Two persons were killed and three others sustained injuries in a road accident on the Chingus stretch of the Rajouri highway on Wednesday morning, officials said.
Officials said that the accident occurred early in the day when a vehicle skidded off the road, resulting in the fatalities. Two individuals died on the spot, while three others were injured.
The injured were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, they added.
Further investigation into the incident is underway.—(KNC)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sharply questioned the legal status of Rohingyas living in India and asked whether “intruders” should be given a “red carpet welcome” while the country’s own citizens grapple with poverty.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made sharp observations while hearing a habeas corpus (bring the person) petition filed by rights activist Rita Manchanda alleging disappearance of few Rohingyas from the custody of authorities here.
Now, the hearing in the case has been adjourned to December 16.
The counsel alleged certain Rohingyas were picked up by Delhi Police in May and there was no information about their whereabouts.
“If they do not have legal status to stay in India, and you are an intruder, we have a very sensitive border in the north India side. If an intruder comes, do we give them a red carpet welcome saying we would like to give you all facilities” the CJI asked, adding, “What is the problem in sending them back.”
He said India is a country with a lot of poor people, and we should rather focus on them.
“First you enter, you cross the border illegally. You dug a tunnel or crossed the fence and entered India illegally. Then you say, now that I have entered, your laws must apply to me and say, I am entitled to food, I am entitled to shelter, my children are entitled to education. Do we want to stretch the law like this,” the CJI asked.
The petitioner referred to an apex court order of 2020 in which it was said that Rohingyas must be deported only according to procedure.
“We also have poor people in the country. They are citizens. Are they not entitled to certain benefits and amenities? Why not concentrate on them? It is true, even if somebody has entered illegally, we should not subject them to third-degree methods…You are asking writ of habeas to bring them back,” CJI Kant asked.
The bench said if repatriation is sought then it may give rise to “logistical issues”.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the plea has not been filed by an affected person and the petitioner has no locus to file such a plea.
On July 31, the top court, while hearing a batch of pleas concerning Rohingyas in the country, had said the first major issue to be dealt with in cases concerning Rohingyas is whether they are refugees or illegal entrants.
It said once that is decided, the other issues might be consequential.
“The first major issue is simple, are they refugees or illegal entrants,” Justice Kant observed.
The bench took note of the broad issues that arose for its consideration in the pleas relating to Rohingyas.
“Whether the Rohingyas are entitled to be declared as refugees? If so, what protections, privileges or rights are they entitled to,” the bench asked.
It said the second issue is if the Rohingyas are not refugees and are illegal entrants, whether the action of the Centre and states in deporting them was justified.
“Even if the Rohingyas have been held to be illegal entrants, can they be detained indefinitely or they are entitled to be released on bail, subject to such conditions as the court may deem fit to be imposed,” it asked.
The court said the other issue raised in the petitions is whether the Rohingyas, who have not been detained and are living in refugee camps, have been provided basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation and education.
“If the Rohingyas are illegal entrants, whether the government of India and the states are obligated to deport them in accordance with law,” it noted.
The bench segregated the pleas in three groups — one relating to Rohingyas, another not pertaining to the issue of Rohingyas and one plea that it said pertains to a different matter altogether.
It said the three groups of matters would be determined separately and it would fix those for hearing on consecutive Wednesdays.
The bench indicated that on the point of those who were found to be illegal entrants and on the question of the State’s responsibility to deport them, it could only lay down the principles.
On May 16, the apex court had rapped some petitioners who had claimed that 43 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, were dropped in the Andaman sea for deportation to Myanmar and said “when the country is passing through a difficult time, you come out with fanciful ideas”.
It had questioned the authenticity of the material placed before it by petitioner Mohammad Ismail and others and refused to stay any further deportation of Rohingyas, saying a similar relief was denied by the court earlier.
On May 8, the top court had said if the Rohingya refugees in the country were found to be foreigners under Indian laws, they would have to be deported.
The court had then referred to its earlier order and remarked that the identity cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) may not be of any help to them under the laws. (PTI)
Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Tuesday said his force’s aggressive posturing during Operation Sindoor in May forced Pakistan Navy to remain close to their ports.
In his annual press conference, Admiral Tripathi also said that the Indian Navy maintained a high operational readiness, including in the Western Arabian sea, in the last seven-eight months following the hostilities with Pakistan.
The Navy chief, without elaborating, said Operation Sindoor “remains in progress”. “The aggressive posturing and immediate action during Operation Sindoor, including deployment of the carrier battle group forced Pakistan Navy to remain close to their ports or near the Makran coast,” he said.
The Navy chief said Operation Sindoor has put financial strain on Pakistan as significant number of merchant ships avoided travelling to that country following the hostilities.
The cost of insurance for the vessels to travel to Pakistan had also gone up, he said. (PTI)
The CBI on Tuesday sought the custody of Shafat Ahmed Shangloo, arrested in the 35-year-old case relating to the kidnapping of Rubaiyya Sayeed, in the TADA court in Jammu.
Shangloo was arrested on Monday. He carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh, in connection with the sensational 1989 kidnapping of Sayeed, daughter of the then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, for allegedly being part of a conspiracy hatched by members of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Shangloo is alleged to be a close confidant of JKLF chief Yasin Malik.
“He was produced before the special TADA court. We have sought custody of the accused,” CBI lawyer S K Bhat said.
He said the order of the court is awaited.
In a statement, the CBI said Shangloo conspired with Malik and others in committing offences under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code and the TADA Act in 1989.
“The absconder was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head and was produced before the TADA Court in Jammu within the stipulated time as per law,” CBI’s spokesperson said.
According to officials, Shangloo was allegedly an office-bearer of JKLF and handled its finances.
The CBI, along with Jammu and Kashmir Police, arrested Shangloo from his residence in the Nishat area of Srinagar.
Malik, who is serving a jail term in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in a terror funding case, is not being produced physically in court due to a Ministry of Home Affairs order restricting his movement.
During the court hearings, Sayeed had identified four other accused, besides Malik, as being involved in the crime.
She was abducted from near Lal Ded Hospital in Srinagar on December 8, 1989, and was freed five days later after the then V P Singh government, which was supported by the BJP at the Centre, released five terrorists in exchange.
Now living in Tamil Nadu, Sayeed is listed as a prosecution witness by the CBI, which took over the investigation in 1990.
In order to expedite the trial, the CBI had appointed its senior counsel Monika Kohli as the chief prosecutor after framing charges against Malik in the much-publicised cases related to the Sayeed’s abduction and killing of four IAF personnel in Srinagar more than three decades ago.
Malik, 56, was sentenced by a special NIA court in May last year. He was arrested in early 2019 in connection with the 2017 terror-funding case registered by the NIA.
A special TADA court has already framed charges against Malik and nine others in the kidnapping case. (PTI)
Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Tuesday paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi and expressed optimism about the future, saying that tourism in Ladakh will expand significantly in the coming days.
Talking to reporters after offering prayers at the cave shrine on his birthday, Gupta said tourism in Ladakh will expand significantly. “In the coming time, Ladakh will become a year-round tourist destination, benefiting all sections of society. It is steadily progressing towards becoming an international tourism hub.”
On a question on the promotion of tourism in Ladakh, Gupta said that efforts are underway to develop the region as a year-round tourist destination, with special focus on winter tourism.
“Ladakh’s working season spans about half of the year. We are focusing on promoting winter games and winter tourism. From this year, All-India-level winter games will be organised in Ladakh,” he said.
Drawing parallels with Kashmir’s prime tourism destination of Gulmarg, he added, “Just as winter games and tourist arrivals take place in Gulmarg, similar facilities are being developed in Ladakh. Two gondola projects have been proposed, and steps are being taken in that direction.”
The LG also provided updates on infrastructure projects, stating that work on the Zojila tunnel is progressing. “We are hopeful that both ends of the tunnel will meet by April next year, and it will be fully completed within a year. Once opened for traffic, it will provide an additional route for the Amarnath Yatra,” he said.
On employment, Gupta said that Ladakh has nearly 18,000 government employees catering to a population of around three lakh. “About 3,000 new posts have been created, and examinations have already been conducted,” he said.
He further highlighted employment generation through economic activities. “Around 13,000 MSME groups involving nearly 50,000 people are operating in Ladakh. We are also strengthening the homestay sector so that tourists, especially bikers from outside, can stay in local homes,” he said. (PTI)
The Winter Session of Parliament began in the Lok Sabha on Monday with the government placing 13 Bills on its legislative agenda, including several that have not been reviewed by any Standing Committee.
Officials said the Business Advisory Committee has already allocated time for major Bills and scheduled discussions.
Key proposals lined up for the session include the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025, the Higher Education Commission of India Bill, amendments to National Highways and Corporate Laws, and the Securities Markets Code Bill, 2025.
Two Bills pending from the previous session are also expected to be taken up. However, the Opposition has demanded that Parliament hold a detailed discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out across 12 states and Union Territories.
They have also sought debates on national security in the wake of the Delhi terror attack, the worsening air pollution in the capital, and the implementation of new labour codes.
Opposition leaders warned that if these issues are not included in the Winter Session agenda, it could affect the smooth functioning of the House.
Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha today joined the “Sardar@150 Unity March (Padyatra)” at Vadodara, Gujarat. The National Padyatra, which began at Sardar Patel’s family home in Karamsad, will cover nearly 190 km in 11 days, and will conclude at the Statue of Unity on 6th December. Addressing the event on the theme “Kashmir, Hyderabad and Sardar”, the Lieutenant Governor said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would have ensured complete and irreversible integration of Jammu Kashmir if he had handled its affairs.
Sardar Patel’s vision of unity, ideals and values of equality and social justice continue to shape growth of our nation: LG Sinha
Lieutenant Governor in his keynote address on “Kashmir, Hyderabad and Sardar” highlighted Sardar Patel’s role in integration of Hyderabad, creation of unified India and ensuring its progress, stability and strength through his firm resolve and decisive action
History of J&K would have been different if Sardar Patel had been given full responsibility for its integration in 1947: LG
Hon’ble PM’s initiatives- ‘One Nation, One Tax’, ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’, ‘One Nation, One Health Card’, ‘One Nation, One Grid’, ‘National Education Policy’, ‘PM Gati Shakti’, ‘Kashi-Tamil Sangamam’ and various other programmes have strengthened the unity of the country: LG Sinha
Lieutenant Governor calls upon youth to strengthen the pillars of Unity
There are three important pillars of unity – shared values, shared identity and a common purpose act as a unifying force for sustained progress and development: LG Sinha
As an architect of modern India, Sardar Patel symbolises India’s self-confidence, self-respect and its bravery. His embodying values of integrity, decisiveness, selfless service continue to inspire us to build a strong, self-reliant and developed India: LG Sinha
“History of J&K would have been different if Sardar Patel had been given full responsibility for its integration in 1947,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor said despite not directly handling Jammu Kashmir, Sardar Patel ensured that it remained an integral part of India. From the very beginning, Sardar Patel had said that we will not give even an inch of Jammu Kashmir to Pakistan.
“Sardar Patel had opposed the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s policy towards Jammu Kashmir. He was also against taking the issue to the United Nations. In one of his public rallies Sardar Patel had categorically said about complete integration of Jammu Kashmir and his decisive action would have altered the course of history,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor, in his address, observed that Sardar Patel’s vision of unity, ideals and values of equality and social justice continue to shape the growth of our nation.
“As an architect of modern India, Sardar Patel symbolises India’s self-confidence, self-respect and its bravery. His embodying values of integrity, decisiveness, selfless service continue to inspire us to build a strong, self-reliant and developed India,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor said Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is fulfilling the dreams and vision of Sardar Patel.
“With abrogation of Article 370, he has weaved entire India in the thread of unity and realized the resolution of one flag, one constitution and one leader in one country,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that Hon’ble Prime Minister’s initiatives- ‘One Nation, One Tax’, ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’, ‘One Nation, One Health Card’, ‘One Nation, One Grid’, ‘National Education Policy’, ‘PM Gati Shakti’, ‘Kashi-Tamil Sangamam’ and various other programmes have strengthened the unity of the country.
The Lieutenant Governor called upon youth to strengthen the pillars of Unity.
“There are three important pillars of unity – shared values, shared identity and a common purpose act as a unifying force for sustained progress and development,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Jammu (Rural) Police acted promptly in response to a viral video showing a school bus driver being assaulted in the Sidhra area and successfully apprehended all three accused involved in the incident.
The assault, captured on camera and widely circulated on social media, was reported at Police Post Sidhra, following which the police initiated swift action considering the seriousness of the matter.
An FIR No. 242/25 was registered at Police Station Nagrota under Sections 126(2), 115(2), and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
During the investigation, a team headed by IC PP Sidhra, PSI Neeraj Parihar, traced and arrested the accused individuals identified as:
Sachin Kumar, S/o Sohan Lal, R/o Kana Chargal
Sohan Lal, S/o Des Raj, R/o Kana Chargal
Vishal Verma, S/o Sohan Lal, R/o Kana Chargal
The timely and coordinated efforts of the police ensured the quick arrest of all persons involved. Further investigation into the case is currently in progress.
In a significant action against illicit liquor smuggling, District Police Reasi on Thursday apprehended a bootlegger during routine patrolling in Katra and recovered a substantial quantity of illegal liquor from his possession.
A patrolling team from Police Station Katra, led by PSI Keshav Kumar, was conducting surveillance in Ward No. 3 near Durga Bhawan when they spotted a man carrying a plastic bag on his shoulder. On noticing the police, the individual attempted to conceal himself, raising suspicion.
Acting promptly, the police intercepted him and, during checking, recovered 11 quarters of DMB JK Special Whiskey (250 ml each) from the bag.
During the initial enquiry, the accused identified himself as:
Atul Khatri
S/o Pawan Kumar
R/o House No. 11, Ward No. 12, Arli Road, Katra
Following the recovery, FIR No. 319/2025 U/S 223(a) was registered at Police Station Katra, and further investigation is in progress.
The operation was executed by SHO P/S Katra, Insp. Ranjeet Singh Rao, under the close supervision of SDPO Katra Dr. Bhishm Dubey, JKPS, and SP Katra Vipan Chandran, JKPS.
SSP Reasi Paramvir Singh, JKPS reaffirmed the district police’s commitment to eliminating illegal trade and taking strict action against offenders. The ongoing drive against bootlegging and other unlawful activities will continue with full vigour.
Kashmir is experiencing its coldest November since 2007, with minimum temperatures dipping below the freezing point across several locations, officials said on Friday.
Srinagar recorded its coldest night of the season last night with the minimum temperature settling at minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, down from minus 4.4 degrees Celsius the previous night, they said.
The city has witnessed a continuous drop in the night temperatures over the last few days. The night temperature in Srinagar was over four degrees below the normal for the season, they said.
According to officials, several weather stations across the valley have recorded their lowest night temperatures in November since 2007. Srinagar had recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius on November 28, 2007, while the all-time lowest November temperature in the city was minus 7.8 degrees, recorded in 1934.
Officials said Konibal, in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, was the coldest recorded place in the valley last night, recording a minimum temperature of minus 6 degrees Celsius.
The mercury in Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley, settled at minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, and in north Kashmir’s Kupwara, the minimum temperature was minus 4.8 degrees Celsius.
In south Kashmir’s Kokernag, the minimum temperature was minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, in Pahalgam tourist resort, it was minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, and in Gulmarg ski resort, it was minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, they said.
The meteorological department has forecast mainly dry weather across Kashmir till December 10 and said there is a possibility of a further fall in the night temperatures. (Agencies)