Work with commitment and professionalism: Omar to newly appointed medical officers

03/09/2026
SRINAGAR, Sep 2: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today handed over appoint-ment orders to newly appointed Medical Officers of the Department of Health & Medical Education at a ceremony held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here. Personally handing over the appointment orders to the newly recruited Medical Officers appointed across Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister congratulated them on joining the J&K Government service and urged them to regard their appointme...

‘BJP facilitated, NC repressed’: Omar slams ‘differential treatment’ of protesters

03/09/2026
SRINAGAR, Sep 2: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused the police and the administration of adopting different standards while dealing with protests by the BJP and the National Conference, claiming while the saffron leaders were escorted, those from his party were dragged. Talking to reporters, Abdullah said while police “facilitated” the BJP leaders during their march to the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday, his National Conference (NC) colleagues were “brutally re...

HC denies bail in assault case, cites incomplete probe, absconding accused

03/09/2026
JAMMU, Sep 2: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a plea seeking regular bail by a 57-year-old Rajouri resident in connection with an alleged pre-planned assault involving several persons and weapons, observing that the investigation was still at a nascent stage and that the release of the accused could affect witnesses and the ongoing probe. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, while pronouncing the judgment on September 1 in Bail Application No. 147/2026, held that the ap...

Chatroo Rape-death case: Crime Branch raids prime accused’s house; 2nd hospital worker dismissed

03/09/2026
JAMMU, Sep 2: The Crime Branch on Wednesday raided the residence of the prime accused in the rape-and-death case of a 15-year-old tribal girl in Kishtwar, while authorities dismissed a second sanitation worker from the hospital in the case, officials said. The case was handed over to the Crime Branch on August 29 following widespread condemnation and protests. A minor was raped allegedly by her school teacher over several months before she died during a pregnancy termination procedure on A...

Face-off: NC, BJP hit the streets with rival protests

03/09/2026
SRINAGAR, Sep 2: In the first major political protests after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the ruling National Conference and the opposition BJP came out on the streets on Wednesday accusing each other of failing to deliver on promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference (NC) accused the BJP-led Centre of not fulfilling its promise to restore statehood to J-K, while the BJP alleged that the NC government failed to deliver on its electoral promises. Po...

Artists’ workshop creating sculptures for evolution park, statues of martyrs

03/09/2026
JAMMU, Sep 2: A group of three artists has set up a workshop in Jammu, creating sculptures for an evolution park, statues of martyrs for the Northern Command in Udhampur and undertaking other beautification project across the city. The artists are working on an ambitious "evolution park" for Jammu Army Public School, conceived as a visual journey through the development and diversity of life, with sculptures depicting humans, lions, monkeys, reptiles, butterflies, and other life forms. “T...

IGP leads foot patrol, reviews law and order situation

03/09/2026
JAMMU, Sep 2: Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Tejinder Singh, led a foot patrol of security personnel here on Wednesday and reviewed the law and order situation, officials said. Singh was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General Jammu-Samba-Kathua Range, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu and SP North Jammu, the officials said. Singh took over as the Jammu Zone IGP following a major reshuffle in the top police leadership last month. During the patrolling, the officers in...

Farooq accuses LG admin of orchestrating threats to Kashmiri Pandits

03/09/2026
SRINAGAR, Sep 2: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday accused the administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of orchestrating threats to Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley to continue depriving Jammu and Kashmir of its statehood. “Who is issuing the threats? Kashmiri Pandits hardly reside here now. All the top officers posted here are Hindus from outside. The DG, DIGs, SSPs are all Hindus, right? The deputy commissioners are also Hindus. Why aren't they receivi...

ED raids Rakesh Choudhary's residence, office in NHAI toll collection fraud case

03/09/2026
JAMMU, Sep 2: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday condu-cted searches at 14 premises across multiple states in connection with a money laundering investigation into alleged fraudulent toll collection at various National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) toll plazas, with businessman Rakesh Choudhary's residence and office in Jammu also searched. The searches were conducted by the ED's Lucknow Zonal Office under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. P...

NIA court rejects bail to Bathindi IED case accused, cites prima facie material, witness concerns

03/09/2026
JAMMU, Sep 2: A Special NIA Court in Jammu has rejected the bail application of Nadeem Ayoub Rather, an accused in the 2021 Bathindi IED conspiracy case, observing that the material on record prima facie indicated his alleged involvement in the conspiracy and that his release at this stage could have a bearing on the remaining trial and witnesses. Special Judge NIA Cases, Jammu, Prem Sagar dismissed the bail plea on September 2 in case RC-04/2021/NIA/JMU, registered for offences under Sections...

International Film Festival of Kashmir begins; cinema buffs express excitement

03/09/2026
SRINAGAR, Sep 2: A two-day international film festival has begun at Tagore Hall in Srinagar, featuring nearly 28 films from different countries, including several Kashmiri films. The films cover a wide range of subjects and aim to attract youngsters towards cinema while promoting a vibrant film culture in the valley. The festival is also showcasing documentaries highlighting several challenges faced by ordinary people. Many cinema buffs turned up to watch the film screenings and expressed exc...

SC quashes 20-yr-old conviction on juvenility ground, says child should not be treated as criminal

03/09/2026
NEW DELHI, Sep 2: Observing that "a child should not be treated as a criminal", the Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside the 20-year-old conviction of a man who was a minor at the time of alleged offence, saying that the procedural finality and "technical shackles" cannot be used to deny statutory benefits to a juvenile. The top court said that a child is a victim of circumstances and is sometimes drawn to the crime world due to socio-economic or emotional and psychological reasons. "The State ...

ACB arrests junior assistant for accepting Rs 15,000 bribe

03/09/2026
JAMMU, Sep 2: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday arrested a junior assistant posted in the office of the Assistant Commissioner in Jammu for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 for issuance of a marriage certificate, officials said. The accused was identified as Ajay Kumar, a resident of Gango Chack, Gajansoo, Jammu, they said. The ACB said a complaint was received alleging that Kumar had demanded Rs 20,000 from the complainant for the issuance of the certificate...

Nepal flash flood death toll rises to 1,127; rescuers race to reach thousands missing

03/09/2026
KATHMANDU, Sep 2: The death toll from Nepal's devastating flash floods rose to 1,127 on Wednesday as rescuers are racing to find thousands still missing a week after the Himalayan disaster, police said. According to the Nepal Police, 348 more dead bodies were recovered from Chitwan, 217 from Nawalparasi East, 190 from Nawalparasi West and 155 from Nuwakot. Similarly, 66 bodies were recovered from Gorkha, 59 from Dhading, 45 from Rasuwa, and 38 from Tanahu. Police said postmortem and legal id...

BCI Chairperson Manan Mishra only pro tem until lawyers' body elects new office-bearers, says SC

03/09/2026
NEW DELHI, Sep 2: The Supreme Court on Wednesday remarked that Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra's position was only "pro tem" until a freshly constituted lawyers' body elects its office-bearers and directed that it has to take any policy decision in consultation with the Attorney General for India and the Solicitor General. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said it would not be influenced by any allegations and it was...

SC recommends Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati as Chief Justice of J&K and Ladakh HC

01/09/2026
JAMMU, Aug 31: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Rajasthan High Court Judge Dr Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The recommendation was made at the meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium held on August 31, 2026. In the same set of recommendations, Justice Sanjay K Agrawal of the Chhattisgarh High Court has been recommended as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, while Gujarat High Court Judge ...

Red Cross must reach far-flung, border areas: LG Sinha

01/09/2026
SRINAGAR, Aug 31: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday chaired the Annual General Meeting of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), J&K UT, and reviewed its functioning, activities and future roadmap. The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, General Secretary, IRCS J&K, Shubhankar Pratyush Pathak, Deputy Commissioners, who are Presidents of District Red Cross Units, and officials of the society. Sinha, who is President of the IRC...

Move from ‘endless war towards end of war’: PM Modi tells Russian President Putin

01/09/2026
BISHKEK, Aug 31: Calling for an immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to move from "endless war towards end of war”, asserting that a peaceful resolution of the conflict is humanity's shared priority. In a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in this capital city of Kyrgyzstan, Modi said every day of war sets the humanity back and that India, the land of Ga...

Modi meets Iran President; says India supports all efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace in West Asia

01/09/2026
BISHKEK, Aug 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday that India supports all efforts toward ending the conflict in West Asia and emphasised the importance of freedom of navigation and the protection of civilians and civil infrastructure in the region. Modi met Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in the Kyrgyz capital for their first bilateral talks since the outbreak of the Iran-US conflict in Febr...

‘Rs 400 a day’: Medical interns strike over low stipend, seek hike to Rs 30,000

01/09/2026
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Aug 31: MBBS and BDS interns across medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir went on an indefinite strike on Monday, protesting a monthly stipend of just Rs 12,300 -- around Rs 400 a day -- and demanding it be raised to Rs 30,000. The protesting interns claimed that their stipend had remained unchanged for nearly seven years despite repeated representations and protests, even as medical interns in several other states receive substantially higher amounts. According to compara...

India served world as ‘vishwa guru’, not ‘maha shakti’: RSS chief

01/09/2026
WASHINGTON, Aug 31: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said India’s civilisational traditions have always been guided by the principle of helping others without discrimination and the country has served the world as ‘vishwa guru’ and not as a ‘super power’. Addressing the ‘Hindu Vishwa Bandhu – Embrace the World in Friendship’ event organised by Canadian Hindus for Outreach, Relations and Dialogue in Toronto on Sunday, Bhagwat said the Hindu world view was universal in nature and believed in the principl...

HC refuses to quash 1994 encounter chargesheet, trial subject to AFSPA sanction

01/09/2026
JAMMU, Aug 31: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has refused to quash a chargesheet against four former CRPF personnel in a 1994 case relating to the death of a civilian during an alleged encounter in Bhaderwah, observing that disputed questions of fact could not be examined at the stage of consideration of charge and discharge. Justice M A Chowdhary dismis-sed the petition filed by Bhola Ram Singh and three other former CRPF personnel, while directing that further proceedings...

HC sets aside dismissal of bank officer by MD over alleged anti-national activities

01/09/2026
SRINAGAR, Aug 31: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has set aside an order of a bank CEO dismissing a senior officer on national security grounds. The court said the dismissal of an employee from service without holding an inquiry is a drastic step, which has to be taken only in rare and appropriate cases. It held that the powers of the MD and CEO of the bank are not on a par with those of the President of India or a Governor under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, where...

Once again, Indian economy trumped global uncertainties: Amit Shah on Q1 GDP data

01/09/2026
NEW DELHI, Aug 31: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said the Indian economy has once again trumped global uncertainties after the country secured a GDP growth of 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of FY 2026-27. Shah also said this stands as a testament to the "visionary" leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Indian economy growing from strength to strength against global odds Under Modi govt. Once again, the Indian economy has trumped global uncertainties and secured a GDP growt...

Externment order impinges upon valuable fundamental freedoms guaranteed to citizen: SC

01/09/2026
NEW DELHI, Aug 31: The Supreme Court on Monday said an order of externment directly impinges upon the valuable fundamental freedoms guaranteed to a citizen and it cannot be made as a matter of routine. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu quashed an externment order passed in November last year against a man who was directed to remove himself from the territorial limits of Raigarh and contiguous districts in Chhattisgarh for one year. The bench said the externment order was "infi...

Nepal seeks additional international support for tunnel rescue, freezers, forensics

01/09/2026
KATHMANDU, Aug 31: Nepal has sought additional international support, including specialised equipment and technical assistance for tunnel rescue and forensic work, as rescue operations continued after the floods that have killed hundreds and left thousands missing. During a press briefing in Kathmandu on Monday, Nepal’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said the country had sought essential non-food items and services such as freezers, DNA testing kits and LiDAR from the US, re...

SC trashes PIL for enforcement of BNS provision on sexual intercourse on false promise of marriage

01/09/2026
NEW DELHI, Aug 31: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL filed by a lawyer seeking enforcement of a Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provision, which deals with sexual intercourse based on a false promise of marriage. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana termed the PIL filed by lawyer N Sudharsanarao “totally scandalous, frivolous and contemptuous” before trashing it. While dismissing the PIL, which also sought registration of criminal cases...

J&K is becoming a hub of innovation and resilience in health sector: LG

30/08/2026
SRINAGAR, Aug 29: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated the third edition of the CII Jammu and Kashmir Health Conclave, calling for greater use of technology, innovation and public-private collaboration to make healthcare more accessible, affordable and equitable. Highlighting the vision of "Health Services Anytime, Anywhere", Sinha said emerging technologies such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence, drone-based delivery of medical supplies and solar-powered cold cha...

Kishtwar girl’s rape-death probe transferred to Crime Branch as family moves HC

30/08/2026
JAMMU, Aug 29: The probe into the alleged rape and subsequent death of a 15-year-old tribal girl in a remote Kishtwar village was handed over to the Crime Branch on Saturday, shortly after her father approached the high court for an investigation. The teenager, allegedly raped by her school teacher over several months, died on August 20 during a pregnancy termination procedure. Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident and have so far arrested six person...

PM Modi arrives in Tashkent for SCO Summit, to push vision of terror-free region

30/08/2026
NEW DELHI/TASHKENT, Aug 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent on Saturday on the first leg of his two-nation visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, saying India will work with fellow members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to advance the vision of a region free from terrorism, separatism and extremism. Modi, who was received at the airport by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is visiting Uzbekistan from August 29-30 before travelling to Bishkek to att...

Suspected Pak drones sighted along LoC in Rajouri, Poonch; searches launched

30/08/2026
JAMMU, Aug 29: Security forces launched search operations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts following sightings of suspected Pakistani drones and reports of suspicious movement in forward areas, officials said. In Rajouri's Nowshera sector, suspected Pakistani drones were seen flying along the LoC in the Rumlidhara area around midnight on Thursday, officials said. Alert troops opened fire, following which the drones retreated towards the Pakistani side. Following...

HC seeks fresh affidavit from JMC Commissioner on action against building-law violators

30/08/2026
JAMMU, Aug 29: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the Commissioner of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to file a fresh and comprehensive affidavit detailing the action taken or proposed against hotels, commercial establishments, coaching institutes and other buildings allegedly violating building, parking and fire-safety norms. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, while hearing a long-pending petition on August 27, expressed dissatisfaction over the affidavit filed in ...

LAWDA arbitration award: High Court refuses to interfere with Rs 21.19 lakh payment

30/08/2026
SRINAGAR, Aug 29: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a petition filed by the J&K Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) challenging an arbitration award directing payment of Rs 21.19 lakh to a contractor in a dispute over construction of a sewer line along the Nigeen fringe here. Justice Shahzad Azeem, in a judgment pronounced on Friday, held that the award was supported by oral and documentary evidence and that the interpretation placed by the arbitrat...

Two Probationary DySPs among 13 Police Officers transferred

30/08/2026
REASI, Aug 29: Two probationary Deputy Super-intendents of Police (DySPs) are among 13 police officers transferred by Senior Superi-ntendent of Police (SSP) Reasi Mukund Tibrewal in a major administrative reshuffle. As per Order No. 349 of 2026, dated August 29, the transfers have been ordered in the interest of administration and will take effect immediately. DySP (Probationer) Ms Ujala, after completion of practical training as SHO, has been transferred from Police Station Mahore to DPL Rea...

Bar needs to introspect on its role: SC judge Nagarathna flags rising costs, delays in legal system

30/08/2026
NEW DELHI, Aug 29: Supreme Court judge B V Nagarathna on Saturday lamented that the legal system is bogged down by pendency, delays and rising costs, and asked the bar to change its mindset, rethink its role and speak in a singular voice to sustain the justice dispensation system. Justice Nagarathna, who was speaking at the 13th convocation of National Law University at Delhi, stressed that when a bar council does not earn the respect of its members, it is not a good sign for the legal profess...

SC to hear plea seeking mandatory disclosure of ethanol content in petrol on Aug 31

30/08/2026
NEW DELHI, Aug 29: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition on August 31 seeking a directive to the Centre and others to ensure mandatory and uniform labelling on every dispensing nozzle at petrol pumps, disclosing the exact percentage of ethanol in petrol. According to the apex court's causelist of August 31, the plea would come up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale. The petition, filed by Narendra Kumar Goswami, has also sought a direc...

Govt strengthening early intervention support for children with disabilities: Dr Jitendra

30/08/2026
JAMMU, Aug 29: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said the central government is strengthening early intervention mechanisms for children with disabilities, with a focus on timely identification, treatment and rehabilitation. Cross-disability early intervention centres are being established across the country to facilitate early identification and provide appropriate support to children with disabilities from infancy, the minister said, addressing a 'Prabudh Matri Shakti' Sammela...

Budgam–Katra train service resumes

30/08/2026
JAMMU, Aug 29: The train service between Budgam in central Kashmir and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) in the Jammu divis-ion resumed on Saturday after being suspended for nearly two months due to the Amarnath Yatra, bringing relief to commuters, an official said. The train service from both sides had been suspended from June 29, ahead of the commencement of the 57-day-long annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, located at an elevation of 3,880 metres in the Valley. The pil...

Vaishno Devi yatra shifted to old track after landslide triggered on Himkoti route

30/08/2026
JAMMU, Aug 29: The pilgrimage to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan has been shifted towards old track following a landslide triggered near Himkoti in Trikuta Hills of Katra town in Reasi district. Officials said that the yatra is suspended temporarily on Himkoti route after a landslide swept debris onto the road. "The route has been temporarily closed in view of the safety of pilgrims," said officials adding that men are on job and carrying out debris-clearance and restoration work. "The route h...

Nepal floods: Death toll rises to 669 as rescuers race to find thousands missing

30/08/2026
KATHMANDU, Aug 29: The death toll from flash floods in Nepal rose to 669 on Saturday, with bodies continuing to be recovered as search and rescue operations pressed ahead amid renewed rainfall, rising water levels and fears of further flooding in the Bhotekoshi River basin. Nearly 2,400 people remained missing, including at least 320 foreign nationals, while more than 4,400 people have been rescued or evacuated so far as rescuers race against time to reach remote settlements cut off by the des...

Threats to Kashmiri Pandits result of Pak's Govt and ISI ‘collusion’: Himachal Governor warns of ‘befitting response’

30/08/2026
JAMMU, Aug 29: Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta on Saturday said fresh threats to Pandit employees in Kashmir are the result of a collusion between Pakistan's government, its military and the ISI. He warned that any attempt to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir would be met with a "befitting, crushing response." The remarks came after the All PM Package Employees Forum Kashmir sought enhanced security and protection for Kashmiri Pandit employees serving in the Valley under the Prime Mi...

Operation Sindoor marked significant shift in India’s approach towards Pak: ex-Army chief Naravane

30/08/2026
VADODARA, Aug 29: Operation Sindoor marked a "very significant shift" in India's approach towards Pakistan as the strikes targeted not only terrorist hideouts near the border but also their supporters deep inside the neighbouring country, former Army chief General M M Naravane said on Saturday. Speaking to reporters after attending a private event in Vadodara to promote the start-up ecosystem, he said the operation, carried out following the Pahalgam terror attack a year ago, demonstrated that...

FDA conducts 140 inspections, lifts 55 food samples

30/08/2026
SRINAGAR, Aug 29: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, conducted 140 inspections and lifted 55 food samples for testing of quality and safety parameters across various districts of the Union Territory, officials said. The samples collected during the enforcement drive included milk and milk products, edible oils, spices and other food commodities. The FDA also issued 17 improvement notices to food business operators under Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act,...

Delhi Red Fort blast case: NIA court takes cognizance of chargesheet

30/08/2026
NEW DELHI, Aug 29: A Special NIA court at Rouse Avenue on Saturday took cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Delhi Red Fort blast case. The NIA had filed the first chargesheet against 12 accused persons. While accused Umar Un Nabi died in the blast, another accused is absconding. A supplementary chargesheet was also filed against two accused persons. This case pertains to the November 2025 Red Fort car bomb blast case. The NIA has already filed...