Jammu, May 26: In a significant move, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has initiated the long-pending process for induction of nearly 32 officers into the Indian Forest Service (IFoS), ending a deadlock that continued for more than 13 years.

Official sources said the Forest Department is preparing a detailed proposal which will soon be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for approval and further action by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The process gained momentum after fresh communication from the Union Ministry, paving the way for submission of the proposal.

Commissioner/Secretary Forest Department Sheetal Nanda confirmed that the Department is finalizing the proposal for induction of officers into the IFoS.

“We are drafting the proposal and after completing all formalities it will be submitted to the Ministry,” she said.

Sources revealed that around 32 officers from Jammu and Kashmir are likely to get induction into the prestigious All India Service, subject to clearances from the MoEF and UPSC.

The induction process had remained suspended since 2012 due to legal disputes and procedural complications related to the constitution of the State Forest Service (SFS).

As per service rules, 66 percent posts in IFoS are filled through direct recruitment by UPSC, while 33 percent are reserved for promotion of State Forest Service officers.

Officials said the Union Ministry had not fixed promotion quota vacancies for Jammu and Kashmir beyond the Select Year 2012 because of pending legal and administrative issues.

Sources further disclosed that the proposal regarding constitution of the State Forest Service was sent to the Union Ministry on December 11, 2025 after approval from the competent authority.

After examining the matter, the MoEF reportedly advised the J&K Forest Department to submit the formal proposal for induction of officers.

Officials said once the proposal receives clearance from the Ministry, the UPSC will hold a meeting with representatives of the Centre and J&K administration to finalize the induction process.

The induction of officers into IFoS is expected to help overcome shortage of senior officers in the Forest Department and provide major career opportunities to local officers.

The development comes shortly after induction of 23 JKAS officers into the IAS, while the process for induction of eight JKPS officers into the IPS has also been initiated.(KNC)

Srinagar, May 25: Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat on Tuesday announced commendation awards for police and rescue personnel involved in the successful operation to evacuate tourists stranded mid-air after a technical snag halted the Gulmarg Gondola service in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Around 320 tourists were rescued after a joint operation by the police, SDRF and other rescue agencies.

Addressing the rescue teams at Gulmarg, Prabhat praised the personnel for carrying out the operation in difficult weather and mountainous terrain.

He said the rescue mission was completed despite major challenges, including rocky terrain, bad weather and the complexity of evacuating people from suspended cable cars.

“Today all of you have made J&K Police proud,” the DGP said while commending the efforts of personnel from police, Special Operations Group (SOG), J&K Armed Police and SDRF.

Prabhat said all personnel involved in the operation would be nominated for awards.

He said those who have not yet received the DGP Commendation Disc would be awarded the honour, while personnel who have already received it would be considered for other commendation awards.

The DGP said the successful operation reflected the bravery, dedication and professionalism of the rescue teams, who continued the mission despite exhaustion and difficult conditions.

He also congratulated the officers and personnel for safely rescuing the stranded tourists and completing the operation late at night.(KNS)

In a major push against the narco-terror, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha rallied with a massive crowd in Bandipora on Monday, leading a Padyatra to galvanise support for the cause.

“45 days ago, I pledged not only to dismantle smugglers’ and narco-terrorists’ ecosystem but also to spark a movement that uplifts youth and restores dignity to families scarred by addiction,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor, as per an official statement, said that Jammu Kashmir is united, strong in resolve and clear in purpose and fully committed to freeing our society from drugs once and for all.

“The action against narco-terrorists and drug smugglers will continue. It will not stop until every drug smuggler is eliminated from the sacred soil of Jammu Kashmir. Our agencies have launched an unprecedented drive to dismantle narco-terrorists and their hidden network. No drug smuggler, drug peddler, or anyone seeking to poison our society is beyond reach. The entire narco-terror ecosystem is being pursued,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor stated that several drug supply networks that until now remained hidden for various reasons are being traced and dismantled. He said drug cartels that thrived for decades are being wiped out.

“We have sent a clear message that Jammu Kashmir will not be a safe haven for those who profit from other people’s sufferings. I am determined that we will root out every narco-terrorist and drug smuggler from this soil. Those who tried to destroy our families will have their existence erased from this land. The law is now being applied firmly. Narco-terrorists are being punished, youth are being protected, families are being supported, and renewed hope is returning to the society,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor said that very soon, the administration will come out with a comprehensive rehabilitation policy which will ensure that every young person trapped by addiction gets a chance to rejoin the mainstream.

“Our aim is that not a single young person is left behind. We will provide jobs, opportunities, and the means for them to live with dignity. I strongly believe the success of a Drug-free Jammu Kashmir will not be measured only by the number of drug smugglers arrested but by the number of lives we can rebuild. It will be measured by the homes that can be restored and the young people who can fulfil their dreams. I promise you that we will not rest until their dreams are realised,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor said that the government cannot win this fight alone, and in this battle against drugs, the administration needs the support of families, teachers, religious leaders, and every responsible citizen.

“I envision a Jammu Kashmir where every child grows up free from the shadow of addiction. A Jammu Kashmir where families are not torn apart by drugs. A Jammu Kashmir where society moves forward with security, dignity, and trust. This is not merely a dream. It is our mission, and together we will fulfill it. We need the vigilance, awareness, and commitment of every resident of Jammu Kashmir. I believe that when people stand united, no narco-terror network or drug cartel can infiltrate them. When the public stands together, no terror can defeat them. I urge, we must unite to bury narco-terror once and for all,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated Waqar Knowledge Centre – Engaging Youth Against Drug Abuse.

Under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, District Bandipora has established the Waqar Knowledge Centre (WKC), completing the anti-drug intervention cycle by providing recovering addiction cases with a constructive platform for rehabilitation, engagement, and reintegration. The initiative reinforces the message that individuals seeking to leave the path of substance abuse behind have access to a range of government-supported opportunities and support systems.

The Centre offers a sports corner, badminton court, reading library, and an information desk providing guidance on government schemes, education, employment, and skill development opportunities. The Administration envisions establishing one Waqar Knowledge Centre in each block of the district. The Centre provides a constructive space that empowers youth and strengthens community resilience against addiction.

Srinagar, May 25: Reaffirming that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status remains the foremost and unwavering objective of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah Monday said that the party will persist in its principled political struggle under all circumstances until this historic injustice is reversed.

Addressing a gathering, Dr Farooq asserted that the accession of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir to the Union of India was founded upon clearly defined constitutional guarantees and solemn commitments. However, through illegal, unconstitutional, and undemocratic measures, the people of Jammu and Kashmir were stripped off their fundamental political and constitutional rights. He emphasized that even after six years since the decisions of August 5, 2019, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have neither reconciled with these measures nor will they ever accept them in the future.

Dr Farooq stated that Article 370 constituted the constitutional bedrock and political framework governing the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and India. It was under this constitutional safeguard that Jammu and Kashmir retained its distinct identity and special autonomous position following the events of 1947. However, he said, New Delhi reneged on its promises, commitments and constitutional assurances by unilaterally abrogating J&Ks special status in 2019 without even deeming it necessary to consult the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Highlighting the historic role of the National Conference, Dr. Farooq said that throughout its political journey, the party has undertaken transformative and revolutionary measures to safeguard the political, social and economic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Under the towering leadership of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the National Conference dismantled the exploitative feudal order and introduced the landmark Land to the Tiller reforms, empowering millions of impoverished peasants by granting them ownership rights over land and fundamentally altering their socio-economic destiny. He further stated that it was the National Conference that laid the foundations of modern development in Jammu and Kashmir by strengthening vital sectors such as education, healthcare, road connectivity, electricity, drinking water supply and employment generation.

Criticising the “promises made by the Central Government at the time of the abrogation of Article 370,” Dr Farooq remarked that the claims of prosperity, peace, development and employment projected over the past six years have gradually been exposed as hollow and misleading. Calling upon the people to remain politically conscious and alert, Dr Farooq cautioned against forces attempting to mislead the masses through shifting narratives, hollow slogans, and calculated propaganda. He observed that certain political elements have built their entire existence on opposing the National Conference, while others routinely issue provocative statements against the party merely to remain politically relevant and capture public attention. Urging New Delhi to abandon what he termed its harsh and alienating policies towards Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Farooq demanded the immediate restoration of promised full-fledged statehood and the initiation of a credible political process aimed at restoring the constitutional and democratic rights of the people.