Lieutenant General Balbir Singh, an old hand and a highly experienced officer with deep roots in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism (CI/CT) operations in Jammu and Kashmir, is set to take over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the strategically vital 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, on May 1.

The 15 Corps, headquartered in Srinagar, is responsible for safeguarding the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and overseeing internal security operations across the Valley.

Lt Gen Balbir Singh’s appointment comes at a time when the Union Territory continues to focus on maintaining stability following significant counter-terror operations in recent years.

He was presently Major General General Staff (MGGS) Northern Command and after elevation, got posted as GOC 15 Corps.

Lt Gen Balbir Singh brings vast operational experience in Kashmir, particularly in anti-terror activities. He is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. His early career included a key posting at the 8 Sector headquarters in Lolab, Kupwara, where he was directly involved in planning and overseeing operations. He later commanded 1 Sector Rashtriya Rifles (RR) during 2018-2019, a critical role in counter-insurgency grid management.

In 2023, as a Major General, he served as GOC of Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) Victor in mid-2023 (around the third week of June), relieving the then Maj Gen Prashant Srivastava.

He held the Victor Force command, based in Awantipora and responsible for operations in south Kashmir, demonstrating strong leadership in CI/CT grids. During his tenure, he collaborated closely with senior formations, including the Chinar Corps and Northern Command, on multiple operations and security reviews.

Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, from the Parachute Regiment, had a distinguished tenure as GOC 15 Corps after assuming charge on October 5, 2024, succeeding Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai. His period as Corps Commander was marked by robust security operations, including Operation Sindoor (a precision strike across the LoC targeting terror infrastructure in response to escalating threats) and Operation Mahadev.

The latter was a joint operation involving the Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and CRPF that successfully neutralised three terrorists. These individuals were directly linked to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack (also referred to as the Pahalgam massacre), which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists.

Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava has now been appointed as the new Quarter Master General (QMG) at Army Headquarters in New Delhi, a key logistical and administrative role. His move reflects the Army’s policy of rotational higher command appointments. During his stint in Kashmir, he emphasized synergy among security forces and engagement with civil society to foster lasting peace.

Srinagar, Apr 27: Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari on Monday urged the government to reconsider its decision to ban Dar-ul-Uloom in Shopian. 

A statement of the Apni Party issued here said that expressing his concern over the administration‘s decision, Bukhari wrote on his X handle, “I urge the government to reconsider the ban on Dar-ul-Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom in Shopian. Thousands of students should not suffer for decisions beyond their control. Around 10,000 students depend on this institution for their education and future.”

He posted: “This institution does not have a record of producing individuals who choose the path of violence. Even if a few isolated cases exist, they are exceptions. No institution in the country, including the Army schools, is completely free from such rare deviations. This is also a matter of fact that the individuals who were previously affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami later established a political party, the Justice and Development Front (JDF), and it was registered by the Election Commission of India. If they were allowed to move forward, why should the students be made to suffer? Therefore, the government must reconsider its decision. This issue must be in a constructive way. Setting up a proper management body to oversee the institution would be a fair and practical step to ensure that students do not suffer and their education continues without disruption. Actions like banning such educational institutions will only deepen alienation and grievances. What is needed is to bridge the trust deficit. The situation calls for reconciliation and meaningful confidence-building measures (CBMs) to ensure lasting peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Anantnag, Apr 27: Anantnag Police on Monday suspended an Investigating Officer (IO) of Police Station Anantnag for failing to adhere to mandatory procedures during the investigation into the vandalization of Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag last week, police said.

“SSP Anantnag takes strict action after the Investigating Officer (IO) fails to follow mandatory arrest procedure in FIR 118/2026. Anantnag police is committed to due process,” Anantnag Police tweeted.

A case related to vandalization and assault on medical staff was registered at Police Station Anantnag under FIR No. 118/2026, police said.

During the investigation, four persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the vandalization of the hospital following the death of a woman in a suspected case of medical negligence.

They were later released on bail due to lack of evidence, officials said.

The woman, a resident of Srigufwara village in Bijbehara, had suffered cardiac arrest. She, was resuscitated immediately after arriving at the hospital but later died, doctors said.

Following the incident, agitated attendants allegedly ransacked the hospital and assaulted doctors, officials said. The doctors later protested, terming the incident “sheer hooliganism,” and demanded strict action against those responsible.

The Investigating officer (IO) failed to fulfil mandatory requirements related to arrest procedures while detaining the accused, an official said.

Taking serious note of the lapse, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anantnag Amod Ashok Nagpure placed the officer under suspension, officials said.

Anantnag Police reiterated its commitment to upholding due process of law and ensuring accountability in all investigations, police said.

Qazigund, Apr 27: At least three school girls were injured in a road accident in Qazigund area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday, officials said.

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the accident took place at Kulbagh–Qazi Mohalla Link Road when an i20 car, driven by one Rayees Ahmad Rather, hit the students while moving towards Qazigund.

The injured have been identified as Fatima Jan and Tahmeena Jan daughters of Mohammad Altaf Parray of Shampora and Aliya Jan daughter of Mohammad Altaf Zahid of Salyaloo.

Fatima Jan sustained critical injuries, while other two suffered minor injuries. All the injured were shifted to Emergency Hospital Qazigund for treatment

Police said that acting swiftly, a case (FIR No. 102/2026) under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Qazigund and investigation was taken up.

The accused driver, who had fled from the spot, was apprehended within an hour, solving the hit-and-run case immediately.

New Delhi, Apr 27: Jammu & Kashmir is set to witness a significant milestone in its development journey tomorrow, as Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV, Batch-II at a special programme at SKICC, Srinagar. The event will also be attended by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, and other senior dignitaries, making it not just an administrative occasion but a major public platform symbolizing a collective commitment to development.

Since 2000, under PMGSY, Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed the construction of 3,328 roads, creating a road network of 19,851 kilometers, along with 257 bridges. Building on this progress, PMGSY-IV, Batch-II will further accelerate development with the construction of 330 new roads covering 1,600 kilometers, at a project cost of ₹3,550 crore, benefiting 363 habitations across the region. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to moving beyond announcements and delivering tangible development on the ground. He emphasized that the focus is on ensuring that roads, services and other facilities reach even the remotest villages. He also underlined that infrastructure development is being viewed as a key driver to further integrate Jammu & Kashmir into the national development mainstream.

The programme, scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM on April 28, will also see the Union Minister handing over the approval letter for PMGSY-IV, Batch-II to the Chief Minister. In addition, approvals under DAY-NRLM will be released, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to creating ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in Jammu & Kashmir. The visit reflects a broader focus that goes beyond road construction, encompassing rural economic growth, women’s self-help groups, and social empowerment. Currently, nearly 96,000 Self-Help Groups, 7,500 Village Organizations, and 650 Cluster-Level Federations are actively strengthening the rural livelihoods ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir. Through the efforts of thousands of Community Resource Persons, along with initiatives in skill development, entrepreneurship, and women-led leadership, a new environment of confidence and income generation is being fostered in rural communities.

From the perspective of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, farmers in Jammu & Kashmir are being supported through multiple flagship schemes, including PM-Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Horticulture Mission, Farmer Producer Organizations, e-NAM, and micro-irrigation initiatives. In this broader context, Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visit also carries a strong message of trust, participation, and results-oriented governance for farmers, horticulturists, rural families, and women’s groups.

Jammu, Apr 27: A special NIA court on Monday extended the remand of separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah by 10 more days in connection with a three-decade-old terror case, officials said.

Shah was produced before the court on the expiry of his previous 10-day remand. He has moved a bail application which is likely to be taken up on the next date of hearing, they said.

During the proceedings, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought further custody of Shah for more questioning. The court, after hearing the submissions, granted the agency an additional 10 days of remand.

Shah was arrested by the Srinagar branch of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 17 in Delhi in the 1996 case involving a terrorist attack on policemen during a militant’s funeral. The Patiala House Court allowed his transit remand and subsequently he was produced before the NIA court in Jammu the next day.

The separatist leader was recently released on bail after nearly seven years of imprisonment in other cases.