Srinagar, Feb 13: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed more than 9,000 awareness and outreach programmes under the ‘Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan’, with participation of over 4.51 lakh individuals across the Union Territory, officials informed during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday.

The outreach-based campaign, spearheaded by the Information Department in close collaboration with key departments, is aimed at curbing substance abuse through awareness, rehabilitation and coordinated action at the grassroots level.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary reviewed the progress and impact of the initiative and stressed the need for stronger digital integration and institutional capacity building. He directed officials to link the Nasha Mukt J&K portal with the National Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) portal to ensure seamless data sharing, enhanced visibility and effective monitoring of activities.

Officials informed that besides large-scale awareness drives conducted in Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and educational institutions, 218 individuals have been successfully rehabilitated as part of the campaign. Additionally, 1.83 lakh bulk SMS messages were sent to participants acknowledging their involvement and reinforcing the anti-drug message.

Emphasising transparency and accessibility, Dulloo directed that trained counsellors be mapped to their respective educational institutions, Panchayats, ULBs and health facilities on the portal. He said their qualifications, training capacity and upcoming training schedules should be prominently displayed to enable easy public access and better coordination.

The Chief Secretary also asked the Health Department to design certified courses in de-addiction and counselling to create a skilled professional workforce across departments. He directed IMHANS Srinagar to introduce diversified and certified training programmes and expand facilities in the Jammu Division as well.

Describing substance abuse as a serious public health challenge, Dulloo called for a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen the counsellor base and ensure structured capacity building to address the issue effectively.

He further urged departments to develop age-specific and profession-specific awareness content tailored for ASHA workers, Self-Help Group (SHG) members, youth, elderly citizens, government employees, police personnel and prosecution staff.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary also took a live demonstration of the Nasha Mukt J&K portal and directed that it be hosted on the State Data Centre to ensure improved security, reliability and accessibility.

New Delhi, Feb 13: The Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Delhi on Friday sentenced two Over Ground workers (OGWs) of the Pakistan Army backed banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist outfit to a maximum of 15 years of imprisonment in RC-11/2016/NIA/DLI, for providing shelter, food and logistic support to a heavily armed Pakistani terrorist who had infiltrated into Kashmir along with others with the intent to unleash terror in the Valley in 2016.

The agency in a statement issued said that residents of Handwara in Kupwara district of Kashmir, the two accused, identified as Zahoor Ahmed Peer and Nazeer Ahmad Peer, have been convicted and sentenced to 15 years of  imprisonment each under Section 18 and Section 19 of the UA(P) Act, and another nine years under Section 39 of the same legislation. The sentences will run concurrently, upto the maximum of 15 years. The two men have also been fined Rs. 50,000 under each of these sections, totalling a fine of Rs. 1,50,000 for each accused.

It said the case RC-11/2016/NIA/DLI relates to a larger LeT conspiracy, under which one Bahadur Ali @ Saifullah, a Pakistani national and trained terrorist, had infiltrated into the Indian territory in District Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir, along with other terrorists. The heavily armed group of terrorists was equipped with sophisticated arms and ammunition, explosives, navigation devices, night vision devices, and communication equipment.

While they were in the Indian territory, the group of terrorists had remained in constant contact with their LeT handlers based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan. The terrorists were continuously receiving instructions and directions for carrying out terrorist activities within India. They had planned to carry out a series of terror attacks J&K and other parts of India, including Delhi. Their plans were, however, foiled as Bahadur Ali was arrested on 25th July 2016, while two other infiltrating terrorists, namely Abu Saad and Abu Darda, were killed in an encounter by security forces later.

NIA had filed chargesheet against accused Bahadur Ali in January 2017. After he pleaded guilty, Bahadur Ali was convicted in March 2021, and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment under various provisions of IPC, UA (P) Act, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act,  Arms Act, and Foreigners Act.

It was during the course of further investigation that the role of Zahoor Ahmed Peer and Nazir Ahmad Peer emerged, and NIA found that they had provided safe shelter, food, and other logistics support to the Pakistani terrorist. The duo had even facilitated Bahadur Ali by arranging his meetings with other Pakistani terrorists in Kashmir Valley.

These two men were identified and arrested in September 2017 and were chargesheeted by NIA in March 2018. The court convicted them on 18th December 2025, and passed the sentence against them today, causing a massive setback to the OGW network of harbourers of Pakistani terrorists in Kashmir, the statement said.

Srinagar, Feb 13: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Friday said that due to some unavoidable maintenance work, the power supply will remain affected in several areas of Kashmir division in coming days.

Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL said that the shutdown of 33 KV Cheshmashahi-TRC-Nedous line will be observed due to which power supply to Dal, Paras Hospital and 33 KV installations of Rajbagh Tapline will be affected from 10 AM to 03 PM on 15 February 2026.

Further, shutdown of 33 KV Nehalpora-Gulmarg line will be observed due to which power supply to Reram, Chandilora, Watnoo, Tangmarg, Mulgam, Ferozpora, Katlipora, Rangwali, Kulhama, Gulmarg, Khyber, Chandil, Wanigam, Krelweth, Malpora and adjoining areas will be affected from 09 AM to 03 PM on 14 & 17 February 2026.

Srinagar, Feb 13: In its continued crackdown against drug menace, Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered a significant quantity of contraband substance from a residential house in Khudpora, Shopian.

Acting on specific information, Police Station Shopian registered a case under FIR No. 11/2026 of NDPS Act and, subsequently a team from Police Station Shopian accompanied by the Executive Magistrate, raided the house of Danish Maqbool Malik, resident of Khudpora Shopian. During the search, 3.072Kgs of poppy straw-like substance was seized and further investigation initiated. However, the accused managed to flee from the spot and efforts are on to nab him.

Police reiterated its commitment to eradicate the menace of drugs from society and urged the public to extend cooperation.

They also said that information regarding drug abuse/peddling can be shared on helpline 9596768831 (PCR Shopian), and added that the identity of informers will be kept strictly confidential.

Jammu, Feb 13: Former Forest Minister and former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Qazigund, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah, passed away in Jammu on Friday afternoon after a prolonged illness. He had been undergoing treatment for some time and breathed his last in Jammu.

As per news agency Kashmir News Corner—(KNC) Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah was a respected political figure in the Qazigund constituency and was widely known for his public outreach and contribution to social and political affairs in the region. During his tenure as MLA, he worked on various developmental initiatives and public welfare issues concerning his constituency. As Forest Minister, he played a significant role in matters related to forest conservation, environmental protection, and administrative reforms within the department.

He was the uncle of the sitting MLA from Qazigund, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad Shah. The news of his demise spread across the constituency and adjoining areas, with political leaders, party workers, and local residents expressing deep grief and extending condolences to the bereaved family.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow over his passing and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Office of Chief Minister, J&K said on X: “Chief Minister has expressed deep sorrow over the passing away of Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah, former Minister.

The Chief Minister recalled his contribution to public life and service to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family”.

Srinagar, Feb 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday acknowledged that the Achan garbage dumping site in Srinagar poses environmental and public health concerns but said immediate closure of the landfill is not technically or legally feasible in the absence of an alternative facility.

Replying to starred Assembly Question No. 908 tabled by MLA Shamima Firdous, the government said the Achan site has served as Srinagar’s municipal solid waste disposal facility since 1986.

Due to accumulation of legacy waste over several decades, environmental and health concerns have been reported from time to time, it said.

The government said the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has initiated scientific interventions in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

These include biomining and bioremediation of legacy waste, operation of a leachate treatment plant, continuous environmental monitoring, odor control measures and development of a green buffer zone to mitigate environmental and health impacts.

Responding to concerns raised by local residents demanding closure of the site, the government confirmed that public representations have been received and are being considered.

However, it said shutting down the landfill immediately is not possible without a fully operational alternative waste disposal facility for a city the size of Srinagar.

Instead, the government has adopted a policy of phased closure through scientific remediation rather than abrupt relocation.

It said SMC has begun biomining and bioremediation of approximately 1.1 million metric tons of legacy waste and scientific capping of old waste cells.

The administration is also developing integrated waste processing infrastructure under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and CITIES 2.0, aimed at minimizing landfilling and transitioning to engineered sanitary landfill practices.

On the question of identifying an alternative location, the government said no suitable land is currently available within the jurisdiction of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation for establishing a new municipal solid waste disposal facility.

It added that the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar has taken up the matter with all tehsildars in the district to identify suitable state land for the purpose.

The Achan landfill has long been a flashpoint for residents living in its vicinity, who have repeatedly raised concerns over foul odour, groundwater contamination and rising health issues.