BUDGET 2019-20: Massive push to public infrastructure

16/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 15: Governor administration Saturday approved Rs 88,911 crore state budget for the fiscal 2019-20, which is expected to give a massive push to public infrastructure in the state. The budget was approved by the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik at a specially convened meeting here this evening, state chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam said. Principal secretary finance Navin K Choudhary gave a detailed presentation to the SAC on the revised es...

BUDGET 2019-20 HIGHLIGHTS

16/12/2018
1. Infrastructure Big push to Infrastructure - Rs 30469 cr earmarked for investment in development sector during 2019-20 Rs 3631 cr additional investment in 1643 languishing projects To build spending capacity, Line Departments to be provided funds for hiring Consultants, creating DPR Preparation Cells, Project Implementation Agencies, IT consultants etc 2. Local Governance Rs 2573 cr to flow to Panchayati Raj Institutions & Rs 1030 cr to Urban Local Bodies in next 15 months Every Panchay...

Seven civilians among 11 killed in encounter, protest in Kashmir

16/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Seven civilians died Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an army man were killed, police said. The militants killed included army deserter Zahoor Ahmad Thoker, who belonged to Simoo village where the gunfight took place. The Army laid siege around an isolated house in the middle of an orchard following an intelligence input about the presence of...

Guv orders probe into Pulwama incident, appeals people to keep off encounter sites

16/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 15: Governor Satya Pal Malik Saturday ordered a probe into the death of seven civilians when security forces allegedly opened fire at a mob that thronged an encounter site in Pulwama district, an official spokesperson said. He appealed to people to stay away from encounter sites while directing Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to inquire into the Saturday incident, the spokesman said. Seven people were killed in alleged firing by security forces during post-operation clashes at S...

Political parties condemn civilian deaths

16/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Mainstream political parties in Kashmir Saturday condemned the killing of civilians allegedly in security forces' action during an encounter in Pulwama district, with National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah calling the incident a "massacre". Abdullah alleged that the Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration was apparently not doing anything for the security of people in Jammu and Kashmir. Seven civilians died in south Kashmir's Pulwama district when security...

Admin on alert after ‘unknown’ disease kills two minor sisters

16/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 15: Two minor sisters have died of an undiagnosed disease at a hospital in Reasi district, officials said Saturday. The news of the minors' deaths put the district administration on alert, prompting the authorities to constitute a special medical team to ascertain the cause of the deaths. The deceased were identified as Ashruti Devi, 8, and her sister Asho Devi, 5. They breathed their last on Friday at Reasi District Hospital within two hours of being brought there by their fat...

SAC approves establishment of first ever University in Ladakh

16/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 15: The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here this evening under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik approved establishment of first ever University in Ladakh. Advisors to the Governor, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Kewal Kumar Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Principal Secretary to the Governor Umang Narula were present at the meeting. It will be a Cluster University covering five colleges of Lehand Kargil districts. The University will b...

JAMMU RECORDS SEASON’s COLDEST NIGHT

16/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 15: The winter capital Jammu recorded the coldest night of the season so far with minimum temperature settling at 5.5 degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological (MeT) department said Saturday. The night temperature across Jammu region is on downward trend over the past week after high altitude areas, including the famous cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, experienced snowfall. The night temperature fell by almost two degrees compared to the previous night to settle at 5...

National security is a punching bag for Cong: Modi

16/12/2018
CHENNAI, Dec 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday launched a blistering attack on the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it. Modi's attack on the opposition party came even as the Congress accused the government of "misleading" the Supreme court by presenting wrong information about the CAG report on the Rafale deal and demanded that the government apologise for it. The Congress has also said the Supreme Court, w...

Lt Gen Singh visits strategic Karakoram Pass in Ladakh

16/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 15: A top army commander Saturday visited the strategic Karakoram Pass along the Indo-China border in the Ladakh region and was briefed on the operational situation in the sector, a defence spokesman said. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh visited the historic and strategic pass in Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) sector of eastern Ladakh, the spokesman said. He said the commander was accompanied by General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury corps and ...

Govt placed wrong info before SC that led to ‘factual bloomers’ in Rafale verdict: Cong

16/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 15: The Congress Saturday charged the government with presenting "wrong facts" before the Supreme Court which led to "factual bloomers" in the Rafale aircraft deal judgment that gave the government relief. Addressing a press conference here, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the Supreme Court has not gone into the pricing and technical aspects of the aircraft and it is only a joint parliamentary committee that can probe whether there was any irregularity in the deal. Siba...

Maldivian president to arrive in India Sunday on three-day visit

16/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 15: New Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will arrive here Sunday on a three-day state visit, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen bilateral ties. Solih, who surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in September, will arrive in the afternoon and hold talks with Modi on Monday after a ceremonial reception. He will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind the same day. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Ministe...

Rafale judgement: Govt moves SC seeking correction in para which makes reference to CAG report, PAC

16/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 15: The Centre on Saturday moved the Supreme Court seeking correction in the Rafale jet judgement where a reference has been made about the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), saying "misinterpretation" of its note has "resulted in a controversy in the public domain". In the application, the Centre said the two sentences in paragraph 25 of the judgement appeared to have been based on the note submitted by it along with t...

PoK PM proposes Kartarpur-like corridor for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist pilgrims

16/12/2018
PESHAWAR, Dec 15: "Prime Minister" of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan Saturday said he has submitted a proposal to the Pakistan government for opening the religious sites for Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists in PoK on the pattern of the Kartarpur Corridor. PoK had more than 600 pilgrim sites of Hindu, Sikh and Buddhism like Sharda and Ali Baig and authorities were planning to renovate and recondition these places to open them for pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir, Haider said at a ...

Amarinder writes to Gadkari, seeks expeditious approval for Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project

16/12/2018
CHANDIGARH, Dec 15: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has written to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking early approval of the proposed Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project, an official spokesperson said. The expressway, proposed as a greenfield project by the government of India, will connect the national capital with the important religious cities of Amritsar in Punjab and Katra in Jammu & Kashmir. Singh has urged the Centre to expeditiously approve the project as it would lead to ...

Cong shouldn't allow BJP to hijack narrative in 2019: Tharoor

16/12/2018
MUMBAI, Dec 15: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Saturday that the BJP should not be allowed to change the "national narrative" in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress was the only alternative to the BJP, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said. "The Congress needs to shape the national narrative in the right direction and resist powerful attempts made by the BJP to change it. We have to focus on activating ourselves at the booth level," Tharoor said at an interaction with membe...

Naik, Jitendra lay foundation of IHAMP at Bhaderwah

16/12/2018
DODA, Dec 15: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region and Prime Minister Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh today laid foundation stone of Institute of High-Altitude Medicinal Plants (IHAMP) here at Bhaderwah. The prestigious institute to be established at a cost of Rs 100 crore will act as a pioneering centre for the research of medicinal plants and also help the farmers in culti...

JK becomes first state to have explicit law banning ‘Sextortion’

15/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 14: J&K has become first state in the country to have a law explicitly banning sexual exploitation of women by those in positions of authority, having a fiduciary relationship or a public servant. The State Administrative Council (SAC) under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik approved the 'Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018'. Bill seeks to amend the Ranbir Penal Code whereby specific offence unde...

Govt notifies 75 services as ‘Online Only’

15/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 14: The Government today declared 75 services in various Departments as 'Online Only' as a part of Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP)under Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). "The Government has decided to provide services having direct bearing on the business environment in 'Online Mode', to the extent possible, so that the stakeholders can avail such services in a hassle-free manner," said an order issued by the General Administration Department. It said the initiative is aimed at pro...

3 children among 7 dead as vehicle falls into gorge in Reasi

15/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 14: Seven people, including three children, were killed and three others injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Reasi district, police said Friday. The accident took place in the Tamasgali area of the district late Thursday night when the four-wheeler was returning from a marriage party, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Nikhal Gogba said. Seven people were brought dead to the GMC hospital, he said, adding that three others were hospit...

SC gives clean chit to Modi Govt on Rafale deal

15/12/2018
New Delhi, Dec 14: The Supreme Court Friday gave the Narendra Modi government a clean chit on the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and dismissed all the petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the deal. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the multi-billion dollar deal. On the issue of offset partner, the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M...

Pahalgam experiences coldest Dec night in over decade

15/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 14: Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam tourist resort experienced the coldest December night in over a decade as the minimum temperature at most places in the valley settled several degrees below the freezing point, an official of the Meteorological Department said Friday. The night temperature in Pahalgam, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir, plummeted over eight degrees Thursday night from the previous night's minus 1.5 degrees Celsius...

Induction Training Course for newly appointed Munsiffs held

15/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 14: Jammu & Kashmir State Judicial has commenced the Induction Training Programme for Newly appointed Munsiffs (Civil Judges Junior Division)in the High Court Complex Jammu. During the Induction Training Programme Ms. Justice Gita Mittal, Chief Justice (Patron-in-Chief J&K State Judicial Academy) and Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal, Chairman of Governing Committee of Judicial Academy interacted with Newly appointed Munsiffs (Civil Judges Junior Division). Justice Gita Mittal, the Chief J...

IB, RAW chiefs get six months extension

15/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 14: The chiefs of Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing Rajiv Jain and Anil K Dhasmana respectively got extensions of six months each on Friday from their two-year terms, which were coming to an end later this month, a government order said. Jain's tenure was to end on December 30 while Dhasmana's was to end on December 29. The decision to extend the tenure of the two intelligence chiefs by six months was taken due to the forthcoming general election and the centre...

Police arrests OGW of militant outfit; seizes IED, other explosives in Pulwama

15/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 14: Police arrested an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of a militant outfit along with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and other explosive substances in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Friday. Official sources said that following specific information about transportation of weapons, a police party intercepted a person in Pulwama on Friday. During checking, police recovered an IED and other explosive substance, they said. The accused, an OGW, was immediately taken into custody a...

ACB arrests JE

15/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 14: Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a formal case against Ramesh Chander S/O Patti Ram R/O Jawahar Nagar, Rajouri posted as Junior Engineer at Sub Division Sunderbani vide FIR No. 40/2018 U/S 5(1) (e) r/w 5 (2) of J&K P C Act Samvat 2006 on 13.12.2018. The instant case was registered on the basis of a written complaint lodged in Vigilance Organization, upon which a secret verification was conducted into the allegations that said JE has acquired huge assets disproportionate to h...

Truck driver arrested with poppy

15/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 14: Police Friday arrested a man after 15 kg poppy was recovered from his truck on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district. The apple-laden truck headed towards Punjab was intercepted by the police at a checkpoint near Cafeteria More, they said, adding that the poppy was recovered from beneath the driver's seat. The vehicle was seized and the driver Salam Din of Maler Kotla, Punjab was arrested, they said. A case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotro...

Govt will stick to fiscal target this year: Jaitley

15/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 14: The government will stick to the 3.3 per cent fiscal deficit target in the current financial year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Friday. He also said India will clock a growth rate of 7-8 per cent despite global uncertainties and will retain the tag of the world's fastest growing major economy. "Our ability to be within that 7-8 percent range is fairly certain though I see comments to the contrary but I am fairly certain. "Even in this year, despite all the odds, we w...

Rahul hits back at Govt, says CAG report on Rafale deal cited by SC not tabled before PAC

15/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 14: Unfazed by the Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday maintained that corruption had taken place in the contract which he asserted will be proved by his party and claimed that the basis of the court judgement is a CAG report that has neither been seen by anyone, nor shared with Parliament's Public Accounts Committee. He also trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he cannot escape action and only two names of Modi and ...

Flight timings to be extended at Jammu, Srinagar airports from Jan 1

15/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 14: The state administration has decided to extend the timings of evening flights at the Jammu and the Srinagar airports from January 1, a senior official said on Friday. The Air Force authorities have been asked to extend watch hours (from 8 am) till 9 pm at the Jammu Airport and (from 8 am) till 8 pm at the Srinagar airport to facilitate operation of flights during late hours, Principal Secretary (Civil Aviation) Rohit Kansal said at a high-level meeting here. Presently, the last...

Rahul crossed all limits of propriety, decency, probity in public life by almost condemning SC: BJP

15/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 14: The BJP on Friday accused Rahul Gandhi of "almost condemning" the Supreme Court for dismissing the pleas challenging the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, and said the Congress president crossed all limits of propriety, decency and probity in public life. Union Law Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a counter-attack on Gandhi, saying the apex court had "exposed his lies" which he has been using to attack the "honest and popular" prime minister, and his "...

2 LeT militants killed in Sopore encounter

14/12/2018
Srinagar, Dec 13: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Sopore area of Baramulla district, police said Thursday. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in BrathKalan area of Sopore on Wednesday evening following information about presence of militants there, a police official said. He said the operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire on security forces. Two militants, identified as Owais Ahmad B...

Pak Army violates ceasefire along LoC in Poonch

14/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 13: Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing on forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district Thursday, officials said. The Pakistani Army resorted small arms firing in Kerni forward areas in the district at 5.50 am, they said. The Army also retaliated effectively, they said, adding that there was no loss of life or injury to anyone.

Min temperatures drop below freezing point in Kashmir, Gulmarg coldest at minus 9.5 deg C

14/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 13: Higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Thursday while the plains witnessed intermittent rains as the minimum temperature settled below the freezing point at most places in the Valley and Ladakh region. Snowfall has been recorded in the higher areas of the valley like Qazigund, Kokernag, Pahalgam and Mughal Road during the night, MeT officials said. There are reports of snowfall in other areas in the higher reaches of the valley and Jammu region as wel...

Improve last mile delivery for ease of doing business: PM to bureaucrats

14/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday asked bureaucrats to improve last mile delivery and focus on streamlining procedures to improve the country's 'ease of doing business' rankings, his office has said. He also said that besides improving the ease of doing business rankings, it would also increase the 'ease of living' for small businesses and the common man. Modi said this was extremely important for India as an emerging and vibrant economy, a statement issued by the Prim...

Death-row convicts should be entitled to meet family, lawyers: SC

14/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 13: The Supreme Court Thursday said death-row convicts should be entitled to meet family members, lawyers and mental health professionals so that their rights are adequately protected at all stages. A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur said this while dealing with an application which had said that prisoners sentenced to death by any court have a right to be treated at par with other convicted prisoners and should be provided all similar facilities as are provided to others i...

Vyas takes oath as UPSC member

14/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Former IAS officer Bharat Bhushan Vyas took oath of office as member the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Thursday, a government statement said. Vyas, a 1986-batch Jammu and Kashmir cadre officer, was administered oath of office and secrecy by Chairman UPSC Arvind Saxena. A graduate in Botany, 61-year-old Vyas served in state and Centre in various capacities and retired as the chief secretary, Jammu and Kashmir. Before assuming charge as member, UPSC, he was serving...

Peace, stability in Myanmar in India’s own interest: Kovind

14/12/2018
NAY PYI TAW, Dec 13: India has said that peace and stability in Myanmar are in its own interest as the two countries stressed on the need to maintain security and stability along their borders and vowed not to allow insurgent groups to use their soil for hostile activities against each other side. In a joint statement issued at the end of President Ram NathKovind's official engagements in Myanmar on Thursday, the two countries also called on the world community to end selective and partial app...

India, Russia discuss joint manufacturing projects

14/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Defence ministers of India and Russia held intensive talks Thursday on deepening defence ties and joint manufacturing projects, including the Kamov-226 helicopters, naval frigates and projects related to land systems, the Defence Ministry said. In a meeting of the 18th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) held here, the two sides also agreed to take forward inter-governmental arrangements for facilitating joint manufacturin...

BJP issues defamation notice to its sacked leader for ‘malicious, abusive’ allegations

14/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 13: The Jammu & Kashmir BJP Thursday said it has issued a defamation notice to its expelled leader GaganBhagat for levelling "unfounded and abusive" allegations against state party president and state general secretary. The party had Monday expelled the former RS Pura MLA for indiscipline and anti-party activities. "The BJP has issued defamation notice to GaganBhagat for his defamatory remarks which went against the image of BJP state president Ravinder Raina and BJP state general ...

Don’t look at Army as a job provider: Gen Rawat

14/12/2018
PUNE, Dec 13: The Indian Army should not be looked upon as a job provider organisation, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said here Thursday, and warned personnel who feign illness or disability in order to avoid duty or get benefits. He assured all help to former and serving soldiers who have actually suffered disability in the line of duty. "Aksardekhagayahaiki log BhartiyaSenakoek employment kajariyamanatehai, naukarihasil karanekajariya (It is often seen that people feel the Army is a means.

Interpol issues Red Corner Notice against Mehul Choksi: CBI

14/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 13: The Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against absconding billionaire MehulChoksi, who is accused of cheating state-run Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 13,000 crore in alleged collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi, officials said Thursday. Choksi, who escaped in the first week of January this year after he and his companies cheated the bank of Rs 7,000 crore, has taken citizenship of Antigua. He appealed against the CBI's application seeking the RCN. The Interpol...

Recent Assembly polls show BJP not invincible, can be beaten: Omar

14/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 13: The recent assembly poll results have demonstrated that the BJP is not invincible as there is "anger" among people over several of the Centre's policies, including on agriculture, rising fuel prices and demonetisation, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said Thursday. Abdullah said the results made it clear that there is anger and a feeling of alienation among the people and the Centre has been unwilling to accept this reality. He also took a dig at Prime ...

Regret not acting on report submitted by interlocutors on Kashmir: Chidambaram

14/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Former Union Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said the UPA government should have acted on the report submitted by the three interlocutors on Kashmir in 2011 and he "deeply regrets" the way it was handled, as he underscored that talks are the "only way forward" to resolve Kashmir's problems. Speaking at Lokmat National Conclave, Chidambaram noted that bringing an amendment to Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and removing "inhumane" provisions will send a very powerf...

Need spl courts in each districts of 18 states for trial of MP, MLA cases, SC informed

14/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Special designated courts in all districts of 18 states should be set up for speedy trial of criminal cases involving sitting and former lawmakers, the Supreme Court was informed Thursday. Senior advocate and amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria told the top court that high courts in Bihar and Kerala have issued directions for setting up special designated courts in each of their districts as directed by it on December 4. He said special courts, which were directed to be established...

S Korean foreign minister to visit India on Dec 18-19: MEA

14/12/2018
New Delhi, Dec 13: South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha is slated to visit India next week, during which she will hold talks with her counterpart SushmaSwaraj on the progress in multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, the MEA said Thursday. On an invitation by External Affairs Minister Swaraj, Kang will visit India on December 18-19, the ministry said in a statement. "During the visit, External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (...

CORRUPTION IS J&K’s BIGGEST PROBLEM: MALIK

13/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 12: Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Wednesday that corruption is the single biggest problem that has retarded economic development in the state. Addressing the media after releasing a compendium of developmental and administrative works done in the state during Governor's rule, Malik said: "Corruption is the single biggest problem of the state. "Those in power here, be it political, administrative or business power, live like Mughal emperor Jahangir. "The poor youths who go w...

RASSANA MURDER CASE: 108th witness recorded; Sawhney cross examines incharge SIT

13/12/2018
PATHANKOT, Dec 12: Pr. Sessions Judge Pathankot Dr. Tejwinder Singh recorded 108th witness of the Prosecution in Rasana Murder Case of Mr. Peerzada Naveed. Mr. Peerzada Naveed was the Incharge SIT in Rasana Murder Case. Mr. A.K. Sawhney, Advocate one of the defence counsel cross examined Naveed. Meanwhile Mr Sawhney moved an application in the J&K High Court on behalf of the victim of Rape Case allegedly committed by Mr. Talib Hussain a witness in Rasana Murder Case. In one of the Rap...

Cold grips Kashmir, Gulmarg records minus 8.0 deg Celsius

13/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 12: Night temperatures dipped Wednesday across the Kashmir Valley with Gulmarg recording minus 8.0 degrees Celsius, Met officials said. Srinagar, recorded a low of 0.2 degrees Celsius, dropping 1.4 degrees compared to previous night, they said. The temperature in Qazigund fell to 0.6 degrees Celsius, while nearby Kokernag town recorded a low of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, they said. Kupwara in north of the state saw the mercury settling at minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, official...

759 stone pelting incidents in JK in 2018: MHA

13/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 12: As many as 759 incidents of stone pelting were reported in Jammu and Kashmir so far this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday. Union minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir also said 238 terrorists were eliminated by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir till December 2, 2018. "There are instances of stone pelting during anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The state government has reported that 759 cases have been registered against stone pelters in 2018,...

Vyas resigns as Advisor to Gov; likely to be made UPSC member

13/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 12: The advisor to Jammu and Kashmir governor, B B Vyas, Wednesday submitted his resignation to pave the way for consideration of his name as member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), officials said. Vyas, a 1986 batch IAS officer from Jammu and Kashmir cadre, is likely to fly to the national capital soon for completing the formalities of filing his nomination so that the process of considering his name for the post can be initiated by the government. The governor is y...

Asked Pak to vacate all areas under its illegal occupation last month: Govt

13/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 12: The government on Wednesday said India has repeatedly called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation and it made this assertion to Islamabad last month as well. Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India's "consistent and principled" position is that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is, and shall be an integral part of India. Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of approximatel...

Court directs NIA to hand over documents to separatist Aasiya Andrabi

13/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 12: A Delhi court Wednesday directed NIA to hand over certain documents to Kashmiri separatist Aasiya Andrabi, arrested in connection with a case of allegedly waging war against the country with support from Pakistan. Special Judge Rakesh Syal directed the agency to hand over the copy of the charge sheet and other documents filed along with it to Andrabi, chief of the banned outfit Dukhtaran-e-Milat, and two other accused. The charge sheet and the documents, which also included...

Encounter breaks out in Sopore, 2 terrorists holed up; mobile service suspended

13/12/2018
BARAMULLA, Dec 12: An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Brath Kalan village of Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Wednesday evening. According to reports, One or Two terrorists are believed to be hiding in the residential area. Mobile internet services have been suspended in the nearby areas. A police spokesperson confirmed that terrorists and security forces exchanged fires saying, “Exchange of fire between Terrorists & Security forces at Brath K...

Twitterati on a roll over poll results: From ‘Pappu pass ho gaya’ to ‘BJP gets triple-talaq’

13/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 12: Election results may be good or bad for those politically-inclined based on their party affiliation, but Twitterati across the spectrum are having a field day with catchy one-liners, jokes and memes all around, ranging from 'Pappu pass ho gaya' to the 'BJP gets triple talaq'. A good number of jokes are also targetted at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who had campaigned extensively for the BJP during the elections. Several viral memes take a swipe at his numero...

Support network of militants choked to ensure peaceful Panchayat elections: Kumar

13/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 12: Jammu and Kashmir administration under Governor Satyapal Malik managed to conduct the nine phased Panchayat elections without any violent incidents or poll related killing, even though the turn out in the Valley remained low. The overall turnout in the nine phases in the state was 74 per cent with Jammu recording 83.5 percent while in Kashmir which includes Ladakh the poll percentage was 44.4 per cent. In the final phase of the Panchayat elections on Tuesday, as per the gover...

Pellet removed from youngest victim's eye

13/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 12: Doctors on Wednesday successfully removed the pellet lodged in the right eye of an 18-month-old girl, Hiba Nisar, the youngest pellet victim in Kashmir who was injured after getting hit inside her house last month. "We have removed the pellet which was lodged in the right eye of the infant girl. We cannot say for sure that her ability to see with the affected eye will be restored, but we are making our best efforts," a doctor, who was part of the team that performed the opera...

BJP ‘anti-Dalit’, victimised me for being one: Bhagat

13/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 12: Days after his expulsion from the BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit, Gagan Bhagat on Wednesday accused the state party leadership of being "anti-Dalit" and alleged he was victimised for being one. He claimed that the party's debacle in the recently concluded assembly elections in five states was a result of its "anti-Dalit" ideology. Going against the party line, Bhagat had on December 3 moved the Supreme Court challenging the dissolution of state assembly. The apex court, however, ...

SC collegium discusses elevation of judges for apex court

13/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 12: The Supreme Court Collegium on Wednesday is understood to have deliberated on the issue of elevating chief justices of some of the high courts to the apex court, a source said. The source in the apex court said the five-member collegium headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi is understood to have discussed the names of chief justices of high courts of Delhi and Rajasthan for bringing them to the top court as judges. Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog are the...

482 Indian fishermen languishing in Pak jails, 18 in Sri Lanka: MEA

13/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 12: A total of 500 Indian fishermen are languishing in various jails of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the Lok Sabha was told on Wednesday. Altogether 482 fishermen are languishing in Pakistani jails while 18 are in custody in Sri Lanka, Minister of State at the External Affairs Ministry V K Singh said in a written reply. However, he clarified that Pakistan has acknowledged custody of only 391 Indian fishermen. Singh also said as many as 174 Indian fishermen were released by Pakistan...

Cong makes big gains in Assembly polls in Hindi heartland

12/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 11: A resurgent Congress Tuesday made significant gains in the Assembly elections, dealing a body blow to the BJP in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and was locked in a cliffhanger in Madhya Pradesh. The reverses for the BJP in the Hindi heartland threw wide open the 2019 Lok Sabha elections which until a few months ago appeared to be in the grip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party. The Assembly polls held for five states also saw the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) recording a ...

PM MODI TAUGHT ME WHAT NOT TO DO: RAHUL

12/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 11: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi taught him "what not to do" and he also "learnt a lot" from the massive defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi also said the prime minister got a massive mandate but refused to listen to "heartbeat of the country". Addressing a press conference here after the Congress' resurgence in the Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, he said, "I was speaking to my mother yes...

4 policemen gunned down by Jaish terrorists in Shopian; weapons snatched

12/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 11: Four policemen, who were guarding a minority pocket in south Kashmir's Shopian district, were gunned down Tuesday by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, police said. At the time of the attack, the policemen, wearing 'pehran' (a gown worn in Kashmir during winters), were braving cold in their pre-fabricated guardroom outside the minority pocket at Zainpora area of the district. The pocket houses six Kashmiri pandit families, but only one family was present there a...

Modi congratulates Cong; says BJP accepts people’s mandate with humility

12/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Congress for its victory in assembly polls Tuesday and said the BJP, which has suffered reverses in the elections, accepts people's mandate with humility. In a tweet, Modi also congratulated Telangana Chief Minister K C Rao for his party's landslide win in the state and Mizo National Front (MNF) for its victory in Mizoram. With the BJP suffering setbacks in its strongholds, Modi sought to boost the morale of its workers, saying...

74% polling in nine phases of Panchayat polls, 38.8% in final phase

12/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 11: Jammu and Kashmir recorded an overall polling of 74 per cent in the nine phases of Panchayat elections, with the last phase on Tuesday witnessing 38.8 per cent voting, election officials said. In the nine phases, Jammu recorded 83.5 per cent voter turn out, Ladakh 67.8 per cent and Kashmir 41.3 per cent, they said. The polls passed off peacefully amid tight security with no untoward incident despite a boycott call given by separatists and the lurking threat of violence by t...

Govt names former bureaucrat Shaktikanta Das as new RBI Guv

12/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 11: Former bureaucrat Shaktikanta Das was Tuesday named the new governor of the Reserve Bank of India after Urjit Patel abruptly resigned amid a face-off with the government over issues related to governance and autonomy of the central bank. Das, 61, who was the first to field questions on the shock November 2016 decision to junk 86 per cent of the currency in circulation, will have a three-year tenure. Having often favoured a cut in interest rates by the central bank, he will ...

Rape victims treated as ‘untouchables’: SC; directs their identities be not disclosed

12/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 11: The Supreme Court Tuesday said it was "unfortunate" that rape victims were being treated as "untouchables" in society while directing that names and identities of victims of rape and sexual assault should not be disclosed or revealed. A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur directed the print and electronic media not to reveal identity of victims of rape and sexual assault "even in a remote manner". The apex court said FIRs in cases of rape and sexual assault, including tho...

Night temperature dips across Kashmir following rain and snow

12/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 11: Night temperatures dropped across all weather stations in Kashmir but stayed above the freezing point at most places even though the valley witnessed snow and rains on Monday, Met officials said here. Srinagar city the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recorded a low of 1.6 degrees Celsius Monday night, dropping 0.8 degrees compared to the night before, the officials said Tuesday. They said Qazigund the gateway town to the valley recorded a low of 1.6 degrees Celsius, whil...

People rejected Mandir-Masjid politics: Mehbooba Mufti on poll results

12/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 11: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday said the results in the assembly polls to five states have shown that political awakening is on the rise in the country as people have rejected the communal politics. The Congress was on Tuesday set to wrest Rajasthan and Chattisgarh from the BJP which was trailing marginally in Madhya Pradesh in a cliffhanger while the TRS stormed back to power in Telangana and the MNF dislodged the Congress in Mizoram. "People rejected Mandir-Masj...

US adds Pak, China to its blacklist for religious freedom violations

12/12/2018
WASHINGTON, Dec 11: The Trump Admin-istration on Tuesday designated Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia and seven others as countries of particular concern for having engaged in or tolerated "systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom." Simultaneously, the Trump Administration also designated al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qaeda, al-Shabab, Boko Haram, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern. "On November 28,...

Under construction structure dismantled

12/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 11: Continuing the anti encroachment drive a team of forest officials of Jammu Forest Division led by Range Officer Jindrah Kailash Choudhary, Shiv Kumar I/C Block Officer, Jindrah removed encroachment from Compartment No. 8/Jindrah of Jindrah Block at Pavana Korga Village and dismantled one under construction structure and retrieved back Forest land from the clutches of Akbar S/o Haji Abdul Karim despite resistance from the encroacher the operation was successfully conducted by the ...

Body of missing driver recovered

12/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 11: A 29-year-old driver, missing since early December, was found dead in Rajouri district, officials said Tuesday. The body of Ram Chander Prakesh, alias Vicky, resident of Siot village of Nowshera, was recovered from a stream near Lamberi village on Monday night, they said, adding that the deceased was missing since December 2. The body was handed over to the relatives of the deceased after completion of legal formalities, a senior official said. Family members and relatives of...

High Court mourns demise of Adv Lehar

12/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 11: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Jammu today convened a condolence meeting to mourn the demise of Advocate Sham Sunder Anand Lehar. The condolence meeting was attended by Chief Justice Jammu and Kashmir High Court Justice Gita Mittal, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Justice Sidhu Sharma, judicial officers, Bar members, and senior advocates. On the occasion, Justice Mittal described Lehar as a great human being who was always ready to help the poor, needy and...

Kishanganga project tunnel dewatered to lay cables

12/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 11: The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have dewatered one of the tunnels of the Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project (KHEP) for laying of cable to Gurez valley in Bandipora district. "To provide mobile connectivity to around a dozen habitation of remote Gurez valley for the first time, the Bandipora district administration took a task to lay the cable through the Adit-1 tunnel of Kishenganga Hydro Electric Project (KHEP) which was the only option to provide connectivity to villag...

Omar dares rattled BJP to declare its CM candidate ahead of polls

11/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 10: National Conference Vice President and former Chief Minister Mr Omar Abdullah on Monday dared BJP to declare its chief ministerial candidate for Jammu and Kashmir ahead of elections to Legislative Assembly, saying it had lost face and credibility among people of Jammu by indulging in rhetoric and false claims. "The BJPs bravado to have its own chief minister from Jammu fell flat twice, first by stitching alliance with 28-member PDP in 2015 and later while unsuccessfully attempti...

Modi Govt considers farmers as liability: Rahul

11/12/2018
MOHALI, (Pb), Dec 10: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the BJP Government over the issue of jobs and farmers' dues, saying the Modi Government considers farmers as a "liability". He also charged that every institution in the country is being attacked. Gandhi was delivering his address after the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) announced the re-launch of Hindi newspaper "Navjivan". A commemorative publication was also released on the occasion. "Main issues are jobs and dues...

Mughal Road closes after fresh snowfall in Kashmir

11/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 10: The Mughal Road, connecting Jammu's Poonch and Rajouri districts with South Kashmir's Shopian, was closed for vehicular traffic Monday after higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall, officials said. Higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall this morning while some areas in plains received intermittent rains, forcing the closure of several vital road-links, including the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. The Mughal Road was closed for vehicular traffic as a precaut...

VVIP Chopper case: Delhi Court grants further 5-day remand of Christian Michel

11/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 10: A Delhi Court on Monday granted five-day remand of Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in Agusta Westland VVIP chopper deal, for his custodial interrogation by the CBI. He was produced before Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar after the expiry of his five-day CBI remand. The probe agency sought further remand of nine days for Michel's custodial interrogation saying he was not cooperating in the investigation of the case. At the outset, Michel withdrew his earlier bail plea...

Despite tense situation at LoC, Karvan-e-Aman bus leaves for POK

11/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 10: The weekly Karvan-e-Aman bus, operating between summer capital, Srinagar, and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), left here on Monday to cross over to other side of the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector, where situation was tense due to ceasefire violation by Pak troops last week which later led to suspension of trade for one day. Despite strike called by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against alleged Human Rights (HR) violation in the Kashmir valle...

Panchayat Polls-2018: Voting to take place at 452 polling stations in Final Phase

11/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 10: Voting for 9th and Final Phase of Panchayat Polls-2018 will be held tomorrow at 452 polling stations in Kashmir division. The timing for polling is from 8 am to 2 pm. According to the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, 346 polling stations have been categorized as hypersensitive in this Phase. He said 430 candidates in the fray for 55 Sarpanch and 138 Panch seats while 68 Sarpanchs and 433 Panchs have been elected unopposed in this Phase. He said in the areas going to polls in Phas...

Vaishno Devi Yatra breaks last five years record

11/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 10: The world famous Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine pilgrimage have set new record as the yatra figure of 2017 was crossed on Monday. Talking to reporters, Simrandeep Singh, CEO, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said, "In the last year, a total of 81,78,318 pilgrims visited to the cave shrine but new record has been set as the yatra crossed this figure on Monday morning with still 21 days are left in the current year," Simrandeep Singh, CEO, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board h...

We have to cooperate with each other in public interest: PM to Oppn on House functioning

11/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 10: The Government and the opposition have to cooperate with each other for the smooth functioning of Parliament which is in the public interest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told an all-party meet Monday convened ahead of the Winter session. He also assured the opposition that the Government was willing to discuss all issues, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said quoting the Prime Minister at the meeting. The Government is also learnt to have suggested that ...

Separatists urge UN Secy-Gen to take steps to resolve Kashmir issue

11/12/2018
Srinagar, Dec 10: Separatists on Monday urged the United Nations Secretary-General to take steps to resolve the Kashmir issue. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, in a letter to United Nations Secret-ary-General Antonio Guterres, alleged human rights violations in the Valley. They said a commission should be established to end the cycles of violence and "ensure accountability" as the conflict has consumed many lives in Jammu and Kashmir. In...

Separatists-backed strike hits normal life in Kashmir

11/12/2018
Srinagar, Dec 10: Normal life was affected in Kashmir on Monday because of a strike called by separatists to highlight the alleged human rights violations in the Valley. Most shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, in support of the strike which is being observed on Human Rights Day. While public transport was hit, private cars and auto-rickshaws were plying in a few areas of the city. Similar reports of shutdown ...

SC dismisses PIL challenging dissolution of J&K Assembly

11/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 10: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL challenging the dissolution of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik. "We are not inclined to interfere (with the decision of the Governor)," a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul said. The bench was hearing a PIL filed by BJP leader Gagan Bhagat, who was an MLA before the Assembly was dissolved.

2 teens detained in temple theft case in Rajouri

11/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 10: Two teenagers were Monday detained for their alleged involvement in a temple theft case in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, the police said. A local resident had Sunday lodged an FIR about the theft in an ancient temple in old Thanamandi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajouri Yougal Manhas said. The police team headed by Station House Officer (SHO) of Thanamandi Police Station Nazir Ahmad began the investigation immediately and names of the two teenagers surfaced, ...

Disgruntled Baig holds meeting with Mehbooba

11/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 10: The attempts of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to mollify disgruntled Lok Sabha member of the party Muzaffar Hussain Baig bore fruit on Monday as the two leaders jointly chaired a meeting of the party here. "Senior leaders of the party today (Monday) met under the chairmanship of party President @MehboobaMufti and Muzzafar Hussain Beigh Sahab," the PDP said on its Twitter handle soon after the meeting. The development comes amidst rebellion in the PDP with three former MLAs ha...

Vaishno Devi Hills receive season’s first snowfall

11/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 10: The upper hills of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi on Monday received season's first snowfall. "It was raining and foggy weather conditions while the upper reaches of Trikuta Hills also received first snowfall of the season," Simrandeep Singh, CEO Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board here said. He said that the Board has made adequate arrangements for the pilgrims in view of cold weather conditions. "We have also made heating (angeethi) arrangements on the track so that the pilgrims keep...

Will raise Rafale, RBI autonomy issue in Parliament: Azad

11/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 10: The opposition will press for a joint parliamentary committee to probe the Rafale jet deal and raise several issues, including the misuse of probe agencies and autonomy for RBI, in the winter session of Parliament beginning Tuesday, says Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. Emerging from the all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the Winter session, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Monday said the opposition will once again press for the formati...

CB Kashmir books fraudsters posing as ICICI Prudential Insurance agent

11/12/2018
SRINAGAR, Dec 10: Crime Branch Kashmir has registered a case against Binod Kumar, Aditi and Arun Kumar for robbing Nisar Ahmad Bhat through NEFT Banking under the garb of reimbursement of ICICI Prudential savings Surkasha-LP from ICICI Prudential Insurance. A preliminary enquiry was initiated at CBK on a written complaint received from Nissar Ahmad Bhat R/O Natipora, Srinagar, Bureau Chief "The Hindu Daily Newspaper." During the course of enquiry it came to fore that the complainant has been...

SC issues notices to 5 states on amendments in 2013 Land Acquisition Act

11/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 10: The Supreme Court Monday issued notices to five states seeking their responses on a plea challenging the validity of certain amendments made by them to a central law of 2013 on land acquisition. A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta agreed to hear the plea which has sought to struck down the alleged "contradictory amendments" made by Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Ac...

3 LeT militants killed in encounter; Army jawan, 3 civilians hurt

10/12/2018
Srinagar, Dec 9: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including one of the youngest ultras in Kashmir, were killed in an 18-hour gunfight with security forces on the outskirts of Srinagar Sunday. A soldier and three civilians were also injured during the encounter, a police spokesperson said. "A search operation was launched Saturday jointly by the police and the security forces, based on a credible input about the presence of militants in the Mujgund area on the Bandipora road," he added. ...

SAC approves legislation to tackle Benami transactions

10/12/2018
JAMMU, Dec 9: The State Administrative Council (SAC) under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik approved the 'Jammu and Kashmir Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Bill, 2018'. The Bill is a comprehensive law aimed at tackling Benami transactions in the State. The Bill provides for creation of the requisite administrative structure for enforcement of the law and empowers the Designated Authorities to attach and confiscate any property which is held to be Benami. Panel provisi...

Rahul hits back at Modi for ‘gramophone’ jibe with video of repeated references to Gandhis

10/12/2018
NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit back at Narendra Modi for comparing him to a stuck gramophone, posting a video of the prime minister in which he is seen and heard making repeated references to members of the Gandhi family in a medley of his speeches. In a video interaction with BJP leaders in October, Modi had mocked Rahul Gandhi, saying he keeps repeating things like a stuck gramophone but people would not accept his “childish” claims and “lies” against the governm...

2 inter-state narcotic smugglers held in with 202 kg poppy straw

10/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 9: Two alleged inter-state narcotic smugglers were arrested Sunday after 202 kg of poppy straw was seized from a Punjab-bound truck in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said. Senior superintendent of police, Udhampur, Rayees Mohammad Bhat, said a truck coming from Kashmir was subjected to thorough search at Jakheni along Jammu-Srinagar National Highway leading to the recovery of the huge quantity of the contraband. Jatinder Masih and Jatinder Singh, b...

Wanted Hizbul militant arrested in Kishtwar

10/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 9: A wanted Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, who was luring youths into militancy, was arrested on Sunday in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said. Reyaz Ahmad, a resident of Sounder Dachhan village and a close associate of hardcore terrorist Mohammad Amin alias 'Jhangir', was arrested by a police party based on specific information from the town, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Rajinder Gupta told PTI. He said several pictures of Ahmad holding...

Ending terrorism pre-condition for dialogue with Pak: Rajnath

10/12/2018
Mathura, Dec 9: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday said ending terrorist activities was a pre-condition for any dialogue with Pakistan as its "dual" role is unacceptable to India. "Promoting terrorist activities and entering into a dialogue for peace cannot run together," he said, when asked by reporters to explain why India is avoiding any dialogue with Pakistan. He said either Islamabad should stop aiding terrorist activities or express its commitment against terrorism with assurance ...

Pak issues visas to 139 Indian pilgrims to visit Katas Raj dham

10/12/2018
New Delhi, Dec 9: The Pakistan High Commission Sunday said it has issued visas to 139 Indian pilgrims to visit Katas Raj Dham, the famous Shiva temple, in the country's Punjab province. Under the framework of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year. Pakistani pilgrims also visit India every year under the protocol. "Another group of Indian pilgrims, comprising 139 people, have been issued visas by the Pakistan High Comm...

Snowfall, rain likely in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, Tuesday

10/12/2018
Shimla, Dec 9: Rain and snowfall are very likely in isolated places of Himachal Pradesh on Monday and Tuesday due to western disturbances, the Meteorological department said on Sunday. Western disturbance presently lies as a cyclonic circulation over east Afghanistan and its neighbourhood, MeT, Shimla, Director Manmohan Singh said. Under its influence, isolated to scattered rainfall and snowfall may occur in Himachal Pradesh on Monday and Tuesday, he said.

Wrote strongly to HRD Minister Prakash to cancel the order for removal of Kashmiri Language from ‘Basha Sangam’: Soz

10/12/2018
Srinagar, Dec 9: "I wrote strongly to HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar to cancel the order that is purported to have been issued by your ministry for removal of Kashmiri language from 'Basha Sangam'. I informed Prakash Javadekar that a section of the press in Kashmir has carried a story prominently that since some Kashmiri pandits approached the ministry to remove some words that bear reference to Kashmiri Muslims' salutation 'Asalamualikum' and couple of other words and ministry reportedly remo...

Pass resolution in Assembly in support of Women’s Reservation Bill: Rahul to Punjab CM

10/12/2018
New Delhi, Dec 9: Congress party president Rahul Gandhi has asked Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to pass "a resolution calling for the reservation of one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies for women, in the next session." In a letter written to Chief Minister Singh, Rahul has stated, "In order to affirm our support to the passage of the (Women's Reservation) Bill, it would be expedient for the State Assembly to pass a resolution calling for the reserv...

2 held for swindling money from Govt employees for providing LTC tours

10/12/2018
New Delhi, Dec 9: Two men were arrested for allegedly cheating several government employees on the pretext of providing them Leave Travel Concession (LTC) tours, police said Sunday. The accused were identified as Ashwani Singh (32), a resident of Uttam Nagar and Harpat Singh (26), a resident of Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan, they said. In June 2013, a person filed a complaint alleging that one Monika Tyagi, who introduced herself as the marketing executive in INI Tour and Travel Pvt Ltd, ...

India starts visa on arrival for South Korean nationals

10/12/2018
New Delhi, Dec 9: India has started granting visa on arrival to South Korean nationals, a move that is expected to boost inflow of tourists and business visitors, officials said Sunday. South Korea is the second country whose nationals are now given visa on arrival by India after Japan, whose citizens have been getting the privilege since March 2016. India has decided to offer visa on arrival to South Korean nationals with effect from October 1, 2018, a home ministry official said. Like the ...

Around 5,000 migratory birds flock in Gharana wetland

10/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 9: About 5,000 migratory birds has arrived at Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve along the International border in the outskirts of Jammu, an official said. Located about 30 km from Jammu, Gharana is surrounded by wetlands of Makwal, Kukdian, Abdullian and Pargwal where more than 170 resident and migratory bird species, such as bar-headed geese, gadwalls, common teals, purple swamp hens, Indian moor hens, black-winged stilts, cormorants, egrets and green shanks flock during the wi...

Kashmir mainstream politicians more dangerous than Separatists: Jitendra

10/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 9: Union minister Jitendra Singh said Sunday the "so-called" mainstream politicians of Kashmir are more "dangerous" than separatist leaders whose stand is relatively predictable. "The so-called mainstream politicians of Kashmir are more dangerous than separatist leaders, because the stand of separatists is relatively predictable but that of these mainstream politicians is absolutely unpredictable and subject to variations depending upon the political expediency of the situation", Si...

Police registers FIR after theft attempt in temple in Rajouri

10/12/2018
Jammu, Dec 9: Police registered an FIR on Sunday after unidentified persons allegedly broke open a temple with an intention of robbery in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, triggering protests in the border town, police said. Police suspect the involvement of two teenagers in the incident annd efforts are on to apprehend them, a police officer said. He said the case was registered after a local resident, Navneet Gupta, lodged a complaint with the Thanamandi police station, stating that ...

Rain, snow expected in Kashmir till Tuesday

10/12/2018
Srinagar, Dec 9: The meteorological department has forecast light-to-moderate rainfall or snow at most places across the Kashmir valley from Sunday till Tuesday. "A western disturbance is approaching Jammu and Kashmir, under the influence of which light-to-moderate rain/snow will occur at many places and snow at few places over the Ladakh region from the evening of Sunday to Tuesday, especially on Monday," a Met department official said. He said the higher reaches of the state were most likely...

India, China to resume military drills after one year gap

10/12/2018
Beijing, Dec 9: India and China will resume their joint military drills after a one-year gap on Tuesday in the southwest Chinese city of Chengdu to improve capabilities in fighting terrorism and promote mutual understanding, officials said on Sunday. The opening ceremony of the drills will be held on December 11, they said. Each side will send 100 troops to take part in the 7th India and China joint military exercises - 'Hand in Hand' - which will focus on counter-terrorism operations, Chines...