Kishtwar, Oct 05: The body of 22-year-old woman who had been missing for over two weeks was recovered by the SDRF team of Kishtwar police on Sunday.
Officials said that the deceased has been identified as Shareefa Begum, wife of Mohammad Rafiq, a resident of Kwar Nagsini, Kishtwar. She had been missing since 18 September 2025.
She was the mother of two children. Further investigation into the case is underway. (KNC)
Srinagar, Oct 05: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday described the human mind as the “greatest miracle of life,” emphasizing that the future of Jammu and Kashmir’s development is directly connected with the empowerment and creativity of its youth.
Addressing a gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said, “Jammu and Kashmir ka vikas seedha yuva shakti ke saath juda hua hai. We have to build such an environment that can turn them into innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders of tomorrow.”
Highlighting the power of the human intellect, LG Sinha said that a child who learns simple calculations like addition, subtraction, and multiplication early in life develops sharper life skills and decision-making abilities. “These basic skills help young minds to think analytically and make quick, effective decisions,” he added.
The LG went on to cite a fascinating example from the tech world, referring to Google’s initiative to count books across libraries worldwide. “Google had started counting the books in libraries and found that there are nearly 13 crore unique books in the world.
The knowledge contained in these 13 crore books can fit into the brain of a human being,” he said, underlining the limitless potential of the human mind. “If any person learns to use his mind fully, the knowledge of the entire world can go into his brain,” LG Sinha said, adding, “Harnessing this mental potential can pave the way for innovation, wisdom, and progress.”
Calling upon the youth to think beyond boundaries and use their intellect for nation-building, LG Sinha said that empowering young minds with curiosity, knowledge, and discipline would determine the Union Territory’s march toward a prosperous future—(KNO)
Chhindwara, Oct 05: In a move following the death of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, police have arrested Dr Praveen Soni and registered a case against him and Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Sresan Pharmaceuticals.
The action comes in the wake of a disturbing revelation that the children had consumed “Coldrif” cough syrup, which reportedly contained toxic compounds, diethylene glycol beyond permissible limits, leading to fatal renal failure.
“It was found 48 per cent against the permissible limit of just 0.1 per cent,” the investigation has revealed.
Superintendent of Police, Chhindwara, Ajay Pandey, confirmed the arrest during a media briefing, stating that Dr Soni had prescribed the syrup to the majority of the affected children.
“On the basis of the Block Medical Officer’s report, a case was filed under sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,” Pandey said.
The FIR was lodged at Parasia police station late Saturday night, and Dr Soni was apprehended from Rajpal Chowk in the Kotwali police station area during a late-night raid by the SP’s special investigation team.
Pandey further revealed that the Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe the role of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures the Coldrif syrup in Tamil Nadu.
The SIT will travel to the company’s production base to investigate the source and composition of the medicine.
“The manufacturing company, Sresan Pharmaceuticals of Tamil Nadu, has also been named a prime accused in this case,” he added.
The deaths, concentrated in the Parasia area, had raised alarm over the past few days. Initial reports linked the fatalities to severe cough and cold symptoms.
A detailed inquiry by the Block Medical Officer concluded that the Coldrif syrup contained a harmful compound responsible for kidney failure in children. Based on this report, legal action was initiated, and further investigation into the prescriptions and supply chain is underway.
Pandey said the Block Medical Officer’s findings were critical in establishing the link between the syrup and the deaths.
“It was found that the compound in the syrup led to renal failure among children, which ultimately caused their deaths,” he said.
The police are now examining the prescription records and other related details to determine the extent of negligence and accountability.
The tragedy has sparked outrage and demands for stricter oversight of pharmaceutical manufacturing and paediatric prescriptions.
Authorities have assured that the investigation will be pursued thoroughly and all those responsible will be held accountable.
Udhampur, Oct 05: One person lost his life, and three others sustained serious injuries after an Eco car met with an accident on the road at Choe-Panjian in Tehsil Majalta, Udhampur district, late Saturday night.
Police sources said that the accident involved an Eco vehicle bearing registration number JK14K-3514, which reportedly lost control and crashed along the roadside. The mishap led to the death of one local, identified as Ravi Singh, son of Parkash Singh, a resident of Choe-Panjian, Majalta area of Udhampur district.
Three others were grievously injured in the incident. They have been identified as Naresh Singh, 22, son of Mahinder Singh of Choe-Panjian; Rajinder Singh, 21, son of Gian Singh of Do; and Hardev Singh, aged around 21–22, son of Kanso Ram of the same area.
The injured were immediately shifted to Billawar Hospital for medical treatment. Officials said the condition of the injured is being closely monitored, while police have taken cognizance of the matter and initiated further investigation to ascertain the cause of the mishap.
Locals in the area have expressed concern over frequent road accidents in the region, urging authorities to improve road safety measures and repair damaged road stretches prone to such incidents. [KNT]
Srinagar, Oct 05: A court here has rejected the bail pleas of eight police personnel arrested by the CBI for allegedly inflicting custodial torture on a police constable two years ago.
The bail applications were rejected by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, Aadil Mushtaq Ahmad on Saturday.
Deputy Superintendent of police Aijaz Ahmad Naik, Inspector Riyaz Ahmad Mir and other accused cops — Tanveer Ahmad Malla, Altaf Hussain Bhat, Mohammad Younis Khan, Shakir Hussain Khoja, Shahnawaz Ahmad Deedad, and Jehangir Ahmad Beigh — had filed the separate bail applications before the court.
The accused policemen, who were arrested on the orders of the Supreme Court, had sought the bail in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate allegations of custodial torture and grievous bodily injuries inflicted upon constable Khursheed Ahmed Chowhan, during his alleged illegal confinement at the Joint Interrogation Centre Kupwara in February 2023.
“The court is of the considered opinion that none of the three applications disclose any exceptional circumstance warranting departure from the settled principle that bail is not to be granted in serious custodial violence cases at the investigative stage,” the judge said in the single order on all the three bail applications.
The judge said being a sessions-triable, non bailable case involving offences punishable with severe terms, the jurisdiction of this court is limited.
“However, the prosecution has persuasively demonstrated that custodial supervision remains necessary to prevent interference and intimidation,” he added.
Reasi, Oct 05: A road accident in the hilly region of Mahore in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district claimed the life of a local advocate on Sunday, after his car skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Malai.
Officials said the accident involved a vehicle bearing registration number JK20C-8915, which went out of control while navigating a sharp curve. The mishap resulted in the death of Advocate Balbir Singh, a resident of Dharamri area of Reasi.
Locals and police rushed to the spot soon after the incident and retrieved the body from the site. However, the victim had already succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash. The vehicle was badly damaged due to the impact of the fall.
A police official confirmed that cognizance of the incident has been taken and an investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the accident.
“Preliminary findings suggest the vehicle skidded off the slippery stretch, possibly due to over-speeding or road conditions, but the exact cause will be established after a detailed probe,” the official said. [KNT]
Srinagar, Oct 05: The Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch Kashmir has booked a Pune-based imposter in connection with a supply scam. The imposter–claiming to be the proprietor of a firm named D.K. Enterprises– duped a complainant of ₹46.90 lakhs, officials said on Sunday.
In a press statement, an official spokesperson said that “The Economic Offences Wing (Crime Branch Kashmir) received a written complaint wherein it was alleged that a person based in Pune, claiming to be the proprietor of a firm named D.K. Enterprises, contacted the complainant and assured the supply of “Sifine Natural Nut”. However, despite receiving an advance payment, the consignment was never delivered, thereby cheating the complainant of ₹46.90 lakhs.”
He added that Upon receipt of the complaint, a preliminary enquiry was initiated at the Economic Offences Wing (Crime Branch Kashmir). He said that during the course of the probe, it prima facie surfaced that the alleged supplier, by deceitful means, placed a false supply order and misrepresented D.K. Enterprises as a legitimate supplier of “Sifine Natural Nut”. The complainant was induced to part with the money on this pretext, which later turned out to be fraudulent.
The acts on part of the accused thus prima facie disclose the commission of cognizable offences punishable under Section 420 of the IPC read with Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. Accordingly, cognizance has been taken and a formal case has been registered at Police Station Economic Offences Wing (Crime Branch Kashmir).
“Further investigation into the matter is in progress.” The spokesperson said.
Shopian, Oct 05: A wave of thefts has unsettled locals in parts of South Kashmir’s Shopian district after burglars decamped with gold ornaments worth around Rs 12 lakh from a residential house in Dhobipora, Nagabal, while two cows were stolen in a separate incident in the Haidergund village during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
Reports said the burglary at Dhobipora came to light when the family of Nazir Ahmed Wani discovered that their house had been broken into. The burglars reportedly took away gold ornaments valued at approximately Rs 12 lakh. Police have registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation into the incident.
In another incident the same night, two cows belonging to locals identified as Nisar Ahmed Malik and Muhammad Amin Malik were stolen from Haidergund village. The theft has sparked widespread concern among villagers, who say they have been facing a recurring pattern of such incidents over the past few years.
Locals said that last year alone, at least 13 cows were stolen from different villages across the district, including areas like Vehil, Hermain, and Pinjoora. They alleged that despite repeated complaints, such thefts continue unabated.
“We strongly believe that most of these incidents are linked to drug addicts who steal valuables and livestock to fund their addiction.”
Several locals urged the authorities to intensify night patrols, particularly in interior villages where such thefts are on the rise. They said that with the onset of autumn, when most families are busy with harvesting and horticultural work, thieves find an easy opportunity to strike. [KNT]
New Delhi, Oct 05: The National Investigation Agency has filed a chargesheet against four persons involved in the grenade attack at the residence of former Punjab Minister Manoranjan Kalia in April this year.
According to a statement issued by NIA, the chargesheet filed today has named two arrested accused, Saidul Ameen of Amroha (UP) and Abhijot Jangra of Kurukshetra (Haryana), and two absconders, Kulbir Singh Sidhu of Yamunanagar (Haryana) and Manish @ Kaka Rana of Karnal (Haryana). All four have been charged under various sections of UA(P) Act, BNS, and Explosive Substances Act in the case RC-/11/2025/NIA/DLI.
The attack on the premises of former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar (Punjab) was carried out on the night of 7th April 2025, and NIA took over the probe a few days later, on 12th April, it reads.
Kulbeer Singh, an operative of proscribed terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) has conspired with his associate Manish @ Kaka Rana and formed a terror gang to target the prominent leaders of Punjab to create terror among the general public for raising funds for BKI through extortion. Manish had subsequently recruited Saidul Ameen, who had hurled the grenade on the fateful night. The grenade was supplied to Saidul by Kulbir, while Abhijot provided the terror funds, it reads.
Kulbir had circulated a poster after the attack, claiming responsibility for hatching the conspiracy along with Manish. A red corner notice has been issued against Kulbir, who is also carrying a reward of Rs. 10 lakh for his arrest. NIA had earlier also chargesheeted Kulbir in the case RC-06/2024/NIA /DLI, related to the targeted killing of VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar in April 2024, it reads.
NIA has intensified its efforts to track and arrest the absconders and identify other members of BKI operating in India, reads the statement. (KNC)
Barcelona, Oct 05: Hundreds of thousands of Italians and Spaniards marched in Rome, Barcelona and Madrid on Saturday against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in a show of growing international anger over the two-year-old war.
The protests in almost every major Spanish city had been planned for weeks, while the demonstration in Rome followed widespread anger after the Israeli interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla that had set sail from Barcelona in a bid to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory.
The protests across southern Europe come as Hamas said that it has accepted some elements of a plan laid out by US President Donald Trump to end the war, which has left Gaza’s largest city in famine and stirred accusations of genocide against Israel.
Rome’s police said that 250,000 people turned out, while organisers said that 1 million attended, for a second straight day of Italian demonstrations. Italy already saw more than 2 million people rally on Friday in a one-day general strike to support the Palestinians in Gaza.
In Spain, officials said that 100,000 people marched in Madrid and another 70,000 filled downtown Barcelona. Organisers of the Madrid march raised attendance to 400,000, while organisers in Barcelona said that 300,000 took part.
Spaniards were also called by activists to march in Valencia, Sevilla, Malaga and other cities.
Smaller rallies took place in Paris, Lisbon, Athens and Skopje, North Macedonia, and in London and Manchester, England.
Protests in Rome criticise Meloni
The protest in Rome that followed a route by the Colosseum was organised by three Palestinian organisations along with local unions and students.
At Piazza San Giovanni, protesters chanted and applauded the name of Francesca Albanese, an Italian who is the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories and a vocal critic of Israel.
Although the organisers had requested that only Palestinian flags be carried, there were some banners praising the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas. One read, “October 7, Day of Palestinian Resistance,” a reference to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that sparked the war, while another large flag read “Death, death to the IDF,” a reference to the Israel Defense Forces. A group also chanted the same slogan, state broadcaster RAI reported.
Opposition lawmaker Riccardo Magi, secretary of the centre-left Piu Europa (more Europe) party, who was among the marchers, took Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government to task for its refusal to recognise a Palestinian state, following the example of Spain, France, the UK and some other Western countries.
“Meloni cannot continue with this obscene victimhood: these are spontaneous demonstrations against the inaction and complicity of her government. She must acknowledge this and begin working diplomatically for peace,” Magi told Italian media.
Big rally in Barcelona
Spain has seen an upsurge of support for Palestinians in recent weeks while its left-wing government intensifies diplomatic efforts against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government. Protests against the presence of an Israeli-owned cycling team repeatedly disrupted the Spanish Vuelta last month, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the destruction in Gaza a “genocide” and asked for the ban of all Israeli teams from international sporting events.
People packed Barcelona’s wide Passeig de Gracia, the city’s main central boulevard. Many families turned out along with people of all ages, carrying Palestinian flags. Hand-held signs bore messages like “Gaza hurts me,” “Stop the Genocide,” and “Hands off the flotilla.”
More than 40 Spaniards, including a former Barcelona mayor, were among the 450 activists that Israel removed from the flotilla’s boats this week.
While the protests will likely not sway Israel’s government, protesters hope they could inspire other demonstrations and encourage European leaders to take a harder line against Israel.
Maria Jesus Parra, 63, waved a Palestinian flag after making an hourlong trip from another town to Barcelona. She wants the European Union to act against what she described as the horrors she watches on TV news.
“How is it possible that we are witnessing a genocide happening live after what we (as Europe) experienced in the 1940s?” Parra said. “Now nobody can say they didn’t know what was happening.”
People in Madrid marched behind banners that read “Shame” and “Racist War, Free Palestine,” while chanting “Netanyahu (is a) Killer.”
Greek police believe a bigger gathering and march will take place Sunday to coincide with a pro-Israeli one. The two protests are separated by some 3 kilometres (2 miles) and police will be on hand to prevent the pro-Palestinian march to the Israeli Embassy, as as happened on previous occasions.
The war in Gaza started after Hamas’ attack in October 2023, which left around 1,200 people dead, while 251 others were taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has so far killed more than 67,000 people and wounded nearly 170,000 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government. UN agencies and many independent experts view its figures as the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
