Friday, July 10, 2026
Home Blog Page 31

J&K’s Mega Padyatra on May 3 to Promote Drug-Free Society

Himalayan Express
-
0
J&K’s Mega Padyatra on May 3 to Promote Drug-Free Society

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday mobilized citizens across Jammu and Kashmir to join a significant public uprising against drug abuse, announcing a Mega Padyatra to be held on May 3 at the TRC Football Stadium in Srinagar. The initiative aims to foster a drug-free society in the region, appealing especially to the youth.

Sinha expressed optimism as he noted, “I am witnessing a strong and inspiring momentum across the Union Territory towards eliminating the menace of drug abuse.” Calling for collective action, he emphasized the crucial role community involvement plays in the campaign.

“Let us unite and work together to create a safer and healthier Jammu and Kashmir for future generations,” he added. His message highlights that community participation is essential to the success of the anti-drug initiative.

This padyatra contributes to ongoing government efforts to enhance awareness and intensify action against drug abuse throughout the Union Territory. It addresses a critical issue affecting many families and communities.

The administration encourages widespread public participation, recognizing that a united stand will amplify the campaign’s impact and sustainability. Authorities believe that involving citizens in the padyatra will fortify their resolve to combat drug abuse effectively.

As preparations begin for the Mega Padyatra, local organizations and youth groups eagerly await the opportunity to participate in this pivotal movement. The event will serve as a platform for raising awareness about the dangers of drug use and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Experts point out that drug abuse poses serious health risks and threatens the social fabric of communities. By engaging with citizens in open discussions during the padyatra, the government aims to shine a light on the necessity for collective action against this crisis.

Several similar initiatives in the past have proven that community-led efforts can create significant strides in public health issues. By raising awareness and mobilizing citizens, the Sinha administration hopes to replicate successful outcomes from other campaigns.

The Mega Padyatra will not only serve as a demonstration of solidarity against drugs but will also foster a sense of community and responsibility among participants. It marks an important step towards ensuring the future generation leads a drug-free life.

DIGP DKR Range Chairs Introductory & Crime-cum-Security Review Meetings at DPO Doda

Himalayan Express
-
0
DIGP DKR Range Chairs Introductory & Crime-cum-Security Review Meetings at DPO Doda
Doda, April 23, 2026:
Ms. Sargun Shukla, IPS, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban (DKR) Range, was accorded a warm ceremonial welcome on her arrival at District Police Office (DPO) Doda.
Reaffirming her firm commitment to strengthening policing standards and ensuring a robust security environment, the DIGP chaired an introductory as well as crime-cum-security review meetings at DPO Doda. The meeting was attended by SSP Doda, Sh. Kartik Shrotriya, IPS, along with all Addl SsP, SDPOs, DySsP Ops, SHOs, and Incharge Police Posts, including IC PCR, DSB, and the Anti-Drug Squad of District Doda.
The meeting commenced with comprehensive PowerPoint presentations by DySP Hqrs Doda, SDPO Bhaderwah, SDPO Gandoh, DySP DAR Doda, DySP Ops Dessa-Kastigarh, who presented a detailed overview of their respective jurisdictions, covering law & order, crime scenario, security dynamics, operational preparedness, achievements, and challenges. The structured presentations enabled a realistic and thorough assessment of the prevailing ground situation.
During the review, the DIGP conducted an in-depth evaluation of the overall crime scenario, case disposal, security preparedness, counter-insurgency grid, anti-drug operations, action against illicit liquor trade, performance of Police Stations and field units, and the effectiveness of public grievance redressal mechanisms. All under-investigation cases were discussed threadbare, with directions for timely disposal strictly on merits and within prescribed timelines.
Special emphasis was laid on cases registered under the NDPS Act, with clear directions for expeditious investigation, close supervision, and effective prosecution to ensure higher conviction rates. The DIGP stressed the need for robust preventive measures against organized criminal networks, including drug traffickers, bovine smuggling syndicates, offenders involved in property crimes, and crimes against women and children. Officers were directed to identify and monitor habitual offenders and initiate strict legal action wherever warranted.
Highlighting the importance of intelligence-based policing, she emphasized strengthening intelligence gathering mechanisms at all levels and maintaining close coordination with the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies for effective security management. Directions were also issued to intensify area domination drives, strengthen night patrolling in vulnerable areas, and reinforce the overall security grid.
The ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan was reviewed in detail, with focus on stringent enforcement measures including attachment of properties derived from proceeds of crime in NDPS cases and sustained crackdown on drug peddlers. The DIGP also reviewed awareness drives and anti-drug campaigns aimed at sensitizing youth and directed officers to further intensify such initiatives.
While addressing the officers, Ms. Sargun Shukla-IPS laid strong emphasis on professionalism, transparency, and accountability in policing. She reiterated a zero-tolerance approach towards crime and stressed the need for people-friendly policing, prompt grievance redressal, and enhanced community engagement to build lasting public trust.
The DIGP issued key directions including ensuring quality investigations with strict adherence to SOPs to improve conviction rates, enhancing beat policing, surveillance and area domination, leveraging technology and digital platforms such as CCTNS, e-Sakshya and e-Summons, directing all Supervisory Officers, SHOs, Incharge Police Posts and Investigating Officers to ensure effective and mandatory utilization of CCTNS for real-time data entry, case tracking, supervision and monitoring, ensuring mandatory utilization of FSL services as per BNSS provisions, and maintaining regular supervision and accountability at all levels.
Appreciating the efforts of Doda Police in maintaining peace and stability under challenging conditions, the DIGP encouraged all ranks to continue working with dedication, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to public service. She exhorted officers to strengthen grassroots policing and public outreach to foster community trust and ensure lasting peace in the region.
The meeting concluded with an interactive session wherein officers highlighted field-level challenges and received strategic guidance and directions from the DIGP.

Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs Including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal Quit Party; To Join BJP

Himalayan Express
-
0
Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs Including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal Quit Party; To Join BJP
 In a massive jolt to the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday, seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, quit the party.
Addressing a press conference, Chadha, flanked by Pathak and Mittal, said that two-thirds of the Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MPs have quit the party and will join the BJP as a faction.
Chadha said that party MPs Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal are also quitting the AAP.
“AAP, that I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has completely strayed from its principles, values and core morals,” he said.
Chadha was recently removed as the deputy leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha and was replaced by Mittal in the Upper House.
“In the Rajya Sabha, the Aam Aadmi Party has 10 MPs. More than two-thirds of them are with us in this initiative.
“They have already signed, and this morning we submitted all the required documentation, including signed letters and other formal paperwork, to the chairman of the Rajya Sabha,” Chadha told reporters.
Hitting out at Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, Chadha said that the party is no longer working for the country, but for its own benefit.
“Over the past few years, I have increasingly felt that I am the right person in the wrong party. Today, I announce my decision to move away from AAP and work more closely with the ‘janata’ (public),” he said.
Another Rajya Sabha MP, Sandeep Pathak, said that he had never thought that this situation would arise, but it has.
“For 10 years, I remained associated with this party. And today, I am parting ways with the Aam Aadmi Party,” Pathak said.
On April 15, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at business entities linked to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal in Punjab as part of a FEMA probe. (Agencies)

Administration Demolishes Residences Of Two Drug Peddlers In Outskirts Of Jammu City

Himalayan Express
-
0
Administration Demolishes Residences Of Two Drug Peddlers In Outskirts Of Jammu City
The district administration on Friday demolished residential properties of two alleged drug peddlers in the outskirts of Jammu city as part of its crackdown on assets linked to persons involved in drug trafficking and trade, officials said.
Bulldozers — accompanied by heavy police deployment — rolled into Indra Nagar Colony of Miran Sahib and razed the houses of two drug peddlers in the area, they said.
The action against the duo — booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act — came under the ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan’, officials said.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate, R S Pura, Anuradha Thakur and Sub-Divisional Police Officer Gurmeet Singh were present at the scene during the demolition exercise.
In a similar action, on Thursday, three residential properties of alleged drug peddlers were demolished in Rajiv Nagar area of Jammu city.
On April 18, in another administration and police crackdown on drug tradelinked assets, two residential properties of NDPS-accused in Belicharana area of the city were razed.Jammu business directory

Gold Futures Drops To Rs 1.51 Lakh/10g As Strong Dollar, Oil Surge Weigh On Bullion

Himalayan Express
-
0
Gold Futures Drops To Rs 1.51 Lakh/10g As Strong Dollar, Oil Surge Weigh On Bullion
Gold prices fell Rs 462 to Rs 1.51 lakh per 10 grams in futures trade on Friday, tracking weak global trends amid a stronger US dollar and rising crude oil rates.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange, the yellow metal for June delivery declined Rs 462, or 0.3 per cent, to Rs 1,51,299 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 8,310 lots.
Analysts said pressure on precious metals came from a firm dollar and elevated energy prices, as well as heightened inflation concerns.
Gold prices declined on Friday. The pressure on the precious metals can be attributed to a stronger US dollar and rising crude oil prices, which have intensified inflation concerns among investors, Gaurav Garg, Research Analyst at Lemonn Markets Desk, said.
He added that oil prices were hovering around USD 95.84 per barrel due to geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, which has exacerbated market uncertainty.
In the international market, Comex gold futures for the June contract slipped USD 33.54, or nearly 1 per cent, to USD 4,690.46 per ounce in New York.
Brokerage firm Kotak Securities gold hovered around USD 4,680 per ounce, heading for nearly a 3 per cent weekly loss as prolonged US-Iran tensions and the continued Strait of Hormuz blockade drove oil higher and lifted inflation concerns.
According to analysts, signs of friction between Washington and Tehran persist due to the US Navy’s blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, termed the blockade an act of war, while chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said a complete ceasefire would be meaningful only if maritime restrictions are lifted.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to act against any vessels laying mines in the crucial shipping route, further dampening hopes for de-escalation.
Analysts said these developments have supported the US dollar’s strength, putting pressure on gold prices in the global markets.
Market participants are now awaiting the final University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment data for further cues on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path and the near-term trajectory of bullion prices, Kotak Securities said in a note. (PTI)

India To Be Top-10 Sporting Nation By 2036, Top-5 By 2047: Mandaviya

Himalayan Express
-
0
India To Be Top-10 Sporting Nation By 2036, Top-5 By 2047: Mandaviya
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said India would emerge among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and break into the top five by 2047.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a 30-bedded Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospital at Ompora in the central Kashmir district here, Mandaviya credited the Narendra Modi-led government for streamlining sports governance and creating a more structured system.
“It (the government) is providing opportunity to the youth to perform in the sports arena. I am sure that in the days to come, in the next ten years by 2036, India will be among the 10 best sporting nations in the world and by 2047, India will emerge among the top five sporting nations,” Mandaviya said.
The minister added that the government’s sustained push has strengthened the sporting framework across the country.
“The country has won the bid for hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and has also bid for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. The process is going on to meet all the demands and expectations of the International Olympic Committee.
“The sports ecosystem has been improved in the country, and with programmes like Fit India, Khelo India movement, the country’s youth are getting opportunities,” Mandaviya added.
About the hospital, Mandaviya said that the facility, built at a cost of Rs 165 crore, will serve over 50,000 workers and their families and provide them free treatment.
He added a nursing college will also be added to the facility in the future to impart training to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi Inducted Into International Hall Of Fame At US Army War College

Himalayan Express
-
0
Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi Inducted Into International Hall Of Fame At US Army War College
India’s Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi was inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the US Army War College in Pennsylvania, becoming the third Indian head of the army to receive such honour.
General Dwivedi, a distinguished fellow of the US Army War College, is the third Indian Chief of Armed Forces to be inducted in the International Hall of Fame after General V K Singh and General Bikram Singh.
“#GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS, visited the Army War College (AWC), Carlisle Barracks, #USA, where he was inducted into the International Hall of Fame – the third Indian Army Chief to receive this honour, after General V K Singh and General Bikram Singh,” the Indian Army said in a post on X.
General Dwivedi, who was on a visit to the US, also addressed the faculty and international student officers’ leadership, professional military education and evolving security dynamics.
An alumnus of the prestigious college, General Dwivedi toured key facilities and participated in academic engagements, including panel discussions, reviewing advanced study projects of the scholars program and interacting with distinguished members of the institution.
Earlier this week, the Army chief began his US visit in Hawaii, where he was accorded a Guard of Honour at Fort Shafter, the headquarters of the United States Army Pacific.
He held discussions with General Ronald P. Clark, Commanding General US Army Pacific, and other senior leaders, focusing on strengthening India-US Defence Cooperation and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Army said in a social media post.
“#COAS also undertook an aerial tour of Oahu island, gaining insights into the training ecosystem and multi-domain operational readiness,” the Indian Army said.
The Army chief’s visit comes close on the heels of the visits of Air Chief Amar Preet Singh and Navy chief Dinesh Tripathi to the US, marking the continuance of high-level military-to-military exchanges between India and the US. (Agencies)

Revenue Official, Forest Guard Suspended For Dereliction Of Duty In J&K

Himalayan Express
-
0
Revenue Official, Forest Guard Suspended For Dereliction Of Duty In J&K
A revenue official and a forest guard have been suspended in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba and Doda districts respectively for alleged dereliction of duty, officials said.
In Samba district, Deputy Commissioner Ayushi Soodan ordered the suspension of a ‘girdawar’ Pankaj Singh Jamwal for failure to complete the digitisation of revenue records within the stipulated timeframe despite repeated directions, an official order said.
The tehsildar, Bari Brahmana had reported that no ‘jamabandis’ (official record of righs for land) were digitised in Patwar Halqua Smailpur between April 8 and April 15.
“The conduct of the official reflects gross negligence and dereliction of duty in the discharge of his responsibilities,” the order said.
Pending inquiry, the official has been placed under suspension with immediate effect and attached to the office of tehsildar Samba. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Vijaypur has been appointed as the inquiry officer and has been asked to submit a report within 15 days, it added.
In Doda district, a forest department beat guard, Mushtaq Ahmed has also been placed under suspension after a vehicle carrying illegal deodar timber was seized in the Bhadarwah area, the officials said.
Officials said a joint team of Forest Protection Force and territorial staff of Neru range intercepted a vehicle loaded with 20 deodar green scants (unseasoned timber planks) during the intervening night of April 21 and 22 at village Jalga.
During the operation, the in-charge beat guard was found moving on the same route in his personal vehicle, and a mechanical cutter packed in a bag was recovered, they said.
The suspended guard has been attached to the Divisional Forest Office, Bhadarwah, pending enquiry. (Agencies)

J&K | Six Tourists Injured After Hotel Lift Collapses In Srinagar

Himalayan Express
-
0
J&K | Six Tourists Injured After Hotel Lift Collapses In Srinagar
Six tourists from Bengaluru were injured after a lift reportedly collapsed at a hotel in the Hyderpora area of Srinagar on Friday, and were later shifted to Bone and Joint Hospital Barzulla for treatment, officials said.
The incident occurred at a hotel in Hyderpora where the group was staying. The injured were brought to the hospital with varying degrees of leg and lower body injuries. All patients were reported to be stable, according to information received.
The injured have been identified as Vinkatesh, 65, son of Muni Thimmaiah; D. Mangula, 54, wife of R.L. Murthy; Kushalla, 18, daughter of Jayaram; Pankaja, 16; Venkatalakshmamma, 60, wife of Chinnya; and Sowbhagya, 60, wife of Vinkatesh. All are residents of Bengaluru and were temporarily staying at the hotel at the time of the incident.
The circumstances leading to the lift collapse were not immediately clear and no official statement has been issued by the hotel management so far.
The incident has raised concerns about safety standards in hospitality establishments, particularly those catering to tourists.
Further details are awaited as authorities are expected to ascertain the cause of the malfunction and determine whether any negligence was involved. [KNT]

NIA Attaches Terror Accused’s Plot In J&K’s Pulwama

Himalayan Express
-
0
NIA Attaches Terror Accused’s Plot In J&K’s Pulwama
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday attached a plot of land belonging to a terror accused in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.
An NIA team attached the plot of land measuring 3.2 kanals (17,300 square feet) at Abhama in Rajpora area of Pulwama district, officials said. The attached property belongs to Tanveer Ahmad Wani, an accused in a UAPA case.
The attachment was carried out under the provisions of Section 33(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The order of attachment was issued by an NIA court at Jammu in January this year. (Agencies)
1...303132...1,128Page 31 of 1,128

Travel

Upsc

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

Contact us: info@himalayanexpress.in

FOLLOW US

© Himalayan Express Designed And Developed By TR Technology Solutions.