Jammu. Feb 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday, said that the conservation, protection and major developmental interventions at Parihaspora, Pattan and Tappar were being undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

While replying to a related question in the Legislative Assembly, raised by MLA Pattan, Javid Riyaz Bedar, stated that the mandate for promotion of heritage tourism at the heritage sites of Parihaspora, Pattan and Tappar vested with the ASI.

“The Department of Culture is mandated with the revival, restoration and conservation of Jammu and Kashmir’s valuable heritage sites, and several initiatives have been undertaken in this regard at key locations including Parihaspora, Pattan and Tappar,” the Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Culture and Tourism departments, informed the House.

He said that with a view to facilitating tourists, the J&K Tourism Department constructed a tourist cafeteria at Parihaspora to provide basic amenities to visitors. He added that the facility would be further renovated and upgraded to enhance service delivery.

Providing details of the initiatives taken by the Culture Department, the Chief Minister said that Goverdhan, Parihaspora was a State Protected Monument declared vide SRO-408 dated September 19, 2013. “Protection measures, including the installation of chain-link fencing around the monument, have been completed during FY 2024–25 under the capex budget at an estimated cost of Rs 39.89 lakh,” he said.

Similarly, Divar Yakhmanpora, Parihaspora is a state-protected monument declared vide SRO-337 dated August 31, 1989. The site comprises an ancient temple complex currently under excavation.

“The excavation work was initiated during the financial year 2023–24 under phase-I of the Scheme for Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage in J&K, with an estimated cost of Rs 373.10 lakh. About 60 percent of the excavation work has been completed. As the process involves manual excavation, the work is likely to continue into the next financial year. The site is being actively looked after by the department,” CM Omar stated.

He informed that in Pattan, a heritage site comprising a temple and spring near Sukh Nag was declared state protected monument vide SRO-517 dated August 29, 2019. Restoration and development works at the Sukh Nag spring and temple were undertaken during the financial year 2024–25 under the same scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 229.92 lakh.

The Chief Minister added that the site was completely restored and was being maintained by the Department.

Regarding Tappar, the Chief Minister said that the Tappar heritage site is a centrally protected monument under the administrative control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and accordingly, no initiative has been taken by the department at this site.

Jammu, Feb 04: Encounters are taking place even in 2026, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday in a veiled jibe at the BJP over its claim that terrorism would end following the abrogation of Article 370 that happened in 2019.

Three Pakistani terrorists were killed in encounters with security forces in the higher reaches of Ramnagar in Udhampur and Chatroo in Kishtwar districts on Wednesday, taking the death toll in nine gunfights in the Jammu region in the past three weeks to five.

Earlier, one Pakistani terrorist was killed in Kathua on January 23, while an Army paratrooper also laid down his life in a gunfight in Kishtwar on January 18.

“It just keeps going on. They (terrorists) were killed, fine, but where did they come from? How did they reach Udhampur? Since when were they there? And how long will this continue?

“We were told that after 2019, this cycle would end. But now, even in 2026, it has started again and is not stopping,” the chief minister told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

He was responding to a question about the killing of two JeM terrorists in a two-day-long operation in Ramnagar forest in Udhampur district.

“On the contrary, areas that were completely free of terrorism before 2014–15 are now witnessing such incidents. So how did they reach Udhampur? Since when were they present there? Somewhere, we must get answers to these questions,” the chief minister said.

Asked about the upcoming three-day visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Abdullah said he would not like to discuss it in the media. “We will sit across the table and talk. There are many issues that need to be discussed face-to-face. We will do that.”

In response to another question related to the rise in cancer cases in the Union Territory, the chief minister said there was no dispute over the fact that cancer incidence was rising, and the reasons behind it could only be determined by medical experts.

Outlining the government’s role in curbing the number of such cases, he mentioned three key responsibilities that needed urgent attention.

“The first is increased funding for research and development, along with the creation of proper infrastructure. The second is strengthening the healthcare system to ensure that state cancer institutes function effectively, have adequate infrastructure, and allow doctors to work efficiently.”

The third priority, he said, is supporting financially weaker sections for whom cancer treatment had become extremely difficult due to the high cost of medicines.

“The government is working on a special package for such patients, which would be announced in due course,” he added.

Srinagar, Feb 04: Army on Wednesday said that one terrorist has been killed in the ongoing encounter in Dichhar area of Kishtwar district.

Army’s White Knight Corps in its X handle said: “In the continuing search and elimination of terrorists in the Kishtwar region, where the hunt has already led to several contacts in the dense forests and challenging terrain, contact was re-established with the terrorists on the run in the ongoing joint Operation Trashi-I, by the troops of CIF Delta, White Knight Corps, Jammu & Kashmir Police and CRPF at around 5.45 pm today in the general area of Dichhar, Kishtwar”.

“One terrorist has been successfully neutralized. Operation is in progress,” Army added.

#WhiteKnightCorps | #OpTrashi-I | #OneTerroristKilled

OPERATION TRASHI-I | ONE TERRORIST KILLED

In the continuing search and elimination of terrorists in the Kishtwar region, where the hunt has already led to several contacts in the dense forests and challenging terrain,…

— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) February 4, 2026

Earlier, security forces had neutralized two terrorists in an encounter in Udhampur district.

Kishtwar, Feb 04: An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the Bichaar area of Chhatroo in Kishtwar district on Wednesday, officials said.

Official sources told news agency Kashmir News Corner (KNC) that the exchange of fire erupted during a search operation launched by security forces following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.

They said additional forces have been rushed to the spot, and the operation is currently underway. Further details are awaited.

Earlier, security forces had neutralised two terrorists in an encounter in Udhampur district.

Jammu, Feb 04: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to use his mandate to engage with the youth and people of Jammu and Kashmir and seek meaningful dialogue with the Union Home Minister.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, Para said that the democratic process in the Union Territory appears “powerless” and should not be reduced to mere procedural formalities. “Invite the Home Minister for talks with the youth and the people of J&K. Use the mandate to engage them, not reduce a historic struggle to business rules,” he said.

Referring to the developments after August 5, 2019, Para said the pain and sense of loss felt by the people should not be normalised or silenced. “End the sense of defeat. Our pain will not be silenced or normalised after August 5,” he asserted.