Srinagar, July 07: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

The meeting was attended by Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Ashwani Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department; Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary, Home Department; Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and other senior officers. So far, more than 1.13 lakh devotees have performed Darshan at the holy cave.

The Lieutenant Governor directed the senior officials to ensure that devotees are properly registered and well-assisted by officers on the ground.

“Our goal is to make this pilgrimage a truly memorable experience for everyone and they have access to the best possible amenities. Safety, security and hassle-free darshan of Baba Barfani must remain our top priority.

Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a matter of immense pride for us and is deeply intertwined with the aspirations and spiritual consciousness of our nation. It reflects India’s enduring civilisational heritage and showcases the country’s unique soft power to the world. This sacred yatra is a cherished tradition and also an integral part of our national identity. Ensuring smooth, safe, and successful conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is our collective resolve,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor urged all stakeholders to work together in close coordination to make this year’s Yatra truly historic and set a benchmark for spiritual tourism across the country.

“Such a collective effort can create a model that inspires similar pilgrimages nationwide,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also appealed to all devotees to immerse themselves in the spiritual bliss of this sacred journey to Lord Shiva’s abode while experiencing the warmth of local hospitality and the richness of J&K’s traditional arts and crafts.

“By supporting and promoting local products, we can ensure that the pilgrimage becomes not only a profound spiritual experience but also a meaningful celebration of the local economy, culture, and heritage,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor also reviewed the operations of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board’s 24×7 Control Room, established at Lok Bhavan, for the smooth conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

He took stock of arrangements at various sections along the routes, deployment of security personnel, the functioning of langars, queue management systems at different junctions as well as the Holy Cave.

Srinagar, July 7: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today met delegations representing the travel, tourism and business sectors here at the Civil Secretariat and held detailed discussions on issues concerning tourism promotion, business facilitation and the overall growth of the economy in Jammu and Kashmir.

A delegation comprising representatives of leading travel and tourism associations, including Irshad Ahmad (TAAI), Zahoor Qari, President SKÅL International Kashmir; Burhan Misgar, Chairman Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), and Waseem Goosani, President TASK, called on the Chief Minister and apprised him of various matters relating to the travel and tourism sector.

The delegation highlighted issues concerning the tourism industry, measures to further strengthen tourist inflow, ease of travel, and initiatives required to sustain the momentum of tourism in J&K. They also shared suggestions aimed at improving visitor experience and enhancing Jammu and Kashmir’s position as a preferred tourist destination.

The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to the delegation and reiterated his government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the tourism sector, recognising it as one of the key drivers of economic growth and employment in Jammu and Kashmir.

He assured the representatives that the concerns raised by them would be examined sympathetically and addressed in a time-bound manner in coordination with the concerned departments.

Later, Tariq Ghani, Secretary General, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, also called on the Chief Minister and discussed a range of issues pertaining to business, trade and tourism.

Srinagar, Jul 07: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi today said that despite being incarcerated Member of Parliament from Baramulla Er. Rashid has remained steadfast in raising issues concerning the identity, language and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Inam Un Nabi said that MP Er. Rashid had written to the Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw seeking the filling up of 97 vacant Senior Grade IIS Group-B posts in the Kashmiri language, stressing the importance of promoting and preserving the mother tongue through adequate representation in public broadcasting and information services.

He said the Union Minister has now responded to Er. Rashid’s communication, stating: “Your suggestion has been forwarded to the concerned authority for further examination.”

Inam Un Nabi welcomed the Minister’s response and expressed hope that the matter would be considered expeditiously. He said filling these long-pending vacancies would not only create employment opportunities for qualified youth but also strengthen the promotion, preservation and institutional representation of the Kashmiri language.

Srinagar, Jul 07: The search operation to track down two local terrorists of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba entered its fourth day in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday, with security forces resuming combing operations after an overnight pause, officials said.

The searches resumed at daybreak after being suspended overnight. The two terrorists were first spotted by surveillance cameras on July 3 in a dense orchard in the Meemandar area, which comprises seven villages.

A joint team of several columns of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has maintained a tight cordon around the area. Security forces had cleared four villages by Monday evening.

The trapped terrorists, identified as Latif and Zakir, allegedly opened fire at the Army personnel as they closed in, triggering an exchange of fire, officials said.

The Army’s specialised counter-insurgency unit, Victor Force, has deployed additional personnel to seal all possible escape routes through the thick orchard foliage, besides lighting up the area.

During the summer months, the heavy foliage offers a natural cover, making surveillance difficult and allowing trapped terrorists to exploit blind spots to break the cordons, they said.

According to security records, both terrorists are residents of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. While Zakir has been reportedly associated with the LeT since 2024, Latif joined the outfit last year.

Shopian has historically served as a critical transit corridor connecting south Kashmir to central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal range.

Officials said while foreign terrorists have increasingly been used for attacks, containing local operatives like Latif and Zakir remains vital to disrupting the logistics networks and breaking the cycle of local recruitment.