Autumn tourism needs new attractions beyond tulip season: Omar

24/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today opened the Chrysanthemum Show 2026 at the Botanical Garden, Chashma Shahi, Srinagar and the Chrysanthemum Theme Garden, popularly known as Bagh-e-Gul-Dawood, was opened for the public, marking another step towards extending Kashmir's tourism season and establishing autumn as an equally attractive time to visit the Valley. Titled 'Enriching Autumn with New Colours', the show showcases the beauty of chrysanthemums through an impressive dis...

Rajnath urges Army Commanders to prepare for future challenges, stresses 20-30-year strategic vision

24/10/2026
NEW DELHI, Oct 23: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has exhorted the Army Commanders to closely monitor geopolitical as well as regional developments and remain prepared for future challenges. Addressing the Army Commanders’ Conference in the national capital, he emphasised the need for a long-term strategic vision spanning the next 20-30 years, and called upon the senior leadership of the Indian Army to remain equally prepared to respond to immediate and emerging challenges. He stressed that s...

Criminal offences cannot be camouflaged as public disorder to invoke PSA: HC

24/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the preventive detention of a Kulgam resident under the Public Safety Act (PSA), holding that ted as threats to public order merely to justify preventive detention when the regular criminal justice system is sufficient to deal with them. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani set aside the Single Bench judgment dated September 25, 2026, which had upheld th...

Eligible employee cannot be denied promotion benefits due to departmental delay: DB

24/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 23: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a petition filed by the Union Territory administration challenging a Central Administrative Tribunal order directing regularisation of an empl-oyee's promotion as Section Officer, along with consequential financial and pensionary benefits. A Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice M. A. Chowdhary upheld the Tribunal's judgment dated December 2, 2025, in favour of Dev Raj, an employee of the Publ...

HC restores woman's inheritance rights after 44-year legal battle

24/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has restored a woman's inheritance claim over her father's property, holding that limitation cannot be decided on assumptions, particularly when the claimant was a minor when her rights were disputed. Justice Shahzad Azeem allowed a Civil Second Appeal filed by Mst. Themu, setting aside the November 7, 2012 judgment of the District Judge, Kishtwar, which had overturned a trial court decree recognising her entitlement to a share in her...

Stale FIRs, unexplained delay cannot sustain preventive detention: HC

24/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the preventive detention of Jatinder Singh alias Jeetu under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988, holding that stale criminal cases and unexplained delay in issuing a detention order cannot justify continued deprivation of personal liberty. Justice Rajnesh Oswal, while allowing the habeas corpus petition, observed that an unexplained delay of approximately nine...

Prolonged incarceration violates speedy trial rights, HC grants bail in murder case

24/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 23: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has granted bail to Hamid Hussain, who has been facing trial in a murder case registered in Doda district, observing that prolonged incarceration and the unlikelihood of an early conclusion of trial must be considered in light of the fundamental right to a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution. Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani allowed the successive bail application filed by Hussain in FIR No. 19/2016 registered at Police Statio...

Traffic personnel attached to headquarters after bribery video goes viral

24/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 23: Jammu and Kashmir Police have attached traffic personnel to headquarters and ordered an inquiry after a video allegedly showing them collecting money from truck drivers in the Greater Kailash area went viral on social media. Official sources said Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Jammu, Amit Bhasin, initiated action after the video surfaced on Thursday. The personnel were attached to headquarters with immediate effect, and a formal inquiry was ordered to examine the all...

Ladakh CEO announces municipal elections in Leh, Kargil on Nov 21

24/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 23: The chief electoral officer of Ladakh on Friday announced elections to the municipal committees of Leh and Kargil, comprising 38 wards, on November 21. The last panchayat and municipal elections in Ladakh were held in 2018 when it was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Both the bodies have completed their terms. According to a press note issued by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rahul Sharma, the electoral rolls for the municipal committees of Leh (21 wards) and Ka...

Suspected IEDs recovered during search operation in Poonch

24/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 23: Security forces on Friday recovered suspected improvised explosive devices and other explosive material from a hideout in Mankote sector of Poonch district, officials said. The recoveries were made during a search operation launched by the Army's Rashtriya Rifles in Kasbalari and adjoining areas following an input from the Territorial Army, they said.

India to build vibrant Civil Defence network with first-of-its-kind joint training initiative with Indian Army

24/10/2026
NEW DELHI, Oct 23: India is to build a vibrant Civil Defence network with a first-of-its-kind joint training initiative with the Indian Army aimed at enhancing preparedness for emerging threats, coordinated emergency response and critical infrastructure protection. As part of the initiative, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday said a three-day specialised training for Civil Defence Master Trainers will be conducted in 12 states and Union Territories in the first phase. In the first p...

Attacks on Saudi Arabia’s civilian, energy infrastructure unacceptable: Farooq

24/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Friday said the attacks on Saudi Arabia's civilian and energy infrastructure were unacceptable, asserting the sacred cities hold a central place in the faith and devotion of Muslims. Abdullah condemned the "atrocious" attacks by Houthi rebels operating from Yemen on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including King Fahd International Airport. He also expressed deep grief over the loss of human lives and i...

ACB registers DA case against girdawar in Doda

24/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 23: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a disproportionate assets (DA) case against Mohmmad Iqbal, presently posted as girdawar (supervisory revenue officer) in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, over allegations of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. According to an official statement, the ACB has registered an FIR under Section 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against Iqbal, a resident of Goilbar...

Will not rest until J&K is free from terrorism, separatism: LG Sinha

22/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha paid solemn tribute to police personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day. Remembering the courage, dedication and patriotism of the brave martyrs, the Lieutenant Governor said that their service and sacrifice remain an enduring source of inspiration for Jammu Kashmir and the nation. In his message, the Lieutenant Governor expressed gratitude to all police martyrs and convey...

Bus falls into gorge in Udhampur, two killed

22/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 21: Two persons, including a minor girl, were killed and 15 others injured after a passenger bus veered off a hilly road and plunged into a deep gorge in a remote area in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced grief over the incident, and assured all necessary assistance to the victims and their families. The bus was travelling from Pechound to Ramnagar a...

Govt doubles monthly stipend of medical interns to Rs 25,000

22/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Ending the stalemate with protesting medical interns in Jammu and Kashmir, the Omar Abdullah government doubled their monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000. The enhancement of the stipend comes after protests by the medical interns seeking an increase to Rs 30000. "Sanction is hereby accorded to the enhancement of the monthly stipend payable to MBBS/BDS interns, including Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, from Rs 12,300/- to...

Ladakh LG orders withdrawal of cases against 10 booked for Leh violence

22/10/2026
LEH, Oct 21: Ladakh Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of criminal cases against 10 individuals booked in connection with 2025 Leh violence. With the latest decision, a total of 55 persons booked in 87 cases have been given the reprieve over the past three months. Cases stem from an outbreak of violence on September 24 last year during a protest for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the Union Territory. The withdrawal o...

HC summons DC Srinagar over preventive detention order, seeks explanation on alleged non-application of mind

22/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, to appear personally before it along with the complete original record of a preventive detention case, raising serious prima facie concerns over the alleged mechanical formulation of the detention order without due application of mind. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal passed the directions while hearing habeas corpus petition HCP No. 13/2026 filed by Zubair Amin Bangroo, who has chall...

India’s highest-altitude HC bench begins regular hearings at Leh

22/10/2026
LEH, Oct 21: A historic chapter in the Indian judicial history unfolded on Wednesday when Chief Justice of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sanjay Parihar presided over the first regular division bench at Leh. The newly established Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh located at a breath-taking height of over 11,500 feet above sea level, began regular hearing of the cases from today. The day began with the hearing by the Divis...

Omar reviews winter preparedness in J&K, directs coordinated arrangements

22/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday reviewed the winter preparedness in the Union Territory, directing all concerned departments and agencies to ensure coordinated, timely and effective arrangements to minimise public inconvenience during the winter months. Emphasising the need for close interdepartmental coordination, the chief minister called for a well-coordinated mechanism for snow clearance, particularly on roads maintained by different departments and agencies...

Court pulls up police for treating court warrant as WhatsApp message

22/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 21: A Fast Track Court in Jammu has pulled up police officials for allegedly adopting a casual approach towards the execution of a bailable warrant, observing that informing a person about a court warrant through WhatsApp or telephone calls cannot substitute the procedure prescribed by law. Presiding Officer Fast Track Court Jammu Amarjeet Singh Langeh sought explanations from the concerned police officials over their failure to execute a bailable warrant issued to secure the presen...

Poland PM begins three-day India visit, to hold talks with Modi on Thursday

22/10/2026
NEW DELHI, Oct 21: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrived here on Wednesday, kickstarting his three-day visit during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries. This is Tusk's second visit to India in his capacity as Poland's Prime Minister. The first was during his earlier tenure in 2010. "A warm welcome to Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland on his arrival in New Delhi. He was received at the airport ...

Court awards double life term to man for killing three family members in Gool

22/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 21: A court in Ramban has sentenced Mohd Sharief to two life terms for his involvement in the killing of three members of a family, including a six-month-old infant, during a militant attack in Gool area in July 2005. Principal Sessions Judge Ramban Ajay Kumar Gupta also imposed fines totalling Rs. 2 lakh on the convict, who was found guilty of murder, attempt to murder and other offences in connection with the attack that took place more than 21 years ago. The court awarded life i...

Two men killed as motorcycle hits barricade in Bari Brahmana

22/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 21: Two men were killed after their motorcycle hit a barricade on a flyover in Samba district on Wednesday evening, officials said. The accident occurred near Tarore village along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway at around 8 pm when the motorcycle was travelling from Bari Brahmana towards Samba, officials said. Police identified the deceased as Sahil Kumar and Anshu Kumar, both residents of Swankha Morh in Vijaypur. Officials said bodies were shifted to the All India Institute...

Man posing as travel agent to dupe Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims arrested

22/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 21: In a crackdown on fraud targeting pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a man in Katra town, Reasi district, for allegedly duping both pilgrims and hoteliers, an official said on Wednesday. The accused, identified as Vivek Sharma, was arrested on October 14. Sharma, a resident of Garnai village in Udhampur district, allegedly collected money from pilgrims for accommodation and tour packages and issued bills in the name of a repute...

Police to target remaining terrorists, intensify crackdown on nacro-terror: IGP

22/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 21: Jammu Zone Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tejinder Singh on Tuesday said the police would continue to target the terror ecosystem and the remaining terrorists while intensifying its crackdown on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking to maintain peace in the Union Territory. He said recruitment into terrorist groups had been reduced over the past two years and efforts would continue to further improve the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. "In the coming days, our effort...

CJI announces virtual Supreme Court access for Leh, Kargil lawyers; Ladakh Bench to function as paperless court

19/10/2026
LEH, Oct 18: In a major step towards strengthening access to justice in Ladakh, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Sunday announced that lawyers from Leh and Kargil would soon be able to argue cases before the Supreme Court virtually from the newly inaugurated Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Under the proposed arrangement, matters originating from Ladakh will be listed on a designated day and heard through video-conferencing, enabling lawyers and lit...

2 held after stone attack on Srinagar-bound bus in Haryana, passenger injured; Omar seeks action

19/10/2026
KARNAL/SRINAGAR, Oct 18: Two men have been rounded up for questioning after a stone-pelting incident involving a Delhi-to-Srinagar sleeper bus in Haryana's Karnal district left an elderly passenger and a dhaba employee injured, police said on Sunday. The incident, which occurred late Saturday night at the parking area of Divine Star Dhaba, prompted Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up the matter with the Haryana government and seek action against those responsible. Abdull...

Woman among two feared drowned in Chenab in Doda, Ramban

19/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 18: Two persons are feared drowned after allegedly jumping into the Chenab in Doda and Ramban districts on Sunday, officials said. Rescue operations are underway to trace the missing persons, they said. Officials said a 30-year-old woman, identified as Priya -- resident of Balwana village and mother of two minor children -- allegedly jumped into the Chenab from Bug Bridge in Doda district Sunday afternoon. The woman was swept away by the strong current, following which a search op...

CRPF jawan commits suicide in Ganderbal

19/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 18: A CRPF jawan allegedly committed suicide inside a camp in Manasbal area of Ganderbal district on Sunday, officials said here. Constable Ranjit Das allegedly committed suicide by using a nylon rope to hang himself inside the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp at Manasbal, the officials said. Das hailed from Hajo Tehsil in Kamrup district of Assam, they said, adding the body has been sent for medico legal formalities. The officials said it was not immediately known as to...

Dr Jitendra bats for better healthcare access in remote J&K areas, proposes weekly doctor visits

19/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 18: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the close relationship between the Army and local residents, coupled with effective coordination with civilian authorities, strengthens public confidence and enhances the sense of security in remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office was speaking at a two-day medical camp organised by the Army’s Northern Command in the remote Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, which benefited more than ...

Army officer’s wife booked for alleged espionage-related activities

19/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 18: An Army officer's wife, who allegedly used artificial intelligence tools including ChatGPT and Claude to write analytical papers on sensitive national security issues for Chinese intelligence operatives, has been booked in Jammu for alleged espionage-related activities, officials said on Sunday. The accused, a well-qualified resident of Telangana who undertook an IT internship with the United Nations in 2023, is currently working as a freelance researcher. Although she has n...

Menstrual Hygiene: SC expresses displeasure over States, Uts not responding to centre

19/10/2026
NEW DELHI, Oct 18: The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over states and Union territories not responding to the Centre on how its judgment declaring menstrual hygiene as a part of the fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution is being implemented. "If what we have said in the judgment is only going to remain on paper, how is the Union, states/UTs going to give effect to this fundamental right?" a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said. It said the apex court ...

Northern Army commander reviews security in north Kashmir

19/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 18: Army's Northern Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Sunday visited North Kashmir to assess the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness. "Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, #ArmyCdrNC, visited #RashtriyaRifles units in North #Kashmir to review operational preparedness and assess the prevailing security situation," the Army said in a post on X. Lt Gen Sharma interacted with the troops and stressed the importance of maintaining constant vigilance, it said. "Int...

Law Ministry brings new rules for adjudicating court fee violations in UTs

19/10/2026
NEW DELHI, Oct 18: The Union law ministry has come out with a set of rules to set up a framework to handle violations related to court fees and stamp rules in the Union territories. The Union Territories Court Fees (Adjudication of Penalties and Appeal) Rules, 2026, issued on Saturday operationalise sections 34A and 34B of the Court Fees Act, 1870, which were recently added following amendments under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026. Instead of changing the court-fee system...

Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff escapes firing attempt; police launch manhunt

19/10/2026
MUMBAI, Oct 18: Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff escaped unhurt after gunmen opened fire at him in Juhu area of Mumbai on Sunday evening, police said. His driver and another driver of an autorickshaw were injured in the incident, police said, adding that 15 teams have been formed to investigate the incident from various angles. The incident took place near Pushpa Park under Juhu police station limits in the western suburb, and the chain of events leading to the incident is being pieced together, ...

Modi plans, Shah operationalises, and CEC Kumar implements vote chori; they will pay price: Rahul

19/10/2026
MARGAO (Goa), Oct 18: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans "vote theft" from behind the scenes, which is operationalised by Home Minister Amit Shah and implemented by CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Claiming that Modi, Shah, and the Chief Election Commissioner are having "sleepless nights", he said they will face justice and pay the price for ‘vote chori’. Addressing a rally in Margao in south Goa, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha accused the Cent...

Rajnath to represent India at SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Tajikistan

19/10/2026
NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, to be held at Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 19-20, the government said on Sunday. The meeting will focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation among the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), particularly in the areas of trade, economy, investment, connectivity, innovation and cultural-humani...

CJI Surya Kant to inaugurate Ladakh's first permanent HC bench in Leh, bringing justice closer to people

18/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 17: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant will visit Ladakh on Sunday to inaugurate the newly constituted Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, marking a significant step towards making judicial remedies more accessible to people in the strategically important Union Territory. Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra announced the visit at a press conference on Saturday, describing the establishment of the bench as a major development in the region's jud...

Rs 475 crore Central grant under PM-SETU to help upgrade key ITI clusters in J&K: Omar

18/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday expressed gratitude to the Central government for approving Rs 475.41 crore under the PM-SETU scheme to upgrade key ITI clusters across Jammu and Kashmir. PM-SETU, or Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs, is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to modernise Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) and align vocational education with needs of the modern ind...

Litigation cannot cause loss to public exchequer: HC

18/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 17: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a petition challenging the recovery of Rs. 6.55 lakh in outstanding rent for a canteen at Sub-District Hospital, Dandi Bhaderwah, observing that government authorities cannot be made to suffer financial losses merely because a litigant continued to occupy public property under the protection of an interim court order. Justice M. A. Chowdhary dismissed the petition filed by Ghulam Hassan, a resident of Puneja in Bha...

Children have fundamental right to access internet, can't impose blanket ban on its use: SC

18/10/2026
NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The Supreme Court has declared the right to access and use the internet as a fundamental right of children and directed the Centre to create a national database for detection of sexually explicit visual content depicting minors on digital platforms and their removal. The top court passed the order on a plea of NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, in which it had taken note of an alarming increase in child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) that was being circul...

CJI Surya Kant urges law graduates to uphold justice, defend liberty and remain true to values

18/10/2026
BENGALURU, Oct 17: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday urged graduating law students to uphold justice, defend liberty and remain committed to constitutional values, saying the legal profession demands courage, integrity and the ability to listen to voices that often go unheard. Addressing the 34th annual convocation of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) here, he said legal education must go beyond academic learning and prepare students to engage with diverse perspec...

PHQ orders major police reshuffle; six IPS officers, 12 DSPs transferred

18/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Police Headquarters (PHQ), Jammu and Kashmir, has ordered a major administrative reshuffle involving the adjustment of six IPS officers of the AGMUT cadre and the transfer and posting of 12 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) across various units and formations. According to Order No. 2897 of 2026, the six IPS officers have been assigned new responsibilities following their joining the Jammu and Kashmir segment after completing Phase-II of their Basic Course Training,...

Encounter breaks out between forces and terrorists in Kupwara

18/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Kupwara district on Saturday, officials said. However, it is not yet clear whether it was an infiltration attempt, they said. Alert troops noticed suspicious movement along the LoC in the Jumgund area of Keran sector in the north Kashmir district, and challenged and intercepted the terrorists early Saturday, the officials said. The operation is underway, and further details are awaited, they added.

Court awards life term to woman’s husband, in-laws for her murder

18/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: A court in Srinagar has sentenced three people, including a woman’s husband, brother-in-law and mother-in-law, to life imprisonment for her murder in 2022, police said on Saturday. The court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Srinagar, convicted Hafeeza Begum, Parveez Ahmad Dar alias Bilal, and Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar in a murder case registered at Batamaloo police station, a police spokesperson said. The case was registered under Sections 498-A, 302, 120-B and 201 of the Indian ...

Ladakh deadlock: Centre says committed to political solution, urges leaders to keep talks alive

18/10/2026
LEH/JAMMU, Oct 17: With the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) rejecting the Centre's draft on constitu-tional safeguards and democratic governance, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on Saturday expressed disappointment over the move and urged the region's leaders to continue negotiations with mutual trust, patience and an open mind. Addressing a press conference in Leh, Kundra said the 32-page proposal prepared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs was dismissed within hours...

J&K secures Rs. 475.41 crore under PM-SETU to upgrade 10 government ITIs

18/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Jammu and Kashmir has secured an investment of Rs. 475.41 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme for the modernisation and upgradation of 10 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the Union Territory. The investment plans were approved by the National Steering Committee (NSC) at its sixth meeting held in New Delhi on October 16 under the chairpersonship of Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary,...

Crime Branch files chargesheet against 15 accused in Kishtwar minor's rape and death case

18/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 17: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch on Saturday filed a chargesheet against 15 accused in connection with the alleged rape and death of a 15-year-old girl in Kishtwar district, an official said. The chargesheet, comprising more than 1,000 pages, cites 143 witnesses and invokes the applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of...

New Delhi meted out ‘step-motherly’ treatment to J&K: Farooq

18/10/2026
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Ruling National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that New Delhi has meted out "step-motherly" treatment to Jammu and Kashmir. "J-K has been subjected to step-motherly treatment by the BJP government. First, our special status was revoked without seeking the people's consent and the historic state was demoted into two Union territories, while J-K's statehood continues to remain in suspended animation," Abdullah said in a statement here. He said the p...

NDPS court denies bail to four accused in 226-kg poppy straw case

18/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 17: A court in Jammu has rejected the bail applications of four accused in a narcotics trafficking case involving the seizure of 226.280 kg of poppy straw concealed in an apple consignment, observing that call detail records, WhatsApp communications and financial transactions prima facie indicated links among the accused. Special Judge (NDPS Cases) Parvaiz Iqbal dismissed the bail pleas of Bilal Ahmed Reshi, Abdul Hameed Choopan, Shabir Ahmed Reshi and Lakhwinder Singh, holding that...

Sabarmati–Jammu Tawi Express extended to Katra from Oct 18; three new halts approved

18/10/2026
JAMMU, Oct 17: The Ministry of Railways has approved the extension of Sabarmati BG–Jammu Tawi Express to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, with the extended service commencing from Sabarmati on October 18 and from Katra on October 20, an official said on Saturday. The extension will add another train service to Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, and provide an additional travel option for passengers from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab along the route, ...