Author: The Dispatch Staff

Jammu:  Union Minister G Kishan Reddy will lead the first-ever auction of limestone mineral blocks, which will be formally launched here on Monday with a roadshow, an official said. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary are also scheduled to attend the event, reflecting strong Centre-state partnership and the strategic importance of the initiative for the region, the official said. He said the milestone marks a significant step in advancing mining reforms introduced under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act) in 2015. It is also the first mining block auction…

Jammu:  A targeted strategy is needed to convert the rising pilgrim footfall in Jammu into longer tourist stays by promoting the region’s wider leisure, heritage, adventure and spiritual attractions beyond the main pilgrimage route, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has said. He stressed on proactive use of digital platforms and social media, including collaboration with influencers, to expand outreach and attract national as well as international tourists. Dulloo was chairing a meeting to review the works and initiatives undertaken by the Tourism Department for promoting and strengthening tourism across Jammu region here, an official spokesman said. He said the review focused…

Jammu:  Expressing concern over the underutilisation of the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) and Intelligent Traffic Light System (ITLS), a senior Jammu and Kashmir government official directed the traffic department on Sunday to make effective use of the technology in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said these systems were introduced to modernise traffic management through minimal human intervention and improve efficiency in enforcing traffic regulations. Dullloo said this while chairing a high-level meeting to review the implementation and status of the electronic enforcement systems for road safety across the Union Territory, with an…

Jammu:  Two landlords have been booked for allegedly failing to provide details of their tenants for their verification here on Sunday, police said. According to a police spokesperson, R S Pura police station received information that two house owners had accommodated tenants in their premises without ensuring their mandatory police verification. He said this act was in clear violation of the directions issued by the Jammu District Magistrate Rakesh Minhas, mandating all landlords to verify their tenants at the concerned police station before allowing them to stay. During preliminary inquiry, it was found that accused Mehmood Ahmed and Lekh Raj…

Jammu:  A comprehensive roadmap has been prepared for the focused development of 124 strategic villages across 43 border blocks in eight districts under the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. The information was shared at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo here to assess the progress and implementation of the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) in the Union territory, an official spokesman said. He said a robust institutional framework has been established with the designation of nodal departments and officers at the UT and district levels, along with the constitution…

The training session held in Leh for officials ahead of the upcoming LAHDC–SSRB examination reflects a welcome and overdue seriousness toward restoring confidence in public recruitment. At a time when transparency and fairness in exams are increasingly scrutinised, the detailed briefing by Secretary LAHD SSRB Rehmatullah Butt (JKAS) sets the right tone. From clearly defined responsibilities of superintendents and invigilators to strict protocols for handling OMR sheets and sensitive materials, the emphasis on accountability is crucial. The insistence that no official should take independent decisions—however minor—underscores the importance of a uniform, standardised process across all centres. The engagement shown during…

Leh: A recent 29-page draft proposal seeking 6th Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh has sparked public discussion, with some citizens raising questions about its financial and administrative framework. Skarma Namtak, Managing Facilitator at Ladags Apricot Store, expressed both appreciation and concern over the proposal in a Facebook post. He lauded the drafting committee for preparing the detailed document in a short span and for advocating a general amnesty for all detainees, including activist Sonam Wangchuk. However, Namtak highlighted areas he found difficult to understand, citing his limited knowledge of administrative and financial matters. “ While the proposal emphasizes the…

LEH: The Ladakh leaders have submitted an extensive draft framework to the Union Home Ministry, demanding the creation of a full-fledged State of Ladakh equipped with Sixth Schedule protections and a new Article 371-K offering region-specific constitutional safeguards.  The proposal, jointly submitted by the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), marks the most detailed and structured effort yet to define Ladakh’s long-term political future. Exclusively accessed by Indus Dispatch, the 25-page document titled “A Sui Generis Model for Protected Statehood and Sixth Schedule” offers a dual-pronged legal mechanism combining a statehood act and a constitutional amendment—described by Ladakhi…

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta’s strong push for ecological accountability in defence and infrastructure projects marks a crucial shift in how development must proceed in one of India’s most sensitive landscapes. Chairing the 14th State Board for Wildlife meeting, the LG cleared 16 key projects of the Army, BRO and PDD—yet the approvals were not unconditional. By mandating strict adherence to Biological Impact Assessment guidelines, waste management norms and Supreme Court directions on bird diverters and collision-prevention systems, the administration has signalled that national security and environmental protection are not competing priorities but parallel obligations. Ladakh’s high-altitude ecosystems—from Changthang’s wetlands…

Leh: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has earned his first-ever Grammy nomination, marking a historic cultural moment for the Tibetan spiritual leader and millions of his followers worldwide. https://youtube.com/shorts/NEGX6tOM0Lw?feature=share The 90-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been shortlisted in the category Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording for his spoken-word album Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which blends his teachings on compassion, peace, and emotional well-being with original musical compositions. The album is the result of a special collaboration between the Dalai Lama and renowned sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, along with his sons…

Kargil, 19 Nov 2025: An Inter-School Debate Competition was held in Kargil on 19 November as part of the 77th Yom-E-Fateh celebrations, commemorating the heroic courage of soldiers who defended Kargil during the Indo-Pak War of 1947–48. The event aimed to inspire students, encouraging leadership, critical thinking, and a sense of responsibility among the younger generation. Participants engaged in lively discussions, reflecting on the values of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism that define the spirit of Yom-E-Fateh. Yom-E-Fateh 2025An Inter School Debate Competition was organised on 19 Nov 2025 at Kargil, as part of the 77th Yom-E-Fateh celebrations, honouring the indomitable…

Jammu: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Wednesday acknowledged that some people are unhappy with what they see as “imbalanced” representation in the ongoing dialogue with the Centre, but expressed hope that all issues would be resolved through discussions. He lauded the Jammu and Kashmir Police for busting a white-collar terror network and averting major attacks in the country, and suggested stern action against those found involved in such conspiracies. Gupta said the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had prepared a 29-page draft proposal of their demands as a follow-up to the last meeting with the…

Ladakh’s zero-pendency milestone under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY) has emerged as a powerful example of efficient governance in one of India’s most difficult terrains. Clearing every pending insurance claim within the designated timeframe is a rare achievement for a region defined by harsh weather, dispersed settlements and limited health infrastructure. https://youtube.com/shorts/qT0pvZ6s6wQ?si=LJpCqg4gU7AKLR80 This success reflects strong coordination between hospitals, district teams, the UT Health Authority and digital processing systems — all working under the proactive direction of Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta. His focus on transparency, timely reviews and a no-pendency culture ensured that processes moved swiftly and without…

Jammu: Police in Jammu will soon launch a dedicated web portal to streamline tenant verification and reduce the need for people to visit police stations, a senior official said on Tuesday. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, Joginder Singh, said the current manual system requires every tenant and landlord to physically visit the police station, which often causes inconvenience. “We are working to remove this physical contact. A user-friendly tenant verification portal is being developed and will be launched soon,” Singh said. He said that once active, neither the tenant nor the landlord will need to come to the police…

Baramulla, Nov 19: Security forces on Wednesday foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control in the Uri sector of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said. Army units deployed along the forward posts detected suspicious movement originating from the Pakistan side of the LoC and immediately initiated counter-infiltration measures. Officials said alert troops engaged the suspected infiltrators, forcing them to retreat back across the border. The area was later combed to ensure no militant group had managed to enter this side. Officials said searches were continuing in the forward belt as a precautionary measure. Authorities said the attempted infiltration…

MUMBAI, Nov 19: Mumbai needed just over half an hour to complete the formalities as they beat minnows Puducherry by an innings and 222 runs on the final day to top Group D in Ranji Trophy here on Wednesday. Following on after conceding a mammoth 498-run first innings lead to their formidable opponents, Puducherry added just 45 runs in 8.3 overs for the loss of four wickets on the fourth morning to be all out for 276. Puducherry were staring at a defeat after beginning the day on 231 for 6. Tushar Deshpande scalped two wickets while captain Shardul Thakur…

Jammu:  Police has busted a major two-wheeler theft racket and recovered 40 stolen motorcycles and scooters worth over Rs 35 lakh from various parts of the city, officials said. According to Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police Joginder Singh, Gandhi Nagar police station achieved the breakthrough under Operation AVTAR, leading to the arrest of three members of the gang. Acting on multiple public complaints regarding vehicle thefts, police registered three cases at Gandhi Nagar police station and launched an investigation. A special team was constituted, which used technical surveillance and CCTV footage analysis to trace the accused, Singh said. The arrested…

Srinagar:  Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed hope that the probe into the Nowgam police station accidental blast will provide answers to the questions surrounding the unfortunate incident that claimed nine lives. Speaking to reporters after visiting a hospital here to inquire about those injured in the accidental blast on Friday, Abdullah said it is unfortunate that many people lost their precious lives and several others were injured. “The investigations are on to ascertain its cause and why it happened. I hope people will get answers, because it should not happen. Such a huge quantity of…

Leh, 18 Nov 2025 : Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, GOC of the Fire and Fury Corps, along with all ranks, extended heartfelt greetings to all personnel, veterans, defence civilian employees, and their families on the occasion of the 245th Raising Day of the Corps of Engineers. Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, GOC and all ranks of Fire and Fury Corps extend their heartfelt greetings to all Ranks, Veterans, Defence Civilian Employees and their Families of the Corps of Engineers on the occasion of the 245th Raising Day of the Corps of Engineers. @adgpi… pic.twitter.com/vgGAwl3ncH— @firefurycorps_IA (@firefurycorps) November 18, 2025 The day…

Ladakh, 18 Nov 2025: A delegation of Indian Armed Forces officers attending the prestigious Higher Defence Management Course (#HDMC21) at the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, visited the Fire and Fury Corps on 18 November. Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC) – VisitA delegation of Indian Armed Forces Officers attending the prestigious #HDMC21 at College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad visited Fire & Fury Corps on 18 Nov 25.Officers from all three services were briefed on military… pic.twitter.com/ki1ea7pm4b— @firefurycorps_IA (@firefurycorps) November 18, 2025 Officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force were briefed on the operational and logistical dynamics unique to…