Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday alleged that attempts were being made to engineer defections in the ruling National Conference (NC), claiming that one of the party’s legislators from Jammu was offered Rs 20–30 crore, a ministerial berth and a promise of statehood to switch sides. Addressing party workers during the 26th death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah (Madar-e-Meharban) at Hazratbal, Omar said such efforts were aimed at weakening the National Conference but asserted that the party would not succumb to political pressure. “They are trying once again to break the National Conference. I have been…
Author: KO Web Desk
In a significant development aimed at strengthening the medical education and healthcare delivery system in the Union Territory, the Health and Medical Education Department today announced that the National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted permission to increase the annual MBBS intake capacity at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the NMC has issued the Letter of Permission (LoP) under Section 28(3) of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, approving an increase of 50 MBBS seats. With this approval, the total annual intake capacity of GMC Srinagar will rise from 200 to 250 seats,…
Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Friday said the National Conference’s proposed agitation at Jantar Mantar should not remain confined to the demand for restoration of statehood but must also include the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, rights of political prisoners and efforts towards peaceful conflict resolution. Addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz said he had received an invitation from NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah for the Jantar Mantar protest. He said that after the 2019 changes, Jammu and Kashmir was downgraded into a Union Territory and its constitutional safeguards were “snatched”, leaving…
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted six senior leaders of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, including late Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Shabir Ahmed Shah in connection with a 1996 case of mob violence and indiscriminate firing on police personnel in Srinagar. According to a statement, the chargesheet has named separatist leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Ganie Lone, Mohammad Yaqoob Wakeel, Javid Ahmad Mir, and Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi. The statement reads all six have been charged under relevant provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code, 1989, for criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, rioting and assault on public…
Iran has buried Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the nation’s holiest Shiite shrine, more than four months after a U.S.-Israeli strike killed him at his Tehran compound. State media reported early Friday that Khamenei was buried in his birthplace, Mashhad, at the Shrine of Imam Reza, a sprawling religious complex crowned by a large golden dome and flanked by gilded minarets in the city center. The burial itself was private, but it followed a week of public mourning and processions that drew crowds exceeding 15 million people, with Iranian estimates suggesting the total may have been more than double that…
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday ordered a major reshuffle of AGMUT cadre officers, transferring and posting several IAS and IPS officers across Union Territories and northeastern states, with Jammu and Kashmir witnessing significant changes. According to an order issued by the Ministry, senior IAS officer Shahid Iqbal Choudhary (2009 batch) has been transferred from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, while Swati Sheemar (2023 batch) has been posted from J&K to Delhi. In exchange, Saugat Biswas (2006 batch IAS) has been transferred from Arunachal Pradesh to Jammu and Kashmir. Mamta Yadav (2021 batch IAS) has been moved…
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered a blanket screening of all books and study materials in government schools, recognised private institutions, and coaching centres across the Kashmir division to weed out content that could hurt religious sentiments or national interest. The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), in a circular issued on Thursday directed all Heads of Institutions to conduct a thorough review of books available in offices, classrooms, staffrooms and libraries – both recent acquisitions and older publications. “The purpose of this screening is to ensure that no book contains inappropriate or objectionable content. This includes material that…
In a major relief for economically weaker families, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday announced a full fee waiver for students belonging to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families studying in Government Schools and Government Degree Colleges across the Union Territory. According to separate orders issued by the School Education and Higher Education Departments, the decision has been taken as a welfare measure to promote equitable access to education and will come into force with immediate effect. As per the School Education Department order, students of Classes IX to XII in Government Schools who belong to AAY households and possess…
Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth on Wednesday reviewed the prevailing security situation, operational preparedness, and combat readiness in the Kashmir valley. Gen Singh visited the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also called Chinar Corps, headquarters of the Army here and took a review of the situation. “General Dhiraj Seth, COAS, visited HQ Chinar corps and its formations to review the prevailing security situation, operational preparedness and combat readiness along the Line of Control and in the hinterland,” the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army said in a post on X. #GeneralDhirajSeth, #COAS visited HQ @ChinarcorpsIA and its…
A cargo aircraft en route from Sharjah to Karachi vanished from radar above the Arabian Sea late Tuesday night, according to a Dawn report. The K2 Airways Boeing 737-400 lost communication with air traffic control roughly 300 kilometres west of Karachi as it neared Pakistani airspace, the report added. Prior to the incident, the pilot had reported a navigation malfunction and requested support from the regional control centre. The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed that five crew members were aboard the flight. According to the PAA, the crew alerted authorities to a navigational system fault at 9:18 PM and received…