearthed, 3 arrested

17/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Security forces have unear-thed a militant module with the arrest of three ultras from Kulgam district. Inspector General of Police Kashmir Munir Khan today said that three militants -- two from the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and one from the Hizbul Mujahideen -- were arrested over the past three days from south Kashmir. "On October 14, two terrorists with the intention to snatch weapons of personal security guards of a protected person fired few rounds at Kund in Qazigund ar...

Excise Department recovers tax of Rs 26 Crores from Liquor traders, crores yet to be recovered

17/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 16: Twenty Liquor shops in Jammu / Establishments stand closed w.e.f Oct 15th since Tax as these license holders had not deposited their dues by 15th October, 2007 an order dated 3-10-2017 directs. The recovery Circular was issued by Excise Commissioner Mr. M. Javed Khan , IAS Excise Commissioner J&K Government. The extract of the circular reads as follows:- “Subject : Additional Assessment fee on sale of IMFL / Beer / RTD/ JK Special Whisky under SRO 381 dated 13.09.2017 Ci...

Alleged Murderous assault on Advocate by his in laws; Bail application fixed for arguments today

17/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 16: In a case of murderous assault on Advocate Vishal Mahajan son of Advocate M P Gupta by his own brothers in law namely Ankit Gupta and Rohit Gupta an FIR was registered at Police Station Channi Himmat Jammu under sections 307, 452, 147 RPC and 4/25 Arms Acts and bail application for arguments is fixed on 17th Oct 2017. In this connection the FIR has named as many as 6 accused who entered the house of the Advocate with intention to kill him and caused grievous injuries to him...

Protesters clash with police over braid chopping in Srinagar

17/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Clashes broke out today between protesters and security forces in Maisuma area of Srinagar as local residents took to streets against the rising incidents of braid chopping in Kashmir, police said. Dozens of local residents of Maisuma locality in the commercial hub of Srinagar city held a protest demonstration against the continued incidents of braid chopping in the Valley, a police official said. He said the protesters turned violent when police asked them to disperse peace...

Ex-PDP sarpanch shot dead in Shopian; militant killed in scuffle

17/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 16: A militant was killed in a scuffle after the killing of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sarpanch in Imamsahab area of Shopian district of south Kashmir on Monday. Police said that Muhammad Ramzan Sheikh (50) was shot at by gunmen at his residence at Homun, Imamsahab around 8:05 pm. He was shifted to nearby Zainpora Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Director General of police (DGP) SP Vaid said that a militant was killed in the scuffle. In a tweet, Vaid...

55 arrested, PSA slapped on 2, huge quantity of drugs recovered

17/10/2017
SRINAGAR, OCT 16: Director General of Police (DGP), Dr. S.P Vaid today appreciated/rewarded the team comprising 11 officers/officials of Rajouri police for their sustained pro-active drive against drugs in the district. The team during their drive against the drug menace have registered 34 cases against the drug peddlers, arrested 55 persons besides effecting huge recovery of contrabands and other intoxicants. DGP while sanctioning the reward of Rs.45,000/- and class-I commendation certificat...

5 family members killed in road accident in Doda

17/10/2017
BHADERWAH, Oct 16: In a tragic incident, five family members, including three children, were killed today when their car skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge near Kashore-Babore area in Jammu's Doda district. The car was on its way to Jatheli area in Doda district when it skidded veered off the road and fell into a gorge while negotiating a sharp curve near Kashore-Babore area, police said. After receiving information, locals and police reached the spot and shifted all the injured pa...

Seven injured as bus overturns in Samba

17/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 16: At least seven passengers were injured after a bus met an accident and overturned near Birpur in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. “A bus on way from Sandi, Purmandal to Jammu, on Monday morning overturned near Birpur in which seven passengers suffered injuries,” police here said. The injured were rushed to the Jammu hospital. They were identified as Nusrat Fatima (16), Shamima (38), Sonu (12), Mohammad Asif (18), Vicky Kumar (24), Mohammad Ashfaq (25) and Sofia Akhtar (14).

Congress ‘an equal partner’ in GST decision: Modi

17/10/2017
GANDHINAGAR, Oct 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said Goods and Services Tax (GST) was a collective decision of various state governments in which the Centre had a small role to play and the Congress was "an equal partner". "Congress is an equal partner in GST decision and it should not spread lies about GST. The decision was not taken by Parliament or Narendra Modi. The decision was made by governments of all political parties, including the Congress governments of Punjab, Karnataka, a...

Modi has ‘unique capacity’ to work hard with determination: Pranab

17/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 16: Former president Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said while all the Prime Ministers he was associated with had made “stellar contributions”, the present incumbent Narendra Modi has “unique capacity to work very hard and has clear vision” on what he wants to achieve. “He has unique capacity to work very hard with strong determination….He has clear vision and he works very hard to achieve that,” Mr Mukherjee told NDTV here. Mr Mukherjee maintained that as an outsider to Delhi, “it...

Don’t transfer poll officials without permission: EC to Govt

17/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 16: The Election Commission (EC) has directed the Jammu and Kashmir government not to transfer the officers and officials engaged in a special summary revision of electoral rolls without its prior permission. "The EC has instructed the state government, through a circular, that the officers and officials engaged in the special summary revision of electoral rolls should not be transferred from their places of posting, without prior permission of the commission during the period of...

Doval visits Kabul,discusses strategic issues with top leaders

17/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 17: India and Afghanistan today pledged to further strengthen strategic cooperation as National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and the top brass of the country's military establishment in Kabul. "It was agreed to further strengthen strategic dialogue and consultations for achieving shared objectives," an official statement here said. Though there was no elaboration of the shared objectives, both sides were believ...

Mehbooba meets Governor

17/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Ms Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister, met Governor N. N. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today afternoon. Chief Minister and Governor discussed several important issues relating to functioning of courts and higher education institutions, time-bound implementation of road and connectivity projects, cleaning up and restoration of water bodies and other matters.

China understands that India is no more weak: Rajnath

16/10/2017
LUCKNOW, Oct 15: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that the country's borders were completely safe and China has also begun to understand that "India is no more weak". Singh said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India has become powerful and its prestige at the global level has also grown. Addressing the gathering at a programme organised by the Bhartiya Lodhi Mahasabha here, Singh referred to the recent Dokalam stand-off and said, "India's borders are completel...

Govt feels pro bono activity can be criterion for elevation as judge

16/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 15: Free legal assistance extended by a lawyer to the needy should be an important criterion while considering him for elevation as a judge, the government feels. A senior government functionary said the guidelines laid down recently by the apex court outlining the importance of pro bono has “strengthened” the feeling in the government that “pro bono lawyering” be made a pre-requisite to become a judge. Like getting the gown of a Senior advocate, pro bono activity can easily be...

Murderous assault on Advocate by in laws

16/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 15: In a case of murderous assault on Advocate Vishal Mahajan son of Advocate M P Gupta by his own brothers in law namely Ankit Gupta and Rohit Gupta an FIR was registered at Police Station Channi Himmat Jammu under sections 307, 452, 147 RPC and 4/25 Arms Acts. In this connection the FIR has named as many as 6 accused who entered the house of the Advocate with intention to kill him and caused grievous injuries to him. Out of these 6 accused only two have been arrested by the Po...

Police is fighting a proxy war, terrorism in JK: Dy CM

16/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 15: Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today hailed the police for taking Pakistan-sponsored proxy war and terrorism head-on and said the department was playing a pivotal role in ensuring peace in the state. He also congratulated the police personnel for upholding and enforcing law to protect the citizens of the state. After inaugurating a two-day 'Diwali Mela', organised by the Jammu and Kashmir police wives welfare association, he told reporters, "The way police has taken the pro...

Clashes erupt after braid of woman cut in Sopore

16/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: Clashes erupted in Sopore town of North Kashmir's Baramulla district after a woman's braid was chopped off by unknown persons on Sunday. Reports said that unknown persons barged inside the home of a woman (name withheld) in Khushal Mattoo in Sopore town today. As the news of braid chopping spread in the town, people took to streets and clashed with police. Hair of over 100 women and young girls has been mysteriously cut in Kashmir valley during past several weeks. These gi...

‘Braid choppers’ -- the new alibi to settle scores in Kashmir

16/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: The mysterious 'braid choppers' in the Kashmir Valley are emerging as an alibi for some people to get out of their troubles or settle scores, debunking the theory floated by anti-national elements that put the blame for the panic wave on central agencies, the state police said. The Jammu and Kashmir police has detected cases where people have beaten up their business rivals, stalkers and even migrant labourers on suspicions of them being braid choppers. The recent 'braid cho...

As carpet crisis looms in Kashmir, traders point to GST jolt

16/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: Closed looms, lost jobs and scanty sales: the threads of the Kashmiri carpet industry are unravelling after the imposition of the Goods and Services Tax. At stake is the future of the Kashmiri craft and, with hundreds of carpet weavers losing their jobs and a once- thriving trade being abandoned in the three months since the new tax regime, the picture does not look rosy. Several carpet sellers are now searching for greener pastures. One of them is Arshad Hussain, who h...

Snake found inside bottle filled from hospital’s water cooler

16/10/2017
UDHAMPUR, Oct 15: In a serious lapse of sanitation and safety to health, a small snake entered a patient's bottle while he was filling it from a water cooler at a District Hospital in Udhampur District. Horrified with the incident, the patient's father informed that he had gone to fill his son's water bottle, who is admitted in the hospital when the snake was found. "I went to fill the bottle from the water cooler and was putting it to my son's mouth when I saw the snake inside the bottle," h...

Congress candidate Jakhar wins Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll

16/10/2017
GURDASPUR, Oct 15: The Congress today wrested the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat from the BJP with its Punjab unit chief Sunil Jakhar trouncing saffron party candidate Swaran Salaria by a whopping margin of 1,93,219 votes in the high stakes bypoll. Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes, way ahead of the BJP candidate's 3,06,533, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Major General (retd) Suresh Khajuria finished a distant third, garnering a mere 23,579 votes. Khajuria lost his security deposit. Jakhar m...

Prez, PM lead nation in remembering Kalam on birth anniversary

16/10/2017
NEW DELHI/RAMESWARAM, Oct 15: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led the nation in remembering the 'Missile Man' of India, A P J Abdul Kalam, on his 86th birth anniversary. In his home state Tamil Nadu, the birth anniversary of the former president was marked by planting of trees and floral tributes. At Kalam's memorial in Peikarambu near his home town Rameswaram, his family members and people from various walks of life, including students, paid floral tributes. ...

Pak troops opens another front, targets forward posts on LoC

16/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: Pakistani troops opened another front, targeting forward Indian posts on the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector in the frontier district of Kupwara on Sunday, official sources said. They said Pak troops resorted to indiscriminate unprovoked firing from across the LoC in Keran sector, targeting forward posts and civilian areas. Indian troops also retaliated, they said. A security force jawan was reportedly injured in the Pak firing, they said, adding that the casualties suf...

Shutdown in Shopian, Pulwama against militant, civilian killings

16/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: A complete shutdown is being observed in twin districts of Shopian and Pulwama in south Kashmir against the killing of two militants and a civilian yesterday. All shops and other commercial establishments are closed while public transport is off the roads in both the districts. While two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed in a gunfight with forces, a civilian was killed and dozens injured in the ensuing clashes. Shopian district commander of LeT Wasim Shah was killed alo...

Doklam, Pengong incidents give push to border road infra development

16/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 15: Along with focusing on acquiring cutting edge technology for its defence equipment and arma-ments, India is going for a major push for devel-opment of infrastructure along the border with China. The recent incidents at Doklam, Pengong and Uttarakhand’s Barahoti have acted as a catalyst for increasing connectivity of forward posts with the base. The idea for setting up border roads was to ensure speedy movement of the armed forces at the time of needs. India and China are sh...

Parliament, politicians, press should do more for farmers: Naidu

16/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 15: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has pitched for more Governmental investment in agriculture, as he bemoaned that “not enough” was being done by Parliament, politicians and the press to address the issues related to farmers. India is still an agriculture-dominated country but even after 70 years of Independence, about 18,000 villages do not have electricity, he said while addressing a huge gathering of farmers from Outer Delhi villages in the gardens of his sprawling residenc...

India calls for urgent revision of IMF quota

16/10/2017
WASHINGTON, Oct 15: India has called for urgent revision of the quota of International Monetary Fund in favour of dynamic emerging market so as to reflect the ground realties of the world. Addressing the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank here, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hoped that this can be accomplished as part of the 15th General Review of Quotas. "There is an urgent case for revising quota shares in favour of dynamic emerging market countries in line with global economic re...

4 minors injured as Pak shells LoC areas

15/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 14: Two children and two youth were injured tonight in heavy firing and shelling by Pakistani troops on civilian hamlets and forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, the defence spokesman said. The injured were playing when a shell landed near a house in Sandote in Balakote area, according to the spokesman. The injured were identified as 5-year-old Saquib Naseeb, 8-year-old Rafia Naseeb, 15-year-old Tariq Naseeb and 17- year-old Tah...

Top LeT commander among two militants killed in Pulwama encounter

15/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 14: Top Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Waseem Shah, believed to be the main architect of the unrest last year in south Kashmir, was killed along with his accomplice by security forces in an encounter early this morning in Pulwama district, police said. Shah, 23, also known as 'Abu Osama Bhai' was killed at Litter area in Pulwama, a place considered to be a safe haven for militants. This is the first counter-insurgency operation in Litter area in four years. Jammu and Kashmir polic...

Policeman killed, two others injured in militant attack in Kulgam

15/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 14: A policeman was martyred and two others were injured in a militant attack in south Kashmir district of Kulgam. Official sources said that militants attacked a police party at Nandimarg in Kulgam on Saturday evening. “Three police personnel were injured in the attack,” he said. The injured were immediately taken to a hospital, where one of them, identified as Khurshid Ahmad, succumbed. They said the militants managed to escape. Police spokesperson said that a police team on...

AMANDEEP MURDER CASE: ‘Raja’ accused of murder commits suicide in District Jail Udhampur

15/10/2017
UDHAMPUR, Oct 14: A son of a top businessman and an undertrial prisoner, the main accused in the infamous 2009 Amandeep murder case, today allegedly committed suicide inside the district jail here, a police officer said. Jatinder Singh (34) alias 'Raja', son of an influential businessman Nagar Singh, was found hanging inside his cell at the Udhampur district jail at around 5 PM, he said. He was immediately shifted to a hospital where he was declared as brought dead, the officer said. Ama...

J&K is passing through last phase of militancy: Jitendra

15/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 14: Union minister Jitendra Singh said today that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir was in its "last phase" and that "militants are on the run". "They (Militants) are on the run and are under tremendous pressure. I am sure that this is going to be the last phase of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir," he told reporters here. Singh was replying to a volley of questions on the recent killings of militants in Kashmir Valley. "Police and security forces are doing a commendable job. What is ...

Jitendra hands over MUDRA loan sanction letters to beneficiaries

15/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 14: The policies and programmes of the Government of India are aimed at empowering the youth in the country by enabling them to be the job creators to become the foundation for the prosperity of the nation. The youth of J&K is highly talented and have shown their mettle by being toppers in the prestigious national level competitive examinations like the Civil services, IITs etc. and they should take the lead in becoming the best entrepreneurs also by availing the benefits of the ...

No power can stop resolution of Kashmir issue: Rajnath

15/10/2017
BARDOLI (GUJ), Oct 14: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said no power in the world can stop the government from resolving the Kashmir issue and hit out at Pakistan for its "impious" activities against India. Singh said the NDA government has given a free hand to the Army to act against terrorists and give a befitting reply to any firing from across the border in Kashmir. "I would like to say that nobody needs to be worried about Kashmir. No power in the world can stop us from resolving...

11 Kanal encroached Land retrieved at Rajouri

15/10/2017
RAJOURI, Oct 14: Continuing crackdown against the encroachment of state land, district authorities today removed encroachment on 11 kanal land during separate drives. On the direction of Deputy Commissioner Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, a team headed by Assistant Commissioner Revenue Rajouri Abdul Qayoom Mir, Police and officials of Public Works Department removed the encroachment on 2.5 kanal land at Dhandkote. The encroached land had stalled the construction work of Dhandkote-Soukadgali road...

PDD official held for accepting bribe

15/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 14: A junior engineer in Power Development Department (PDD) was arrested after he was allegedly caught accepting bribe at Bari Brahmna area in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, a spokesman of the SVO said. Ved Prakash had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a person for providing electricity connection to his unit even as he had completed all the required formalities last year, the spokesman of State Vigilance Organisation said. "A case was registered on the written com...

KAS Officers Association Elections: Polling, results on Oct 24

15/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 14: The polling for election of the office bearers of Jammu and Kashmir Admin-istrative Service Officers Association will be held on 24 October 2017. The results would be also declared the same day. According to the notification issued by Dr G N Itoo, Director School Education Kashmir, who is the Returning Officer for the election, the final list of the contesting candidates for the position of President, after the last date for withdrawal of nominations, includes, Tariq Hussain ...

2 RDD employees suspended

15/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 14: Minister for Rural Develo-pment and Panchayati Raj Abdul Haq on Saturday directed to put two employees of RDD under suspension for misconduct in their duties. Rashid Ahmad of Chandil block has been put under suspension after a video emerged showing the Junior Assistant accepting bribe from a local. Another Junior Assistant Aijaz Ahmad Parray of Tangmarg block was also put under suspension for leveling baseless allegations against the government while being a government emp...

10 hurt in clashes between protesters, police

15/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 14: At least 10 people were injured today in clashes with law enforcement authorities during protests over increasing braid-chopping cases in the Valley, police said. Residents agitated over the incidents reported in Boniyar in Baramulla district protested in the area, the police said. They alleged the police used pellet guns to disperse the protesters. Seven people were injured, they claimed. However, a police official said they only used smoke shells and batons to disperse th...

Cop arrested for taking pictures of woman

15/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 14: A Jammu and Kashmir policeman was arrested today for allegedly taking pictures of a woman with his cellphone in Ganderbal district of the state. A woman noticed that a cop posted on duty at Ganderbal bypass crossing was taking her pictures, a police official said. He said the woman complained to the police about it, following which an FIR was registered and cop arrested.

No shortage of ammunition: MoS Defence

15/10/2017
JABALPUR, Oct 14: Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre today said there was no shortage of ammunition for the armed forces. "Such a situation was there in 2013, but not now," he said, responding to a question about reports on shortage of ammunition. Addressing a press conference here, Bhamre said India has been the biggest importer of defence equipment in the world, but efforts were underway to make the country self-reliant. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the country to be...

Rahul attacks govt over Global Hunger Index report; Irani hits back sharply

15/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 14: Citing the Global Hunger Index, Rahul Gandhi has attacked the government in a veiled manner, evoking a sharp reaction from Union minister Smriti Irani who said the Congress vice president was out to "malign" the nation in his bid to run down Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi tweeted a news report on the Global Hunger Index along with a Hindi couplet by poet Dushyant Kumar which read: "bhookh hai to sabr kar, roti nahi to kya hua, aajkal dilli mein hai zer-e-behas yeh mudd...

Pak withdraws Saeed’s detention request under anti-terror law

15/10/2017
LAHORE, Oct 14: The Pakistan government today withdrew its request for extending the detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed under the anti- terrorism law. On January 31, Saeed and his four aides were detained by the Punjab government for 90 days under preventative detention under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. They have been under house arrest since then. An official of the Home Department of Punjab government told a three-member federal judicial review board headed by ...

Pak violates ceasefire for 2nd consecutive day along LoC in Poonch

14/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 13: The Pakistan Army today for the second consecutive day fired small arms and shelled forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. "The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0745 hours in the Krishnaghati (KG) sector along the Line of Control (LoC) today," a defence spokesman said on the ceasefire violation. The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively. "Firing is still on," he ...

CERTAIN STATES LAGGED DUE TO GOVERNANCE DEFICIT

14/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked governors to make conscious efforts towards national integration. The Prime Minister, speaking on the concluding day of the two-day conference of the governors and lieutenant governors, said there was no dearth of ideas, resources, and capabilities in the country. Asking the governors to facilitate better effectiveness of government initiatives, Modi stressed "on making conscious efforts towards national integration". He also urged ...

Hizbul Mujahideen militant arrested

14/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was today arrested by security forces from Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, the police said. "Gulzar Dar was captured during an operation in Pulwama," a police spokes-man said here. He said further details of the operation are awaited. Meanwhile, Four foreign militants belonging to Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) managed to escape after firing indiscriminately at a security force search party in the woods of Tral in south Kashmir district of Pulwama...

Masked gunmen rob bank

14/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Masked gunmen today robbed a bank in Ratnipora area in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, decamping with several lakh rupees, less than 24 hours after a similar incident in Anantnag. The men barged into a branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank at Ratnipora and made away with the cash, a police official said. Bank officials are calculating the exact amount of cash looted, he said. Yesterday, Rs 5.39 lakh was robbed from the same bank's Marhama branch and the culprits have b...

25 Vaishno Devi pilgrims injured as vehicle falls into gorge

14/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 13: As many as 25 Vaishno Devi pilgrims were injured when their bus skidded off the road and rolled down a gorge inReasi district today, the police said. The mishap happened at Noman in Katra belt this afternoon, an officer said. Twenty-five pilgrims were injured, out of which three have been referred to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu. The others have been admitted to the Community Health Centre at Katra, he said.

Question of corruption doesn’t arise in Jay’s company: Shah

14/10/2017
AHMEDABAD, Oct 13: BJP president Amit Shah today said there was no question of corruption in his son Jay Amit Shah's company. He was referring to a report in the news portal The Wire, which claimed that Jay's business fortunes zoomed after the BJP came to power in 2014. "The question of corruption does not arise in Jay's company," Shah said during a programme organised by news channel Aaj Tak. The BJP chief also came down heavily on the Congress, which had seized on the report to attack him ...

Restrictions imposed on movement of people in Srinagar

14/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Restrictions were today imposed on movement of people in parts of the city even as all educational institutes in Kashmir remained closed for the second consecutive day in view of the separatists' call for peaceful protests against the rising braid chopping incidents. The Srinagar District Magistrate said restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC would be in force under the jurisdiction of police stations Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, M R Gunj, Safakadal and partially in ...

Infrastructure along border with China to be enhanced

14/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Close on the heels of Dokalam standoff, the defence ministry has decided to significantly enhance infrastructure along the nearly 4,000 km-long Sino- India border including around the areas of dispute. The decision was taken at the Army’s commanders conference which extensively deliberated on the Dokalam face off with China besides analysing all possible security challenges on the northern border, official sources said. Director General Staff Duties Lt. Gen. Vijay Singh, br...

3 ladies beggars mistaken as braid choppers rescued

14/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Three beggar ladies who were mistaken as braid choppers were rescued by Srinagar police from Babademb area of Srinagar. At about 1200 hours today Police Post Ban-Mohalla got an information regarding the capturing of three beggar ladies (two unmarried girls in their teen ages and one married lady with a lactating baby) by some locals somewhere in Babademb area of Down Town Srinagar. On receiving this information, Police rushed to the spot and took the ladies to the office ...

Militant involved in grenade attack on Naeem arrested

14/10/2017
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Security forces today arrested Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant Gulzar Dar, who was involved in a grenade attack on a Jammu and Kashmir minister last month in which three civilians were killed, police said. Based on his interrogation, security forces launched an operation to nab his four associates, all foreigners, but they managed to escape after a gunfight in a forest area in south Kashmir, according to a police spokesman. "Dar was captured during an operation in Pulwama," ...

Pranab was more qualified to become PM: Manmohan

14/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh today said ex-president Pranab Mukherjee had every reason for grievance at being ignored for prime ministership despite being more qualified but knew "I had no choice" in the matter, and that smoothened their relationship. Singh's comments at the launch of Mukherjee's book--'The coalition years--in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi left the audience in splits. "In 2004 when Soniaji chose me to be...

Terror financing: ED attaches Rs 5L assets in Karnataka

14/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 13: The Enforcement Directorate today said it has attached assets worth Rs five lakh in Karnataka in connection with a money laundering probe in a terror financing case involving the banned outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM). The central probe agency said the attach-ment, issued under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), includes a residential property in Mangalore "belonging to the persons involved in terror financing" who were also "linked" to a Pakistan...

TRANSFER IN JUDICIARY

14/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 13: In an order issued by Registrar General of J&K High Court Sanjay Dhar that Sanjeev Kumar Bhagat, Principal District & Sessions Judge, Bandipora and Sarfraz Hussain Shah, Principal District & Sessions Judge, Kargil shall swap their respective places of posting with immediate effect. -JNF

Pooja holidays from Oct 17

14/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 13: The Government has announced five Pooja holidays in Government and private schools of Jammu province, starting from Oct 17, 2017. As per an order issued by Director School Education, "All the Educational Institutions including recognized private schools up to Higher Secondary levels of Jammu Division shall observe five day Pooja Holidays from Oct 17, 2017 to Oct 21, 2017. Any default on the part of private school (s) in observance of the holidays so authorized shall attract ac...

SC indicates revisiting verdict which diluted anti-dowry law

14/10/2017
NEW DELHI, Oct 13: The Supreme Court today indicated that it would revisit its two-month old verdict which reduced the severity of the anti-dowry law, saying it "really curtails the rights of the women who are harassed". A two-judge bench had on July 27 directed that no arrest should "normally be effected" without verifying allegations as violation of human rights of innocents cannot be brushed aside. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud...

HC declares Oct 17 as non-sitting day

14/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 13: High Court today issued notice regarding non-sitting day. According to the order issued by Registrar General of J&K High Court Sanjay Dhar17th of October, 2017 (Tuesday) is declared as non-sitting day for the Jammu wing of the High Court and instead of said day, 28th of October, 2017 (Saturday) shall be declared as working day for Jammu Wing of the High Court. JNF

Move offices of HC to close on Oct 27

14/10/2017
JAMMU, Oct 13: In view of Annual Darbar Move, winter session, the main wing of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and office of Registrar Vigilance, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir will close here on October 27, 2017. The office will close after office hours and reopen at Jammu on November 6, 2017. -JNF