Jammu, Apr 17: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has ordered transfer and posting of two APCCF-rank IFS officers in the AGMUT cadre, with one officer continuing in Jammu and Kashmir. As per the order, E. Venkat Reddy (2000 batch) has been posted to Mizoram, while Riddhi Jagadh Vasudev (2001 batch), already serving in Jammu and Kashmir, will continue in the Union Territory following promotion.
Two J&K Segment IFS Officers Among Seven Promoted, Transferred
Jammu, Apr 21: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has ordered promotion and transfer of seven Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers in the AGMUT cadre, including two officers currently posted in Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the order, Arashdeep Singh and Vanjulavalli Sridhar, both of the 2012 batch, have been promoted to the rank of Conservator of Forests (CF) and will continue their postings in Jammu and Kashmir.
The order further said that Murali Sankaar K. has been posted to Arunachal Pradesh, while Ashwin Jaswant Parihar has been transferred from Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Goa.
Meanwhile, Anup Kumar Soni, Lalnunsanga Khawlring and Bittem Darang will continue to serve in Chandigarh, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh respectively.
APCCF Kamal Preet Posted To J&K From Mizoram
Jammu, Apr 21: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has transferred 1997-batch IFS officer Kamal Preet, holding the rank of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF), from Mizoram to Jammu and Kashmir.
4 IFS Officers Transferred; One Posted To J&K, One Moved Out
Jammu, Apr 21: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has ordered the transfer and posting of four Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) level IFS officers in the AGMUT cadre, with one of them posted in Jammu and Kashmir and one moved out of the region.
Centre Abolishes Three APCCF Posts In Jammu And Kashmir
Jammu, Apr 21: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has abolished three temporarily added posts of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) in Jammu and Kashmir with effect from December 18, 2025.
‘Life Hasn’t Been The Same’: Lt Narwal’s Family Battles Loss Year After Pahalgam Terror Attack
CHANDIGARH, Apr 21: A year after the Pahalgam terror attack, life hasn’t been the same for the family of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, the Indian Navy officer who was among the 26 people killed in the ghastly incident.
The family has not been able to overcome their grief and keeps remembering the young naval officer who had his future all planned out, said Rajesh Narwal, father of Lt Vinay.
Twenty-six-year-old Lt Vinay and his wife Himanshi were on a honeymoon in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam town when terrorists shot him at point-blank range, an incident in which 25 others, mostly tourists, were also killed on April 22, 2025.
Speaking to reporters at his Karnal residence, Rajesh Narwal, a government employee, said for the past one year, the family has been grappling with the loss of Lt Vinay.
He said that Lt Vinay’s death was not only painful for the family, but also a major loss for the nation.
“After the tragedy struck, our lives completely changed. Earlier, our lives were going smoothly, but now we cannot overcome what has happened. Though we continue to live as we must, life has truly ended for us the day when we received this devastating news,” he said.
“A father who loses a young son knows what the pain is. With the passage of time, one may recover from small jolts in life, but this pain will remain forever,” he said.
Rajesh said Lt Vinay had his entire life planned out. “He became an officer at a young age. He also maintained a notebook about his plans in life,” he said. Lt Vinay was very affectionate and used to treat others’ problems as his own, the deceased officer’s father added.
“He was my son, but I think of him as an angel,” he said.
“I still remember the joy on his face when he took his first step to walk while holding my finger,” he recalled.
“A few days before his marriage, we went to Delhi for shopping. He had a lot of plans for his family,” he said.
Rajesh also recalled that Lt Vinay initially wanted to join the Air Force, but was very happy when he was selected for the Navy to serve the nation.
He further said that the family is determined to honour Lt Vinay’s memory in meaningful ways, and praised the government for staying in support of the family after the terror attack last year.
Lt Vinay is survived by his wife Himanshi, sister Srishti and parents Rajesh and Asha.
In May, after Operation Sindoor, Rajesh Narwal had hailed India’s response and praised the Narendra Modi-led government for “sending a strong message” to the perpetrators of the April 22 attack.
He had said that terrorists “will think 100 times” before repeating such attacks in the future. (Agencies)
Will Constitution Not Come To Rescue Of Believer Who Is Not Allowed To Touch Deity: SC
NEW DELHI, Apr 21: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the chief priest of the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple if the Constitution will not come to the rescue of a believer who is not allowed to touch the deity.
The remark by the top court came after the chief priest said that when a devotee goes to a temple for worship, it can’t be in antagonism to the characteristics of a deity.
The nine-judge Constitution bench is hearing petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, and on the ambit and scope of the religious freedom practised by multiple faiths.
The bench comprises Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi.
Appearing for the ‘thantri’, senior advocate V Giri submitted that the nature of ceremonies and rituals followed in any temple forms the integral part of the religion and therefore is a religious practice.
He said continuance of such practice, which is an essential religious practice, would be a part of the right to worship that is for every member who believes in the religion or religious denomination.
“When a devotee goes to a temple for worship, it can’t be in antagonism to the characteristics of a deity because its for the purpose of worshipping the deity. The devotee surrenders to the divine spirit contained in the deity. He/she has to accept the essential characteristics of the deity,” Giri said.
Posing a question, Justice Amanullah asked, “When I go to a temple, my fundamental belief is that he is the Lord, he is my creator, he has created me, right? “I go there with one hundred percent belief. I am totally devoted, absolutely nothing impure in my heart. And there, I am told that because of a birth, a lineage, a certain situation, permanently you are not allowed to touch the deity. Now, will the Constitution not come to the rescue? Justice Amanullah remarked, adding that there cannot be a difference between the creator and creation.
Giri replied that if there is a complete ban on anybody becoming a priest, then that will be taken care of either by a Article 25(2)(b) legislation or it will be taken care of by the State itself.
“If priest means the person who is instructed in the ‘Shastras’ as to how to conduct worship and how to worship the deity, if there is a complete ban on any person becoming a priest and then doing the ‘seva’, as we call it, only by reason of birth, that will be taken care of either by a Article 25(2)(b) legislation or it will be taken care of by the State itself,” he said.
The senior lawyer said “Naishtika Brahmachari” (perennial celibate) can be considered as an essential characteristic to the deity and the ceremonies and rituals performed in Sabarimala are in synchronisation with the concept. “I have a right to practice my religion under Article 25 of the Constitution…If the characteristics of the deity are as such that its not possible for me to go there, if I am a woman, it has to be in sync with the characteristics of the religion. The characteristic of the deity in sofar as Sabarimala is concerned contemplates that the deity is a permanent celibate,” Giri said.
He contended there is a total lack of material on the part of the writ petitioners to show that the concept of “Naishtika Brahmachari” pleaded by the petitioner are either ill founded, misconceived, or doesn’t form the essential form of the religion.
The hearing is underway. Observing that denominational practices can be subject matter of judicial scrutiny, the top court on April 17 had said that judges must rise above personal religious beliefs and be guided by freedom of conscience and the broader constitutional framework while adjudicating matters of faith. In September 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench, by a 4:1 majority verdict, lifted the ban that prevented women between the ages of 10 and 50 from entering the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple and held that the centuries-old Hindu religious practice was illegal and unconstitutional.
Later, on November 14, 2019, another five-judge bench headed by the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi, by a majority of 3:2, referred the issue of discrimination against women at various places of worship to a larger bench. (Agencies)
VHP To Approach Corporates Over Workplace Issues Regarding Hindu Women, Says Senior Leader
HASSAN (KARNATAKA), Apr 21: The VHP will approach corporate and industry bodies across the country to ensure that Hindu women are not “targeted or victimised” at workplaces, a senior leader of the organisation said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference here, VHP Organising General Secretary Milind Parande said the Hindu organisation will meet national associations of various industries and raise concerns over alleged incidents involving “love jihad” and forced conversions in workplaces. The term “love jihad” is used by right-wing groups to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into relationships and marriage to convert them to Islam.
“The VHP will systematically meet national associations of various industries across the country. We will ensure that in any workplace–not just IT but all industries–Hindu women are not targeted or victimised,” he said.
Raising concerns over alleged targeting of Hindu women in workplaces, Parande said, “Hindu society is being targeted and is facing distress. Such tendencies are not acceptable in any civilised society.” He also urged introspection within the Muslim community.
“The entire community should consider what values are being imparted to its younger generation. Such tendencies are not acceptable in any civilised society,” he said.
Parande said that rising incidents could lead to the entire Muslim community coming under suspicion.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader’s remarks come in the wake of the alleged harassment and religious coercion at the Nashik unit of IT Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
He said his ongoing visit to Karnataka was part of a nationwide organisational tour aimed at expansion.
The aim is to expand the organisational reach. “During this visit, certain issues in Karnataka have come to our attention,” he said. He also flagged cattle smuggling as a major concern, alleging that large-scale transportation of cattle was taking place from Karnataka towards neighbouring states.
“Although the cow protection law was passed here in 2020, it is not being implemented strictly,” he alleged, demanding identification of smuggling routes and action against vehicle owners and drivers involved.
“We demand that the routes used for smuggling be identified. Such vehicles should be confiscated if the offender is a repeat offender. This is a matter that needs serious attention,” he said.
He alleged that there appears to be a biased and discriminatory attitude against pro-Hindu activists. This gives the impression of an anti-Hindu approach.
He called for stricter enforcement of laws. “The law must be implemented strictly, that is our demand. Who else will enforce it if not the government,” he said, adding that VHP workers act within the legal framework.
Responding to a question on attacks on cow protection activists, Parande said, “There must be a balanced discussion. First, why is the transportation happening? Who will talk about that? Thousands of times, laws are being violated and cattle are being slaughtered. Otherwise, anger in Hindu society will naturally rise,” he added.
Parande urged the administration to identify routes and curb smuggling. He said the VHP will do whatever is necessary. It is ready to face hardships, even imprisonment if necessary.
Touching upon the Women’s Reservation Bill, he said, “This is not the failure of the central government but of the opposition,” adding that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP were capable of responding to criticism. (Agencies)
DIG Reviews Security In Samba, Calls For Heightened Alertness, Intensified Patrolling
JAMMU, Apr 21: Jammu and Kashmir DIG Shridhar Patil reviewed the security situation in the Samba district and called for strict vigilance, heightened alertness and intensified patrolling to thwart any nefarious designs of anti-national elements.
Patil, who oversees the sensitive border districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, chaired a comprehensive security-cum-crime review meeting with officers of the district police, officials said.
Emphasising the strategic importance of border areas, the DIG directed officers to maintain robust surveillance and ensure a high level of preparedness.
He stressed the need for effective naka checking, increased patrolling, and seamless coordination with other security agencies to strengthen border security.
At the outset, Patil held one-to-one interactions with officers to assess groundlevel functioning and challenges, they said.
The meeting was followed by a detailed PowerPoint presentation by the additional superintendent of police, Samba, on the functioning of the district police and an overview of the prevailing crime and security scenario.
Patil stressed the importance of the ongoing anti-drug campaign and directed officers to take stringent legal action against drug smugglers and peddlers to curb the menace. (Agencies)
Year After Ramachandran’s Death In Pahalgam Attack, Family Says Nothing Has Changed
KOCHI, Apr 21: For the family of N Ramachandran, one of the 26 tourists killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, nothing has changed a year later and the kin is yet to recover from his untimely death.
The 65-year-old Ramachandran, on holiday in Kashmir with his wife, daughter, and grandchildren, was gunned down by terrorists in an attack that sent shockwaves across the country, prompting India to launch Operation Sindoor, a military response targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan.
Arathi R Menon, before whose eyes her father was killed, said there was nothing more for her to say about the tragedy.
“What more to say. I don’t want to say anything more. A year has gone by, everything is the same. So, I don’t want to comment anything about it. Right now I am not in a state to comment anything. I am so sorry,” she said.
Menon said that the RSS will hold a ceremony near Changampuzha Park here on Wednesday morning around 7.30 am.
“On Sunday morning at 10 am there will be a remembrance ceremony at Changampuzha Park,” she added.
Menon also said that she will be returning to Dubai soon. She said that she was in Kochi on-and-off for the past one year and will now return to Dubai permanently like before.
Ramachandran was among the 26 people, mostly tourists, who were gunned down by militants in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley on April 22, 2025. Menon, who works in Dubai, had come to Kerala as part of the planned vacation to Kashmir with her parents and children. (Agencies)