J&K

Srinagar, December 5 National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the people of Jammu and Kashmir may have to make "sacrifices", as farmers protesting the new farm laws did, to restore its statehood and special status. Addressing a convention of the NC's youth wing on the occasion of the 116th birth anniversary of party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at his mausoleum at Naseembagh here, Abdullah, however, said his party does not support violence. After almost a year of protests by farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 19 announced the decision to repeal the farm laws passed last year to ease rules around the sale, pricing and storage of crops. Parliament passed a Bill to repeal the farm laws on the first day of the ongoing Winter Session on November 29...

Srinagar, December 5 Security forces arrested two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants and recovered arms and ammunition in Shopian district of Jamp;K on Sunday. Acting on specific input regarding the presence of LeT terrorist Shahid Ahmad Gaine, a resident of Doomwani Keegam, and his close associate in Doomwani village near Rambi Ara, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area, a police spokesman said. He said as the security forces approached the suspected spot, the duo tried to flee. However, they were apprehended by the search party, the spokesman added. He identified the other arrested as Kifayat Ayoub Alie, a resident of Pinjoora Shopian. Incriminating material, arms and ammunition, including a Chinese pistol, a pistol magazine, two Chinese hand grenades and ei...

Jammu: A Jamp;K youth was on Sunday felicitated by the Army for saving a woman from drowning in Ramban district, a defence spokesman said. Mehraj Ahmed of Karol village, who is in his 20s, risked his own life by jumping into the Chenab river to save the woman on December 2, the spokesman said. He said the man exhibited exemplary courage and swimming skills. PTI Senior CPM leader Kesar passes away Jammu: Senior CPM leader Sham Prasad Kesar died at a hospital here on Sunday, his family said. He was 75. "My father suffered high blood pressure on Tuesday and was shifted to a hospital, where he breathed his last," Kesar's elder son said. Kesar, who served as the CPM state committee member and regional secretary Jammu, is survived by his wife and two sons. PTI

Srinagar, December 5 National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the people of Jammu and Kashmir might have to make "sacrifices", as farmers protesting the new farm laws did, to restore its statehood and special status. Addressing a convention of the NC's youth wing on the 116th birth anniversary of party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at his mausoleum at Naseembagh here, Farooq, however, said his party did not support violence. "The farmers protested for 11 months. More than 700 farmers died. The Centre had to revoke the three farm bills when farmers made sacrifices. We may also have to make sacrifices like that to get back our rights. We have promised to get back (Articles) 370, 35-A and statehood and we are ready to make any sacrifice," Farooq said. The NC, howeve...

Jammu, December 5 Amid growing cases of COVID-19 and the concern over its new strain Omicron, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) on Saturday appealed to devotees to strictly adhere to COVID-appropriate behaviour . Every day, thousands of pilgrims from across the country visit the holy shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district. SMVDSB chief executive officer Ramesh Kumar has appealed to the pilgrims to carry RT-PCR report obtained less than 72 hours ago. While face masks are mandatory, pilgrims are also scanned for high body temperature at the entry points, an SMVDSB spokesperson said. Announcements at regular intervals are also being made the multipurpose audio system and hi-tech video walls on the track to create awareness, he said. The board is also sanitizing its pre...

Jammu, December 4 Two suspected drug peddlers were arrested with over half kg charas in Rajouri district on Saturday, police said. Ibrar Ahmad and Mohd Qasim were noticed moving on observing a police party near their village at Kote Dhara and were stopped. — PTI

Ladakh, December 4 Ladakh reported 27 fresh Covid cases and one death due to the disease in the last 24 hours, officials said on Saturday. The new cases pushed the overall virus tally in the union territory to 21,669 and active cases to 311. PTI

Ramban, December 4 The real 'jihad' is to fight against poverty and unemployment, rather than against any leader, party or religion, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday. Addressing a public rally here, he reiterated the demand for restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir before Assembly elections, saying the bureaucracy was no match to popular rule in fulfilling the aspirations of the people. He said the people of the country were suffering due to the price hike of essential commodities and the Congress had been fighting over it within and outside parliament. "Jihad (holy war) is not fighting against another religion. The real 'Jehad' is to wipe out poverty and unemployment which is our biggest enemy, rather than any leader or party," Azad said. The former chief mi...

New Delhi, December 4 "Article 370 was in place for decades but was there peace in Jammu and Kashmir," asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a function here on Saturday, asserting that the abrogation of the provision in the Constitution had ushered in peace and investment. He was referring to a statement by former Jamp;K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, claiming there would be no peace in the UT until Article 370 was restored. "There was Article 370 for the last 75 years. Why was there no peace? If there is a relation between peace and Article 370, was the Article not in place in 1990? Even if we include figures of targeted killings, we are not even close to 10 per cent. This means there is peace," Shah maintained. "I am happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370 from ...

Jammu, December 4 Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL), a special purpose vehicle for the Smart City project, has chalked out an ambitious project to restore the pristine glory of the old city's heritage trail and to showcase Jammu's historical and cultural landscape. The heritage trail, being set up under project 'Heritage trail and site beautification', will stretch 5.5 kilometre and cost Rs 16.56 crore, officials said on Saturday. They said the JSCL held discussions with various stakeholders to seek their support for the project. Deepika Gupta, Assistant General Manager (AGM), urban planning, JSCL, said the pedestrian-friendly heritage corridor would add immensely to the shopping experience and result in increased business for the entire old city. The project includes road development, ...