Srinagar, Sep 1 (NVI): Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Sujit Kumar on Tuesday called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Civil Secretariat here following his recent assumption of charge as the head of the Kashmir Zone.
During the meeting, Abdullah enquired about the prevailing security and law and order situation in the Valley and wished Kumar a successful tenure.
Kumar, a senior IPS officer, recently took charge as IGP Kashmir, succeeding V K Birdi.(NVI)
New Delhi, Sep 1 (NVI) The prices of 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder and 5 kg LPG cylinder, used by hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries, were raised along with that of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) with effect from today.
The cost of a 19-kg LPG cyclinder was hiked by ₹9.50, making the price ₹2,747.50 each.
The price of the 5-kg LPG cylinder, called 5-kg FTL or ‘chotu’, has also been increased from ₹762 to ₹764.
Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices were increased by ₹6.28 per litre, or 5.46 per cent, to ₹121.28 per litre for domestic airlines, according to state-owned oil firms. The increase comes on the back of a ₹5 a litre rise in rates on August 1.
The two increases will add to the financial burden of airlines, for whom ATF makes up to 40 per cent of operating costs.
After the outbreak of the conflict in late February, commercial LPG rates had risen by a massive ₹1,373 per 19-kg cylinder — from ₹1,740.50 in February to ₹3,113.50 in June.
Rates of domestic LPG used in household kitchens remain unchanged at ₹942 per 14.2-kg cylinder. Prices of domestic LPG were last raised by ₹29 per 14.2-kg cylinder on June 7.
Rates had been raised by ₹60 in March after the West Asia crisis led to supply disruptions and a surge in international energy prices.
Petrol and diesel prices, which were hiked by about ₹7.50 a litre each in May, too, remained unchanged. (NVI)
Kathmandu, Sep 1 (NVI) The death toll in Nepal floods has risen to over 1,000 while more than 4,000 people are still missing since the devastating deluge hit central parts of the country on August 26.
More than 11,800 people have been rescued and intense searches continue to trace the missing ones, with assistance from India and other countries.
India says its teams have established a foothold at the tunnel of Chilime hydropower project and probed 185 metres into a tunnel at Langtang.
Meanwhile, weather forecasters have predicted fresh spell of heavy rains, raising concerns regarding the search and rescue operations.
Forecasters in China have warned of renewed rain in Gyirong that could push up water levels in a nearby barrier lake, while officials have raised concerns over possible glacier collapses.
The coming days, therefore, remain critical even as communities cling to hope.
The humanitarian needs are mounting.
The United Nations estimates that around 65,000 people urgently require water, sanitation and hygiene support, while families of those still missing struggle to find information.
Prime Minister Shah said power has been restored to around 30% of households in hard-hit Rasuwa district, while six 48-metre Bailey bridges and a 70-metre bridge are being deployed to reconnect communities cut off after roads and bridges were destroyed. (NVI)
New Delhi, Sep 1 (NVI) Over 78 million Income Tax Returns (ITRs) have been filed for assessment year (AY) 2026-27 till yesterday, which is a record, the Income Tax Department said today.
Last year, over 73 million income tax returns (ITRs) were filed by September 16, 2025, the extended deadline for filing returns for non-audit cases for AY 2025-26.
“A record 78 million+ ITRs have been filed for AY 2026-27 as on August 31,2026,” the I-T department said in a X post.
This also includes over 59 million ITR-1 and ITR-2, which were filed by the due date of July 31.
August 31 was the last date for filing ITRs for AY 2026-27 for taxpayers with business or professional income who are not subject to audit.
If a taxpayer falls in the non-audit category, he/she can file the applicable ITR (ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5 or ITR-7).
ITR-4 is a simpler form that caters to small and medium taxpayers.
ITR-5 is filed by firms and Limited Liability Partnership and Cooperative Societies. ITR-6 is filed by companies registered under Companies Act and ITR-7 by trusts and charitable institutions. (NVI)
Srinagar, Sep 1 (NVI) The Union Territory-level High Powered Steering Committee (UTHPSC), chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, has approved three major urban development projects worth Rs 2,692.58 crore under the Centre’s Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), officials said on Tuesday.
The projects include TARANG (Tawi Area Regeneration and Green Growth) in Jammu, Walled City and Nigeen Lakefront Revitalisation in Srinagar, and KRIPA (Katra Revitalisation Through Integrated Pilgrimage Amenities) in Reasi.
The projects aim to promote sustainable urban development by combining government funding with market-linked financing and private participation, the officials said.
TARANG, estimated to cost Rs 1,567.91 crore, envisages comprehensive regeneration of the Tawi riverfront and adjoining urban areas through public infrastructure and public-private partnership (PPP) based commercial development.
Under its proposed funding structure, Rs 307.05 crore each would come from the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration, while Rs 953.81 crore would be mobilised through market and PPP financing.
The PPP component includes a residential group housing project, an upscale hotel, a retail mall and associated road infrastructure, besides a luxury resort on the Central Island. The project also includes river protection and structural works such as a diaphragm wall, embankment filling, retaining walls and interceptor drainage infrastructure.
The Walled City and Nigeen Lakefront Revitalisation project, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,010.77 crore, seeks to rejuvenate Srinagar’s historic urban core and develop the economic potential of its lakefront areas.
Around Rs 300.77 crore would be utilised for core public infrastructure and revitalisation of the historic city, while the PPP component would support a Hospitality Centre, Pokribal Lakefront and a premium five-star boutique hotel.
The KRIPA project in Reasi, estimated at Rs 113.90 crore, focuses on improving pilgrim amenities, mobility management and institutional infrastructure in Katra.
A key component of the project is the Katra Gateway Centre, proposed as a mixed-use facility with pilgrim dormitories having 480 beds, guest rooms, retail outlets, a community dining hall and prayer spaces.
The project also includes a multi-level car parking facility with a capacity of 365 equivalent car spaces, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and dedicated bus bays near the Yatra Parchi Counter.
An allocation of Rs 15.25 crore has been earmarked for institutional remodelling, including modern office spaces, retail kiosks and upgraded administrative facilities for the Municipal Committee, Katra.
The committee emphasised timely and quality execution of the projects while ensuring their financial sustainability, officials said.
The initiatives are expected to boost urban infrastructure, mobility, tourism and economic activity while creating new public spaces and investment opportunities in Jammu, Srinagar and Katra.
Senior officers from the administration, including the Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism; Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Principal Secretary, Culture; Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department; Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, and Commissioners of the Jammu and Srinagar municipal corporations attended the meeting.
Peshawar, Sep 1 (NVI) Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) killed at least 294 personnel of Pakistani military and their affiliates and injured 352 in 406 operations across the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh and Balochistan during the month of August.
In its monthly report, the TTP also confirmed the capture of 31 “enemy” personnel besides causing extensive damage to the assets of the Pakistani military during the month.
Among the total 646 killed and injured in TTP operations, 237 personnel belonged to Pakistan army and its Special Services Group (SSG).
At least 196 were personnel of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC), 173 were from police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and 40 were members of the Pakistani secret agencies, TTP spokesman Mohammad Khorasani said in a statement today.
Among the operations, the maximum of 130 were carried out in South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province while 80 were conducted in North Waziristan.
At least 45 operations were carried out in Peshawar district, 23 in Dera Ismail Khan district, 17 in Khyber district, 11 in Bajaur district and 4 in Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
At least three operations were carried out in Punjab province.
The operations included 87 Guerrilla Attacks, 82 Sniper/Laser Attacks, 77 Confrontational Attacks, 62 Grenade/Bomb Blasts, 41 Targeted Attacks, 30 Ambush Attacks, 10 Retaliatory Attacks, 9 Missile Attacks, 7 Quadcopter Attacks and one suicide attack.
These attacks resulted in damage and destruction of 1 military tank, 17 military/police constructions, 40 vehicles of various types, 3 drones, 45 security cameras and 34 Water, Energy and Communication Systems.
TTP also seized 9 assorted guns, 1 vehicle, and other military equipment from the Pakistani forces, the spokesman said. (NVI)
Srinagar, Sep 01 (NVI): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday chaired a high-level security review meeting at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar to assess the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, intelligence agencies and civil administration, sources said.
The meeting reviewed the prevailing security scenario, preparedness of security forces and measures to further strengthen coordination among various agencies, sources added.(NVI)
Srinagar, Sep 1 (NVI): The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir has filed a chargesheet against a Srinagar resident and a deceased former patwari in an alleged land grabbing and forgery case, officials said on Tuesday.
The chargesheet has been filed before a court in Srinagar against Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, a resident of Barapather, Haft Chinar, and the then patwari, who has since died, they said.
The case stems from a complaint alleging that the accused, in connivance with each other, attempted to grab land by using forged documents and sought to obtain building permission from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), the officials said.
The EOW registered a case under Sections 420/511, 167, 471 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and conducted an investigation into the allegations.
During the probe, the allegations were found to be substantiated, with investigators finding alleged fraudulent documentation, misrepresentation of material facts and misuse of official position, they said.
The investigation has been concluded as “proved” and the chargesheet submitted before the competent court for judicial determination, the officials said.
The Crime Branch has urged the public to remain vigilant against economic fraud and report suspicious activities to the EOW Kashmir, they added.—(NVI)
Shivam Bakshi
Kathua, Aug 31 (NVI): Security agencies have launched an inquiry after a pigeon carrying a leg ring bearing a purported Pakistani mobile number was found in a border village in Hiranagar sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Monday, officials said.
The pigeon was noticed by locals in Chhan Khatriyan village, following which police were alerted. The bird was taken into custody and the number inscribed on the ring was being verified, they said.
Officials said the number found on the ring was 03001717652 and investigators were examining its origin and possible significance.
Authorities have not established any link between the pigeon and espionage or any other suspicious activity so far, officials said.
Security agencies are also looking into whether the bird could have flown across the International Border or whether the ring was related to pigeon-rearing or racing activities.
The incident comes amid heightened security along the Hiranagar border belt following reports of suspected drone activity in the area in recent days.
Officials said the exact circumstances behind the pigeon reaching the village and the significance of the number would be known after the inquiry is completed.—(NVI)
