Jammu And Kashmir

Army orders inquiry after varsity professor claims assault by troops in J&K

The Army on Friday ordered an inquiry after a university professor accused the troops of assaulting him during a checking of vehicles in a village in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The professor, Liaqat Ali, suffered head injuries in the alleged assault near the border village Laam late Thursday night and a purported video showing the bleeding professor surfaced online. An incident has come to light wherein certain individuals were allegedly manhandled by Army personnel in Rajouri district. The Army had input on the likely movement of terrorists in a vehicle in this sensitive area. Accordingly, search operations were being conducted. Preliminary information suggests that on being stopped, the individual tried to snatch weapons of the soldiers on duty and initiated a scuffle with them. However, an inquiry has been initiated. Should any personnel be found guilty of misconduct, strict action will be taken in accordance with the existing law, the Army said in a .

Security forces continue joint op in J-K's Poonch to trace terrorists

Security forces have cordoned off the area and are conducting extensive search operations in dense forest zones

HADP to build Rs 1 trillion agri-economy for J&K by 2030: Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme is a movement to build a sustainable Rs 1,00,000 crore agri-economy for the state by 2030. He was chairing a review meeting on the implementation of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP). The chief minister said digital innovation in agriculture aims to integrate cutting-edge technologies like AI-based advisory tools and real-time monitoring applications to strengthen governance at the grassroots level. "The programme is not just a policy intervention but a movement to empower farmers, modernise the agri-sector, and build a sustainable Rs 1,00,000 crore agri-economy for Jammu & Kashmir by 2030. "We are redefining how governance reaches the grassroots. HADP is making agriculture smart, data-driven, and future-ready," Abdullah said. Terming progressive farmers as the backbone of agricultural transformation, the chief minister said, "Their stories of success

Farooq Abdullah slams ex-R&AW chief Dulat over Article 370 claims in book

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday dismissed ex-R&AW chief A S Dulat's claims that he had "privately backed" the Article 370 abrogation as a "cheap stunt" to boost the sales of the top spy's forthcoming memoir. He suggested that Dulat's motive behind penning the book -- 'The Chief Minister and the Spy', slated for release on April 18 -- could be an attempt to reach the power corridors or earn a lot of money. "It is possible that he wants to make a new relationship," Abdullah told PTI. Reacting angrily to Dulat's assertion that the National Conference (NC) would have "helped" pass the proposal to abrogate the special status of the erstwhile state had it been taken into confidence, the 87-year-old president of the party said this was a "figment of imagination" of the author. Abdullah pointed out that both he and his son Omar Abdullah had been put under arrest for several months at the time of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. "We were

Farooq Abdullah urges PM Modi to act over 'slashing of India's Haj quota'

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after reports emerging from Saudi Arabia indicated India's Haj quota has been abruptly slashed. The former Union minister said every Muslim dreams to go on the Haj pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime. "I would like to request the prime minister to take up the matter as he is close to the country (Saudi Arabian leadership," Abdullah told PTI Videos at his residence here. He was responding to a question about some opposition leaders flagging the issue on Sunday even as there was no official word from the government on the matter so far. "He (the prime minister) should urge them (the Saudi Arabia leadership) that this issue is related to thousands of people... they save money so that they can go on this holy pilgrimage. It is a dream of every Muslim to go there," the former J-K chief minister said. Asked about the recently implemented Waqf (Amendment) Act, Abdullah said

5.8-magnitude earthquake strikes J&K, no damage to life or property

A moderate intensity earthquake with epicentre in Pakistan struck Jammu and Kashmir at around 1 pm on Saturday, an official said. Tremors were felt in many parts of the Valley, but there were are no reports of loss of life or damage to property, he said. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred at a latitude of 33.63 degrees North and longitude of 72.46 degrees East in Pakistan at a depth of 10 kilometres, the official said.

Two terrorists killed in J&K's Kishtwar, combing ops underway in Udhampur

One terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Friday while a separate operation to track down a group of three terrorists is underway in Udhampur district, Army officials said. The security agencies have expanded the scope of surveillance to the Bhaderwah area of Doda district to track the terrorists potentially moving between different locations in the hilly districts of the Jammu region. Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Kishtwar-Doda-Ramban Range, Shridhar Patil said the operations in the region have been going on for the past three days. "One terrorist was eliminated this morning", he told reporters in Kishtwar. Other terrorists in the region are trapped and the operation will continue until they are all eliminated, he added. According to the officials, the encounter in Kishtwar broke out during an intelligence-based search-and-destroy operation launched jointly by Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Chatru forest

Over 83,000 non-locals issued domicile certificates since 2022: J&K govt

The J&K government said over 83,000 individuals who were not originally permanent residents were granted domicile certificates since 2022 under new rules introduced after Article 370 abrogation

Night cordon intensified after twin encounters in J-K's Udhampur, Kishtwar

Night cordon has been intensified after brief encounters broke out in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur and Kishtwar districts on Wednesday, as security forces established contact with terrorists, officials said. "During a search operation by police and other security forces, contact was established with terrorists at Jopher belt in the Ramnagar police station area of Udhampur," police said in a post on X. Two to three terrorists were trapped after "firing took place", they added. Senior Superintendent of Police, Amod Ashok Nagpure, said that night cordon has been intensified in the area after exchange of fire with terrorists. "We got information that suspected terrorists were spotted at Martha village (in Jopher belt). Teams from Udhampur rushed to the spot and launched a search operation in the area. "There was a gunfight between the terrorists and the security forces that lasted for about two hours, prompting the mobilisation of the army and CRPF. Additional reinforcements have been

J&K Assembly erupts over AAP MLA's tilak remarks; BJP demands action

Glass tables broken, MLAs escorted out as J&K Assembly chaos escalates after BJP accused Doda MLA Mehraj Malik of anti-Hindu remarks. BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa demanded strict action

Waqf Act sparks uproar in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly; PDP MLA escorted out

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly sees second day of chaos as the Opposition protests Waqf (Amendment) Act; PDP's Waheed Para escorted out, Mehbooba, Sajad Lone demand action against Speaker

Amit Shah chairs meeting to review ongoing developmental projects in J-K

A high-level meeting to review the ongoing developmental projects in Jammu and Kashmir began here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Union home minister Amit Shah, officials said. The meeting at Raj Bhavan is being attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with senior officers from the Union home ministry and Kashmir government, they said. During the meeting, the officers will brief the home minister on the ongoing developmental projects in the Union Territory. Shah, who is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, arrived in the Valley on Monday evening. Immediately after his arrival, Shah visited the house of Kirti Chakra awardee Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Muzammil Bhat, who laid down his life battling terrorists in 2023. He spent nearly 20 minutes with the slain police officer's father, retired Inspector General of Police Ghulam Hassan Bhat, before heading to Raj Bhavan. Posthumously awarded Kirti Chak

Mission not yet over as terrorism curbed but not eliminated in J-K: Shah

A massive search operation has been underway in the forest area of the district since March 23, when police and other security forces intercepted a group of five terrorists

Amit Shah begins three-day tour of J-K, holds meeting with BJP MLAs

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who reached Jammu on Sunday to commence his three-day Jammu and Kashmir tour, held a closed-door meeting with BJP MLAs and office-bearers. This is Shah's first visit to the Union Territory after the formation of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government in October. The visit also holds significance in the wake of a massive anti-terrorist operation currently underway in Kathua district. Shah, who landed in Jammu around 6:50 pm, was received by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union minister Jitendra Singh, and other BJP leaders, including its Jammu and Kashmir unit chief Sat Sharma and national general secretary in-charge Jammu and Kashmir Tarun Chugh. Former state chief Ravinder Raina and ex-deputy chief ministers Kavinder Gupta and Nirmal Singh were also present. Shah was escorted to the Raj Bhavan and later visited the BJP headquarters at Trikuta Nagar to chair a meeting of party MLAs and other office-bearers, officials ...

Home minister Amit Shah to be on three-day visit to J-K from Sunday

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from Sunday, during which he will tour a forward post along the India-Pakistan border and review the security situation and development initiatives in the Union Territory. Officials said Shah will reach Jammu on Sunday evening and attend a meeting of BJP MLAs and office bearers. The next day, he will visit the BSF Border Out Post Vinay in Kathua and assess the ground situation there. Later in the day, he will meet the family members of the martyrs of the Jammu and Kashmir Police at Raj Bhavan in Jammu and also present appointment letters to some of them selected on compassionate grounds. On April 8, Shah will first take stock of various development programmes in the Union Territory at a meeting to be held at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar. Subsequently, he will attend another meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar where the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir will be reviewed, officials said. On March 21,

Social media post sparks protests in J-K's Bhaderwah; internet suspended

Protests and a partial bandh were observed in the communally sensitive Bhaderwah town of Doda district on Saturday following an objectionable social media post allegedly put up by a leader of a Hindu group, prompting authorities to suspend mobile internet services, officials said. Superintendent of Police, Bhaderwah, Vinod Sharma said an FIR has been registered against the accused, Virender Razdan, and raids are underway to nab him. The officer appealed to the people to maintain peace and communal harmony. Razdan, the head of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha Bhaderwah, allegedly posted communally sensitive content on his social media account, drawing resentment from members of both Hindu and Muslim communities. Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhaderwah on Saturday took out a march from the local Jamia Masjid to Bhaderwah police station, shouting slogans demanding the arrest of the culprit for "hurting the religious sentiments" of Muslims through the objectionable post. The protesters dispersed after t

Parties in J-K slam NC govt for defending reservation policy in high court

Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday slammed the National Conference (NC) government for defending the reservation policy, which provides 70 per cent quota to various groups, in the high court. Jammu and Kashmir's Social Welfare Department has submitted an affidavit in the high court, saying the writ petition is "mischievous" and "frivolous in nature" and has been filed with "an intent to abuse the judicial process". The government has sought dismissal of the petition titled 'Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and others versus UT of J-K and others'. The affidavit comes even as the government has constituted a Cabinet sub-committee, headed by Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo, to look into the issue of reservation after protests over the policy. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama Waheed Para said the Cabinet sub-committee was nothing, but a "facade to mislead" the public. "The J-K government now defends a deeply flawed reservation policy in court. The so-called Cabinet

Lt Gen PK Mishra replaces Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva as GOC of 16 Corps

Lieutenant General P K Mishra assumed command as the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 16 Corps on Monday, urging troops to prioritise operational preparedness and ensure peace. He succeeded Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, who served as GOC of the elite White Knight Corps (16 Corps) since January 1 last year. The Corps oversees the operational area of the Jammu region, south of the Pir Panjal range. "Lt Gen P K Mishra has assumed command of the White Knight Corps from Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva," the White Knight Corps said on X. The Corps Commander encouraged all personnel to maintain the highest standards of operational excellence and continue promoting peace and stability in the region.

Amit Shah's J-K visit not linked to Kathua operation: CM Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Jammu and Kashmir was not linked to the anti-militancy operation in Kathua. The programme was finalised before the operation, he added. "Do not link the Union minister's visit to the Kathua (operation). His programme was finalised before the Kathua encounter. It is a coincidence that his visit comes around the time of the Kathua operation," the chief minister told reporters after launching a free bus service for women at SKICC. The home minister's visit does not have a security agenda only, he added. "While the security (situation) will be reviewed, he (Shah) has planned a public meeting in Jammu as well Then, in Srinagar, he (Shah) will review the development work and inaugurate some projects," Abdullah said. A combing operation is underway at the Panjtirthi site in Kathua to track down three terrorists who escaped after a brief encounter with security forces late on Monday, officials said. As

Security forces launch massive search operation after Kathua encounter

The area was placed under a cordon after the Monday night gunfire between police and terrorists