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Kulgam killing: J&K Lt Governor orders review of security of migrant workers

Srinagar, Aug 1 (BVI) In the wake of killing of 2 migrant labourers in Kulgam last night, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha today reviewed security and directed security forces to conduct intensified and high-impact operations to neutralise the terrorists.

The Lieutenant Governor directed all the Deputy Commissioners and SSPs to conduct a comprehensive review of the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) established to protect laborers from outside Jammu Kashmir.

He also directed that the employers must ensure all workers from other states and UTs of the country are provided insurance and that their details are registered with local police and district authorities.

The meeting was held in the wake of killing of 2 labourers from Chhattisgarh by terrorists in Kulgam district of Kashmir last night.

“We must intensify precise, high-impact anti-terror operations to neutralise the terrorists,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He instructed the authorities to ensure dignified last rites for the victims of the Kulgam terror attack and to provide all the support to bereaved families.

The meeting also discussed the security arrangements in place for the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra and strengthening of the security grid.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DGP Nalin Prabhat, Principal Secretary (Home Department) Chandraker Bharti and other senior officials. (NVI)

CM Omar Announces ₹10 Lakh Ex-Gratia for Kin of Two Labourers Killed in Kulgam Terror Attack

CM Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Aug 1 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday condemned the killing of two non-local labourers in a terror attack in Kulgam district and announced an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for their next of kin.

In a statement, the Chief Minister described the attack as a “dastardly act” and expressed grief over the loss of innocent lives.

He said the government stands firmly with the bereaved families and assured them of all possible support.

The ₹10 lakh ex-gratia from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund will be provided in addition to the ₹6 lakh immediate relief already sanctioned by the district administration to each of the affected families, the statement said.

The two labourers were shot by terrorists in the Kilam area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday evening. Both later succumbed to their injuries.

Security forces have launched a search operation in the area to track down the attackers, while police have initiated an investigation into the incident.

The attack has been widely condemned by political leaders and various sections of society, who described the targeting of unarmed labourers as an attempt to disrupt peace in the Valley.—(NVI)

EOW files chargesheet in ₹3.11 crore cooperative bank embezzlement case in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 1 (NVI): The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against two former employees of the Central Co-operative Bank, Baramulla, in connection with an alleged embezzlement of over ₹3.11 crore, officials said on Saturday.

The chargesheet was filed before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Handwara, in connection with a 2016 case registered following allegations of large-scale financial irregularities in the bank’s Langate branch.

According to the Crime Branch, the investigation was initiated on a complaint from the then Registrar of Co-operative Societies, J&K, regarding suspected financial irregularities in various branches of the bank.

The probe revealed that the then branch manager, allegedly in connivance with the cashier-cum-clerk, fraudulently sanctioned fictitious loans and permitted overdrafts beyond his delegated financial powers, leading to the misappropriation of about ₹3.11 crore of bank funds, officials said.

The two accused have been chargesheeted under provisions related to cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy, they said.

Officials said the investigation found evidence of a criminal conspiracy that resulted in substantial financial loss to the bank.

The accused have been identified as a retired branch manager and a cashier-cum-clerk of the Langate branch, they added.

The Crime Branch has appealed to the public to remain vigilant against economic offences and report any suspected financial fraud to the Economic Offences Wing.(NVI)

Heavy rains lash J&K; cloudburst hits Kishtwar, schools shut in Kishtwar and Doda

File photo

Jammu Aug 1 (NVI): Heavy rains lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, while a cloudburst in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district triggered flash floods, washing away vehicles and forcing the closure of schools in Kishtwar and Doda districts, officials said.

The cloudburst occurred around 2.30 am in Chatroo, resulting in flash floods that swept away several vehicles and caused damage to property, they said.

No loss of life or injuries has been reported so far, officials added.

The heavy rainfall also affected several parts of the Kashmir Valley, including Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Pampore, Srinagar and Ganderbal.

The Chatroo-Kishtwar National Highway was closed for vehicular traffic following the cloudburst, while authorities launched an assessment of the damage caused by the flash floods.

As a precautionary measure amid continuous rainfall, slippery road conditions and the possibility of shooting stones, the district administrations of Kishtwar and Doda ordered the closure of all government and private schools on Saturday.

Officials said online classes would be conducted to ensure that academic activities continue without disruption.

Authorities have advised residents to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel in vulnerable areas until weather conditions improve.(NVI)

Kashmir: Second Migrant Worker shot by terrorists dies

Representational Image

Srinagar, Aug 1 (NVI): The second migrant labourer injured in the terrorist attack in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district succumbed to his injuries at a hospital here on Saturday, taking the death toll in the incident to two, officials said.

Terrorists opened fire on two migrant workers in Kelam village of Kulgam on Friday evening. One of the victims died at the Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, shortly after the attack, while the other, who had been shifted to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, they said.

The deceased were identified as Deepak Rattray (24), son of Uma Shankar, and Bopinder (28), son of Dasrar, both residents of Chhattisgarh who were working as labourers in Kashmir.

Security forces rushed to the area soon after the attack, cordoned off the locality and launched a search operation to trace the attackers. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway, officials said.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and directed security agencies to intensify anti-terror operations to bring those responsible to justice.

In a post on X, Sinha said he had spoken to Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and instructed security forces to step up operations against the terrorists involved. He also expressed condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of all possible support.(NVI)

Balochistan: BLA says it killed 14 Pakistani soldiers in twin attacks

Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) fighters at some undisclosed location. File Pic.

Quetta (Balochistan), July 31 (NVI) Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) tonight said it killed 14 personnel of Pakistan Army and seized a large quantity of weapons after capturing two military camps in Balochistan in coordinated attacks.

BLA fighters carried out parallel attacks on two major camps of the occupying Pakistani military, located adjacent to each other in the suburban area of Quetta at around 6 pm (Pakistan time) yesterday (Thursday), its spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said in a statement to NVI.

BLA’s specialized unit, the ‘Fateh Squad’, advanced and struck the positions of the occupying military, forcing them into retreat while providing operational and field support to other military units for the final advance, he said.

The enemy was encircled by the BLA fighters who caused heavy damage to the military, killing 9 of them and gaining complete control over the camp, he said.

Meanwhile, another unit attacked another camp, killing 5 personnel of the occupying army, the spokesman said.

The BLA fighters breached all enemy defensive lines, and established control over that post as well, he added.

Besides killing 14 personnel of the Pakistani military on the spot and gaining complete control over both camps, the BLA seized all the armoury there, which included a large quantity of military weapons, ammunition, communication equipment, and other crucial military hardware.

“In this battle, BLA’s vanguard unit, the ‘Fateh Squad’, demonstrated exceptional skill, discipline, and unprecedented courage, dealing decisive blows to the occupying military and successfully bringing this complex operation to its logical conclusion,” Jeeyand Baloch said.

The spokesman said BLA lost two fighters in the operation and paid rich tributes to them on behalf of the organisation. (NVI)

Union Cabinet approves oil and gas exploration scheme

Representational image

New Delhi, July 31 (NVI) Union Cabinet today approved a Rs 84,084 crore scheme for oil and gas exploration, named ‘Samudra Manthan’.

The scheme will be implemented through financial year 2031 (FY31) to unlock India’s vast offshore energy potential.

The scheme encompasses a comprehensive set of interventions across the offshore exploration value chain, aimed at strengthening India’s energy security, accelerating domestic exploration and production and promoting technological leadership.

It provides for large-scale acquisition, processing and interpretation of high-quality seismic data, accelerated deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploratory drilling, scientific drilling in frontier basins and development of common offshore production and evacuation infrastructure.

It also includes the establishment of an integrated oil and gas manufacturing and services zone.

It also includes dedicated provisions for digital programme management, capacity building, technology adoption, stakeholder engagement and international outreach, creating an integrated ecosystem.

“Samudra Manthan is expected to catalyse reserve accretion of over 600 million metric tonne of oil equivalent (MMTOE), substantially increase offshore exploration activity, promote higher domestic oil and gas production, generate large-scale employment, strengthen indigenous manufacturing under Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, and foster a globally competitive ecosystem for offshore technologies and services,” the official statement noted.

The scheme is also expected to stimulate significant investments across the exploration and production value chain, creating long-term opportunities for industry, innovation and economic growth.

Over the past decade, the government has undertaken transformative reforms across the upstream sector, including opening almost the entire offshore acreage for exploration, modernising the legislative and contractual framework, and strengthening the National Data Repository, the statement noted. (NVI)

Union Cabinet approves Surya Sarovar Yojana

New Delhi, July 31 (NVI) The Union Cabinet today approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) aimed at developing floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) projects integrated with energy storage systems.

The total financial outlay of the project is  Rs 5,070 crore.

Under the scheme, the government plans to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity with co-located energy storage systems having a minimum storage capacity of two hours, equivalent to 10,000 MWh.

The projects will be sanctioned between FY 2026-27 and FY 2030-31, while financial support will continue until FY 2032-33.

The approval comes after an assessment by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), which estimated India’s floating solar potential at around 102.18 GWp across reservoirs and other suitable inland water bodies.

The scheme will provide Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of Rs 1 crore per MW for eligible floating solar projects after successful commissioning. Additionally, financial support of up to Rs 50 lakh per project will be available for feasibility studies, including bathymetry, hydrography, environmental assessments and other preparatory activities.

The government said the initiative will help expand India’s floating solar capacity, which currently stands at around 700 MW, while enabling better utilisation of reservoirs and industrial ponds without competing for land resources.

The integration of energy storage systems is expected to improve grid stability and reliability.

The scheme is projected to reduce around 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually and generate approximately 16,000–17,000 full-time equivalent employment opportunities across the project value chain.

The initiative will also promote domestic manufacturing of floating structures, photovoltaic cells, modules and energy storage systems, supporting the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat push. (NVI)

Non-local worker killed, another injured in terrorist attack in J&K’s Kulgam

Representational Image

Srinagar, Jul 31 (NVI): One non-local worker was killed and another injured after terrorists opened fire on them in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday evening, officials said.

The attack took place in the Kellam area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, where the terrorists fired at two non-local labourers, the officials said.

Both the injured workers were rushed to a nearby hospital, where one of them succumbed to his injuries, they said.

The other injured worker was referred to the Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, for specialised treatment.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the attackers, officials said.

Further details are awaited.(NVI)

BSF ASI found dead with bullet injury in J&K’s Baramulla; probe underway

REpresentational Image

Srinagar, Jul 31 (NVI): A 56-year-old Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Border Security Force (BSF) was found dead with a bullet injury at his place of posting in the Boniyar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday, officials said.

The deceased was identified as Shiv Dutt, a resident of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, who was posted with the 175 Battalion of the BSF in Boniyar, they said.

Officials said the ASI was found with a bullet injury and preliminary findings suggest that he may have died after allegedly shooting himself with his service rifle.

A police team reached the spot soon after the incident and shifted the body for medico-legal formalities.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding the death, officials added.(NVI)

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