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Rajouri Mystery Deepens As 4 More Fall Ill Highlights 17 deaths across three families Deaths likely linked to toxins in food 200 food samples sent to labs Investigations rule out communicable diseases Brain, Nervous System damage common factor 3 containment zones established: Zone 1: Houses of affected families sealed. Zone 2: Close contacts shifted to GMC, Rajouri. Zone 3: All households monitored for food consumption. Public and private gatherings prohibited Food and water supplies replaced Only government-provided meals allowed. SIT & Central Team Widen Probe Observer News Service Jammu: Four people, including three sisters, have been shifted to hospitals from Badhaal village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district where a mysterious illness has claimed 17 lives over the past one-and-a-half months. A central team continued its investigation into the cause of the deaths, which took place in three families, on Wednesday. A senior doctor part of the investigations said over 200 samples have been sent for testing to different institutes. Three sisters, aged between 16 and 22, were shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC), Rajouri from Badhaal after their health suddenly deteriorated on Wednesday. Another critically ill patient, Javid Ahmad (24), was referred to PGI Chandigarh from GMC Rajouri on Tuesday evening, the officials said. All four are close relatives of the three families that lost their members to the mysterious illness, they said. Meanwhile, the inter-ministerial team from New Delhi visited Badhaal in Kotranka sub-division for the third straight day as part of its investigation, the officials said. The team headed by a director-rank officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs reached Rajouri district headquarters on Sunday evening and was briefed by senior district, health and police officers. It is camping in Rajouri town. Senior epidemiologist and head of Community Medicines Department, GMC Rajouri, Shuja Qadri said all the investigations so far make it clear that the deaths in the village were not the result of any communicable disease. So, the probe has been narrowed down to the identification of the toxin in food items. "Based on our epidemiological investigation, as of now, we have reached some probable conclusions, which will be confirmed by lab diagnosis... it is something which is connected with food," Qadri, who is part of the investigations, said. More than 200 food samples have been sent for screening to various institutes across the country to isolate the neurotoxin. Hopefully, based on the panel of toxins, the laboratories will be in a position to isolate the toxin within a week or 10 days and "we can easily take the control measures to prevent further deaths". "If you see the sequence of cases, they came over a period of time. That means it is something which is coming intermittently. They are consumed either accidentally or deliberately. That is again a question of investigation," he said According to Dr Amarjeet Singh Bhatia, Principal of Government Medical College Rajouri, a common factor among the deaths is the involvement of the brain and damage to the nervous system. “Forensic departments from Chandigarh and Lucknow, and teams from MHA are present here. A common factor in all the deaths is the involvement of the brain and damage to the nervous system,” Dr Bhatia said. He also emphasised the recovery rate of the people affected by this ‘unidentified disease.’ “Out of 9 patients that were admitted to GMC Rajouri, 5 recovered. We have conducted preventive CT scans also, but recovery becomes tough once the brain gets involved,” Bhatia said. “We are hoping to find the cause (behind the illness) soon. We will educate the people and raise awareness among them like not to exchange foods,” he added. The 17 deaths in Badhaal, about 55 km from Rajouri town, took place between December 7 and January 19. The patients complained of fever, pain, nausea, intense sweating and loss of consciousness before dying within days of admission to hospitals. Earlier, a Jammu and Kashmir government spokesperson said investigations and samples empirically indicated that the incidents were not due to a communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin and that there is no public health angle. Police have also set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after certain neurotoxins were found in the samples of the deceased. National Conference (NC) leader and local MLA Javaid Iqbal Choudhary said the situation in the village is tough but all necessary measures are in place to deal with it. "The fresh cases have deepened the mystery and we are hopeful that the investigations by both local and central agencies will reach a conclusion soon," he said. According to Choudhary, the four new patients were airlifted to hospitals by the Indian Air Force (IAF). Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar and Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Anand Jain have also reached Kotranka to review the situation. Village Declared Containment Zone The remote Badhaal village in Rajouri district was on Wednesday declared a containment zone and prohibitory orders imposed on all public and private gatherings in the wake of the death of 17 people belonging to three families, officials said. Another person belonging to the village has been admitted to a hospital in a critical condition, they said. The containment orders have been imposed under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Section 163 of BNSS gives magistrates the power to issue written orders in urgent situations. These orders can be used to prevent or remedy nuisance or dangers. According to the order issued by additional district magistrate (Rajouri) Rajeev Kumar Khajuria, the village has been divided into three containment zones – the first covering all families where deaths have occurred. “The houses of these affected families shall be sealed and entry will be totally restricted for all individuals, including their family members, unless otherwise authorized by the designated officers/officials.” In the containment zone 2, the order said the members of all families identified as close contacts of affected individuals be shifted to Government Medical College, Rajouri for continuous health monitoring which is mandatory. All households will be covered under the containment zone-3 and staff will be deployed to ensure the continuous monitoring of food consumption, deployment of police personnel to enforce compliance and deployment of designated officers for maintenance of log books, the order said. “All public and private gatherings are hereby prohibited within the jurisdiction of these containment zones, in order to prevent further spread of the infection,” the order said. It said the designated officials shall be responsible for monitoring all meals provided to families in containment zones. “It is mandatory for affected families and their close contacts to consume only the food and water provided by the administration. Any other food items available in the households are strictly prohibited for consumption,” the order said. It ordered immediate replacement of all food and water supplies, and seizure of all edible materials in the infected households. The fresh steps were taken after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the village on Tuesday. Seventeen persons belonging to three families linked to each other have died under suspicious circumstances in the village between December 7 and January 19. A 24-year-old man identified as Aijaz Ahmad was hospitalised on Tuesday evening after his health deteriorated. ===== 2 Light Rains, Snow In Kashmir Till Jan 31: MeT Observer News Service Srinagar:The Meteorological department today forecast light rain and snow at isolated places of Jammu and Kashmir till January 31. Today the weather will generally be cloudy with possibility of light rain/snow at scattered places, a MeT official said. He said on January 23 there is a possibility of very light rain/light snow at isolated places, while from January 24-28 the weather will likely remain dry. From January 29-31 the weather conditions will likely remain cloudy with light rain/snow at isolated places. The official advised tourists, travelers and transporters to follow advisories from administration and the traffic department. Meanwhile Kashmir’s famed ski resort Gulmarg received yet another spell of snowfall while some plains also experienced rainfall during the past 24 hours, officials said. The higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley, including the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, received 11.2 mm of snowfall, much to the delight of the tourists staying there. Several parts of the Kashmir Valley also experienced light rainfall. Barring Gulmarg, the night temperature continued to rise across all the weather stations of the valley and recorded 3°C to 6°C above normal during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The day temperature recorded on Monday was also 3°C to 5°C above normal at many weather stations except Gulmarg and Kupwara the other day. The minimum temperature at Srinagar further improved and recorded 0.6°C against the 1.0°C the previous night, and this was 2.9°C above the average for the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir during the period. Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district turned out to be the coldest place in the valley, with a minimum temperature plummeting to -8.5°C against the -3.2°C the previous night. This was 0.1°C below the normal for the ski resort during this period of the season. Pahalgam also witnessed a significant dip and recorded at -4.2°C against the -2.2°C the previous night. This was 2.7°C above normal for the tourist spot of South Kashmir during the period. Qazigund on the Srinagar Jammu national highway had a low of 1.6°C against -1.6°C the previous night, and it was 5.9°C above normal for the gateway to Kashmir during the period, the MeT office said. The night temperature also witnessed significant improvement at Kokernag, also in South Kashmir, and recorded at a low of 1.2°C against -1.4°C the previous night, and it was 4.9°C above the average for the picnic spot during the period. Kupwara had a low of 1.2°C against 1°C the previous night, and this was 4.9°C above normal for the frontier district of North Kashmir during this period of the season. == 3 Mirwaiz to Visit Delhi for Meeting with JPC Chief on Waqf Bill Observer News Service Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will lead a delegation on Friday to meet Jagdambika Pal, the chairman of the joint parliamentary committee examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill here. A brief statement issued by Mutahida Majlis-E-Ulema (MMU), headed by the Mirwaiz, said the delegation would highlight its strong reservations regarding certain provisions of the Bill that will have far-reaching implications for the management and autonomy of Waqf properties and the welfare of Muslim communities especially the underprivileged. This is for the first time the Mirwaiz, who also heads the virtually defunct separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference, has stepped out of the Kashmir valley post abrogation of the special status of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The MMU had written to Pal twice seeking time to meet him to convey its "serious" concerns about the proposed amendments to the Waqf Bill. In a reminder to his September letter, Mirwaiz wrote to Pal and had sought an urgent meeting to discuss the proposed amendments. The Mirwaiz expressed significant concerns regarding the amendments, which the MMU believes can adversely affect religious, social and charitable institutions within the community. The organisation highlighted that the proposed changes might undermine the autonomy and fundamental purpose of Waqf properties. The MMU -- a coalition representing various Islamic organisations, Ulemas, and academic institutions in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- believes that the proposed amendments threatens the interests of the Muslim community and violates fundamental rights. "The proposed amendments, as outlined in our previous correspondence, pose serious challenges to the autonomy and purpose of Waqf properties. These proposed changes have created widespread distress and apprehensions among the Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir," the MMU letter had stated. "As a result, it is imperative that these concerns be addressed through meaningful dialogue rather than unilateral actions. We believe that a meeting with your good self will provide an opportunity for that," it added. Mirwaiz had stressed that Jammu and Kashmir, "being a Muslim-majority state, requires its concerns to be heard and addressed thoughtfully". The Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha was referred to a joint committee of Parliament after a heated debate, with the government asserting that the proposed law did not intend to interfere with the functioning of mosques and the opposition saying it targeted Muslims and calling it an attack on the Constitution. The Lok Sabha had adopted a resolution to extend the tenure of the committee till the last day of the Budget Session this year. The committee was initially scheduled to submit its report on November 29 but Pal and BJP members of the panel assured angry opposition members that the deadline would be extended. The opposition members of the committee had staged a walkout and slammed Pal for asserting that the panel's draft report was ready. In his letter, Mirwaiz had stressed that the proposed amendments not only violated Muslim personal law, protected under Article 25 of the Constitution, but also exacerbated feelings of insecurity within the Muslim community, which already perceived threats to its religious freedoms. He had emphasised that Waqf properties were dedicated by Muslims for charitable purposes and served the underprivileged. The proposed amendments suggested increased government control over Waqf institutions, which the MMU viewed as an unwarranted intrusion, he had said. Key concerns outlined in the letter included the government's plan to grant the collector sweeping powers over Waqf properties, including the ability to alter revenue records. This undermined the very essence of the Waqf Act, which was designed to protect religious and charitable properties, the letter had said. Additionally, the MMU had also criticised the reduction of Muslim representation in the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf boards, noting that the proposed changes would allow non-Muslim members to dominate these bodies. Previously, only one non-Muslim member was allowed while up to 13 non-Muslim representatives can be appointed to the central council now. The Mirwaiz had suggested that this change could lead to increased communal disputes over mosques and other Waqf properties, potentially opening the door to litigation and state appropriation. The MMU further expressed concern over proposed amendments that would allow the government to remove Waqf properties from protected status, potentially leading to the seizure or sale of valuable assets essential for supporting religious and charitable activities. 4 J&K Cabinet Sub-Committee Reviews Reservation Policy Observer News Service Srinagar: Amid mounting discontent regarding the allocation of government jobs under revised reservation rules, the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Reservation Policy held a key meeting on Wednesday. Chaired by Minister for Health, Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, Sakeena Itoo, the discussion centered on addressing concerns raised by aspirants and stakeholders across Jammu and Kashmir. The Sub-committee examined the grievances and issues raised by a section of aspirants and students on different aspects of existing reservation policy. The committee also discussed the existing reservation policy and evaluated several aspects of it. Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmad Rana (member of Sub-committee); Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sanjeev Verma; Secretary Law, Achal Sethi and representatives from General Administration Department also participated in the meeting. Pertinently, the cabinet Sub-committee was constituted by the government last month to look into grievances projected by several sections of aspirants against the existing reservation rules.The sub-committee will submit its report to the council of ministers headed by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah. The committee has been tasked with reviewing the policy and recommending changes, if necessary, to address these concerns. In addition to the Sub-Committee’s efforts, the matter is also under consideration in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, where a legal challenge to the revised reservation rules is pending. == 5 Train to Kashmir to Face 2-month Delay: Dr Farooq Press Trust Of India Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that the Katra-Sangaldan train service is likely to be delayed by a few months and will begin operations in April with the onset of the tourism season. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function here, Farooq said he was preparing to travel to Srinagar onboard the train on January 25. "I heard that the train (to Kashmir) will face a two-month delay due to some incomplete works. Those works are being attended to and they will start the train in April with the onset of the tourism season,” the former chief minister said. In December last year, the Railway Ministry announced the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, the work that was started in 1997 to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country. The railway authorities conducted several trial runs on various sections including the Katra-Srinagar track besides the statutory inspection by Commissioner of Railway Safety, Northern Circle, Dinesh Chand Deshwal in the past one month, brightening the chances of early operationalization of the service. Asked about the criticism of the government functioning allegedly by a Congress leader, Farooq said the government knows what to do. “Government will function as it wants. Nobody can dictate terms to the government,” he said. Responding to the PDP remark that the NC government has changed the goal post from Article 370 to statehood, Farooq said the rival party needs to go for self-introspection before making any allegations against his party. "Tell them (PDP), they are the ones who are responsible for the revocation of Article 370. We have told Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (former chief minister and PDP founder) not to join the BJP for government formation. He went ahead, despite repeated requests by us, Congress and other parties,” he said. Asked when the statehood was restored to Jammu and Kashmir, he quipped "When it is acceptable to the Almighty.” On return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits who completed 35 years in exile on January 19, Farooq said the BJP ruled J&K over the past 10 years and the question should have been posed to them how many migrant families they have rehabilitated during this period. He said the BJP has also promised 50,000 jobs to the unemployed youth but nobody will ask them how many jobs they provided in the past 10 years but will ask the National Conference which only came to power three months ago and has five years to fulfil all its promises including providing jobs to the youth. Farooq questioned the silence of the media over the alleged misuse of the central government by the BJP in the elections. “I want to advise the media to remove hatred from their reporting and try to work to spread love. If we continue to spread hatred, we cannot save the country,” he said, urging the media in the country to go for self-introspection before asking questions to the opposition party leaders. Asks Workers To Prepare For Panchayat Polls Farooq Abdullah on Monday called upon party workers to start preparing for the upcoming panchayat elections, emphasizing the need for unity to "rebuild" Jammu and Kashmir. The development comes after the Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission on Monday concluded annual revision of panchayat electoral rolls and said more than 70 lakh voters, including over 34 lakh women, are eligible to vote in the upcoming panchayat elections. “Prepare for elections. Whenever elections are held, be ready from today,” he said, addressing a gathering of party workers here. He urged NC workers to choose candidates who genuinely want to serve the people and emphasized the need for honesty and unity to "rebuild" Jammu and Kashmir. “Together, we can overcome these challenges and bring our region back on the path of progress,” he said. Recalling the 2024 assembly elections, Farooq said, “In previous elections, many believed it wouldn’t happen, but they were eventually announced, leaving many unprepared.” Farooq urged party workers to remain truthful with the public and avoid misleading promises. “Tell people what you tcan do and what you cannot. Do not mislead them with greener pastures; it will not work,” he said. He also warned against disloyalty within the party, stating, “don’t project yourself as NC workers while voting for the lotus (BJP's symbol). I have seen such behaviour before. Today, many are joining NC because we are in power, but we must prioritize those who have sacrificed for the party over opportunists.” Calling for unity among leaders, he said, “Love and support those who have stood by the organization. First, put your house in order. If your house is not in order, how can the country be in order?” He criticized past governments, alleging corruption in infrastructure projects. “The Centre sent crores of rupees for water supply infrastructure, but much of it was embezzled. These issues need to be investigated.” On power generation, he expressed frustration over local resources being used to benefit other states. “The electricity generated here is sent to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, while we remain deprived. This shows their love for our state,” he remarked. Farooq also raised concerns about unemployment and the exodus of locals. “Most of the workers in power projects are from outside. Where will our people go?” he asked. He criticized the alleged targeting of industrialists by investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate. “Industrialists are being hounded, forcing many to leave the country. Some have moved to Arab countries to continue their work. Until such harassment stops, we cannot make progress,” he said. He also called for an inclusive nation. “A country cannot thrive if only one flower blooms while others wither. True Bharat is when everyone — regardless of language, religion, or region — is happy and prosperous,” he said. “Those who want to make this country a one-colour nation will not succeed. I envision India of Nehru, Gandhi, and Abdullah — a progressive and inclusive nation,” he said. Farooq compared India’s industrial environment to that of the Arab world, emphasizing the need for supportive policies that encourage local businesses. 6 12 Passengers Jump Off Train Over Fire Alert, Run Over By Another PTI Mumbai: At least 12 passengers were killed on Wednesday evening when they jumped from their train in panic due to a ‘fire incident’, only to be run over by another train on the adjacent tracks in North Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district, officials said. Twelve bodies were sent to the nearby civil hospital, while six to seven persons were injured, special Inspector General of Police Dattatraya Karale told PTI. The accident took place between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora, more than 400 km from Mumbai, where the 12533 Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express had halted after someone pulled the chain around 5 pm, Central Railway officials said, without confirming the death toll. Some passengers of the Pushpak Express jumped off the train, and were hit by the oncoming Karnataka Express heading from Bengaluru to Delhi, said Central Railway’s chief spokesperson Swapnil Nila. IG Karale said a “fire incident” occurred on the Pushpak Express at km 372/07 between Maheji and Pardhade stations. The train stopped at the location and some passengers disembarked. Train No. 12627, the Bengaluru-New Delhi Karnataka Express, hit people standing on the railway tracks, he added. “Six to seven people have been injured. All injured passengers are being treated at the hospital, and none of their injuries are serious. Both trains have reached their respective next stations and the accident site has been cleared,” the senior police official added. The Pushpak Express departed from the spot in just 15 minutes, while the Karnataka Express was removed within 20 minutes after the accident, a railway official said. Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan also reached the spot. The injured are being treated in a hospital in Pachora and most of them are out of danger, he said. Visuals from the accident spot showed a few bodies and severed body parts. “Our preliminary information is that there were sparks and smoke inside one of the general coaches of the Pushpak Express due to either ‘hot axle’ or ‘brake-binding’ (jamming), and some passengers panicked. They pulled the chain, and some of them jumped down. At the same time, the Karnataka Express was passing,” a senior railway official had told PTI earlier. An Accident Relief Train has been dispatched to the spot from Bhusaval, and the Central Railway is making all efforts to provide medical aid to the injured passengers, an official statement said. Government and private hospitals in the area have been instructed to be ready to treat injured passengers, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on X. == 7 Er Rashid Moves Delhi HC For Bail Agencies New Delhi: Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid has approached the Delhi High Court with a bail application under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2017 terror-funding case. His lawyer stated that they have sought directions from the High Court to the trial court judge to expedite a decision on Rashid’s pending regular bail application. Alternatively, they have requested the Delhi High Court to adjudicate the matter and make a ruling on the bail. The matter is scheduled to be heard by the Delhi High Court tomorrow. Recently, Delhi’s Patiala House Court rejected an application seeking a decision on the regular bail plea of Rashid, Member of Parliament, in connection with the Jammu and Kashmir terror-funding case. The court clarified that, at this stage, it is only empowered to address miscellaneous applications and not to rule on the regular bail petition. Previously, the district judge returned the case to the ASJ court after a request from the ASJ for the matter to be transferred to a designated court for lawmakers, given Rashid’s status as an MP. This transfer request was made with the consent of both the accused and the prosecuting agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The district judge’s decision came after noting that the issue of court jurisdiction was still pending before the Delhi High Court. Until the High Court rules on jurisdiction, the ASJ court will continue to hear the case. Both Rashid’s counsel and the NIA had agreed to keep the matter in the current court. In addition to the NIA’s case, the special judge had suggested moving a related money laundering case and Rashid’s regular bail application to the court designated for lawmakers. Engineer Rashid, an independent Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, recently surrendered at Tihar Jail after his interim bail expired. This is related to the Jammu and Kashmir terror-funding case currently being investigated by the NIA. In August 2019, Rashid was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During his incarceration, he filed his nomination for the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail and won by a margin of 204,000 votes, defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. In 2022, the NIA Court of Patiala House Court ordered the framing of charges against Rashid and several other key figures, including Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin, Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah, Masrat Alam, Zahoor Ahmed Watali, Bitta Karate, Aftab Ahmed Shah, Avtar Ahmed Shah, Naeem Khan, and Bashir Ahmed Butt (also known as Peer Saifullah). The charges are part of an ongoing investigation into terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir, where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleges that various militant organizations, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and JKLF, collaborated with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, to orchestrate attacks on civilians and security forces in the region. The NIA’s investigation claims that in 1993, the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was formed to further separatist activities, with funding channeled through hawala and other covert methods. Hafiz Saeed, along with Hurriyat leaders, is accused of using these illicit funds to fuel unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting security forces, inciting violence, burning schools, and damaging public property. The agency contends that these operations were designed to destabilize the region and promote terrorism under the guise of political resistance. 8 JKRTC To Set Up ATS For Vehicle Fitness Observer News Service Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) is set to revolutionize vehicle fitness testing in the region by introducing machine-operated Automatic Testing Stations (ATS). According to the details, these stations have been designed to eliminate human intervention and will ensure accurate fitness assessments for private and passenger vehicles. “To begin with one station will be established in Jammu at JKRTC’s workshop at Bikram Chowk and the other at Pampore in Srinagar. Each centre will cost an estimated Rs 7-8 crore and will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model,” said an official. He said the ATS would rely on advanced automated systems to conduct vehicle fitness tests, significantly reducing the possibility of errors and irregularities. “The process will also include video recording of the tests to enhance transparency. In addition to fitness evaluations, the stations will monitor pollution levels, testing a range of vehicles including trucks, buses, autos, taxis, and travellers. The automation of this process is expected to eliminate delays and prevent unfit vehicles from receiving fitness certificates,” the ofgficail said, adding, “This initiative is expected to improve road safety by reducing accidents caused by mechanically unfit vehicles.” It’s in place to mention here that at present, fitness tests in Jammu and Kashmir are conducted by Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs), but the process has been plagued by concerns about irregularities. “By adopting automated systems, JKRTC seeks to address these issues and ensure a more reliable testing mechanism,” the official said, adding, “Under the PPP model, a private company will establish and operate the ATS for a specified period before transferring ownership to JKRTC. The corporation will also receive a share of the revenue generated during this time. The tendering process for the project has already begun, signaling the start of this significant development in the region’s vehicle inspection infrastructure.” “The introduction of ATS will not only ensure safer roads but also contribute to environmental sustainability by addressing vehicle-related pollution. With similar centers already operational in other states, Jammu and Kashmir is now moving toward modernizing its vehicle fitness testing process, aligning itself with national standards and practices,” he added. == Biz Kulgam's Nursery Industry Generates Rs 100 Cr Annually Agencies Srinagar: Once known as the 'Rice Bowl of Kashmir' for its extensive rice cultivation, Kulgam district in South Kashmir has shifted from traditional farming to nursery cultivation, with a large tracts of agricultural land now dedicated to this thriving industry, generating an estimated revenue of Rs 100 crore annually. Thousands of educated yet unemployed youth in the district have embraced nursery farming as a viable source of livelihood. Hundreds of modern nursery units have been established, offering a diverse range of hybrid plants and rootstocks, including imported varieties from countries like Italy and the USA (notably Washington and California). At the heart of this flourishing industry lies Qaimoh tehsil, which has emerged as its epicenter. Nearly 90% of Qaimoh's population is actively engaged in nursery farming, solidifying its status as a hub of innovation and economic growth. Hilal Ahmad Zargar, an entrepreneur, said that almost all families in the Qaimoh area are associated with the plant nursery business. “In this era of unemployment, even educated individuals, including PhD scholars, are opting for this business. We are trying to cultivate rootstocks that we currently import from foreign countries like Europe and America. This will help generate more income,” he said. He said that new varieties of plants are being cloned in Qaimoh as importing them from other countries is expensive. “Besides benefiting our farmers, we are also cultivating varieties of apples, plums, peaches, apricots, and persimmons here,” he said. Hilal said that people associated with the plant nursery business are earning good revenue. “Employment is the key outcome of this business. Not only businessmen but also laborers and transporters are able to sustain their families through this thriving industry,” he added. Javid Ahmad Bhat, a nursery businessman, said he has been associated with the business for the last 15 years as it provides a good source of income. “From PhD scholars to graduates, many youths are part of this business. It runs throughout the year,” he said. He added that almost 15 nearby villages are dependent on it for employment. District Horticulture Officer (DHO) Kulgam, Nisar Ahmed, said that a large area of Kulgam district is under cultivation for plant nurseries, and Qaimoh is the main hub for this business, with more than 100 nurseries. In Kulgam and nearby areas, there are a total of 400 to 500 nurseries currently operational, he said. He said that the nursery business in Kulgam is worth around Rs 100 crore, offering a wide range of plants, from apples to cherries to walnuts. “Quality plants are being produced here, and inspections and registrations are conducted regularly. The nurseries have been officially registered. People wishing to buy plants can apply through our portal and avail themselves of a subsidy of up to 80%,” he added. (KNO) == LOCAL J&K Bank Employee Among 6 Arrested for Duping Candidates Observer News Service Srinagar: The Crime Branch (CB) has booked six individuals, including an employee of J&K Bank, for defrauding 15 candidates out of Rs. 1.34 crore under the pretext of offering jobs in the Territorial Army and J&K Bank. According to reports, two separate complaints were filed with the Crime Branch. In the first case, complainants Jugal Kumar and Gopal Chand, residents of Samba, were promised jobs in the Territorial Army’s sports category by accused Tarsem Singh and Balbir Singh. The victims were convinced to make payments through cheques, online transfers, and cash. The accused then provided fake call letters with forged signatures and stamps of senior officers. When the complainants attempted to join, they realized they had been scammed, and their original documents were still in the possession of the accused, who refused to return them. Each candidate was reportedly defrauded of Rs. 9 lakh. In the second case, a complaint was filed by Sahil Choudhary from Rajouri, who alleged that Sunny Sharma and Bisharat Hussain Mirza promised him a permanent Class IV position at J&K Bank for Rs. 8 lakh. The accused introduced him to J&K Bank employees Majid Ali and Imran Tantray, who instructed the complainant to transfer Rs. 7.90 lakh into accounts they provided. After receiving the payment, Majid Ali handed over a fake appointment order. When the complainant tried to join the Dalhori Rajouri branch, he was informed that the appointment order was fraudulent. The Crime Branch has registered two cases, FIR No. 07/2025 and FIR No. 08/2025, and investigations are underway.
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