Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Home Blog Page 48

BSF troops foil smuggling attempt: Recover Pak drone, narcotics on Jammu border

NVI Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 15(NVI): The alert troops of the Border Security Force (BSF) Jammu thwarted a smuggling attempt on 14 December 2024 in the Arnia Sector of Jammu.

A BSF spokesman said that late night yesterday, BSF personnel intercepted a Pakistani drone and recovered it along with 495 grams of narcotic substances.

The swift and decisive action by BSF Jammu highlights the force’s unwavering vigilance and commitment to national security. The dedication and sharp surveillance of BSF personnel have once again defeated the nefarious designs of anti-national elements operating across the border.

This achievement highlights the BSF’s relentless efforts to safeguard the nation from cross-border threats and smuggling activities (News Vibes of India)

MHA approves subsidized helicopter service for Jammu-Mendhar (Poonch) route

NVI Correspondent

Srinagar, Dec 14 (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the launch of a subsidized helicopter service on the Jammu-Mendhar route in Poonch district.

Official sources told NVI that this service is designed to improve connectivity for the remote Mendhar sector, which has long struggled with accessibility, especially during the harsh winter months. The subsidized nature of the service will make air travel more affordable for locals, ensuring that residents and visitors can travel more easily to and from the region.

The officials said that this helicopter service is part of a broader initiative to enhance transportation infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on four hilly districts, including Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, and Kishtwar.

“The goal is not only to improve general accessibility but also to provide crucial support for emergency evacuations and medical assistance, which can be challenging due to the area’s difficult terrain,” an official said.

The MHA’s approval is seen as a major step toward improving the lives of people in these remote regions, ensuring faster and safer transportation, particularly in times of crisis. The service is expected to have a wide-reaching impact, boosting local development, tourism, and the overall economy, while also offering relief to those in need of urgent medical attention. (News Vibes of India)

Police attach property belonging to infamous drug peddler in Srinagar

NVI Correspondent

Srinagar, Dec 14 (NVI): As part of its continued fight against the growing menace of drug trafficking in Jammu and Kashmir, the Srinagar Police today seized a single-story residential house valued at approximately Rs 19 lakh belonging to Mohammad Younis Wani, a notorious drug peddler involved in the illegal narcotics trade.

Police said the property, located in Ranbirgarh Srinagar, was attached under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, after detailed investigations revealed it was obtained through the proceeds of his illicit drug trade.

Wani, son of Mohammad Maqbool Wani, has been implicated in the distribution of narcotics in the region, contributing to the growing drug abuse among the youth. His arrest in connection with FIR No. 85/2024, registered at Police Station Shalteng, was part of the ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking. He is currently detained in Central Jail Srinagar under the provisions of the NDPS Act.

The property was attached after a comprehensive financial investigation, and the seizure took place in the presence of an Executive Magistrate 1st Class. This move comes under the provisions of Section 68 of the NDPS Act, which empowers authorities to attach properties acquired through illicit drug trade.

Furthermore, under Sections 68E and 68F of the NDPS Act, any property seized in such cases cannot be transferred, sold, or otherwise dealt with without prior permission from the competent authority. This legal measure aims to prevent the unlawful profits generated by narcotics trade from being used to further criminal activities.

The swift action taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Police is part of a broader strategy to combat the widespread drug trafficking network in the region. Authorities hope that by targeting the financial assets of drug dealers, they can dismantle the infrastructure supporting the narcotics trade and reduce the influx of drugs into the state. The move also reflects the government’s strong commitment to eradicating drug abuse, which has been a significant challenge for the youth of the Valley. (News Vibes of India)

Cases of Pakistani repression in Balochistan highlighted in UK Parliament

Debate on Balochistan situation in UK Parliament

London, Dec 14 (NVI) Examples of human rights violations and repression being carried out by Pakistan in occupied Balochistan were highlighted in the British Parliament complex by the Baloch National Movement (BNM).

At a debate hosted by British MP John McDonnell in the Parliament premises, speakers emphasised the urgent need for global attention and action to address these atrocities.

Besides McDonnell, the speakers included British MP Jeremy Corbyn, MP Richard Burgon, BNM Chairman Dr. Naseem Baloch and other Baloch leaders like Sami Deen Baloch, Dr. Sabiha Baloch, Dr. Naseer Dashti, Faheem Baloch, and Saleem Elahi Baloch.

The speakers highlighted that the Baloch nation is enduring severe state repression, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings, necessitating international intervention to put an end to these crimes, according to a statement issued by the BNM.

John McDonnell emphasized that, despite the UK’s close ties with Pakistan, it must not remain silent on the human rights violations in Balochistan, the statement said.

He urged fellow British MPs to press the UK government to advocate for justice for the Baloch people.

Naseem Baloch, himself a two-time victim of enforced disappearance by the Pakistani army, shared his personal experiences.

He stated, “The only reason I survived in Pakistani torture cells was my unwavering belief in the independence of Balochistan. This belief became my source of endurance and hope.”

He further emphasized, “I am not alone in facing this oppression; thousands of Baloch men and women have fallen victim to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and relentless state repression. Balochistan has become a land overshadowed by terrorism and fear, where daily life is marked by uncertainty.”

BNM Foreign Secretary Fahim Baloch spoke about the profound and lasting impact of enforced disappearances on the families of victims. He reaffirmed the Baloch nation’s unwavering determination to achieve freedom despite the relentless abductions and violence they endure.

Dr. Naseer Dashti drew attention to the inhumane conditions faced by the Baloch nation, the illegal annexation of Balochistan, and the detrimental effects of China’s involvement through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He called for global accountability for Pakistan and China’s actions.

Sammi Deen Baloch, a prominent leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), shared his family’s struggles following his father’s disappearance and highlighted the dangers faced by families seeking justice.

He emphasized the urgent need for international solidarity to combat these atrocities against the Baloch nation.

Dr. Sabiha Baloch, a leader of the BYC, discussed the deprivation of basic rights in Balochistan and the brutal repression of peaceful activists, enabled by Chinese funding.

She urged for an international fact-finding mission to expose and address the region’s atrocities.

Saleem Elahi Baloch recounted the enforced disappearance of his brother Zahid Baloch, a student leader. He made an impassioned plea to the international community to put an end to the systematic practice of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

Jeremy Corbyn MP underscored the importance of raising global awareness about the atrocities in Balochistan and fostering solidarity with oppressed communities worldwide. (NVI)

NIA chargesheets key accused in Reasi Bus attack case

NIA Correspondent

Srinagar, December 14 (NVI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against Hakam Khan in connection with the terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims near Katra ,Reasi in June 2024.

In the chargesheet submitted to the NIA Special Court in Jammu, Khan is charged under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act).

The attack took place on June 9, 2024, when terrorists opened fire on the bus near Kanda, Jhandi Morh. Eight pilgrims and the bus driver were killed, and 41 others were injured. The attack also caused the driver, who was shot in the head, to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in the bus rolling into a deep gorge.

Following an investigation, the NIA arrested Khan, who allegedly played a critical role in the conspiracy behind the attack. According to the NIA, Khan provided essential logistical support to the terrorists, including food, shelter, and helping identify the location for the attack. The agency continues to investigate the case.(News Vibes of India)

LG vs CM in J&K: Row deepens over extensions, re-appointments

NVI Correspondent

Srinagar, Dec 14 (NVI): A confrontation has emerged between J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the reappointment and extension of key government officials, raising questions about the delicate balance of power in the Union Territory.

The conflict began after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on December 3, ordered a halt to the reappointment and extension of government officials, aiming to bring administrative changes. However, just ten days later, LG Sinha used his authority under the J&K Reorganization Act to overrule this decision, approving:

A two-year extension for Prof. Nazir Ganai, Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST).

A three-year reappointment for Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University, effective from April 2024.

The LG’s move has been interpreted by experts and political analysts as a direct challenge to the authority of the elected government in J&K. This incident underscores the ongoing power struggle in the region’s governance structure since the abrogation of Article 370 and the transition to Union Territory status in 2019.

Sources close to CM Abdullah revealed that he has traveled to Delhi, accompanied by senior leaders, to voice his discontent with the reappointments to the Union Home Ministry. Party insiders have labeled the LG’s decision as an overreach and an attempt to bypass the CM’s authority.

Constitutional experts and political observers have weighed in on the situation:

A constitutional expert, said: “This incident highlights the unresolved tension between the autonomy of an elected government and the expansive powers of the LG. It questions the principle of democratic accountability in J&K.”

A political analyst, wishing not to be named said that the LG’s actions might set a precedent for future unilateral decisions, further undermining the authority of the elected government.

“The disagreement could disrupt the fragile governance framework in J&K, which already operates under a complex power-sharing arrangement,” he said.

Many analysts believe that how the Ministry of Home Affairs addresses the CM’s concerns will be pivotal in determining the administrative future of the Union Territory.

This standoff is seen as reflective of the broader struggle in reconciling central control with local governance, an issue that has persisted since the 2019 constitutional changes-(News Vibes of India)

Uyghur Muslims upset over Trump’s invitation to Xi Jinping for his inauguration

Uighur genocide
Uyghur Muslims protesting against atrocities by China. (File Pic)

Washington, Dec 14 (NVI) The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) of Uyghur Muslims has strongly condemned the invitation extended by Donald Trump to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his inauguration as the next President of the US in January, saying the move was an “affront to the American values”.

Urging that the invitation be withdrawn, it said the Chinese President does not deserve to be part of any celebrations but needs to be held accountable for the “genocidal” crimes committed by his regime.

“Inviting Xi Jinping to the inauguration of American democracy—a system he actively seeks to destroy—is an affront to America’s values and a betrayal of the oppressed who suffer under China’s tyranny, as well as the American people who have endured the consequences of China’s unrestricted attacks against the United States,” the ETGE said in a statement.

Telling Trump that “history will judge this moment with unwavering clarity”, it said inviting Xi Jinping “is not just a misstep — it mirrors Neville Chamberlain’s disastrous appeasement of Adolf Hitler, a decision that emboldened a genocidal tyrant and unleashed one of the darkest chapters in human history.”

Insisting that the “genocidal Chinese dictator” Xi Jinping is “no different from Hitler”, it said he “does not belong at the celebration of freedom and democracy” but “in the dock of an international tribunal, answering for his genocide and crimes against humanity.”

The ETGE recalled that it had “commended the initial Trump administration for its historic recognition and condemnation of China’s ongoing Uyghur Genocide in Occupied EastTurkistan” but this invitation undermines that principled stance and threatens to tarnish America’s moral authority and credibility on the global stage.”

Making an impassioned plea to Trump, the ETGE said, “We call on you to rescind this invitation immediately. Honor your administration’s legacy of upholding American values and holding China accountable for its crimes.”

It urged Trump to “stand firm with the oppressed people of East Turkistan and demonstrate to the world that America will never honor genocidal dictators or compromise its principles.”

Since 2014, millions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples in Occupied East Turkistan have been subjected to mass internment, torture, enslavement through forced labor, sterilization, and cultural and physical annihilation, it added.

“Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, the Chinese regime has escalated its campaign of colonization and genocide in East Turkistan into the worst atrocity since the Holocaust,” the ETGE said.

“Simultaneously, Xi’s regime wages unrestricted warfare against the United States through economic and military espionage, cyberattacks, and propaganda campaigns.

“It has devastated America by trafficking fentanyl into American communities—killing hundreds of thousands—and unleashed the China virus (coronavirus), which has taken the lives of over one million Americans,” it said. (NVI)

Message from Atul Subhash suicide: Divorce laws need to be softened, men need fair treatment

By Seema Sindhu

The suicide by Atul Subhash has raised blunt questions on the laws once made to protect women in marriage.

He was only 34 and was driven to suicide allegedly due to the harassment on account of nine matrimonial cases filed by his wife against him. According to reports, he attended 120 hearings in Jaunpur from Bangaluru in last two years. He could have lost his job.

The incident has yet again sparked the debate on misuse of matrimonial laws like Domestic Violence, Cruelty, Dowry Prohibition, Maintenance and Child Custody.

Atul’s is not a stand alone case. There are many men who are living on edge due to false matrimonial cases. Some lose their jobs too consequently. It’s because of such cases that genuine cases of cruelty against wife lose its sting.

In May 2024, the Supreme Court expressed its concern that despite the gross misuse of cruelty – section 498A IPC – the govt has reproduced the section verbatim in section 85 & 86 in Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita without providing any safeguard to the husband.

It is not denied that these cases are filed without any cause. The point being made here is that the reason is not dowry harassment and nor cruelty or violence in such cases. It may be something else – ego clashes, vendetta, relationship outside marriage, incompatibility etc.

Many times these cases are filed by the wife as a preemptive step to divorce by the husband with an aim to pressurize him to agree to unreasonable alimony and maintenance or to delay divorce proceedings or to “teach him a lesson”.

In India, until it is divorce by mutual consent, it’s almost impossible to get divorce – if it’s the husband who is seeking it.

There’s presumption in courts that it’s the husbands who are delinquents. That’s wrong. Times have changed.

In villages and small towns, boys are not even getting girls to marry owing to unemployment and aspirational mismatchs. There are instances where girls have rejected matchs because they earn more than the boys.

The govt needs to understand that when these laws were made, the situation was very different than now. Then women were not equally educated and employed as are now. They needed the protection these laws give. Now these laws have to be made gender neutral and the BJP govt just missed the opportunity in bringing BNS.

The govt and courts need to be reminded that laws ought to be organic and need to be in accordance with times. It is understandable if a not-so-educated women from a poor or rural background comes to court with a dowry harassment case, but is it not the duty of a court to question an educated and employed woman coming to court alleging exchange of dowry at the time of marriage that why did she not raise her voice then? If educated independent women don’t who will? Laws and govt can’t change everything by themselves. Citizens owe some duty too.

Further, it’s unfair to impose child maintenance solely on the husband where the wife is also working. Shouldn’t it be borne equally by the both parents?

The government and the judiciary need to loosen their tight control on marriage if they want to save the Institution of Marriage.

Going forward, divorce rates will increase. It is inevitable as the times have changed and so have the aspirations. We need to understand divorce may be painful but a toxic marriage is oppressive. It helps none. Misuse of these laws is just one part of the problem.

The larger problem is state’s tight control on divorce. Divorce provision needs to be relaxed and made speedier. We must empathise with people with alternate experiences in life. By nature man is a reasonable race and none likes to rock the boat without compelling reasons, barring a tiny cases of wanton people.

Moreover we need to get out of this psyche of “when are you settling down”? Marriage is companionship, it’s not settling down. The women should seek settling down in career, and companionship in marriage.

(The writer is a Delhi-based lawyer.)

Seven notorious drug peddlers booked under PIT NDPS Act in Kulgam, Pulwama districts

Representational Image

NVI Correspondent

Kulgam/Awantipora, December 14 (NVI): In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Jammu and Kashmir Police today detained seven notorious drug peddlers from Kulgam and Awantipora, Pulwama districts under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act, 1988.

The detentions were carried out after formal orders were issued by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.

Three individuals from Kulgam, involved in the illegal drug trade, have been detained and lodged in Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, Jammu. They include:Nisar Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Salam Mir, resident of Mohdpora Kulgam.

Manzoor Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Samad Mir, resident of Tengbal Kulgam.

Hilal Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Rashid Mir, resident of Bungam Okey.

Similarly, four notorious drug peddlers from Awantipora have been detained and shifted to District Jail Jammu and Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, Jammu.

They are:Aadil Ahmad Bhat, alias Taigoo, son of Abdul Majeed Bhat, resident of Tulbagh Pampore,
Gulzar Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Hassan Dar, resident of Panzgam Awantipora, Yawar Yousuf Sofi, son of Mohammad Yousuf Sofi, resident of Kadlabal Pampore and Feroze Ahmad Chopan, son of Mushtaq Ahmad, resident of Larow Jagir Tral.

The detained individuals were found to be actively involved in supplying drugs to the youth and promoting the drug trade in the region. Multiple cases were registered against them. Under Section 3 of the PIT NDPS Act, 1988, a person engaged in illicit trafficking of narcotics can be detained for up to one year, extendable if necessary, as a preventive measure.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have reiterated their commitment to intensifying the fight against drug trafficking and have sought public cooperation in curbing the menace of drug abuse to safeguard the region’s youth(News Vibes of India)

PDP pledges renewed struggle for J&K’s dignity, Special Status restoration

NVI Correspondent

Srinagar, Dec 14 (NVI): The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), led by Mehbooba Mufti today resolved to intensify its democratic struggle for peace and dignity in Jammu and Kashmir while advocating for the restoration of the region’s special status, which was revoked on August 5, 2019.

During its general council meeting in Srinagar, the party reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the “Kashmir issue” through constitutional and democratic methods. “We resolve to reinvigorate our struggle for peace with dignity, focusing on the restoration of the special status that our people enjoyed under the Constitution of India,” the PDP stated in its resolution.

The party also voiced deep concerns over the “rising climate of hatred against Muslims in India” and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take decisive steps to combat violence, misinformation, and the targeting of minorities. It called for fostering an inclusive India that celebrates diversity and protects individual rights.

On political prisoners, the PDP demanded an immediate review of their status, urging the release of those held on “weak or non-existent charges” and advocating for the transfer of detainees to facilities within Jammu and Kashmir.

Reflecting on its performance in the recent assembly elections, the PDP acknowledged falling short of expectations but expressed confidence in its representatives to champion the aspirations of the people. The party also pressed the Union government to address the “disempowerment and humiliation” caused by the unconstitutional abrogation of Article 370.

The PDP further criticized the National Conference-led government, claiming it has failed to meet public expectations. It urged the administration to tackle critical issues such as unemployment, electricity shortages, the drug crisis, prisoner releases, and the unchecked exploitation of natural resources damaging the environment.

Reiterating its foundational values, the PDP pledged to persist in its fight for a peaceful, dignified, and empowered Jammu and Kashmir, while addressing the grievances of its people through all democratic means. (News Vibes of India)

1...474849...1,492Page 48 of 1,492

MUST READ