Srinagar, July 17: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday arrested a drug peddler in Kulgam and recovered huge quantity of contraband substances recovered from his possession.

A police in a statement said that acting swiftly on a specific information regarding hoarding of narcotic substances, a special team of police party headed by IC PP Frisal along with Executive Magistrate Frisal raided a suspected location (residential house) of Wakeel Ahmad Dar, son of Maroof Ahmad Dar, resident of Peerbal Mohalla Frisal, Yaripora. During search, 5.145 Kgs of Grinded Cannabis and 1.735 Kgs of Poppy Straw like substances were recovered and the said accused person was arrested on spot.

The case vide FIR No. 45/2025 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Yaripora and investigation has been taken up, statement reads.

Srinagar, July 17: The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir on Thursday carried out searches at multiple locations in Srinagar and Budgam Districts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with an FIR against seven persons including Tehsildar for corruption, cheating, false mutations and wrongful insertions in Revenue records, officials said.

According to a press release issued the Greater Kashmir, “Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir received a written complaint, wherein it was alleged that the complainant had purchased a piece of land at Balhama measuring 5 Kanals 4 marlas @ Rs. 17 lakhs per Kanal from Mohammed Shafi Lone @ Shafi Cheeni S/o Abdul Ahad Lone R/o House No. 187 Sec. B Peerbagh Srinagar and prepared three sale deeds. The complainant paid Rs. 88,40,000/- to Mohammed Shafi Lone @ Shafi Cheeni.“

“The complainant also gave 02 kanals of land situated at Gooripora Rawalpora to alleged accused in exchange, which was later-on sold by the accused. It was further alleged that sale deeds were taken back by the accused persons for updation of records; however, after their return it was found that insertions have been made in sale deeds by changing Khasra numbers from 314, 315 to 290, 325 to 316 and 312, 324 min and 290 was changed to 290. The complainant alleged that land was under her possession however one individual forcibly occupied 02 Kanals and 10 marlas from the said land, who claimed that the land was sold to him by one Rayaz Ahmad Bhat S/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat R/o Nowgam Srinagar.” It adds.

It adds that upon receipt of the complaint, verification was initiated at Police Station EOW Srinagar (Crime Branch Kashmir). During the probe, it has been prima facie substantiated that the accused deceived the complainant by inserting incorrect survey numbers in the sale deeds in connivance with the concerned Revenue officers and officials. The investigation further revealed that false mutations were subsequently inserted into the Revenue records by the then Tehsildar Balhama, Nusrat Aziz, and the then Patwari, Ashiq Ali, to illegally confer undue benefit upon Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, who sold land that did not belong to him.

The criminal acts on part of the accused persons:

Ms. Nusrat Aziz D/o Abdul Aziz Lone R/o Gurez A/P Mehjoor Nagar Srinagar (the then Tehsildar Balhama)

Ashiq Ali S/o Ghulam Rasool Khan R/o Panner Jagir A/P Hawal Srinagar (the then Patwari Balhama Srinagar)

Riyaz Ahmad Bhat S/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat R/o Nowgam Srinagar

Mohammad Shafi Lone @ Shaff Cheeni S/o Abdul Ahad Lone R/o House No. 187 Sec B, Peerbagh Srinaga

Shamima Akhter W/o Mohammad Shafi Lone R/o Gooripora Rawalpor

Shahnawaz Ahmad Rather S/o Noor Mohammad Rather R/o Padshahi Bagh Srinaga

Shabir Ahmad Wani S/o Mohammad Ismail Wani R/o Bagandar Lasjan

It reads, Prima-facie disclose commission of offences punishable U/S 167,420, 120-B RPC r/w 5(2) Prevention of Corruption Act Svt. 2006. Accordingly case FIR No. 14/2025 has been registered in P/S EOW (Crime Branch Kashmir). Subsequently, search warrants were obtained from the Hon’ble Court of law and searches are underway at seven different locations in Srinagar and Budgam Jurisdictions.

Further, It is pertinent to mention that Smt. Nusrat Aziz D/o Abdul Aziz Lone R/o Gurez A/P Mehjoor Nagar Srinagar (Tehsildar) and others are also involved in case FIR No. 08/2021 U/S 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B RPC r/w 5(2) Prevention of Corruption Act. of P/S Crime Branch Kashmir which is near completion. These involved persons have been operating in an organized manner causing substantial loss and agony to gullible people in District Srinagar and District Budgam areas.

Pahalgam, July 17: Today, on 17th July, 5,110 pilgrims have performed the holy darshan of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine till 2 pm.

The cumulative number of yatris to have performed Darshans at the Holy Cave thus reached 2.51 lakh in first 15 days of Yatra since its commencement on 3rd July this year.

Pilgrims have been thronging the Shrine from all parts of the country and abroad since the beginning of the Yatra and have expressed great enthusiasm in undertaking this journey of faith apart from appreciating the services and efficient management in conduct of the Yatra.

Srinagar, Jul 17: Braving unforgiving weather, the Indian Army saved over 3,500 Amarnath Yatris who were stranded due to a massive landslide near Z Morh between Rayalpathri and Brarimarg on the evening of July 16, officials said today.

The landslide, triggered by continuous heavy rainfall around 7:15 PM, abruptly halted all movement along the Yatra route, leaving thousands of pilgrims trapped in the treacherous terrain. Reacting with urgency, the Army detachment stationed at Brarimarg launched a coordinated rescue and relief operation, preventing a potential disaster.

Around 500 pilgrims were immediately given shelter in Army tents and provided with tea and drinking water. An additional 3,000 yatris were accommodated at various langars between Brarimarg and Z Morh, where volunteers and Army personnel worked together to ensure basic needs were met.

In one particularly life-threatening situation, a sick pilgrim was found stranded between two landslide-prone zones at Rayalpathri. Despite darkness, rain, and unstable terrain, the Army’s Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) conducted a difficult manual stretcher evacuation, carrying the patient to safety. The individual was then shifted to an ambulance for further medical care, read a statement, issued by the army.

Officials confirmed that the Camp Director at Brarimarg and the Company Commander of the Indian Army remained present on-site throughout the operation, personally overseeing rescue efforts. The weather at both Rayalpathri and Brarimarg remains lightly rainy, but the situation is currently stable and under control.