Srinagar, May 03: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former J&K Chief Minister  Mehbooba Mufti has formed a committee headed by senior leaders to strengthen the party.

A senior PDP leader said that the panel will be headed by senior leader and former Member Parliament Dr Mehboob Beg. It includes Advocate Abdul Haq Khan, Peerzada Mansoor, Yasir Reshi, and Waheed Para.

“In coming days new leaders will join the party, as many people have expressed their willingness to become a part of our mission,” the leader added.

He said, “The PDP has always stood for the aspirations of the people. Strengthening our grassroots base is key to addressing public issues effectively and ensuring better representation at the local level.”

Another leader said, “Failure of the NC led government to live upto the expectations of the people has led to disillusionment. Our leaders and workers are reaching out to people at every level. They are working collectively to provide every possible assistance to the local populace.”

He said, “The PDP President’s move to strengthen the party is a step towards right direction and it will help in raising the issues of a common man. Our focus remains on addressing the issues faced by ordinary citizens and ensuring that their concerns are highlighted at appropriate forums.”

The leader said, “PDP has always played a key role in the region’s political landscape over the years. The newly formed committee is expected to begin its work immediately, with a focus on strengthening party units, mobilizing support, and preparing the ground for future political engagements.”—(KNO)

Srinagar, May 03: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday described drug trafficking as “silent terrorism” engineered from across the border to systematically destroy Jammu & Kashmir’s youth, and vowed that peddlers will be treated as “enemies of the nation” with no mercy under the law.

“This is not just crime. This is terrorism — silent terrorism. It is poisoning lives, weakening families, and bleeding J&K dry,” LG Sinha said at the TRC Football Ground here before leading a ‘padyatra’ under the ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan’.

The anti-drug campaign, he said, has turned into a “Jan Andolan” in just 22 days. “This war is being fought in every home, every mohalla, every lane — because drugs are draining the life force of our youth.”

Flagging a grave security dimension, LG Sinha asserted that narco-networks are directly linked to terror infrastructure. “We are facing a dangerous enemy sitting in our neighbourhood. Drug money is being used to fund terrorism and procure weapons,” he said, adding that the syndicates are targeting the “most creative and productive force — our youth”.

The LG said 481 FIRs have been registered, 518 drug smugglers arrested, and 24 narco-properties attached — including in Kashmir districts. Nearly 300 driving licences suspended, five passports cancelled, 325 vehicles seized, and over 3,000 drug stores inspected.

“Financial transactions of drug syndicates are being tracked. Each link of the network is being broken,” LG Sinha said.

He warned that police stations will maintain photo galleries of peddlers and lookout notices will be issued against absconders. “Where there is guilt, there will be no mercy. Drug smugglers will be treated like enemies of the country.”

LG Sinha called upon religious leaders, teachers, women and youth groups to act as the administration’s “eyes and ears”. “Prepare lists of drug traffickers. The time for silence is over,” he said, noting that over 70,000 people have already joined the movement.

Taking drugs is not “cool”, he added, stressing that addicts are victims who need treatment — but peddlers will face the strictest law. “The days of those trying to destroy Jammu and Kashmir are over. We have taken a pledge to make J&K drug-free — and we will achieve it.” (KNS)

Baramulla, May 03: A massive landslide struck the Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday, completely blocking the highway and halting vehicular movement, officials said.

The landslide, triggered along the Uri–Baramulla road stretch, brought down huge volumes of debris onto the carriageway, leaving several vehicles stranded on both sides and disrupting traffic flow.

The disruption effectively cut off connectivity along the route, a key link for commuters and local transport in the area. The incident caused immediate traffic congestion, with passengers forced to wait as authorities assessed the situation.

Officials said teams from the administration and road maintenance agencies were rushed to the site soon after the incident was reported. Machinery is being mobilized to begin clearance operations and restore traffic movement at the earliest.

While no casualties or injuries were immediately reported, the blockade left commuters stranded, with authorities advising travelers to avoid the Uri route until the road is cleared.

The landslide is believed to have been caused by unstable terrain, though officials have not issued a detailed assessment yet.

Efforts are underway to remove the debris and ensure safe passage, with restoration work expected to continue until the highway is fully reopened.

Authorities have urged the public to follow traffic advisories and plan travel accordingly as clearance operations proceed. [KNT]

In a landmark move to redefine the landscape of agricultural education and extension in India, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir today launched the Student Rural Exploration Program (SREP) under the framework of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP-20).

This pioneering initiative, launched under the leadership of Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, saw a massive grassroots outreach this weekend as more than 3000 students ventured into more than 300 university-adapted villages across the Kashmir Valley.

By transitioning from the traditional classroom setting to immersive field experiences, the university is bridging the critical gap between advanced scientific techniques and traditional indigenous practices, ensuring that the next generation of agricultural professionals is deeply rooted in the realities of rural livelihoods.

Speaking at the occasion, Prof Ganai said: “The Student Rural Exploration Program is not just an academic initiative—it is a transformational movement. By placing our students directly in villages for sustained engagement, we are creating a living bridge between science and society. This program will generate real-time rural intelligence, empower communities with knowledge, and shape a new generation of socially committed professionals.”

The programme is structured as a sophisticated, multidisciplinary engagement where students from various faculties, including Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary Sciences, Fisheries, Sericulture, Forestry, and Agriculture Engineering, work in specialised cohorts. Each group typically consists of four undergraduate students, two postgraduate students, and one PhD scholar, all operating under the direct guidance of a scientist mentor.

This collaborative model allows for a tiered level of learning and field execution, marking a historic first in the country as a university-led effort to engage with the farming community at the panchayat level on such a significant scale. These teams are conducting Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)-cum-survey exercises, providing students with hands-on exposure to the complexities of the rural economy in diverse terrains.

The impact of the initiative is designed to be mutually beneficial for both the academic and farming communities. While students collect vital data and gain a firsthand understanding of grassroots challenges, farmers receive expert technical advisories, diagnostic services, and updated information regarding various government schemes and agricultural interventions.

With this program, SKUAST-K shall strengthen the bonds with the farming community by gaining their trust and enlightening them with the latest technologies, whether in the form of high-quality seeds, improved varieties, resilient rootstocks, or superior breeds.

Furthermore, the initiative acts as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, startups, and innovation within the rural sector. The Vice Chancellor, alongside the university’s Deans, Directors, and Associate Deans, actively monitored the rollout across multiple districts, interacting with students to ensure the internship provides real-time field exposure that translates academic theory into practical solutions.

Hailed as a game-changer for the national agricultural landscape, the Student Rural Exploration Program is now set to become a permanent fixture of the university’s academic calendar, with exploration visits scheduled to take place every fortnight.

This strategic outreach transforms students into empathetic innovators who can advocate for sustainable and climate-resilient practices. 

By documenting local issues and assessing needs as they arise, SKUAST-K is creating a robust feedback loop that ensures university research remains relevant and impactful for the people it serves. B

y fostering a profound sense of responsibility toward the farming community, SKUAST-K is not only empowering local growers but also equipping its graduates with the practical skills and field exposure necessary to lead the global shift toward sustainable rural development. 

The initiative underscores a future where scientific intervention meets the wisdom of the land, ultimately strengthening the bond between the laboratory and the farm.