Army’s Northern Commander, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharmathecounter-terrorism gridin Udhampuvigilant and proactive against emerging threats in the hinterland.

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command, visited Basantgarh and Rampur, areas that have witnessed multiple terror-related incidents in recent years.

According to the Northern Command, Lt Gen Sharma assessed the operational readiness on ground, interacted with deployed units, and emphasized the need for uninterrupted alertness in view of the changing security dynamics.

“During the visit, he interacted with troops, lauding their professionalism and unwavering commitment to keep Jammu and Kashmir terror-free,” the Northern Command said in a statement on X.

A day earlier, the Army Commander visited Nowshera and Hooch sectors in Rajouri district to review the along the Line of Control (LoC).

A wstrong defensive posture.

Lt Gen Sharma commended the soldiers for their high morale, professionalism and sustained efficiency in face of continued security challenges.

Jammu | 14 November 2025:

Working President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Raman Bhalla, today called on the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Sh.Manoj Sinha and submitted a comprehensive memorandum highlighting the urgent needs of the people of the Jammu region in the aftermath of recent floods, rising socio-economic distress, and growing public concerns across multiple sectors.

Bhalla expressed deep anguish over the extensive devastation caused by the floods that have damaged homes, agricultural land, roads, bridges, power lines and public infrastructure, pushing entire communities into uncertainty. He urged the administration to immediately announce a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package that ensures financial assistance, temporary shelters, food security and medical support for affected families. He further stressed the need for special survey teams to conduct transparent and time-bound assessments of losses and for district-level grievance redressal mechanisms to ensure that no victim is left out. He emphasized that marginalized groups such as small farmers, daily wage earners and informal sector workers must receive priority in all relief initiatives.

Raising the issue of widespread infrastructure damage, Bhalla sought immediate allocation of funds for emergency repairs and long-term rebuilding of critical infrastructure. He called for the adoption of climate-resilient construction methods and renewed focus on rural connectivity, particularly in hilly and border regions where communities remain vulnerable to isolation. He also stressed the importance of fast-tracking pending infrastructure projects that can generate employment and boost local economic activity.

Bhalla underscored the need to revitalize Jammu’s economy through tourism by declaring Jammu an independent tourist destination, separate from the Kashmir Valley, to ensure focused investment and promotion. He called for the development of new tourism circuits in unexplored and high-potential regions including Bhaderwah, Basohli, Surinsar–Mansar, Pancheri, Mantalai–Sudh Mahadev, Rajouri and Poonch. He also recommended integrating pilgrimage tourism with eco-tourism and heritage tourism, alongside launching a comprehensive tourism promotion campaign with support from stakeholders and digital platforms. He further suggested establishing tourism infrastructure development boards at the divisional level for region-specific planning and execution.

Expressing serious concern over the rising drug menace, especially among the youth of Jammu, Bhalla urged the formulation of a multi-agency anti-drug strategy involving law enforcement, health institutions, educational bodies and civil society organizations. He called for establishing de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in every district, running awareness campaigns in schools, colleges and religious institutions, and strengthening community policing to curb drug trafficking.

Bhalla also flagged the rising crime rate in Jammu province, especially in urban pockets. He stressed the need for deployment of more police personnel, installation of CCTV surveillance in public places, strengthening cybercrime and women’s safety units and conducting regular crime mapping to ensure efficient distribution of resources. He emphasized community engagement as key to building trust between citizens and the police.

Drawing attention to the plight of farmers, Bhalla said the agricultural community has been among the worst affected by the recent crises. He raised serious concerns over non-availability of quality seeds and fertilizers in several areas, complaints of coercion in the purchase of chemical bottles with fertilizers, and shortages of DAP fertilizer. He urged the government to provide subsidized seeds and fertilizers and to waive off KCC loans to relieve the financial burden on farmers. He stressed that farmers’ issues must receive top priority from the administration.

Bhalla further highlighted the growing unrest among depositors of the State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (SCARD), where poor farmers and rural families have been unable to withdraw their matured deposits. He noted that nearly ₹200 crore belonging to small depositors is currently stuck and demanded a high-level probe along with immediate release of pending payments to affected families.

He also reiterated the long-pending demands of daily wagers, need-based workers, casual labourers, NHM employees and other temporary staff working for years without job security. He urged the Central Government to extend full financial support to ensure regularization of their services without any further delay.

Bhalla also requested the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Sh.Manoj Sinha to take swift, transparent and inclusive action on all issues raised in the memorandum. He assured that the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee stands ready to assist the administration in ensuring that relief reaches every affected family and that long-term development goals for the Jammu region are achieved with sincerity and urgency.

Jammu | 14 November 2025:

Working President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Raman Bhalla, today called on the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Sh.Manoj Sinha and submitted a comprehensive memorandum highlighting the urgent needs of the people of the Jammu region in the aftermath of recent floods, rising socio-economic distress, and growing public concerns across multiple sectors.

Bhalla expressed deep anguish over the extensive devastation caused by the floods that have damaged homes, agricultural land, roads, bridges, power lines and public infrastructure, pushing entire communities into uncertainty. He urged the administration to immediately announce a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package that ensures financial assistance, temporary shelters, food security and medical support for affected families. He further stressed the need for special survey teams to conduct transparent and time-bound assessments of losses and for district-level grievance redressal mechanisms to ensure that no victim is left out. He emphasized that marginalized groups such as small farmers, daily wage earners and informal sector workers must receive priority in all relief initiatives.

Raising the issue of widespread infrastructure damage, Bhalla sought immediate allocation of funds for emergency repairs and long-term rebuilding of critical infrastructure. He called for the adoption of climate-resilient construction methods and renewed focus on rural connectivity, particularly in hilly and border regions where communities remain vulnerable to isolation. He also stressed the importance of fast-tracking pending infrastructure projects that can generate employment and boost local economic activity.

Bhalla underscored the need to revitalize Jammu’s economy through tourism by declaring Jammu an independent tourist destination, separate from the Kashmir Valley, to ensure focused investment and promotion. He called for the development of new tourism circuits in unexplored and high-potential regions including Bhaderwah, Basohli, Surinsar–Mansar, Pancheri, Mantalai–Sudh Mahadev, Rajouri and Poonch. He also recommended integrating pilgrimage tourism with eco-tourism and heritage tourism, alongside launching a comprehensive tourism promotion campaign with support from stakeholders and digital platforms. He further suggested establishing tourism infrastructure development boards at the divisional level for region-specific planning and execution.

Expressing serious concern over the rising drug menace, especially among the youth of Jammu, Bhalla urged the formulation of a multi-agency anti-drug strategy involving law enforcement, health institutions, educational bodies and civil society organizations. He called for establishing de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in every district, running awareness campaigns in schools, colleges and religious institutions, and strengthening community policing to curb drug trafficking.

Bhalla also flagged the rising crime rate in Jammu province, especially in urban pockets. He stressed the need for deployment of more police personnel, installation of CCTV surveillance in public places, strengthening cybercrime and women’s safety units and conducting regular crime mapping to ensure efficient distribution of resources. He emphasized community engagement as key to building trust between citizens and the police.

Drawing attention to the plight of farmers, Bhalla said the agricultural community has been among the worst affected by the recent crises. He raised serious concerns over non-availability of quality seeds and fertilizers in several areas, complaints of coercion in the purchase of chemical bottles with fertilizers, and shortages of DAP fertilizer. He urged the government to provide subsidized seeds and fertilizers and to waive off KCC loans to relieve the financial burden on farmers. He stressed that farmers’ issues must receive top priority from the administration.

Bhalla further highlighted the growing unrest among depositors of the State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (SCARD), where poor farmers and rural families have been unable to withdraw their matured deposits. He noted that nearly ₹200 crore belonging to small depositors is currently stuck and demanded a high-level probe along with immediate release of pending payments to affected families.

He also reiterated the long-pending demands of daily wagers, need-based workers, casual labourers, NHM employees and other temporary staff working for years without job security. He urged the Central Government to extend full financial support to ensure regularization of their services without any further delay.

Bhalla also requested the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Sh.Manoj Sinha to take swift, transparent and inclusive action on all issues raised in the memorandum. He assured that the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee stands ready to assist the administration in ensuring that relief reaches every affected family and that long-term development goals for the Jammu region are achieved with sincerity and urgency.