Several shops were gutted in the fire on Sunday night at the historic market, one of the oldest commercial hubs of Jammu, known for its wholesale trade in foodgrains and other essential commodities, in the Bikram Chowk area. The fire reportedly originated in one of the shops and spread rapidly to adjoining establishments, with the presence of large quantities of edible oil adding to the intensity of the blaze.

“I estimate the losses to be at least Rs 200-300 crore, as the warehouse area is one of the main commercial hubs of Jammu”, she told reporters at the party headquarters here.

An official said that two people died while several others were injured after a Swift car hit a culvert wall near Shabanbass along the highway.

He said the injured were shifted to Banihal Hospital for treatment, while their identities are being ascertained.

Meanwhile, cognizance of the incident has been taken and an investigation has been initiated.—(KNO)

In a statement a spokesperson said the ED’s Srinagar Zonal Office had attached the properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

He said the Provisional Attachment Order was issued in respect of 11 assets comprising land and buildings in Srinagar and Bandipora districts, which are allegedly in the possession of suppliers-cum-brokers, bank officials of J&K Bank and other persons involved in the alleged misuse of the PMEGP scheme.

“ED investigation was initiated on the basis of two FIRs registered by ACB and CBI, Srinagar, alleging misappropriation of PMEGP scheme loan amounts through criminal conspiracy between PMEGP borrowers, bank officials of Sumbal Branch and Gamud Gadhkhud Branch of J&K Bank and other unknown persons, who allegedly cheated the bank and misappropriated bank funds, causing wrongful loss to the bank and corresponding wrongful gain to themselves.”

The spokesperson said the investigation revealed that PMEGP loans were availed by projecting dummy borrowers, using fake invoices of non-existent firms/companies and in criminal conspiracy with bank officials, including those of Sumbal and Gamud Gadhkhud branches of J&K Bank, and private persons-cum-brokers. The CBI and ACB had also registered separate FIRs in the matter in June 2026.

He said a survey conducted at the Sumbal and Gamud Gadhkhud branches of J&K Bank under Section 16 of the PMLA revealed 270 term loan accounts and an equal number of working capital accounts pertaining to PMEGP scheme loans. The non-performing assets (NPA) amount was found to be Rs 32 crore.

“The investigation further revealed that proceeds derived from the scheduled offences were diverted through bank accounts in multiple transactions and utilised for construction, renovation of assets and personal enrichment.”

The investigation, carried out so far under the PMLA, revealed that Hilal Ahmad Wani and others played a major role in fraudulently availing PMEGP loans. Borrowers were allegedly induced to avail loans using KYC documents and other records, while fake invoices of non-existent firms registered in the names of suppliers-cum-brokers and/or their family members were used to secure loans in criminal conspiracy with J&K Bank officials.

The investigation traced the generation of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 11.37 crore. These proceeds were diverted through multiple bank accounts, and part of the amount was utilised for the construction and renovation of assets held in the names of family members.

A substantial portion of the proceeds of crime was also siphoned off, establishing the accused persons’ alleged involvement in their diversion, concealment, possession and use. Accordingly, 11 assets held under the control of suppliers-cum-brokers, bankers and one bank officer have been provisionally attached under Section 5(1) of the PMLA to safeguard the value of the proceeds of crime. Further investigation is underway.—(KNO)

Democrats won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November 3 midterm elections, flipping several Republican-held seats in a sweeping setback for Trump.

The results reflected voter dissatisfaction with his handling of the immigration issue, the economy, the Iran war and rising living costs.

An official said that the man was found unconscious at his home in Kashtigarh Doda.

He was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Doda, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Medico-legal formalities are underway to ascertain the cause of death.

The deceased was later identified as Gandeep Singh, a resident of Kotli Banzal in Kashtigarh.

Cognizance of the incident has been taken and a probe has been initiated.—(KNO)

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said he is deeply saddened by the incident and stands with the affected families in this difficult time.

The Chief Minister has directed the district administration to provide immediate relief, all necessary assistance, and carry out a thorough assessment of the damage.(GNS)

An official said that a police team intercepted a man near Bishnah during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

He said that during a search of the man, police recovered a pistol along with its magazine and two live rounds, following which he was taken into custody.

Meanwhile, FIR No. 208/2026 under relevant sections has been registered and further investigation has been initiated.—(KNO)

Officials said that the deceased has been identified as Uzair Ashraf Khan, son of Mohd Ashraf Khan, resident of Chewa Bandipora.

Soon after receiving the information, a police party from Police Station Safapora reached the spot and took cognizance of the matter.

The body has been taken for postmortem to District Hospital Ganderbal. Further proceedings have been initiated.(GNS)

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Sunday expressed serious concern over the upper age limit prescribed in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s latest recruitment notification for Probationary Officers (PO) and Banking Associates, urging Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene and take up the matter with the J&K Bank management and other competent authorities in the larger interest of Jammu and Kashmir’s educated unemployed youth.
National Spokesperson of Association, Dr Zubair Reshi, in a statement issued here, said that while the announcement of fresh recruitment after a prolonged gap of nearly six years is a welcome development, restricting the upper age limit to 30 years has left thousands of otherwise eligible and deserving aspirants disappointed and effectively excluded from an opportunity they have waited years to pursue.
He said that the recruitment process must take into account the extraordinary delay in announcing vacancies and the ground realities confronting educated youth in Jammu and Kashmir. Thousands of candidates have spent years preparing for banking examinations, investing considerable time, resources and effort, only to find themselves rendered ineligible because of an age restriction that fails to account for the prolonged recruitment gap.
The Association particularly highlighted that the upper age limit for PO posts in the previous J&K Bank recruitment was 32 years, whereas the latest notification has reduced it to 30 years. This reduction, coupled with the nearly six-year gap since the previous recruitment cycle, has further compounded the difficulties of aspirants who have lost valuable years waiting for fresh employment opportunities. JKSA maintained that young people should not be made to bear the consequences of delayed recruitment and administrative inaction.
The Association pointed out that the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) provides an upper age limit of up to 40 years for Open Merit candidates in its recruitment processes. It urged J&K Bank to adopt a more inclusive and equitable approach by extending the upper age limit to 40 years, in line with the prevailing age criteria followed in government recruitments in the Union Territory. At the very least, the Bank should restore the previous upper age limit of 32 years for PO aspirants and consider special age relaxation in view of the prolonged recruitment hiatus.
Reshi also flagged concerns over the distribution of vacancies under the existing reservation framework, noting that only 542 of the 1,356 advertised posts fall under Open Merit, with the remaining vacancies allocated to reserved categories. The Association urged the authorities to examine these concerns while ensuring equitable opportunities for all eligible candidates, keeping in view the unemployment situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the aspirations of educated youth who have spent years preparing for competitive examinations.
The Association has urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to personally intervene and take up the matter with the J&K Bank management, impressing upon the authorities the need to reconsider the prescribed age criteria and provide appropriate relaxation to thousands of deserving aspirants. It also called upon the Bank to adopt a youth-sensitive approach and ensure that the recruitment process does not disadvantage candidates who have already lost several years waiting for fresh opportunities.
The Association reiterated that recruitment after nearly six years should bring hope and relief to educated youth rather than create additional barriers. The Association appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and the J&K Bank management to address the genuine concerns of aspirants sympathetically and announce appropriate age relaxation at the earliest.

SRINAGAR: J&K National Conference Additional General Secretary and MP Choudry Mohammad Ramzan today said the 25 percent reservation in employment and admissions for private universities to be established in Jammu and Kashmir is highly welcome and a commendable initiative.
He said NC’s core agenda is the all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir, a brighter future, public welfare, prosperity and economic well-being, while the present government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is working towards these goals with dedication and commitment.
Chaudhary Muhammad Ramzan said this while interacting with public delegations, party leaders, office-bearers and workers from different areas at the party headquarters.
He urged party members and workers to strengthen the organisation and maintain close contact with the people to highlight their problems, difficulties and demands at every level and use their influence to ensure their redressal.
He said that, in accordance with the directions of party President Dr Farooq Abdullah, National Conference Members of Parliament are consistently raising issues concerning the restoration of people’s rights, restoration of statehood, developmental needs and public grievances in the country’s highest legislative forum.
He maintained that the National Conference government was focused on practical work rather than political theatrics and empty rhetoric, adding that significant progress had been made in improving various sectors over the past two years.
He further said that the establishment of private universities would enable students to access quality education within their own region, reducing the need to travel to other states for higher studies.
He also congratulated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Shamima Firdous for taking what he described as an important and transformative decision.
Expressing hope that reputed universities from across the country and abroad would establish their campuses in Jammu and Kashmir, he said this would further strengthen the region’s educational infrastructure.
The interaction was also attended by party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, Provincial Secretary Syed Tauqeer Ahmad, Women’s Wing Provincial President Er Sabiya Qadri, Srinagar District President Peer Afaq Ahmad, Minority Cell Convenor Jagdish Singh Azad, Dr Muhammad Saeed Makhdoomi, Ghulam Nabi Wani Telbali and other party functionaries.