Monday, April 20, 2026
Home Blog Page 29

CM Omar Abdullah Thanks Centre for ₹5,000 Cr Additional Assistance to J&K

File Photo : J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Mar 26 (NVI): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed gratitude to the Central leadership for extending additional financial support to Jammu and Kashmir.

In a post on X, Office of J&K CM said that the Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for providing Additional Central Assistance of ₹5,000 crore to the Union Territory.

The Chief Minister stated that the timely assistance will boost development initiatives, fast-track infrastructure projects and further strengthen public welfare measures across Jammu and Kashmir. (NVI)

Petrol Pump Sealed over Violation in Kulgam, FIR to Follow: DC Shahzad Alam

Representational image

Srinagar, Mar 26 (NVI): The Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, Shahzad Alam, on Thursday said that a petrol pump in the district has been sealed for violating established norms, adding that an FIR will be lodged against the owner.

The action was taken as part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution of essential commodities.

“There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG in the district, stating that all 21 functional filling stations are adequately stocked to meet the demand”, he said.

He urged the public not to rush to select outlets, as it leads to unnecessary congestion and panic, and advised people to utilize all available petrol pumps.

Shahzad Alam also appealed to the public to refrain from paying heed to rumours regarding shortage of essential commodities, assuring that the administration is closely monitoring the situation to ensure smooth supply.

He called for public cooperation in maintaining order and discipline across the district. (NVI)

CM Chairs Cabinet Meet in Jammu, Reviews Development Push Across J&K

Jammu, Mar 26 (NVI): Omar Abdullah on Thursday chaired a Cabinet meeting in Jammu, where key development initiatives and governance priorities were reviewed, officials said.

During the meeting, the Cabinet deliberated on measures to accelerate infrastructure projects, improve public service delivery, and ensure inclusive growth across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said the Chief Minister stressed the need for timely execution of ongoing projects and directed departments to enhance efficiency and transparency in governance. He also underscored the importance of reaching underserved and remote areas to ensure balanced regional development.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of various flagship programmes and discussed strategies to address implementation bottlenecks, officials added.(NVI)

Indian Army partners IITM for enhancement of indigenous engineering capabilities

CHENNAI, March 26: To accelerate indigenous engineering capabilities and reduce dependence on external sources for critical military technologies, Indian Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) is partnering with IIT-Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation.

The partnership is expected to significantly strengthen India’s domestic defence ecosystem by enabling faster translation of research into deployable, field-ready technologies while reinforcing Chennai’s position as a key node in the country’s defence innovation landscape.

The MoU for this landmark collaboration, which is a major push toward defence indigenisation and the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, was signed today by representatives of Corps of EME and Pravartak in Chennai.

The Corps of EME is the technical backbone of the Indian Army responsible for maintaining and sustaining its weapon platforms.

The partnership will enable a structured approach to jointly identify, develop and deploy indigenous solutions tailored to the evolving operational and maintenance needs of the Indian Army.

It will focus on bridging the gap between field requirements and cutting-edge research by integrating academic expertise, industry capabilities and military insights.

As part of this initiative, a Nodal Indigenisation Centre (NIC) has been established at Avadi near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to leverage the region’s industrial ecosystem and strengthen the Tamil Nadu Defence Corridor as a hub for defence manufacturing and innovation.

The partnership, facilitated through the HQ Base Workshop Group and the Directorate of Indigenisation of the Indian Army, is designed to create a robust framework for high-end collaboration in advanced technology development and translational research.

IITM Pravartak is a Section 8 company and a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), hosted by IIT Madras.

Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Dr. M.J. Shankar Raman, CEO, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, said, “India’s journey toward self-reliance in defence technologies requires strong synergy between the armed forces, academia and innovation ecosystems. This partnership is a significant step toward accelerating indigenous solutions that are technologically robust and operationally relevant.”

Further, Maj. Gen. Lalit Kapoor, VSM, Commander, Base Workshop Group (EME), Indian Army, said, “This collaboration strengthens our indigenisation efforts by leveraging cutting-edge research. By working closely with IITM Pravartak, the Corps of EME aims to enhance operational readiness, upgrade legacy weapon platforms with advanced technologies, and develop niche capabilities for future roles, while significantly reducing dependence on external sources.”

Under this collaboration, key focus areas will include identifying problem statements from Army equipment and subsystems, co-developing indigenous technologies and prototypes, undertaking technical validation and field evaluation, and supporting productisation for deployment.

Pravartak will work closely with the Nodal Indigenisation Centre to drive projects in critical domains such as sensing systems, cyber-physical systems and autonomous technologies, while enabling participation from startups and academic partners. The Corps of EME will provide operational requirements and validation support to ensure real-world applicability.

Lt Gen Karanbir Singh Brar, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) and a Distinguished Strategic Advisor, IITM Pravartak, added, “Indigenisation is an operational necessity for modern armed forces. This collaboration brings together domain expertise from the Army and innovation from academia. With the Nodal Indigenisation Centre in Avadi, the Army will provide easier access to defence startups and industry to refine and adapt innovations for India’s unique operational environments.”

A Joint Steering Committee comprising representatives from both organisations will oversee project selection and strategic alignment.

No Shortage of Fuel, LPG in J&K; Rumours Trigger Panic, Govt Warns of Action: Omar Abdullah

Oplus_16908288

Jammu, Mar 26 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or cooking gas in the Union Territory, urging people not to fall prey to rumours circulating on social media.

Addressing concerns over panic buying witnessed at several fuel stations, the Chief Minister clarified that the government has received no instructions from the Centre regarding rationing or curtailment of supplies. He said the current situation is being unnecessarily aggravated by misinformation.

“There is absolutely no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG. Supplies are normal, and there is no reason for panic,” he said, adding that rumours have led to an artificial surge in demand.

The Chief Minister warned that if the panic buying continues, the government may be compelled to order temporary closure of petrol pumps to stabilise the situation. “If people do not stop believing and spreading baseless rumours, we will have no option but to shut petrol pumps for a few days to break this cycle,” he said.

He appealed to the public to act responsibly and rely only on official sources for information. “Social media misinformation is creating unnecessary chaos. People must verify facts before reacting,” he added.

Officials said that fuel stocks across the Valley remain adequate and supply chains are functioning smoothly. They also assured that strict monitoring is in place to prevent hoarding and ensure equitable distribution.

The administration has urged citizens to avoid panic buying and cooperate in maintaining normalcy, reiterating that there is no cause for concern regarding fuel or LPG availability in the region.(NVI)

CIK Busts Cross-Border Terror Recruitment Module; Key Associate Arrested

Counter Intelligence conducts raids in south, central Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 26 (NVI): Counter Intelligence Kashmir has unearthed a cross-border terror recruitment network and arrested a key associate following coordinated searches across multiple districts of Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.

Searches were conducted at 10 locations in Srinagar, Shopian and Ganderbal districts in connection with a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at a CIK police station, they said.

Investigations revealed that the module was being handled by a Pakistan-based operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba, identified as Shabir Ahmad Lone, a resident of Kangan in Ganderbal district. He is believed to be operating from Bangladesh and coordinating recruitment and logistical support through a network of over-ground workers and associates.

Officials said Lone, who uses multiple aliases, had undergone arms training in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and has been involved in terror-related activities for years. He had earlier infiltrated into India via the Bangladesh border and later exfiltrated, continuing operations from abroad.

In a related development, CIK had earlier arrested Irfan Ahmad Wani (45) from Heerpura in Shopian, who was allegedly in contact with Lone and other handlers through encrypted messaging platforms. He is suspected to have facilitated recruitment, radicalisation and logistics at the local level.

During the searches, security forces seized digital devices, SIM cards, mobile phones, laptops and documents linked to the investigation.

Officials said the probe is ongoing to identify and take action against all individuals involved in the network, both within Jammu and Kashmir and outside the country.(NVI)

Property of PoK-Based Accused Attached in Rafiabad Under Court Orders

Sopore, Mar 26 (NVI): Police Station Panzalla on Thursday attached a property belonging to an accused residing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Fadirpora area of Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Official sources that the attached property, measuring 1 Kanal and 12.5 Marlas under Survey Nos. 15 Min and 17 Min, belongs to Khursheed Ahmad Dar S/o Ali Mohammad Dar, a resident of Fadirpora, who has been living in PoK since 2005.

They said the action was taken in connection with FIR No. 08/2008 under Sections 2/3 of the EMCO Act registered at Police Station Panzalla.

The attachment was carried out under Sections 87 and 88 CrPC under the supervision of Tehsildar Dangiwacha Manzoor Ahmad Koka, along with SDPO Rafiabad, SHO Panzalla, and DO Fadirpora. (NVI)

Asst Professor Dies, Husband Critically Injured in Poonch-Bound Car Accident in Rajouri

Rajouri, Mar 26 (NVI): A tragic road accident in the Kallar area of Rajouri district on Wednesday claimed the life of a female professor and left her husband critically injured. The victims have been identified as Prof. Dr. Tabassum Naz, 43, of the Zoology Department, Degree College Poonch, and her husband Mohd Hameed, 42, both residents of Poonch.

Sources said that the Poonch-bound car lost control and veered off the road, resulting in the accident. Local residents rushed to the site and conducted a rescue operation, immediately shifting the injured to a nearby health facility.

Prof. Tabassum Naz succumbed to her injuries during treatment, while her husband remains in critical condition.

Police have reached the scene and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the dangers of road mishaps in the region. (NVI)

J&K Panchayat Electoral Roll Revision to Begin March 27

Srinagar, Mar 26 (NVI): The State Election Commission of Jammu and Kashmir has announced the schedule for revision of Panchayat electoral rolls, with April 1, 2026 set as the qualifying date, initiating the process across the Union Territory.

An official notification, the draft Panchayat Electoral Roll in Form PER-1 will be published on March 27, 2026.

The period for filing claims and objections, including addition, deletion, correction and transposition of entries, has been fixed from March 27 to April 29, 2026.

To assist voters, special camps will be organised at polling booth locations on April 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26. During these camps, Panchayat Election Booth Officials (PEBOs) along with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will help electors with forms and draft rolls.

The disposal of claims and objections by the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will be completed by May 8, 2026.

The final Panchayat Electoral Roll-2026 will be published on May 15, 2026, the notification said.(NVI)

COVID-Era Procurement Fraud: EOW Kashmir Conducts Raids in Srinagar, Budgam; Crores Allegedly Misappropriated

Srinagar, Mar 26 (NVI): The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday carried out searches at multiple locations in Srinagar and Budgam districts in connection with an alleged high-value COVID-era procurement fraud involving the siphoning of crores of rupees through impersonation and forged documents, officials said.

The was conducted in connection with FIR No. 11/2026 registered at Police Station EOW Srinagar under relevant sections of the IPC, including cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act, they said.

According to officials, the case was initiated following a complaint filed by a Delhi-based firm, M/s Sanjay Trading Company, through its proprietor Sanjay Kumar Sahu. The complainant alleged that two Srinagar residents had fraudulently induced the firm on the pretext of arranging procurement of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused persons allegedly impersonated government officials, posed as authorised representatives, and issued fake allotment orders of various government departments to gain the trust of the firm. They are also accused of creating fake email IDs and opening fraudulent bank accounts in the name of the complainant firm to divert funds.

Officials said the accused allegedly managed to obtain substantial funds, including money linked to the office of the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, and also attempted to siphon off crores from Government Medical College, Srinagar.

Searches were conducted to seize incriminating material, including digital devices and financial records, as part of the ongoing probe, they added.

Further investigation in the case is underway, officials said.(NVI)

1...282930...1,580Page 29 of 1,580

MUST READ