Handwara, Sep 28: Continuing its relentless drive against the menace of drug trafficking and substance abuse, Handwara Police today attached a motorcycle under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, officials said.

In a statement, A police spokesperson stated, “A police party of Police Post Zachaldara, acting on legal provisions, attached a motorcycle bearing registration number PB91E-1017, belonging to Ghulam Mohammad Rather, son of Mohammad Asadullah Rather, resident of Kralpora, Kupwara. The said individual is involved in FIR No. 164/2025, registered under Sections 8/15 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Handwara.”

The action was carried out under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act, which empowers law enforcement agencies to freeze, seize, or attach property/vehicles used in illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs. This step forms part of the broader strategy of Handwara Police to not only prosecute offenders but also strike at the financial gains and assets derived from the drug trade, he added.

SSP Handwara, Shri Mushtaq Ahmad Chowdhary (JKPS), reiterated that stringent action will continue against drug peddlers, suppliers, and their facilitators. “Our priority is to safeguard the younger generation from the disastrous effects of drugs. Anyone found involved directly or indirectly will face strict legal consequences,” he said.

Handwara Police once again urged the general public to extend full cooperation and share credible information regarding drug peddling and related activities. The identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential. Together, we can defeat this social evil and build a drug-free society.

Srinagar, Sept 28: Stray dogs have dug up a large patch of Joggers Park, in the posh Raj Bagh area of Srinagar city, leaving the once well-maintained recreational ground in disarray. The damage, visible across the lawns, has raised serious concerns among locals, particularly joggers, about the absence of staff oversight and the accountability of those tasked with maintaining the park.

Joggers Park, located in the heart of Raj Bagh, is one of Srinagar’s few open green spaces frequented by morning walkers, elderly residents, and children. Locals said that the park has gradually fallen into neglect, with stray dogs roaming freely and causing destruction. “This is the only place for us to walk in peace, but now dogs have made it unsafe and destroyed the grass cover. Who will take responsibility?” asked a morning walker.

Despite the presence of garbage bins and other infrastructure in the park, locals complained that routine maintenance is missing and staff rarely show up to address problems. “Where are the employees whose job is to look after this park? Accountability is nowhere to be seen. Authorities are only good at inaugurating facilities, but when it comes to upkeep, there is no system,” another jogger remarked.

They said damage caused by stray dogs is not uncommon in urban parks but can be minimized through fencing, regular patrolling, and better waste management to keep animals away. However, in Srinagar, lax enforcement has allowed the problem to persist unchecked.

Joggers and families who rely on the park for exercise and recreation have appealed to the Floriculture Department to immediately repair the damaged lawns and deploy regular staff to monitor the premises. They warned that if such negligence continues, public spaces will lose their purpose and remain unsafe both for recreation and for maintaining Srinagar’s green character. [KNT]

Baramulla, Sept 28: A road accident in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district left around 18 sheep and goats dead after a speeding school bus ran over a herd near Kunzar on the Tangmarg road. The accident has pushed the affected pastoral family into despair, as the livestock were their only source of income.

According to locals, the herd was crossing the road when the bus, allegedly moving at high speed, lost control and rammed into the animals. The livestock died instantly, leaving the owner shocked and devastated. Police confirmed that a formal case has been registered and that the matter is under investigation.

The owner of the livestock, belonging to a poor pastoral family, expressed deep anguish over the loss, saying the incident had destroyed their livelihood. “These animals were our bread and butter. Losing them means we have no way left to survive,” the family said in an emotional appeal to authorities, urging financial assistance and strict action against reckless driving.

Locals present at the site said that overspeeding has become a recurring menace on the Kunzar–Tangmarg and Gulmarg stretches. They noted that despite traffic police conducting awareness drives, many drivers continue to flout traffic rules, creating constant danger on the roads. “Every day we see vehicles being driven carelessly. Unless rules are enforced properly, accidents like this will keep repeating,” said a local.

Authorities are expected to assess the family’s loss and consider appropriate relief measures in the coming days. Meanwhile, traffic police have reiterated their appeal to drivers to strictly follow speed limits, especially in areas where locals and their livestock frequently cross the road. [KNT]

Anantnag, Sep 28: A 60-year-old tourist from Maharashtra died after reportedly falling ill during his stay at a hotel in Pahalgam.

Official sources said that the tourist, identified as Mohammad Naseem, son of Mohammad Nayeem, had been staying at a hotel in Pahalgam when he suddenly fall ill during the intervening night of 27/28 September.

He was immediately shifted to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Pahalgam for treatment, from where doctors referred him to District Hospital Anantnag. However, upon arrival, he was declared brought dead, they said.

Cognizance of the incident has been taken and further investigation initiated. (KNC)

Jammu, Sep 27: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday said the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is grave injustice and a joke with democracy.

Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on Friday and lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan, two days after protests for statehood to Ladakh turned violent killing four people and injuring 90 others.

“He (Wangchuk) was speaking about global warming and public issues and sending him to Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan without a fault is injustice and a joke with democracy,” Choudhary told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

He said the authorities should have arrested those who indulged in arson. “What was his fault? Today is a situation where even a son is not listening to his father so how come people of Ladakh will follow him.”

The deputy chief minister said the people like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Mahatma Gandhi who sacrificed their lives for freedom and democracy might be weeping on finding “gentlemen being jailed in fabricated cases and then sending them in jails far away from their families so that they cannot meet each other”.

Meanwhile, J&K Congress working president Raman Bhalla hit out at the BJP for its “total failure” to deal with the situation in Leh and accused the Centre of pushing the people of Ladakh to the wall by ignoring their peaceful struggle in support of their demands for the last five years.

“The violence was the result of utter failure of the Centre to hold meaningful and result oriented dialogue with the peaceful agitators for five years on the promises made to them by the BJP,” Bhalla, flanked by other senior leaders, told reporters here.

“The BJP stands exposed for its lies and betrayals, as the promises made to the Ladakhis were not fulfilled. The Congress supports the legitimate demands of people of Ladakh and appeals for peace and normalcy,” he said.

The Congress condemned the killing of four youth on Wednesday’s violence and supported the demand for a judicial probe for justice.

“We appeal to the people of Ladakh to continue to follow Gandhian mode for the fulfilment of their legitimate demands,” Bhalla said.

The Congress leader said the Centre should learn a lesson from Ladakh and fulfil the repeated promises made to the people of J&K about restoration of statehood without any further delay.