Srinagar, Feb 06: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday reviewed prevailing security situation and assessed operational readiness in the region during his visit to White Knight Corps brigade in Nagrota, Jammu.

He was briefed on the counter-terrorism grid and appreciated the synergy in joint operations between the security forces.

The COAS commended the efforts of all stakeholders and emphasised the need for vigilance and people-centric approach while conducting operations in the region.

He also expressed confidence in the leadership and troops of White Knight Corps in safeguarding peace and security in the region.

Jammu, Feb 06: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu on Friday caught an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of Police red-handed while accepting a bribe of rupees 5,000 from a complainant in Khour area of Jammu district.

The accused as per ACB, was arrested on the spot after demanding money in exchange for taking action in a domestic violence-related case.

In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jammu registered a case FIR No. 02/2026 U/S 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against public servant, namely, Mohinder Lal, Assistant Sub Inspector, posted in P/S Khour, for demanding and accepting illegal gratification from the complainant.

He said, the said accused public servant, demanded the bribe amounting to Rs 5,000/- from the complainant, for taking action against the husband of his cousin sister, who is being regularly harassed and assaulted by her husband. Since, the complainant didn’t want to pay bribe and approached Anti-Corruption Bureau for taking legal action against the accused public servant under law.

“On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted, which corroborated the demand of bribe by the public servant concerned and accordingly, a case FIR No. 02/2026 U/S 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered in Police Station ACB Jammu and investigation taken up,” the spokesperson said.

He said, during the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and accused public servant was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe amount from the complainant in the presence of independent witnesses.

“The accused was arrested on the spot by the ACB team after following due process of law. The bribe money was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap team. Moreover, search was also conducted in his official residence situated at the premises of P/S Khour in presence of Magistrate. Further investigation of the instant case is going on,” the spokesperson said further.

Jammu, Feb 06: Asserting that despite severe financial constraints, the ruling government has taken all possible steps to extend relief to the most vulnerable sections of society, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday defended his administration’s balanced and welfare-oriented Budget.

Addressing press conference as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, CM Omar said that the Budget should not be viewed as a standalone exercise but as part of a continuous governance process.

“No Budget is an isolated document. It reflects a series of measures taken by the government over time and their gradual implementation,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that the administration has followed a welfare-oriented and people-centric approach since assuming office, laying a strong foundation over the past year.

He added that the present Budget builds upon that framework while keeping long-term fiscal stability in mind.

Omar further said that the government has consciously avoided putting undue pressure on the Union Territory’s finances. “As a responsible government, it would be imprudent to overburden the treasury or incur excessive debt merely to meet all electoral commitments in one go,” he said, adding that fiscal prudence remains central to the government’s policy.

Jammu, Feb 06: People’s Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone on Friday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government’s budget, saying it lacked political direction and was primarily drafted by bureaucrats with little improvement over the previous year.

Speaking to reporters, Lone said, “The budget is as good or as bad as it was last time. I would say it is as bad as it was last time.”

He claimed the budget reflected bureaucratic dominance rather than political decision-making. “This is a budget by the bureaucrats. There is no political input in it,” he said.

Lone also accused the government of repeatedly thanking the Centre without outlining an independent policy framework. “They are repeatedly thanking the Centre — repeatedly,” he said.

Questioning the government’s claims of fiscal constraints, Lone said the document itself did not reflect any such limitations. “Are there any restrictions in the budget? There are none. There are no financial restrictions at all,” he said, adding that even tax collection did not appear restricted.

He also criticised the dilution of the government’s earlier promise of providing 12 free LPG cylinders per year to all poor families. “Now it has been confined to Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries. This is a climbdown,” he said, expressing doubt over whether even the revised benefit would be delivered. —(KNO)