Author: The Dispatch Staff

Jammu:  Indian Air Force choppers delivered nearly six tonnes of relief material for the people of flood-hit Dammote panchayat in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Friday, an official said. “Lifeline for stranded residents — IAF pilots accomplished daring helicopter missions, delivering 5.9 tonnes of relief material with pinpoint precision over the roof of a school in Dammote panchayat,” the public relations officer, Defence, Jammu, said. He said heavy rains, flash floods and landslides have disrupted lives in Udhampur. “Heroic efforts of IAF are rebuilding lives and hope in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

Jammu: Reasi Deputy Commissioner Nidhi Malik on Friday ordered termination of four temporary officials of the rural development department after an inquiry found them involved in irregularities, manipulation of records and embezzlement of government funds. The action followed an inquiry conducted by Additional District Development Commissioner Sukhdev Singh into violations under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), an official spokesperson said. In Jij Bagli block, Mohammad Latief, a gram rozgar sevak, and Rahil Magotra, technical assistant, were found guilty of manipulating records, issuing fake and duplicate job cards, and irregular sanctioning of…

Srinagar:  Against the backdrop of devastating floods, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday called on educational institutions to work on improving early disaster warning systems and collaborate with the local population for their wisdom. Sinha made the remarks while addressing a Teachers’ Day event at SKICC here. He paid his tributes to educationist and former President of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and felicitated teachers. “The balance between economic growth and environment protection is the key for prosperity and social equity. Our education system should emphasize that our natural resources are finite and youth need to work on preserving ecosystems…

Jammu: The Directorate of School Education Jammu has instructed the heads of institutions to ensure the readiness of schools to reopen and take appropriate decisions on the resumption of offline classes from September 10. Schools in Jammu have remained closed for the last 11 days as heavy rains, flash floods and landslides since August 26 have caused extensive damage in the region. The Directorate has issued an order with a set of instructions regarding the reopening of schools. The order directs all the heads of institutions and staff to report on duty on Monday and ensure a comprehensive security and…

Jammu: Police on Friday destroyed narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances worth over Rs 8 crore in Jammu on the directions of the courts. Over 2,953 kilograms of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the form of poppy were destroyed in accordance with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, officials said. The narcotic substances seized in various cases by police were destroyed by the district-level drug destruction committee at Anmol HealthCare destruction plant in Samba district, they said. The discarded contraband was seized in various criminal cases and included 2,954 kilograms and 671 grams of poppy, they said. The…

Srinagar: Peoples’ Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday criticised the ruling National Conference for a “concerning surrender” to the BJP’s narratives and policies. Mufti was chairing a meeting with senior party leaders from Srinagar district, to deliberate on key organisational and political strategies. The meeting focused on strengthening the PDP’s grassroots presence and reinforcing its ideological framework in the current political climate, a party spokesperson said. Detailed discussions were held on critical issues including organisational restructuring, cadre mobilisation, and setting clear policy priorities to bolster the party’s relevance and impact across Jammu and Kashmir, he said. While underscoring the…

Srinagar:  Engraving the national emblem on the renovation plaque of the Hazratbal mosque here has sparked a controversy as locals and political leaders have lashed out at the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, with its chairperson calling for registering FIRs against those opposing it. The plaque was vandalised by unidentified people and the national emblem removed with stones. Hours later, Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson Darakshan Andrabi called for arresting and booking the “hooligans” under the Public Safety Act (PSA), terming them “militants”. In a statement posted on X, the ruling National Conference (NC) said it has always upheld…

Srinagar:  Two persons were arrested for allegedly selling rotten meat and expired eatables in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Friday, police said. Authorities in Kashmir have seized over 5,000 kg of rotten meat over the last few weeks as part of a crackdown after the rotten meat scandal hit the valley. The police have registered two FIRs against stockists and food sale points for storage and sale of rotten mutton items and other eatables in the central Kashmir district, a police spokesman said. He said the police received reliable information that a person in Kondabal Safapora area of the…

Leh: In a significant political development, branch presidents of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) have appealed to veteran leader and former LBA president Thupstan Chhewang to resume his role as Chairman of the Apex Body of Leh. The appeal comes amid growing unease and divisions over Ladakh’s political demands following Chhewang’s resignation from the Apex Body last year. As per press release, leaders said his absence has created confusion and weakened the collective voice of Ladakh in negotiations with the Centre. In a joint meeting of all branch presidents, it was unanimously resolved that only under Chhewang’s leadership could Ladakh’s…

Leh: Political activist Sajjad Hussain Kargili met the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh today, raising several pressing public issues related to regional connectivity, education, employment, and local governance. The meeting highlighted long-pending demands that activists and residents say are crucial for the socio-economic development of the Union Territory. During the meeting, Kargili reiterated the urgent demand for the opening of the Drass–Gurez and Panikhar–Pahalgam roads. He termed these routes vital for regional connectivity, historical trade, tourism potential, and socio-economic development.  “Drass-Gurez and Panikhar-Pahalgam roads are not just transport routes; they are age-old corridors that connect communities, culture, and commerce. Their…

Leh: Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based innovator who rose to fame as the inspiration for Aamir Khan’s character in 3 Idiots, has found himself at the centre of a storm after a national media platform accused him of being a “foreign-backed agitator” working to destabilise Ladakh. The report, authored by columnist and geopolitical analyst Raja Muneeb for News18, paints Wangchuk not as the celebrated eco-warrior he is known to be, but as a manipulator entangled in land disputes, financial defaults, academic controversies, and alleged foreign links. The allegations come at a time when Wangchuk is already engaged in protests over Ladakh’s…

Leh: In a significant development for the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) convened a joint meeting on 1st September 2025. The meeting ended with a unanimous resolution on key demands concerning the region’s future governance and constitutional safeguards. The two bodies decided that in the upcoming dialogue with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Statehood and inclusion of constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule will be placed as the principal agenda. In addition, the resolution emphasized that the Ministry of Home Affairs should not interfere in determining the composition of the…

Leh: The Election Commission of India has appointed Rahul Sharma, IAS (AGMUT: 2013), as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Ladakh. According to an official order (No. 385-LA (GAD) of 2025) issued by the General Administration Department, Sharma, who is presently serving as Administrative Secretary in the UT administration, will take charge as CEO with immediate effect. The appointment has been made in pursuance of Notification No. 154/Ladakh/2025-P. Admn. dated August 7, 2025, issued by the Election Commission of India. The order was formally approved by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. As Chief Electoral Officer, Sharma will oversee all…

Leh, August 25: The Ladakh administration has said it is fully engaged with what it called a “massive recruitment drive,” with more than 1.6 lakh applications already received for various government posts across the Union Territory. According to officials, the recruitment for non-gazetted posts is being conducted at two levels — the district recruitment boards of Leh and Kargil, and the newly constituted Ladakh Subordinate Services Staff Selection Board (LSSSSB) at the UT level. CS Pawan Kotwal  informed that against 377 UT-level posts advertised by the LSSSSB on July 28, over 12,000 applications have been received till now, with the…

Leh:  Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of LAHDC Leh, Adv. Tashi Gyalson, was called on Tuesday by Gyen Tenzin Soepa, Director of Photang Jevetsal, and Skarma Sonam Tashi, Office Secretary of Photang Jevetsal, who conveyed a special message from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In the message, His Holiness expressed heartfelt appreciation to the CEC and his colleagues for the warm hospitality during his six-week stay in Ladakh. He lauded the developmental progress of the region, especially in education and the economy, while praising the strong faith and devotion of the Ladakhi people. His Holiness also thanked LAHDC…

Leh, Aug 24: The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development–Subordinate Services Recruitment Board (LAHD-SSRB) has extended the deadline for submission of online applications for various posts advertised under Notification No. 01 of 2025. The last date for applying, which was earlier set for August 24, has now been extended to September 15, 2025 (Monday)in response to multiple requests from aspiring candidates. The same date will also serve as the last day for online fee payment. Further, the Board has clarified that the cut-off date for determining the eligibility of applicants with respect to essential qualification requirements will also be September 15, 2025.…

Jammu: A woman and her son were killed while her husband was injured after their car hit a roadside parapet wall in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Saturday, officials said. Abdul Kabir Zargar, a retired employee of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, was travelling with his wife Shafiqa Begum and son Asif Kabir to Kishtwar from Jammu when their car met with the accident near Tikri on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the officials said. Shafiqa Begum died on the spot while her 33-year-old son succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Jammu, where Zargar is undergoing treatment and his…

Jammu: A drug peddler, hailing from Punjab, was arrested here with over 40 kg of poppy straw, police said on Saturday. The accused, Gurmeet Singh, was driving an oil tanker when he was stopped by the police during routine checking at Nadal-Manwal along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Friday, a police spokesperson said. The search of the Punjab-bound vehicle led to the recovery of the contraband, hidden under one of the oil chambers, he added. Singh, a resident of Patiala, was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), the spokesperson further said. Further investigation is underway.

Jammu:  The Jammu and Kashmir BJP has welcomed the takeover of over 200 schools affiliated to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in the valley and said the Lt Governor–led administration has secured the future of thousands of students by this action. BJP vice president Priya Sethi said the JeI and its affiliate Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) misused the sacred platform of education to spread radicalisation instead of knowledge. “By seizing control of these schools, the government has broken this vicious cycle and secured the academic future of thousands of innocent students,” Sethi, who is a former education minister, said in a statement…

Jammu: Five persons, including a woman from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested after police busted an inter-state racket involved in orchestrating fake marriages to extort money from unsuspecting grooms here, officials said on Saturday. So far, five such cases – three from Akhnoor and two from Nagrota – have come to light, a police spokesman said. Terming the arrests, which also included two locals and two outsiders, a “major breakthrough”, he said police registered an FIR on August 11 at the Akhnoor police station after receiving a complaint about a fraudulent marriage. Deepak Kumar, a resident of Dhana Chapri, approached the…