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Rain, thunderstorms likely in J&K on Sept 4; flash flood, landslide risk

File photo

Srinagar, Sep 4 (NVI) Jammu and Kashmir is likely to experience spells of light to moderate rain and thunderstorms at many places on Friday, with brief intense showers at some locations, particularly in the Jammu division, the Meteorological Department said.

Director Meteorological Department Srinagar, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said a spell of light to moderate rain or thunderstorms is expected at many places during the afternoon on Friday, followed by another moderate spell with brief intense heavy showers during the late night or early morning hours, mainly in the Jammu division.

The weather is expected to remain generally dry from September 5 to 10, though brief spells of rain or thunderstorms may occur at isolated places, the MeT said.

Scattered spells of rain and thunderstorms are likely from September 11 to 15, with brief intense showers possible at some locations.

The department has advised people to remain cautious as brief intense showers over localised areas on September 4 could trigger flash floods, mudslides and landslides.

Farmers have been advised to continue harvesting and other agricultural activities while keeping local weather conditions in view.—(NVI)

IndiGo aircraft hits VDGS pole while parking at Srinagar airport; all safe

Srinagar, Sep 4 (NVI) An IndiGo flight from Navi Mumbai to Srinagar came in contact with a Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) pole while being positioned for parking at the Srinagar airport on Friday morning, officials said.

The incident involving IndiGo flight 6E 225 (VT-NOG) occurred around 9:02 am when the aircraft was being positioned at Bay No. 6, they said.

All passengers and crew members were safe and no injuries were reported, the airport authority said in a statement.

The passengers and crew were safely deboarded using manual aircraft stairs, it said.

The circumstances surrounding the incident will be examined by the competent authorities as per prescribed procedures, officials said.

“The exact cause will be ascertained following completion of the inquiry, and no conclusion regarding the cause is being drawn at this stage,” the airport authority said.

Airport operations remained normal, with flight arrivals and departures continuing as per schedule, it added. (NVI)

Kashmir: Terrorists intercepted in Budgam forests, operation underway

File Photo

Budgam, Sep 3 (NVI): Security forces tonight intercepted some terrorists in a mountainous forest area of Yusmarg in Budgam district of central Kashmir, according to sources.

The interception took place during a search and cordon operation launched by a joint team of Army and Police following a specific input about presence of terrorists in the area.

Gunshots were heard during the operation, sources said.

They said the operation is underway in the area. (NVI)

India, Belgium push for deeper defence industrial ties, co-development of niche products

New Delhi, Sep 3 (NVI): India and Belgium on Thursday called for deeper defence industrial collaboration, with the two sides pitching for greater co-development and co-production of niche military products to strengthen their armed forces and promote shared security.

Belgian Defence and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken and Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth made the remarks while addressing the India-Belgium Defence CEOs Roundtable and B2B Meetings in New Delhi.

The event was attended by representatives of Belgian defence companies, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).

Francken underlined the potential for greater industrial cooperation between the two countries and stressed the need to strengthen the two militaries through joint efforts amid the evolving security environment.

“United we stand, divided we fall,” he said, while highlighting the growing strategic partnership between India and the European Union and expanding cooperation in areas such as maritime security, information security and aerospace.

Seth urged Belgian defence manufacturers to combine their technological expertise with India’s manufacturing capabilities and scale for co-development and co-production of niche products.

He said India is moving decisively from import dependence towards indigenous defence capabilities, trusted international partnerships and global competitiveness under initiatives such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.

“Strategic autonomy is best secured through credible, mutually beneficial international collaboration,” Seth said.

He identified cyber security, AI-enabled unmanned aerial systems, underwater domain vehicles and complex weapon systems as potential areas for closer India-Belgium cooperation.

Seth also highlighted innovation initiatives such as iDEX and ADITI, which are supporting start-ups and MSMEs working on technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, military communications, anti-drone systems and adaptive camouflage.

India’s defence industrial base now comprises defence public sector undertakings, a growing private sector and more than 16,000 MSMEs, he said, adding that domestic industry is delivering capabilities across aerospace, naval and land platforms, defence electronics, cyber security, space technologies and unmanned systems.

The minister said India has liberalised foreign direct investment in defence up to 74 per cent under the automatic route and up to 100 per cent through the government route to facilitate partnerships in niche technologies.

He also pointed to the defence industrial corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, along with planned corridors in Maharashtra, Assam and other regions, as opportunities for foreign original equipment manufacturers and their Indian partners.

During the event, several MoUs were exchanged to promote cooperation between Belgian technology companies and Indian firms.

The agreements included pacts involving SIDM and the Belgian Security & Defence Industry; Larsen & Toubro with Exail Robotics; Kalyani Strategic Systems with FN Herstal; Tembo Classic Engineering with Lachaussée; India Optel with OIP; Krishna Industries with Pitagone; DGVK Enterprises with Sol1; and Kalyani Strategic Systems with Thales Belgium and Thales India.

The agreements are aimed at strengthening industrial partnerships and facilitating technology cooperation, co-development and co-production in the defence sector.—(NVI)

India, Belgium sign several pacts in defence sector

PM Narendra Modi and his visiting Belgian counterpart Bart De Wever in Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 3 (NVI) A number of agreements, covering ammunition and helicopter rockets, mine-countermeasure systems, counter-drone technology and tank turrets, were signed today between companies of India and Belgium.

The agreements were signed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Belgian counterpart Bart De Wever held talks here while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh separately met Belgian Defence and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken.

The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of defence and industrial cooperation and agreed to expand military ties through a dedicated defence cooperation dialogue, high-level visits, training and capacity building, the defence ministry said.

The Belgian side also reportedly assured India during the discussions that it would not undertake defence cooperation with Pakistan involving the supply of military equipment or technology.

The two countries also signed a Letter of Intent providing a framework for structured cooperation between their armed forces.

It envisages training and exchanges between officers, research and development, seminars, joint exercises and cooperation in maritime security.

The two sides also plan to draw up an industrial roadmap for defence cooperation. The Belgian Defence College will organise its World Study Trip in India in 2027.

Fifteen Belgian companies accompanied the two leaders during the visit, with 10 agreements signed between Belgian and Indian defence companies.

The agreements cover a wide range of technologies, including ammunition, rockets, autonomous maritime systems, mine warfare, weapons, electro-optics, drones, counter-drone systems, air-defence software and armoured-vehicle systems.

Liège-based machinery manufacturer New Lachaussée has tied up with Tembo Classic Engineering to supply a complete production line for two ammunition calibres, along with tooling for two additional calibres.

The facility will have a production capacity of approximately 100 million rounds a year, with the project valued at around €50 million.

Installation and delivery are scheduled for 2028 and 2029. New Lachaussée will also provide spare parts, maintenance and modernisation support, potentially creating a long-term industrial relationship between the two companies.

A potentially more strategically significant agreement has been signed between Exail Belgium and Larsen & Toubro, which is bidding for India’s mine-countermeasure vessel programme.

Under the agreement, Exail will supply the autonomous systems or “toolboxes” used to detect, identify and neutralise naval mines.

The first phase of India’s programme involves 12 vessels, although the requirement could eventually expand to as many as 59 vessels, the Belgium government said.

Belgium sees maritime security as one of the most promising areas of future cooperation with India, including mine countermeasures, autonomous maritime systems, underwater robotics, advanced sensors and protection of critical infrastructure such as ports, pipelines and subsea data cables.

In another significant agreement, Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems will cooperate to assemble Thales Belgium’s 70 mm rockets in India.

The first rocket produced entirely in India is expected in early 2027. The arrangement will give Thales an additional production base for its international orders while allowing India to build domestic capability for the manufacture of the weapon system, the Belgium government noted.

Belgian small-arms major FN Herstal has signed an agreement with Kalyani Strategic Systems to explore establishing a joint production centre in India.
The proposed facility could manufacture FN weapons, integrated weapon systems and counter-drone systems.

Belgian company Sol.One has partnered with DGVK Enterprises to introduce its Saboteur drone and Buzzkill and Hitchhiker interceptors to the Indian market.

The Indian armed forces have sought information on the systems and are expected to conduct trials. If the systems meet military requirements, the Belgian government said this could lead to larger orders.

OIP Sensor Systems has signed an agreement with India Optel Limited for cooperation on electro-optical systems for the Arjun main battle tank.

OIP has previously supplied more than 130 sights for the Arjun Mk I. For the Arjun Mk II, the Belgian company has developed a new fire-control system capable of supporting the launch of laser-guided missiles.

The latest agreement could open the way for future upgrades to India’s armoured platforms and potentially new generations of combat vehicles, the Belgium government noted.

Another major agreement has been signed between John Cockerill Defense and Larsen & Toubro for the supply of a turret for the Zorawar light tank, being developed by India for high-altitude operations.

The agreement could give the Belgian company a role in one of India’s most important new armoured-vehicle programmes.

Belgian company Octave already provides visualisation software used in several Indian air-defence programmes, including Akash Teer, ARUDHRA, IPSS and IACCS.

The company is now looking at deeper cooperation with Bharat Electronics Limited to expand its presence within India’s air-defence architecture.

Belgian marine-engine manufacturer Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC) is also in discussions with Kirloskar Oil Engines. Kirloskar has been commissioned to develop India’s first fully indigenous 6 MW marine diesel engine and is looking at ABC’s expertise to support the programme, the Belgium side said.

The Brussels-based Pitagone, which manufactures mobile barriers designed to protect against vehicle attacks, is establishing the Pitagone India joint venture together with Krishna Allied. As per the plans, Pitagone Belgium will retain a 51 percent majority stake. The new company will manufacture and sell its products locally. Pitagone also intends to use India as a base from which to serve other markets in Southeast Asia. (NVI)

J&K BJP denies party link to man accused of molesting woman during Srinagar protest

BJP
BJP flag

Srinagar, Sep 3 (NVI): The BJP on Thursday denied any association with the man seen allegedly molesting a woman during a protest at Hari Singh High Street here, saying the individual was not affiliated with the party.

In a statement, the BJP said it had cross-checked the information with multiple sources and found that the individual seen in the viral video was not associated with the party.

The party said large public gatherings often attract unidentified and unaffiliated individuals and their presence cannot be attributed to the organisers or the BJP.

The BJP said efforts were underway to identify the person involved in the incident as well as the online portals that allegedly disclosed the woman’s identity by revealing her face.

It condemned the incident and urged people to refrain from circulating unverified information or falsely attributing the actions of an individual to the party.

The party said the matter should be dealt with in accordance with law once those involved are identified.—(NVI)

Arms, ammunition recovered from suspected hideout in J&K’s Reasi

Shivam Bakshi

Reasi, Sep 3 (NVI): Security forces on Thursday recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from a suspected hideout in the Khataji area of Mahore sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, officials said.

The recovery was made during a joint search operation by the Army’s 58 Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group (SOG) and Jammu and Kashmir Police following specific intelligence inputs, they said.

The seized items included a pistol, an AK-47 magazine, a hand grenade, six cassettes and ammunition, officials said.

The ammunition comprised 140 rounds of AK-47, 19 rounds of PIKA and 25 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, they said.

Further details are awaited.—(NVI)

Three IAS officers transferred from J&K to Arunachal Pradesh

Containment

Srinagar, Sep 3 (NVI): The Centre has transferred three IAS officers of the AGMUT cadre from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh with immediate effect, according to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday.

The officers are Mohd Aijaz (AGMUT: 2012), Harvinder Singh (AGMUT: 2019) and Shishir Gupta (AGMUT: 2020).

The order, issued with the approval of the competent authority, said the postings will remain in force until further orders.

The three officers have been directed to be relieved from their present assignments within 15 days from the date of issuance of the order.

The transfer order was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 3.—(NVI)

Yasin Malik not to challenge charges of killing Kashmiri Pandit nurse; to divorce wife

JKLF chief Yasin Malik (File Photo)

Srinagar, Sept 3 (NVI) Yasin Malik, the jailed chief of terrorist outfit Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), has stated that he will not contest the charges of murdering a Kashmiri Pandit nurse in 1990 and was ready for death penalty.

The 60-year-old terrorist commander has also announced his decision to divorce his wife Mushaal Hussein Malik, a Pakistani national whom he married in 2009.

Lodged in Tihar jail since 2019, Malik has filed a 25-page affidavit before the Additional Sessions Court, Srinagar, saying he no longer wishes to challenge the proceedings in the case related to murder of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat.

“I will no longer contest the trial and the death penalty may be considered for me,” Malik told the court in the statement submitted through his lawyer Abu Adil Pandit.

He, however, added that his withdrawal of challenge to the charges should not be construed as an admission of guilt, claiming that he has been falsely implicated due to political circumstances.

The court has listed the matter for next hearing on September 19.

Sarla Bhat, a 27-year-old staff nurse at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, was abducted on April 18, 1990 near her hostel, adjacent to the hospital. Days later, she was found dead in a nearby colony.

In 2025, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the state police reopened the case and conducted raids at locations linked to Malik and others.

The chargesheet named Malik, Khurshid Ahmed Chalku, Abdul Hameed Sheikh, Mohammad Yusuf Sofi and Ghulam Mohammad Taploo.

Chalku is still on the run while Sofi, Sheikh and Taploo are dead, leaving Malik as the key living accused. Currently serving a life term in Tihar, Malik is also facing trial in a separate murder case in Jammu.

This is not the first time Malik has taken such a stand.

In May 2022, when the special NIA court in Delhi convicted him in a terror-funding case, he had refused to contest the charges and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. The NIA has since been seeking enhancement of his life term to death sentence.

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In the same affidavit, Malik announced his decision to end his 16-year marriage with  Mushaal Hussein Mullick. The two married in 2009 and have a 13-year-old daughter, Razia Sultana.

Mushaal lived with Yasin for a few years in Srinagar after their marriage and returned to Pakistan where she was pampered by the government.

She was made Special Advisor on Human Rights and Women Empowerment in Pakistan  government from 2023 to 2025.

Yasin said for the last eight years he has not been allowed to speak to his wife on phone or see her on video call in jail, nor contact his family.

He said he does not want 40-year-old Mushaal “to live her whole life carrying the burden of this situation or living like a widow. I want her to start a new chapter of her life with dignity and hope.” (NVI)

J&K Chief Secretary Dulloo reviews disposal of Kashmiri migrant property grievances

Srinagar, Sep 3 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday reviewed the disposal of grievances related to properties of Kashmiri migrants across all 10 districts of the Kashmir division and directed officials to ensure time-bound resolution of pending cases.

Chairing a meeting attended by senior officials, including the divisional and district administrations, Dulloo stressed that every grievance lodged under the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, should be examined comprehensively and decided strictly on merit.

He also called for greater use of technology in the management and protection of migrant properties and directed the remaining districts to expedite completion of geo-tagged digital inventories of such properties.

The meeting was informed that 522 kanals and 15.9 marlas of migrant land were retrieved and secured under Superdari or handed over to the original owners between January and July this year.

Bandipora accounted for the highest retrieval at 146 kanals and seven marlas, followed by Baramulla with 82 kanals and 10 marlas, Kulgam with 80 kanals and 0.5 marlas, Ganderbal with 53 kanals and Srinagar with 50 kanals and 16.9 marlas, officials said.

The Online Migrant Grievance Portal has so far registered 12,223 complaints, including 5,341 encroachment cases, 2,874 trespassing cases and 442 cases related to alleged tampering of records.

Of these, 10,038 cases have been closed by the district magistrates, while 7,605 have received final approval through the portal mechanism.

An independent telephonic quality verification mechanism was also instituted through the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to assess the quality of disposal of cases shown as closed.

Of the 4,918 applicants contacted during the verification exercise, 4,605 expressed satisfaction with the disposal of their cases, while the remaining grievances were flagged for further scrutiny and remedial action.

Dulloo appreciated the verification mechanism and said disposal figures must translate into actual, satisfactory and legally sustainable resolution on the ground.

The meeting was also informed that Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Kupwara have completed geo-tagged digital inventories of migrant properties.

Officials said grassroots outreach camps conducted at Jammu by Additional Deputy Commissioners during the first quarter of 2026 resulted in 1,878 complaints being received directly, with 484 offline grievances subsequently brought onto the unified digital platform.

Following implementation of a revised Standard Operating Procedure in October 2025, the entire process has also been shifted to the e-Office platform.

The streamlined mechanism has enabled disposal of 129 complex alienation cases in the last 11 months, compared with 6,258 cases processed during the preceding 28 years, officials said.

Dulloo directed officials to maintain sustained focus on protecting migrant properties, expediting grievance disposal and strictly adhering to statutory safeguards while ensuring protection of the lawful rights of migrant property holders.—(NVI)

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