The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has served a legal notice to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of making false, baseless and defamatory allegations against the party during a convention in Srinagar on July 11.

The notice, dated July 13 and issued through advocate Parimoksh Seth on behalf of the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, states that the party was acting on the instructions of Sat Paul Sharma, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP J&K president.

According to the notice, Abdullah allegedly claimed that BJP functionaries had approached National Conference MLAs from the Jammu region with offers of ₹20–30 crore, ministerial positions and restoration of statehood in an attempt to persuade them to switch allegiance. It also alleges that he accused a senior BJP functionary, who is a lawyer practising in the Supreme Court, of offering bribes to NC legislators. The BJP has denied the allegations, describing them as false, malicious and without any factual basis.

The legal notice states that the remarks, which were widely reported in the print, electronic and social media, have damaged the party’s reputation and image. It contends that the statements amount to defamation and are actionable under civil and criminal law.

The BJP has demanded that Abdullah withdraw the allegations in writing, issue an unconditional public apology within seven days of receiving the notice, refrain from making or circulating any further defamatory statements, and immediately cease repeating the allegations.

The notice warns that failure to comply within the stipulated period would compel the party to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings, including a defamation suit seeking damages of ₹100 crore, along with other legal remedies available under law.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday visited the base hospital at Baltal, interacted with pilgrims undertaking the Amarnath Yatra and reviewed the arrangements made for the annual pilgrimage, which is continuing under heightened security.

During his visit, the Lieutenant Governor met devotees at the hospital and took stock of the facilities and overall preparedness for the Yatra.

The Amarnath Yatra-2026 is continuing with multi-layered security arrangements across the pilgrimage route. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has deployed Road Opening Parties (ROPs) along National Highway-44 to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims.

Five pilgrims undertaking the Shri Amarnath Yatra were injured after their vehicle met with an accident near Toldi Nallah in the Samroli area along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) on Friday.

The pilgrims were travelling in an Ertiga car as part of a convoy that had departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu for the Pahalgam route. According to officials, the vehicle reportedly went out of control and crashed into a retaining wall on the highway.

Following the incident, personnel from the CRPF 137 Battalion, Gorkha 4/3, Civil Defence, Traffic Police, and Jammu & Kashmir Police rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. The injured pilgrims were promptly shifted to the Associated Hospital, Government Medical College (GMC), Udhampur, for medical treatment.

Officials said that one of the injured pilgrims, identified as Seema Gupta, sustained serious injuries in the accident, while the condition of the remaining four is being monitored.

Further details are awaited.

In a major step towards improving healthcare and education in remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Sehyogdhara has intensified its outreach in Kuntwara Bhandera of Kishtwar district, where residents continue to struggle with inadequate healthcare facilities, poor road connectivity and difficult terrain.

The organisation said patients, particularly the elderly and critically ill, are often forced to be transported to hospitals on carts or carried manually over long distances due to the lack of proper infrastructure.

Under its “Health and Education for All” initiative, Sehyogdhara has been working to bridge gaps in access to essential services and improve the quality of life in underserved rural communities.

As part of its expanding healthcare programme, the organisation announced plans to introduce a Telemedicine Programme, which will connect residents of remote villages with specialist doctors through digital consultations, reducing the need for long and difficult journeys for medical care.

During a recent health camp organised in Kuntwara, a large number of senior citizens and local residents underwent medical check-ups and received consultations, highlighting the urgent healthcare needs of the region.

In a humanitarian gesture, Sehyogdhara also pledged to bear the medical expenses of a 12-year-old girl suffering from a heart ailment who lost her mother, reaffirming its commitment to supporting vulnerable children and families.

The organisation has also adopted five school-going children and will sponsor their education, emphasising that education remains a key driver of social transformation and long-term community development.

Sehyogdhara expressed gratitude to the District Administration Kishtwar, the Indian Army’s Assam Rifles, Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation (RHPC), healthcare professionals, volunteers, media personnel and the people of Kuntwara for their support in making the initiatives successful.

The organisation reiterated its commitment to extending quality healthcare and educational opportunities to the country’s most remote regions, ensuring that these essential services remain accessible to every citizen.