Mortar Shell Found Near Akhnoor; Army Installs CCTV Cameras Ahead of Baba Budha Amarnath Yatra in Poonch

Mortar Shell

A suspicious, rusted mortar shell was spotted by villagers near Dhalery village in Akhnoor. Locals immediately informed the Jammu and Kashmir Police about the discovery.

Upon receiving the information, both the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army rushed to the spot. The teams cordoned off the area where the mortar shell was found and secured the vicinity. The Army’s bomb disposal squad then examined the shell and successfully defused it.

Meanwhile, the Army has new CCTV camera to monitor any anti-national activity in the wake of the Baba Budha Amarnath Yatra that will get underway in Poonch sector from July 28.

The CCTV cameras have been set up along a 15-kilometre stretch leading to the shrine in Mandi, Poonch. These devotees for the yatra will come from different parts of India under the banner of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

A resident named Rashid expressed gratitude to the Indian Army and mentioned that these cameras were necessary, “I would like to thank the Indian Army for installing these cameras, and now everything about the yatra can be tracked.”

Adding further, Rashid said, “Now the yatra will be successful and we will be able to keep a track of people and their wrongdoings. Lastly, I would like to thank the security for taking this initiative.”

Abdul, another resident from Mandi, said, “We want this year’s yatra to be better than before. This is also a symbol of brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims. I am extremely happy about the CCTV camera installation. Now, yatra will be safe and secure, and no wrong person can enter. If a person tried to run or hide somewhere, they would easily be caught because of these cameras.”

Swami Budha Amarnath Ji mandir is situated between the main belt of Pir Panchal Range at Rajpura Mandi, which is 25 km to the northeast of Poonch city. This sacred place is located on the confluence of two gushing streams, namely Nallah Gagri and Pulsta Nadi.

There are four doors in the Mandir, and there is a natural Shivlinga inside the Mandir. Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country visit Baba Budha Amarnath Ji temple during the annual yatra before Raksha Bandhan. A big Annual festival known as Budha Amarnath Ji Mela is held at the temple. (ANI)

Police Station Akhnoor Named Best Police Station in J&K for 2024 by Ministry of Home Affairs

Best Police Station in J&K

In a moment of great pride for the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Police Station Akhnoor has been adjudged the Best Police Station of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2024 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.

To commemorate this remarkable achievement, Director General of Police, J&K, Sh. Nalin Prabhat, IPS, visited Police Station Akhnoor and presented the Certificate of Excellence to the dedicated team. He was accompanied by IGP Jammu Zone, Sh. B.S. Tuti, IPS; IGP CRPF Jammu, Sh. Gopala K. Rao, IPS; DIG JSK Range, Sh. Shiv Kumar Sharma, IPS; DC Jammu, Sh. Sachin Vaishya, IAS; and SSP Jammu, Sh. Joginder Singh, JKPS.

MLA Akhnoor, Mohan Lal Bhagat, also graced the occasion as a special guest. The event witnessed the presence of senior officers from the Army, BSF, CRPF, intelligence agencies, civil administration, along with Zonal SPs of Jammu, all SDPOs of District Jammu, and SHOs of the Rural Zone.

This prestigious recognition is part of a nationwide initiative by the Police Modernisation Division of MHA, supported by the TransRural research agency. Out of a total of 17,932 police stations across India, 76 were shortlisted based on stringent performance criteria, and Police Station Akhnoor secured its place among the top-performing stations in the country.

The initiative to recognize the best police stations was launched in 2015 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India during the DGP/IGP Conference held in Kutch, Gujarat. Since then, it has become a regular feature of the Ministry of Home Affairs, aimed at promoting excellence, innovation, and citizen-friendly policing across the nation.

Speaking on the occasion, DGP  Nalin Prabhat congratulated the Jammu Police team for this significant achievement and encouraged all officers and personnel to continue striving for excellence in public service. While presenting the award, the DGP especially lauded the exceptional performance of then SHO, Insp Tariq Ahmed; SDPO Mohan Sharma, JKPS; SP Rural Sh. Brijesh Sharma, JKPS, and SSP Jammu, Sh. Joginder Singh, JKPS, for their leadership and dedication during 2024. He also extended his best wishes to present SHO, Insp Sanjeev Chib and SDPO Varinder Gupta, JKPS for carrying forward the legacy of excellence.

IGP Jammu Zone, B.S. Tuti, IPS also congratulated the team of Police Station Akhnoor and urged them to maintain the same high standards of professionalism, commitment, and public service in the times ahead.

This recognition stands as a testament to the hard work, discipline, and community-focused policing demonstrated by the officers and staff of Police Station Akhnoor, under the leadership of SP Rural Jammu and the overall guidance of SSP Jammu.

CM Omar Abdullah Inaugurates ‘Project 13 13’ at National Hospital Jammu to Boost Women’s Healthcare

Project 13 13

 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday inaugurated Project 13 13 at National Hospital, Jammu.

In a post on X , Office of CM wrote, “Chief Minister today inaugurated Project 13 13 at National Hospital, Jammu, a pioneering initiative for affordable and quality women’s healthcare.Chief Minister lauded the efforts of the Hospital in making healthcare accessible and inclusive for all.”

Omar Abdullah Demands Accountability for Pahalgam Attack That Killed 26, Cites Intelligence Failure

Accountability for Pahalgam Attack

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that someone has to be held responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, following religious profiling.

“Who is responsible for this failure? If it is an intelligence failure, then who is responsible for this? It is not possible that 26 people lost their lives and there is no response from our side. Now that we know that there has been a failure in security and intelligence, someone has to be held responsible,” CM Omar told reporters while calling for fixing accountability for the deadly attack.

On July 10, LG Manoj Sinha said that Jammu and Kashmir was witnessing a transformation that, according to many, is unprecedented even in the past fifty years and is a precedent to the fact that “terrorism will not sustain here.”

He said, “A significant and profound transformation has taken place in Kashmir. I have completed five years, but people say that even in the last fifty years, such a change has never occurred. On April 22, when innocent civilians were targeted in Pahalgam, the way Kashmir rose against the barbarism, against terrorism, against Pakistan, I believe such a moment has never occurred in history. This clearly shows us that terrorism will not be able to sustain itself here.”

On April 22, terrorists attacked a group of tourists in the scenic town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir.

India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 and hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. India repelled subsequent Pakistani military aggression and pounded its airbases.

India and Pakistan agreed to a cessation of hostilities following a call made by Pakistan’s DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)

BJP MLAs Protest Urdu Language Requirement in Naib Tehsildar Recruitment, Call Move Discriminatory

BJP protests

All BJP MLAs staged a strong protest outside the Civil Secretariat in Jammu, opposing the Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to make Urdu a mandatory subject in the recruitment process for the post of Naib Tehsildar. The protest was led by the Leader of Opposition in J&K Assembly and J&K BJP General Secretary, Sh. Sunil Sharma.

The BJP MLAs condemned the move as discriminatory and unjust, calling it a deliberate attempt by the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government to ignore the aspirations of the youth of Jammu and other non-Urdu-speaking regions.

Speaking to the media,  Sunil Sharma said that this policy amounts to grave injustice against deserving candidates who are otherwise qualified but are being excluded based on language preference.

“This is not just about language. This is about rights, opportunities, and equal treatment. Urdu is one of the official languages of Jammu & Kashmir, but it is not the only one. Why should proficiency in Urdu be made mandatory when there are several other official languages recognized by the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir?” asked Sharma.

The BJP MLAs asserted that they had already exhausted all peaceful and democratic means to oppose the decision. “We submitted memorandums, led delegations, and even met with the Lieutenant Governor. Though the LG acknowledged our concern, he stated that the recruitment matter falls under the purview of the state government,” said BJP MLAs.

MLAs highlighted that the Chief Minister had previously assured BJP representatives that the issue would be looked into, but no action followed. “This betrayal of public trust has left us with no option but to protest,” they said.

MLAs also criticized the Chief Minister for allegedly playing the victim card while failing to perform his basic duties. “Instead of solving the problems of the people, he is more concerned about enjoying the privileges of office. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a fair and transparent recruitment process, not political manipulation,” they said.

The BJP MLAs warned that if the government continues to turn a deaf ear to the people’s demands, the protest will escalate. “Today’s protest is a symbolic message. We are prepared to take the agitation to the next level if the NC government does not immediately revoke the Urdu language requirement in the Naib Tehsildar recruitment,” Sharma concluded.

Jammu Police Recovers ₹75 Lakh in Job Scam, Marks First BNSS Property Attachment in India

Job Scam

In a landmark action under the newly enacted Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Jammu Police has successfully executed its first-ever property attachment in a high-profile job fraud case, resulting in the recovery and refund of ₹75 lakhs to victims.

This milestone reflects the victim-centric approach embodied in India’s new criminal justice reforms.

The case revolves around Harpreet Singh, a resident of Pallanwala, who posed as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army and defrauded multiple individuals by falsely promising them jobs in prestigious government institutions. The fraud came to light when Arun Sharma, a resident of Nagrota, filed a complaint on 6 November 2024, leading to the registration of FIR No. 293/2024 under relevant sections of the BNSS at Police Station Nagrota, Jammu. The accused was arrested the following day.

Investigation revealed that a sale agreement had been executed for a double-story duplex building in Channi Bheja, Tehsil Bahu Fort Jammu. Further financial probe found that a significant sum had been received by co-accused individuals from the main accused through online transactions and cash. The funds were identified as proceeds of crime collected from innocent victims.

Acting on a police plea, the Hon’ble Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu, passed an attachment order on 18 January 2025 under Section 107(5) BNSS, which was executed by Tehsildar Bahu. A 14-day show cause notice was issued to the accused to justify the source of funds, failing which the property was to be auctioned.

During court proceedings, based on the evidence presented by the Investigating Officer, the seller admitted to receiving a substantial amount from the accused and voluntarily agreed to refund it in phases. A disputed amount remains under trial.

The Hon’ble Court ruled that the attachment order shall remain in effect until the admitted amount is fully deposited. It also prohibited the seller from creating any third-party interest in the property. The SSP Jammu was directed to open a dedicated account for collecting and distributing the recovered funds among the verified victims.

Today, ₹75 lakhs was distributed equally among 17 victims through cheques. This marks the first instance in the Union Territory of J&K under the BNSS where defrauded money has been returned to victims, exemplifying the law’s focus on justice, accountability, and restitution.

The case was meticulously investigated by Inspector Parvez Sajad (SHO Nagrota), under the supervision of DySP Vinod Kundal (SDPO Nagrota), with overall oversight by SP Rural Brijesh Sharma and SSP Jammu Sh. Joginder Singh. Legal assistance was provided by Senior Prosecuting Officer Altaf Wahid, with financial expertise from Account Officer Kamal Bhagat.

This breakthrough demonstrates a strong legal and administrative resolve to tackle economic offences and restore public trust. It sets a crucial precedent for future enforcement under the BNSS and reflects the evolving framework of a more responsive and victim-oriented criminal justice system

IBPS PO Recruitment 2025: Apply for 5,208 Vacancies at ibps.in by July 21

IBPS PO Recruitment 2025

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially opened the online application process for the recruitment of Probationary Officers (PO) in 11 participating public sector banks across India. A total of 5,208 vacancies have been announced under this recruitment drive.

Key Details:

  • Application Window: July 1 to July 21, 2025
  • Official Website: ibps.in

Important Dates:

  • Notification Released: July 1, 2025
  • Last Date to Apply: July 21, 2025
  • Fee Payment Deadline: July 21, 2025
  • Correction Window: As per schedule to be announced on the portal

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Educational Qualification: Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification approved by the Central Government.
  • Age Limit:
    • Minimum: 20 years
    • Maximum: 30 years
      (Age relaxation applies as per government norms)

Selection Process:

  1. Preliminary Written Examination
  2. Mains Written Examination
  3. Interview
  4. Document Verification
  5. Medical Examination
  6. Final Merit List

Salary Structure:

The basic pay scale is as follows:
₹48,480 – 2,000(7) – 62,480 – 2,340(2) – 67,160 – 2,680(7) – 85,920
(Increments are provided as per the structure mentioned above)

Application Fee:

  • General/OBC/EWS: ₹850 (including GST)
  • SC/ST/PWD: ₹175 (including GST)

How to Apply:

  1. Visit the official IBPS website at ibps.in
  2. Click on the link for “IBPS PO Recruitment 2025”
  3. Register with your details and proceed to fill out the application form
  4. Upload the required documents
  5. Pay the application fee online
  6. Submit the application and download a copy for future reference

Note:

Candidates are advised to thoroughly read the official notification and ensure they meet all eligibility conditions before applying.

For complete details and regular updates, visit the IBPS official website.

Teenager Sahil Altaf Found Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances in Poonch’s Mandi Sector

Dead body

A 14-year-old boy was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his home in the Mandi sector area of Poonch district on Sunday.

A police official told GNS that a 19-year-old boy, Sahil Altaf, son of Mohd Altaf, a resident of Khait Sawjian, was found dead under mysterious circumstances this morning.

A police team soon reached the spot and shifted the deceased to a hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Meanwhile, the police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.(GNS)

Watch Video: Press ConFrence Of JDF Leaders , Rejects G.M Bhat & Abdullah Wanis Video Statements

Press ConFrence Of JDF

Decisions Are Made by Shoora, Not Individuals | Press Conference by Panel Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu & Kashmir

J&K Traffic Police Issues July 2 Advisory for Amarnath Yatra, NH-44 Movement and Alternate Routes

Advisory for Amarnath Yatra

Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police on Tuesday has issued a comprehensive traffic advisory for July 2, 2025, in view of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra and prevailing road conditions along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44).

Officials reported slow vehicular movement between June 30 and July 1 due to the breakdown of three heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) and restricted single-lane traffic at Nashri-Dalwas and Marog-Kishtwari Pather stretches.

ID Mandatory Post Cut-off Timings

Commuters from Reasi, Katra, Udhampur, Patnitop, Doda, and Ramban have been asked to carry valid photo identification to facilitate smooth movement after the cut-off timing from Jammu and Udhampur.

Daytime Travel Recommended

Passengers and light motor vehicle (LMV) operators have been advised to travel during daylight hours on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, particularly due to risks of shooting stones between Ramban and Banihal.

Guidelines for Goods and Perishable Carriers

Goods carriers transporting perishable items or livestock are advised to adhere to traffic advisories issued by the Traffic Police. Due to narrow lanes and poor road conditions in certain stretches, vehicles should be properly loaded, roadworthy, and fueled sufficiently for the journey.

Fruit growers and load carriers moving produce from the Valley to Jammu must ensure that vehicles are parked and loaded before 9:00 AM at designated points between NAVYUG Tunnel and Levdoora.

Dhar Road Access for Specific HMVs

Only HMVs with 6 or 10 tyres will be permitted to use the Dhar road route.

Traffic Plan for July 2

Subject to favorable weather and road conditions, SANJY convoys, LMVs, private cars, and passenger vehicles will be allowed from both directions on NH-44—Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa. However, movement of HMVs will continue on alternate days, and will be cleared only after coordination between Traffic Control Units (TCU) in Jammu, Srinagar, and Ramban.

Cut-off Timings for LMVs/Passenger Vehicles (July 2):

Nagrota (Jammu) to Srinagar: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Jakheni (Udhampur) to Srinagar: 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Qazigund to Jammu: 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM

No vehicle will be allowed before or after the specified cut-off timings.

Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs)

HMVs will be allowed from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar based on real-time traffic and weather conditions. No HMV will be allowed to move after 7:00 PM. Coordination will be ensured between TCU Udhampur and TCU Ramban.

To ensure smooth transit of essential goods, the UT administration has directed all fuel tankers, LPG carriers, FCI vehicles, and empty trucks up to 10 tyres to return to Jammu via the Mughal Road, not NH-44.

Updates on Alternate Routes:

Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag Road (NH-244):

Subject to clearance from NHIDCL and good weather, LMVs and High Powered Small Vehicles (HPSVs) will be permitted from both directions between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM (Parana to Anantnag) and 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Daksum to Kishtwar). No HMV, except designated HPSVs, will be permitted as per recent SDM orders.

Mughal Road:

With clearance from GREF, LMVs and private vehicles will be allowed in both directions on the Mughal Road. Local livestock-carrying HMVs (up to 6 tyres) will be permitted from Poonch to Shopian between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM as per the District Magistrate’s order.

Public Advisory:

The general public is advised to confirm road status before travel by contacting the following Traffic Control Units:

Jammu: 0191-2459048 / 2740550 / 9419147732 / 103

Srinagar: 0194-2450022 / 2485396 / 18001807091 / 103

Ramban: 9419993745 / 18001807043

Udhampur: 8491928625

PCR Kishtwar: 9906154100

PCR Kargil: 9541902330 / 9541902331

Travelers are urged to remain cautious, follow advisory instructions, and avoid unnecessary halts, especially in landslide or shooting stone-prone areas.