Dr. Rufayee Calls for Collective Public Support to Strengthen Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in Jammu & Kashmir
Dr. Rufayee Calls for Collective Public Support to Strengthen Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in Jammu and Kashmir
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
“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.
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.
“There must be zero tolerance for terrorism, and nations subject to terrorist attacks have the right to defend themselves,” he said.
Rubio also announced expansion of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative among the Quad nations.
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
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
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.
“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.
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)
