Jammu, 28 February:

FirstCry Intellitots Preschool & Daycare, one of India’s fastest-growing early childhood education networks, is set to inaugurate its first-ever preschool and daycare centre in Jammu on 28th February, near Nanak Nagar.

The inauguration ceremony was graced and formally inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Kuwarani Ritu Singh ji. 

With a strong presence of 350+ centres across India, FirstCry Intellitots is known for delivering high-quality early learning through a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment. The launch in Jammu marks a significant milestone in bringing structured and holistic early childhood education to the region.

The new centre will offer Preschool Programs,Daycare Facilities,Play Based Learning Methodology, Focus on Motor Skills and Early Literacy & Holistic Child Development.The centre will be led by Centre Heads Ishleen Kour and Pragnee Gupta, along with business partners Andeep Singh and Surinder Singh, who aim to create a benchmark institution for early learning in the city.

To celebrate the launch, the centre is introducing special inaugural offers, including Exclusive discounts for the first 15 admissions & Navratra Special Admission Offer

Speaking on the occasion, the management shared that the vision behind this launch is to create a space where children can learn, grow, and thrive through joyful and meaningful learning experiences.

Parents and guardians are invited to visit the school, explore the facilities, and experience the learning environment firsthand.This inauguration reinforces FirstCry Intellitots’ commitment to strengthening early education in Jammu, offering families access to trusted and high-quality preschool and daycare services.

An above-normal number of heatwave days is expected over most parts of the country between March and May, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its monthly forecast on Saturday.

According to the IMD, the regions likely to witness more heatwave days include West Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, south and east Maharashtra, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of north Karnataka and north Tamil Nadu.

However, during March, maximum temperatures are expected to remain normal to below normal over many parts of the country. Exceptions include the northeastern states, eastern India, and some areas of the Western Himalayan region, as well as parts of central and peninsular India.

“This could be because rainfall averaged over India is most likely to be normal during March,” the IMD said in its statement.

The weather agency also noted that rainfall across India in February this year was the lowest recorded since 2001. Additionally, no cold wave conditions were reported anywhere in the country during February, it added.

The IMD’s forecast suggests that while early March may see relatively moderate temperatures in several regions, heatwave conditions are likely to intensify as the pre-monsoon season progresses.

The Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a charge sheet against a cyber fraudster for allegedly duping a Srinagar-based man of Rs 41,000 on the pretext of arranging a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Haryana for re-registration of a private vehicle in Srinagar, officials said on Saturday.

According to a statement, a probe conducted by the Crime Branch Kashmir led to the registration of FIR No. 01/2023 at the Cyber Crime Investigation Centre for Excellence (CICE), Police Station, Crime Branch Kashmir.

The investigation revealed that Anil Kumar, son of Indal Singh and a resident of village Patanwan Samardihan, Sasaram, Bihar (821113), allegedly committed cheating by impersonation. He reportedly convinced the complainant that he could arrange the required NOC from Haryana and demanded Rs 41,000, which the victim transferred to his bank account.

Officials said the accused had fabricated KYC documents to open a bank account in Delhi and obtain a SIM card, falsely showing his residence as Delhi. Despite hectic efforts, he could not initially be traced at the address mentioned in the KYC documents.

Subsequently, through technological investigation, authorities established that the accused was actually residing in Bihar and had intentionally forged his KYC details to evade law enforcement. The defrauded amount of Rs 41,000 was later refunded to the victim.

On February 28, 2026, the charge sheet was presented before the Court of 2nd Additional Munsif, Srinagar, for judicial determination.

The Cyber Crime Investigation Centre for Excellence reiterated its commitment to taking strict action against cyber fraudsters and stated that efforts will continue to expose offenders, even if they attempt to conceal their identities.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are capable of overcoming every challenge and can script history if provided with the right opportunities and guidance.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the second edition of the Sikh Cricket Premier League (SCPL) held at the University of Jammu. Highlighting developments in the sports sector, Sinha said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the sports landscape in the Union Territory has undergone a historic transformation in recent years.

“The new generation embodies possibility itself. I believe our youth are the solution to every challenge. Provide them apt opportunities, robust platforms, and true mentorship, and they will author history,” he said.

Sinha noted that the Sikh Cricket Premier League is helping to shape multifaceted character among the youth and will instill discipline, leadership, teamwork, patience, and self-belief in the coming years.

He described the initiative by the All J&K Sikh Coordination Committee and the Hari Singh Nalwa Cricket Club, Jammu, as a declaration that the new generation is moving forward not as spectators but as torchbearers of brotherhood and social harmony. To promote inclusivity, the organisers have ensured that each team includes youth from other communities as well.

Addressing the players, the Lieutenant Governor urged them to train with “ferocious discipline” and compete with “unbreakable unity,” both on and off the field. He emphasised that true societal wealth lies not in infrastructure alone, but in fresh ideas and youthful energy.

“The energy of our youth is like a river. When guided with purpose, it becomes a source of life and progress. I am confident that in the journey of nation-building, our youth will not stop, not bow, and they will not tire,” he said.

Sinha added that sporting events like the Sikh Cricket Premier League must encourage young people to see sports not merely as recreation, but as a platform for building enduring life values. “When youth align with purposeful missions, they understand that grand transformations require grand visions. Entrepreneurship and sports harbour that very alchemy,” he remarked.

He further said that substantial financial assistance under the Prime Minister’s Development Programme (PMDP) has helped lay a world-class foundation for sports excellence in the Union Territory.

The Lieutenant Governor also mentioned that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir, assured Rs 200 crore in assistance for sports development in the UT, with support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), FIFA, and other sports organisations.

At least nine rusted mortar shells were recovered from a forward village near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Saturday, officials said.

The mortar shells were found scattered in the Mankote area during an area domination exercise conducted by Army troops.

Following the discovery, the entire area was cordoned off and Army bomb disposal squads were rushed to the spot. Officials said the mortar shells were safely destroyed in controlled explosions without causing any damage.

Security forces have heightened vigilance in the area, and further search operations are underway, officials added.