Author: Agencies
SRINAGAR: National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Monday strongly condemned the stone-pelting incident in Kishtwar, in which a mosque and a madrassa were reportedly targeted, and urged the Union government to direct states to prevent violence against religious institutions. Reacting to the incident, Abdullah said that such elements exist in society but must not be allowed to undermine India’s secular fabric. “Evil exists and will continue to do its work. But India is a secular country, where the Constitution guarantees every religion the freedom to run its institutions. It is the responsibility of the Centre to guide states to…
JAMMU: The annual pilgrim footfall at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district dropped below the 70-lakh mark in 2025, reflecting a sharp decline attributed to security incidents and prolonged weather-related disruptions, officials said. According to official figures, around 68.85 lakh devotees had paid obeisance at the shrine till December 28, with an estimated 70,000 more pilgrims expected in the remaining days of the year due to the New Year rush. Even then, the total is likely to remain well below last year’s 94.84 lakh, marking a decline of over 27 per…
JAMMU: A suspicious balloon bearing Pakistani markings was recovered from the Pragwal area of Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. The balloon, resembling an aircraft, was found carrying the Pakistani national flag along with the inscription “PIA” (Pakistan International Airlines) written in both English and Urdu. The balloon was seized by the Indian Army as a precautionary measure. Security agencies have launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances under which the balloon entered Indian territory and reached the area. Further details will be shared as the investigation progresses.
POONCH: In a continued effort to strengthen police–public relations and address the concerns of border residents on priority, DIG Rajouri–Poonch Range Tejinder Singh, IPS, along with SSP Poonch Shafqat Hussain, JKPS, and DySP Headquarters Poonch Neeraj Sharma, conducted an extensive visit to forward areas across the fence in Poonch district on Sunday. During the visit, senior police officers held a Public Durbar and interacted directly with local residents, patiently listening to their grievances and concerns. The issues raised included civic amenities, security-related matters, border-specific hardships, movement restrictions, and other day-to-day challenges faced by people living in forward and vulnerable areas.…
JAMMU: In a major crackdown on alleged illegal and immoral activities, Jammu Police, South Zone, carried out simultaneous surprise raids at multiple spa centres under the jurisdiction of Police Station Channi Himmat in Sub-Division East, Jammu. The coordinated operation was launched following repeated complaints from civil society members about suspected unlawful activities at certain spa centres. Jammu Police conducted the raids in collaboration with the civil administration. Police teams, led by the SHO Police Station Channi Himmat and accompanied by lady police personnel and an Executive Magistrate, carried out thorough inspections of the premises. During the operation, documents and registers…
JAMMU: Jammu Police’s South Zone achieved a major success by busting an active vehicle theft network and recovering more than six stolen two-wheelers, effectively curbing a recent spate of vehicle thefts across different parts of the city. Acting under the leadership of SSP Jammu and under the close supervision of the SP South and SDPO South, Police Station Gangyal intensified its operations after observing a sharp rise in two-wheeler theft cases in the area. To trace the culprits, the SHO Police Station Gangyal constituted special teams. One such team, led by PSI Atta-ur-Rehman, carried out extensive ground-level operations, analysed theft…
NEW DELHI: SHANTI Bill will go down in history as one of the Modi Government’s biggest science reforms, said Union Minister Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh in a media interview here today. The Minister observed that while parliamentary discourse on reforms has traditionally focused on public welfare schemes and governance measures, the long-term socio-economic character of the nation will increasingly be shaped by reforms in science and technology. The third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Modi 3.0, is distinctly characterised by bold, structural reforms, with a strong emphasis on science, innovation, and entrepreneurship, he added. SHANTI Bill represents a defining departure…
NEW DELHI: Marking the 140th Foundation Day of the Indian National Congress on Sunday, senior leader Rahul Gandhi said the party is not merely a political organisation but the voice of India’s soul, which has consistently stood with the weak, deprived and hardworking people of the country. Rahul Gandhi attended the Foundation Day समारोह at the party’s Indira Bhawan headquarters in New Delhi. In a post on X, he said the Congress remains committed to fighting with greater strength for truth and courage, and to safeguarding the Constitution against hatred, injustice and dictatorship. Extending greetings to party workers, Gandhi said,…
RAJOURI: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district have recommended the suspension of an Arabic lecturer of a government higher secondary school for allegedly directing the construction of a platform on the school building intended for offering prayers, officials said on Sunday. According to officials, the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Rajouri, in a letter addressed to the Director, School Education Jammu, has recommended disciplinary action against Munnawar Hussain, Lecturer (Arabic), posted at Government Higher Secondary School, Chingus. The lecturer was prima facie found to have ordered the construction of the platform on the roof of a newly constructed block of…
KANGRA: An experienced paragliding pilot was killed and a tourist injured after a tandem paraglider crashed shortly after take-off at the internationally renowned Bir Billing site in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, officials said on Saturday. The accident occurred on Friday evening when the paraglider took off from the Billing launch point. According to officials of the Bir Billing Paragliding Association, the glider reportedly developed a technical malfunction soon after take-off, lost balance mid-air, and crashed near the road below the launch site. The pilot, identified as Mohan Singh, a resident of Barot in Mandi district, sustained critical injuries. He was…