Banihal, Apr 14: A youth from Ramban district who went missing after allegedly jumping into a stream to escape an assault on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway has remained untraced for the third consecutive day, even as rescue operations were intensified with the induction of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

The incident had occurred on Sunday afternoon near four-lane Tunnel No. 5 at Makarkoot in Ramban district. The missing youth was identified as Tanveer Ahmad Chopan, a resident of Mundkhal Pogal.

According to locals, Chopan was travelling from Jammu towards his home with a milch cow and two calves in a vehicle when he was allegedly chased by miscreants in two vehicles near Digdool. The assailants reportedly intercepted him near Makarkoot and assaulted him. In an attempt to save himself, he had jumped into Nallah Bishlari and had been missing since.

On Monday, protests had erupted in the area, with locals blocking the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway for nearly four hours, demanding swift action. The blockade was later lifted after intervention by DC Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan and SSP Ramban Arun Gupta , who had assured strict action in the case.

Police had already registered a case and arrested four accused persons in connection with the incident. The arrested individuals were identified as Surjeet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Digvijay Singh, and Keval Singh, all residents of Ramban town and nearby Seri areas.

Authorities had also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by SDPO Banihal Surinder Singh to probe the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Meanwhile, search operations to trace the missing youth continued on Tuesday. Teams of the NDRF, police, Himalayan QRT Ramsoo, Banihal Volunteers, and Indian Red Cross Society (Red Cross Banihal) were engaged in the operation.

Speaking to media, SHO Ramsoo Fareed Khan said that multiple rescue teams had been carrying out searches for the third consecutive day, but no breakthrough had been achieved so far.

Meanwhile, Abdul Salam Chopan, father of the missing youth and a serving SPO in Jammu and Kashmir Police, had expressed deep anguish over the incident. He said his son was the only brother to three sisters and demanded strict punishment for the accused, including capital punishment.

In the meantime, normal internet services across Ramban district had been restored on Tuesday afternoon after remaining suspended for nearly 30 hours as a precautionary measure following the incident.

Jammu, Apr 14: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on Tuesday attended the ceremony marking the upgradation of ‘Apna Bhojanalaya’ at Government Medical College Jammu. The community kitchen is run by Sewa Bharti and supported by J&K Bank along with other donors.

The Lieutenant Governor lauded the noble initiative and partook in a meal at Apna Bhojanalaya.

The Lieutenant Governor said the Sewa Bharti’s enduring spirit of giving back, empowers individuals and strengthens communities.

“There is no higher duty than serving those in need. Sewa Bharti has honored that duty by nourishing bodies, restoring souls, and affirming the dignity of every human life. To strengthen Apna Bhojanalaya is to strengthen the very fabric of our society,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor said that to feed a hungry soul is to invite grace into your own.

“To serve food to the hungry is among the most sacred acts a human being can perform. When a hand extends in need and another rises in nurture, divine grace moves quietly between them. This act is not merely kindness. This is humanity at its absolute finest.

Our aim should be selfless service to the neighbor, the city around us, and the nation that unites us. A strong J&K means strong families. Strong communities. Citizens empowered to lead, to contribute, to rise. When we lift every sector, we lift the Union Territory itself. Commit to this cause and build a legacy worthy of pride,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the change needs no vast resources but just the spirit for selfless service, vision, persistence and love for the community.

He commended Sewa Bharti, volunteers and donors for transforming millions’ lives with their selfless service.

“You did not merely feed the hungry, you upheld the dignity of millions. And today, let us take a pledge that this service will never stop. The kitchen of Apna Bhojanalaya will never grow cold and every hand in our society will give to the best of its capacity to those who need it most,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor called upon every section of society to join the war against drug abuse.

Shri Jai Dev, Akhil Bharatiya Chatrawas Pramukh, Sewa Bharti; Shri Parmeet, Sangathan Mantri, Sewa Bharti; Prof. Rakesh Jha, President; Shri Pradeep Kapoor, General Secretary; Shri Sushil Kapoor, Bhojanalay Sanchalak; Shri Trilok Singh Negi, Shri Ajay Takoo and other officer bearers and volunteers of Sewa Bharti J&K were present.

Shri Arvind Gupta, Member of Legislative Assembly from Jammu West; Shri Amitava Chatterjee, Managing Director and CEO, J&K Bank Limited; Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal GMC Jammu; Dr Gautam Mengi, Dr Ritu Singh and other prominent citizens and senior officials also attended the ceremony.

Banihal, Apr 14: Authorities on Tuesday intensified a multi-agency search in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district for a man feared to have fallen into a fast-flowing stream after allegedly being assaulted for carrying a cow in his vehicle.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted and four people have been arrested in connection with the case, which triggered widespread protests and tension in the district along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Agitating locals, including the victim’s family, also blocked the arterial road for over four hours on Monday.

Tanveer Ahmad Chopan (25), a resident of Mundkhal Pogal in Ukhral tehsil, was travelling from Jammu towards his native village in a Tata Mobile vehicle ferrying a milch cow and two calves when he was allegedly chased and assaulted by cow vigilantes on Sunday, locals claimed.

According to eyewitness accounts, Chopan jumped into the nearby Nallah Bishlari while trying to save himself.

After an overnight halt, the search operation resumed on Tuesday morning, with teams from the police, SDRF and NDRF, along with local volunteers, focusing on the many large boulders scattered across the stream amid apprehensions that the body may be trapped beneath them, officials said.

They said the operation is being carried out across difficult terrain, with teams combing also downstream stretches in a coordinated effort.

Many relatives of the missing man have joined the search operation, while others are camping along the banks of the stream, anxiously keeping vigil and hoping for his early recovery as efforts continue for the third day.

Srinagar, April 14: A series of minor earthquakes have been recorded in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh UT over the past few days, raising concerns among residents though no major damage has been reported so far.

According to officials, three earthquakes struck Doda district in the last 72 hours. The strongest of these measured 4.6 magnitude, while the other two tremors were recorded at 3.0 and 2.9 magnitudes respectively, prompting brief panic among locals.

Meanwhile, Leh in Ladakh also experienced three earthquakes over the past four days.

These were of relatively lower intensity, with magnitudes of 2.6, 3.2, and 3.0 recorded. Officials confirmed that these tremors were mild and did not cause any damage.

No casualties or significant losses have been reported from either region so far.