Author: Agencies

KATRA: In a major action against drug trafficking, District Police Reasi on Saturday arrested a notorious and habitual drug peddler near Eidgah Nangal Road in Katra. The accused has been identified as Maya Mir, wife of Anwar, resident of Railway Road, Katra. During routine patrolling and checking, police intercepted the accused and recovered 6.360 grams of heroin-like substance from her possession. The following items were also seized on the spot: Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused is a repeat offender with a history of involvement in drug trafficking and other criminal activities. She has previously been booked in multiple cases…

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today highlighted the rapidly changing paradigm of medical education  in India as also that of health care, pointing to a transformative decade that has made healthcare in India more accessible, affordable, and inclusive. Addressing the Foundation Day and College Convocation of the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) as chief guest, Dr. Jitendra Singh awarded MBBS and MD degrees upon undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Minister observed that medical education in India has witnessed a paradigm shift in the past decade with a steep rise in the number of medical colleges and training opportunities.…

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Satish Shah, whose very presence in films such as “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron” and “Main Hoon Na” and sitcom “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai” elicited smiles and many a laugh, has died. He was 74. The ever amiable Shah passed away at his residence in Bandra East in the afternoon, Ramesh Kadatala, his trusted aide and personal assistant for over 30 years, told PTI. Ashoke Pandit, Shah’s friend and industry colleague, also confirmed his demise and said, “It is a huge loss for our industry. He was a very jovial person.” Born on June 25, 1951, Shah was a prominent…

SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the arrangements for the upcoming 2nd Edition of the Kashmir Marathon, being organized by the Tourism Department on November 2, 2025, in Srinagar. The meeting besides Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism was attended by Secretary, Health; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; DIG, Traffic; MD, JKTDC; Director, Tourism, Kashmir; SSP, Traffic, Srinagar; Commissioner, SMC, and other senior officers of concerned departments. The Chief Secretary described the marquee event as a valuable opportunity to promote tourism and sports culture in Jammu and Kashmir, noting that the inaugural edition had received overwhelming response and…

SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference Chairman and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the National Conference (NC), accusing it of “gifting seven MLAs” to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Lone alleged that NC’s handling of reservations and internal politics has “killed merit” and “betrayed the people of Kashmir.” “This government is out to kill merit. Open merit has been buried. We are going to start a ground-level registration drive against this policy,” Lone said, announcing a “full-fledged campaign” against what…

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said it would not be “appropriate or dignified” to publicly name the MLAs who cross-voted during the recently concluded Rajya Sabha elections, resulting in a setback for the National Conference-led government. Speaking to reporters, Omar acknowledged that “some betrayal” had occurred within the alliance ranks but maintained that identifying individuals would serve no constructive purpose. “We will introspect and take corrective steps internally. There’s no need to indulge in a public blame game,” he said. The Chief Minister, however, reiterated that the party would review the voting pattern and ensure stronger cohesion within…

LEH: The judicial inquiry into the September 24 violence in Leh will begin on Saturday, with the probe panel inviting aggrieved persons to record their testimonies before its members. On October 17, the Centre addressed a key demand of the protesting Ladakh groups by announcing a judicial inquiry headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice BS Chauhan into the violent clashes that claimed four lives, including that of a Kargil war veteran. According to an order issued on Friday by Qureshi Tariq Mehmood, Consultant, Law and Justice Department, the inquiry will be held at the Alternate Dispute Redressal Centre, Melongthang,…

KATHUA: A purported video of an attack on a vehicle carrying religious preachers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district went viral on social media, prompting police to suspend a sub-inspector and seven special police officers (SPOs), an official said on Friday. The police have also arrested an accused in connection with the incident, he added. “In the Juthana area under the Rajbagh police station of Kathua district, preachers were attacked by a group of youths wielding sticks while they were travelling in a vehicle. The video circulating on social media shows police present at the scene, but unable to immediately stop…

JAMMU: The results of Jammu and Kashmir’s first Rajya Sabha polls after becoming a Union Territory followed expected lines, with the ruling National Conference securing three seats on Friday and the BJP clinching the final one, largely due to a possible strategic cross-voting by a few Independents and the People’s Conference’s abstention. Polling for the four Rajya Sabha seats was held on Friday, and the entire process was divided into three notifications. Chowdhry Mohammed Ramzan of the NC had a direct contest with Ali Mohammed Mir of the BJP in one of the seats. Out of the total 87 votes…

KATHUA: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, is setting up a BioNEST Incubator, funded by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), GoI, at Industrial Biotech Park, Kathua.  Addressing the media during the curtain raiser event of “BioInnovation connect @ Kathua”, which is being held on 27th Oct., Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, told that Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Vice…