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Call for intensified protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir on Aug 13

Muzaffarabad (POJK), Aug 10 (NVI) Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (POJK), which is spearheading the ongoing two-month-old mass agitation against Pakistan, tonight gave a call for intensified protests throughout the region on August 13.

JAAC leader Sardar Umar Nazir urged people, including women, to stage mass protests against the “brutalities” committed by the Pakistani forces over the last two months and since the last 78 years, after it militarily captured the region.

The date of August 13 is significant as it was on this day in 1948 that the UN Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution with regard to Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of Pakistani military aggression, because of which parts of the erstwhile Princely State came under the illegal occupation of Pakistan.

Nazir, in a video message, said August 13 has been chosen to “raise our voice in reference to the UNSC resolution of 1948” and to highlight the “barbarity and brutalities committed by the Pakistani forces in the region particularly during the last 2 months”.

He urged people to stage protests in all big and small towns and villages.

Pakistan militarily annexed these parts of Jammu and Kashmir after launching an invasion on October 22, 1947. The matter was taken to the UNSC by India.

Significantly, the UNSC Resolution of August 13, 1948 which came after an investigation by its fact-finding team, mandated Pakistan to withdraw all its personnel, including regulars and irregulars, from all parts of Jammu and Kashmir forthwith.

Pakistan never fulfilled that resolution, thus defying the world body.

Meanwhile, Pakistan carried out massive suppression and brutalities in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir over all these decades.

The people of the occupied region have finally risen against Pakistan, declaring that they are no more willing to suffer the atrocities and extreme forms of human rights violations. (NVI)

Third round of polling in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir sees mass boycott

Sea of people at a protest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir

Muzaffarabad (POJK), Aug 10 (NVI) Mass boycott by locals marked the third round of elections to the so-called Assembly of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), which is being dubbed as “sham exercise” conducted by Pakistan by “force”.

Voting was scheduled for 4 constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts but most of the polling stations wore a deserted look in response to the call by J&K Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) for boycott of these elections being held amidst massive two-month-old agitation against Pakistan.

Locals said while most of them did not come out to vote, the Pakistani forces and polling staff themselves cast votes to claim that balloting took place.

At some polling stations, physical fights were witnessed with some people trying to snatch ballot papers or capture the booths.

Pakistan imposed tough curbs in these areas, including shut down of internet.

Among the candidates in the fray today were the incumbent so-called Prime Minister of POJK Faisal Mumtaz Rathore.

These elections have already been declared as a “sham” exercise by JAAC, which is spearheading the ongoing mass agitation for the due rights of people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and against Pakistan’s unending interference in political and other matters.

JAAC leader Sardar Umar Nazir said yesterday that these elections are being conducted by “force” by Pakistan against the will of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The first two rounds of elections to the 53-member Assembly were also held in a similar farcical and rigged manner.

Voting at 7 constituencies has been postponed indefinitely as these fall in the areas where massive protests are going on. These include Rawalakot, which has become the epicenter of the ongoing agitation because the Pakistani forces have committed the worst brutality here.

According to indications available from the first two rounds of polling, Pakistan Muslim League (N) of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has got the simple majority.

These elections are contentious and questioned mainly because of the 12 seats reserved for so-called ‘refugees of Jammu and Kashmir’ settled in various parts of Pakistan. These 12 seats are given, in all elections, to the party ruling in Islamabad.

JAAC’s main demand includes scrapping of these 12 seats, which are used by the Pakistani establishment to make or break governments in POJK. (NVI)

UPI-related Taxation bill passed by Parliament

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament (file pic)

New Delhi, Aug 10 (NVI): Parliament today cleared the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which contains amendments related to the UPI transactions.

The bill was cleared by the Rajya Sabha four days after the Lok Sabha passed it.

Replying to a discussion on the bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the UPI-related amendment is only an enabling provision and does not itself impose any tax or transaction charge on users.

“The enabling provision that we are bringing in today does not impose any tax or transaction charge on UPI users,” Sitharaman said, adding that it enables the government to specify through notification the electronic payment modes that will continue to receive statutory protection against charges.

“No MDR framework has yet been finalised,” she said.

The Bill also carries a wider set of tax and investment-related changes, which include tax exemptions linked to specified data-centre services in India, incentives for global diamond-trading activity, measures supporting electronics manufacturing and relaxation of conditions for eligible investment funds.

On data centres, Sitharaman said the reforms would help expand the domestic ecosystem and stressed that “the investment, the assets, the employment, and also the profit will rest with Indian companies on account of data centre reforms.”

The Bill also provides tax exemptions for certain foreign institutional investors and the Bank for International Settlements on income from investments in government securities, while introducing other changes related to rough-diamond trading and business trusts.

The proposed legislation was considered as a Money Bill, because of which the Rajya Sabha could only make recommendations on its provisions and return it to the Lok Sabha, which may accept or reject those recommendations. (NVI)

IGP Kashmir reviews security arrangements for Independence Day celebrations

Srinagar, Aug 10 (NVI) Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, V K Birdi on Monday reviewed security arrangements for the upcoming Independence Day celebrations and other scheduled events across the Kashmir Valley, officials said.

Birdi chaired a security review meeting at the Police Control Room (PCR) Kashmir, which was attended by senior officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, BSF, CRPF, SSB, CID, ITBP, RPF, SDRF and other security agencies.

All range DIGs and district SSPs of the Kashmir Zone also participated in the meeting.

Senior officers briefed the IGP about the arrangements being put in place for the smooth and peaceful conduct of Independence Day celebrations, while district SSPs apprised him of preparations in their respective districts, officials said.

Birdi directed officers to complete all necessary arrangements well in advance and reviewed security measures for various events, including rallies, scheduled across the Valley.

He also reviewed security arrangements for the main Independence Day function at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar and directed officers to further strengthen security measures around the venue and ensure comprehensive arrangements, officials said.

The IGP directed security agencies to strengthen checkpoints, particularly during night hours, at vulnerable locations and along entry and exit routes of the city.

He also called for intensified area domination and patrolling in sensitive and vulnerable areas to maintain a strong security presence and ensure effective surveillance.

Birdi stressed the need for strict vigilance against elements inimical to peace and security and directed officers to maintain a high level of alertness across their respective jurisdictions.

The meeting concluded with directions for enhanced inter-agency coordination and effective implementation of security protocols to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of Independence Day celebrations and other scheduled events across the Valley, officials said.(NVI)

ACB chargesheets 10 in Rs 7.12 lakh bridge material embezzlement case in Kashmir 

Srinagar, Aug 10 (NVI) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday filed a chargesheet against 10 people, including two former executive engineers and a private contractor, in connection with an alleged Rs 7.12 lakh embezzlement case related to the construction of a steel bridge in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The accused include nine public servants and a private contractor, the ACB said in a statement.

The case pertains to alleged misappropriation of government store material, fraudulent release of a security deposit, forgery, abuse of official position and criminal conspiracy in connection with the Lastiyal-Kalaroose bridge in Kupwara.

According to the ACB, the bridge work was allotted to contractor Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone in September 2010, with the project scheduled to be completed within three months.

The contractor allegedly started the work after a considerable delay, executed only part of it and subsequently abandoned the project, leaving departmental store material, including cement and steel, unaccounted for. The value of the material was assessed at around Rs 5.63 lakh, it said.

The investigation also found that the contractor’s cash deposit receipt (CDR) of Rs 73,000 was allegedly released and encashed fraudulently on the basis of a forged communication purportedly issued by the competent authority.

Besides, bill deposits amounting to Rs 81,400 were allegedly released despite outstanding government liabilities, the ACB said.

The agency alleged that lapses by engineering and accounts officials in safeguarding government material, enforcing contractual conditions and recovering government dues resulted in a total loss of Rs 7,12,150 to the state exchequer.

The chargesheet was filed before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, after completion of the investigation and obtaining the requisite sanction for prosecution against serving public servants, the ACB said.

The accused have been identified as Abdul Majeed Malik, Ghulam Rasool Lone, Mohammad Sultan Sheikh (retired), Ajit Singh Chopra (retired), Nazir Ahmad Shah (retired), Abdul Rashid Dar (retired), Manzoor Ahmad Sumji, Gh Qadir Bhat (retired), Abdul Hamid Dar and private contractor Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone.

All 10 accused were produced before the court on Monday along with the chargesheet and were granted bail after furnishing bail and surety bonds as directed by the court.

The court has fixed November 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing, the ACB said.(NVI)

Srinagar Police Secures Life Term for Ex-Terrorist in Murder Case

Batla House
Representational image

Srinagar, Aug 10 (NVI) An ex-terrorist and founding member of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here in connection with a 2020 murder case, police said on Monday.

Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar, a resident of Bichwara in Dalgate area of Srinagar, was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Abdul Gani Dar, a resident of Rassu in Budgam, they said.

The court sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for life and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000, police said.

The case was registered as FIR No. 03/2020 at Maisuma police station.

According to police, Dar was an ex-terrorist and one of the founding members of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM), a militant outfit that emerged in Kashmir in association with the Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadith movement.

Police said Dar had been involved in various militant activities, including grenade attacks, attacks on security checkpoints, weapon snatching and targeted killings. He was also allegedly involved in providing logistical support and facilitating links with other militant outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, until the 2000s.

He was subsequently arrested, police said.

Srinagar Police said the conviction was secured following investigation and prosecution of the case before the court.

The police said the verdict underlined that serious criminal offences are pursued through due process of law, irrespective of the background of the accused.(NVI)

Three Police Personnel Injured as Scorpio Rolls Down in South Kashmir

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Srinagar, Aug 10 (NVI) A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) and two police personnel were injured on Monday after their escort vehicle met with an accident in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said.

The incident occurred near Zahrayat Sharief when the tyre of the Scorpio vehicle carrying the police personnel burst, causing the vehicle to roll down, they said.

The injured were identified as DySP Dar Awantipora  and his two Police Security Officers.

The three were initially taken to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Awantipora and later referred to the SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for specialised treatment, officials said.

Further details about their condition are awaited.(NVI)

CM Omar Calls for World-Class Sports Facilities for J&K Athletes

Srinagar, Aug 10 (NVI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said athletes from the Union Territory cannot be expected to win medals at national and international competitions without adequate sporting infrastructure, emphasising the need for quality facilities, training and financial support.

Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir was still lagging behind in sports infrastructure and needed significant improvement.

“The right fruits of hard work will come when you get the right facilities. We are quite behind in this regard and need to improve going forward,” he said.

The chief minister highlighted the shortage of synthetic tracks in the Union Territory, saying athletes were being expected to compete with sportspersons who train throughout the year with access to better facilities.

“I can count the synthetic tracks on fingers. I can see only four. When we cannot provide our athletes with synthetic tracks, what medals can we expect from them?” Abdullah said.

“Your competition is with those who are practising for 12 months of the year,” he added.

Abdullah also called for greater utilisation of high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir for sports and training, while stressing the need to promote both established and emerging sporting disciplines.

Expressing concern over the overwhelming focus on cricket, he said other sports also required greater attention and investment.

“Unfortunately, when we talk about sports, perhaps more than 80 per cent of the attention goes towards cricket. Most of the money is also in cricket, followed by football and then other sports,” he said.

The chief minister said India would need to encourage athletes across disciplines to improve its performance at international sporting events.

“If we really want to achieve something in competitions like the Commonwealth Games and other international events, we have to participate in different kinds of sports,” he said.

Abdullah also linked sports promotion with efforts to combat drug abuse, saying sports infrastructure and opportunities for young people could play an important role in keeping them away from drugs.

“Staying away from drugs cannot be a slogan for just one day in the year. It has to be for 12 months in a year, and that will happen only when we provide infrastructure for sports,” he said.

He assured that the government would make all possible efforts to promote sports and improve facilities for athletes in Jammu and Kashmir.(NVI)

Now Exporters Don’t Need to Submit Physical Duty Payment Challans

Representational image

New Delhi, Aug 10 (NVI) For the benefit of exporters, the requirement of submitting physical duty payment challans while applying for Export Obligation Discharge Certificates (EODC) under the Advance Authorisation (AA) and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Schemes has been removed.

Licence-wise voluntary duty payment data received from Customs/ICEGATE has been integrated with DGFT’s online systems, enabling authenticated verification of such payments directly against the concerned authorisation, according to a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

For voluntary duty payments made on or after 1 August 2026, exporters will no longer be required to submit physical challans along with their applications for closure of authorisations.

Authenticated payment details will be made available to exporters on the DGFT Customer Portal, enabling them to verify that the payment has been correctly mapped to the concerned authorisation before filing the application.

The same authenticated payment record will be available to the Regional Authorities on the DGFT Back Office, eliminating the need for manual verification of payment particulars.

This is expected to facilitate faster processing, reduce avoidable correspondence and bring greater consistency in decision-making across DGFT Regional Authorities.

The digital facility has been implemented through an API-based data exchange between DGFT and ICEGATE, under which duty payment particulars are transmitted electronically from Customs systems to DGFT’s EODC processing workflow.

The replacement of manual submission and verification with authenticated digital records is expected to shorten processing timelines, improve data accuracy, minimise human intervention and enhance transparency in the closure process.

The measure is also expected to reduce transaction costs and compliance burden for exporters by reducing documentation, follow-up and physical interface, particularly benefiting

MSME exporters handling closure formalities in-house. Trade Notice No. 15/2026-27 dated 5 August 2026 has been issued by DGFT for information of exporters and other stakeholders.

The initiative is part of the Government’s broader digital transformation agenda for trade facilitation, aimed at creating a more efficient, predictable and trust-based regulatory environment.

By strengthening integration between trade-related digital systems and reducing reliance on physical documentation, the measure reinforces the vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and enables exporters to focus on trade and growth.

The Advance Authorisation Scheme permits duty-free import of inputs that are physically incorporated in the export product, while the EPCG Scheme permits import of capital goods at concessional or zero customs duty, in both cases against an export obligation.

Where the export obligation is not fulfilled in full, the authorisation holder regularises the case by voluntarily paying the proportionate customs duty saved along with applicable interest and thereafter applies for an EODC to close the authorisation.

Earlier, proof of such payment was required to be submitted in physical form and verified manually by the Regional Authority. (NVI)

Social Media Activity Under Scanner as CIK Arrests Two in Kashmir

Counter Intelligence conducts raids in south, central Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 10 (NVI): The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) has arrested two persons in connection with a case involving the alleged dissemination of radical and anti-national content through social media, officials said on Monday.

The accused have been identified as Mehran Qazi, son of Atta Mohammad Qazi, a resident of Hiller Shahbad in Dooru area of Anantnag district, and Babar Hamid Dar, son of Abdul Hamid Dar, a resident of Chankan in Sopore, they said.

The arrests followed searches conducted by the CIK at multiple locations across the Kashmir Valley on August 8 in connection with FIR No. 03/2023, officials said.

During the searches, investigators seized six digital devices and seven SIM cards, which have been taken up for examination, they said.

According to officials, the investigation concerns the alleged circulation of material containing extremist narratives and content purportedly glorifying individuals associated with terrorism.

The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), officials said.

Further investigation into the case is underway, they added.(NVI)

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