Jammu, Mar 13: Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Army Commander of Northern Command on Friday visited Basantgarh area of Udhampur district to assess the prevailing security situation and ongoing counter-terrorist operations, officials said.

The Army Commander was briefed on the coordinated intelligence grid and enhanced security measures in the region.

Focused deliberations were held on reinforcing the security architecture in coordination with all stakeholders, officials said.

The Army Commander interacted with the troops and commended them for their professionalism, commitment and steadfast resolve towards ensuring a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir.

Later on the Army Commander chaired the weekly coordination meeting of all stakeholders in Jammu.

During the meeting, the deliberations focused on real-time intelligence fusion and achieving seamless integration with a view to ensure swift response and a mission ready posture across Jammu and Kashmir.

The agencies synergised the anti-terror roadmap and reaffirmed the resolve to zero tolerance for terror, officials added.

Jammu, Mar 13: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday urged the practitioners of literature and arts to preserve Jammu division’s rich heritage, promote its legacy, and connect the new generation to their roots.

“Jammu’s traditions in literature, culture, and spirituality have taught us to rise above divisions of caste, creed, and artificial boundaries. The values embedded in our culture embody an ideology that places humanity above all,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of two-day literary-cultural conclave “Sahitya Sanskriti Samagam”, organised by University of Jammu. He commended the University of Jammu for its steadfast commitment to preserving and promoting the region’s cultural ethos and making its mark among the country’s top universities.

The Lieutenant Governor said the society shaped by our abundant literary and cultural wealth will determine who we are and what we can become.

He urged everyone to reflect in this festival of literature and culture on the true identity that binds us and instills a profound sense of belonging.

“True confluence of culture and literature means engaging with the soil through diverse art forms, infusing new resonance into society’s soul,” he said.

Paying homage to great luminaries and illustrious literary personalities, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised that a region’s identity is not defined merely by economic achievements; it shines through its stories, songs, and the vibrant hues of its artisans. He said that the society’s enlightened minds must recognize folk arts and folk literature as Jammu’s living vitality.

“Our folk traditions do not dwell in libraries; they thrive in writers’ quills, singers’ songs, folk dance footprints, and artists’ brushes and pigments.

With deep responsibility, I call upon everyone, especially youth to serve literature and culture.  It upholds the living legacy of values passed down through generations, entrusting you not just with an inheritance but with the duty of its cultural-literary bequest. This tradition teaches us the virtue of inclusion,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor observed that safeguarding our language preserves our memories; nurturing regional art forms builds self-assurance.

“Let us focus on local tales, dialects, and artistic traditions, for every individual’s identity draws nourishment from these roots. When generations gather to exchange experiences, cultural and literary heritage transcends the past—it becomes a living dialogue,” he further said.

The two-day literary-cultural conclave features cultural processions, stalls showcasing indigenous attires, handicrafts, traditional cuisines, books and arts, panel discussions, and series of activities highlighting region’s unique identity, honouring languages, folklore, customs, creativity and literary heritage.

On the occasion, the first edition of Jammu University’s multilingual magazine ‘The Litzine’ was also released.

Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu; Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University; Prof. K.S. Chandrasekar, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu; eminent journalists Rajkishor, Consulting Editor, Amar Ujala and Jai Prakash Pandey, Editor, Sahitya Tak India Today Group; Prof. Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research studies; Dr Neeraj Sharma, Registrar; Prof. Sadaf Shah, Coordinator, Sahitya Sanskriti Samagam; Heads of Departments, faculty members of Jammu University, senior officials, prominent citizens and students in large number attended the inaugural ceremony.

Jammu, Mar 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government is set to establish future-ready IT Parks in a phased manner across the Union Territory, beginning with an innovation and research park at the IIT Jammu campus on the outskirts of the city.

The initiative received a boost after the Board of Governors of IIT Jammu approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on January 5, 2026, while the J&K government has accorded in-principle approval for collaboration, officials said.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo reviewed a comprehensive roadmap for the project, which aims to strengthen the UT’s technology ecosystem, generate employment opportunities and build institutional capacity to meet future technological challenges.

“A detailed plan for setting up the innovation and research park, beginning within the IIT campus has been started and later expanding to other locations across the Union Territory,” officials said.

According to the proposal, the project will be implemented in phases. Under Phase-I, scheduled for launch during May-June 2026, about 50,000 sq ft of existing built-up space at IIT Jammu will be upgraded to initiate operations of the IT and innovation park.

Phase-II envisages construction of about 120,000 sq ft of additional infrastructure, with work proposed to begin in 2026 and completion targeted by 2028.

Phase-III proposes expansion of the IT Park outside the campus to enable larger industry participation and technology-driven growth, they said.

Officials said land has also been identified in the Kashmir division for expansion in subsequent phases, while additional land is proposed to be earmarked near the IIT Jammu campus for future development.

The proposed Innovation Research Park (Phase-B) at IIT Jammu will have a built-up area of over 11,000 square metres and multiple functional floors to accommodate innovation labs, technology companies, startups and research collaborations, along with support facilities to promote industry-academia partnerships and incubation, they added.

Emphasising the importance of the initiative, the Chief Secretary said technology will play a defining role in shaping the future economy and stressed the need to build future-ready human resources, infrastructure, and institutions.

He said the project will create new employment avenues for youth, strengthen the startup ecosystem and attract technology companies, positioning Jammu and Kashmir as an emerging hub for innovation and digital growth.

Dulloo directed the concerned departments to coordinate closely with IIT Jammu to ensure timely implementation of the project and development of a robust ecosystem for technology-led growth.

Srinagar, Mar 13: The Jammu and Kashmir cabinet on Tuesday unanimously condemned the attack on Farooq Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, demanding deep investigation into this attack.

According to an official spokesperson, the cabinet has also approved an 18 percent hike in passenger vehicle fares, a demand that transporters had been raising for the past five years. Transporters had sought a 50 percent increase, but the government approved an 18 percent hike.

The spokesperson said the government is also pressing 200 more buses onto the roads.

The cabinet further approved the enhancement of TA DA and medical allowances for ministers, MLAs, the Speaker and the Leader of Opposition (LoP), he said.

On the ongoing LPG crisis, the spokesperson said there is enough stock of LPG in Jammu and Kashmir and appealed to people not to panic.

He urged the public to cooperate with authorities, adding that teams have been formed to check any possible black marketing.