Srinagar, Aug 13: A full dress rehearsal for the main Independence Day function in Jammu and Kashmir was held here on Thursday.

Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg inspected the parade and took the salute at Bakshi Stadium, venue for the main Independence Day function.

Contingents of various security forces participated in the march past. Various senior civil administration and police officers were present on the occasion, which saw cultural programmes presented by school students and Army choppers shower flower petals.

Full dress rehearsals were also held at the district headquarters across the Valley.

Speaking to reporters, the divisional commissioner invited the people of Kashmir to participate in the celebrations at the main event or at respective district headquarters.

Inspector General of Police V K Birdi said robust security arrangements were in place for the Independence Day celebrations on August 15.

“Full dress rehearsals were held across various districts in the Valley. Alongside this, a full dress rehearsal of the security arrangements was also conducted so that we can smoothly conduct our main programme on August 15,” Birdi told reporters.

Asked whether any additional security measures have been taken in view of the recent attacks in south Kashmir, Birdi said robust security arrangements have been put in place by the police in the respective districts.

To a question about media reports claiming that al-Qaeda was behind the Red Fort blast in Delhi on November 25 last year, Birdi said “no such thing has come to our notice so far”.

He also appealed to the public to participate in large numbers in the August 15 functions taking place across districts to make the event a success.

New Delhi, August 13: A United Nations Security Council monitoring report has officially attributed the November 2025 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), The Indian Express reported.

The blast on November 10, 2025, killed 11 people and injured several others. The UN assessment comes as the National Investigation Agency continues its probe into the attack.

The biannual report, made public this week, said: “The attack in November 2025 on the Red Fort in Delhi was officially attributed to AQIS. There was some concern about AQIS trying to exploit Bangladesh to establish cells there.”

The NIA has alleged that those chargesheeted in the case were linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), which the agency describes as an offshoot of AQIS. In May, the agency filed a 7,500-page chargesheet against 10 accused, including the deceased alleged main perpetrator, Dr Umer Un Nabi. 

However, the charges against the accused are yet to be judicially tested, with the court yet to take cognisance of the NIA chargesheet.

Srinagar, Aug 13: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Thursday invited people from across Kashmir to attend the Union Territory-level Independence Day celebrations at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar and celebrate the occasion with a lot of enthusiasm.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar Garg said all arrangements for the August 15 event had been finalised, with parade contingents, schoolchildren and various departments participating in the rehearsal.

“I would like to congratulate all the people of Kashmir and the citizens of Srinagar on the occasion of Independence Day in advance. I would also like to invite everyone to come to Bakshi Stadium on August 15 and be a part of this national event,” he said, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said people could attend Independence Day celebrations at their respective district or regional headquarters, while those wishing to participate in the UT-level function at Bakshi Stadium were welcome to do so.

“My appeal to all of you is that on August 15, we will celebrate this with a lot of enthusiasm,” Garg said.

On entry arrangements, the Divisional Commissioner said there would be free entry for the public at Bakshi Stadium, as in previous years.

He added that detailed arrangements had been made to facilitate visitors and ensure basic amenities, including drinking water, toilet facilities and refreshments, at the venue.

Garg said security arrangements had also been put in place in coordination with various security agencies, with regular reviews being conducted ahead of the national event.

“Coordination meetings have been held with the security agencies and at the level of IG, the reviews are constantly going on,” he said.

Meanwhile, the full dress rehearsal was held at Bakshi Stadium to give a final run-through of preparations for the main Independence Day programme. The rehearsal involved various departments, parade contingents and schoolchildren who will participate in the August 15 celebrations.—(KNO)

Srinagar, Aug 12: Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday dismissed an employee of the Wildlife Protection Department from government service, allegedly for his repeated involvement in drug trafficking.

The dismissed employee, identified as Vinod Kumar Raina, a resident of the Kandikhas area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, was posted as a watcher in the Wildlife Protection Department.

In an order, commissioner/secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology, and Environment, Sheetal Nanda, ordered Raina’s dismissal from service with immediate effect.

The government also disqualified Raina from any future employment with the government.

The dismissal came after the department conducted an inquiry into the charges levelled against Raina after he was arrested on July 18, 2021, under the NDPS Act in FIR No 329/2021 registered by the Nagrota police station, for possessing approximately 300 grams of charas.

During the departmental inquiry, it was found that Raina had previously been involved in drug trafficking.

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar on Wednesday organised a Tiranga Rally under the nationwide ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ Campaign 2026, as part of its celebrations ahead of India’s 80th Independence Day.

The rally witnessed enthusiastic participation from members of the NIT Srinagar community, including Deans, Heads of Departments and Centres, faculty members, non-faculty employees, outsourced staff, students, research scholars, NCC and NSS volunteers and other staff members.

The programme was aimed at promoting patriotism, national unity and pride while encouraging members of the institute community to display the National Flag, the Tiranga, with pride and respect.

The rally was flagged off by Incharge Director Prof. Roohi Naaz in the presence of Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman. Deans, HoDs, HoCs, faculty members, administrative staff and the institute’s Security Officer also participated in the event.

NCC and NSS volunteers were also present during the programme. Participants carried the National Flag and raised patriotic slogans as they marched around the campus in a coordinated display of national pride and unity.

The rally was organised in accordance with the institute’s call for active participation in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ Campaign 2026. The campaign aims to strengthen citizens’ emotional connection to the National Flag and encourage people to display the Tiranga as a symbol of national pride, unity, and identity.

The rally was part of the broader Independence Day celebrations being organised by NIT Srinagar. The Institute is conducting a series of activities involving students, faculty and staff to mark the occasion and highlight the significance of the country’s freedom struggle, national unity and constitutional values.

The Institute’s campaign message, “Tiranga – Our Pride, Our Identity, Our Nation,” was highlighted as the central theme of the initiative.

The programme concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to the values of patriotism, unity and national service and to celebrating Independence Day with pride and respect for the National Flag.