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Govt working for safe, dignified return of Pandits: Omar Abdullah

Jammu, Apr 01 (NVI) : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley depends on the restoration of a secure environment, while asserting that the government is prioritising the protection of their religious sites.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly during a discussion on a private member’s bill, Abdullah said the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits is an acknowledged reality and efforts have been made by successive governments to facilitate their return.

However, he noted that ground conditions have not yet reached a stage where members of the community feel safe enough to return.

The sense of security among the community has been deeply affected and needs to be rebuilt. Without restoring that confidence, expecting their return would not be realistic,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the government is taking steps to safeguard properties belonging to the displaced community and is ensuring the preservation and protection of their religious sites.

Referring to past legislative attempts, he said earlier efforts to bring in laws for safeguarding such properties faced resistance from sections within the community, adding that any future legislation should have broader consensus.

Abdullah also said that while certain narratives focus on one side, instances of communal harmony and protection often remain underrepresented.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the welfare and protection of the displaced community while working towards conditions conducive for their safe and dignified return.(NVI)

Sajad Lone says Land Grants Act amendment bill favours Kashmir’s elite

Jammu, Apr 1 (NVI): Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Wednesday alleged that a proposed amendment to the Land Grants Act is aimed at benefiting the “super elite” of Kashmir, while offering little relief to poorer sections.

Reacting to the introduction of a private member’s bill in the Assembly, which the government did not oppose, Lone said the proposal pertains to the extension of leases on government land, including some of the most valuable real estate in the Valley.

“The bill is aimed to help the super elite of Kashmir. It involves prime land worth anywhere between Rs 70,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore, or even more,” he said in a post on X.

Lone questioned the absence of provisions for economically weaker sections, noting that thousands of families living on small land parcels continue to face hardships.

“Lakhs of poor families living on two or three marlas, or at most a kanal, continue to be persecuted. Do they not deserve a bill?” he asked.

Clarifying that he is not opposed to the legislation per se, Lone maintained that its benefits are skewed. He also sought details from the government on the total extent of leased land and the revenue generated so far.

“I had raised these questions in the Assembly but received no response,” he added.(NVI)

Legislators Protest Bureaucrats’ Absence in J&K Assembly; BJP Seeks Deferral of Business

File Photo: J&K Legislative Assembly

Jammu, Apr 1 (NVI): Legislators cutting across party lines on Wednesday expressed concern over the absence of senior bureaucrats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly during Question Hour, with some members demanding action and stricter enforcement of rules.

As the Question Hour neared its conclusion, National Conference MLA Nazi Gurezi alleged that officials were taking the House lightly, pointing to the sparsely occupied officers’ gallery.

“This House is being taken lightly. Earlier, the gallery used to remain full, with the Chief Secretary and Commissioner Secretaries present during Question Hour,” he said, urging the government to ensure accountability of officers.

Gurezi called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take action against erring officials, asserting that bureaucrats are accountable to elected representatives.

Members from the BJP, including Sham Lal Sharma and Pawan Gupta, supported the concern and questioned the absence of administrative secretaries in the House.

Sharma said the rules mandate the presence of concerned departmental secretaries during Question Hour and suggested that business related to departments whose officers are absent should be deferred.

Intervening, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said that while it is necessary for senior officers of departments listed for business to be present, it is not feasible for the entire secretariat to remain in the House due to space constraints.

Members from various parties, including the National Conference, PDP, Congress and independents, joined the protest, highlighting the issue as a matter of institutional accountability between the executive and the legislature.(NVI)

Man Held for Obstructing Firefighting Operations, Assaulting Personnel in Srinagar

terror module busted in Kashmir
Representative picture

Srinagar, Apr 1 (NVI): A man has been arrested for allegedly obstructing firefighting operations and assaulting personnel of the Fire and Emergency Services department in the Haba Kadal area of Srinagar, officials said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred during firefighting operations on Tuesday, when some individuals interfered with the emergency response, disrupting efforts to the blaze and carry out rescue operations.

Officials, the situation escalated as elements within the crowd resorted to unruly behaviour, including physical aggression against the firefighting staff, thereby endangering lives and property.

Police Station Kral Khud has registered an FIR (No. 07/2026) under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and one accused, identified as Abdul Majeed Sheikh, a resident of Khanyar Mir Masjid, has been apprehended.

Further investigation is underway, they said.

The Fire and Emergency Services Department condemned the incident, describing it as a serious obstruction to life-saving operations. Authorities said such interference hampers emergency response and puts both responders and civilians at risk.

ADGP Fire and Emergency Services, Alok Kumar, appealed to the public to cooperate with firefighting teams during emergencies and avoid interfering in operations, particularly refraining from acts such as snatching water hoses, which can severely impact firefighting efforts.

Authorities have warned that any attempt to hinder emergency services will be dealt with strictly under the law.(NVI)

Major Reshuffle Likely in J&K Police This Week

Srinagar, Apr 1 (NVI): A major reshuffle in the Jammu and Kashmir Police is likely to take place this week, with transfers and fresh postings expected at several key positions,

Sources said officers at various ranks, including Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and Superintendent of Police (SP), are likely to be affected as part of the administrative exercise.

The reshuffle is expected to be aimed at streamlining policing and strengthening the administrative setup across the Union Territory, they said.

However, there has been no official confirmation from the authorities so far regarding the exact scope or timing of the transfers.(NVI)

Pakistan: TTP claims killing of 52 soldiers in 5 days
Dozens of attacks carried out by TTP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cadre in specialised gear. File pic released by TTP

Peshawar, Apr 1: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed to have killed at least 52 Pakistani soldiers and associates and wounded several others in dozens of ‘operations’ across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces in a span of 5 days.

The biggest attack was carried out in South Waziristan, where 10 soldiers were killed and 5 injured in twin-ambushes in Badr area, according to the TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani.

He said a special unit of the TTP first ambushed a military convoy on the Razmak-Wana main road in Momi Karam, destroying vehicles and killing soldiers.

Another military convoy then arrived for help but it too was ambushed by the TTP militants, he said.

In both these ambushes, 10 soldiers were killed and five injured, while four vehicles and a tank were severely damaged, the TTP spokesman said about the operation on March 29.

On the same day, a soldier of Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary force was killed in a sniper attack in Guryom in North Waziristan.

Earlier, a Military Intelligence undercover operative was killed by the TTP in Peshawar.

Two FC personnel were killed in an ambush in Darra Adam Khel in Kohat district, the spokesman said, adding a pistol, ammunition, a smartphone, cash, and other equipment were also seized from them.

On March 28, a Pakistani soldier was killed and another injured in a sniper attack on a military post in Laka Tiga area of Tirah Maidan in Khyber district, he said.

One more soldier was killed in a separate sniper attack on a military guest house in the same Tirah Maidan on the same day.

In South Waziristan, a soldier was killed and one security camera was destroyed in an attack on a military post in Mantoi area of Shakai.

In North Waziristan, a military vehicle was ambushed in Madakhel Yezkhola area of Spin Wam on March 27, which resulted in the killing of 8 soldiers and complete destruction of the vehicle, the spokesman said.

In a separate attack, TTP militants targeted a military post using a grenade launcher in Sarvek area of Spin Wam in North Waziristan, killing and wounding 4 soldiers, he said.

One more soldier was killed in a sniper attack on a tanker ferrying water for a military post in Spin Wam on the same day.

In another incident in North Waziristan on the same day, a sniper attack by TTP on a military post killed one soldier and destroyed a security camera in Shakra area of Spin Wam.

In Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, TTP militants carried out an attack on a unit of Pakistan army and CTD in Aka Khel and Miri Khel area of Bara on March 26.

At least 5 personnel of the government forces were left dead and several injured in the attack, which also resulted in the destruction of two military vehicles, Khorasani said.

Separately, a sniper attack on a military guest house killed one soldier and partially damaged a vehicle in Maidan area of Bara.

One military officer was killed in a TTP sniper attack on a checkpost in Salarzai in Bajaur district, the spokesman said.

On the same day in North Waziristan, the TTP militants carried out a raid on military post in Shakira area of Spin Wam, killing one soldier and injuring several others, he said.

In Peshawar district on the same day, a sniper attack on Karbala Post killed one soldier, he said.

In South Waziristan on March 26, a sniper attack on a post in Shin Warsak killed one soldier, he said.

In Karak district, an associate of CTD was killed by TTP militants in Banda Daud area.

At least 5 more soldiers and police personnel were killed and several injured in multiple TTP attacks on March 25 in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the spokesman.

The TTP also claimed to have killed 8 personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police and members of military-supported so-called ‘Peace Committee’ and injured 8 seriously in an attack in Punjab province’s Tunsa Sharif area in Dera Ghazi Khan district on March 27.

Dry Weather to Favour Spraying in Kashmir; Rain Likely from April 3: MeT

Rainfall
Representational image

Srinagar, Apr 1 (NVI): The Meteorological Department has forecast largely dry weather across most parts of Kashmir over the next two days, providing favourable conditions for agricultural spraying activities.

Director MeT Ladakh, Sonam Lotus, said that while dry conditions are expected to prevail in general, a brief spell of rain at isolated places cannot be ruled out.

However, he cautioned that weather conditions are likely to change from April 3 to 4, with a high probability of rainfall at most places across the Valley.

“In view of the expected precipitation, spraying operations during April 3–4 may be risky,” he said.

Farmers and orchardists have been advised to plan their activities accordingly, taking advantage of the current dry spell while remaining cautious of the impending wet weather.(NVI)

Man Assaults Woman, Snatches Gold Chain in Srinagar; Case Registered

Srinagar, Apr 1 (NVI): A man allegedly assaulted a woman and snatched her gold chain in Safakadal area of the city, police said on Wednesday.

According to police, the victim a resident of Dana Mazar, Safakadal, lodged a written complaint stating that the accused, Ajaz Ahmad of the same locality, physically assaulted her and forcibly snatched her gold chain.

Based on the complaint, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the concerned police station.

Further investigation into the incident is underway, police added.(NVI)

IAF surveillance drone fired upon by Pak posts in Akhnoor sector

drone
Representational image of a drone

Jammu, Apr 01 (NVI): Pakistani posts opened fire at an Indian Air Force Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) during a sortie along the International Border in the Akhnoor sector on Tuesday night, officials said.

The RPA was on an operational mission between At around 2100 hrs, while operating near the International Border between Border Outposts (BOPs) Old Kana Chak and Garkhal, Pakistan’s Kheri post fired four rounds, while Aslam post fired one round at the aircraft, they said.

No damage was reported, and the RPA safely returned to base, officials added.(NVI)

Overseas job scam busted in Srinagar; accused chargesheeted, in judicial custody

Srinagar, Apr 1 (NVI): The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir has chargesheeted a man in connection with an alleged overseas job fraud case in which a job-seeker was duped on the promise of employment abroad, officials said on Wednesday.

The chargesheet was filed by the Special Crime Wing, Srinagar, in FIR No. 02/2025 under Sections 420 (cheating) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code against Farhat Abbas Malik, a resident of Doda district, before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar.

According to officials, the case was registered following a complaint by a person who had been searching for employment abroad after losing his job during the COVID-19 period.

During this process, the complainant came into contact with an office operating under the name “Fly High Business Consultant,” allegedly run by the accused, who promised to arrange a lucrative job overseas. The accused reportedly persuaded the complainant to pay a substantial amount of money and hand over original documents, including his passport.

“Investigation revealed that the accused had no intention of arranging any job and had cheated the complainant for wrongful financial gain,” an official said.

During questioning, the accused admitted to receiving money on the pretext of securing overseas employment but failed to fulfil the promise. He also disclosed that the complainant’s passport had been lost, following which Section 201 IPC was invoked in the case.

The accused was arrested during the course of the investigation. His bail application was rejected by the court, and he is currently lodged in Central Jail Srinagar.

The chargesheet has been filed before the competent court for further judicial proceedings, officials added.(NVI)

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