Poonch, Sept 24: Five Army personnel were injured in a road accident in Poonch district on Tuesday. According to officials, the Army vehicle they were traveling in skidded off the road due to slippery conditions caused by intermittent rainfall in the region.

The injured soldiers were immediately shifted to a nearby military hospital, where their condition is stated to be stable.

Police and Army teams rushed to the spot soon after the accident and carried out a rescue operation. An investigation into the incident has been initiated.

A massive rally was organised today by the Yuva Rajput Sabha, Jammu, to commemorate the 130th Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, the last Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hundreds of participants, including youth, elders, and community leaders, took part in the rally, raising slogans in praise of the Maharaja and carrying banners and portraits highlighting his legacy.

Speaking on the occasion, leaders of the Yuva Rajput Sabha recalled Maharaja Hari Singh Ji’s historic contributions in the fields of education, social reforms, and justice, noting his famous pledge — “Justice is my religion.”

The Sabha emphasised that Maharaja Hari Singh Ji remains an enduring symbol of pride for the Dogra community and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They also reiterated their demand for greater recognition of his contributions at the state and national level, including the declaration of September 23rd as a public holiday.

The rally concluded with floral tributes at Maharaja Hari Singh Ji’s statue, followed by cultural performances and patriotic songs celebrating his vision of unity, progress, and justice for all.

Kupwara, Sept 23 : Multiple houses and cowsheds were damaged in a massive fire incident in Punzwa area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday.

Official sources told that the blaze engulfed properties belonging to Mohammad Jamal, Abdul Rashid Teli, Ghulam Qadir Bhat, Mohammad Ramzan Mir, and Abdul Rehman Mir, damaging residential houses, cowsheds, walnut trees and other structures.

The fire was brought under control with the efforts of fire tenders, police, and locals. No loss of human life has been reported, while the cause of the fire is being ascertained.

Srinagar, Sep 21: Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out a controlled explosion to neutralise a suspicious object found near the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

Officials said the object, described as a white ball, was detected during routine surveillance along the lake. The discovery prompted security personnel to immediately cordon off the area and take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of locals and visitors.

A controlled explosion was subsequently carried out by the bomb disposal squad to eliminate any potential threat.

Police have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the nature and origin of the object.

Srinagar, Sep 22 : The cabinet is likely to meet on Tuesday to take a final decision on several proposals, including a recommendation to the Lieutenant Governor for convening the autumn session of the Assembly.

Sources told that the cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is expected to meet tomorrow to propose a date to the LG for convening the autumn session of the Assembly.

“The cabinet will meet at 10: 00 AM,” they said. The LG is vested with the authority to summon the Assembly.

As per the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, there must not be a gap longer than six months between the last meeting of one session and the first meeting of the next session.

“The Lieutenant Governor shall, from time to time, summon the Legislative Assembly to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session,” reads the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Since the last sitting of the previous session was held on April 29, and according to the rule that no more than six months should pass between sessions, the next session must be held by October 28.

The issues of statehood and reservation are likely to dominate proceedings in the House.

In the last Assembly session, three resolutions on statehood lapsed due to disruptions created by the National Conference following the rejection of the adjournment motion brought by their legislators on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The issue of reservation also came up repeatedly during discussions in the House, with PC President and MLA from Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, cornering the government over the matter.

The detention of MLA Doda, Mehraj Malik, and his assault during the last budget session could also come up for discussion.

• Border States likely to get representation in Panel
• Major exercise against Rohingyas, B’deshis

Jammu, Sep 22: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is understood to have finalized the constitution of High Level Committee (HLC) to deal with demographic, security and other challenges from illegal immigrants in different States/UT including Assam, West Bengal, North Eastern States and Jammu and Kashmir among others.

A notification on setting up of the HLC is expected to be issued shortly, official sources told the Excelsior.

Names of the HLC members are being finalized and composition of the Committee is expected to be officially released in next few days, they said, adding Terms of Reference of the Panel will also be made public soon.

The HLC is expected to have representation from some of the border States which have been facing brunt of the illegal immigrations.

The setting up of the HLC was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech this year on August 15. Subsequently, the Union Home Ministry gave final shape to the HLC which was then approved by the Union Cabinet in its last meeting held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

Finally, a notification constituting the HLC with representation from the border States/UTs is expected to be issued shortly.

“The Committee will suggest steps to deal with demographic changes arising out of illegal immigrations and other issues like security challenges,” the sources said.

The problem of illegal immigrants has assumed alarming proportions in the States like Assam and West Bengal though it has been contained to some extent in Jammu and Kashmir with fresh influx of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. However, still large numbers of Rohingyas have been putting up in the UT. Presence of some Bangladeshis is too not ruled out.

Simultaneously, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is also expected to announce Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across the country, most likely in the month of October or November, to weed out illegal immigrants from the electoral rolls.

SIR in Jammu and Kashmir along with West Bengal and Assam besides some North Eastern States assumed significance due to infiltration by Rohingyas and Bangladeshis and inclusion of some of them in electoral rolls as well as other documents to pose as locals.

The Election Commission has asked its State Election Officers to be ready for the SIR by September 30, in an indication that the poll authority could launch the voter list cleanup exercise as early as October-November.

The illegal immigrants have also been a major threat in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. Reports indicated that some of them have managed to get voter cards and other documents like Aadhaar card etc through manipulation.

There has been presence of Rohingyas in Jammu district and some of them have even managed to reach Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban and Doda districts posing themselves either as locals or from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

As per the latest figures, there are around 6500 Myanmarese in Jammu district, their ‘bastis’ mainly confined to Narwal Bhatindi, Railway Station, Qasim Nagar, Channi Rama etc, around 550 in Samba and 200 at Hiranagar Holding Centre in Kathua district.

Srinagar, 21 September:
PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today condemned the National Conference for its long-standing neglect of the horticulture sector, revealing that 99% of this year’s C-grade apple produce has gone waste due to the government’s failure to implement the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).

In a statement, Ms. Mufti said that her late father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, had a visionary understanding of J&K’s economic foundations and always recognized the fruit industry as the backbone of the region’s economy. “Horticulture sustains over 7 lakh families, generates annual revenues of ₹5,000–6,000 crore, and contributes nearly 8–9% of J&K’s GDP. Mufti Sahib treated this sector as a lifeline, not a seasonal concern,” she said.

Recalling the steps taken during his tenure, she added: “He waived toll tax on fruit transportation, set up mandis across districts for better market access, introduced MIS to purchase C-grade apples so growers were not forced into distress sales, and launched the High-Density Plantation Scheme to modernize horticulture and enhance productivity.”

Accusing NC of deliberate neglect, Ms. Mufti said: “For decades, NC governments treated horticulture as an afterthought. By failing to implement MIS this year, they have allowed nearly the entire stock of low-grade fruit almost 99% to rot or go to waste. Growers already struggling with repeated highway closures, natural calamities, and rising costs have been pushed to the brink.”

She stressed that this inaction reflects not just inefficiency but apathy towards the backbone of J&K’s economy. “Fruit growers are not asking for charity. They demand fairness, continuity of MIS, and guaranteed access to markets. NC’s neglect has endangered an entire community and weakened the rural economy,” she asserted.

Ms. Mufti urged the NC-led administration to immediately revive and expand MIS, ensure unhindered truck movement on the Srinagar–Jammu highway, and treat horticulture as a permanent pillar of J&K’s economic policy, not as an afterthought.

Says we must learn to live in harmony with nature; one-third of Dal Lake restored, 6.5 km made weed-free

Srinagar, Sep 21 : Terming lakes and rivers as the lifeline of people, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said it’s the collective responsibility of all to preserve the water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing Swachhta drive organized under Sewa Parv at SKICC on the bank of Dal Lake here, LG Sinha said, “The existence of the Dal Lake is important for us and the future generations.”

LG Sinha said that it is not only the duty of LCMA, SMC and other agencies but of every citizen to keep water resources clean.

Referring to the recent natural challenges faced by the Union Territory, LG Sinha said people have realized the true value of water resources. “We must learn to live in harmony with nature and restore our water bodies to their original form,” he said.

The Lt Governor informed that in the ongoing conservation efforts, nearly one-third of Dal Lake, covering 6.5 km, has been made weed-free and several projects completed. He credited the people of Kashmir, LCMA and other agencies for visible improvement in the lake’s condition.

He said all houseboats have been connected with the SWIC programme and a new Dal-Nigeen Eco Project is in the pipeline, which will give a boost to tourism.

LG Sinha appreciated the sanitation workers for their role and said both cities and villages are experiencing ease of living through such initiatives. “A garbage-free city and village should not just remain a dream. Every citizen must devote a few hours of service and pledge not to litter,” he said.

The Lt Governor also called upon officials and administrators to speed up the ongoing programmes. “True development is incomplete without environmental protection.

We must build awareness for future generations to preserve rivers and lakes as symbols of reverence and culture,” he added.