Shopian, May 1: Ashiq Hussain Wani, a resident of Heerpora in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, spent days combing the Rambiara river in search of a missing three-year-old boy before finally recovering the body on Friday.

The child, Mohammad Hanzallah of Tiken village, had drowned near Dubijan on Sunday, triggering a massive search operation involving teams from the SDRF, NDRF, police, and local volunteers.

Familiar with the river’s terrain, Wani joined the search along with his brother and other locals, scanning stretches of the river despite strong currents and freezing conditions.

On Friday morning, Wani and his father, Farooq Ahmad, moved nearly 4 km downstream from the spot where the child had gone missing, continuing the search in icy waters.

“In the middle of the river, I noticed a large boulder and felt the body could be trapped underneath,” Wani said.

He said his father cautioned him against entering the fast-flowing waters without safety gear, but he decided to proceed.

“I took the risk and checked beneath the boulder. As I reached under it, I felt a body,” he said. “I immediately called out to my father and some local boys on the riverbank, and we pulled the child out.”

Wani said he was deeply moved by the family’s grief. “I couldn’t bear their pain. The thought of his mother crying wouldn’t let me sleep. That’s why I continued the search until we found him,” he said.

He said the recovery brought an end to days of uncertainty for the family, even as the operation highlighted the risks faced by locals who join such efforts.

Authorities had been conducting search operations since Sunday, but strong currents and the river’s rocky terrain made the task difficult.

“The administration offered every possible help to locate the child,” said a relative of Hanzallah.

The body was later handed over to the family for last rites.

Concerns Over Social Media Conduct

Amid the rescue efforts, some residents alleged that a few individuals attempted to exploit the tragedy for visibility on social media.

“It is tragic that some people came here merely to upload pictures on their social media accounts,” said Zaid Raja, a local reporter and resident.

Others also claimed that a few individuals sought to draw political mileage from the incident, drawing criticism from the community.

Srinagar, May 01: As part of its continued crackdown on narcotics-related activities, Shopian Police have attached a double-story residential house falling in the Khasra No. 1163 and valued at Rs 2037126/- belonging to Ali Mohd Bhat son of Gh Rasool Bhat resident of Haji Check Keegam.

The property, according to the police was identified as having been acquired through proceeds generated from the illegal trade of drugs and narcotics. Accordingly, the said property has been attached in connection with FIR No. 212/2025 of Police Station Shopian.

The attachment proceedings were carried out in the presence of duly constituted police team, Executive Magistrate, Lambardar and Chowkidar, ensuring full compliance with all legal procedures and maintaining transparency.

Shopian Police reiterated its firm commitment to eradicating the menace of drugs by targeting both offenders and the financial assets generated through illicit activities. They also urged general public to come forward with any information regarding drug trafficking or related activities.

Srinagar, May 01: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Friday arrested a head constable in Srinagar for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe, sources said.

The accused, identified as Parvaiz Ahmad, was caught during a trap operation laid by the ACB following a complaint from a local resident. The complaint had alleged that the policeman was seeking illegal gratification in connection with an official matter.

Acting on the complaint, the ACB team set up a trap in Batamaloo area and apprehended the accused red-handed while allegedly accepting ₹5,000 in cash along with a cheque worth ₹35,000.

The bribe amount was recovered on the spot in the presence of independent witness, they said.

A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the prevention of Corruption Act, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the full circumstances of the case.(KDC)

Srinagar, May 01: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of aiding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Rajya Sabha. He claimed that the PDP is now raising the issue of Urdu merely to divert public attention from its role in helping the BJP.

Speaking to reporters, Omar alleged that the PDP supported the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls.

“That is why they are saying Urdu, Urdu. They are showing something with one hand and doing something else with the other. They  helped the BJP in the Rajya Sabha, they don’t want people to pay attention to this. They are talking about Urdu. I have already made it clear that there is no truth in their claims about Urdu. They will never refrain from this. They are internally helping them,” Omar said, when asked about recent disclosures regarding the RS polls through an RTI application.

The Chief Minister said past experiences show that exit polls often fail to reflect actual results.

“When elections were held in West Bengal, most exit polls favoured the BJP. What was the result? We don’t have to wait too long now—by Monday, the results will be out and these exit polls will once again be proved wrong,” he said.

He added that at least one pollster chose not to release findings as the projections were not to their liking.

On the controversy regarding the Urdu language, the Chief Minister denied any decision to drop it, saying the government had only invited public feedback on a proposal.

“There is a clear difference between seeking public comments and taking a final decision. The file proposing changes is still on my table and I have not approved it,” he said. “I challenge those spreading lies to show any order where Urdu has been dropped.”

Omar said he does not believe in pre-poll rigging through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), but warned of alleged manipulation through revision of voter lists.

“Today, the concern is not EVMs. The real issue is deletion of voters from electoral rolls. If this happens, it poses a serious challenge for democracy,” he said.

On rising prices, Omar said the increase in fuel costs is already impacting daily life and transport fares.

“When oil prices go up, everything else follows. People were already paying higher fares informally; now revisions have become unavoidable,” he said.

He added that ongoing conflicts are a major factor behind rising prices.

“This war should not have started. There is no justification for it. If global tensions ease, oil prices will come down and people will get relief,” he said. —(KNO)

Srinagar, May 01: Lieutenant General Balbir Singh on Friday assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the strategically crucial XV Corps (Chinar Corps), reinforcing leadership at a time when security dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir remain under close watch.

Headquartered in Srinagar, the Chinar Corps is responsible for guarding the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and overseeing internal security operations across the Valley. Lt Gen Singh’s appointment comes amid sustained counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism efforts in the Union Territory.

An experienced officer with deep operational roots in Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Gen Singh has served in several key roles linked to counter-insurgency (CI) and counter-terrorism (CT) operations. Prior to his elevation, he was serving as Major General General Staff (MGGS) at the Northern Command.

An alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Lt Gen Singh began building his Kashmir experience early in his career. He held an important position at the 8 Sector headquarters in Lolab, Kupwara, where he was actively involved in operational planning. He later commanded 1 Sector of the Rashtriya Rifles during 2018–2019, playing a key role in managing the counter-insurgency grid.

In 2023, as a Major General, he took over as GOC of Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) Victor, based in Awantipora, succeeding Maj Gen Prashant Srivastava. The Victor Force is responsible for operations in south Kashmir, an area that has historically witnessed significant militant activity. During his tenure, Lt Gen Singh worked closely with formations under the Chinar Corps and Northern Command, contributing to coordinated security operations and strategic reviews.