General News Archives | Page 54 of 350

J&K’s Grim Toll: 28 Soldiers Martyred in Terror Attacks Since April ’23

July 17, 2024 Editor

On April 20 last year, an Army vehicle was ambushed in Mendhar Tehsil of Poonch district killing five personnel Five Army personnel, including two Captains, died during an encounter in the Kalakote area of Rajouri on November 22 Four soldiers were killed in another ambush by terrorists on an Army vehicle on December 21 in Surankote of Poonch At least 28 soldiers have been killed in major terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since April last year. On April 20 last year, an Army vehicle was ambushed in Mendhar Tehsil…

New J&K Directive on Official Complaints Faces Backlash: Dissent Suppression Alleged

July 16, 2024 Editor

Critics have said the circular protects corrupt officials and suppresses dissent in the guise of shielding government servants from harassment. Jammu & Kashmir’s new circular on handling complaints against government officials has stirred up a hornet’s nest, with critics accusing it of shielding corruption and muzzling dissent while the administration claims the circular is designed to shield public servants from “unnecessary harassment”. The contentious circular, titled “Handling of complaints against public servants” and dated June 20, 2024, threatens legal action against individuals lodging complaints against officials deemed “false/frivolous/anonymous/pseudonymous”. The order,…

Statehood Struggle: Omar Abdullah Highlights Challenges Ahead for J&K

July 15, 2024 Editor

Two days after the Central Government handed over more powers to the Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant-Governor ahead of the upcoming Assembly election, National Conference vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said a “strong government” in Jammu and Kashmir “with a solid mandate” is the only answer to the order. Omar said while the L-G of Delhi is often challenged by the elected government there, the amendments in J&K government business rules have left little scope for such a challenge to the powers of the L-G by…

Omar Abdullah Sounds Alarm: J&K CM’s Powers Diminished Under New LG Rules

July 15, 2024 Editor

Tension Mounts: J&K Faces Governance Shift with New LG Powers, Political Reactions Srinagar : After the Ministry of Home Affairs amended the rules of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, enhancing the powers of the Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the implications for the new Chief Minister, warning that these changes would effectively render the CM powerless. He emphasized the need for a clear timeline for restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before elections are held, asserting that the people…

Omar Abdullah Slams Amendments in J&K Reorganisation Act: ‘People Deserve Better Than a Powerless CM

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 Editor

Through amendments in the act, the government has given more powers to the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory. Jammu and Kashmir deserves better than a ‘powerless’ chief minister, ex-CM Omar Abullah said on Saturday, after the central government amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, giving more powers to the Lieutenant Governor of the Union territory (UT) through the amendments. Jammu and Kashmir deserves better than a ‘powerless’ chief minister, ex-CM Omar Abullah said on Saturday, after the central government amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019,…

Kashmir Takes the HADP Crown: Kathua District Emerges Victorious!

July 13, 2024 Editor

Jammu: Kathua district, being in news for disturbing developments for some time, has earned for itself a place of pride by procuring top slot in district-wise ranking of J&K government’s ambitious Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) evaluation report. Kulgam and Anantnag districts bagged second and third ranking respectively. On the whole, Kashmir districts performed better than their Jammu counterparts with Pulwama (4), Bandipora (5), Shopian (7), Budgam (8) and Ganderbal (9) figuring in the ranking of first ten districts. From Jammu region, Udhampur district and Rajouri district scored sixth and…

Nazir Ronga, J&K HC Bar Ad-Hoc Chairman, Detained Under Public Safety Act

July 12, 2024 Editor

Ronga’s son Umair, who is also a lawyer, said his father has been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and jailed at Kot Bhalwal in Jammu. Centre had been objecting to Bar’s constitution, citing its “secessionist ideology”. Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association ad hoc chairman Nazir Ahmad Ronga, 75, was arrested after a midnight raid at his house in Srinagar, his family said on Thursday. His son Umair Ronga, who is also a lawyer, said that his father has been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA).…

BJP Strategizes: Forging Alliances and Seeking Independent Support Ahead of J&K Polls

July 11, 2024 Editor

Ahead of the highly anticipated assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is considering strategic alliances and support for independent candidates to secure a majority and form the government in the erstwhile state. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, BJP state President Ravinder Raina stated that the party plans to contest the elections independently but is open to collaborating with like-minded parties and supporting certain independent candidates. This approach aims to consolidate the BJP’s vote bank and ensure victory in key constituencies. “There are some constituencies…

Kashmir Security Shakeup: 57 Ex-VIPs Left Exposed in Surprise Move

July 8, 2024 Editor

Kashmir Security Shakeup: Dozens of Prominent Figures Lose Protection In a major security overhaul, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has revoked security cover for 57 prominent figures, sparking surprise and raising questions about the rationale behind the move. The directive, issued by the Srinagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office, removes security personnel assigned to a diverse group of VIPs. This includes former political leaders like ex-Mayors, Ministers, and Members of Parliament (MPs), retired law enforcement officials (police officers), judges (both serving and retired), bureaucrats (both serving and retired), and…

Kashmir Burning! Srinagar Heats Up, Outpacing Kolkata in Record-Breaking July

July 4, 2024July 4, 2024 Editor

The Kashmir Valley continues to reel under a heatwave, with Srinagar recording a season-high for the second straight day at 35.6° C on Wednesday. It made the city even hotter than Kolkata, which registered a maximum temperature of 31° C. The 35.6° C was not only six degrees above normal, but the highest for July in 25 years. “Srinagar has recorded a maximum temperature of 35.6° C… the highest July temperature recorded in Srinagar since 1999, when the maximum temperature reached 37.° C on July 9. The all-time highest maximum temperature…