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Army Officer Dies During Anti-Terror Operation in J-K’s Rajouri

Lt Goswami who died by slipping off a cliff during anti-terrorist operation in Rajouri, Jammu

Rajouri (J&K), June 7 (NVI): An Army officer has died during an ongoing anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district after he reportedly slipped into a deep gorge in the forested Manjakote area, officials said on Sunday.

Lieutenant Beereshwar Goswami was part of a joint security team engaged in an ongoing search operation to track down terrorists believed to be hiding in the area, they said.

The operation, involving the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF, has been underway for the past 16 days in the dense forest belts of Manjakote.

Officials said the officer fell into a deep gorge while carrying out operational duties in the challenging terrain. He sustained critical injuries and succumbed despite rescue efforts by fellow personnel.

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PoJK Agitation on Sunday: Pakistan launches crackdown, 2 injured in military firing

Paying tribute to the officer, the Army’s White Knight Corps said Lieutenant Goswami made the “supreme sacrifice” in the line of duty.

In a post, the Corps said its General Officer Commanding and all ranks expressed profound grief over the untimely demise of the officer and extended condolences to his family.

The security forces have continued the anti-terror operation in the area, maintaining a search and cordon to trace the terrorists, officials added.

A group of terrorists is believed to be hiding inside the forests since May 23 when they had a brief exchange of fire with the security forces.  (NVI)

Domestic LPG is costlier by Rs 29 from today

LPG cylinders

New Delhi, June 7: The price of Domestic LPG has been increased by Rs 29 across India from today, close on the heels on hike in commercial cooking gas.

This is the second hike in the prices of domestic cooking gas in three months.

With this increase, the price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi has gone up to Rs 942 from Rs 913.

Earlier, on March 7, the price of domestic cooking gas was raised by Rs 60.

Prices in Different Cities:

Delhi: Rs 942, (Rs 913 earlier)

Mumbai: Rs 941.40, (Rs 912.50 earlier)

Kolkata: Rs 968, (Rs 939 earlier)

Chennai: Rs 957.50, (Rs 928.50 earlier)

Patna: Rs 1031.50, (Rs 1002.50 earlier)

Hyderabad: Rs 996, (Rs 967 earlier)

Lucknow: Rs 980, (Rs 951 earlier)

Jaipur: Rs 945.50, (Rs 916.50 earlier)

Bengaluru: Rs 944.50,  (Rs 915.50 earlier)

Prior to this, Petrol and diesel prices have been raised by a cumulative Rs 7.50 per litre since mid-May, while compressed natural gas (CNG) rates have increased by about Rs 6 per kilogram.

PoJK Agitation on Sunday: Pakistan launches crackdown, 2 injured in military firing

Mass protests in Rawalakot in PoJK in September last year (File Pic)

Muzaffarabad (PoJK): On the eve of the agitation called in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), the occupying forces have launched a massive crackdown on members and supporters of Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) which is spearheading the protests.

At least one incident of firing by Pakistani military on members of JAAC has been reported, in which 2 Kashmiris have been injured, according to the organisation.

JAAC has called for the indefinite agitatation from Sunday (June 7) against the policies and oppression by Pakistan against locals in PoJK.

Ahead of the agitation, Pakistan has rushed tens of thousands of additional military and para-military personnel to supplement lakhs of those already present in PoJK to crush the protests.

In line with that policy, the Pakistani military has arrested scores of members and supporters of JAAC and is harassing and threatening thousands of others to dissuade them from joining the agitation.

The nervous State of Pakistan has declared the JAAC an outlawed organisation, claiming it was a threat to Pakistan.

JAAC has called for the agitation to press Pakistan to accept a 32-point Charter of Demands, which mainly includes freedom of speech, right over the resources of PoJK and ending of tax terrorism in the occupied region.

In September last year, the JAAC, while raising the same demands, had mobilised massive protests all over PoJK despite oppressive crackdown by the Pakistani State.

The agitation was marked by widespread clashes between the protesters and the Pakistani forces, which resulted in the killing of dozens of people.

That agitation was suspended after the Pakistan government gave assurances that the demands would be met.

Subsequently, a number of rounds of negotiations were held between JAAC leaders and the Pakistani government representatives to see how the implementation of the demands could take place.

However, months later, the JAAC said that the demands were not met and gave a call for a fresh agitation.

Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Reviews Muharram Arrangements

Kashmir Divisional Commissioner reviews arrangements for Muharram

Srinagar, Jun 6 (NVI): Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Saturday reviewed arrangements for the forthcoming Muharram-ul-Haram and directed all departments to ensure seamless coordination for the smooth and peaceful observance of religious rituals and processions across the Valley.

Chairing a high-level meeting of senior officers and stakeholders, Garg assessed civic, infrastructural, logistical and administrative preparedness required during the holy month, with special emphasis on inter-departmental coordination and engagement with community representatives.

During the meeting, MLA Budgam, Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, highlighted issues concerning Shia-majority areas and sought uninterrupted electricity and drinking water supply, road repairs and macadamisation, functioning streetlights, and adequate deployment of medical personnel at major religious venues.

Representatives of various associations and stakeholders raised demands for enhanced sanitation measures, fumigation drives, availability of firewood, ration and LPG supplies, mitigation of the stray dog menace, deployment of water tankers, streamlined permissions for religious events, traffic management plans, parking facilities and shuttle services.

The divisional commissioner directed all deputy commissioners and concerned departments to designate nodal officers and share their contact details with community representatives for effective communication and prompt redressal of issues. The Deputy Director Planning in the Divisional Commissioner’s Office was designated as the divisional-level nodal officer for coordination and monitoring of arrangements.

Garg asked deputy commissioners to prepare district-wise checklists of requirements and ensure that all short-term issues are addressed on priority, while larger developmental concerns raised by stakeholders are incorporated into future planning.

He also directed the preparation of a comprehensive list of roads requiring repair and macadamisation in Shia-dominated areas to facilitate smooth movement of mourners and processions.

The Public Health Engineering Department and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited were instructed to ensure uninterrupted water and electricity supply during Muharram, with additional water tankers to be deployed in high-demand areas.

The divisional commissioner further directed concerned departments to ensure adequate availability and timely distribution of essential supplies, including firewood, ration and LPG.

Emphasising sanitation and public hygiene, Garg instructed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and other urban local bodies to undertake special cleanliness drives around Imambaras, congregation sites and procession routes, including intensified waste collection and disposal operations.

The Health Department was asked to deploy adequate medical teams, ambulances and emergency response units at key locations, particularly in Srinagar and Budgam districts.

Garg also called for comprehensive traffic management plans, identification of suitable parking spaces and provision of shuttle services wherever required.

Stressing the need for foolproof security arrangements, he directed close coordination among police, civil administration and security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of all religious events.

The meeting was attended by the DIG Central Kashmir, deputy commissioners and officers from various departments, including KPDCL, PHE, Roads and Buildings, Health, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Fire and Emergency Services, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, police and security agencies, officials said.(NVI)

Arrangements for Kheer Bhawani Mela Reviewed; Annual Ritual is on June 22

Arrangements for upcoming Kheer Bhawani Mela reviewed by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir

Srinagar, June 6 (NVI): Arrangements for the upcoming annual Mela at Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple were reviewed today by Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir Anshul Garg who directed all concerned departments to ensure comprehensive facilities for devotees.

Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple, one of the most revered shrines of Kashmiri Pandits, is located in Tulmulla village of Ganderbal district in Kashmir.

Every year, on the occasion of ‘Jyesth Ashtami’ (as per Hindu calender), thousands of devotees descend on this temple to pay their obeisance to Goddess Durga, locally called ‘Ma Sharika’.

This year, the day falls on June 22.

Chairing a high-level meeting here, Garg assessed preparedness for the annual festival and reviewed arrangements related to transport, accommodation, power supply, drinking water, sanitation, healthcare and security.

Officials from various departments, including Health, Power, Public Health Engineering, Tourism, Transport, Fire and Emergency Services, Police, and district administrations of Ganderbal, Srinagar, Kupwara, Kulgam and Anantnag, attended the meeting.

Representatives of several Kashmiri Pandit organisations also participated and put forth suggestions regarding the conduct of the mela.

The Divisional Commissioner directed departments to ensure uninterrupted essential services and adequate facilities for pilgrims.

He also called for special cleanliness drives and ordered desiltation of the canal flowing through the Tulmulla temple complex to improve the shrine’s ambience.

Garg instructed authorities to provide sufficient mobile toilet facilities, expedite ongoing development works at the shrine and maintain high standards of sanitation and public convenience at all temple locations associated with the festival.

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CS reviews progress of health sector reforms in J&K, calls for strengthening trauma and critical care services

The Divisional Commissioner said devotees are expected from Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country and there is a need for close coordination among departments to facilitate smooth transportation and hassle-free movement of pilgrims.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal was asked to oversee arrangements and ensure coordination among stakeholders, while the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal, was directed to put in place comprehensive security measures for the event.

The administration remains committed to ensuring the smooth conduct of the annual festival and providing devotees with all necessary amenities for a comfortable pilgrimage experience, Garg said.(NVI)

J&K Chief Secretary reviews progress of health sector reforms

J&K Chief Secretary reviews healthcare services

Srinagar, Jun 6 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Saturday reviewed the progress of health sector reforms in the Union Territory and stressed the need for expanding trauma care, emergency medicine and critical care services across all major healthcare institutions.

Chairing a high-level meeting in Srinagar, Dulloo assessed reforms aimed at strengthening tertiary and secondary healthcare services, expanding medical education, improving digital health infrastructure and enhancing access to specialised treatment facilities.

Officials informed the meeting that collaborative frameworks have been established among Government Medical Colleges, SKIMS, AIIMS Jammu and other institutions to strengthen specialty and super-specialty services, research initiatives, academic collaboration and digital healthcare delivery.

Emphasising quality patient care, the Chief Secretary said every tertiary care institution should strive to establish and strengthen trauma care, emergency medicine and critical care services, describing them as key determinants of healthcare outcomes.

He directed the Health and Medical Education Department to ensure that the benefits of reforms extend beyond newly established medical colleges to district and sub-district hospitals, particularly in areas without medical colleges, to ensure balanced healthcare development across the Union Territory.

Dulloo assured full administrative and financial support for viable healthcare initiatives and urged officials to formulate innovative proposals aimed at improving patient care, medical education and service delivery.

Highlighting the role of technology in healthcare, he called for expanding Virtual Medical Boards to more specialties and institutions and advocated the introduction of virtual academic sessions, grand rounds and online teaching platforms in peripheral healthcare facilities.

The Chief Secretary also stressed the need for a clearly defined accountability framework and a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism supported by information technology for real-time assessment of healthcare services and institutional performance.

He directed the department to identify measurable targets for the next six months, one year and two years in healthcare services, medical education and research.

Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, M Raju informed the meeting that proposals have been submitted for enhancement of 300 MBBS seats, 243 MD/MS seats, 64 DM/MCh super-specialty seats and additional DNB seats across various institutions. Several proposals have already undergone inspection and approval processes with regulatory bodies, he said.

The meeting was also informed that Tele-MANAS and tele-psychiatry services have been operationalised in major institutions and that de-addiction and mental health facilities have been significantly expanded across the Union Territory.

Officials said a three-tier Substance Use Disorder (SUD) service delivery framework has been developed to strengthen prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and community-based support systems.

Director SKIMS, Dr Ashraf Ganai, informed the meeting that a J&K Research Consortium has been constituted to promote collaborative research among SKIMS, Government Medical Colleges and AIIMS Jammu.

A presentation by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence highlighted the conduct of Virtual Medical Boards in disciplines including neurology, psychiatry, surgery and anaesthesiology. Tele-ICU facilities are also proposed in seven new Government Medical Colleges under a hub-and-spoke model.

The meeting was further informed that tele-radiology services are being established to provide specialist radiological support to remote and underserved areas.

Reviewing food safety initiatives, officials said over 1,700 food safety cases were adjudicated during the last financial year, resulting in penalties exceeding Rs 1.67 crore, while laboratory infrastructure and testing capabilities have also been strengthened.

The meeting also discussed upcoming initiatives in mental health, liver transplant services and dental healthcare. Officials said efforts are underway in collaboration with premier institutions to establish advanced liver and biliary care services in Jammu and Kashmir.

Dulloo said the ultimate objective of the reforms was to ensure accessible, affordable and high-quality healthcare for every citizen and stressed the importance of technology, research, capacity building and institutional collaboration in transforming the healthcare sector.(NVI)

SHO, Three Other Police Personnel Suspended in Samba Over Alleged Lapses in POCSO Case

Samba, June 6 (NVI): Four police personnel, including the Station House Officer (SHO) of Ramgarh Police Station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, have been suspended over alleged lapses in the handling of a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, officials said on Saturday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Samba Anuj Kumar ordered the suspension of Inspector Bhopinder Singh, the SHO of Ramgarh Police Station, along with a PSI and two Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), pending a departmental inquiry into allegations that they facilitated a compromise in the sensitive case, officials said.

The suspended officials have been attached to the District Police Lines (DPL), Samba, while the inquiry is underway, they said.

The SSP has also directed a detailed probe to ascertain the facts and fix responsibility, if any, in the handling of the case.

Meanwhile, Inspector Ajay Singh Chib has been posted as the new SHO of Ramgarh Police Station as part of an administrative reshuffle, officials said.
In a related move, a Special Police Officer (SPO) has been transferred to Goran Police Chowki.

The action was initiated following complaints regarding the manner in which the POCSO case was allegedly handled, prompting district police authorities to order an internal investigation, officials added.

They said further action would be taken based on the findings of the inquiry. (NVI)

India took advantage of US for years but it has been reversed now: Trump
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says a “very, very vibrant” first phase of Interim Trade agreement between India and the US is likely by the middle of next month.

Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump (File Pic)

New Delhi, June 6: A “very, very vibrant” first phase of Interim Trade agreement between India and the US is likely by the middle of next month, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said.

His remarks came hours after American President Donald Trump said “India took advantage of the United States” for years but it had been reversed now.

The two countries have been holding talks to firm up a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and in this connection, work is in progress to finalise an Interim deal.

Just recently, negotiators of the two countries held 3-day talks in New Delhi till June 4 and reported progress.

“I also met with them (the US negotiators), and we are fast moving towards closing all the open ends, and I think sometime by the middle of next month or so, we should be in a position to execute a very, very vibrant first tranche,” Goyal told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Vishakhapatnam.

He said a high-level team is expected to visit India towards the end of this month.

Hours earlier, Trump told journalists while responding to a question on the ongoing trade negotiations: “For years, India took advantage of the United States. They charged us tremendous tariffs and paid nothing. Now it is the exact reverse, and we are making a lot of money with India.”

He added that “we will get to a deal because I like your Prime Minister a lot. He is a good friend of mine, and we get along well. We have a good relationship.” 

The latest developments suggest that both sides are working to bridge remaining differences and move towards an early conclusion of the trade deal, which is expected to provide greater certainty for businesses and strengthen bilateral economic ties. (NVI)

India, Philippines identify several sectors to boost trade

Officials of India and Philippines after their talks in Manila

New Delhi, June 6: As part of endeavour to deepen investment and trade ties, India and Philippines have identified several sectors, including energy, construction, pharmaceuticals and Information and Communication Technology.

Officials of the two countries held talks under the framework of 14th Meeting of the India-Philippines Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI) to review the status of the commercial relations and the way forward.

While noting that bilateral trade has reached USD 3.9 billion as of 2025-26, the two sides reviewed trends in trade and investment and identified priority products, services and promotional activities, according to an official statement.

The meeting discussed expanding cooperation in sectors including film, energy, construction and infrastructure, information and communications technology, IT-enabled services, artificial intelligence and pharmaceuticals, areas both sides said could support long-term growth and development goals, it said.

Improving the business environment was another focus, with talks covering customs cooperation, agricultural market access, and measures to ease trade settlement using national currencies.

ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement

The two sides also exchanged views on the early conclusion of the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement and subsequent engagement on a bilateral India-Philippines preferential trade agreement, the statement said.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Indian companies operating in the Philippines met officials to discuss market opportunities and ways to strengthen commercial engagement.

The next JWGTI meeting will be held in New Delhi, with both governments reaffirming their commitment to building a more dynamic and mutually beneficial economic partnership.

Joint Search Operation in Rajouri Enters 15th Day; Security Forces Continue Hunt for Terrorists

Jammu, June 6 (NVI): A joint cordon and search operation by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) entered its 15th day on Saturday in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

Security forces are continuing efforts to track down terrorists believed to be hiding in the dense forest areas of Gambhir Mughlan and Dorimal in the Manjakote sector, they said.

The operation was launched following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the region. Multiple security agencies have been engaged in extensive search efforts, with troops maintaining a tight cordon around the suspected areas.

Officials said searches are being carried out in challenging terrain and thickly forested zones to prevent the militants from escaping.

No fresh contact with the terrorists has been reported so far, and the operation remains underway.

Further details are awaited. (NVI)

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