Handwara, Sept 20: Police in Handwara apprehended a man during a naka checking operation on Saturday and recovered heroin-like substance from his possession. Officials confirmed that the man has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

According to police, a naka checking was established near HDFC Bank in Handwara town. During the operation, a person identified as Jahangir Ahmad Ganie, son of Ghulam Mohammad Ganie, a 40-year-old local of Bohipora Kupwara, was intercepted and searched. From his possession, police recovered around seven grams of a substance resembling heroin.

The individual, whose profession is recorded as domestic work, was immediately taken into custody. A formal case under FIR No. 215/2025 has been registered at Police Station Handwara under sections 8 and 21 of the NDPS Act.

Police sources said that preliminary investigation has been initiated and further questioning of the accused is underway to ascertain the source of the contraband and whether more individuals are involved in the illegal trade.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to curb the rising drug menace in north Kashmir, which has been a growing concern for both locals and law enforcement agencies. Senior officers in Handwara Police stated that more naka checking operations and surprise raids will continue in coming days to tighten the grip on narcotic smuggling and consumption.

Locals in the area have also expressed concern over the increasing cases of drug abuse, particularly among youth, and have urged authorities to intensify measures to dismantle the networks operating in Kupwara and Handwara belt.

Police have appealed to the public to share credible information about drug peddling in their areas so that timely action can be taken. They added that identity of informers will be kept strictly confidential.

The arrested individual remains in police custody while investigation continues. [KNT]

Banihal, Sept 20: The special train service between Budgam and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station, Katra, which was announced earlier this week, commenced operations yesterday, September 19. The service will run until October 3.

Railway authorities said the temporary service has been introduced in view of the poor condition of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway and frequent traffic restrictions.

Railway officials told Greater Kashmir thatbthe special train will halt at all major stations including Budgam, Srinagar, Awantipora, Anantnag, Qazigund, Banihal, Khari, Sumber, Sangaldan, Sawalkote, Duga, Bakkal, Reasi, and Katra. Tickets are available at all these stations , they added. They said that the fare from Budgam to SMVD Katra is just Rs 50, while from Banihal to Katra it is Rs 30.

According to the timetable issued by the Railways, the train departs from Budgam at 08:45 AM and arrives in Banihal at 10:45 AM. It leaves Banihal at 11:00 AM and reaches Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station at 01:30 PM, with the return service departing at 01:45 PM.

The public has warmly welcomed this initiative, and demands are growing for the temporary service to be made permanent. Thousands of passengers are expected to benefit from the affordable, safe, and uninterrupted travel option.

Anantnag, Sept 20: The Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Anantnag, Mubashir Jan, along with his enforcement team, on Saturday conducted an awareness-cum-interaction session with drivers and transport staff of Delhi Public School (DPS) Anantnag to reinforce safety measures for students.

ARTO Mubashir Jaan said that the initiative focused on ensuring strict compliance of school vehicles with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and Supreme Court guidelines on safe school transport.

During the session, ARTO Jan highlighted key requirements including CCTV cameras in buses, first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, speed governors, emergency exits, regular fitness and pollution checks, prohibition of rash driving and mobile phone use, and compulsory uniforms and ID cards for drivers and conductors.

He further directed the school authorities to ensure CCTVs remain functional at all times, terming them vital for accountability and security. The drivers and staff assured full cooperation, while the school management appreciated the ARTO office’s proactive initiative. (KNC)

Ganderbal, Sept 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Bank ATM installed at Kullan Gund Kangan in Ganderbal district has remained out of service for the past three days, causing inconvenience to locals, particularly traders, government employees, and regular account holders.

Locals complained that the shutdown has forced them to travel long distances to nearby Gund or Kangan towns to withdraw cash. The affected population includes daily wage earners, shopkeepers, and salaried employees who rely heavily on this facility for their routine financial needs.

Ali Muhammad, a local resident, expressed his frustration over the issue. “The ATM has been closed for three consecutive days. Customers are left with no option but to travel to Gund or Kangan, which is both time-consuming and costly. We request the bank authorities to keep this ATM functional round the clock to save us from repeated inconvenience,” he said.

Traders also voiced concern, saying that the cash crunch has disrupted their daily business transactions. Several shopkeepers noted that with growing reliance on cash for local trade, the absence of a functioning ATM has created a bottleneck in their routine dealings.

Government employees residing in the area echoed similar concerns, pointing out that salary withdrawals and urgent cash requirements have been affected. Many complained that despite being customers of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, they were being forced to spend extra money and time to access their own funds.

Locals urged the higher authorities of Jammu and Kashmir Bank to ensure that the ATM in Kullan Gund operates on a 24×7 basis. They stressed that the bank should strengthen its monitoring system to avoid repeated breakdowns, which cause distress to the public. [KNT]