Monday, October 19, 2026
Home Blog Page 136

Cm Omar Abdullah reviews PMGSY implementation in J&K, stresses timely completion of rural road projects

Srinagar, Jun 23 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) across the Union Territory and directed officials to ensure timely completion of rural road projects while maintaining quality standards.

Chairing a high-level meeting here, Abdullah assessed the progress of PMGSY works under various phases of the flagship rural connectivity programme and reviewed the status of ongoing and newly sanctioned projects, officials said.

The chief minister emphasised the importance of rural road connectivity in improving the lives of people living in remote areas and asked the departments concerned to expedite execution of sanctioned works.

He stressed the need for better coordination among departments to address issues related to statutory clearances and other procedural requirements that could hamper project implementation.

Abdullah also called for regular monitoring of projects to ensure adherence to timelines and prevent delays.

During the meeting, he reviewed the implementation strategy for PMGSY-IV and directed officials to fast-track preparatory processes so that approved works could be taken up in a time-bound manner.

The chief minister underscored the need to extend all-weather road connectivity to eligible rural habitations, particularly in remote and border areas.

Officials briefed the meeting on the progress achieved under different phases of PMGSY and presented an action plan for completion of pending road and bridge projects across Jammu and Kashmir.(NVI)

LG Highlights Panchayat-Led Governance Reforms, Digital Transformation in J&K

Srinagar, Jun 23 (NVI): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant transformation in public service delivery and grassroots governance over the past few years, attributing the change to citizen-centric reforms and the strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions.

Addressing the regional workshop, “Seva Se Samriddhi – Panchayat-led Service Delivery”, organised by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Sinha said the Union Territory had expanded online public services from 35 in 2020 to over 1,100 by 2023.

“We set out to build a Jammu and Kashmir where government reaches the citizen’s doorstep. With a ‘People First’ approach, public service delivery was transformed and Panchayati Raj institutions were empowered to play a greater role in governance,” he said.

The lieutenant governor said initiatives such as Block Diwas and Back to Village helped improve service delivery, strengthen local infrastructure and ensure greater citizen participation in governance.
Highlighting digital progress in the Union Territory,

Sinha said more than 15,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs) are currently operational across Jammu and Kashmir, with over 98 per cent of panchayats connected to the network.

He said Jammu and Kashmir had recorded a sharp increase in digital transactions in recent years, reflecting growing public adoption of technology-enabled governance.

Calling for greater inter-state cooperation, Sinha urged delegates from several states attending the workshop to study successful service delivery models developed in Jammu and Kashmir and share best practices from their respective regions.

He stressed the need to strengthen grassroots institutions through innovation, capacity building, participatory budgeting, sustainable development initiatives and enhanced leadership roles for women.

“The panchayat of the future will not merely be an administrative unit but a centre of innovation, equal opportunity, sustainable development and public trust,” he said.

During the event, outstanding Gram Panchayats and Common Service Centres from participating states, including Jammu and Kashmir, were felicitated for their contributions to grassroots governance and public service delivery.

The workshop brought together policymakers, elected representatives, civil society members, rural technology experts and officials from various states to deliberate on strengthening Panchayat-led governance through digital transformation, citizen participation and innovation.(NVI)

PIA-Marked Balloon Found in Kathua Village, Taken Into Custody for Inquiry

Oplus_16908288

Shivam Bakshi

Kathua, June 23 (NVI): A (PIA)-marked aeroplane-shaped balloon was found in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Tuesday, officials said.

The balloon was spotted near a sweet shop in Mathura Chak village of Hiranagar tehsil by a local resident, Amit Sharma, who subsequently informed the police, they said.

A police team from Marheen police post rushed to the spot and took the balloon into custody.

They said the balloon has been seized and further inquiry has been initiated to ascertain its origin and any possible significance.

No untoward incident was reported in the area, they added.—(NVI)

Dry Weather Likely Across J&K for Next Three Days; Day Temperatures Set to Rise

(File)

Srinagar, Jun 23 (NVI): Most parts of Jammu and Kashmir are expected to witness mainly dry weather over the next three days, with a significant rise in day temperatures likely from Tuesday onwards, according to a weather forecast.

The forecast said dry and hot conditions are expected to prevail across the Union Territory until June 25, although a brief spell of thundershowers cannot be ruled out in a few areas during late afternoon or evening hours.

With the improvement in weather conditions, farmers have been advised to resume spraying operations from Tuesday.

The weather update further indicated that while isolated showers may occur at some places, no major weather activity is expected during the next three days.(NVI)

IGP Kashmir Assigned Additional Charge of J&K Armed Wing After Anand Jain’s Transfer to Ladakh

File Photo: IGP Kashmir V.K.Birdi

Srinagar, Jun 23 (NVI): Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, V K Birdi has been given the additional charge of heading the Armed Wing of Jammu and Kashmir following the transfer of senior IPS officer Anand Jain to Ladakh, officials said on Tuesday.

According to an order issued by the Police Headquarters, Anand Jain, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Armed, has been relieved from his duties in Jammu and Kashmir with effect from the night of June 22 after being appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP), Ladakh by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The order said that Birdi will hold the additional charge of the Head of the Armed Wing, Jammu and Kashmir, in addition to his existing responsibilities as IGP Kashmir, until further orders.

The arrangement has been made with the approval of the Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, the order added.(NVI)

Operation Sheruwali Enters 32nd Day in Rajouri, Search Operations Continue

Shivam Bakshi

Rajouri, June 23 (NVI): The ongoing anti-terror operation Sheruwali, entered its 32nd day on Tuesday in the Dorimal-Gambir Mughlan area of Manjakote sector in Rajouri district, with security forces continuing extensive search operations in the region.

Officials said security personnel are carrying out intensive searches in the dense forested terrain to track down suspected terrorists believed to be hiding in the area. The operation, launched on the basis of intelligence inputs, has emerged as one of the longest ongoing counter-terror operations in the region.

Security forces have maintained a tight cordon around the area and intensified surveillance as part of the operation. Searches were continuing when reports last came in. —(NVI)

Human skeletal remains found in Haryana, sent advanced scientific research

Excavation at Rakhigarhi in Haryana

By Arun Kumar Das

New Delhi, June 23: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently excavated human skeletal remains in Rakhigarhi in Haryana and these have been handed over to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), a national research institute of repute under Union Ministry of Culture for detailed scientific investigation.

The findings from the Rakhigarhi remains are expected to contribute substantially to understanding the origins, health, mobility, and biological history of one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations.

 

Prof BV Sharma, Director of AnSI said that the transfer, carried out under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions, is expected to significantly advance multidisciplinary research into one of the most important urban centres of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization.

Rakhigarhi, spread across approximately 550 hectares in Haryana, is widely recognized as the largest known settlement of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization.

Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of continuous habitation from the Early Harappan to the Mature Harappan periods, including planned settlements, drainage systems, craft production centres, trade networks, and burial grounds.

During excavations, conducted by ASI’s Excavation Branch-II, Greater Noida, in the 2025–26 field season, eight burials were uncovered at Mound No. 7, an area previously identified as a cemetery.

Three complete human skeletons, along with skeletal fragments recovered from other burials, have now been transferred to AnSI’s ancient human skeletal repository and laboratory in Kolkata for detailed examination.

The remaining skeletal materials obtained at these sites are also expected to be transferred in a few days.

Several scholars in the fields of Skeletal Biology, archaeology, and Genetics welcomed the initiatives of Anthropological Survey of India in regard to the research on Indus-Saraswati Civilization.

Professor Vijay Prakash, former faculty member of Andhra University, described the transfer of skeletal materials as an important step toward ensuring that biological heritage recovered through archaeological excavations is scientifically analyzed and preserved by national institutions for the benefit of future generations.

Prof Udai Pratap Singh of Lucknow University similarly said the transfer marks an important milestone in strengthening India’s palaeoanthropological research tradition.

He noted that AnSI’s expertise in human biology and osteology places it in a strong position to reconstruct aspects of population history, health, lifestyle, and cultural adaptation in the Indus Saraswati Civilization.

Researchers believe the remains present a rare opportunity to apply modern scientific techniques, including ancient DNA analysis, stable isotope studies, osteological assessments, palaeopathological investigations, and environmental reconstruction.

These approaches are expected to provide valuable insights into ancestry, migration patterns, diet, disease prevalence, adaptation strategies, and human-environment interactions during the Harappan period.

According to AnSI, the research will be conducted in collaboration with leading scientific institutions.

Officials noted that while AnSI has maintained a long tradition of osteological research on remains recovered from Indus-Saraswati sites since its establishment in 1945, activities in this field had diminished over the years due to various challenges.

In recent years, however, the institution has undertaken efforts to revive palaeoanthropological research through the formation of dedicated research teams and specialized training programmes for scientific personnel.

AnSI has recently completed palaeopathological studies on skeletal remains from several Indus-Saraswati sites and is preparing scientific publications based on its findings.

The transfer of the Rakhigarhi remains is expected to further strengthen research capabilities, particularly in the field of ancient DNA analysis.

The institution also plans to expand collaborations with organizations such as the Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, and research groups working on palaeoclimate.

Anthropologist Professor Subhash Walimbe, formerly of Deccan College, Pune, emphasized the importance of intensive anthropological examination of the remains to understand how urbanization influenced human biological and pathological responses.

Officials said the collaboration between ASI and AnSI represents a significant effort to integrate archaeology, anthropology, genetics, and environmental sciences in the study of India’s ancient past. (NVI)

Anand Jain Appointed DGP of Ladakh

 

Srinagar, June 22 (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed senior IPS officer Anand Jain as the Director General of Police (DGP) of the Union Territory of Ladakh with immediate effect, according to an official order.

Jain, a 1999-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, has been transferred from Jammu and Kashmir to Ladakh and will serve as the police chief of the Union Territory until further orders, the order said.

Before his latest posting, Jain was serving in Jammu and Kashmir Police and held several key positions, including Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone), Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau and Additional Director General of Police (Armed).

The appointment comes as part of the Centre’s administrative reshuffle in the AGMUT cadre, officials said.(NVI)

Narco-CASO, JeI-Linked Searches Carried Out Across Kulgam

Srinagar, June 22 (NVI): Police on Monday conducted searches at the residences of members and sympathisers of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in several areas of Kulgam district and simultaneously launched a Narco-Cordon and Search Operation (Narco-CASO) as part of efforts to maintain public order and curb drug trafficking, officials said.

The searches were carried out in the Yaripora, Behibagh and Frisal areas of the south Kashmir district, a police spokesperson said.

He said the anti-drug operation was launched alongside the searches to identify and take action against persons allegedly involved in narcotics-related activities.

During the operation, police teams carried out searches and verification drives in the areas concerned, the spokesperson said.

Police said the measures were aimed at preventing activities detrimental to peace and security and dismantling drug networks operating in the district.

Further investigation and verification are underway, officials added.(NVI)

Army Jawan Found Unconscious in Jammu’s Nagrota, Dies; Probe Underway

File Photo

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, June 22 (NVI): An Army jawan was found unconscious in his room at a military establishment in the Nagrota area on the outskirts of Jammu and was later declared dead, officials said on Monday.

The soldier was found unconscious in his accommodation at Kore Jagir during the intervening night of June 21 and 22, the officials said.

Army authorities informed the police, following which a team from Nagrota Police Station reached the spot and initiated preliminary proceedings.

The body was shifted to the Army Hospital in Satwari for medico-legal formalities and post-mortem examination, they said.

Police have started an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the soldier’s death.

The exact cause of death will be known after the completion of legal and medical procedures, officials added.(NVI)

1...135136137...1,779Page 136 of 1,779

MUST READ