Saturday, October 17, 2026
Home Blog Page 95

Man Found Dead Under Suspicious Circumstances at Katra Yatri Niwas

REpresentational Image

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, July 24 (NVI): A 29-year-old man was found dead under suspicious circumstances at a Yatri Niwas in Katra town of Reasi district on Friday, officials said.

The deceased has been identified as Sanjay Kumar, son of Shyam Lal, a resident of Karua, Kotli Manotrain, Katra.

Officials said that the man was found dead at Sharma Yatri Niwas, following which police reached the spot and shifted the body for medico-legal formalities.

Police have taken cognisance of the incident and started an investigation to ascertain the cause of death, they said.

Further details are awaited.—(NVI)

Flash Flood, Landslide Warning as MeT Predicts Week-Long Rain in J&K

(File/Representational image)

Srinagar, Jul 24 (NVI): The Meteorological Department has forecast intermittent rain and thundershowers across Jammu and Kashmir over the next week, with heavy rainfall likely at isolated places in the Jammu division till July 29.

According to the MeT Department, the ongoing spell of rain over south Kashmir, the Chenab Valley and parts of the Pir Panjal range is expected to continue intermittently till Friday afternoon before gradually easing.

From July 25 to 27, scattered to fairly widespread rain and thundershowers are likely across the Union Territory. The department said a few places in the Jammu division may witness brief spells of intense rainfall, particularly during the early morning and morning hours.

A fresh spell of wet weather is expected between July 28 and 31, with heavy showers likely at isolated places in the Jammu region.

The MeT Department has also issued a warning for possible flash floods, landslides and mudslides in vulnerable areas during the next five days.

It advised the public, tourists, travellers and transporters to follow weather advisories and check the latest road and highway status with the administration and traffic authorities before undertaking any journey.(NVI)

ED Conducts Searches in J&K, Punjab in Narco-Terror Funding Probe

Jammu, July 24 (NVI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted searches at nine locations in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged narco-terror funding network, officials said on Friday.

The searches were carried out on July 23 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the ED’s Jammu Sub-Zonal Office in connection with cases registered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Punjab Police, the agency said.

According to the ED, the investigation has revealed an alleged multi-layered network involved in smuggling heroin from Pakistan into India through the Line of Control (LoC), with the proceeds allegedly being used to fund terror activities. The agency claimed the network involved handlers based in Punjab and operatives in Jammu and Kashmir, and that consignments were transported through the LoC before being distributed further.

The ED alleged that more than 60 kg of heroin was transported through the network in multiple consignments and that forged documents, fake vehicle papers, concealed cavities in vehicles and cash transactions were used to facilitate the operation.

During the searches, the agency said it seized incriminating documents and bank account records. It also froze bank accounts containing approximately ₹49.9 lakh under the provisions of the PMLA.

The ED said further investigation into the case is underway. (NVI)

J&K LG visits martyr Ashiq Hussain Qureshi’s family, reiterates resolve against terrorism

Srinagar, Jul 24 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday visited the family of martyred Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi at Lalpora in Beerwah area of Budgam district and paid tributes to the slain policeman for his sacrifice in the line of duty.

During the visit, Sinha expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and said the nation stands firmly with them.

“His courage and sacrifice will forever inspire us. The nation salutes his devotion to duty and stands firmly with his family,” the lieutenant governor said in a post on X.

Sinha said the sacrifice of the martyred policeman would continue to inspire future generations and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of the families of security personnel who lay down their lives in the service of the nation.

He also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are continuing coordinated efforts to dismantle the terror ecosystem in the Union Territory.

The lieutenant governor said the nation will always remain indebted to the bravehearts who make the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.(NVI)

Asif Jalal appointed new IG of BSF Jammu Frontier

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, Jul 24 (NVI): Senior IPS officer Asif Jalal has been appointed as the new Inspector General (IG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) Jammu Frontier, official sources said on Friday.

Jalal, a 2002-batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IPS officer, will succeed Shashank Anand, who has been heading the BSF Jammu Frontier since February 2025. He is expected to assume charge in the coming days, the sources said.

Jalal was appointed as an Inspector General in the BSF in February 2022 and is scheduled to remain on deputation with the force until September 23, 2027.

The BSF Jammu Frontier is responsible for guarding the 192-km International Border along the Pakistan border in the districts of Kathua, Samba and Jammu. It also oversees the security grid in parts of the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district.—(NVI)

MHA orders temporary suspension of mobile internet around Jantar Mantar

Pakistan
(Representational Image)

New Delhi, Jul 23 (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday ordered the temporary suspension of mobile internet services within a 1.5-kilometre radius of Jantar Mantar in the national capital, citing concerns over public safety and maintenance of public order.

According to an official order, the suspension has been imposed under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024.

The order said the Union Home Secretary, after assessing the prevailing situation, was satisfied that temporarily suspending mobile internet services was necessary in the interest of public safety and to prevent any potential public emergency or incitement to the commission of offences.

Mobile internet services of all technologies will remain suspended from 4 pm to midnight on July 23 within the notified 1.5-km radius around Jantar Mantar, it said.

The directive has been issued with the approval of the Union Home Secretary and communicated to the Delhi Police Commissioner for immediate implementation.

Jantar Mantar is a designated venue for protests and demonstrations, and security arrangements in the area have been heightened.—(NVI)

Unexploded Shell Found, Destroyed in J&K’s Uri

Representational Image

Baramulla, Jul 23 (NVI): An unexploded shell, believed to be a remnant of Operation Sindoor, was safely destroyed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday, officials said.

The shell was found in Jabla village in Uri sector after local residents alerted the police, they said.

Police immediately secured the area and summoned a Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) from Baramulla, which later neutralised the shell through a controlled explosion, officials said.

No loss of life or damage to property was reported in the incident, they added.(NVI)

Indian Navy Wraps Up ‘Operation Southern Readiness 26-2’

Kochi, Jul 23 (NVI): A four-day multinational maritime security training exercise, Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, concluded at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on Thursday, with participation of 276 personnel from 27 countries, the Indian Navy said.

The exercise, conducted in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the aegis of the Southern Naval Command and the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 154, also involved 76 facilitators and subject matter experts, besides representatives from four international organisations.

According to the Navy, the programme featured discussions and practical training on maritime domain awareness, information sharing, maritime law, counter-narcotics operations, force protection measures, asymmetric threats, maritime uncrewed systems and operational sea training.

Participants also underwent hands-on training in damage control and firefighting, maritime communications, survival at sea and boarding procedures, including sea training onboard an Indian Naval ship.

The Navy said the four-day engagement generated around 3,800 training man-hours and helped strengthen interoperability, professional networks and operational coordination among participating countries.

It added that the exercise showcased the Indian Navy’s modern training infrastructure and reinforced its partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces while highlighting the Southern Naval Command’s role as a key hub for professional maritime training.

DRDO successfully test-fires indigenous ‘Kusha’ long-range air defence missile

New Delhi, Jul 23 (NVI): The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of the indigenous ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) system from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, officials said.

The missile was tested against an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat and successfully intercepted it, according to the Defence Ministry.

Officials said the ‘Kusha’ missile system is designed to neutralise a wide range of aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and large enemy aircraft over long ranges and at varying altitudes.

The system, including its missiles, radars, command-and-control centre and other components, has been developed by various DRDO laboratories in collaboration with industry partners.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO and associated teams, describing the successful maiden flight-test as a significant milestone in India’s defence research and development.

He said the indigenous system would reduce dependence on imports for long-range air defence capabilities and strengthen the country’s air defence preparedness.

Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh monitored the launch and congratulated the scientists, engineers and industry partners involved in the successful test, the ministry said.—(NVI)

Chief Secretary Pushes Faster AI Integration in Governance Across J&K

Srinagar, Jul 23 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday directed all government departments to fast-track the implementation of identified Artificial Intelligence (AI) use cases to improve governance and public service delivery across the Union Territory.

Chairing a high-level review meeting here, Dulloo said AI has the potential to transform governance by enhancing efficiency, transparency, responsiveness and the quality of public services.

He asked departments to work closely with the Information Technology Department, nominate nodal officers wherever required and ensure timely sharing of quality datasets for the development and validation of AI-based solutions.

The chief secretary stressed that AI applications should complement the existing digital ecosystem instead of creating parallel systems, while emphasising the importance of data quality, interoperability and departmental ownership for successful implementation.

He also directed that sector-specific workshops be organised with departmental nodal officers, technology partners and domain experts to assess data availability, infrastructure readiness and operational requirements before launching pilot projects.

Officials informed the meeting that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence at IIT Jammu is expected to become operational by August this year.

The meeting was told that around 10,000 square feet of space has been earmarked for the Centre, infrastructure is being readied, and procurement of high-performance computing infrastructure for AI Digital Public Infrastructure (AI-DPI) has been initiated.

The review covered 20 AI use cases across eight priority sectors, including education, agriculture, health, transport, power development, public governance, skill development and infrastructure.

According to officials, the proposed AI interventions include foundational literacy and numeracy, multilingual learning platforms, precision agriculture, hyper-local weather intelligence, digital governance, utility demand forecasting, infrastructure health monitoring, urban flood modelling, oral cancer screening and clinical decision support systems.

The meeting was attended by senior government officials, representatives of IIT Jammu, BISAG and other stakeholders. It concluded with a commitment to expedite implementation of the AI roadmap to promote transparent, efficient and citizen-centric governance in Jammu and Kashmir.(NVI)

1...949596...1,776Page 95 of 1,776

MUST READ