Kashmir Dec 10 : The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has submitted a chargesheet in FIR No. 18/2025 under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 201, and 120-B of the IPC before the Hon’ble Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, against four accused individuals involved in a major land fraud case. The chargesheet has been filed against Shabir Ahmad Ganie, Bashir Ahmad Ganie, Javeed Ahmad Hakak (then Pathwari), and a deceased Pathwari, for their alleged role in preparing and using fake land documents to cheat innocent purchasers.

The case originated from a joint complaint filed by multiple victims who had purchased 8 Kanals of land through brokers. Of this, 4 Kanals were shown transferred in the name of one complainant under Khasra No. 92, 2 Kanals in the name of another under Khasra No. 99, and the remaining 2 Kanals in the name of the third complainant’s father. Despite the purported transfers, no legitimate documents were provided. Subsequent verification revealed that the mutation numbers shared by the brokers were forged and fabricated.

During investigation at Police Station EOW Srinagar, it emerged that the accused, acting in criminal conspiracy, had prepared fake land documents and misled the complainants into believing the transactions were genuine. In doing so, they extracted Rs. 25 lakhs, causing substantial financial loss to the victims.
The probe established prima facie evidence of cheating, forgery, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy. Subsequently, the chargesheet has been produced before the court for judicial determination.
The EOW reiterates its commitment to protecting citizens from economic crimes and ensuring justice through professional and thorough investigations.

Delhi ,Dec 10: Delhi’s air quality showed some improvement on Wednesday morning, with the overall AQI dropping to 269 at 8 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Even with the dip, the city remains in the poor category and a thin layer of smog continues to hang over several parts of the capital.

On December 9, the AQI stood at 282 by late afternoon, and many parts of the city were still covered by dense toxic smog. This morning, areas such as India Gate, Kartavya Path, ITO, Anand Vihar, and Ghazipur reported low visibility under a thick haze.

Some pockets slipped into the very poor range. Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 313, Wazirpur 305, and Vivek Vihar 306. Other areas saw slight improvement, including Chandni Chowk at 281, RK Puram at 283, Punjabi Bagh at 279, and IIT Delhi at 218.

Air quality categories range from good (0–50) to severe (401–500).

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government is working across departments to tackle pollution. She said efforts include installing mist sprayers on electric poles and cracking down on sources such as smoke, dust, vehicle emissions, garbage burning, and wood burning.

Gupta also posted on X that hundreds of sprinkler vehicles are cleaning the Ring Road at regular intervals to control dust and improve air quality. She called it a determined push toward providing residents with a cleaner environment.

New Delhi, Dec 9: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi today released to media the copy of a detailed letter written by MP Baramulla Er Rashid to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging immediate intervention to resolve the ongoing uncertainty over age-eligibility criteria for the Jammu & Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination (JKCCE).

In the letter, Er Rashid has highlighted the deep distress among aspirants caused by fluctuating notifications and inconsistent interpretations over the maximum age limit. He wrote that the issue has “caused deep anxiety among the youth of Jammu & Kashmir” and has also led to “avoidable misunderstanding between key constitutional authorities within the Union Territory.”

Drawing attention to the long-standing demand, Er Rashid reminded the Home Minister that “for many years, an upper age of 37 years has been considered reasonable given the region’s unique circumstances, prolonged disruptions and limited private sector opportunities.”

He further pointed out that most states in India have already adopted more inclusive age criteria. Quoting the letter, he said: “Most states in India have fixed the upper age limit for their PCS examinations at 40 years for Open Merit candidates and proportionately higher for reserved categories, whereas Jammu & Kashmir continues to restrict eligibility to 32 years.”

He noted that this disparity has created a “sense of injustice among our youth, who feel they are being deprived of parity with the rest of India.”

Er Rashid strongly advocated for a permanent resolution, stating: “A permanent fixation of the upper age limit at 37 years for JKCCE will bring fairness, stability and hope to thousands of deserving young men and women.” He added that such a decision would prevent recurring confusion, reduce litigation and protect the aspirations of candidates who have committed years to public service preparation.

IRFAN FAZIL
SRINAGAR , Dec 09: Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association on Tuesday announced a one-day token strike on December 15 over their “long-pending” demands.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the association General Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Yousuf said transporters from both Jammu and Kashmir divisions have unanimously decided to observe the strike as a mark of protest.
He said the transport sector is “on the verge of collapse” due to the government’s “failure to address key issues,” including the unregulated operation of e-buses, steep hikes in fitness and green taxes and arbitrary e-challans.
He said the association will give the government a seven-day ultimatum after the strike, warning of a “major decision” if their demands remain unfulfilled.

ASIF RASHID
DELHI, DEC 09: The Union Government has said that the last two years have seen significant improvements in Jammu and Kashmir’s counter-terror ecosystem, driven by a wider national push to modernise intelligence systems, upgrade digital surveillance, and strengthen inter-agency operations.

In a reply in the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that Jammu and Kashmir has particularly benefited from these nationwide upgrades, with measurable outcomes in reduced infiltration attempts, increased drone interceptions along the Line of Control, and the dismantling of several local and cross-border terror modules.

According to the Government, intelligence sharing in Jammu and Kashmir has become more effective after the Multi-Agency Centre network was expanded and modernised across India, including down to the district level in the Union Territory. The MAC–SMAC architecture now uses artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools for real-time analysis, enabling quicker detection of terror financing networks, recruitment channels and links to cross-border handlers. With national agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau, NATGRID and the National Investigation Agency linked through the same system, the flow of technical intelligence to field units in Jammu and Kashmir has improved sharply.Srinagar city tour

The Home Ministry said India’s broader strategy to counter emerging threats has also had a direct impact on Jammu and Kashmir. National agencies have been tracking risks from encrypted communication channels, cryptocurrency-based funding and unmanned aerial platforms used for arms and narcotics drops. The NIA’s newly created National Terror Database Fusion and Analysis Centre and the ongoing development of the Organized Crime Network Database on NATGRID have strengthened the analytical backbone used to investigate cases in the Union Territory. The NIA’s updated handbook on UAPA investigations, circulated in 2024, has helped Jammu and Kashmir standardise case procedures and improve prosecution outcomes.

ASIF RASHID
DELHI, DEC 09: In a forceful address in Rajya Sabha today, Sajad Ahmad Kichloo – senior leader of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (J&KNC) – accused the administration in Jammu & Kashmir of being powerless. He said that the elected government has been rendered ineffective because the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir (LG) is not allowing it to function. Kichloo warned that despite repeated promises, the central government has failed to deliver, and Kashmiri people are paying the price. He alleged that authorities are more interested in exploiting J&K’s resources than in the welfare of its citizens — a situation he described as a betrayal of public trust. He demanded immediate action and urged the central government to honour its commitments and restore accountability to the people of J&K.

FIDA HUSSAIN
Anantnag, Dec 09 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out extensive searches in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, including the Mattan forest area and Qazigund, as part of the ongoing investigation into the Delhi blast case.

Sources said that a top NIA team, accompanied by local Jammu and Kashmir Police, conducted the raids based on specific disclosures made by the accused in the case. The agency had brought along two arrested suspects Dr. Adeel Rather and Jasir Bilal Wani to pinpoint the locations during the searches.

“The searches were carried out on the basis of locations indicated by the accused. Some recoveries have been made, and the material seized is now being examined,” sources said.The operation began early Tuesday in the Mattan forest belt, where a detailed combing operation was launched. Simultaneous searches were also conducted in Qazigund and another location in Anantnag, making it a total of three sites examined during the coordinated operation.

NIA has not yet revealed the exact nature of the recoveries, but officials confirmed that the findings are crucial to unraveling the broader network linked to the Delhi blast.