Anantnag : On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan (Shravan Purnima), Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Dr. Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, Friday visited the ancient Prachin Shiv Temple at Thajiwara, Bijbehara, joining a large congregation of devotees during the celebrations.

The DC was accompanied by Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR), Tariq Ahmad Malik, Tehsildar and SDPO, Bijbehara, officers from line departments, and representatives of the temple management.

A large number of devotees visited the revered temple with enthusiasm and traditional fervor to pay their obeisance, offer prayers, and perform sacred rituals including tying of Rakhis, marking the culmination of the month of Shravan.

During the visit, the DC participated in the ceremonial observances alongside the devotees and expressed hope that the festival would bring prosperity, harmony, and happiness to people’s lives. He observed that traditional festivals like Raksha Bandhan present an ideal opportunity to strengthen bonds of love among siblings as well as between different communities. As a gesture of mutual love and respect, women present at the venue tied Rakhis to the Deputy Commissioner and other officers.

Interacting with the gathering, the DC extended his warm greetings, stating that the historic temple has long stood as a symbol of brotherhood that defines the region’s rich heritage. He appreciated the enduring spirit of unity among the people and urged everyone to continue preserving the area’s cultural and religious traditions.

On the occasion, the DC reviewed the overall arrangements and directed the concerned departments to ensure all basic facilities including uninterrupted power and water supply, sanitation, traffic management, and medical care remain available to the devotees. He instructed officials to keep all services fully operational throughout the festivities so that the celebrations proceed smoothly and hassle-free.

Reiterating the district administration’s commitment to the seamless conduct of such vibrant events, Dr. Bilal directed all departments to maintain close coordination with temple representatives, address emerging issues promptly, and extend full support to the devotees. Furthermore, he directed officials from the executing agency to expedite ongoing repair and renovation works at the temple.

The devotees and other participants expressed their gratitude to the district administration for its proactive support and the elaborate arrangements provided during the festival.

Talking to reporters, Bukhari said his party was directly engaging with the Central Government on the issue of statehood and hoped that its concerns would be heard.

“We hope that our voice will reach there and God willing, something will come out of it,” Bukhari said, adding that the Central Government had been occupied with elections over the past several months

He said the Centre would now have to pay attention to Jammu and Kashmir, particularly as, according to him, the elected government had not been able to do much for the people.

Bukhari said the Central Government had perhaps expected elections to address the emotional issues of the people, but claimed that this approach had not produced the desired outcome.

“We hope that Government of India will think about this issue carefully and come up with something positive,” he said.

On National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi’s differences with his party leadership, Bukhari described the matter as an internal issue of the National Conference.

“As long as Aga Syed Rahullah is in that party, this is a family issue,” he said, adding that he did not want to comment on the internal affairs of another party.

Taking aim at the Congress party’s role in Jammu and Kashmir politics, Bukhari alleged that Congress had depended on other political forces in the region since Independence.

“Congress has been running on the backs of us since 1947,” he said.

Bukhari further alleged that Congress was responsible for weakening Article 370, saying, “If someone made 370 hollow, it was done by Congress.”

On the functioning of the opposition and government, Bukhari said both were essential components of a democratic system and should work within the same framework.

“In democracy, the opposition and the government are part of the same system. They work in tandem with each other. And that is how democracy flourishes,” he said.

He, however, accused political opponents of resorting to character assassination against those who, according to him, attempted to make people understand the ground realities.

Bukhari also claimed that no government in Jammu and Kashmir had functioned without the support or influence of the Central Government since 1947.

“In J&K, no government has been running without the support of the Central Government since 1947. This is the truth. Everything has been run by the Central Government,” he said.

A local news gathering agency reported that the complaint was received at Police Post Khanabal from Waheed Ahmad Itoo, who alleged that Nengroo assured him that he could use his political influence to arrange the government job and secure permission for installing tents for pilgrims at Pahalgam.

The complainant alleged that he paid a total of ₹8.25 lakh on the basis of these assurances. Following the complaint, Police Station Anantnag registered FIR No. 283/2026 under Sections 318(4) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and initiated an investigation. The allegations against Nengroo are subject to investigation and judicial determination. The case concerns alleged use of assurances of government employment and official permissions to induce a complainant to part with money.Further investigation is underway.

Villagers said the voltage remains so weak that even basic electrical appliances, including lamps, often fail to function properly. They said despite regularly paying their electricity bills, the village continues to receive inadequate and unreliable power.

The situation has left residents frustrated, with locals questioning how a remote border settlement continues to struggle with basic electricity requirements at a time when access to reliable power has become essential for education, communication and everyday life.

According to locals, the village earlier received comparatively better electricity through a diesel generator. They said the situation deteriorated after the settlement was connected to the transmission line from Bandipora.

Abdul Hamid Lone, a resident of the village, said Refugee is the last inhabited settlement along the LoC in Block Bagtore and has been facing the low-voltage problem for a considerable period.

“Our village is situated along the Line of Control, and despite being a border village, we continue to face severe low-voltage problems. The supply is so weak that even basic electrical appliances cannot function properly. We request the authorities to understand our difficulties and provide us with a proper and reliable electricity supply,” he said.

Residents have appealed to the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, and concerned power authorities to intervene and resolve the issue. They have specifically demanded installation of a dedicated transformer for the village to ensure stable electricity supply.

During the visit, Vijay Kumar inspected the ongoing plantation works in compartment 12/KTH Nakki and KarollaMorh. He directed the field staff to ensure proper maintenance and protection of the plantations.

The Wildlife Warden also directed the staff to conduct Human Wildlife Conflict awareness programme for sensitizing the local public about Wildlife Conservation and measures to minimize human-wildlife conflict.

Range Officer Thein Navneet Sharma, Block Officer Thein Yashbir Singh and other field staff were present during the visit.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tahir Mustafa Malik, SDM, Farooq Khan, SDM, Imran Kataria, besides Tehsildars along with patwaris attended the meeting.

The Deputy Commissioner reviewed the status of cases and assessed the progress made by the concerned Tehsildars. He emphasized the need for timely processing and disposal of all eligible cases in accordance with the prescribed rules, guidelines and provisions of the Government Order.

The Deputy Commissioner directed the Tehsildars to submit the pending cases, along with all requisite documents and completed formalities, in a time-bound manner, so that further necessary action is taken expeditiously.

He stressed upon the concerned officers to ensure proper scrutiny and verification of the cases and adhere strictly to the prescribed procedure and timelines.

Further, the Deputy Commissioner also directed the ACR/SDMs to process the cases for approval of competent authority in a time bound manner.

The meeting concluded with directions for expeditious processing and time-bound submission of all cases pertaining to conferment of ownership rights under Government Order No. 105-JK(Rev) of 2024 dated 16.8.2024.

The selected students are set to join the renowned Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, marking a major milestone in the college’s efforts to bridge academic learning with global industry opportunities.

The campus recruitment drive was organised by the Training and Placement Cell of KGP Srinagar in collaboration with ESAG, providing fifth-semester students from multiple engineering branches an opportunity to secure positions with a leading UAE-based conglomerate having a legacy of over six decades across retail, real estate, technology and industrial sectors.

The recruitment process involved a rigorous selection procedure comprising company presentations, online registration, Computer-Based Tests (CBT) and interviews. Following the selection process, the candidates were offered positions as Assistant Supervisors in the Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Electronics streams.

The selected students expressed their gratitude to Principal, Dr.Shafquat Ara, along with the Heads of Departments and In-charges, for their guidance, encouragement and continuous support throughout their academic journey at KGP Srinagar.

The successful placement of the students stands as a testimony to the college’s commitment to academic excellence, industry-oriented education and preparing students for high-impact global careers.

The achievement is expected to further strengthen the profile of Kashmir Government Polytechnic College, Srinagar, while inspiring future batches of students to pursue excellence and explore opportunities on the international stage.

In a statement issued here on Friday Police said that during checking at Zehanpora, adjacent to an archaeological site, one tipper bearing Registration No. JK16-6900, loaded with illegally extracted sand, was intercepted and challaned under the relevant provisions of the MMDR Act. In  separate naka checking operations, three tippers were intercepted while carrying sand without valid documentation/royalty papers. All these vehicles were seized and challaned under the relevant provisions of the MMDR Act for further necessary legal action. Similarly in Anantnag, police intercepted two vehicles, bearing registration numbers JK05A-6814 and JK03M-9791, were driven by Bilal Ahmad Bhat son of Gh. Hussan Bhat resident of Magam, Kokernag, and Maqsood Ahmad Malik son of Nazir Ahmad Malik resident of Adhaal, Vailoo, respectively. Both vehicles were found transporting illegal boulders and were accordingly intercepted by the police. Further legal proceedings are underway. Police in its statement also that in Sopore also  six vehicles have been seized by it for being involved in illegal extraction of minerals across Police District Sopore , reiterating therein  its commitment to curb illegal mining, unauthorized extraction and transportation of minerals, and protect mineral  resources and environmentally sensitive areas.

As part of the observance, approximately 600 meters of the lake area were cleaned through the participation of students from MBA 1st and 3rd Semesters and BBAH 3rd and 5th Semesters.

The initiative was undertaken with the objective of promoting environmental awareness, civic responsibility, and community engagement among students, while sensitizing them towards the importance of preserving and protecting our natural water bodies. A key aim of the activity was to instill a sense of responsibility among students and nurture them as environmentally conscious and responsible citizens who actively contribute to society and the well-being of their communities. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Mir Insha Farooq, whose efforts facilitated the successful conduct of the initiative.

Srinagar : The United Doctors Front (UDF) Bharat, J&K Chapter, has sought the immediate intervention of Union Health Minister J P Nadda over the denial of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to eligible local doctors, preventing them from applying for faculty positions at the upcoming AIIMS Awantipora.

In a representation to Union Health Minister J P Nada the doctors’ body raised strong objections to the bureaucratic hurdles imposed by the Health Services and Health & Medical Education establishments in Jammu and Kashmir. Emphasizing that these experienced professionals are not seeking preferential treatment but merely a fair chance to compete on merit, the UDF warned that denying participation undermines transparency. “Preventing them from even applying, without providing clear and specific rule-based reasons, is a serious and unacceptable bureaucratic obstruction,” the organisation stated.

Highlighting the broader ramifications on the region’s healthcare system, the UDF cautioned that arbitrary restrictions risk dampening the workforce’s dedication and creating an unfair disadvantage for qualified local applicants against outside candidates. “If such exclusion continues, it will adversely affect the morale of J&K doctors and the local medical workforce,” the UDF warned, urging the Health Ministry to conduct an impartial review and enforce a rule-based recruitment process. As AIIMS Awantipora prepares to become a cornerstone for tertiary healthcare and specialist services in the Kashmir Valley, the doctors’ body urged the Ministry to remove non-transparent barriers and grant eligible doctors the NOCs required to apply.