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SBI officers association Chandigarh circle holds 13th Triennial General Council at Panchkula

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Panchkula: The Chandigarh Circle of the State Bank of India Officers’ Association successfully held its 13th Triennial General Council on Sunday at the Indradhanush Auditorium, Panchkula, with the participation of over 2,000 officers from J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh.

Shri Krishan Sharma, Chief General Manager, SBI Chandigarh Circle, inaugurated the session virtually, praising the association’s efforts and underlining the vital role of officers in strengthening the banking system.

Com. Rupam Roy, General Secretary, AISBOF & AIBOC, delivered the Keynote Address, highlighting pressing challenges faced by officers and updating the gathering on sectoral developments. The event also featured addresses by Com. Arun Kr. Bishoyi, President, AISBOF, and senior SBI officials including Sh. Manmeet S. Chhabra (GM NW-1) and Sh. Neeraj Bharti (GM NW-2).

Delegates and leadership from various SBI Circles across the country—Ahmedabad, Amravathi, Bengaluru, Bengal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Northeast, and Patna—participated, making the event a vibrant national congregation.

Com. Priyvrat, General Secretary, SBI Officers’ Association (Chandigarh Circle), said the Council served as a vital platform for collective discussions on officer welfare, organizational goals, and issues shaping the future of the banking sector.

Ehsaas Foundation, KFA lead cleanliness drive at Anjum Ground & Surrounding streets in Srinagar

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Ehsaas Foundation, in collaboration with Kashmir Football Academy (KFA), on Sunday organized a massive cleanliness drive at Anjum Ground and its surrounding streets in Qamarwari, Srinagar, to promote hygiene and civic responsibility.

The drive witnessed active participation from dozens of football players and young volunteers who came together with brooms, dustbins, and placards, spreading the message of a cleaner environment.

Assistant Director, Food and Supplies Department, Yamin-Un-Nabi, graced the occasion as chief guest. Praising the initiative, he said such drives not only keep public places clean but also motivate the youth to take responsibility for their surroundings.

Chairman of Ehsaas Foundation, Zahoor Malik, highlighted the organisation’s ongoing commitment to social welfare activities. “We have been working in diverse sectors, and cleanliness is one of our key focus areas. We will continue to support such awareness programmes to build a healthier society,” he said.

Head Coach of KFA, Waseem Javaid Lone, also addressed the participants, stressing that discipline extends beyond the football field. “A true sportsman shows discipline in everyday life as well, including keeping public spaces clean,” he remarked.

The event concluded with participants taking a pledge to replicate similar cleanliness initiatives in their respective localities.

The organisers expressed gratitude to the event sponsors Unibic, Al Madni Ornaments, Lieu d’Amour, supporting partner Kashir Parun, and printing partner Al Madni Advertising Agency for their contributions in making the campaign a success.

Youth critically injured in Landmine blast in south Kashmir’s Anantnag

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: A 24-year-old youth was critically injured after being hit by a landmine near army fencing in the Khundru area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Sunday.

A top police officer told GNS that a youth who entered a army fencing area at 21 FAD Khundru was critically injured in a landmine blast.

He was immediately shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag in critical condition for treatment.

He has been identified as Shahid Ahmad (24), son of Mohd Yousuf, a resident of Larnoo.

Meanwhile, police have registered a case in this regard and an investigation is underway to determine how he entered the army’s fencing. (GNS)

School closures disrupted syllabus, Govt considering measures, Taking suggestions: Sakina Itoo

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday said that the government is considering measures to cover losses suffered by the education sector due to repeated disruptions, including floods and forced closures, which have wasted valuable student time and delayed syllabus completion.

Speaking to media persons in Srinagar, Minister Itoo as per JKNS said, “Children’s time has been wasted a lot and studies have suffered badly. First, there was a war-like situation and then floods almost struck us. By Allah’s mercy we were saved at the last minute, but damages still occurred.”

“Around 40 schools were damaged by flood water, some remained submerged and took time to recover, and in between, we also had to announce holidays in between by some other issues. All this has certainly affected the syllabus,” said.

Minister Itoo further said that the government is considering measures to make up for the losses. “We have taken suggestions from students, parents and the general public. Whatever is possible to minimize the impact will be done,” she said.

On the issue of school timings, Itoo added, “It is still hot as summer continues, so no change has been made yet. Once winters approach, the decision regarding timing will be reviewed.” (JKNS)

PC writes to J&K speaker on PSA detention of MLA Mehraj Malik

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Former MLA Kupwara and chief spokesperson of the J&K Peoples Conference Advocate Bashir Ahmad Dar has written a letter to the Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly, raising alarm over what he described as “systematic assault” on the very institution of MLA.

As per KNO, in the letter Adv. Bashir expressed deep concern over the arrest of sitting MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and recalled the “unprecedented and shameful” physical assault on Malik inside the Assembly premises.

“The institution of MLA is being rapidly eroded. As someone who has been an MLA myself, it pains me to see this decline. The arrest of a sitting legislator under PSA is not just about one individual — it is a question of the Assembly’s dignity. The Speaker has a duty to step outside the box and safeguard the sanctity of this institution,” he wrote.

PC Chief spokesperson stressed that while the Assembly may not directly control the Home Department but nothing prevents it from taking a stand. “Disapproval by the Legislature is disapproval by the masses. It is imperative that such disapproval is voiced unambiguously,” he added.

He also reminded the Speaker that Malik had earlier been physically attacked inside the Assembly premises. “For the first time since 1947, non-MLAs assaulted an MLA inside the premises of the J&K Legislature. Shockingly, no punitive measures were taken. This was not a scuffle during proceedings, but a calculated assault outside session hours, a historic violation of legislative sanctity,” he wrote.

He questioned the Speaker’s silence on both issues, calling it “disheartening” and “a dangerous precedent” urging him to order an investigation into how non-MLAs gained access to the Assembly premises to assault a sitting legislator, and why no accountability followed.

Drawing a line between political disagreements and targeted violence, Advocate Bashir said: “There is a world of difference between heated exchanges during a session and a cowardly, vicious attack on a lone MLA when the House is not in progress. If we fail to uphold our dignity, we cannot expect others to treat us with dignity.”

Defending Malik, Adv. Bashir suggested his grassroots rise was the reason behind the targeting. “Had he been an elitist, establishment-driven politician, nobody would have dared lay a finger on him or slap PSA against him,” he wrote.

Adv. Bashir appealed to the Speaker to take decisive steps to restore public faith in the Assembly. “I implore you to take a firm stance to ensure that the legislature addresses the implications of the PSA and that the administrative system identifies the MLAs who participated in the attack and the non-MLAs who assaulted an MLA inside the premise,” he stated.

He expressed hope that the Speaker would act with proportionality and firmness, ensuring that the Legislative Assembly does not lose its sheen, stressing that this institution must never be allowed to crumble. (KNO)

Poonch landslides, Ramban cloudburst displace, devastate families; 700 evacuated

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Continuous rainfall has triggered landslides, land subsidence, and flash floods, forcing hundreds of families from their homes and leaving several areas in Poonch and Ramban districts of the Jammu division on edge.

As per KNO, the Kalaban village of Poonch district’s Mendhar sector has been declared unsafe after the soil beneath residential areas began shifting earlier this week.

Officials said that around 95 houses have developed cracks and nearly 700 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters.

“Portions of the ground sank overnight, and the walls of our homes started splitting apart,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a farmer in Kalaban who was shifted with his family to a government school. “We left everything behind, not knowing if we could ever return.”

District officials said relocation was carried out as a precautionary measure, with relief supplies and medical teams deployed to the shelters. “Our priority is safety. We are providing food, bedding, and essential support to all affected families,” an officer from the Mendhar administration said.

Meanwhile, in Ramban district, grief has engulfed Gadhgaram village in Rajgarh Tehsil, where a cloudburst earlier this week claimed five lives.

Residents described the devastation as sudden and overwhelming. “It was pitch dark, and suddenly we heard water roaring down the slopes,” recalled Nasreen Begum, a local. “By morning, homes had been swept away, and the village looked like a riverbed.”

Authorities, including Ramban MLA Arjun Singh Raju and Deputy Commissioner Mussarat Islam, have been inspecting damaged houses and unstable land pockets.

Raju told reporters that around 20–25 houses have developed visible cracks, while land subsidence of nearly 1 to 1.5 feet has been reported. “We will ensure relocation to safer areas and compensation,” he said. (KNO)

Div Com stresses on collaborative efforts for Aerospace Safety

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Anshul Garg, who is also the chairman of the Airfield Environment Management Committee, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to ensure aerospace safety around the airfield.

Div Com made these remarks while chairing a high-level committee meeting today, here.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Budgam, Anantnag, and Pulwama, along with the Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Srinagar, Director Urban Local Bodies, ADC Srinagar, and officials from the Airport Authority, Pollution Control Board, Irrigation & Flood Control Department, and Rural Development Department.

During the meeting, Div Com issued a slew of directions aimed at enhancing airfield safety, particularly with regard to visibility, bird hazards, dog menace, and the regulation of carcass disposal in the proximity of the airport.

To improve air quality and visibility for aircraft, he directed the immediate closure of unlicensed brick kilns within an 8-kilometer radius of the airfield. Also, he called for the implementation of the zigzag technique in the operational brick kilns to minimize emission of pollutants.

Addressing the issue of bird hazards, especially the presence of Black Kites attracted by open waste dumps, Div Com instructed Deputy Commissioners, SMC Commissioner, and the Director of Urban Local Bodies to adopt scientific methods for the collection and disposal of solid waste, with special attention to villages identified by airfield authorities. He also emphasized the need for proper disposal of waste from slaughterhouses and butcher shops.

To mitigate the dog menace in and around the airfield, he directed the SMC to give priority to dog sterilization drives in the area. Besides, he stressed the importance of public sensitization campaigns to ensure proper disposal of dead animal carcasses by local residents.

Garg urged officials to utilize resources under centrally sponsored schemes through coordinated efforts across departments to effectively address the identified challenges.

Earlier in the meeting, Committee Secretary presented a detailed PowerPoint presentation outlining key safety concerns affecting the airfield environment.

Urgently call assembly session to oppose PSA on elected MLA: Mehbooba Mufti to CM Omar

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and President Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti has taken a jibe at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his offer of legal aid to PSA-detained MLA Mehraj Malik, suggesting that instead, he should bear the legal expenses of thousands of Kashmiris in jails whose families cannot afford to fight their cases and that urgent assembly session should be called and resolution against Mehraj Malik’s arrest should be unanimously passed.

Speaking to reporters here, as per KNO, Mehbooba said that there is a dire need that an urgent Assembly Session should be convened and resolution passed against Mehraj Malik’s arrest so that the message could be sent across and the “dangerous precedent” is foiled without delay.

“Look, for the past several days, nothing has been happening except condemnation. Mehraj Malik has been booked under the PSA and sent to jail, and our Chief Minister meets his father and says that he will help with legal proceedings. In my opinion, Mehraj Malik is an MLA and has enough resources to arrange legal aid himself. If his father needed legal aid, he would go to a lawyer, not to the Chief Minister. What happened instead was that the Speaker issued a notice against Waheed Para. The Speaker should have taken note of this incident as well. Omar Sahib should have taken notice, and the Speaker should have urgently called an Assembly session so that this issue could be discussed.”

She added further: “There should have been a discussion about how it is possible that a sitting MLA, against whom there are only allegations of using foul language, is slapped with the PSA and sent to jail. An Assembly session should have been called, a discussion held, and a resolution passed, which should have been sent to Delhi and the Home Minister, to show that this will not be tolerated. This would have increased the pressure to release Mehraj Malik, and in the future, the central government would think a hundred times before slapping PSA on any other sitting MLA. But nothing like this happened.”

Mehbooba said that instead of offering legal aid to Mehraj Malik’s father, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should have offered such help to those Kashmiri families whose loved ones are in jails and they cannot afford the legal costs. “Omar Sahib says he will provide legal aid; if he really wants to help legally, there are thousands of our prisoners whose families do not have the means, who are inside and outside Jammu and Kashmir, and whose families cannot afford to travel to Tihar, Rajasthan, or UP jails to meet their loved ones, let alone fight their cases. Omar Sahib has had a year; if he really wants to help someone legally, it should be those people.”

As per the PDP President, Mehraj Malik is an honorable MLA, he has the means to bear the expenses for his own legal defense. “His father has already expressed regret and apologized on his behalf. I think there is nothing more his father could have done. I don’t think his father met Omar Sahib to get legal aid arranged, anyone can do that. They are not in such dire circumstances that they can’t hire a lawyer. His father went to Omar Sahib with the hope that you have 50 MLAs and three Members of Parliament, so you should call a session and put pressure on the Government of India, to show that such injustice to the people and elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir will not be tolerated by their Chief Minister.”

“But instead, a notice is issued against Waheed Para, the very person who raised the issue. I think this is an injustice. There is still time; I request the Speaker that whatever issues you have with the PDP can be settled later, send notices if you must, but at the same time, call an Assembly session, hold a discussion, and pass a resolution so that in the future, such actions are not repeated against our MLAs.” (KNO)

Dr Farooq slams PSA detention of Doda MLA, urges compassion

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: National Conference (NC) president, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday criticised the detention of Doda MLA, Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), while also expressing concern over the slump in Kashmir’s tourism sector following the April 22 terror attack.

Speaking to reporters in Pahalgam, Dr Abdullah, as per KNO, termed Malik’s detention as unjustified.

“Mehraj Malik used unparliamentary words out of anger, but slapping PSA on him is wrong. This could have been resolved through dialogue and withdrawal of his words,” he said.

Dr Farooq said he has appealed to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to revoke the PSA, adding that “mistakes happen in the heat of the moment, but the answer lies in compassion, not coercion”.

The NC chief said that the Doda region remains disturbed, and only empathy and reconciliation can restore calm. “Our approach in such political matters must be guided by understanding, not harsh measures,” he said.

Dr Abdullah further said tourism has been hit hard since the April 22 terror attack, causing a major blow to livelihoods. “Tourism is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy. The poor and the well-off alike depend on it. Winters shut us down, so the summer months are crucial,” he said.

“To take the fear out of the minds of the people, Omar Abdullah went to Kolkata and met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and tour operators. He also went to Ahmedabad, and today he is in Chennai to encourage people to visit Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

The former Chief Minister welcomed initiatives to project normalcy, including promotional events and sports tournaments, urging people across the country to visit Kashmir. “It is important to send out the message that conditions are improving. Come and enjoy our hospitality,” he said. (KNO)

PM Modi praises soldiers from Manipur for playing key role in ‘Operation Sindoor’

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Saturday said that ‘Operation Sindoor’ demonstrated the capability and strength of the Indian armed forces and praised soldiers from Manipur playing a key role in executing the task successfully.

Addressing a gathering at Imphal, the Prime Minister, according to KNO paid rich tributes to martyr Deepak Chingkham and other personnel from the Manipur who participated in the operation.

The Prime Minister inaugurated multiple development projects worth over Rs 1,200 crore in Manipur. These included the Civil Secretariat at Mantripukhri, the IT Special Economic Zone building, the new Manipur Police Headquarters, Manipur Bhawans in Delhi and Kolkata, and four Ima Markets in different districts.

PM Modi said these projects would enhance infrastructure, create employment opportunities for youth, and support citizens in accessing services. He noted that the IT SEZ and other technology-based initiatives will promote startups and industries in the state.

On the road network, the Prime Minister highlighted the Manipur Urban Roads Project, with an investment of over Rs 3,600 crore, and said efforts are ongoing to extend connectivity to every village. He added that Imphal has been developed under the Smart City Mission and other projects are progressing.

PM Modi said the government is taking measures to mitigate flood-related challenges in the state and is working on housing for displaced families. He announced 7,000 new houses for affected families and a special package of around Rs 3,000 crore, including over Rs 500 crore for those displaced by violence.

The Prime Minister emphasized the role of women in Manipur’s economy, referencing Ima Markets and their contribution to livelihoods. He stated that the government’s policies aim to make essential items more affordable through GST reductions and support tourism through infrastructure development.

On peace and development, PM Modi said Manipur’s history includes contributions to India’s independence and national defense. He highlighted the need to maintain stability in the state and continue dialogue between the hills and valley regions.

Addressing Nepal, the Prime Minister congratulated Sushila Ji on assuming office as the interim Prime Minister and expressed confidence under her leadership peace would prevail in the country. He also highlighted positive civic efforts by Nepalese youth in recent days.

Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and other dignitaries attended the event. (KNO)

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