Banihal, Jul 15: A former sarpanch was killed after a shooting stone struck his car on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Ramban on Wednesday, police said.

Mohammad Iqbal Tantray, former sarpanch of Seri village in Ramban district, was returning home after dropping a person in Ramban town when a boulder rolled down from a hillside and hit his vehicle near Trishul Morh, they said.

The boulder struck Tantray on the head, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to the District Hospital Ramban, where doctors declared him brought dead, police said.

Police have registered a case and initiated further investigation.

A pall of gloom descended over Seri village and other parts of Ramban district as news of Tantray’s death spread. Locals described him as a respected public representative and expressed shock over the tragic incident.

The district administration Reasi has issued a public advisory warning residents to stay away from the banks of the River Chenab as reservoir silt flushing operations are scheduled to be carried out at the Salal Dam in Reasi and the Baglihar Dam in Ramban.

According to the advisory issued by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Reasi, Rakesh Kumar, the spillway gates of the Salal Power Station at Jyotipuram will remain open from 9:00 AM on July 17 to July 26 for reservoir silt flushing. Meanwhile, the drawdown flushing operation at the Baglihar Dam is scheduled to commence at around 10:00 PM on July 16.

The administration cautioned that the flushing operations could lead to a significant rise in the water level of the Chenab River, posing a serious risk to people living or moving along its banks. Villages likely to be affected include upstream areas such as Dharan, Thanpal, Arnas, Sai Lanjan, Narloo, Gari and Salmot, besides downstream villages including Gujjar Kothi, Saidh Baba, Bidda, Kachi Khera, Talwara, Nambla, Vijaypur, Bara Dari, Patta, Kansi Patta, Jedhi, Panassa, Badder, Chumbian, Dera Baba Banda Bahadur and Seri.

To prevent any untoward incidents, the administration has restricted the movement of people, vehicles, livestock and rafting activities along the Chenab riverbanks during the period from 10:00 PM on July 16 to July 26.

The advisory urges the public to avoid venturing near the river and exercise utmost caution throughout the flushing period.

The district administration has also directed Revenue, Police, SDRF and Rural Development Department officials to jointly monitor vulnerable locations along the river. Field-level functionaries, including Lambardars, Chowkidars and GRS/VLWs, have been instructed to disseminate the advisory among residents and ensure compliance to safeguard lives and property.

Jammu, Jul 14: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched ‘Vishwas-2026′, a six-month special settlement scheme aimed at facilitating the time-bound and amicable resolution of pending damages cases under Section 14B of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and Section 128 of the Code of Social Security, 2020.

The scheme came into effect on June 29, 2026, and will remain operational for six months.

Appealing to employers to make the most of the initiative, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I, EPFO Regional Office Jammu, Sumeet Singh, said the scheme provides an opportunity to settle pending damages cases in a transparent, fair and efficient manner. He said the initiative is expected to reduce litigation, encourage voluntary compliance and strengthen relations between employers and the EPFO.

Under the scheme, employers can seek settlement of eligible pending damages cases falling under four categories: ongoing litigation cases; finalised Section 14B orders, including Recovery Certificate (RRC) cases where dues remain unpaid or partially paid; pre-adjudication cases where notices have been issued; and pre-adjudication cases where notices are yet to be issued.

To qualify, employers must deposit the full interest amount under Section 7Q before applying and undertake not to pursue any further appeal before judicial or quasi-judicial forums once a settlement is reached. Cases involving fraud, misappropriation, deliberate falsification of records, disputes where the interest amount has not been remitted, and establishments where damages have already been fully recovered are excluded from the scheme.

To facilitate implementation, the EPFO Regional Office Jammu has established a dedicated help desk to assist employers with information and guidance regarding the scheme. Assistance is available through walk-in visits during office hours, telephone, email and a WhatsApp helpline. Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner Satya Prakash has been designated as the nodal officer for the initiative.

Applications under the scheme must be submitted online through the EPFO Employer Portal using a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or e-sign facility. Following verification and approval by the competent authority, the approval certificate will be made available in the employer’s login.

The scheme provides revised rates of damages for defaults occurring prior to June 14, 2025. Defaults of less than two months will attract damages of 0.25 per cent per month, defaults between two and less than four months will attract 0.50 per cent per month, while defaults of four months or more will attract 1 per cent per month.

EPFO Regional Office Jammu has urged all eligible employers to avail themselves of the scheme within the stipulated period to resolve pending damages cases, promote ease of compliance and minimise avoidable litigation.