Srinagar, June 05: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a corruption case against former Horticulture Department officials, committee members and a private contractor over alleged financial irregularities and procedural violations in development works executed at Zawoora Garden in Srinagar, officials said on Friday.

According to a statement issued, the case was registered following the outcome of a Joint Surprise Check conducted into allegations of corruption, financial irregularities, procedural violations and abuse of official position in connection with works executed by the Horticulture Department at Zawoora Garden.

The statement said the Joint Surprise Check was initiated by Police Station ACB Srinagar to examine allegations relating to the development of the Centre of Excellence at Zawoora Garden. The enquiry revealed prima facie evidence of serious irregularities in the tendering and execution of works undertaken under the project.

“During the verification, it surfaced that the NIT was allegedly framed in a manner that lacked specific quality parameters and technical specifications, thereby creating scope for arbitrary decision-making. It was further found that the financial provisions incorporated in the tender were substantially higher than those envisaged in the approved Detailed Project Report (DPR),” the spokesperson said.

The enquiry also revealed that the eligibility criteria relating to financial turnover were allegedly fixed at an unusually high threshold despite the actual requirement being significantly lower. The statement said the restrictive condition allegedly curtailed fair competition and favoured a particular bidder.

The spokesperson said the findings of the Joint Surprise Check prima facie indicate abuse of official position, criminal misconduct and criminal conspiracy involving public servants and the beneficiary private firm, resulting in undue pecuniary advantage to the contractor and corresponding loss to the government.

“Accordingly, FIR No. 09/2026 has been registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and Section 120-B RPC against the then Director Horticulture Kashmir, members of the District Level Purchase Committee (DLPC), members of the Inspection Committee, the beneficiary contractor M/S Fruit Master Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd., and other involved persons,” the spokesperson said.

He added that further investigation has been taken up to identify the role and culpability of all concerned and to take appropriate legal action in accordance with law.

Shopian, June 5: Police in south Kashmir’s Shopian district planted around 1,000 ornamental saplings across police establishments on Thursday to mark World Environment Day, officials said.

The plantation drive was conducted at various locations, including the District Police Office (DPO) and District Police Lines (DPL) Shopian, with officers and personnel participating in the initiative.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shopian planted a sapling at the DPO and highlighted the importance of environmental conservation. He said protecting the environment is a shared responsibility and urged citizens and police personnel alike to contribute towards a greener and healthier future through sustained plantation and conservation efforts.

The drive aimed to raise environmental awareness, enhance green cover and encourage collective action towards ecological sustainability. Senior officers also reaffirmed Shopian Police’s commitment to environmental protection and community welfare initiatives.

Srinagar, Jun 5: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday said his party will attend the meeting of the INDIA bloc in Delhi on June 8.

“The meeting is going to taking place. Omar (Abdullah) or I, one of us will go. Obviously, we are part of that. We will be there,” Abdullah told reporters in Hazratbal here.

To a question on LoP Sunil Shamra’s remark about Article 370 having been “burried”, he said the party will keep the issue of the special status alive “till eternity”.

“The day all of us get buried in Kashmir, it (Article 370) will also be buried that day,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister asserted.

The National Conference on Wednesday announced that its legislators will protest in Delhi to press for the restoration of statehood and special status.

Srinagar, June 05: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that Article 370 was never responsible for the lack of development in the erstwhile state, asserting that its abrogation had not led to any extraordinary economic transformation in the region.

Speaking at The Hindu Huddle, Omar said that Jammu and Kashmir’s developmental and economic challenges were largely the result of decades of violence and instability rather than its former special constitutional status.

“Article 370 was never a cause of any lack of development in Jammu and Kashmir, nor has its revocation suddenly resulted in massive development,” he said.

The National Conference leader said the region had suffered economically due to nearly three decades of militancy, which discouraged investors and businesses from operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

“People will not invest money in a part of the country that they deem to be unsafe. The perception that Jammu and Kashmir was an unsafe place to visit or do business in is what hurt us, not Article 370,” Abdullah said.

He also accused the BJP of using Article 370 as a political tool, stating that similar constitutional protections continue to exist in other parts of the country without attracting the same criticism.

Abdullah pointed out that restrictions on land ownership and entry permits remain in places like Lakshadweep and parts of the Northeast, but are rarely questioned.

“The only thing that was talked about was Jammu and Kashmir and the fact that you couldn’t buy land there. That was the stick used to beat us with,” he said.

Referring to the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister said it remained the foremost priority of his government, though there was still no clarity regarding the conditions required for its return.

“My target is to achieve statehood, yet I have no idea what goals I have to achieve to reach that point,” he said.

Omar further stated that governance would improve once Jammu and Kashmir regains statehood, arguing that the powers of an elected government remain limited under the existing Union Territory framework.

“It is better to be a state than a Union Territory. That is what we are trying to correct,” Abdullah added. —(KNO)

Srinagar, June 05: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday proposed suspending party identities and launching a collective democratic movement for restoration of rights of the rights of people of Jammu & Kashmir.

Speaking at The Hindu Huddle, the CM as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer(KNO), Omar said “If everyone is sincere, let us suspend political parties and stand together on one movement platform. We should fight democratically and peacefully until the constitutional rights and protections taken away in 2019 are restored.”

The CM said he would be willing to make personal political sacrifices if such a united movement emerged.

“I will be the first one to resign. Let representatives come from a common movement platform,” he said.

He stressed that any effort to regain rights must be consistent and not limited to symbolic gestures.

“People will call it a drama if there is no sincerity and continuity. It cannot be a one-off exercise. Continuous efforts are needed to build public trust,” he said.

The CM said there were efforts in different parts of the country to radicalise youngsters on religious lines and warned that such trends could have wider consequences.

“When you see an effort to radicalise youngsters, particularly in the north of the country, on religious lines, at the behest of our ruling party, you cannot expect there will be no knock-on effect elsewhere,” he said.

Ganderbal, June 05: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that the fight against drugs and narco-terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has evolved into a people’s movement, asserting that the administration will continue its crackdown until drug smugglers and narco-terrorists are completely eradicated from the Union Territory.

Addressing a gathering during an anti-drug campaign programme in Ganderbal, the Lieutenant Governor said the “Drug-Free Jammu and Kashmir” campaign, launched 55 days ago, aims to protect the youth from the menace of drug addiction and dismantle networks financing terrorism through narcotics trade.

According to the Lieutenant Governor, drugs not only destroy the future of young people but also serve as a major source of terror funding, enabling anti-national elements to procure weapons and fuel violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

Describing narco-terrorists as “enemies of the people and the youth,” Sinha said several such elements operating from across the border as well as within Jammu and Kashmir are involved in drug trafficking networks.

He warned that those engaged in narco-terrorism are already paying a heavy price and would face even stricter action in the future.

The Lieutenant Governor said the administration has adopted a three-pronged strategy to tackle the menace, focusing on dismantling supply chains, creating awareness and rehabilitating victims of addiction.

He said the Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security agencies are actively working to break drug networks, arrest traffickers and seize illegally acquired assets. He added that structures built from illicit proceeds, including those raised on encroached government land, are also being demolished.

Highlighting awareness initiatives, Sinha appreciated the Ganderbal district administration and police for conducting extensive outreach programmes across villages and panchayats to educate people about the dangers of drug abuse.

On rehabilitation, he said the administration is committed to ensuring treatment, counselling and employment opportunities for those affected by addiction, adding that every effort is being made to reintegrate them into society with dignity and compassion.

Sharing details of the campaign’s progress, the Lieutenant Governor said that during the past 55 days, 1,036 FIRs have been registered against drug smugglers and 1,128 traffickers arrested.

He said 63 smugglers have been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), more than 100 properties attached and over 700 driving licences cancelled.

He further said recommendations have been made for cancellation of vehicle registrations and passports of 130 major drug smugglers, while several other actions are underway.

Seeking public support for the anti-drug drive, Sinha asked people whether they wanted the crackdown on smugglers to continue, receiving an overwhelming response in favour of stricter action.

“We will not rest until drug smugglers and narco-terrorists are completely wiped out from the soil of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, assuring people that the administration would continue working tirelessly to safeguard society and protect future generations from the scourge of drugs. —(KNO)

Shopian, June 05: At least six persons were injured after a car skidded off the road and rolled down at Dubjan in Heerpora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday.

Officials said, the accident involved a Swift car bearing registration number JK11D-4114, which was travelling from Rajouri towards Shopian.

The vehicle, driven by Sunil Sharma, son of Ramesh Sharma, reportedly went out of control, skidded off the road and rolled down, resulting in injuries to the driver and five co-passengers.

The officials identified the injured as Rajesh Kumar, son of Ramesh Kumar; Plavi Chandan, wife of Rajesh Kumar; Aarav Kumar, son of Rajesh Kumar; Prachi, daughter of Rajesh Kumar; and Dua Kumar, son of Vijay Kumar.

All the injured persons were shifted to District Hospital for treatment.

Further details are awaited.