Srinagar, Jun 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said that this year’s restriction on helicopter service for the Amarnath Yatra was unusual and could send a wrong message to the rest of the country.

“Amarnath Yatra is a good thing. We also want the yatra to go well. The only strange thing is that this time the helicopter service is not being allowed,” local news gathering agency KNS quoted the CM as saying while talking to reporters outside the Srinagar airport after receiving the first batch of Hajj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia.

He said this was the first time in many years that such a restriction had been imposed.

“A wrong message is going to the rest of the country. I do not have the intelligence inputs on which this decision was made, but this is the first time in so many years that the helicopter service is not being allowed,” CM Omar said.

Baramulla, Jun 17: Nestled amid lush green forests and towering mountains, Dalri village in Rafiabad area, located at the far edge of Baramulla district has remained the victim of official apathy. From road connectivity to mobile connectivity, this village has faced neglect in every aspect.

The basic development in this village remains a distant dream for the residents here. Dalri, a remote and marginalized village falls in Tehsil Dangiwacha of Baramulla district which has remained out of sight from the administration. A visit to the village reflects the official neglect it has faced over the years. “The village lacks even the most basic road connectivity to Ashpora village which is the nearest serviceable settlement,” said Tahir Ahmad,a local resident. According to the residents, lack of road connectivity severely affects the local population, especially students who are forced to traverse unsafe and long distances in order to access education beyond the primary level. “The situation is not only a matter of infrastructure, but one that impacts education, health, and overall social mobility,” he said.

The youth of Dalri, particularly those aspiring to continue their studies beyond Class 8, are being systematically excluded due to this infrastructural gap.

In view of the official neglect, the residents of the area have sent an open invitation to the minister for Agriculture Javed Ahmad Dar who is also the MLA from the same constituency to visit the area and have firsthand experience. “Dalri lacks proper road connectivity with nearby village Ashpora which falls in District Kupwara. The Student community who are supposed to take admission in 8th class face immense hardships due to lack of a trafficable road and traffic facility,” said Firdous Ahmad, another resident of the nearby village. “The lack of a road and reliable transport facility has become a major hurdle, particularly for the student community,” he said.

According to the residents, immediate attention and intervention are required to ensure that these young learners are not deprived of their right to education due to poor infrastructure. The resident also complained that while a BSNL tower exists, it provides no internet coverage, leaving students, youth, and residents digitally excluded.

“This directly impacts education, emergency response, and access to government schemes that are now primarily online,” the residents told Greater Kashmir. The locals said that the absence of a regular transport service disconnects Dalri from surrounding towns and people are forced to walk miles to access health care, ration, education, and markets. “The village has no health centre or sub-centre, exposing the population to life-threatening delays during medical emergencies. Pregnant women, elderly citizens, and children are particularly vulnerable,” the residents said. Notably, Dalri has only a Middle School and for higher education, students — especially girls — travel through dense forest areas, risking safety and discouraging further education. “This results in high dropout rates after Class 8th particularly among girl students,” the residents said. The village has also faced neglect as the government has failed to provide electricity supply while the drinking water facilities are minimal. “These issues drastically affect daily life, health, and education,” the locals said. The local residents also appealed to the district administration Kupwara for Macadamisation of Dalri-Ashpora road.

“Ashpora falls in District Kupwara, therefore the Kupwara administration has a role to play in it. The transportable road facility will help the population to ensure economic and overall development of the Dalri area,” the residents said. Talking to Greater Kashmir, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development Panchayati Raj and Cooperative Election Javed Ahmad Dar who is also MLA Rafiabad, told Greater Kashmir that the issue about the road connectivity of Dalri village with nearby villages falling in Kupwara district was already under consideration. “Actually, Dalri village is connected with villages of Kupwara district from two sides. On one side it is connected with Ashpora and from another side it is connected with Rangpath village via Dogripora village,” he told Greater Kashmir. Javed Dar said the issue has been already discussed with concerned MLA Langate who is also pushing for better road connectivity of Qaziabad villages with Dalri. “The issue will be resolved very soon. The other demands of the residents of Dalri village will also be fulfilled,” he said.

Srinagar June 17: Police on Tuesday said that it have solved the mysteriously death of a minor boy in Lalipora area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

In a handout to GNS, the police said that on 12th June 2025, Police Station Kunzer received information regarding a minor boy (name withheld), aged about 8 years and resident of Baandpora Lalpora, who was found unconscious in a field near his residence. The child was immediately shifted by his family members to JVC Srinagar for medical treatment.

The police spokesman further stated that taking prompt cognizance of the matter, a team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was called to the scene for scientific examination. A case was registered, and a detailed investigation was initiated to ascertain the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.

Despite all efforts, the child succumbed to his injuries at JVC Srinagar in the early hours of 17th June 2025. After completion of medico-legal formalities, the mortal remains were handed over to the bereaved family, he said.

During the course of the investigation, a 14-year-old boy (name withheld) confessed to his involvement in the incident which led to the tragic death of the minor child. The juvenile has been apprehended in accordance with provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and will be produced before the competent authority for further legal proceedings. In addition, two more individuals related to the accused have been detained for questioning and multiple angles are currently being explored as part of the ongoing investigation, he said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police assures the public that the matter is being investigated in a professional, thorough and impartial manner, with all necessary legal procedures being followed, reads the statement.

Srinagar, June 17: Police in Sopore have booked a notorious drug peddler, Ajaz Ahmad Najar, son of Ghulam Din Najar, resident of Mumkakh Batpora Sopore, under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PIT NDPS).

As per police statement, the accused had been involved in multiple narcotics-related cases and was discreetly operating a drug peddling network despite repeated legal action. Following due legal procedures and approval from the competent authority, the accused has been lodged in Kathua Jail.

It said that over the past two months, Sopore Police has registered multiple FIRs under the NDPS Act, resulting in significant arrests and drug recoveries.

Notably, six repeat offenders have been booked under the PIT NDPS Act, while fifteen more identified peddlers are under active legal scrutiny. In addition, ten individuals have been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for their involvement in activities that pose a serious threat to public order and the security of the area, the statement said.