Srinagar, Aug 8 (NVI): The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday conducted coordinated searches at multiple locations across the Kashmir Valley in connection with an ongoing investigation, officials said.
CIK teams carried out searches at different locations as part of the probe, they said.
Further details regarding the locations searched and the investigation were not immediately available.
More details are awaited.—(NVI)
Shivam Bakshi
Jammu, Aug 7 (NVI): Jammu Police on Friday conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) along with a long-range patrol (LRP) in the Chowki Choura area as part of heightened security measures ahead of Independence Day, officials said.
The operation covered the villages of Gala, Thorni, Miyari, Juthal and Amb under the jurisdiction of Police Post Chowki Choura and was carried out with the participation of Village Defence Guard (VDG) members, they said.
Officials said the area was thoroughly searched, but no suspicious person or incriminating material was found during the operation.
Police also interacted with residents at Thorni village and appealed to them to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious persons, activities or objects to the nearest police authorities.
The operation was conducted peacefully and forms part of the security arrangements being put in place ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, officials added.(NVI)
New Delhi, Aug 7 (NVI) A year after the ‘Sindoor Operation’ launched by India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey today signed a trilateral defence agreement, which states that an armed attack on any of the three countries would be considered an attack on all of them.
Indian said it is “closely following” the development which holds strategic significance for the region.
“We are closely following this development and will keep you updated,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing here when asked to comment on the issue.
The agreement was signed in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to a joint statement issued after the meeting between the three leaders, the agreement seeks to bolster collective deterrence against external aggression.
It stipulates that an armed attack on any of the three countries would be considered an attack on all of them.
This assumes significance considering that Pakistan keeps provoking India, like it did last year by engineering a massacre by terrorists of 25 tourists in Pahalgam in Kashmir on April 22.
To avenge the act, India carried out attacks at major terrorist camps at various places in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) on May 7.
Pakistan did not like it and tried to carry out military strikes at defence and civilian locations in India, triggering intense 5-day conflict.
At that time, Turkey helped Pakistan by clandestinely providing drones, which were used to target India.
The trilateral agreement, signed today, also envisages deeper defence cooperation among Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia across multiple domains.
Turkish media reports said the arrangement could pave the way for joint military exercises, training programmes, intelligence sharing and technology transfers among the three countries.
The pact comes after nearly a year of negotiations.
Earlier this year, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had backed the creation of a broader regional security framework aimed at enhancing cooperation and promoting stability. (NVI)
Srinagar, Aug 7 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday reviewed the preparations for the Har Ghar Tiranga-2026 campaign and directed officials to ensure maximum public participation so that the Union Territory retains its top national ranking in the patriotic initiative.
Chairing a high-level meeting of administrative secretaries, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and heads of departments, Dulloo reviewed the departmental action plan for the campaign, which will be held from August 9 to 17 as part of the third phase of the ‘150 Years of Vande Mataram’ commemorative celebrations.
The Chief Secretary asked district administrations to involve every panchayat, urban local body and educational institution to ensure wider participation across all 20 districts.
He directed that all National Flags procured should strictly conform to the Flag Code of India and said procurement should be carried out through local Self Help Groups and the Department of Posts to ensure quality and timely supply.
Dulloo also stressed the need for extensive awareness campaigns through the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) and district administrations, with emphasis on the respectful handling, collection and proper custody of the National Flag after Independence Day celebrations.
During the meeting, officials informed the Chief Secretary that Jammu and Kashmir had secured the top position nationally in successive phases of the Vande Mataram celebrations and was aiming to retain that ranking this year.
The flagship Union Territory-level event will be held in Srinagar on August 12, beginning from the lawns of the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) and concluding at the Botanical Garden.
The programme will feature a Tiranga Bike Rally involving paramilitary forces and J&K Police, a Tiranga Mela showcasing local handicrafts and Self Help Group products, patriotic cultural performances, exhibitions on the National Flag and the freedom movement, besides Tiranga-themed activities in schools and colleges.
Officials said more than 14 lakh National Flags have been requisitioned by districts for distribution across Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate mass participation. Citizens have also been encouraged to upload photographs of their participation on the official Har Ghar Tiranga portal.(NVI)
Shivam Bakshi
Udhampur, Aug 7 (NVI): Two persons were reported missing after they were allegedly washed away in a flash flood while attempting to cross a nallah in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Friday, officials said.
The incident took place in the Kaghote area of Ramnagar tehsil, where Baldev Kumar (58) and his wife Maya Devi (53), residents of the village, were reportedly swept away by strong currents while crossing the Kaghote nallah, they said.
On receiving information, police from Ramnagar, assisted by local residents, launched a search operation to trace the couple.
Despite sustained efforts, the duo had not been found till the filing of this report, officials said, adding that the search operation was continuing.
Further details were awaited.(NVI)
Shivam Bakshi
Jammu, Aug 7 (NVI): A man was arrested after allegedly attempting to breach a police check post and run over security personnel with his SUV in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, officials said on Friday.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban Arun Gupta said the incident occurred at the Kunfer cut-off naka in Chanderkote when a black Scorpio approached the checkpoint after entering from the JP Gate Link Road.
Police personnel signalled the vehicle to stop for routine checking, but the driver allegedly ignored repeated directions, accelerated the SUV and attempted to mow down the naka personnel, prompting a policeman on duty to fire three warning shots to prevent the vehicle from advancing.
A joint search operation involving Ramban Police, the Special Operations Group (SOG), the CRPF and the Army was launched immediately after the incident.
During the operation, the accused, identified as Altaf Mohammad, a resident of Krimchy in Udhampur district, was apprehended and the vehicle used in the incident was seized, the officials said.
They said a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), while the District Mobile Forensic Unit collected evidence from the vehicle.
Further investigation is underway, the officials added.(NVI)
Jammu, Aug 7 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday launched the J&K Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI CoE) and dedicated Project Phoenix, an AI-enabled digital commerce platform, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu.
The initiatives aim to strengthen technology-driven governance, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhance economic opportunities through artificial intelligence and improved digital market access.
Addressing faculty members, students, entrepreneurs and officials, Abdullah said artificial intelligence should be leveraged to improve governance and deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
“Artificial Intelligence must ultimately translate into better outcomes for people. The Centre of Excellence will help us build more efficient, responsive and citizen-centric governance, while Project Phoenix will create new opportunities for artisans, self-help groups, startups and MSMEs to access wider markets,” he said.
The chief minister said AI should be deployed in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education and disaster management to improve public service delivery and bridge the urban-rural divide.
Referring to recent cloudbursts in Rajouri and Poonch, Abdullah stressed the need for AI-based early warning systems to identify localised risks and issue timely alerts. He also said AI could help farmers and horticulturists by providing timely information on crop diseases, treatment and scientific use of agrochemicals.
He said Project Phoenix would complement the government’s flagship Mission YUVA by improving market access, mentorship and incubation support for startups and local enterprises.
The AI Centre of Excellence, established at IIT Jammu with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Jammu and Kashmir Information Technology Department, will function as a hub for AI research, solution development, technology evaluation and deployment support.
The Centre will collaborate with government departments, academia, startups and industry to develop AI-enabled solutions in governance, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and disaster management.
Project Phoenix is designed to connect artisans, self-help groups, cooperatives, startups, brands and MSMEs from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with national and global markets through a digital commerce platform.
IIT Jammu Director Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur said the institute remains committed to translating research into solutions with societal impact and strengthening collaboration with the government, industry and startups to build an innovation-led ecosystem.(NVI)
Shivam Bakshi
Jammu, Aug 7 (NVI): Security forces on Friday conducted a mock drill along the Rajouri-Poonch National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district to assess preparedness and coordination among various agencies in handling emergency situations, officials said.
The exercise was carried out near the Bagnoti-Rajal area and involved security forces, police personnel and other concerned agencies.
During the drill, the participating teams rehearsed standard operating procedures, including rapid response, area domination, traffic regulation and inter-agency coordination in the event of an emergency, the officials said.
They said the exercise was aimed at strengthening the security grid and evaluating the preparedness of the agencies to respond effectively to any contingency.(NVI)
Srinagar, Aug 7 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness a fresh spell of rain over the next 10 days, with the Meteorological Department warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of the Jammu division and the possibility of flash floods and landslides between August 9 and 11.
According to the MeT Department, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected at many places on August 7 and 8, with brief intense showers likely at isolated locations.
From August 9 to 11, most parts of the Union Territory are expected to receive light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thundershowers. The department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in a few districts of the Jammu division, while some districts in the Kashmir division may experience brief spells of intense rain.
The weather office said intermittent light rain and thundershowers are likely to continue at many places from August 12 to 17, with isolated intense showers also expected.
The MeT Department warned that torrential rain and intense showers during August 9-11 could trigger flash floods, landslides in vulnerable areas and waterlogging in low-lying localities.
It advised people to avoid venturing near nallahs, landslide-prone areas and other vulnerable locations during the forecast period, while asking the concerned authorities to remain on alert.(NVI)
Srinagar, Aug 7 (NVI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suspended the primary membership of nine leaders of its Anantnag district unit and removed them from organisational posts over an alleged unauthorised Tiranga rally held in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district earlier this week.
According to an office order issued by BJP Anantnag district president Rakesh Koul, the rally held at Housing Colony, Khanabal, on August 5 was neither organised nor authorised by the party and had not received the required permission from the district administration.
The party also objected to alleged derogatory remarks against women made during the rally, saying such conduct was against the BJP’s values and organisational discipline.
The disciplinary action was taken after consultations with senior BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir and the district core committee, the order said.
Those suspended from the party’s primary membership and removed from their organisational posts pending an inquiry are Nisar Ahmad Bhat, Khursheed Ahmad Sofi, Aabida Rafiq, Irshad Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Maqbool Ganie, Waheed Ahmad Itoo, Nisar Ahmad Hakeem, Feroz Ahmad Hajam and Sabrooza Akhter.
The district unit also clarified that Alveer Ahmad Dar and Fancy Akhter are not associated with the BJP’s Anantnag district unit and do not hold any organisational responsibility.
The action comes amid controversy over alleged objectionable slogans raised during the Tiranga rally. The BJP had earlier distanced itself from the remarks, saying they did not reflect the party’s official stand.(NVI)
