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Arms, Ammunition Recovered in Joint Search Operation in Bandipora Forest

File Photo

Srinagar, May 20 (NVI): Security forces on Wednesday recovered arms and ammunition during a joint search operation in a forest area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, officials said.

Official sources that a joint team Security forces launched a search-and-destroy operation (SADO) in the Sahgund forest compartment area.

During the operation, the forces recovered one Chinese grenade, two UBGL rounds, 60 rounds of AKM ammunition and two AKM magazines, he said.

The operation concluded in the evening and further investigation is underway, he added.—(NVI)

Labour Dept Issues Heatwave Advisory to Protect Workers Across J&K
Employers asked to reschedule work, ensure water, shade and health safeguards

Jammu, May 20 (NVI): The Labour Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday issued an advisory directing employers and field officers to take preventive measures to protect workers from prevailing and anticipated heatwave conditions across the Union Territory.

The advisory, aimed at safeguarding labourers engaged in factories, construction sites, brick kilns, transport, agriculture and other heat-exposed occupations, calls for strict implementation of safety measures to minimise heat-related illnesses.

According to officials, Inspectors of Factories and Assistant Labour Commissioners have been directed to ensure wide dissemination and effective enforcement of the advisory in establishments under their jurisdiction.

Employers and managements have been advised to reschedule working hours, wherever feasible, to reduce workers’ exposure during peak heat hours. The advisory also stresses the need for adequate safe drinking water, shaded rest areas, proper ventilation and cooling arrangements at workplaces.

The Labour Commissioner emphasised provision of first-aid facilities, oral rehydration salts (ORS) and electrolyte supplements, along with periodic health monitoring of workers.

Managements of factories, construction units and other heat-prone sectors have also been advised to undertake strenuous work during comparatively cooler parts of the day and provide shaded shelters near workplaces.

The advisory further underlined the need to create awareness among workers regarding symptoms of heat stress, preventive measures and emergency response mechanisms.

Special attention has been sought for vulnerable groups, including construction workers, brick-kiln labourers, migrant workers, casual labourers and daily wagers. Field officers and employers have been asked to sensitise workers about hydration, use of protective clothing and coping mechanisms during extreme heat.

The Labour Commissioner also directed concerned officers to conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance and warned that any laxity in implementing the directions would be viewed seriously.(NVI)

J&K Govt Approves Naming of Schools After Martyrs, Eminent Personalities: Official

File Photo : J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, May 20 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved the naming of several government schools after eminent personalities and martyrs in recognition of their contributions, legacy and sacrifices, officials said on Wednesday.

The decision was taken during the seventh meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

According to officials, Government Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, has been renamed after late principal Kuldeep Kumar Badyal, while Government High School, Hapatnard in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, has been named after late Adil Hussain Shah.

Adil Hussain Shah had drawn widespread appreciation for his bravery and selfless conduct during the Baisaran attack, where he reportedly helped tourists reach safety and sacrificed his life in the process.

The government said the initiative aims to honour the memory and legacy of distinguished personalities and martyrs who rendered notable service and made supreme sacrifices for society.(NVI)

3 Kg Heroin Dropped via Drone Recovered Near IB in Jammu’s Bishnah Sector: Police
Consignment seized following week-long surveillance based on specific intelligence inputs; probe underway to trace cross-border narco network

Jammu, May 20 (NVI): Jammu Police on Wednesday recovered approximately three kilograms of heroin near the International Border in Bishnah sector of Jammu district, officials said.

According to police, the narcotics consignment was suspected to have been dropped through a drone from across the border.

Officials said specific intelligence inputs had been developed over the past week regarding possible drone-dropping activity in the area. Acting on the inputs, police teams maintained continuous surveillance in the suspected zone, leading to the successful recovery of the heroin consignment before it could reach its intended handlers.

A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was called to the spot for examination of the seized material, officials said.

Police said investigation has been initiated to trace both backward and forward linkages connected to the cross-border narco smuggling network.(NVI)

LG Sinha Hands Over Appointment Letters to Over 3,200 Newly Recruited J&K Police Constables
Asks recruits to uphold unity, integrity and strengthen legacy of J&K Police; says terrorism now demands constant vigilance and coordinated response

Jammu, May 20 (NVI): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to newly appointed constables of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and urged them to dedicate themselves to safeguarding the unity and integrity of the country while strengthening the force’s proud legacy.

Addressing the newly inducted personnel during a ceremony in Jammu, the Lieutenant Governor said the evolving nature of terrorism and law and order challenges requires police personnel to remain “constantly alert and vigilant.”

“We must remain constantly alert and vigilant. The nature of law & order threats and terrorism has evolved, demanding a constant, unyielding vigilance and alert to threats that hide in plain sight,” Sinha said.

He stressed the importance of teamwork and coordination among security agencies, saying the challenges faced by Jammu and Kashmir require collective planning and intelligence sharing.

“When we share information, plan strategies, and confront the enemy together, we build capacities that no single institution can create alone,” he said, while asserting that newly recruited constables must stand on the frontlines of national security with determination to eliminate terror threats.

The Lieutenant Governor said terrorism survives through funding, networks and support systems, and called for strict action to dismantle them completely.

“Using the full force of the law, we must trace and neutralize sources of funding. We must identify every network and dismantle every support system completely,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of grassroots policing, Sinha said beat policing remains highly effective in maintaining law and order.

“When a beat constable resolves that no crime will occur within their jurisdiction and that public land will not be occupied illegally, such unwavering commitment inevitably delivers results,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said every uniform of the Jammu and Kashmir Police represents courage, service and commitment to the nation.

“Each time you put on the uniform, remember that you are adding a proud chapter to its legacy,” he told the recruits.

He also praised the Jammu and Kashmir Police for its ongoing crackdown against drug smugglers and peddlers under the ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Campaign’.

“J&K Police has laid out a comprehensive plan to completely choke drug entry routes. I am confident that the actions in the coming days will be stringent and yield major successes,” he said.

More than 3,200 newly recruited constables were inducted into the Jammu and Kashmir Police force during the ceremony.

Among those present were Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti, senior police officers, civil administration officials and family members of the recruits.(NVI)

Hundreds Join Last Rites of Kashmiri Pandit Woman in Tral, Reflecting Communal Harmony
Muslims, Sikhs Stand in Solidarity With Bereaved Family; Villagers Help Arrange Cremation Rituals

Pulwama, May 20 (NVI): In a poignant display of communal harmony, hundreds of Muslims and Sikhs on Wednesday participated in the last rites of an elderly Kashmiri Pandit woman in Midora village of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The woman died at her ancestral home in Midora, where her family had continued to live despite the migration of many Kashmiri Pandit families from the Valley during the militancy-hit 1990s.

Her death was mourned across the village, with residents describing her as a respected figure known to people from all communities.

Locals said members of Muslim and Sikh communities, including residents from neighbouring areas, visited the family to offer condolences and support during the mourning period.

Hundreds of villagers joined the funeral procession and participated in the last rites, while locals also arranged firewood and other assistance required for the cremation rituals.

Residents termed the participation a symbol of Kashmir’s longstanding traditions of communal brotherhood, coexistence and mutual respect that continue to endure despite challenging times.(NVI)

Rain, Gusty Winds Likely In Many Parts Of J&K Till May 23

Street in Delhi after heavy rains.

Srinagar, May 20 (NVI): A fresh Western Disturbance is expected to influence weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir from tomorrow late afternoon/evening, bringing rain and thunderstorms to many areas of the Union Territory.

According to Kashmir Weather Watch, intermittent rain and thundershower activity accompanied by gusty winds and hailstorms at isolated places is likely during the period. The weather activity is expected to remain mainly moderate in intensity.

However, the advisory stated that no continuous rainfall is expected.

In view of the forecast, farmers have been advised to avoid spraying pesticides and carrying out other farming operations from tomorrow till May 23 to avoid potential damage due to inclement weather.(NVI)

J&K Govt Assigns In-Charge IGP Rank to Four IPS Officers

Srinagar, May 20 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday assigned the charge of Inspector General of Police (IGP) to four IPS officers in the interest of administration, officials said.

According to an order issued by the Home Department, IPS officer Shakti Kumar Pathak, presently serving as Assistant Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), J&K, and also holding additional charge as Director ACB, has been placed as In-charge IGP.

The other officers elevated as In-charge IGPs are Dr Mohd Haseeb Mughal, currently DIG Traffic Jammu; Sheikh Junaid Mehmood, DIG IR Kashmir; and Shahid Mehraj Rather, Director Police Telecom, J&K.

The order stated that separate posting orders for the officers would be issued subsequently.

The appointments were approved through Government Order No. 298-Home of 2026 dated May 20.(NVI)

Army Chief Calls for ‘Smart Power’ to Secure India’s Growth, Strategic Autonomy

New Delhi, May 19 (NVI): Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday stressed the need for a “smart power” approach to safeguard the country’s long-term national interests and growth trajectory.

He said security and economic prosperity are now deeply interconnected in an increasingly volatile global environment, apparently referring to the global fuel crisis caused by the West Asia conflict.

Addressing a seminar titled “Security to Prosperity: Smart Power for Sustained National Growth” at the Manekshaw Centre here, the Army Chief said the evolving geopolitical landscape has created a “new normal of hard power” where supply chains, technology ecosystems and critical resources are increasingly being used as instruments of strategic competition.

The seminar, organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, brought together policymakers, diplomats, senior military officers, industry leaders and strategic experts to deliberate on integrating military, diplomatic, economic and technological capabilities for sustained national development and resilience.

Referring to India’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and the Army’s ongoing “Decade of Transformation”, General Dwivedi highlighted digital networking, data-centricity and physical connectivity as key pillars for future preparedness.

Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor conducted in May 2025, he described the operation as an example of “smart power”, where military precision, information management, diplomatic signalling and economic resolve were synchronised into a coherent national strategy.

“The deliberate termination of operations after achieving clearly defined objectives reflected the calibrated application of national power,” he said.

The Army Chief also outlined a “SMART” framework for India’s strategic approach, focusing on integrated statecraft, manufacturing depth, accelerated innovation, resilience against external dependencies and technology primacy.

Emphasising the importance of Aatmanirbharta and whole-of-nation synergy, he called for stronger collaboration between the military, industry and academia to strengthen India’s strategic autonomy and defence preparedness.

“Peace is sustained not merely through the absence of conflict, but through capability, confidence and national resolve,” the COAS said.

During the event, General Dwivedi also visited a technology exhibition and unveiled the book Maratha Sainya Vyavastha (Shivaji to the Third Battle of Panipat), which traces the evolution of the Maratha military system and its relevance to Indian strategic thought.

The seminar featured special addresses and panel discussions on emerging technologies, geopolitical challenges, cybersecurity and the future of warfare.

Among the speakers were Prateek Kishore, Director General DS and DG (ACE), Defence Research and Development Organisation, and Georg Enzweiler, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Germany in India.

Discussions also focused on disruptions in global supply chains related to energy, food and critical minerals, and the need for resilient alternatives to protect India’s strategic and economic interests.(NVI)

WHO Declares Ebola Global Emergency: Is Ebola Airborne Like Covid-19

WHO

New Delhi, May 19: World Health Organization has declared the latest Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa a global health emergency after cases surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The announcement has renewed worldwide concern about one of the deadliest viruses known to humans.

Why WHO Declared a Global Emergency

Health officials raised alarm after suspected Ebola infections and deaths increased rapidly in Congo’s Ituri province, while confirmed cases were also detected in Kampala, Uganda. WHO warned that the outbreak could be larger than current official numbers suggest.

Is Ebola Airborne Like COVID-19?

No. Ebola Virus Disease does not spread through the air like COVID-19. Transmission mainly happens through direct contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, saliva, sweat, urine, or semen.

Early Symptoms Can Be Difficult to Detect

The first signs of Ebola often resemble common viral illnesses, making early diagnosis challenging. Symptoms usually include:

  • Sudden fever
  • Severe weakness
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat

As the disease worsens, vomiting, diarrhoea, and internal or external bleeding may develop.

Why Ebola Is Considered So Dangerous

Ebola remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Depending on the outbreak and medical response, fatality rates can range between 25% and 90%.

The virus can rapidly damage organs, weaken the immune system, and cause severe bleeding complications.

Vaccine Challenges Remain

Existing vaccines mainly target the Zaire strain of Ebola. However, the current outbreak reportedly involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which no fully approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists.

Could Ebola Spread to India?

Experts believe the risk of widespread Ebola transmission in India remains low because the virus is not airborne. However, health authorities stress the importance of airport screening, rapid isolation, and public awareness to prevent imported cases.

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