On the seventh anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, the Central Reserve Police Force paid homage to the 40 personnel who lost their lives at Lethpora in south Kashmir.

CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh, after laying floral tributes at the memorial site, said the force remains duty-bound to wipe out all forms of terrorism from the country.

“We lost our 40 brave jawans on this day. We are here near the spot of the attack to pay homage to the martyrs,” Singh told reporters.

Senior officers of the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police joined the CRPF leadership in paying tributes to the fallen personnel.

Highlighting the welfare measures undertaken for the families of the martyrs, Singh said the CRPF family and the CRPF Pariwar Kalyan Sanastha continue to stand firmly with them. He said 19 families have been provided housing, while land has been allotted to several others in coordination with respective state governments.

The CRPF is also bearing the full cost of education for the children of the martyrs and will continue to do so. Singh said compassionate appointments will be provided to the children upon reaching adulthood. He added that the families have received approximately Rs 2.25 crore to Rs 3 crore each as government relief.

To address concerns of martyr families, a Veer Pariwar App has been launched, and the CRPF Welfare Directorate maintains regular contact to ensure their needs are met.

The CRPF chief also said the force lost eight personnel in various operations last year and assured that their families are receiving full support.

The Pulwama attack took place on February 14, 2019, when a suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammad rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy on the Srinagar–Jammu national highway, killing 40 personnel.

Jammu, February 14: On the solemn occasion marking the anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack, National Chairman of the National Anti Terrorism and Peace Front (NATPF), Sanjay Manhas, paid heartfelt tribute to the brave CRPF personnel who laid down their lives in the 2019 attack.

Remembering the supreme sacrifice of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans who were martyred in the Pulwama attack, Manhas said that the nation will always remain indebted to the courage and dedication of its brave soldiers. He emphasized that their sacrifice continues to inspire every citizen to stand united against terrorism.

In his statement, Manhas reiterated India’s unwavering resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. He said that terrorism poses a grave threat not only to national security but also to peace and humanity, and must be fought with collective strength and determination.

“The sacrifice of our Pulwama martyrs will never be forgotten. Their bravery strengthens our commitment to eliminate terrorism and uphold the unity and integrity of the nation,” he said.

Manhas further called upon the youth of the country to channel their energy towards nation-building and to remain vigilant against forces that attempt to disrupt peace and harmony. He stressed the importance of unity, peace, and communal harmony in strengthening the country’s fight against terrorism.

The tribute ceremony concluded with a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs, reaffirming the nation’s pledge to stand strong against terrorism and safeguard the sovereignty of India.

First-time semifinalists Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand will aim to extend their remarkable campaigns as they face traditional powerhouses Bengal and Karnataka respectively in the Ranji Trophy semifinals beginning Sunday.

Jammu & Kashmir vs Bengal: A Date with History

Jammu and Kashmir scripted history by reaching their maiden Ranji Trophy semifinal with a 56-run victory over Madhya Pradesh in Indore. The achievement marks their deepest run in the tournament since their debut in the 1959–60 season.

Seamer Auqib Nabi emerged as the architect of the historic win, returning match figures of 12 for 110. Nabi has enjoyed a prolific season, claiming 46 wickets so far and leading a disciplined bowling unit. Left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar has provided valuable support with 22 wickets.

In the batting department, Abdul Samad has led from the front with 543 runs this season, while experienced skipper Paras Dogra has contributed 484 runs, often anchoring the innings under pressure.

Jammu and Kashmir now face a formidable Bengal side that boasts strength in both batting and bowling.

Sudip Kumar Gharami powered Bengal into the semifinals with a monumental 299 in the quarterfinal against Andhra at Kalyani, setting up an innings-and-90-run victory. Gharami has accumulated 651 runs this season, while Sumanta Gupta (506), Anustup Majumdar (367) and Abhimanyu Easwaran (373) have added solidity to the top order.

Bengal’s bowling attack has been equally impressive. Shahbaz Ahmed leads the side’s wicket tally with 39 scalps. The pace unit features India internationals Mohammed Shami (28 wickets) and Akash Deep (19), alongside Mukesh Kumar, who claimed five wickets in the quarterfinal. SS Jaiswal has also contributed 20 wickets this season.

Bengal will enjoy home advantage as the match will be played at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani.

Uttarakhand vs Karnataka: Clash of Momentum and Legacy

In the other semifinal at Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium, Uttarakhand will take on eight-time champions Karnataka.

Uttarakhand secured their place in the last four with a commanding innings-and-six-run win over Jharkhand in Jamshedpur, continuing their rapid rise in domestic cricket. Spinner Mayank Mishra starred with an eight-wicket match haul, including 5 for 22 in the second innings, and currently leads the tournament’s wicket charts with 52 wickets.

Karnataka, meanwhile, advanced after registering a four-wicket victory over Mumbai, the most successful team in Ranji Trophy history with 42 titles.

With history on the line for Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand, and legacy at stake for Bengal and Karnataka, the semifinals promise high-intensity battles as teams vie for a place in the prestigious Ranji Trophy final.

The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Police posted at Police Station Bemina for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹8,000 from a complainant.

According to an official spokesperson, the ACB received a written complaint alleging that Mukhtar Ahmad Khan, a resident of Newa Pulwama and Investigating Officer of FIR No. 88/2025 registered at Police Station Bemina, had demanded illegal gratification despite the case already having been challaned before the competent court.

The complainant further alleged that the officer threatened to harass him if the bribe was not paid.

Upon receiving the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification which prima facie established the allegations. Subsequently, FIR No. 04/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar and investigation was initiated.

During the investigation, a trap team laid by the ACB arrested the accused officer red-handed while he was demanding and accepting ₹8,000 from the complainant. The accused was taken into custody and the bribe amount was recovered on the spot in the presence of independent witnesses.

Further investigation in the case is underway.

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld the order of the Revisional Authority directing continuation of land partition proceedings in accordance with applicable rules, while vacating an interim status quo that had stalled the process for several years.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal in a petition filed by Sikander Sharma challenging the January 6, 2021 order passed by the Additional Commissioner, Jammu, acting as Revisional Authority. The petitioner had questioned the legality of the remand order directing the subordinate authority to proceed afresh with the partition proceedings after granting due opportunity of hearing to all stakeholders.

The High Court observed that the Revisional Authority’s order had been passed with the consent of counsel representing all parties. It held that advocates act as authorised agents of their clients and once consent is recorded in judicial proceedings, parties are ordinarily estopped from challenging the order later unless there is clear evidence of fraud, coercion, or patent lack of jurisdiction.

Emphasising the binding nature of consent-based orders, the Court stated that such directions are intended to bring finality to disputes and prevent prolonged litigation. It ruled that the petitioner could not withdraw from a position earlier accepted through counsel merely because the outcome subsequently appeared unfavourable.

Rejecting the contention that the remand was contrary to law, the Court clarified that the impugned order did not conclusively determine rights but only required the competent authority to re-examine the matter under the relevant Partition Rules after hearing all concerned parties. It noted that such a procedural direction caused no prejudice and instead ensured fairness in adjudication.

The Court also vacated the interim status quo order dated February 1, 2021, observing that its continuation was not conducive to justice as it effectively prevented the revenue authorities from acting on the Revisional Authority’s directions.

Relying on Supreme Court precedents, the High Court reiterated that consent decrees and compromise-based decisions create an estoppel and are meant to prevent endless litigation cycles. Finding no illegality or jurisdictional error, the Court upheld the January 6, 2021 order and directed the competent authority to conclude partition proceedings strictly in accordance with law after granting opportunity of hearing to all interested parties and passing a reasoned order.

Advocate R.K.S. Thakur appeared for the petitioner, while Advocate Priyanka Bhat, vice Senior AAG Monika Kohli, and Advocate Ajay Abrol represented the respondents.

Abdul Rahim Rather, Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, on Friday urged the government to strengthen the legal framework to effectively tackle food adulteration, as members raised concerns over the large-scale seizure of rotten meat and sub-standard cheese across the Union Territory.

Responding to a clubbed question raised by legislators of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo informed the House that more than 12,183.5 kilograms of rotten meat, valued at over ₹29.19 lakh, had been destroyed during 1,676 inspections conducted across Jammu and Kashmir during the financial year 2025–26 up to December 2025.

She further stated that 7,665 kilograms of adulterated cheese worth over ₹16.32 lakh were seized in the Jammu region.

According to the minister, authorities collected 144 samples of meat and meat products and 173 samples of cheese for laboratory testing within and outside the Union Territory. Reports for all 144 meat samples have been received, with one declared sub-standard and 17 found unsafe. Of the 173 cheese samples, 157 reports have been received so far, of which 47 were declared sub-standard and one unsafe.

Itoo acknowledged a shortage of technical staff in both food-testing laboratories located in Srinagar and Jammu. She noted that against 19 sanctioned posts in each lab, 11 remain vacant. The 22 vacant posts will be referred to recruiting agencies once recruitment rules are finalized.

To curb food adulteration and safeguard public health, the Food Safety Department has intensified enforcement by conducting regular inspections, testing samples through notified laboratories, and initiating strict action against violators. These measures include suspension or cancellation of licences, penalties, and prosecution.

The minister added that action has already been initiated against 18 food business operators found selling unsafe meat and meat products in various districts, including Srinagar and Jammu, with most cases currently under process.