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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)

CNG Price Hiked By Rs 2 Per Kg

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CNG Price Hiked By Rs 2 Per Kg
CNG price in the national capital was hiked by Rs 2 per kg on Tuesday, the fourth increase in less than two weeks.
CNG will now cost Rs 83.09 per kg, according to Indraprastha Gas Ltd.

This is the fourth such increase since May 15, taking the cumulative hike to Rs 4 per kg. (Agencies)

Indo-Pacific Must Remain Driver For Global Growth: Jaishankar At Quad Meet

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Indo-Pacific Must Remain Driver For Global Growth: Jaishankar At Quad Meet
The Indo-Pacific must remain a driver for global growth and stability, and the Quad must work towards ensuring maritime security and promoting economic choices in the region, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday.
In his opening remarks at the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting, he specifically called for “trusted and transparent” partnerships to bring peace and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific.
The New Delhi meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, with Jaishankar presiding over it.
The Quad meeting came amid rising global concerns over China’s increasing military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific.
“Our focus will clearly be on the Indo-Pacific, which is the specific limit of the Quad,” the external affairs minister said in his televised opening remarks.
“At the global level, we have to address issues like supply chain resilience, connectivity choke points, manufacturing and resource concentrations and gaps in critical infrastructure. Each one of them offers a new argument for more partnerships,” he said.
Jaishankar, without elaborating, also talked about specific “concerns” facing the Indo-Pacific.
“This will require enhancing strategic confidence, ensuring maritime security, promoting economic choices, and fostering a deeper collaborative ethos. And that is best done by promoting trusted and transparent partnerships,” he said.
The external affairs minister added, “As maritime democracies, pluralistic societies and market economies, we share the responsibility towards a free and open Indo-Pacific. The region must remain a driver for global growth and stability.”
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for making the Quad as strong and as effective as possible.
We are determined to continue the momentum of the Quad, and we want a peaceful, stable, prosperous Indo-Pacific, she said.
Rubio said the areas in which the Quad has been working together became more relevant because of recent events around the world.

Quad can address some of the most significant problems facing the world, including in areas of energy security, freedom of navigation, and critical minerals, he said. (Agencies)

WAsia Crisis: FM Urges Focus On Fuel, Fertiliser, Forex; Hits Out At Critics For Peddling Pessimism

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WAsia Crisis: FM Urges Focus On Fuel, Fertiliser, Forex; Hits Out At Critics For Peddling Pessimism
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday called for increased focus on 3Fs — fuel, fertiliser and forex — amid the West Asia crisis, underlining that the domestic economy continues to be resilient.
Speaking at an event to celebrate the 37th anniversary of SIDBI here, the FM hit out at naysayers for creating a cynical and pessimistic narrative after PM Narendra Modi’s appeals on altruism, pointing out that India cannot afford fearmongering and that giving the confidence to people is necessary.
Stating that India’s policy response has been calibrated to preserve domestic growth, FM said the cut in diesel and petrol excise duties will lead to a revenue impact of Rs 1 lakh crore.
Apart from rising crude prices, the fertiliser prices have hit “unimaginable” levels, the FM said, adding that high gold prices are creating “some challenges” on the external front.
There is a need to focus on the three Fs of fuel, fertiliser and forex, Sitharaman said, pointing out that PM Modi’s appeals are in this context.
However, some “naysayers” have jumped into the situation, claiming that everything is “crumbling”, which is not just right, the FM said.
“‘All the good that is being done by the common people themselves, that is forgotten. And a pessimistic, cynical narrative is generated, which is just not right,” she said.
“We should appreciate that the challenges are more externally driven. We must also recognise that India’s domestic economic situation remains positive and resilient even today,” the FM said.
“India cannot afford fearmongering. We need to give confidence to the people with our words and with our actions,” she said.

FM also highlighted that the issue of Rs 8.1 lakh crore locked in delayed payments for MSMEs is impacting their working capital and growth. She urged public sector undertakings not to exceed the 45-day window to make payments to MSMEs. (Agencies)

‘Mehangai Manav’ Strikes Again: Rahul Slams PM On Fuel Hike

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‘Mehangai Manav’ Strikes Again: Rahul Slams PM On Fuel Hike
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latest fuel hike, saying ‘mehangai manav’ has struck again and he has just one job of making promises during elections and attacking people’s pockets at other times.
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 “Mehangai manav’ Modi strikes again. He raises petrol and diesel prices in installments – ensuring that your pockets are quietly picked, bit by bit,” Gandhi said in his post in Hindi on X.

“For months, I had been warning of an impending economic storm. But Modi Ji, true to form, was busy with elections at the time and the moment the elections ended, he hiked the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 8,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
And, this upward trend will only continue, he added. “‘Mehangai manav’ Modi has just one job: promises during elections, and attacking people’s pockets at other times,” Gandhi said. With the latest revision, cumulative increases in petrol and diesel prices have nearly touched Rs 7.5 per litre since fuel price revisions resumed on May 15 after a prolonged freeze, stoking concerns over inflationary pressures and higher transportation costs across the economy.

The latest revision pushed petrol prices higher by Rs 2.61 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.71, according to industry sources.
Petrol prices were raised to Rs 102.12 a litre in Delhi from Rs 99.51 previously, while diesel rates were increased to Rs 95.20 per litre from Rs 92.49.
The back-to-back increases follow a prolonged freeze in retail fuel prices and come amid elevated crude oil prices in the global market, tightening refining margins, and a weaker rupee, which have sharply raised the cost of imports.
Petrol and diesel prices were increased on May 15 by Rs 3 per litre each, and on May 19 by 90 paise a litre. This was followed by an 87-paise per litre increase in petrol and a 91-paise hike in diesel rates on May 23.
After Monday’s increase, petrol at PSU pumps in Mumbai now costs Rs 111.21 per litre and diesel Rs 97.83, while prices in Kolkata rose to Rs 113.51 and Rs 99.82, respectively. In Chennai, petrol is priced at Rs 107.77 and diesel at Rs 99.55.
Prices vary across states due to local taxes.
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) together control 90 per cent of India’s fuel market.
The back-to-back increases come after global crude oil prices surged more than 50 per cent since late February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route.
Fuel retailers had in the first two-and-half-months of the conflict kept pump prices low despite rising input costs, a move the government said was aimed at shielding consumers from inflation. Opposition parties, however, accused the government of delaying price revisions until after key state elections.
The May 15 increase came after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expanded its electoral footprint by winning three of five state and UT elections, including West Bengal. (AGENCIES)

NEET Paper Leak: NTA Has Not Learnt Lessons, Says SC; Issues Notices On Pleas

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NEET Paper Leak: NTA Has Not Learnt Lessons, Says SC; Issues Notices On Pleas
The Supreme Court on Monday said it was sad that NTA has not learn lessons from the earlier NEET paper leak as it sought response from the Centre, NTA and CBI on pleas for replacement of the testing agency with a robust and autonomous body to conduct the medical entrance exam.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe directed that copy of petitions be served to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta besides other parties and asked the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is responsible for conducting the NEET exam, to file an affidavit by Thursday on compliance of directions issued by the court in 2024.
“It’s sad that they have not learnt their lessons. The matter travelled to this court earlier also. There was a committee, a monitoring committee which made some recommendations and they were accepted. We want NTA to file an affidavit on the steps taken for compliance of recommendations suggested by the committee,” the bench said.
The top court, which issued notice on a plea filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), through lawyer Tanvi Dubey said it is tagging all the similar matters together.
It directed the Centre-appointed committee led by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Radhakrishnan for overhaul of the functioning of the NTA to detail the steps taken for compliance of its directions. The medical body has urged the top court for direct restructuring or replacement of NTA with a robust and autonomous system to conduct NEETUG, citing a “direct assault” on the fundamental rights of over 22.7 lakh students through recurring paper leaks.
It has also sought a direction to appoint a high-powered monitoring committee until a fresh body is formally constituted to oversee the re-examination. It further said the committee should comprise a retired Supreme Court judge as the chair, along with a cybersecurity expert and a forensic scientist, to ensure that no further leaks occur.
The undergraduate-level National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) held on May 3 by the NTA for admissions to medical education programmes was cancelled on May 12 amid allegations of paper leak, which are now being probed by the CBI. (Agencies)

Petrol, Diesel Prices Raised By Rs 2.61-2.71; Hikes Top Rs 7.5/Litre Within Two Weeks

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Petrol, Diesel Prices Raised By Rs 2.61-2.71; Hikes Top Rs 7.5/Litre Within Two Weeks
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 firms continued to pass on rising international prices to consumers.
With the latest revision, cumulative increases in petrol and diesel prices are almost Rs 7.5 per litre since fuel rate revision resumed on May 15 after a prolonged freeze.
Petrol price was increased by Rs 2.61 a litre to Rs 102.12 per litre in Delhi from Rs 99.51. Diesel rates have been increased by Rs 2.71 to Rs 95.20 per litre from Rs 92.49, industry sources said.

The hikes come amid elevated global crude oil prices and a weakening rupee, which have increased pressure on oil marketing companies’ import costs. (Agencies)

NIA Raids Banned Darul Uloom; Ex-Jamaat Chief’s House In J&K’s Shopian

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NIA Raids Banned Darul Uloom; Ex-Jamaat Chief’s House In J&K’s Shopian
The NIA on Monday conducted raids at two locations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, including Darul Uloom Sirajul Uloom, which was declared an illegal entity last month.
NIA sleuths carried out searches at the school in Imam Sahib area in Shopian in the early hours, officials said. The education institute imparts both religious and formal education to hundreds of students.

Officials said another NIA team also searched the residence of the former chief of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, Shahzada Aurangzeb, at Molu Chitragam in the district.

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