Former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti expressed her disappointment over the lack of progress regarding the regularization of daily wagers including CIC operators, working in various government departments for minimal wages’. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “I had hoped that Omer Sb would address the issue of regularization for these workers who have served for decades and completed all necessary formalities, yet no progress has been made.These families continue to suffer. The establishment of an elected government had raised hopes that their long-standing issue would finally be resolved.”“I urge Omar Sahab to resolve this matter on humanitarian grounds,”(KNS)
In a tragic incident, two minor siblings burnt alive after a fire broke out in a residential shed in Ferozpora Tangmarg of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday.
Reports stated that a massive fire engulfed a residential shed belonging to Mohammad Ashraf Dar, son of Ghulam Nabi Dar, in Ferozpora Tangmarg this afternoon.
The incident came to light when the mother of the deceased children, who had gone to the market to buy vegetables, returned to find the shed ablaze.Locals rushed to the spot to conduct a rescue operation but were unable to save the children in time, according to an eyewitness.
The flames, which quickly spread through the wooden structure, resulted in the death of the two minors on the spot. Despite the rescue efforts, the siblings could not be saved.
Police officials also reached the scene to investigate the incident.An official confirmed the tragic loss, identifying the victims as Mina Ashraf, aged 4 years, and Muntazir Ashraf, aged 3 months, both children of Mohammad Ashraf Dar. (KNS)
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, speaking on Thursday, emphasized the possibility of reallocating land for the proposed National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Pulwama, ensuring that development aligns with local needs and sustainable practices.
“We can collectively identify non-productive lands and shift the proposed NIT Srinagar campus to a suitable location,” Omar told reporters during interaction.
“There are other districts ready to welcome this project with open arms. In fact, even an MLA from another party approached me, requesting that the institute be shifted to their area.”
He stressed the importance of collaboration across political and regional lines to ensure balanced development while addressing the aspirations of various districts.
Three people were found dead inside a room in a hotel in Bhadarwah area of Doda district, officials said on Thursday.SSP Doda, Sandeep Mehta said that the preliminary inquiry suggest it as a case of “asphyxiation”.
Giving details as regards the recovery of the bodies, the SSP said that police received a call from brother of one the deceased persons that there was no response to the repeated phone calls.
Subsequently, he said, location of the phone was traced. In the meantime, he said, one of the several teams constituted for the purpose, traced the vehicle in which the brother of the caller traveled to Bhaderwah from Jammu.
Upon further investigation, he said, it came to fore that three persons had booked room in Royal Inn Guest House.
“There was no response after the room was knocked repeatedly and subsequently the door was broken and police found three people in unconscious state with two of the lying on bed and another inside washroom,” he said, adding, “Teams of doctors and forensics were called in and doctors declared trio as dead.”
He said that while investigations are underway, preliminary inquiry suggests it to be case of asphyxiation. “A charcoal heater was found inside the room and it appears to be case of asphyxiation but reports from forensic is awaited and further investigations are underway.”
The deceased were identified to GNS by officials as Mukesh Singh son of Kuldeep Singh, resident of Domana in Jammu; Ashutosh Singh Rana son of Daleep Singh Rana, resident of Bhela, Doda, at present Purkhoo in Jammu and Sunny Choudhary. (GNS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hand over a ceremonial ‘Chadar’ to Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and BJP Minority Morcha President Jamal Siddiqui on Thursday at 6 PM. This ‘Chadar’ will be offered at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on the occasion of the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
PM Modi has been sending a ‘Chadar’ to the shrine annually to mark the occasion.
Since assuming office as Prime Minister, Modi has offered a ‘Chadar’ to Ajmer Sharif Dargah ten times. This will be the 11th time he has participated in this tradition. Last year, during the 812th Urs, the ‘Chadar’ was presented to the shrine by then Union Minister Smriti Irani and Jamal Siddiqui, along with a delegation representing the Muslim community, on behalf of the Prime Minister.
According to the BJP Minority Morcha’s media in-charge, the ‘Chadar’ will be handed over by Kiren Rijiju and Jamal Siddiqui before being presented at the dargah. The program and related arrangements will proceed thereafter.
The chadar, which is laid over the shrine (mazar-e-akhdas) of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz , symbolizes devotion and respect. During urs festival offering a chadar is considered a powerful form of worship, seen as a means to receive blessings and fulfill vows.
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is one of the most revered Sufi shrines in India. Every year, millions of devotees from all over the world gather here to celebrate the Urs festival, a significant event that commemorates the death anniversary of the Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan Chishty.
The 813th Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti commenced on December 28, 2024, and is observed with great reverence. The annual event attracts devotees from across the country and beyond, who come to pay their respects and seek blessings. (ANI)
In line with its ongoing efforts to reduce Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) while addressing the genuine challenges faced by borrowers in repaying their loans, J&K Bank today rolled-out its scheme titled ‘J&K Bank’s Special One Time Settlement Scheme for NPAs/RLAs (KARZ SE MUKTI)’.
MD & CEO Amitava Chatterjee today formally unveiled the scheme in the presence of Executive Director Sudhir Gupta, General Managers and other senior officers here at a ceremony held at the Bank’s Corporate Headquarters.
Notably, the scheme has been tailored to provide an opportunity to the borrowers with NPA accounts classified as Doubtful-I, Doubtful-II, Doubtful-III & Loss/RLAs with Principal NPA/RLA outstanding balance upto Rs 5 Crore as on September 30, 2024.
Speaking on the occasion, MD & CEO Amitava Chatterjee said, “JKB Special OTS -2024 Scheme reflects our commitment to extend a helping hand to the borrowers who are unable to repay their loans on time due to genuine constraints. This attractive scheme provides an exceptional opportunity for eligible borrowers to settle their accounts with the best possible incentives and concessions. I encourage all account holders eligible under this scheme to seize this golden opportunity and benefit from this comprehensive relief package.”
He further emphasized upon the proactive outreach, saying, “I urge all our teams to directly engage with borrowers, explain the scheme’s benefits in detail, and work collaboratively for its effective implementation to achieve maximum resolutions.”
He expressed confidence that the scheme would help borrowers resolve their liabilities and strengthen the Bank’s NPA recovery efforts. Addressing concerns of various stakeholders including trade bodies, he reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to support the genuinely stressed borrowers while maintaining the Bank’s strong financial performance.
Earlier, General Manager (IAPMD) Rajesh Malla Tickoo provided an overview of the Bank’s NPA scenario, highlighting how the steep reduction in the Bank’s GNPA ratio – from nearly 9% few years ago to 3.95% in September 2024 – underscores the Bank’s focused approach to asset quality. He described the Special OTS scheme as a key step in furthering this success.
A detailed presentation outlining the scheme’s features and implementation plan was also shared with participants during the launch. The function concluded with the participants expressing confidence and assuring active participation from operative levels to ensure the scheme’s success.
Pertinently, valid for three months ending on 31st March – 2025, the scheme is non-discretionary and non-discriminatory, offering incentives for early repayment of OTS amount. As per the scheme, the sanction will be accorded and conveyed within 7 days from the date of receipt of application.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir is taking a significant step towards enhancing transparency and efficiency in its operations by transitioning to a fully electronic challan system.
Effective January 1st, 2025, all ACB branches will discontinue the use of manual registration of FIRs and submit their respective challan electronically through the Crime & Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS).
This initiative aims to streamline the challan filing process, improve record-keeping, and facilitate faster case management. All Investigating Officers (IOs) within the ACB will be required to submit specific forms within the CCTNS system for each case challan.
To facilitate this transition, CCTNS labs have been established in all eight ACB police stations across Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, 18 officials have undergone training to ensure smooth operation of the CCTNS platform. Supervisory officers are instructed to withhold approval of any challan until all necessary information is entered into the CCTNS.
The ACB J&K is committed to leveraging technology for improved efficiency and transparency in its fight against corruption. This transition to the CCTNS system marks a significant step towards achieving these goals.
In December 2024, Maruti Suzuki India sold a total of 178,248 car units, which is about 30 per cent higher than a year ago period.
Total sales in the month include domestic sales of 132,523 units, sales to other original equipment manufacturers (OEM) of 8,306 units and the highest-ever monthly exports of 37,419 units, the automaker said in a statement Wednesday.
Car exports during the months too were about 30 per cent higher year-on-year.
So far in the current financial year, April-December, the total sales, domestic and exports combined, rose 5 per cent to 1.629 million units. In the year-ago April-December period, the total sales were at 1.551 million units.
Segment-wise, mini plus compact car sales rose from 48,298 units to 62,324 units in December and declined from 709,645 units to 638,290 units in the April-December period.
Coming to passenger cars, it rose from 48,787 units to 62,788 units in December and declined from 718,548 units to 644,151 units in the April-December period of 2024.
Total export sales during the April-December 2024 period rose 21.1 per cent to 247,496 units, against 204,327 units in the year-ago period.
Hyundai Motor India Limited recorded its highest-ever yearly domestic sales of 605,433 units in 2024.
According to an exchange filing from the automaker, this milestone marks the third consecutive year of record-breaking domestic sales. Combined with exports, HMIL’s total sales for the calendar year reached 764,119 units.
In December 2024, HMIL reported total sales of 55,078 units, comprising 42,208 units sold domestically and 12,870 units exported. While these figures indicate a slight decline of 2.4 per cent compared to December 2023, they reaffirm the company’s consistent performance throughout the year.
Auto company Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) witnessed a 16 per cent increase in overall automotive sales, with 69,768 units in December, the company stated on Wednesday in an exchange filing.
In the utility vehicle segment, the company sold 41,424 vehicles in the domestic market, a growth of 18 per cent and overall, 42,958 vehicles, including exports. The domestic sales for commercial vehicles stood at 19,502.
Mahindra’s farm equipment sector saw domestic sales in December 2024 of 22,019 units, as against 18,028 units during December 2023. (ANI)
The High Court of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh has quashed the detention of Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, the brother of slain Maqbool Bhat, under the Public Safety Act. Bhat, a resident of Mirpora, Thregam village in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, had been detained since 2022 and was lodged in Karnal Jail, Haryana.
The court’s decision came after Advocate Bashir Ahmad Tak, representing Bhat, argued that the detention order was issued arbitrarily and lacked substantive grounds. Advocate Tak contended that the allegations mentioned in the detention order had no connection to Bhat and were fabricated to justify the detention. He further asserted that the grounds of detention were vague and insufficient for a fair representation, violating the safeguards provided under the law.
“The entire material forming the basis of the detention order was not provided to my client, and his representation against the detention was not considered,” Advocate Tak as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust argued in court.
In response, the authorities defended their decision, stating that Bhat’s activities were “highly prejudicial to the security of the State” and that his detention was necessary due to his involvement in serious offences detailed in registered FIRs.
After hearing both sides, Justice Sanjay Dhar quashed the PSA detention, declaring it invalid. The court directed the authorities to release Bhat from custody immediately unless he is required in connection with any other pending case. [KNT]
The direct train to Kashmir is finally becoming a reality with the Northern Railways announcing the first-ever train timings between Katra in Jammu and Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
The train service includes newly introduced Vande Bharat trains and Mail/Express trains, as per a communication from Northern Railways.
The historic service is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 6, while trains are expected to chug between Kashmir and Jammu around January 26, coinciding with Republic Day celebrations.
The train services will transform travel experiences by significantly reducing travel time and offering passengers a comfortable journey through the scenic landscapes of the region.
