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930 FIRs registered, over 1,000 drug peddlers arrested in J-K: LG Sinha

Srinagar June 01 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said 930 FIRs have been registered and more than 1,000 drug peddlers arrested as part of the administration’s intensified crackdown on narcotics across the Union Territory.

Addressing a function in Kulgam district, Sinha said the government is committed to eliminating the drug menace and achieving a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir.

He said strict action is being taken against those involved in drug trafficking and related offences, adding that over 600 driving licences have been cancelled and the cancellation of 124 passports has been recommended in connection with drug-related activities.

The lieutenant governor said the fight against narcotics is not only a law-enforcement challenge but also a social responsibility requiring the participation of families, educational institutions, religious leaders and civil society.

Urging the youth to stay away from drugs, Sinha called upon citizens to support the government’s efforts to curb drug abuse and trafficking.

Reiterating the administration’s resolve, he said the anti-drug campaign would continue until the goal of a drug-free society is achieved in Jammu and Kashmir.(NVI)

Balochistan: 13 Pakistani soldiers killed, several injured in multiple BLA attacks

Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) fighters at some undisclosed location. File Pic.

Quetta, June 1: Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) today claimed to have killed 13 and injured several other personnel of occupier Pakistani military in multiple attacks in Balochistan.

These attacks were carried out across various parts of Balochistan between May 23 and 30, BLA spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said in a statement to NVI.

The 22 operations, targeting the occupying Pakistan army, police, and military-affiliated ‘death squads’, also resulted in the seizure of a large cache of weapons and ammunition, he said.

During this period, the BLA fighters maintained complete control over the main highways of Balochistan, targeting the logistics supply vehicles of the occupying army and arresting active death squad operatives based on intelligence reports from the organization’s intelligence wing, ZIRAB, the spokesman said.

During the operations, BLA lost a fighter, identified as Sangat Chakar.

Giving details, the spokesman said on May 23, BLA fighters trapped and targeted a joint contingent of the occupying Pakistani army and the CTD (Counter-Terrorism Department) that was advancing to launch a military aggression in Panjpai area of Quetta.

The BLA fighters detonated a remote-controlled car bomb on the highway, striking two vehicles and the foot soldiers of the occupation forces.

This successful explosion resulted in the immediate deaths of four CTD personnel and left six others injured, he said.

Immediately after this, the fighters ambushed other military detachments of the occupying army, killing three more enemy personnel, he said.

During this intense clash, BLA fighter Sangat Chakar sacrificed his life in defense of the motherland and attained martyrdom, Jeeyand Baloch said.

On the same day, in the Garuk area of Kharan, BLA fighters targeted a vehicle of the occupying army with a remote-controlled IED, inflicting heavy material and personnel losses.

Furthermore, at Mal in Nushki, BLA fighters took full control of the Quetta-Taftan national highway and set on fire five vehicles carrying logistics supplies for the occupying army, he said.

On May 24, during two different operations in the Kardgap and Kanak areas of Mastung, the occupying army was targeted with IEDs and ambush attacks, resulting in the death of four enemy personnel and injuries to several others, the spokesman said.

In continuation of these actions, a blockade was established on the Quetta-Taftan route at Babri, where eight supply vehicles of the occupying army were set on fire and completely destroyed.

The next day, in the Besima area, BLA fighters intercepted an oil tanker transporting fuel for the Shamsi Airbase during a tactical operation and set it on fire after taking it into custody.

On the same day, another four supply vehicles were destroyed during an operation on the Quetta-Taftan highway in the Kardgap area of Mastung.

Meanwhile, a successful hand grenade attack was carried out against military personnel deployed for security at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the Chitkan area of Panjgur.

On May 26, BLA fighters used explosives to blow up and destroy the vital Surgal bridge on the Quetta-Taftan highway in Dalbandin, as well as a central bridge on the Kharan-Quetta highway in Kharan, completely disconnecting the enemy’s ground communications.

On the same day, the BLA fighters simultaneously established blockades at two different locations, maintaining organizational control for several hours over the Kharan-Karachi highway at Sarawan and the Kharan-Quetta highway at Nauroz Kalat.

During this period, four supply vehicles of the occupying army were intercepted and set on fire in the Janglat area of Nushki.

In the Garap area of Kalat, foot soldiers of the occupying Pakistani army were targeted while carrying water to their post, resulting in the killing of a soldier and injuries to two others.

On the same day, BLA fighters inflicted heavy personnel losses on advancing enemy detachments in the Kardgap area of Mastung, the spokesman said.

“Following this failure, the occupying army resorted to indiscriminate shelling on the nearby civilian population using gunship helicopters. However, the Sarmachars firmly maintained their positions, launched effective counter-attacks on the enemy’s foot soldiers, and forced them to retreat,” he added.

On May 27, on the day of Eid, BLA fighters fully participated in public Eid gatherings in Kharan, delivering organizational and political addresses to the public.

In the Isplinji area of Mastung, BLA fighters also took control of the entire area on Eid day and met with the local population.

“Due to fear, the occupying army did not dare to venture out of its camp, but instead fired indiscriminate mortar shells from within their camp into civilian areas, injuring four ordinary citizens,” the BLA spokesman said.

On the same day, in the Phalabad area of Panjgur, BLA fighters blockaded the CPEC route for several hours to conduct snap checking, during which a vehicle belonging to the state institution NADRA was taken into custody and set on fire along with its official equipment.

On May 28, in the Balicha area of Tump, BLA fighters fired multiple shells from grenade launchers at the central camp of the occupying army, inflicting significant personnel and material losses on the enemy, the spokesman said.

On May 30, at Nyamdurgi in Nushki, BLA fighters ambushed a military convoy of the occupying army, causing heavy casualties within the enemy ranks.

On the same day, acting on precise intelligence provided by ZIRAB in the Qadirabad area of Nushki, operatives of the state death squad were identified and detained, after which the BLA fighters took over security control of the main highway.

Prices of commercial LPG cylinder increased again

LPG cylinders

New Delhi, June 1: Prices of Commercial LPG of 19 kgs and 5 kgs categories have been increased again with effect from today.

The development will have impact on lakhs of roadside eateries, dhabas, restaurants and hotels.

The price of 19-kg cylinder has been increased by Rs 42 and more and price of 5-kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders has also raised by Rs 11.

As a result, the price of a commercial 19-kg LPG cylinder is now Rs 3,113.50 in Delhi.

In Kolkata, the increase is even steeper at Rs 53.50, pushing the price to Rs 3,255.50 per cylinder.

The latest revision will definitely put more pressure on businesses which are already struggle with rising fuel and transportation costs.

The 5-kg FTL cylinders now cost Rs 821.50.

Upward Trajectory continues

Prices of commercial have been increased substantially since the start of the year.

In January, the price of a 19-kg commercial cylinder was Rs 1,691.50 in Delhi but now it is nearly double that cost at to Rs 3,113.50.

Repeated increase

In February, prices were raised by Rs 49.

March saw another increase of Rs 115.

Then came the biggest shock in April, when prices jumped by a staggering Rs 993 per cylinder.

After remaining elevated in May, rates have risen again in June.

The result is a near doubling of commercial LPG costs within just five months.

Higher Rates Across Major Cities

The impact is not limited to Delhi.

Commercial LPG prices have risen sharply across major urban centres.

In Mumbai, a 19-kg cylinder costs Rs 3,024.50. Chennai has seen prices rise to Rs 3,232. Hyderabad and Patna are among the costliest markets, with prices at Rs 3,294 and Rs 3,322 respectively.

The nationwide increase reflects broader challenges in energy markets rather than local factors.

CNG Price Hike

The LPG revision comes just days after another fuel cost increase.

The prices of CNG, used by vehicles, was raised by Rs 2 per kg a few days back, making it Rs 83.09 per kg.

It was the fourth increase in less than two weeks.

Since May 15, CNG prices have risen by a cumulative Rs 6 per kg.

Petrol and Diesel

Prices of Petrol and Diesel have also been raised by more than Rs 7 in less than a month.

Petrol rates have increased by Rs 7.35 per litre, while diesel prices have been hiked up by Rs 7.53 per litre in multiple rounds.

For businesses that rely on transportation as well as cooking fuel, the combined impact is significant.

General NS Raja Subramani Assumes Charge as India’s Third Chief of Defence Staff

General N.S. Raja Subramani on Sunday assumed charge as 3rd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

New Delhi, May 31 (NVI): General N.S. Raja Subramani on Sunday assumed charge as the third Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, pledging to strengthen jointness among the armed forces and accelerate the induction of indigenous military capabilities to bolster national security.

After taking over, General Subramani paid tribute to his predecessors and expressed gratitude for the trust reposed in the armed forces. He said the military would continue to work in close coordination with all stakeholders under a whole-of-nation approach to further strengthen the country’s security architecture.

The new CDS emphasised enhancing integration, synergy and operational effectiveness among the Army, Navy and Air Force, while focusing on the development, induction and integration of indigenous defence systems to achieve self-reliance in the sector.

He also called for innovation and greater collaboration among stakeholders to drive capability development and military modernisation. Commending the professionalism and operational readiness of the armed forces, General Subramani reiterated his commitment to strengthening training standards and ensuring the welfare of veterans and Veer Naris.

Earlier in the day, General Subramani laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and paid homage to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation. He was also accorded a Tri-Service Guard of Honour at South Block.

A highly decorated officer with more than four decades of service, General Subramani was commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in December 1985.

During his distinguished military career, he held several key command and staff appointments, including General Officer Commanding of 2 Corps, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command, and Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

Before assuming charge as CDS, he served as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat.

He took over from General Anil Chauhan, who had succeeded General Bipin Rawat after his death in an air crash. (NVI)

CBSE acknowledges ‘vulnerabilities’ in its digital platform

cbse

New Delhi, May 31: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which has been under intense criticism over widespread irregularities in marking of Class 12 exam papers, today acknowledged “vulnerabilities” in the OnMark portal and said these are being addressed.

Thus far, the Board has been refusing to admit any lapse in On-Screen Marking (OSM) system even while thousands of students have complained about irregularities in the marking of their Class 12 exam papers and ethical hackers have flagged loopholes in the portal meant for storing the exam papers.

“We have been closely monitoring the vulnerabilities in the OnMark portal of our service provider that are being flagged in the public domain,” the CBSE said in a post on X.

“An expert team of cyber security professionals has been deployed over the last few days from across various arms of the government as well as the IITs to fortify these systems, including taking them over to a more security set up,” it added.

It said the “identified vulnerabilities have been contained and other exploitable weaknesses are being ruled out.”

The acknowledgement by CBSE of the problems comes against the backdrop of ethical hackers flagging security loopholes.

Questions have also been raised over the tender process through which the contract was awarded to a particular company for the OSM system.

CBSE to Ethical Hackers

The CBSE said it is “grateful to all alert citizens and ethical hackers (for) pointing out such weaknesses, and have gotten in touch with some of them directly.”

The Board invited others who may have identified vulnerabilities or security concerns to share their findings with its security team via email at [email protected].

Controversy

CBSE’s digital infrastructure has recently come under intense scrutiny and triggered questions after a 19-year-old ethical hacker Nisarga Adhikary alleged that answer sheets and question papers stored in an AWS bucket were publicly accessible online.

Adhikary’s disclosures triggered a nationwide unease among the student community and a debate over the CBSE’s technology ecosystem.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan Takes Charge as 27th Chief of Indian Navy

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan (right) assumed charge as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff, succeeding Dinesh Kumar Tripathi (Left)
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan (right) assumed charge as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff, succeeding Dinesh Kumar Tripathi (Left)

New Delhi, May 31 (NVI): Admiral Krishna Swaminathan on Sunday assumed charge as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff, succeeding Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who retired after over four decades of service in the Indian Navy.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987, Admiral Swaminathan is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare and brings with him nearly four decades of operational, staff and training experience.

During his naval career, he commanded several frontline warships, including the missile vessels INS Vidyut and INS Vinash, missile corvette INS Kulish, destroyer INS Mysore and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

As a Rear Admiral, he served as Chief Staff Officer (Training) at the Southern Naval Command and later held key appointments as Flag Officer Sea Training and Commander of the Western Fleet. He also served as Flag Officer Offshore Defence Advisory Group and Adviser on Offshore Security and Defence to the Government of India.

After promotion to Vice Admiral, he held important assignments including Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command; Controller Personnel Services; Chief of Personnel; and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. Before taking over as Navy Chief, he was serving as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Joint Services Command and Staff College and the United States Naval War College, Admiral Swaminathan holds multiple academic qualifications, including a PhD in International Studies.

He has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in recognition of his distinguished service to the nation.(NVI)

Defence companies of 12 countries display assets in Meghalaya

Umroi (Meghalaya), May 31: At least 52 defence companies from 12 countries showcased their assets including UAVs and counter-UAV systems, surveillance and smart monitoring at an exhibition here in the North Eastern State of Meghalaya.

The exhibition, organised jointly by the Indian Army and FICCI chamber of commerce, also showcased other defence equipments like secure communications, armament and ammunition, autonomous and robotic systems, AI-enabled defence solutions, electronic warfare, cyber defence, and medical survivability equipment.

The exhibition was held alongside the first-ever Multilateral Joint Exercise PRAGATI — an acronym for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.

The two-day exposition was inaugurated by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth yesterday in the presence of senior military leadership and representatives from participating nations.

Participating friendly foreign countries include Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

Senior military delegations, defence attachés, procurement heads, and strategic stakeholders from these nations are engaging directly with Indian industry across indoor and outdoor display areas designed to deliver a world-class exhibition experience.

Of the 52 participating organisations, 47 are private-sector defence companies — including MSMEs and start-ups — alongside five Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), reflecting the depth of India’s emerging private defence industrial base.

Specific capabilities on display include ISR and loitering munition drones, swarm technologies, anti-drone systems, artillery guns, air defence platforms, multi-barrel rocket launch systems, robotic mules, unmanned ground and maritime vehicles, thermal and night-vision devices, precision ammunition, simulators, and ruggedised cyber-hardened platforms.

Structured as a Business-to-Government (B2G) engagement platform, the exposition enabled direct interaction between Indian industry representatives and senior military leadership from partner nations.

A dedicated networking reception with vice chiefs and senior delegates from participating countries has been organised to facilitate strategic dialogue and lay the groundwork for future defence cooperation.

The second day of the exposition marked extension of engagement to Central Armed Police Forces and state police organisations, broadening the scope to include homeland security requirements, modernisation priorities, and indigenous technology solutions for internal security — a dimension that reinforces India’s ambition to serve regional security needs beyond conventional military supply.

Army Foils Exfiltration Bid in Uri, Three Held Near LoC; PoJK Intruder Also Apprehended

File Photo

Srinagar, May 31 (NVI): Security forces have foiled an exfiltration attempt in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector and apprehended three persons, including two residents of Sopore, during a joint operation by the Army and police, officials said on Sunday.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint search operation in the Uri area of Baramulla district, officials said.

According to the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, two persons from Sopore were apprehended while allegedly attempting to exfiltrate through the Uri sector along with a guide.

“Based on specific intelligence input, a joint search operation was launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the general area of Uri, Baramulla. Two individuals from Sopore were apprehended by vigilant troops while attempting exfiltration in Uri sector along with their accomplice guide. Further probe is underway,” the Army said in a post on X.

In a separate incident, the Army said an intruder from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) was apprehended after being intercepted while crossing the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector.

The Army said alert troops challenged the intruder and took him into custody without causing harm.

“A PoJK intruder was intercepted by alert troops while crossing the Line of Control in Uri sector. The individual was apprehended and later handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir Police for legal proceedings,” it said.

Officials said investigations are underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding both incidents.

Security has been intensified along the LoC amid continued vigilance against infiltration and cross-border movement, they added. (NVI)

Cross-Border Link Suspected as PoK National, Local Girl Held in Uri

J-K Police
Representational image

Srinagar, May 31 (NVI): A man from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and a local woman were detained by security forces near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said on Sunday.

The PoK resident was identified as Zeeshan Ahmad Mir, a resident of Painkadi village in Muzaffarabad district, while the woman was identified as Iram Bano of Tilawari area in Uri, they said.

Officials said the duo was apprehended near the Silikote area by Army personnel during surveillance along the LoC.

Preliminary inquiries indicate that the incident could be linked to a possible cross-border relationship, although officials said no conclusion has been drawn and all aspects of the case are being examined.

Both individuals are being questioned by security agencies to ascertain the circumstances under which the PoK resident reached the area and whether there was any violation of security protocols, officials said.

Further investigation is underway and more details are awaited.(NVI)

Rajouri Forest Hunt Continues for Ninth Day Amid Tight Security Cordon

File Photo

Rajouri, May 31 (NVI): A massive anti-terror operation entered its ninth day on Sunday in the forested areas of Rajouri district’s Manjakote sector, where security forces are searching for suspected terrorists believed to be hiding in the region, officials said.

The operation, launched on May 23 following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Gambhir Mughlan and adjoining Dorimal forest areas, is being jointly conducted by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the CRPF.

Officials said security forces have maintained a tight cordon around the area and intensified search efforts to prevent the suspects from escaping. Reinforcements have been deployed and surveillance has been enhanced across key routes in and around the dense forest belt.

The operation gained momentum after an exchange of fire was reported in the Dorimal area earlier this week, prompting security agencies to strengthen the cordon and expand search operations.

The difficult mountainous terrain and thick forest cover have posed significant challenges to the operation, officials said, adding that search teams are proceeding cautiously while using all available resources to track the movement of the terrorists.

Security forces have continued area domination and surveillance measures, while access to certain locations remains restricted as a precautionary measure.

Officials said the operation will continue until the entire area is thoroughly searched and cleared of any terrorist presence.(NVI)

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