Jammu, January 14: Qualified postgraduate (PG) Ayurvedic doctors of Jammu & Kashmir have submitted a formal appeal to the Administrative Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, seeking fair recruitment in government Ayurvedic medical colleges, creation of sanctioned faculty posts, and immediate withdrawal of what they termed as “illegal orders” designating medical officers as Professors and Heads of Departments (HoDs) in Government Ayurvedic Medical College (GAMC), Jammu.

In the representation, the doctors claimed that there are presently over 200–250 postgraduate Ayurvedic doctors in the Union Territory, many trained from reputed institutions including BHU, ITRA Jamnagar, NIA Jaipur, Patanjali Ayurvedic College Haridwar, AIIA New Delhi, and others. They stated that several among them possess PhD degrees and have teaching experience recognized by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).

However, the doctors alleged that despite their qualifications, they remain excluded from contributing to Ayurvedic education in J&K due to non-creation of faculty posts and issuance of deputation/designation orders that allow medical officers posted in dispensaries to occupy higher teaching positions.

Highlighting the case, the doctors referred to orders passed in GAMC Jammu whereby medical officers, allegedly without mandated teaching qualifications, were designated as Professors and HoDs in six departments, and later one more department, through deputation-based arrangements. They alleged this was done without following due process and in violation of NCISM PG regulations which define eligibility and teaching experience requirements for such posts.

The doctors further expressed concern that despite the fact that PG courses have already started in the institution, the administration has failed to create even basic sanctioned faculty posts required as per the regulatory norms. They termed it contradictory and against merit-based opportunities.

The appeal lists key demands including:

• Immediate withdrawal of deputation/designation orders assigning medical officers as Professors/HoDs.

• Urgent creation of sanctioned faculty posts as per NCISM regulations and start of a transparent merit-based recruitment process for PG teaching.

• Strict action against those responsible for alleged irregular designations and bypassing established recruitment norms.

The doctors stated that denying qualified postgraduates the opportunity to teach in their home institutions defeats the purpose of higher education and adds to unemployment burden among youth. They expressed hope that the government would take appropriate steps to ensure justice, fairness and academic integrity in Ayurvedic education in Jammu & Kashmir.

 Security forces on Friday busted three terrorist hideouts in the Billawar area of Kathua district during a joint operation, police said.

A senior police officer said the operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs about the movement of terrorists in the forest area of Kamaad Nallah in Billawar. Joint teams of Kathua Police and other security forces cordoned off the area and began a search operation.

During the operation, terrorists opened fire on the security forces, triggering an exchange of fire that continued through the night. However, the terrorists managed to escape under the cover of darkness, the officer said.

During the search, one terrorist hideout was detected, from where the security forces recovered two empty M4 cartridges, a plastic box containing desi ghee, a polythene packet of almonds, hand gloves, a cap, a blanket, a tarpaulin sheet, a small pouch and a polythene bag.

The officer said that in continuation of the operation, two more terrorist hideouts were busted on January 16, 2026, in the Kalikhad and Kalaban areas of Billawar. Items recovered from these hideouts included a cooking gas cylinder, cooking oil, charger wire, hand gloves, cooking and eating utensils, an empty oil gallon, large plastic bags, a torch, blankets, containers and wrappers of eatables, along with other miscellaneous items.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Mohita Sharma said the search operation is still underway and security forces remain on high alert in the area.

“The police and other security forces are committed to maintaining peace and security in the district. The operation will continue until the area is fully sanitised,” she said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday called upon the people of Iran to remain united to defeat what she described as the “ploys” of the United States and Israel, while also appealing to the leadership of the Islamic Republic to address the grievances of protesters in the country.

Speaking to reporters, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir said the US has a history of intervening in other countries with an eye on their natural resources.

“The US has a habit of saying that it wants to establish democracy in other countries by removing their leadership, which is totally wrong. Basically, the US always wants to intervene because it eyes their resources like fuel,” Mufti said.

She alleged that several Muslim countries have been “destroyed” in a similar manner under the pretext of human rights violations. “The biggest atrocities are being committed against the people in Gaza, but the US does not intervene there,” she said, adding that she was glad people in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Kashmir, came out on the roads in support of Iran after Friday prayers.

Mufti urged the people of Iran to understand what she called the designs of the US and Israel. “The US and Israel are friends of no one. They are the biggest enemies of Muslims and only eye petrol and other resources in these countries,” she said, warning that if Iran falls into their “ploys”, its condition could become worse than that of Syria.

She said while people everywhere have grievances against their governments and those grievances should be addressed, the people of Iran must remain united. “They should stand together to defeat the US and Israel’s designs,” she added.

Referring to Iran’s relations with India, the PDP chief said demonstrations in support of the Islamic Republic should have taken place across the country as in earlier times. “Kashmir also has close relations with Iran, but since the BJP government came to power, the whole system in the country has changed and people are now afraid to protest,” she claimed.

On the plight of students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in Iran amid the prevailing situation, Mufti said she has requested External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to arrange special flights to bring them back.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Friday said India has witnessed a transformational rise in entrepreneurship, with the number of startups crossing the two lakh mark, making the country the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world.

Addressing a startup camp organised by the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) in Jammu, the minister said the growth reflects a major shift in the country’s innovation culture. “In just a few years, we have grown from 350–400 startups to more than two lakh. Today, the results speak for themselves and show how far we have come,” he said.

Singh said the surge also highlights that young people always had talent and potential, but it was not being properly channelised earlier. Highlighting Doda as the birthplace of the ‘Purple Revolution’ under the Startup India movement, he said the initiative has earned nationwide recognition and is now being celebrated across the country.

“From Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh and even Nagaland, almost all Himalayan states are part of this celebration,” he said.

The minister said the region has emerged as a new hub of youth entrepreneurship, with agriculture at its core. “For a long time, startups were seen as synonymous only with IT, but agriculture is a vast sector with immense potential. India’s 10,000-km-long coastline also offers enormous opportunities,” he added.

Referring to the Startup India and Stand Up India initiatives launched in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said they marked a decisive turning point. “Earlier, there was confusion about what startup and standup meant, but once enabling support was provided, people surged ahead,” he said.

Emphasising inclusive growth, Singh said 45 to 50 per cent of startups are now emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, breaking the myth that innovation is confined to metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad. He also dismissed the notion that higher academic degrees are necessary for entrepreneurship. “Many successful startups are being run by people who have not even completed graduation,” he said.

Citing the lavender mission as a model initiative, the minister said its success was driven by on-the-spot distillation units, strong market linkages and access to markets as far as Mumbai. “The government is providing every kind of support — technological, market and financial,” he said.

Singh also highlighted the growing role of women entrepreneurs, stating that nearly 60,000 to 65,000 of the two lakh startups are women-led. “The lavender success story has broken several myths — that only scientists can lead, that women cannot lead, and that startups must be based in big metros,” he said.

Calling for greater passion, mentorship and guidance, Singh said small towns are full of talent. “If you speak to these young girls for just two minutes, you will understand their capability. We must hand-hold them and give them direction at the right stage,” he said, citing the Vigyan Jyoti scheme as an example of early-stage support for students.

Fresh snowfall was reported across several higher reaches of Kashmir on Friday evening as winter conditions tightened their grip on the region, bringing much-needed snow to alpine areas and enhancing the seasonal snow cover.

According to official sources, the Gurez plains received around two inches of fresh snowfall, while Drass recorded about one inch. Zojila Pass also witnessed nearly two inches of snow, affecting vehicular movement along the strategic mountain corridor.

Sadhna Pass, which connects parts of north Kashmir, received between two and three inches of snowfall, further strengthening the winter snowpack in the upper reaches.

Several popular tourist destinations also experienced light snowfall. Gulmarg recorded about one centimetre of fresh snow, while Doothpathri and Sonamarg witnessed light snow during the day.

Meteorological officials said the snowfall remained largely confined to higher elevations, while lower areas of the Kashmir Valley stayed mostly cloudy under cold conditions. They added that night temperatures are likely to dip further in snow-covered regions.

Meanwhile, the authorities have advised travellers, transporters and residents of higher reaches to exercise caution, particularly while crossing mountain passes, as fresh snowfall could make roads slippery and hazardous.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday ordered the promotion of 11 Section Officers to the post of Under Secretary in the J&K Secretariat (Gazetted) Service-I.

According to Government Order No. 73-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued by the General Administration Department, the promotions have been approved on the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission.

As per the order, the promoted officers have been placed in Pay Level-8 (₹47,600–1,51,100), with effect from the dates indicated against their respective names.

The officers promoted include Ramesh Kumar Bhat, Kuldeep Raj (SC), Ramesh Kumar Raina-I, Rajesh Kumar Sapolia, Salochina Koul, Pardeep Singh Samyal, Ayub Farooq Bhat, Nusrat Shah, Rajinder Kumar, Sham Lal, and Ishwar Dutt.

The government has clarified that these promotions shall remain subject to the outcome of any writ petitions, if any, pending before the competent courts of law.

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday attached the immovable property of a Pakistan-based terror handler in Poonch district following court directions in connection with a case registered at Mandi Police Station, officials said.

The attached property comprises 10 kanal and 14 marlas (approximately 58,261.5 square feet) of land located in Mandi tehsil, with an estimated value of Rs 22.05 lakh.

According to officials, the land belongs to Abdul Aziz, a resident of Chamber Kanari, who is currently operating as a terror handler from Pakistan. They said the accused had earlier exfiltrated to Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and has since been involved in activities inimical to the security and sovereignty of India.

Aziz was declared a proclaimed offender by the court after he continued to evade the legal process. Despite repeated attempts by the Poonch Police to arrest him, he remained at large, which led the court to order the attachment of his property.

The attachment was carried out by the police in coordination with the Revenue Department after completing all legal formalities, including verification and documentation, the officials added.

Police said the action is part of the ongoing crackdown on terror networks and their supporters and is aimed at disrupting the financial and logistical support systems of terrorist elements operating from across the border.