Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Apr 24: Continuing its actions against drug trafficking under the ongoing #NashaMukthAbhiyaan, District Police Kishtwar today registered two more cases under the NDPS Act and arrested two alleged drug peddlers, recovering heroin-like substances from their possession.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar, Naresh Singh, while sharing details, informed that on April 23, 2026, during routine naka checking and patrolling at Link Road Chowk Gurian, a police team led by SHO Police Station Kishtwar, Inspector Firdous Ahmed, assisted by PSI Manubhav Verma, intercepted an Eco vehicle bearing registration number JK17A-1218.
During checking, the driver raised suspicion and was subjected to a personal search in accordance with legal procedures under the NDPS Act.
The search led to the recovery of approximately 5.5 grams of a heroin-like substance from his possession. The substance was seized and sealed on the spot after completing all required formalities.
In this connection, FIR No. 91/2026 under sections 8/21/22 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Kishtwar and further investigation is underway.
In a separate incident, a police team led by PSI Bhupinder Singh of Police Post Drabshalla, during routine patrolling and naka checking, apprehended one person identified as Arjun Kumar, son of Kewal Krishan, a resident of Sector-9 Sangrambhata in Kishtwar.
He was found in possession of around 3.0 grams of a heroin-like substance. Accordingly, FIR No. 92/2026 under relevant sections of the NDPS Act has been registered and investigation has been initiated.
Both operations were conducted under the supervision of Additional SP Kishtwar, Pardeep Singh Goria.
Two drug peddlers arrested with heroin-like substances
Rupee Slides, Prices Bite, India Slips : IMF and the GDP myth
By Shivaji Sarkar
The Iran war is hitting many countries beyond they could have imagined. The IMF forecast has subdued global growth. India is no less a sufferer. IMF makes India slip to sixth largest economy as rupee sinks, oil prices hit inflation high and a combination of factors make IPO’s lose steam and BSE Sensex thaws.
The IT services revenue declines 0.3 per cent in financial year 2026 and companies like Wipro buys back its shares worth Rs 15000 crore at Rs 250 per share. Many IT and other companies are laying off staff as even US companies are wary of President Donald Trump’s fresh tariff plan under Section 301, where the US Trade Representatives launch two investigations. Ford to Delta and Dell fear fresh duties will make it harder for them to compete amid increased cost to consumers. Not a favourable sign for Indian exports.
The IMF warned that a prolonged conflict could heighten financial instability, requiring carefully calibrated policy responses. It has downgraded global growth forecast for 2026 from 3.3 to 3.1 per cent, due to the war. It recalibrated global Indian position from fifth largest economy to sixth with GDP at current prices estimated at $ 3.76 trillion against the UK’s $ 3.7 trillion. The last year India’s GDP went up to $ 3.92 trillion and at $ 4 trillion the UK overtook it.
However, The IMF projects India’s FY27 GDP growth at 6.5 per cent, remaining the fastest-growing major economy. But warns that high oil prices pose risks to inflation (seen at 4.7 per cent), India’s strong domestic demand keeps growth above 6 per cent.
On the contrary, Goldman Sachs has slashed India’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 5.9 per cent (from an earlier 7 per cent projection) due to risks from the Iran conflict, high oil prices, and currency depreciation.
Goldman Sachs downgraded Indian equities to “market weight” and cut the Nifty 50 12-month target, citing less attractive risk-reward ratios. Increased Brent crude oil prices (expected to average high in March/April 2026) are raising inflationary pressures and widening the current account deficit to 2 per cent of GDP.
The calculations are more complex as a new statistical series takes over and the rupee continues to slide. In rupee terms at current prices, GDP was pegged at Rs 318 lakh crore in 2024 and rose to Rs 347 (9 per cent) and to increase to Rs 385 lakh crore (11 per cent) this year.
The IMF sees the Indian rupee depreciating from Rs 84.57 to a dollar in 2024 and Rs 88.48 last year and Rs 92.59 this year. It has not taken into calculation its latest fall to Rs 95.04 though for a while. In contrast, the IMF data show that the British pound appreciated against dollar for keeping off the Iran war and sustained growth
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Indian oil refiners are now paying for Iranian oil using Chinese yuan. Is Yuan emerging as new currency?
GDP Rising?
While the government was expecting India to overtake Japan to the fourth largest economy, it will have to wait longer.
The statistics can be deceptive. The impact of the new stats series is yet to be estimated. The GDP as a measure for progress may also be elusive. The GDP growth may not indicate actual progress though statistical graph increases in a cumulative manner.
Concerns over India’s GDP data stem from a perceived gap between headline growth and ground realities, with critics arguing that expansion may be more “statistical” than real. A 2026 study by Arvind Subramanian, Abhishek Anand, and Josh Felman suggests GDP growth may have been overstated by 1.5–2 per centage points annually between 2012 and 2023 due to methodological issues.
Key doubts arise from weak manufacturing performance and limited job creation, which do not match high growth claims. GDP estimates may also understate the impact of shocks like demonetisation, GST, and COVID-19 on the vast unorganised sector. The use of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) rather than the Producer Price Index (PPI) for inflation adjustment, reliance on the MCA 21 corporate database, and divergence from indicators like credit growth, exports, and electricity consumption further reinforce concerns about overestimated growth.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ MCA21 database has been questioned, as it may use limited, unreliable data for smaller firms, painting a rosier picture of company performance.
Various flip-flop policies on carbon, energy, diesel, battery-toy-tech cars that turn junk in four years, dependence on imported fuel and little progress of alternate energy system with 20 per cent efficiency, and ship-to-stove LPG/LNG dependence has thrown the country into a combination of mal-distribution and black-market abyss. It poses threat to India’s strategic concerns.
GDP Does Not Count
GDP counts output not reality. GDP doesn’t count unpaid domestic work. Women in India contribute an estimated 7.5 per cent of GDP in unpaid labour — childcare, cooking, cleaning, elderly care. If a family hires a cook, GDP goes up. If the mother does the same work, GDP doesn’t move. The work is identical. The counting isn’t.
GDP doesn’t subtract environmental damage. India lost 1.36 million hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2023. Mining, urbanisation, infrastructure. Every tree cut generated economic activity that showed up in GDP. The long-term cost — flooding, soil erosion, water table collapse, health impact — doesn’t get subtracted. The destruction is counted. The consequence isn’t.
Nor does GDP distinguish debt-driven spending from real prosperity. India’s household debt crossed 42 per cent of GDP. Personal loans under Rs10,000 have a 44 per cent spike in defaults. When a family borrows to buy a phone or pay a hospital bill, that spending adds to GDP. When they default, the default doesn’t subtract from it.
There are alternatives. The UNDP’s Human Development Index measures life expectancy, education, and income together. Bhutan uses Gross National Happiness. The OECD has a Better Life Index covering housing, jobs, health, environment, safety, and life satisfaction. India publishes none of these as a primary measure. GDP is useful, but on its own it cannot show whether lives are truly improving.
Lower US tariffs on Indian goods and resilient domestic demand are cushioning growth. Even against a slowing global economy hit by energy disruptions, India is still expanding at more than twice the world average. But the outlook isn’t risk-free—if the conflict drags on, financial instability could rise, demanding careful, calibrated policy responses.—INFA
Delegation seeks naming of Jhiri stadium after Baba Jitto
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: A delegation of the Shaheed Kissan Baba Jitto Sangharsh Samiti (SKBJSS) today met Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jammu, Rakesh Minhas, to press for naming the newly constructed indoor stadium at Jhiri after Baba Jitto Ji.
The delegation was led by Partap Singh Jamwal, president SKBJSS, and included Arun Sharma, BDC Chairman, along with several members. During the meeting, they informed the DC that the Lieutenant Governor had already facilitated the construction of the indoor stadium at Jhiri, which has now been completed.
They urged the administration to name the facility after Baba Jitto Ji, stating that such recognition would help future generations learn about his legacy and follow his ideals. The members emphasized that Baba Jitto was a revered saint and martyr respected across communities, yet no major memorial or structure has been named after him so far.
The DC gave a patient hearing and assured the delegation that necessary steps would be taken in this regard. He reiterated his commitment to contributing to public welfare.
Among others present were Thakur Dev Karan Singh, Daler Singh, Deepan Seekay, Garu Sharma, Nikhil Sharma, Bhanu Partap Goria, Kapil Dev Mehra, Vikrant Sharma, Pawan Soodi, Shobit Sudan, Mintu Rakwal, Sukhvinder Singh, Aman Sharma, Pardeep Sharma, Shanker Singh Chib, Ravi Tangotra, Naresh Kumar, Aashwani and Ravi Verma.
Samba police arrests 2 drug peddlers seizes 57.15 gms of heroin, cash, weighing machines
Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA: Apr 24: Intensifying its drive against drug peddlers in the ongoing Nasha Mukt Abhiyan, Samba Police has arrested two notorious drug peddlers in the jurisdiction of Police Station (PS) Vijaypur and Police Station, Ramgarh and recovered approximately 22.87 grams and 24.28 grams of heroin- (Chitta) respectively from their possession. Besides, police seized cash and weighing machines from them.
Police said acting on information received from reliable sources, a team of Police Station (PS) Vijaypur laid a naka at Tarapur Road near Shamshan Ghat and intercepted a motorcycle bearing Registration Number JK08P-6288 coming from Rakh Barotian and moving towards Vijaypur. During checking, approximately 22.87 grams of heroin- (Chitta) along with cash of Rs.3000.00 and a weighing machine were recovered from the possession motorcyclist.
Police said the drug peddler identified as Framan Ali, alias DC, son of Bashir Ahmad of Rakh Barotian tehsil Vijaypur, district Samba has been arrested. The contraband along with cash and weighing machine have been seized. The motorcycle involved in the crime has also been seized.
Police said a case FIR No 68/2026 U/S 8/21/22/25 NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Vijaypur and investigation started.
Police said the arrested person is a notorious drug peddler of Rakh Barotian and has been involved in multiple NDPS cases registered against him at Police Stations Samba and Vijaypur.
Samba police has arrested another drug peddler in the jurisdiction of Police Station (PS) Ramgarh and recovered approximately 24.28 grams heroin- (Chitta) alongwith cash and a weighing machine from his possession.
Police said acting on information received from reliable sources, a team of Police Station (PS) Ramgarh laid a naka near Koulpur and intercepted a motorcycle bearing Registration Number PB18W- 1772 coming from Rakh Barotian and moving towards Koulpur. During checking, approximately 24.28 grams of heroin (Chitta) along with cash of Rs.1200.00 and a weighing machine were recovered from the possession of the drug peddler.
The drug peddler identified as Rashid Ali, son of Kala of Rakh Barotian, tehsil Vijaypur, district Samba has been arrested. The contraband along with cash and weighing machine has been seized. The motorcycle involved in the crime has also been seized, police said.
Police said a case FIR No 27/2026 U/S 8/21/22/25 NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Ramgarh and investigation started.
6 tourists injured in lift collapse
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Six tourists from Bengaluru were injured today after a lift collapsed at a hotel in Hyderpora area of Srinagar.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO
The incident occurred at Hotel Arison Luxury, where the group was staying during their holiday in Kashmir.
The lift malfunctioned while it was in use, resulting in injuries to all six occupants. Immediately after the incident, hotel staff and local authorities rushed the injured tourists to the Bone and Joint Hospital at nearby Barzulla, for medical treatment.
Doctors attending to the patients said that the injuries were largely confined to the legs and lower body, and that all six are in a stable condition.
The injured tourists have been identified as Vinkatesh, 65, son of Muni Thimmaiah; D. Mangula, 54, wife of R.L. Murthy; Kushalla, 18, daughter of Jayaram; Pankaja, 16; Venkatalakshmamma, 60, wife of Chinnya; and Sowbhagya, 60, wife of Vinkatesh. All of them are residents of Bengaluru and had checked in the hotel recently.
HC quashes 2 PSAs, upholds one
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, April 24: High Court upheld a detention order and quashed other two with the direction to the authorities to release the detenues.
Justice Mohammad Akram Chowdhary upheld the PSA of one Ahsan ul Haq Khanday of Sopore while as quashed the PSA of one Ghulam Hassan Malla of Lolab. Both were detained under the orders of District Magistrates of district Baramulla and Kupwara vide detention order dated 16.05.2024 and 01.05.2025 respectively.
The court while upholding the PSA of Khanday said that he was involved in five cases registered at Police Station, Sopore in terrorism related cases from the year 2009 to 2021 and was also detained earlier in the year 2019 under PSA.
It was alleged that despite of the above measures, petitioner continued to work for terrorists and Resistance Front, which were prejudicial to the maintenance of security of J&K, particularly being in touch with PaK terrorist handler Bilal Mir through Dark-Web Applications to promote terrorism in the general area of Sopore.
“The contention of stale grounds is, thus, not tenable and is liable to be rejected. Viewed from any angle, I do not find any illegality or impropriety in the impugned detention order. Hence, the present petition, being devoid of any merit, is dismissed along-with pending application(s) and the impugned detention order is upheld”, the court concluded.
Quashing the PSA of Malla, the court said the impugned detention order passed on vague grounds, verbatim copy of police dossier, and failure on the part of the detaining authority to record satisfaction that normal law proved insufficient to restrain the detenue and stale grounds with no live link between the alleged activities in the year 2013 and the detention order passed in the year 2025, is found liable to be quashed on these counts.
“As such, the present petition is allowed and the impugned detention order is set aside. As a result, the detenue namely Ghulam Hassan Malla is directed to be released from the custody forthwith, if not required in any other case”, the court directed.
Besides these two PSAs, the division bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal set aside the writ court judgment dated 22.08.2025 whereby the PSA of Shah was upheld.
Shah challenged the said judgment in an appeal and the division bench after examining the writ court verdict said the pivotal issue as noticed has been escaped by the consideration of the Writ Court.
The court after examination of the detention record which reveals that the representation dated 30.05.2024 submitted by the father of Shah on 09.06.2024 was rejected vide letter No. Home/PBV/395/2024/7483196 dated 02.07.2024, addressed by Deputy Secretary to Government, Home Department, to the District Magistrate, Anantnag, but there is no evidence on record that the detenue or his father was informed about the decision taken upon the said representation.
“We are of the considered view that the judgment impugned in this appeal is not sustainable in the eyes of law and accordingly, the same is set aside. Resultantly, the order of detention passed by the District Magistrate, Anantnag under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act is quashed”, DB directed.
Court frames charges in custodial torture case, DySP discharged
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: A court in Kupwara ordered framing of charges against seven accused in a custodial torture case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) even as it discharged a senior police officer due to lack of sufficient evidence.
The order was passed by the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kupwara in a case arising out of an FIR (RC-0482025S0008) registered by the CBI.
In its FIR registered on the orders of the Supreme Court, the CBI had named Deputy Superintendent of Police Aijaz Ahmad Naiko and others, who were then posted at the Joint Interrogation Centre, Kupwara.
The court observed that the material on record, including the victim’s statement and medical evidence, prima facie indicates custodial violence. The order notes that injuries found on multiple parts of the body were consistent with physical assault rather than self-inflicted harm.
The CCTV footage and forensic evidence were also examined during the investigation. While the footage did not cover the entire period, the court said it does not conclusively negate the prosecution’s case at this stage.
The court framed charges under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 323, 325, 330, 331, and 343, relating to hurt, grievous hurt, and wrongful confinement.
However, DySP Naik was discharged from the case. The court held that there was no material indicating his direct participation, facilitation, or knowledge of the alleged acts beyond his supervisory role.
Sub-Inspector Riyaz Ahmad and six other Police officials-Jahangeer Ahmad Beigh, Mohammad Younis Khan, Shakir Hussain, Tanveer Ahmad Malla, Altaf Hussain Bhat and Shahnawaz Ahmad Deeda have been charged and will now face trial over “brutal and inhuman custodial torture” over six days on Constable Khursheed Ahmad Chohan.
HC dismisses plea of RTC employees seeking service benefits
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: The High Court has dismissed the plea of Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (RTC) seeking extension of services as is being granted to other Government employees.
Justice Sanjay Dhar has dismissed the plea of employees of Corporation who were seeking extension of benefits available in terms of SRO 14 of 1996 and SRO 225 of 1997 to the other Government employees.
Since their claim was rejected by the Corporation in terms of an order dated 06.11.2012 they challenged it. In the petition they said that they were the employees of the Government Transport Undertaking ( GTU which was later converted into State Road Transport Corporation, whereafter, in terms of order No.26-TR of 1979 dated 29.03.1979 and according to the petitioners, the employees were asked to exercise their option as to whether they want to continue in the Government service or would prefer to work in the Corporation.
They contend that they did not opt for permanent absorption in the Corporation and, as such, their service conditions are to be governed by the rules applicable to the Government employees and, thus, on this basis, the benefits available under SRO 14 of 1996 and SRO 225 of 1997, which were applicable to the Government employees.
It has been contended that the employees of J&K Government have been given the benefit of SRO 14 of 1996, vide which J&K Civil Services (Higher Standard) Pay Scale Rules, 1996 have been promulgated and as per these Rules, non-gazetted employees are entitled to first in-situ promotion after completion of nine years.
Justice Sanjay Dhar while dismissing their plea said that all the employees of GTU were placed at the disposal of the newly established Transport Corporation. These employees were broadly given two options. One to seek retirement and avail the terminal benefits as are available to Government employees. The second option was to continue with the newly established Transport Corporation.
Those who opt to continue with the Transport Corporation were given the option of availing the pensionary benefits as are available to Government employees or in the alternative avail the terminal benefits provided under the Rules of the Corporation.
“The afore-quoted order does not at all give an option to the employees of GTU to continue to receive benefits as are available to Government Employees except the pensionary benefits”, the court said.
Referring to the Division Bench decision also, the court said that an employee of GTU, after joining the respondent-Corporation, cannot ask for any benefit beyond the pensionary benefits available to a government employee.
“Thus, the claim of the petitioners pertaining to applicability of SRO 14 of 1996 and SRO 225 of 1997, which have not been adopted by the respondent Corporation, is without any merit. For what has been discussed hereinbefore, I do not find any merit in this petition. The same is dismissed accordingly”, reads the judgment.
Thundershowers across Kashmir
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Weatherman today forecast partly to generally cloudy weather with spells of light rain and thundershowers across Kashmir over the next few days.
The Meteorological Centre Srinagar said that scattered to many places are likely to receive light rain or thunder showers with gusty winds during the afternoon and evening hours on April 25. The weather is expected to remain largely dry on April 26 and 27, with brief spells of light rain at isolated places.
The MeT office said generally cloudy conditions with light rain and gusty winds are likely at scattered locations on April 28, followed by brief spells of rain at a few places between April 29 and May 2, mainly during late afternoon hours.
Temperature data released by the department showed that most parts of Kashmir recorded above-normal day temperatures. Srinagar recorded a maximum of 28.1°C, 6.1 degrees above normal, and a minimum of 13.0°C. Qazigund registered a high of 27.2°C, while Pahalgam settled at 25.0°C and Kupwara at 25.4°C.
Gulmarg recorded a maximum temperature of 18.6°C, while Kokernag saw 26.6°C. Night temperatures also remained above normal, with Gulmarg recording a minimum of 8.0°C and Pahalgam 6.8°C.
Div Com Kashmir reviews various revenue matters, development initiatives
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, today chaired a meeting to review a range of revenue-related matters, including migrant properties, construction of houses for terror victims, digitization of land records, Digital Crop Survey, and development of urban revenue-generating assets.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners, the Additional Commissioner Central, and the Officer on Special Duty to the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.
While reviewing progress on the construction of houses for terror victims, the Divisional Commissioner directed Deputy Commissioners to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries possess the requisite land, with a minimum of five marlas, to facilitate timely assistance.
Regarding the updation of Girdawari records of religious and heritage sites, he instructed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that all structures of cultural and historical importance are properly documented and their records duly updated and certified.
The Divisional Commissioner also assessed the status of migrant properties, including the quantum of land, district-wise progress in removal of encroachments, and the disposal of grievances submitted by migrants.
Reviewing progress under the SVAMITA Scheme and Digital Crop Survey, he urged Deputy Commissioners to intensify efforts to achieve timely implementation and broader coverage.
Further, the Divisional Commissioner directed Deputy Commissioners to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) under the Urban Challenge Fund in consultation with Municipal Executive Officers to focus on the development of public utility and revenue-generating infrastructure in urban areas, including parking facilities, bus stands, and other convenience assets.
Also, he called for ensuring active participation of public representatives and citizens in the ongoing Pad Yatra organized under the Nasha Mukht Campaign, aimed at promoting a drug-free society.
The meeting concluded with directions to all concerned officers to ensure timely and effective implementation of the reviewed initiatives.