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8th Central Pay Commission Team To Visit J&K; Govt Dept Asked To Present Demands

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8th Central Pay Commission Team To Visit J&K; Govt Dept Asked To Present Demands

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has informed that the 8th Central Pay Commission will visit the Union Territory from May 31 to June 5 to interact with various stakeholders, including government employees, unions and associations.
According to an official communication issued by the Finance Department (Codes Division), the Commission has scheduled an interaction and presentation session with the J&K Government on June 1, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Meeting Hall CR-3, SKICC, near Centaur Hotel, Srinagar.

The meeting will be led by the Chief Secretary and attended by senior officers from various departments. Those invited include Additional Chief Secretaries of Jal Shakti, Power Development, Tourism, Agriculture, Finance, Public Works (R&B) and the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
Principal Secretaries of the Home Department, Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat and Election Department, along with the Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, Commissioner Secretary, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department, and all Heads of Departments of the Finance Department, have also been directed to participate.
The visit is aimed at gathering inputs and representations from stakeholders regarding pay structures, service conditions and other issues to be considered by the 8th Central Pay Commission during its review process. (KNC)

Two Killed As Truck Plunges Into Gorge, Catches Fire On NH-44 In Ramban

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Two Killed As Truck Plunges Into Gorge, Catches Fire On NH-44 In Ramban

Two persons were killed after a truck veered off the road, plunged into a deep gorge and caught fire near Gangroo in the Ramsoo area of Ramban district along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) on Saturday.
Officials said the truck reportedly went out of the driver’s control while travelling on the highway and skidded off the road before falling into the gorge. Soon after the accident, the vehicle was engulfed in flames, creating panic in the area.

Police, rescue teams and local volunteers immediately rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. After the fire was brought under control, two charred bodies were recovered from the burnt wreckage of the truck.
The deceased are believed to be the occupants of the vehicle. However, their identities had not been established till the filing of this report.
Police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
The tragic mishap has once again highlighted safety concerns on the mountainous stretch of NH-44 in Ramban district, where accidents are frequently reported due to challenging terrain and road conditions.(KNC)

Dr. Rufayee Calls for Collective Public Support to Strengthen Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in Jammu and Kashmir

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Dr. Rufayee Calls for Collective Public Support to Strengthen Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in Jammu and Kashmir

Dr. Rufayee Calls for Collective Public Support to Strengthen Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu, May 28:
Dr. Tahir Rufayee, Chairman of the National Foundation for Journalism and Media (NFJM), has appreciated the intensified efforts being undertaken across Jammu and Kashmir under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to combat the growing menace of drug abuse and narcotics trafficking.
In a statement issued today, Dr. Rufayee lauded the visionary leadership and firm commitment of Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha for prioritizing the fight against narcotics and ensuring a coordinated administrative response against drug networks operating in the Union Territory.
He further appreciated the Jammu and Kashmir Police for their proactive and sustained action against drug peddlers, including the registration of FIRs, arrests, seizure of narcotic substances, and intensified surveillance measures aimed at protecting society, particularly the younger generation, from the devastating consequences of substance abuse.
Dr. Rufayee observed that the ongoing crackdown against narcotics has sent a strong message that the administration is fully committed to uprooting the drug menace from Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that the strict action being taken against those involved in drug trafficking deserves public appreciation and wholehearted support from all sections of society.
Emphasizing the importance of collective responsibility, Dr. Rufayee urged citizens to actively participate in the campaign by remaining vigilant and promptly reporting any suspicious drug-related activities to the concerned authorities. He stated that public cooperation is essential in identifying and isolating those attempting to destroy the social fabric through the spread of narcotics.
He also appealed to parents, teachers, religious scholars, youth leaders, and civil society organizations to play a constructive role in guiding the younger generation, promoting awareness regarding the harmful effects of drugs, and encouraging a culture of discipline, education, and positive engagement.
“Drug abuse is not merely a law-and-order concern; it is a serious social and moral challenge that threatens families, communities, and the future of our youth. The determined efforts of the administration under the leadership of Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha and the committed role of Jammu and Kashmir Police deserve appreciation. However, the success of this movement depends upon active participation and cooperation from the public as well,” Dr. Rufayee stated.
He further reiterated that the National Foundation for Journalism and Media remains committed to supporting all constructive initiatives aimed at youth welfare, public awareness, social reform, and the creation of a healthier and drug-free society.

Ladakh Admin Postpones Bakrid Holiday To May 28

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Ladakh Admin Postpones Bakrid Holiday To May 28

The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh has postponed the holiday on account of Eid-Ul-Azha (Bakrid) from May 27 to May 28, 2026.
According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, the holiday will now be observed on Thursday, May 28, instead of Wednesday, May 27, in partial modification of the earlier government order issued in November 2025.

Operation Sheruwali | Fire Assault Launched On Suspected Hideouts In J&K’s Rajouri

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Operation Sheruwali | Fire Assault Launched On Suspected Hideouts In J&K’s Rajouri

Security forces on Tuesday launched a fire assault on specific hideouts and inducted additional troops as the operation to track down terrorists believed to be hiding in the dense forests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district entered the fourth day, officials said.
The assault was launched on suspected hideouts in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt of Manjakote area amid intensified efforts to flush out the terrorists, they said.

Officials said plumes of smoke were seen rising from the forested areas following the assault, indicating that targeted locations were struck during the operation.

Security forces are also tracking blood stains believed to have been left behind by the fleeing terrorists after a hideout was destroyed during an assault carried out on Monday, they said.

Backed by helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs, joint teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces are conducting extensive searches in adjoining areas. The cordon around the operation zone has been further strengthened with the induction of additional troops, officials said.

More reinforcements have been rushed to the forests of Dori Maal in the Gambhir Moghla area, where the anti-terror operation is underway. Additional operational teams have also been deployed to expand the search area and intensify efforts to track and eliminate the terrorists, they added.

An encounter had broken out between terrorists and security forces in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt on Saturday after a joint team launched Operation Sheruwali following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Singhpora-Chatroo area.

A joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had launched a massive cordon-and-search operation in the area on Saturday based on specific information about the movement of suspected terrorists.

The operation led to a brief exchange of fire after contact was established with the terrorists, prompting security forces to continue extensive searches in the rugged and heavily forested terrain.

According to preliminary reports, two to three terrorists, including a commander, are believed to be hiding in the area. The Army’s White Knight Corps had said that contact was established with terrorists on Saturday in the general area of Gambhir Moghla during an intelligence-based joint operation carried out with the police and CRPF. (Agencies)

When Crude Oil Prices Fell, Why Did Petrol, Diesel Become More Expensive, Asks Kharge

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When Crude Oil Prices Fell, Why Did Petrol, Diesel Become More Expensive, Asks Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the Modi government on Tuesday over the rising fuel prices and asked why relief was not provided to people when crude oil prices fell during the last 12 years.
Kharge cited an official statement by the PIB to state that exactly 12 years ago today — on May 26, 2014 — when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, the price of crude oil in the Indian basket stood at USD 108.05 per barrel, and the Dollar-Rupee exchange rate was Rs 58.59.

At that time, petrol was available at Rs 71.51 per litre, and diesel at Rs 56.71 per liter, he said in his post in Hindi on X.
Today, the price of crude oil is below USD 99 per barrel; yet, the prices of petrol and diesel have surged to Rs 102.12 and Rs 95.20 per litre, respectively, Kharge said.
In other words, while crude oil has become cheaper, petrol has become approximately 42.8% more expensive, and diesel about 67.9% more expensive, he said.
“Every economist knows that the rising cost of petrol and diesel impacts every sector. From transportation to food commodities, the burden of inflation on the common man continues to intensify. Despite this, the government’s profiteering continues unabated,” Kharge said.

“The question is straightforward: When crude oil prices have fallen, why have petrol and diesel become more expensive?” he said.

Why is there no relief for the public, Kharge asked.
The Congress on Monday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latest fuel hike, with Rahul Gandhi alleging that the “mehangai manav” has struck again and he has just one job of making promises during elections and attacking people’s pockets at other times.
Kharge also lashed out at the Modi government over the issue and asked who is benefitting from this “daily robbery”.

Petrol and diesel prices were raised by Rs 2.61-2.71 per litre on Monday, marking the fourth increase in less than two weeks as state-owned fuel retailers continued to pass on rising international oil prices to consumers. (Agencies)

J&K Administration Conducts Anti-Encroachment Drive In Udhampur

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J&K Administration Conducts Anti-Encroachment Drive In Udhampur

An anti-encroachment drive was carried out by the administration on the Dhar Road near Mian Bagh, which is located close to the Air Force Road in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur.
During the operation, several temporary tin sheds that were constructed illegally to sell goods on the roadside were completely demolished and dismantled.

As per Naib Tehsildar Roun Maroof Khan, the issue had been persisting in the region for a long period of time, and many people had filed complaints regarding the same in the Tehsildar’s office.
“This issue was ongoing for a long time. Many people were filing complaints in the DC office and to the tehsildar that many people have set up temporary sheds on state land. This is a highway, and people used to gather here in the evening, which poses a risk of accidents,” Khan said.
Focusing on the sensitivity of the region, the official said out of the total seven sheds, five were removed by the public themselves; meanwhile, the other two were demolished by the administration.

“Recently, on the request of the Air Force and the Police, they brought to our notice that out of the seven sheds here, two have CCTV cameras installed, which focus on the road. This is a sensitive area. There are Air Force stations here. Movement of other security establishments also takes place here. We have removed those temporary sheds today after issuing them a notice beforehand. Five of the sheds were removed by themselves. We have removed the remaining two sheds today,” he added.

In a similar case on May 23, the district administration of Jammu launched a demolition drive against properties allegedly linked to drug smugglers in the Miran Sahib area as part of an ongoing crackdown on narcotics-related activities.
Bulldozer action against the alleged illegal properties was underway, with a large number of police personnel and administrative officials deployed at the site to maintain law and order during the operation. (Agencies)

Property Worth Rs 1 Crore Of Alleged Drug Peddler Attached In J&K’s Anantnag

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Property Worth Rs 1 Crore Of Alleged Drug Peddler Attached In J&K’s Anantnag
Property worth around Rs 1 Crore belonging to an alleged drug peddler was attached in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police said on Tuesday.
A police spokesman said Srinagar Police attached an immovable property belonging to a “notorious drug peddler” in connection with a narcotics case registered here.
He said the action was part of the police’s sustained crackdown on narcotics trafficking under the ongoing ‘Nasha Mukt J-K Abhiyan’.
The attached property is a residential house belonging to Aamir Hassan Mir, a resident of Bonpora Dupatyar in the Bijbehara area of the south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, he said.
The property has an estimated market value of approximately Rs 1 crore, he said.
The action was carried out under Section 68(F) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the spokesman said.
The attachment proceedings were executed in the presence of the Executive Magistrate First Class, Bijbehara, he said.

The spokesman said the property shall neither be sold, transferred, or otherwise dealt with without prior permission from the competent authority.

Police Attach Rs 1.25 Cr Property Of Alleged Drug Peddler In J&K’s Kathua

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Police Attach Rs 1.25 Cr Property Of Alleged Drug Peddler In J&K’s Kathua
Police on Tuesday attached an immovable property worth around Rs 1.25 crore belonging to an alleged drug peddler in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district under the provisions of the NDPS Act, officials said.
The attached property comprises shops and a dhaba located at Chapper Morh in Hiranagar and belongs to Sudesh Mehta, son of Parkash Chand, a resident of Chapper village in the district, they said.
According to police, the property was identified as illegally acquired during the course of an investigation and was prima facie found to have been purchased using proceeds generated from illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Officials said that the attachment was carried out under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. A police team formally attached the property in the presence of officials from the Revenue, Public Works, and Roads and Buildings (R&B) departments, they said.
During the investigation, it surfaced that the property, with an estimated market value of Rs 1.25 crore, had allegedly been acquired through income generated from narcotics-related activities, police said.
Local residents welcomed the move, describing it as a significant step in curbing the drug menace and dismantling the financial networks of drug traffickers in the district.
Police reiterated their commitment to intensifying the crackdown on drug trafficking by targeting both narcotics networks and assets allegedly created through the proceeds of the illegal trade. (Agencies)

Eye On China: Quad Ramps Up Indo-Pacific Surveillance, Critical Mineral Cooperation

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Eye On China: Quad Ramps Up Indo-Pacific Surveillance, Critical Mineral Cooperation
The Quad grouping on Tuesday expanded cooperation in critical minerals and energy while unveiling new measures to boost maritime surveillance and port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of China’s growing military posturing in the region.
The new measures were announced following a meeting of the grouping’s foreign ministers in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
In his media statement, Jaishankar announced a critical minerals framework and an Indo-Pacific energy security initiative under the broader Quad agenda to confront major challenges facing the region.
“Much of the discussions and indeed the bilateral exchanges were devoted to the current state of the world,” Jaishankar said at the end of the meeting.
Naturally, the focus of the deliberations was on issues of relevance to the Indo-Pacific, he said.
“Because we are four maritime democracies located at different ends of the Indo-Pacific, the exchange of perspectives was an exercise of considerable value.”
“We spent some time on the question of safe and unimpeded maritime commerce and reaffirmed the significance of scrupulously observing international law,” the minister said.
Jaishankar said a free and open Indo-Pacific has many dimensions and facets and the Quad meeting took stock of the progress in many of them.
We believe strongly that economic resilience should be promoted and supply chains should be strengthened, he noted, adding that the deliberations also touched upon current energy and fertiliser availability and that of critical minerals.
“In the coming days, whether it is economic activity, energy trade or maritime commerce, the Indo-Pacific will become even more important to the world. The responsibilities of the Quad will grow commensurately, and we must prepare for that,” he said.
Countering the common threat of terrorism also figured in the talks, the external affairs minister said.
“There must be zero tolerance for terrorism, and nations subject to terrorist attacks have the right to defend themselves,” he said.
In his media statement, US Secretary of State Rubio said the Quad meeting decided to launch an Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation
 Initiative It will leverage each of our country’s maritime surveillance capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, he said.
Rubio also announced expansion of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative among the Quad nations.
“We’re announcing plans to work with Fiji to advance that country’s port infrastructure. It’ll be the first time that the Quad partners work together on a port infrastructure project,” he said.
Australian Foreign Minister Wong said the Quad recognised efforts towards a diplomatic resolution to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“We recognised the importance of maintaining the principle of freedom of navigation and our opposition to any tolling proposition,” she said, referring to Iran’s plan to demand fees for transiting the Strait.
We are working together to strengthen cooperation against scam centres, particularly in Southeast Asia, Wong said.
The Australian foreign minister said the Quad will be coordinating on maritime surveillance efforts initially in the Indian Ocean. (Agencies)

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