2200137 Apr 24, 2026 Country That Values Workers' Dignity Is Unstoppable: Mandaviya Inaugurates ESIC Hospital In Kashmir Daily Excelsior Latest News BUDGAM Apr 24 Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said a country that values the dignity of its workers is unstoppable on the path of progress asserting that their welfare must therefore remain at the centre of governance.Mandaviya the Union Minister for Labour &amp Employment and Youth Affairs &amp Sports inaugurated a 30bedded Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital at Ompora here in the central Kashmir district.The newly inaugurated hospital is the first ESIC hospital in Kashmir marking a historic milestone in the expansion of worker welfare services in the region.Addressing the function Mandaviya said a country that values the dignity of its workers is unstoppable on the path of progress.Our social security coverage has risen from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025 as per data published by the International Labour Organisation he said highlighting that the countrys efforts in this direction were recognised by the International Social Security Association in 2025.Underscoring the impact of the
four Labour Codes that were brought into effect last year the Union minister said these reforms guarantee several longawaited protections for workers including annual health checkups mandatory appointment letters and minimum wages.The provision for annual health checks through ESIC hospitals will allow early detection of diseases ensure preventive healthcare for workers and secure their future he emphasised.He also noted that the convergence of ESIC with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has further expanded access to cashless treatment for beneficiaries across empanelled hospitals.Built for Rs 165 crore the hospital has been established with provision for expansion up to 100 beds and is expected to directly benefit more than 50000 workers and their family members. 2200130 Apr 24, 2026 Administration Demolishes Residences Of Two Drug Peddlers In Outskirts Of Jammu City Daily Excelsior Latest News JAMMU Apr 24 The district administration on Friday demolished residential properties of two alleged drug peddlers in the outskirts of Jammu city as part of its crackdown on assets linked to persons involved in drug trafficking and trade officials said.Bulldozers accompanied by heavy police deployment rolled into Indra Nagar Colony of Miran Sahib and razed the houses of two drug peddlers in the area they said.The action against the duo booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act came under the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan officials said.SubDivisional Magistrate R S Pura Anuradha Thakur and SubDivisional Police Officer Gurmeet Singh were present at the scene during the demolition exercise.In a similar action on Thursday three residential properties of alleged drug peddlers were demolished in Rajiv Nagar area of Jammu city.On April 18 in another administration and police crackdown on drug tradelinked assets two residential properties of NDPSaccused in Belicharana area of the city were
razed. 2200120 Apr 24, 2026 Indian national charged for operating unlicensed money transfer business in Singapore Daily Excelsior International SINGAPORE Apr 24An Indian national was charged in a Singapore court on Friday for operating an unlicensed crossborder money transfer business involving over SGD 38 million (USD 29 million) in total.Raju Krishnamoorthi 45 was charged with two counts of operating such a business The Straits Times newspaper reported.He was charged with engaging in unlicensed remittance activities as a selfemployed foreigner without a valid work pass and conspiring with a company director to abet a false declaration in a work pass application the paper said.Rajus alleged accomplice a 33yearold Indian national who was supposed to be charged on Friday failed to appear in court.An arrest warrant has been issued against him. A review of the matter would be held in June according to the report.Court documents stated that Raju allegedly operated as a selfemployed foreigner without a valid work pass between March 2024 and April 2025. Despite this he purportedly engaged in unlicensed remittance services activities in Singapore without such a pass.In an earlier
joint statement the police and the Ministry of Manpower said that a raid was conducted in Norris Road in the Little India precinct after receiving a tipoff.They found that Raju had purportedly carried out unlicensed crossborder money transfer services.During the raid the officers seized more than SGD 314000 in cash 30 ATM cards one hard disk two mobile phones and multiple remittance transaction record books.Rajus case will be mentioned again in court in May. (PTI) 2200114 Apr 24, 2026 22 terrorists killed in intelligence-based operation in Pak's KP Daily Excelsior International PESHAWAR Apr 24At least 22 terrorists have been killed during an intelligencebased operation by Pakistans security forces in the countrys northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the military said on Friday.On April 21 a joint intelligencebased operation was conducted by the security forces in Khyber District of the province on the reported presence of terrorists.During the conduct of the operation twentytwo terrorists belonging to FitnaalKhwarij were killed the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) the media wing of the military said in a statement.Fitna alKhawarij is a term the state uses to refer to the banned TehreekiTaliban Pakistan (TTP).The statement said Terrorists resorted to indiscriminate firing which resulted in the killing of a tenyearold child.Sanitisation operations are underway to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area. The statement highlighted that the counterterrorism campaign under the vision AzmeIstehkam approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan will continue at full pace.Security
forces of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of terrorism... the statement concluded.President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have commended security forces for their successful operation in Khyber.In separate statements both leaders expressed profound grief over the killing of a 10yearold child who was killed by indiscriminate firing from the terrorists Radio Pakistan reported.The president noted that while Pakistan continues to strive for regional and global peace terrorists are attempting to undermine these efforts. He affirmed that Pakistan remains committed to defeating terrorism and maintaining its role in promoting stability.Despite record militant deaths Pakistan saw a sharp escalation in militant violence in 2025 with terrorist attacks rising by 34 per cent and terrorismrelated fatalities increasing by 21 per cent year on year according to a report released by the Islamabadbased Pak Institute for Peace Studies.KP in particular has seen a rise in terrorist attacks in the past
year.According to the Annual Security Report 2025 from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) the province recorded a significant surge in violence last year as fatalities rose from 1620 in 2024 to 2331 in 2025.Due to a resurgence of militancy especially in KP and Balochistan where attacks often target security personnel and LEAs the state has intensified counterterrorism operations.Last month security forces killed 13 terrorists in five separate operations across KP. (PTI) 2200119 Apr 24, 2026 J&K ACB Uncovers Fresh Custodian Land Scam, 3 More FIRs Filed In Jammu Daily Excelsior News JAMMU Apr 24 The Jammu and Kashmir AntiCorruption Bureau (ACB) has exposed another major land scam involving Custodian land in Jammu district officials said here on Friday.In a statement A spokesperson said the Jammu and Kashmir AntiCorruption Bureau again achieved a major success in extracting one of the major land scams in Jammu and Kashmir wherein Custodian land in Asarwan Mishriwala Bhalwal and R.S. Pura area of Jammu district has been found usurped by the land mafia in connivance with Form Alf Holders and the officersofficials of Custodian Revenue department.He said inputs were received that Custodian land in thousands of Kanal situated at Asarwan Mishriwala Bhalwal and R.S. Pura Jammu has been fraudulently grabbed by the land grabbersgangsters in connivance with the Revenue officersofficials. The revenue records have been tempered and land has been sold to various persons.On the basis of the inputs received by ACB a verification was initiated and on the basis of the verification conducted earlier it was found that more than
1000 kanals of Custodian land was shown allotted to the displaced persons on the basis of fake orders who were otherwise not entitled for the allotment of additional land through fraudulent means by the land grabbers Form Alaf holders in connivance with the officers officials of Revenue department and others.Accordingly 24 case FIRs were registered by the ACB in which the investigation is still in progress. Again during the course of verification it has been found that displaced persons of Pakistan (PAK POK Refugees) were already allotted land in their favour but even then kith and kin of these families although not entitled being Form Alaf holders in connivance with the concerned Patwaries Girdawars Naib Tehsildars Tehsildars of Revenue Department got mutations of additional land at R.S. Pura and Domana area of District Jammu attested in their favour either without any Govt. Provisional Rehabilitation Office (PRO) order or on fake Govt. PRO order said the spokesperson.He said during verification it has also been found that no
such orders of allotment of land were issued by the office of the PRO. These persons after getting mutation of lands in their favour alienated the said land directly or through their attorney holders conduits to various persons by resorting to fraudulent means thereby causing a huge loss to the Govt. Exchequer.Owing to the establishment of prima facie nexus of the criminal elementsland grabbers Form Alaf holders and the Revenue officersofficials in alienation of about 20 kanals 09 Marlas of Custodian land through fraudulent means ACB has now registered another 03 formal case FIRs in PS ACB Central J&ampK for indepth investigation under the provisions of J&ampK Prevention of Corruption Act criminal conspiracy cheating forgery and fraud against the accused persons namely (1) Waryam Singh SO Sh. Shalo Ram RO Village Kotli Bhagwan Singh (Kuttu Chack) Tehsil R.S. Pura District Jammu then Patwari (2) Balak Ram SO Late Sh. Buti Ram RO Village Tootray Tehsil R.S. Pura Jammu then Naib Tehsildar (3) Mohan Singh SO Sh. Bhagwan Singh RO
Nanak Nagar Jammu (4) Prem Singh SO Sh. Churu Ram RO Baggan Tehsil Bilawar Kathua then Patwari (5) Bharat Bushan Mehra SO Harbans Lal RO Mamka R.S. Pura Jammu (6) Rahul Kai SO Late Sh. Deep Raj RO H. NO. 39 New Company Bagh Canal Road Jammu then Patwari (7) Saqib Saleem SO Sh. Saleem Ahmed RO 54 Majheer Thana Mandi Rajouri then Tahsildar (8) Sat Pal SO Sh. Nanak Chand RO Gadi Garh Jammu and others. (KNO) 2200115 Apr 24, 2026 Hindu Kush Himalaya snowpack crashes to record low for fourth straight year: ICIMOD Daily Excelsior International KATHAMADU Apr 24Ganga basin is among the 12 showing abovenormal snow persistence in 2026 when overall snow cover across the Hindu Kush Himalaya was belownormal for the fourth consecutive year and even broke last years recordlow deficit a report said Friday.The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Snow Update by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is an annual report that monitors seasonal snow anomalies in the HKH region and offers an assessment of snow persistence between the winter months of November and March.Between 2003 and 2026 the HKH region experienced 14 winters with belownormal snow persistence emerging as a recurrent pattern particularly with increasing frequency and intensity in the recent years.This year 2026 is the fourth consecutive year of belownormal snow persistence with snow persistence declining further to 27.8 per cent below average and even breaking last years record low deficit of 23.6 per cent the HKH Snow Update 2026 said.The persistent decline signals a systemic collapse of seasonal
snow reserves across the worlds highest mountain range posing an immediate and escalating threat to water security for nearly two billion people who depend on the 12 major river basins originating in the HKH it said.ICIMOD defines snow persistence as the fraction of time snow remains on the ground after snowfall.Ten of those basins now have belownormal snow persistence. The Mekong Tarim and Tibetan Plateau have recorded their lowest levels in 24 years of monitoring the ICIMOD report said.Only two basins recorded abovenormal snow persistence the Ganges at plus 16.3 per cent and the Irrawaddy at plus 21.8 per cent offering limited local relief but insufficient to offset the regional crisis.In contrast extreme deficits persist in the Mekong at minus 59.5 per cent the Tibetan Plateau at minus 47.4 per cent and the Salween at minus 41.8 per cent the Snow Update 2026 said.What we are seeing is a persistent trend where the seasonal snow reservoir is shrinking year after year said Sher Muhammad author of the HKH Snow Update 2026. The 2026
numbers confirm a breaking point ten out of twelve basins are below normal and several have hit their lowest recorded persistence in two decades.Almost 240 million people depend on the glaciers and 10 major rivers such as Indus Ganga and Brahmaputra originating in the Himalayas. Another billion people living downstream of these rivers across eight countries including India too are dependent on the glacierfed rivers.In the Ganges basin the snow persistence this year was 16.3 per cent above normal making the number of belownormal and abovenormal snow years equal over the past 24 years.This abovenormal snow persistence may support improved earlyseason water availability in the basin this year. Besides the current year the highest snow anomaly of 30.2 per cent above normal was observed in 2015 it said.In the Brahmaputra basin snow persistence was at the highest level of 27.7 per cent above normal in 2019 visavis the lowest level of minus 27.9 per cent below normal recorded in 2025.The belownormal trend in snow persistence continues even
in 2026 although the level of decline is less steep in the current year recorded at 6.1 per cent below normal.This continued trend of negative snow anomaly has an adverse impact on hydropower generation and agriculture especially in early summers and emphasises the need for integrated water resource management and drought risk planning the report pointed out.The Indus basin experienced a steep drop in snow persistence from a highest of 19.5 per cent in 2020 to 24.5 per cent below the normal level in 2024. It is also the lowest that the basin has faced in the past 24 years.The belownormal anomaly continues in 2026 too recorded at the level of 18.1 per cent below normal. This decline is likely to exacerbate early summer water scarcity in a basin where nearly half of the runoff contributions come from meltwater. This threatens almost 300 million people and highlights the need for stronger water management strategies the report added.Snowmelt contributes about onefourth of the annual runoff on an average in the 12 basins meaning reduced
snow this year will directly impact water availability for drinking irrigation hydropower and ecosystem.This situation is particularly concerning for water supply and flood management. Reduced snowmelt will lower spring runoff and intensify water scarcity in downstream areas especially in the western river basins pointed out the report.Farmers in the Indus Helmand and Amu Darya basins face irrigation shortfalls during early growing seasons. Hydropower operators in the Mekong Yangtze where the Three Gorges Dam operates and Brahmaputra should anticipate belownormal generation in the early summer.Compounding the crisis consecutive lowsnow years have prevented groundwater and soil moisture from replenishing increasing vulnerability to future droughts. Every dry spell will hit harder warned the report.Regional cooperation on these interconnected issues has now become urgent. We need to shift from emergency response to proactive sciencebased governance pointed out the report. (PTI) 2200117 Apr 24, 2026 Trump admin vows crackdown on Chinese companies 'exploiting' AI models made in US Daily Excelsior International WASHINGTON Apr 24The Trump administration is vowing to crack down on foreign tech companies exploitation of US artificial intelligence models singling out China at a time that country is narrowing the gap with the US in the AI race.In a Thursday memo Michael Kratsios the presidents chief science and technology adviser accused foreign entities principally based in China of engaging in deliberate industrialscale campaigns to distill or extract capabilities from leading AI systems made in the US and exploiting American expertise and innovation.The administration Kratsios wrote will work with American AI companies to identify such activities build defences and find ways to punish offenders.The memo arrives at a time when China is challenging US dominance in artificial intelligence an area where the White House says the US must prevail to set global standards and reap economic and military benefits.But the USChina gap in performance of top AI models has effectively closed according to a recent report from Stanford Universitys Institute for
HumanCentred AI.Chinas embassy in Washington said it opposed the unjustified suppression of Chinese companies by the US.China has always been committed to promoting scientific and technological progress through cooperation and healthy competition. China attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights said Liu Pengyu the embassy spokesperson.In Beijing Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters Friday that the US claims are groundless and were smearing the achievements of Chinas artificial intelligence industry.China firmly opposes this. We urge the US to respect facts discard prejudice stop suppressing Chinas technological development and do more to promote scientific and technological exchange and cooperation between the two countries he said.Kratsios memo also came the same week that the House Foreign Affairs Committee offered unanimous bipartisan support for a bill to set up a process to identify foreign actors that extract key technical features of closedsource USowned AI models and
to punish them with measures including sanctions.Model extraction attacks are the latest frontier of Chinese economic coercion and theft of US intellectual property said Rep Bill Huizenga who sponsored the bill.American AI models are demonstrating transformative cyber capabilities and it is critical we prevent China from stealing these technological advancements.Last year the Chinese startup DeepSeek rattled US markets when it released a large language model that could compete with US AI giants but at a fraction of the cost.David Sacks then serving as President Donald Trumps AI and crypto adviser suggested that DeepSeek copied US models.Theres substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAIs models Sacks said then.In a February letter to US lawmakers OpenAI the developer of ChatGPT made similar allegations and said China should not be allowed to advance autocratic AI by appropriating and repackaging American innovation.Anthropic the maker of the Claude chatbot in February accused DeepSeek
and two other Chinabased AI laboratories of engaging in campaigns to illicitly extract Claudes capabilities to improve their own models using the distillation technique that involves training a less capable model on the outputs of a stronger one.Anthropic said distillation can be a legitimate way to train AI systems but its a problem when competitors use it to acquire powerful capabilities from other labs in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost that it would take to develop them independently.But it can go both ways. San Franciscobased startup Anysphere maker of the popular coding tool Cursor recently acknowledged that its latest product was based on an opensource model made by Chinese company Moonshot AI maker of the chatbot Kimi.Kyle Chan a fellow at the Washingtonbased think tank The Brookings Institution and an expert on Chinas technology development said it will be like looking for needles in an enormous haystack to separate unauthorized distillation from the vast volume of legitimate requests for data.But
information sharing and coordination among US AI labs could help and the federal government can play an important role in facilitating antidistillation efforts across labs Chan said.Its hard to assess how far the House bill can go but Chan said Trump may not want to rock the boat with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a planned midMay state visit to Beijing. (AP) 2200118 Apr 24, 2026 UN experts flag forced conversions of minority women in Pakistan, seek action Daily Excelsior International LONDON Apr 24UN experts have expressed serious concern over the continued abduction and forced religious conversion through marriage of women and girls from minority communities in Pakistan saying impunity was fuelling the practice.Any change of religion or belief must be genuinely free from coercion and marriage must be based on full and free consent which is not legally possible when the victim is a child the experts said in a press release issued by Genevaheadquartered Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Wednesday.According to the experts about 75 per cent of the victims in 2025 were Hindus and 25 per cent Christians with nearly 80 per cent of incidents reported from Sindh province. Impunity they said is fuelling this relentless practice.Adolescent girls between 14 and 18 are particularly targeted and some girls are even younger they said adding that poverty and marginalisation increase vulnerability to such abuse.The experts noted that victims often face physical and sexual violence social
stigma and severe trauma and are deprived of their freedom of religion or belief under coercive conditions.These women and girls endure a continuous sense of terror... This must stop they said.The experts said the scale and persistence of such grave human rights violations point to systemic discrimination against nonMuslim women and girls who are forced to convert to Islam to marry Muslim men.As per the 2023 Census Hindus in Pakistan account for almost 3.9 million (roughly 1.61 per cent) of the total population of over 241 million with the majority of them living in the rural areas of Sindh. The Christian population is over 3.3 million representing approximately 1.37 per cent of the total population.According to the Minority Rights Group an international NGO Hindus in Pakistan fear persistent harassment at the hands of religious extremists and complain that there is little official protection accorded to them. They also live with regular threats to their places of worship.Calling for urgent action the UN experts urged Pakistan to
criminalise forced religious conversion as a distinct offence raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 across all provinces and enforce laws related to human trafficking and sexual violence.They also called for prompt and impartial investigations into all allegations and stressed that perpetrators must be brought to justice.The experts expressed concern that law enforcement authorities often dismiss complaints lodged by victims families fail to investigate or prosecute forced conversions in a timely manner or neglect to properly assess the age of victims.They also called on Pakistan to provide comprehensive inclusive and genderresponsive support services for victims including childcentric protection services such as safe shelters legal aid psychological counselling and reintegration programmes.The experts said Pakistan has taken insufficient measures to address the root causes of the issue including gender inequality poverty discrimination against religious minorities and widespread impunity.Freedom of religion or belief and equality
must be ensured for all without discrimination they said. (PTI) 2200116 Apr 24, 2026 Explosion of invasive 'janitor fish' sparks mass removal operation in Indonesia's capital Daily Excelsior International JAKARTA Apr 24Cheers broke out in Indonesias capital on Friday as residents city workers and environmental volunteers hauled bulging nets of invasive fish to the surface of a reservoir in an operation to crack down on janitor fish.Authorities are seeking to remove at least 10 tons (9 metric tons) of the fish from Jakartas waterways an effort officials hope will restore balance to the Ciliwung River and renew public attention on water quality.From the polluted river to the concrete embankments and skyscraperlined canals of the citys heart the dark shapes of the fish cling tightly to the river walls. At first glance they appear almost prehistoric with armoured bodies gleaming a dull brown beneath the murky surface.Janitor fish or suckermouth catfish known scientifically as Pterygoplichthys and locally as sapusapu arent native to Indonesia. Imported decades ago for aquariums because of their ability to consume algae they were later released and found a home in Jakartas heavily polluted rivers. The fish can grow up to 50 centimetres
(nearly 20 inches) and live for 1015 years.Experts have long warned that unchecked populations of invasive species can destabilise freshwater ecosystems particularly in densely populated urban areas like Jakarta.Dian Rosleine an ecologist from the Bandung Institute of Technology said that the adaptability of janitor fish is very high so that even in polluted conditions it can survive when other species cant.So these fish are biological indicators that the water is in poor condition she said.The Ciliwung once carried clear water from the mountains of West Java into Jakarta. Today it flows through dense neighbourhoods carrying untreated household waste and industrial runoff. Concrete walls replaced riverbanks. During dry months the water warms and slows conditions that favour janitor fish over native species Rosleine said.Jakarta authorities have responded with mass removals targeting the janitor fish in city waterways. The campaign began last week.The cleanup drive ordered by Jakarta Gov. Pramono Anung was carried out simultaneously
in all five administrative cities of the capital involving hundreds of personnel including firefighters disaster officers and local residents. They have netted and buried more than seven tons of janitor fish across the city within a week.The cleanup on Friday at a 6meterdeep (19footdeep) reservoir in East Jakartas Ciracas neighbourhood drew curious crowds as city workers collected about 320 kilograms (705 pounds) of the fish.Piles of wriggling janitor fish filled red barrels along the reservoir tangible proof that something at last was being done.The janitor fish populations have reproduced at a notable level while also feeding on native species East Jakartas mayor Munjirin told reporters when visiting Fridays cleanup. The impact extends beyond ecosystem destruction contributing to structural damage to riverbank and embankment walls.Munjirin who like many Indonesians uses a single name said that the coordinated operation marks the beginning of a sustained effort to control the species with regular monitoring and removal planned to
prevent further ecological damage.However he vowed a review of the programs method after the Indonesian Ulema Council or MUI raised concerns over perceived cruelty pledging that all fish will be dead before burial.While endorsing the cleanup MUIs fatwa commission warned that burying the janitor fish alive amounts to a violation of animal rights enshrined in Islamic teaching.Authorities are still cautious about what happens next. As janitor fish are edible in some countries concerns over heavy metal contamination mean they wont be immediately approved for consumption in Jakarta. Instead officials are exploring alternatives including processing the fish into animal feed or fertiliser.Anung said that the cleanup method will require the fish to be dead before burial at designated sites with hygiene standards applied to block their return to rivers or trade.The Jakarta governor noted that buried janitor fish can serve as natural compost and suggested adopting Brazils model where the fish are turned into charcoal to generate greater
economic benefits.Yet experts caution that removal is only a beginning. Without improving wastewater management and reducing pollution the river could quickly return to the same condition.The Ciliwung River requires rehabilitation our major challenge that must be addressed Rosleine said. Addressing the symptoms without tackling the root causes will not provide a lasting solution. (AP) 2200082 Apr 24, 2026 Srinagar Police Deploy Narcotic Dog Squad To Crack Down On Drug Trafficking Daily Excelsior Latest News SRINAGAR Apr 24 Police in Srinagar have deployed the narcotic dog squad across multiple city locations to crack down on drug trafficking a police official said on Friday.During this special drive under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan trained sniffer dogs have been positioned at key checkpoints to detect concealed narcotics identify and arrest drug peddlers he said.The official said deploying highly trained canines enhances onthespot detection capabilities and strengthens groundlevel enforcement.He said the proactive initiative is a vital component of the Srinagar polices strategy to dismantle narcotics supply networks and establish a strong deterrent against drugrelated activities.The police also continued awareness campaigns to educate the public and reinforce the collective resolve towards a drugfree society. (Agencies) 2200078 Apr 24, 2026 Oppn Parties Move Fresh Notice In Rajya Sabha Seeking Removal Of CEC Gyanesh Kumar Daily Excelsior National New Delhi Apr 24 Opposition parties on Friday submitted a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking a motion for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar sources said. The fresh charges against the CEC include continued partisan asymmetry in the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct.The opposition has accused the poll panel of not acting on complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modis address to the nation on April 18 ahead of assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.Referring to concerns raised by various opposition parties the notice said As on the date of this notice Gyanesh Kumar has issued no showcause notice no advisory and no public response to any of the said complaints.According to sources Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and TMC leader Sagarika Ghose submitted the notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General.The notice was signed by 73 Rajya Sabha MPs while the requirement is 50 signatures.Members of opposition parties such as the Congress TMC SP DMK Left parties Shiv Sena (UBT) NCP (SP) RJD IUML and
like minded parties have signed the notice sources said.The move comes days after similar notices submitted by opposition MPs in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were rejected by the respective presiding officers. It was the first time that a notice seeking the removal of a CEC was submitted in Parliament.In its earlier notices the opposition had accused CEC Kumar of failure to maintain independence and constitutional fidelity and of acting under the thumb of the executive.However in almost similar responses Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan had rejected the notices holding that even if the allegations were assumed to be true they did not meet the high constitutional threshold of misbehaviour required for his removal. (Agencies) 2200074 Apr 24, 2026 Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs Including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal Quit Party; To Join BJP Daily Excelsior National NEW DELHI Apr 24 In a massive jolt to the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs including Raghav Chadha Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal quit the party.Addressing a press conference Chadha flanked by Pathak and Mittal said that twothirds of the Aam Aadmi Partys Rajya Sabha MPs have quit the party and will join the BJP as a faction.Chadha said that party MPs Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal are also quitting the AAP.AAP that I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth has completely strayed from its principles values and core morals he said.Chadha was recently removed as the deputy leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha and was replaced by Mittal in the Upper House.In the Rajya Sabha the Aam Aadmi Party has 10 MPs. More than twothirds of them are with us in this initiative.They have already signed and this morning we submitted all the required documentation including signed letters and other formal paperwork to the chairman of the Rajya Sabha Chadha told reporters.Hitting out at Arvind
Kejriwalled AAP Chadha said that the party is no longer working for the country but for its own benefit.Over the past few years I have increasingly felt that I am the right person in the wrong party. Today I announce my decision to move away from AAP and work more closely with the janata (public) he said.Another Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak said that he had never thought that this situation would arise but it has.For 10 years I remained associated with this party. And today I am parting ways with the Aam Aadmi Party Pathak said.On April 15 the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at business entities linked to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal in Punjab as part of a FEMA probe. (Agencies) 2200072 Apr 24, 2026 Rahul Gandhi 'Disagreed' On Govt's CIC Candidate: RTI Response Reveals Daily Excelsior National New Delhi Apr 24 Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had disagreed with the appointment of Raj Kumar Goyal as chief information commissioner suggesting the names of IAS Sumita Dawra Justice S Muralidhar and Professor Faizan Mustafa according to minutes released under the Right to Information Act.In an RTI response to activist Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd) the Department of Personnel and Training gave the minutes of meeting which was held on December 10 2025 in the Parliament building to select the chief information commissioner (CIC) and eight other information commissioners.The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi.The threemember committee to select the CIC and information commissioners comprises the prime minister a Union cabinet minister and the leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha according to the RTI Act.The minutes show that name of Goyal a former IAS officer was proposed by Shah.Home Minister suggested the name of Shri Raj Kumar Goyal lAS ((Retd.)
(AGMUT 1990) for appointment as Chief Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission. However the Leader of Opposition disagreed and suggested three other names the minutes of the meeting provided to Batra under the RTI revealed.According to the minutes Gandhi instead suggested the name of former labour ministry secretary and 1991batch IAS Sumita Dawra (retd) underlining that she has over three decades of experience in public policy and development across diverse sectors. Her breadth of expertise and administrative acumen make her wellsuited to shoulder the responsibilities of the CIC Gandhi said in his written submission.He also suggested names of former Odisha High Court chief justice S Muralidhar and former NALSAR vicechancellor Faizan Mustafa in the order of preference calling them distinguished professionals with exemplary records in law justice and public service. The government however went ahead with Goyal as the CIC.In the selection of information commissioners all three members agreed on all but one of the
eight proposed names. Gandhi disagreed on one of the names suggested by the government.After taking into account all the relevant factors all Members of the Committee agreed to seven names. However the Leader of Opposition disagreed with one name the minutes showed.The records did not disclose the name of the person who did not get unanimous support or whether that person was selected or rejected during the meeting.The government notified the appointment of Goyal and eight other information commissioners on December 15 2025. (Agencies) 2200069 Apr 24, 2026 Mechanical load of constantly pumping blood could be reason why heart cancer is rare: Study Daily Excelsior National New Delhi Apr 24 The mechanical load from the constant beating of the heart could be helping in consistently suppressing the growth of cancer cells according to a new study which offers an explanation as to why cancer of the bloodpumping organ is rare.Cellular pathways in tissues of the heart alter gene regulation in cancer cells to keep them from proliferating researchers said.Findings published in the journal Science shed light on how mechanical forces could be important in protecting the heart from cancer and may pave the way to new cancer therapies based on mechanical stimulation.Researchers including those from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Italy said cancer rarely forms in or metastasises to the heart suggesting there is something in the cardiac microenvironment that inhibits cancer growth.They proposed an explanation pointing to the intense mechanical demands placed on heart tissues which must continuously pump blood against significant resistance the persistent strain could suppress the
heart cells ability to proliferate.The pressures may also inhibit cancer cells in the heart from proliferation the team said and added that however the mechanisms underlying the resistance remain unclear.For the study the authors developed a transplantation model in which the hearts mechanical workload could be reduced.They grafted a donor heart into the neck of a compatible mouse to create a mechanically unloaded organ one that remained perfused with blood but did not bear a physiological strain.The team injected human cancer cells directly into the heart muscle and compared tumour behaviour in the unloaded transplanted heart with that in the animals native mechanically active heart. (Agencies) 2200066 Apr 24, 2026 Mamata Winning Polls In Bengal, Congress In Kerala, DMK In TN: Farooq Abdullah Daily Excelsior Latest News SRINAGAR Apr 24 National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah claimed on Friday that opposition parties are winning Assembly polls in the three key states of West Bengal Tamil Nadu and Kerala.I tell you and the rest god knows Mamata Banerjee is winning in Bengal Congress is winning in Kerala and (MK) Stalins party (DMK) is winning in Tamil Nadu. This is Gods blessing Abdullah told reporters at Hazratbal when asked about the ongoing elections.Responding to a question on the conflict in the Middle East the NC chief said peace is essential and expressed hope that the war would end as soon as possible.If peace does not return to the Middle East tragedies for this world are major and everyone every country every leader must try and see that this war comes to an end immediately. I hope that the US president has realised that Israel was not right in pushing him towards war. I hope to god that he will move quickly and China and Russia will also see to it that this war comes to an end as quickly as possible he said.On the Centres Nasha
Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said peoples support is imperative to win the war against drugs. Till parents and people do not support the fight the government cannot end the drug menace. The important thing is the peoples support and if they support it will god willing end the menace he added. (Agencies) 2200063 Apr 24, 2026 Barrier-Free Tolling On Several NHs Across Country From December: Nitin Gadkari Daily Excelsior Latest News New Delhi Apr 24 Seamless barrierfree tolling on several national highways across the country will be implemented by December road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday.Addressing the second edition of Logistics Shakti Summit &amp Awards 2026 Gadkari said India will have to develop good infrastructure to reduce logistics cost.We plan to put up several seamless barrierfree tolling systems on several national highways across the country by December Gadkari said.This new system facilitates barrierfree tolling using integrated technologies including Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) with AI analytics and RFIDbased Electronic Toll Collection (FASTag).Under this vehicles will be charged based on their identification through highperformance ANPR cameras and FASTag readers without needing to stop at toll plazas.In case of noncompliance enotices will be served to violators nonpayment of which may result in suspension of FASTag and other VAHANrelated penalties.Gadkari noted that if India wants to become a
global power the country will have to reduce logistics cost to single digits.He said a recent report prepared by IIT Chennai IIT Kanpur and IIM Bangalore has revealed that Indias construction of expressways and economic corridors has helped reduce the countrys logistics cost to 10 per cent from 16 per cent earlier.The Road Transport and Highways Minister said logistics cost is 12 per cent in the US 12 per cent in European countries and 810 per cent in China.Referring to the West Asia crisis Gadkari said India relies on imports to meet 87 per cent of its oil requirement.We import fossil fuels worth Rs 22 lakh crore which is also causing pollution... so we need to work on increasing production of alternative fuel and biofuel he said.Noting that green hydrogen is the fuel of the future Gadkari said there is a need to reduce the cost of running a hydrogen fuel station to make it financially viable.He said India is the fastestgrowing major economy and it is a dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the country a USD 5trillion
economy. (Agencies) 2200058 Apr 24, 2026 'Anga, Banga, Kalinga' Will Have BJP Govts Next Month: Amit Shah Daily Excelsior National KOLKATA Apr 24 Asserting that people voted with enthusiasm for a change in the first phase of the assembly elections here Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Anga Banga and Kalinga the ancient kingdoms that are presentday Assam Bengal and Odisha will have a BJP Government next month.Addressing a press conference in Kolkata Shah said the BJP will secure an absolute majority in the assembly elections and bag more than 110 of the 152 seats that went to the polls in the first phase on Thursday.People of Bengal broke all records in the first phase and voted with enthusiasm for a change he said referring to the over 92 per cent turnout.I thank the Election Commission and security forces for ensuring no deaths during the first phase polls he said noting that 1278 people were injured in the 2016 assembly elections and 1681 in 2021.Claiming that the Mamata Banerjeeled TMCs exit is imminent Shah who is camping in the state said the BJP will form a Government with an absolute majority.We will have Governments in Anga Banga and Kalinga
after May 5 he said.While the BJP came to power in Odisha in 2024 it is seeking a third consecutive term in Assam and oust the 15yearold TMC Government in West Bengal.Shah said a Bengalborn and Bengalispeaking person will be the Chief Minister of the state when the BJP comes to power here.BJP will ensure womens safety and abolish bhaipo tax and syndicate raj in Bengal he said noting that the party will also roll out a red carpet for investors. (Agencies) 2200056 Apr 24, 2026 Six Booked For Disrupting Public Order In Jammu And Kashmir Daily Excelsior Latest News SRINAGAR Apr 24 Six persons were booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district on Friday for allegedly disrupting public order.Sopore Police booked the six under the PSA for their involvement in recent law and order disturbances and acts of vandalism during a student protest in Sopore area of the north Kashmir district a police spokesman said.He identified the persons as Umar Akbar Hajam a resident of Seelu Salman Ahmed Shala a resident of Shalpora Sopore Altaf Ahmed Sheikh a resident of Panzipora Tarzoo Mubashir Ahmed Gilkar a resident of Naseerabad Muzammil Mushtaq Changa a resident of Arampora and Majid Firdous Dar a resident of Chinkipora areas of Sopore.All the individuals have been detained under PSA after obtaining proper detention warrants from the competent authority (District Magistrate) and have been lodged in District Jail Bhadarwah the spokesman said.He said the six were actively involved in instigating unrest indulging in vandalism and attempting to disturb peace during a
recent protest by students.Their activities posed a serious threat to public order and safety he added.The police said there is zero tolerance for any unlawful activity that threatens peace and stability in the area.More individuals involved in the said incidents are being identified and are under process for similar legal action including detention under PSA the spokesman said.Earlier this month protests broke out at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Sopore after a female student alleged sexual assault by a senior lecturer who was later booked and suspended pending inquiry. (Agencies) 2200051 Apr 24, 2026 CM Omar Abdullah Says BJP Delaying Statehood As 'Punishment' Daily Excelsior Latest News SRINAGAR Apr 24 A day after Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma launched a sharp attack on the Omar Abdullah Government the Chief Minister hit back accusing the BJP of admitting that statehood for J&ampK was being delayed as punishment because people voted for the Jammu &amp Kashmir National Conference.The latest exchange was triggered after Sharma on Friday accused the Omar Abdullahled government of nonperformance corruption and misplaced priorities and being busy in marathons skiing and 5star dinners. Sharma also asserted that the demand for restoration of statehood should not be linked to any individual or political family in an apparent reference to the Abdullahs.Statehood will come at its own time but it cannot be tied to any one leader becoming chief minister LoP said on Friday.Omar said on Saturday the BJPs statements were a reaction out of nervousness due to a recent grand show in border areas of Nowshera in Rajouri district.Unnerved by the grand show in Naushera a few days ago finally a bit of honesty from the BJP the
people of J&ampK are to be punished and denied statehood because they voted for @JKNC. So much for their tall promises &amp claims Omar said on X.In a sharp jibe at Sharma Omar also remarked that the Assembly functioned more productively in his absence taking a swipe at the BJP leader who had recently returned from Assam.Welcome back from Assam Mr LoP. The assembly was quiet and far more productive without you Omar added .On Friday evening NC spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq also took a swipe at Sharma saying he was about to file a missing report for the partys Leader of Opposition.LoP Sharma on Friday said promises made by Omar Abdullah Government to the people such as free LPG cylinders 200 units of electricity and employment for youth remain unfulfilled. He questioned the Governments focus alleging that governance has taken a backseat while leaders remain visible only in marathons skiing events and highprofile engagements.The BJP leader further alleged an administrative breakdown claiming there is no effective public
outreach departmental review or visible presence of ministers on the ground. He also accused the administration of rampant corruption alleging that common citizens were forced to pay bribes for routine work at various Government offices. (Agencies) 2200048 Apr 24, 2026 LG Manoj Sinha Launches 'Drug-Free J&K Campaign' In Reasi Daily Excelsior Latest News JAMMU Apr 24 Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday launched the drugfree J&ampK campaign in Reasi district calling upon authorities to conduct security checks around schools colleges and other vulnerable areas. He warned that those involved in drug trafficking would face stringent legal action.Calling for a united response the lieutenant governor urged communities institutions and individuals to join hands against drug abuse which he said is eroding the very foundations of society.Highlighting the progress of the campaign he said a strong collective force has emerged across the Union Territory over the past 12 days with people showing firm resolve to make Jammu and Kashmir free from narcotics.I want to make it absolutely clear that those who engage in the grave crime of poisoning the future of our youth through drug trafficking will face the harshest consequences under the law he said.Sinha said that drug traffickers and terrorists often operate in tandem and asserted that they must be treated as allies in
crime. Our response should be decisive thorough and unyielding. Every route drug smugglers exploit should be monitored every financial chain dismantled and every asset stripped away until their networks are completely destroyed he added.Referring to the longstanding challenge of drug abuse in the region Sinha said the campaign aims to break the silence surrounding the issue and mobilise society against the scourge.Drugs are a wound in the heart of our society. To heal this wound we require a peoples movement that mobilises the full strength of society to eradicate drugs at their roots he said.The Lieutenant Governor also called upon NGOs social workers spiritual leaders and educators to actively participate in the campaign across urban and rural areas.Social organisations spiritual leaders and educators are the frontline guardians of this mission. Through their leadership hope can be rekindled and society renewed. The full strength of the government and the community stands beside them he added.Sinha also announced that 1947 womens
committees have been established across the Jammu division since the campaign began on April 11 primarily aimed at combatting drug abuse and strengthening communitylevel monitoring.1947 women committees have been established across districts in the Jammu division since the beginning of the campaign on 11th April and with the support of mothers and sisters this cancer of drug menace in society will be cured he said while addressing the gathering here.Sinha said that the active participation of women particularly mothers and sisters would play a decisive role in eradicating the menace of drug abuse from society.We must build a historic movement one that rises from homes schools mohallas and communities a movement that begins with open honest dialogue in towns and villages. Mothers and sisters are the moral bedrock of our society and with their help we can win this battle he said. 2200042 Apr 24, 2026 Modi Says Phase-1 Polling Signals 'Wave Of Change', BJP's Victory In Bengal Daily Excelsior national-left KOLKATA Apr 24 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday claimed that the wave of change in West Bengal has become evident in the first phase of polling and asserted that the support shown in favour of the BJP sounded the conch shell of its victory in the assembly elections.Addressing a rally at Panihati under the Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency in North 24 Parganas Modi alleged that the ruling TMC had crushed the temple of democracy in Bengal through dictatorship but said that the people of the state began to reconstruct it through their mandate.The wave of change that had been visible in Bengal for a long time yesterdays first phase of voting has put its seal on it. The support shown yesterday in favour of the BJP has sounded the conch shell of its victory he said.Nearly 92 per cent of the 3.60 crore electors turned up to vote in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls on Thursday.In Bengal where the TMC had crushed the temple of democracy with its dictatorship people have started reconstructing the temple of democracy. Now
in the second phase you have to unfurl the victory flag over this temple the Prime Minister said.He claimed that the TMC was extremely rattled after the first phase of polling and alleged that the ruling party had mobilised its goons through the night.The Prime Minister also alleged that after the poll results on May 4 TMCs goons will have no place to hide.The first phase of polling had marked the end of the TMCs maha jungle raj he claimed.Stepping up his attack on the ruling party over womens safety Modi described the TMC as an antiwomen party and said the BJP believed in a womenled development model.Referring to women candidates fielded by the BJP Modi said the party had given representation to those who had suffered injustice.This mother helped her daughter become a doctor. But that daughter was taken away from her by the TMC. We have made that mother a candidate Modi said while referring to the partys Panihati candidate the mother of the RG Kar rapemurder victim.The BJP has also given an opportunity to the victim of Sandeshkhali
to lead. When the women of Bengal ask for justice the TMC tells them not to step out of their homes Modi alleged. (Agencies) 2200039 Apr 24, 2026 Kejriwal shifts to Type-VII bungalow in Lodhi Estate allotted by Centre Daily Excelsior National New Delhi Apr 24 AAP supremo and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday shifted to a TypeVII government bungalow on 95 Lodhi Estate after the Centre allotted him the accommodation the party said.In a post on X Kejriwal said the Centre had recently allotted him the bungalow following court directions considering his position as the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).In the last few days the Central government allotted me a house on the orders of the court given my position as the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party. I have now shifted to that house with my family Kejriwal said.The allotment of the TypeVII bungalow was made last October after which the AAP had confirmed that Kejriwal would move to the 95 Lodhi Estate accommodation.The party had then said the allotment came after the Delhi High Court pulled up the Centre on the issue.Kejriwal had been living on 6 Flag Staff Road in Civil Lines during his tenure as the chief minister of Delhi.After stepping down from the post in September 2024 he shifted to
a government bungalow allotted to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal. (Agencies) 2200030 Apr 24, 2026 India To Be Top-10 Sporting Nation By 2036, Top-5 By 2047: Mandaviya Daily Excelsior Sports_left BUDGAM Apr 24 Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said India would emerge among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and break into the top five by 2047.Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a 30bedded Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospital at Ompora in the central Kashmir district here Mandaviya credited the Narendra Modiled government for streamlining sports governance and creating a more structured system.It (the government) is providing opportunity to the youth to perform in the sports arena. I am sure that in the days to come in the next ten years by 2036 India will be among the 10 best sporting nations in the world and by 2047 India will emerge among the top five sporting nations Mandaviya said.The minister added that the governments sustained push has strengthened the sporting framework across the country.The country has won the bid for hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and has also bid for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. The process is going on to meet all the demands and expectations of the
International Olympic Committee.The sports ecosystem has been improved in the country and with programmes like Fit India Khelo India movement the countrys youth are getting opportunities Mandaviya added.About the hospital Mandaviya said that the facility built at a cost of Rs 165 crore will serve over 50000 workers and their families and provide them free treatment.He added a nursing college will also be added to the facility in the future to impart training to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. 2200027 Apr 24, 2026 China's DeepSeek rolls out long-anticipated update of its AI model Daily Excelsior International HONG KONG Apr 24DeepSeek the Chinese artificial intelligence startup that shook world markets last year launched preview versions of its latest major update Friday as the AI rivalry between China and the US heats up.DeepSeeks V4 has been keenly anticipated by users keen to test how it compares to US competitors like OpenAIs ChatGPT Anthropics Claude and Googles Gemini. Anthropic and OpenAI have accused DeepSeek of unfairly building its technology off their own.Some industry analysts had expected the new model to arrive more than a month earlier at the start of the Lunar New Year.DeepSeek says the new V4 opensource models which include pro and flash versions have big improvements in knowledge reasoning and in their agentic capabilities the ability to perform complex tasks and workflows autonomously.V4 is a successor to V3 an AI model that DeepSeek released in late 2024.But it was DeepSeeks specialized reasoning AI model called R1 that took markets by surprise with its release in January 2025. DeepSeek claimed it was more costeffective
than OpenAIs similar model and it became a symbol of how China was catching up with the US in technological advancements.DeepSeek said the V4 Pro Max version has superior performance in terms of standard reasoning benchmarks relative to OpenAIs GPT5.2 model and Googles Gemini 3.0Pro. It falls marginally short of GPT5.4 and Gemini 3.1Pro it said.In terms of agentic capabilities the Chinese company said the V4 pro version could outperform Claudes Sonnet 4.5 and approaches the level of Claudes Opus 4.5 model based on its own evaluation.The flash version of V4 performs on a par with the pro version on simple agent tasks and has reasoning capabilities closely approaching it DeepSeek said.Based on the benchmark results it does appear DeepSeek V4 is going to be very competitive against its US rivals said Lian Jye Su chief analyst at the technology research and advisory group Omdia.Marina Zhang an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney said DeepSeeks V4 rollout is as a pivotal milestone for Chinas AI industry especially as
global competition intensifies in the pursuit of selfreliance in critical technologies.DeepSeek offers a freetouse web and mobile chatbot. Unlike the top models from Anthropic Google and OpenAI it describes its technology as open source in the way that it enables developers access to modify and build on its core technology.Both the V4s pro and flash versions have a 1 million token context window a parameter of how much information an AI model can process and recall and run on a more efficient basis the startup said. That is a significant improvement from before since the V3 supported a 128000 token context window.A report from Microsoft in January showed use of DeepSeek has been gaining ground in many developing nations.However some analysts remain skeptical. Ivan Su a senior equity analyst at Morningstar said while V4 is a competent followup its not as big a breakthrough as the rollout of R1.Domestic competition has intensified significantly since R1s release Su said. Against US models DeepSeeks own evaluation suggests its
capabilities largely match on most fronts but independent evaluations are needed before final conclusions can be drawn.In February Anthropic accused DeepSeek and two other Chinabased AI laboratories of industrialscale campaigns to illicitly extract Claudes capabilities to improve their own models. It said they did that using a technique called distillation that involves training a less capable model on the outputs of a stronger one. OpenAI made similar allegations in a letter to US lawmakers.This week Michael Kratsios chief science and technology adviser to US President Donald Trump also accused foreign tech companies principally based in China of distilling leading US AI systems and exploiting American expertise and innovation.Chinas embassy in Washington hit back at the allegations describing them as unjustified suppression of Chinese companies by the US. (AP) 2200014 Apr 24, 2026 Gold Futures Drops To Rs 1.51 Lakh/10g As Strong Dollar, Oil Surge Weigh On Bullion Daily Excelsior Latest News New Delhi Apr 24 Gold prices fell Rs 462 to Rs 1.51 lakh per 10 grams in futures trade on Friday tracking weak global trends amid a stronger US dollar and rising crude oil rates.On the Multi Commodity Exchange the yellow metal for June delivery declined Rs 462 or 0.3 per cent to Rs 151299 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 8310 lots.Analysts said pressure on precious metals came from a firm dollar and elevated energy prices as well as heightened inflation concerns.Gold prices declined on Friday. The pressure on the precious metals can be attributed to a stronger US dollar and rising crude oil prices which have intensified inflation concerns among investors Gaurav Garg Research Analyst at Lemonn Markets Desk said.He added that oil prices were hovering around USD 95.84 per barrel due to geopolitical tensions particularly in the Strait of Hormuz which has exacerbated market uncertainty.In the international market Comex gold futures for the June contract slipped USD 33.54 or nearly 1 per cent to USD 4690.46 per ounce in New
York.Brokerage firm Kotak Securities gold hovered around USD 4680 per ounce heading for nearly a 3 per cent weekly loss as prolonged USIran tensions and the continued Strait of Hormuz blockade drove oil higher and lifted inflation concerns.According to analysts signs of friction between Washington and Tehran persist due to the US Navys blockade of Iranian ports.Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi termed the blockade an act of war while chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said a complete ceasefire would be meaningful only if maritime restrictions are lifted.Meanwhile US President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to act against any vessels laying mines in the crucial shipping route further dampening hopes for deescalation.Analysts said these developments have supported the US dollars strength putting pressure on gold prices in the global markets.Market participants are now awaiting the final University of Michigans consumer sentiment data for further cues on the Federal Reserves monetary policy path and the nearterm trajectory of
bullion prices Kotak Securities said in a note. (PTI) 2200015 Apr 24, 2026 In Baltic skies, NATO and Russian pilots size each other up warily but without tilt into war Daily Excelsior International SIAULIAI AIR BASE (Lithuania) Apr 24When NATOs call came the French fighter pilots scrambled with practised urgency already suited up to shorten their response times.They dashed in vans to hangars where their prepped and armed Rafale jets awaited clambered into the cockpits and fired up the engines which puffed and screamed.Within minutes of takeoff from the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania they were over the Baltic Sea first intercepting a Russian Il20 reconnaissance aircraft and then tailing supersonic Russian bombers and their fighter escorts that neared the airspace of multiple NATO countries.In a conflict situation things could quickly get heated. But for the moment with Russia and the military alliance at odds over Ukraine but not at war pilots on both sides just watched and filmed each other keeping their distance like wary tomcats with claws unsheathed their missiles visible but not used.One of the points of the posturing in aerial ballets that take place away from public gaze hundreds of times a year is to try to ensure that
the frostiness between NATO and the Kremlin over Russias fullscale invasion of Ukraine doesnt tilt into open hostility.Commanders and pilots flying NATO airpolicing missions on the eastern flank of the 32nation military alliance say that their goal is to deter not provoke. They believe their presence is reassuring for Baltic states Estonia Latvia and Lithuania that border Russia and its ally Belarus but dont themselves have airpower to fight off any Russian attack if it ever came to that.Its a game of cat and mouse or rather cat and cat said Lt. Col. Alexandre commander of a French air force wing of four Rafales that is sharing the Lithuanian base with another fighter detachment from Romania. Citing security concerns the French military withheld the commanders surname.We watch each other scrutinise each other and try to make sure that it doesnt go any further he said.Alliance members take turns policing Baltic skies around the clock seven days a week. The French inherited the building that now serves as their temporary headquarters
from a Spanish detachment. They will hand it over to Italian replacements in August. Successive teams leave plaques and badges on a wall that records their passage.NATO scrambles jets to identify and possibly take other action when Russian planes fly in Baltic airspace without switchedon transponders and without filing flight plans or communicating by radio with air traffic controllers.There are plenty of times in which on purpose or not theyre not really respecting the ICAO the International Civil Aviation Organisation rules regarding flight plans and behaviour said Col. Mihaita Marin commanding the Romanian detachment of six F16s.So obviously we are forced to take off and just make sure that they are who they say they are and their intention is peaceful he said.The arrival of spring bringing better flying conditions means French and Romanian flyers have been busy since they deployed at the start of April on fourmonth NATO rotations.Marin said interceptions are getting close to daily and that will definitely increase as the weather
is getting better.French aircrews watched by an Associated Press journalist who was reporting at the airbase had their busiest day so far on Monday.Scrambled under NATO command French Rafales met and observed a pair of Russian Tu22M3 bombers carrying supersonic antiship missiles from their bellies that Russia has also used in Ukraine repurposing them to attack ground targets and which can be equipped to carry a nuclear warhead.The strategic bombers more than fourhour flight from an airbase near St. Petersburg escorted by Su30 and Su35 fighters remained in international airspace but took them past the coasts of NATO countries Finland Estonia Latvia Lithuania and Poland doubling back when they approached Denmark.The French detachment said the Russian planes didnt have switchedon transponders file flight plans or enter into radio contact. Fighter jets from Sweden Finland Poland Denmark and Romania also went airborne to keep watch according to the French. NATO didnt respond to requests for comment.The French commander Lt. Col. Alexandre
said it isnt clear why Russian pilots behave in ways that could endanger other users of Baltic airspace.We dont know if its a lack of professionalism or just a means for them to test us he said.But what is sure is that we need to go every time he added. We cannot say OK thats usual this time we will just let them pass. (AP) 2200006 Apr 24, 2026 Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat And Ladakh LG Vinai Kumar Saxena Inaugurate Sound And Light Show At Leh Palace Daily Excelsior Latest News Leh Apr 24 In a major boost to the promotion of cultural and heritage tourism in Ladakh a mesmerising Sound and Light Show was inaugurated yesterday at the historic Leh Palace by the Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena. The project implemented by the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) under the Ministry of Tourism has been executed at a cost of 8.57 crore reflecting the Government of Indias commitment to strengthening tourism infrastructure in heritage destinations like Ladakh.Leh Palace one of Ladakhs most iconic monuments was built in the 17th century by King Sengge Namgyal and served as the residence of the Namgyal dynasty and the administrative and ceremonial centre of the region. Over the centuries it has stood as a witness to Ladakhs political cultural and spiritual evolution making it an invaluable heritage asset.The newly inaugurated Sound and Light Show presents Ladakhs rich cultural historical and
architectural legacy through modern and engaging techniques making heritage more accessible to visitors. The Show is a testament to the integration of such a contemporary facility within an ASIprotected monument highlighting that heritage conservation and enhanced visitor experience can go hand in hand.Highlighting the significance of the initiative Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that Ladakh particularly Leh holds immense tourism potential and is entering a new phase of transformation under the leadership of Vinai Kumar Saxena. He noted that at a time when the country is witnessing rapid development Ladakh is fortunate to have leadership committed to environmental conservation tourism promotion and heritage preservation in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He described the inauguration of the Sound and Light Show at Leh Palace as a moment of pride emphasising that the initiative goes beyond tourism infrastructure and represents a meaningful step towards bringing Ladakhs rich history including that of the Namgyal
dynasty to life. He added that the immersive multimedia experience would connect both domestic and international tourists with the regions culture and heritage effectively bridging the past and the future.The Union Minister further remarked that Ladakh is not merely a tourist destination but a land of centuriesold civilisation where spirituality culture art and natural beauty coexist. He lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in preserving and revitalising heritage noting that conservation also involves celebrating civilisational legacy for future generations.Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena stated that the project marks an important step towards promoting sustainable cultural and heritage tourism in Ladakh. He emphasised that the initiative will help visitors better understand and appreciate the regions rich history and cultural legacy.He further noted that the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accorded high priority to the
development of Ladakh since it became a Union Territory with equal focus on infrastructure development and preservation of cultural heritage.The Lieutenant Governor underscored that the Sound and Light Show will be a major valueadd to Ladakhs tourism ecosystem by enriching the visitor experience and fostering a deeper connection with the regions culture and history. He added that it will also promote nighttime tourism thereby creating new opportunities for local guides performers hospitality providers transport operators and small businesses contributing to employment generation and local economic growth.Reiterating the Administrations vision the Lieutenant Governor emphasised that Ladakhs natural beauty is complemented by its vibrant culture and heritage and that sustained efforts are being made to position Ladakh as one of the most soughtafter tourist destinations in the country and the world while ensuring a worldclass experience for visitors. 2199998 Apr 24, 2026 Pakistan repays USD 3.45 billion loan to UAE Daily Excelsior International ISLAMABAD Apr 24Pakistan has returned the total USD 3.45 billion it owed in debt to the United Arab Emirates the countrys central bank said Friday.The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in a social media post confirmed the repayment and said that the transaction was completed on Thursday.State Bank of Pakistan repaid a deposit of USD 1 billion to Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) UAE on April 23 2026. Deposits of USD 2.45 billion were repaid last week. This completes the repayment of total deposits of USD 3.45 billion to UAE it said.The announcement came days after Pakistan received a USD 3 billion financial aid from Saudi Arabia. The deposit came in two tranches with the second tranche of USD 1 billion received on April 21.The UAE had asked for the immediate return of the funds in the wake of the recent situation in West Asia following the USIsrael war on Iran.These funds were part of external financing support extended by the UAE in 2019 to help stabilise Pakistans balance of payments according to The Dawn newspaper.In March Islamabad
failed to secure an agreement with the UAE to roll over the USD 3.5 billion facility marking the first such failure in seven years and raising concerns about nearterm financing gaps.Pakistans foreign exchange position though under pressure remains part of a broader stabilisation effort under IMFsupported reforms.Quoting analysts the report said external financing risks remain a key vulnerability particularly amid volatile energy prices and constrained global capital markets. (PTI) 2199989 Apr 24, 2026 Salman Khan, Nayanthara's untitled action film to release on Eid 2027 Daily Excelsior Social Trends MUMBAI Apr 24 Superstar Salman Khan on Friday announced that his upcoming action film with filmmaker Vamshi Paidipally will be released on Eid 2027.The untitled film produced by Dil Raju under his banner Sri Venkateswara Creations and featuring Tamil star Nayanthara as the female lead went on floors in Mumbai earlier this week.Salman shared the news while posting a behind the scenes video from the sets on his Instagram.Thoda durr ki sochna chahiye Thats why announced Eid.. Dont worry iss wali ka bhi bataenge when the time is right... Patience thoda sa sabar... Mere Jitna he intezar karna padega Baherhaal jo apka haal hai wo hi mera bhi haal hai. haha (You need to think a bit aheadthats why Eid was announced.Dont worry well reveal the other one too when the time is right. Have some patience just a little. Youll have to wait as much as I am. Honestly whatever youre feeling right now Im feeling the same haha) he wrote in the caption.The announcement continues Salmans longstanding tradition of Eid releases a run that has included
blockbusters such as Wanted (2009) Dabangg (2010) Bodyguard (2011) Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) Sultan (2016) Kick (2014) and Bharat (2019).The movie will be produced Shirish and Kuldeep Rathore are producers on the project with Rafi Kazi as coproducer.The project brings together two of Indian cinemas biggest names in what the makers are billing as a largescale theatrical entertainer.Paidipally is known for blockbuster hits such as Yevadu Oopiri Maharshi and Varisu.Nayanthara one of the most recognised names in south cinema made her Bollywood debut with the 2023 blockbuster Jawan alongside Shah Rukh Khan. The film directed by Atlee earned over Rs 1000 crore at the global box office.Her south credits include Chandramukhi Ghajini Billa Raja Rani and Viswasam among others.Salman will also be seen in Maatrubhumi directed by Apoorva Lakhia based on the 2020 Galwan Valley conflict between India and China. (Agencies) 2199997 Apr 24, 2026 Chinese foreign minister and Thai Prime Minister agree to collaborate on fighting cyberscams Daily Excelsior International BANGKOK Apr 24Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Thailands Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Friday during a visit aimed at strengthening the countries strategic partnership and expanding cooperation.The two agreed to strengthen collaboration in fighting transnational crime and cyberscams and other areas Thai government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said.She said Anutin thanked China for its continued support for Thailand while Wang congratulated Anutin on retaining his office after an election and expressed confidence that ThailandChina relations will continue to improve.Anutin greeted Wang at Government House in Bangkok. They shook hands while posing for photographs before the meeting.Wang also talked earlier with his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkeow officials said.Wang arrived in Thailand on Thursday for a threeday visit following meetings with government ministers in Cambodia focused on enhancing their countries political and security ties.He is scheduled to visit Myanmar next according to the Chinese Foreign
Ministry.China is Thailands biggest trading partner and the two countries celebrated their 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations last year. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn also made the firstever visit to China by a reigning Thai monarch in November.Chinese investment in Thailand has accelerated in recent years particularly as many Chinese companies have moved production to Southeast Asia to avoid US tariffs. (AP) 2199974 Apr 24, 2026 NIA Attaches Plot Belonging To Terror Accused In J&K's Budgam Daily Excelsior News SRINAGAR Apr 24 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday attached a plot of land belonging to a terror accused in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir officials said.The attached property at SK Bagh area of Budgam belongs to Tafazul Hussain Parimoo a resident of SheikhulAlam Colony in Nowgam here.Parimoo is presently in NIA custody in a case registered under various sections of the UA(P) Act Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act the officials added. (Agencies) 2199975 Apr 24, 2026 Economic growth, prosperity remain primary impulse for changes in India: Kwatra Daily Excelsior International WASHINGTON Apr 24Indias Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra said economic growth and prosperity remain the primary impulse for changes in India and flagged return to control regime world over as a cause of concern.The primary and the core impulse of changes in India remains the economic growth and prosperity of India Kwatra said addressing the New India Conference organised by the Hudson Institute on Thursday.He said India has experienced consumption products technology services and knowledge being restricted for the countrys growth.I think this return to controls which are wideranging not necessarily rooted in any global norm or even a regional norm... its equally important to mention that this is also becoming relatively a trend which is spreading out all over the envoy said.He said that Indias economic expansion marked by 7 per centplus GDP growth is accompanied by multiple parallel transformations shaping the countrys trajectory.Kwatra identified governance reform as the first major shift calling it a total government
transformation that ensures the benefits of growth reach the wider population.Transparency... inclusion of unbanked populations giving them access to finance... financial inclusion he said are central pillars of this change.Governance is also addressing multiple layers of security including energy security economic security food security with a converged approach that delivers outcomes directly to citizens Kwatra said.The second transformation he said lies in infrastructure both physical and digital.The digital infrastructure space is both an enabler of the transfer of the fruits of development but is also the driver at the same time Kwatra said highlighting its dual role in growth. (PTI) 2199976 Apr 24, 2026 Islamabad remains shut for heavy traffic amid uncertainty over US-Iran talks Daily Excelsior International ISLAMABAD Apr 24Pakistans capital Islamabad continues to remain closed for heavy traffic on Friday as authorities await the possible visit of top leaders of the US and Iran for peace talks which were stalled due to differences on key issues.The administrations of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi had closed all major roads and markets in VVIP movement areas on Sunday amid indications that the talks could begin any day during the week. More than 10000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.However no schedule for the arrival of the leaders has been announced as the week draws to a close. With uncertainty persisting district administrations are yet to decide on reopening areas around the Nur Khan Airbase and resuming Metro Bus electric bus services and goods transportation.Streets link roads markets and banks around the old airport have remained closed during the last five consecutive days confining residents of Shah Faisal Colony Khalid Colony GulzareQuaid Fazal Town among other areas to their
homes.The Metro Bus Service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad and electric buses on seven routes have been suspended while goods transport has remained halted since April 19 causing inconvenience to the public.The Red Zone continues to remain closed with employees of offices in the area working from home.Movement of heavy traffic has been partly allowed in some parts of Rawalpindi but Islamabad remains offlimits for trucks and buses. Though schools and colleges are not shut universities have switched to virtual classes.There is still no official word on the start of the talks even as Pakistani authorities continue diplomatic efforts and remain hopeful of bringing the two sides to the negotiating table.Strict monitoring of roads leading to Islamabad indicates that preparations for the proposed talks are still underway.The first round of USIran talks held on April 11 and 12 failed to produce a breakthrough prompting a flurry of diplomatic efforts by host Pakistan to cool tensions and revive hopes for another round of dialogue.On
Wednesday The New York Post quoted US President Donald Trump as saying that the second round of the USIran talks could take place as early as Friday.However Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran has not yet decided whether to attend a new round of Pakistanimediated talks in Islamabad.On Tuesday Trump extended the twoweek ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war just hours before the truce was set to expire.The Iran war began on February 28 with USIsraeli strikes. (PTI) 2199977 Apr 24, 2026 Army chief Upendra Dwivedi inducted into International Hall of Fame at US Army War College Daily Excelsior International WASHINGTON Apr 24Indias Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi was inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the US Army War College in Pennsylvania becoming the third Indian head of the army to receive such honour.General Dwivedi a distinguished fellow of the US Army War College is the third Indian Chief of Armed Forces to be inducted in the International Hall of Fame after General V K Singh and General Bikram Singh.#GeneralUpendraDwivedi #COAS visited the Army War College (AWC) Carlisle Barracks #USA where he was inducted into the International Hall of Fame the third Indian Army Chief to receive this honour after General V K Singh and General Bikram Singh the Indian Army said in a post on X.General Dwivedi who was on a visit to the US also addressed the faculty and international student officers leadership professional military education and evolving security dynamics.An alumnus of the prestigious college General Dwivedi toured key facilities and participated in academic engagements including panel discussions reviewing advanced
study projects of the scholars program and interacting with distinguished members of the institution.Earlier this week the Army chief began his US visit in Hawaii where he was accorded a Guard of Honour at Fort Shafter the headquarters of the United States Army Pacific.He held discussions with General Ronald P. Clark Commanding General US Army Pacific and other senior leaders focusing on strengthening IndiaUS Defence Cooperation and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability in the IndoPacific the Indian Army said in a social media post.#COAS also undertook an aerial tour of Oahu island gaining insights into the training ecosystem and multidomain operational readiness the Indian Army said.The Army chiefs visit comes close on the heels of the visits of Air Chief Amar Preet Singh and Navy chief Dinesh Tripathi to the US marking the continuance of highlevel militarytomilitary exchanges between India and the US. (PTI) 2199969 Apr 24, 2026 Activist Gurjeet Khalsa Brought Down From BSNL Tower In Patiala After 18 Months; Says ‘We Have Won’ Daily Excelsior National SAMANA (PATIALA) Apr 24 Activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa who had been sitting atop a 400foot BSNL tower for about 560 days demanding stricter laws against sacrilege incidents in Punjab was finally brought down on Friday morning officials said.The development brought to an end a dramatic protest that began when Khalsa (43) climbed atop the tower in Samana near Patiala on October 12 2024 demanding stringent punishment for the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib.He was brought down by a team comprising firemen police and civil officials with the help of a specialised cranelift a fire official from Patiala said.After he descended amid Sikh Jaikara and Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal chants Khalsa was taken to a hospital in an ambulance for a medical checkup with his supporters showering flower petals on him.We have won the activist from Kheri Nagaian village in Patiala district said as he stepped onto the ground.By the Gurus grace I have come down safely after 18 months and 12 days. I thank the Punjab government Khalsa said expressing his
gratitude to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan for enacting an antisacrilege law.Khalsa also thanked the local administration for bringing him down safely. The activist decided to end his protest after the Punjab government recently notified the antisacrilege law the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026 which proposes stricter punishment including life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25 lakh for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.The protest drew attention across Punjab due to its unique nature and the extreme conditions endured by Khalsa who remained atop the tower through harsh winter and scorching summer months.He was sent essential supplies via ropes.He stayed in a makeshift tarpaulin shelter atop the tower using a polythene bag to relieve himself.Harinderpal Singh an assistant fire officer in Patiala said We conducted the operation with the help of the district administration and police. Firemen a subofficer and two station officers were involved
in it.As we had to reach a considerable height to bring him down we used chains and links a safety belt and a turntable ladder. As Khalsa was brought down using a safety belt a fireman was stationed below to ensure his safety.First he was brought down to a platform built above the ground level after which we used the turntable ladder to get him down the fire officer said. A farmer by profession Khalsas core demand was the introduction of stricter legal provisions against the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib.The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026 proposes stricter punishments to deter incidents of beadbi (sacrilege) and uphold the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib. According to the law any person who commits sacrilege shall get a minimum of seven years imprisonment extendable to up to 20 years along with a fine of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.Any person who in a criminal conspiracy commits sacrilege with the intention of disrupting peace or communal harmony shall get a minimum 10year sentence extendable to up to
life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh which may go up to Rs 25 lakh the law says. (Agencies) 2199966 Apr 24, 2026 SC refers to another bench plea of AgustaWestland middleman James' plea for release from jail Daily Excelsior National NEW DELHI Apr 24 The Supreme Court on Friday referred to another bench a plea of alleged middleman Christian Michel James in the Rs 3600crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case seeking his release from jail.The Delhi High Court had on April 8 dismissed the petition of the British national in the case saying there was no merit in the plea of James who was extradited from Dubai in December 2018.A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of the fact that the earlier pleas of the accused were heard by another bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath.Let this matter be referred to a bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath the CJI said.In his petition James assailed a provision of the IndiaUAE extradition treaty. He also challenged a trial court order of August 7 2025 by which his application under Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for his release from jail was rejected.James challenged Article 17 of the treaty signed in 1999 which allows the requesting state (in
this case India) to prosecute extradited persons not only for the specific offence for which extradition was done but also for connected offences.It was argued before the high court that an extradited person can be prosecuted only for the offences for which extradition took place and not for connected offences.James in its petition also submitted that he completed seven years in jail on December 4 2025 and has therefore already undergone the maximum sentence possible for the offences for which he was extradited rendering his continued detention in India illegal.The high court in his order stated that it was not permissible for James to reagitate issues pertaining to the treaty which at least on a prima facie basis have already been considered by the Supreme CourtIt nonetheless considered provisions of the treaty and ruled that James was extradited for facing trial for offences which directly arises from the factual background in the present case and therefore his prosecution fell within the scope of the treaty.After his extradition
James was arrested by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).James is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case and the other two are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case in February 2025. The high court granted him bail in the ED case in March that year.James however continues to be in jail as he was unable to fulfil the bail conditions. A trial court directed James to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and a cash surety of the same amount to secure his release in the CBI case. In the ED case the high court asked him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and a cash surety of Rs 10 lakh.The high court also clarified that James could be released without depositing the passport which has expired immediately .The authorities concerned were asked to deposit the fresh passport whenever ready with the trial court directly it added.The high court also asked the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to ensure that James does not leave the country. The CBI
in its charge sheet has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal that was signed on February 8 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.26 million euros.The ED in its charge sheet filed against James in June 2016 alleged that he had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. (Agencies) 2199962 Apr 24, 2026 HC rejects Pawan Khera's anticipatory bail plea over allegations against Assam CM's wife Daily Excelsior National Guwahati Apr 24 The Gauhati High Court on Friday rejected an anticipatory bail petition of Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with his allegations that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas wife possessed multiple passports and undisclosed properties abroad.The single bench of Justice Parthiv Jyoti Saikia rejected Kheras anticipatory bail application filed on Monday after he was asked by the Supreme Court to approach the Gauhati High Court a lawyer representing the Congress leader said.The court heard the petition on Tuesday and reserved its order. The high court listed the delivery of the order on its cause list for Friday. Following the allegations the CMs wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filed criminal cases against Khera and others at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The Telangana High Court had earlier granted him a sevenday transit anticipatory bail but the Assam Police moved the Supreme Court against it. The apex court passed an interim order to stay the
grant of anticipatory transit bail and asked Khera to approach the Gauhati High Court. (PTI) 2199958 Apr 24, 2026 Reviving Panchayati Raj system more urgent than raising LS strength to ensure personal political survival: Cong Daily Excelsior National NEW DELHI Apr 24 The Congress on Friday said the Panchayati Raj system has been an important medium for womens empowerment and its further revival is far more urgent than increasing the strength of Lok Sabha to ensure personal political survival.On Panchayati Raj day the Congress also said that it is fully committed to strengthening the spirit of Gram Swaraj and congratulated the village heads and members of the panchayats and local bodies across the countryCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge credited the party for implementing the 33 percent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and said it was Rajiv Gandhi who implemented the 73rd Constitutional Amendment that gave institutional strength to Panchayati Raj and brought democracy down to the grassroots level.The Congress Party is fully committed to strengthening the spirit of Gram Swaraj Kharge said in a post on X adding that Panchayati Raj institutions form the strong foundation of our democracy.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Panchayati Raj system has given the
women of the country a golden opportunity to lead and ensure their participation in politics.Panchayati Raj has also been an important medium for womens empowerment Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.Through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment since 1993 at least 33 percent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions was ensured he said. Today in many states this has been increased to 50 percent the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said.Gandhi said the result of this historic initiative by the Congress is that today nearly 14 to 15 lakh elected women representatives are playing an active role in Panchayati Raj institutions across the country which is one of the largest democratic participation of women in the world.He congratulated all heads panchs and members of local bodies in the country on Panchayati Raj Day.Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said April 24 is celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day. On this day in 1993 the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution was enacted and this introduced the extraordinarily
detailed Articles 243A to 243O in the Constitution to vastly empower panchayats and make them the foundations of our polity.Today there are about 2.6 lakh gram panchayats over 6700 intermediate panchayats and 673 zilla parishads he said. This truly transformational initiative was due to the insistence and persistence of Rajiv Gandhi he noted.It was he who ensured that onethird of the elected seats in Panchayati Raj institutions would be reserved for women including for women belonging to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities. It was entirely his contribution that today there are around 32 lakh elected representatives in panchayati raj institutions of whom about 15 lakh are women Ramesh said.He said this amendment (64th) had originally been introduced in mid1989 but after passage in Lok Sabha it could not pass in Rajya Sabha because of the opposition by the BJP.Noting that Article 243D (6) also provides for reservation for OBCs in panchayat bodies he said many states have taken advantage of this provision.It was the Dr.
Manmohan Singh government that had created the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in May 2004 and launched the historic MGNREGA in Feb 2006 that gave gram panchayats a pivotal role in planning and execution. MGNREGA was repealed in December 2025 by the Modi Government.The further revival of panchayats (and nagarpalikas that form Articles 243P to 243ZG) is far more urgent than simply increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha to ensure personal political survival Ramesh said in his post.Kharge quoted Mahatma Gandhi who had said Panchayati Raj represents the true spirit of democracy.He said Panchayati Raj institutions form the strong foundation of our democracy and greeted fellow citizens on National Panchayati Raj Day The real strength of India resides in its villages and thus the empowered development of villages is the path to the nations progress he noted.Today 33 percent womens reservation in the countrys panchayats is due solely to the Congress. In some places it is up to 50 percent. As a result 15 lakh women are part of panchayats and are
contributing politically at the grassroots level. No other country has as many women engaged in grassroots politics. This is a major achievement for India the Congress chief said.He said Manmohan Singh declared this day as National Panchayati Raj Day in the year 2010.Gandhi in his post said Panchayati Raj has been a strong foundation in the direction of realising the dream of Mahatma Gandhis Gram Swaraj.Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ji empowered Indias villages by connecting them to the mainstream of the country. He ensured rights for every section and guaranteed public participation through the Panchayati Raj system he said. (Agencies) 2199954 Apr 24, 2026 J&K | Hotel Lift Collapses In Srinagar, Six Tourists Injured Daily Excelsior Latest News SRINAGAR Apr 24 Six tourists from Bengaluru were injured after a lift reportedly collapsed at a hotel in the Hyderpora area of Srinagar on Friday and were later shifted to Bone and Joint Hospital Barzulla for treatment officials said.The incident occurred at a hotel in Hyderpora where the group was staying. The injured were brought to the hospital with varying degrees of leg and lower body injuries. All patients were reported to be stable according to information received.The injured 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 are residents of Bengaluru and were temporarily staying at the hotel at the time of the incident.The circumstances leading to the lift collapse were not immediately clear and no official statement has been issued by the hotel management so far.The incident has raised concerns about safety standards in hospitality establishments particularly those
catering to tourists.Further details are awaited as authorities are expected to ascertain the cause of the malfunction and determine whether any negligence was involved. KNT 2199948 Apr 24, 2026 Revenue Official, Forest Guard Suspended For Dereliction Of Duty In J&K Daily Excelsior Latest News Jammu Apr 24 A revenue official and a forest guard have been suspended in Jammu and Kashmirs Samba and Doda districts respectively for alleged dereliction of duty officials said.In Samba district Deputy Commissioner Ayushi Soodan ordered the suspension of a girdawar Pankaj Singh Jamwal for failure to complete the digitisation of revenue records within the stipulated timeframe despite repeated directions an official order said.The tehsildar Bari Brahmana had reported that no jamabandis (official record of righs for land) were digitised in Patwar Halqua Smailpur between April 8 and April 15.The conduct of the official reflects gross negligence and dereliction of duty in the discharge of his responsibilities the order said.Pending inquiry the official has been placed under suspension with immediate effect and attached to the office of tehsildar Samba. The SubDivisional Magistrate Vijaypur has been appointed as the inquiry officer and has been asked to submit a report within 15 days it added.In Doda district a forest department beat guard
Mushtaq Ahmed has also been placed under suspension after a vehicle carrying illegal deodar timber was seized in the Bhadarwah area the officials said.Officials said a joint team of Forest Protection Force and territorial staff of Neru range intercepted a vehicle loaded with 20 deodar green scants (unseasoned timber planks) during the intervening night of April 21 and 22 at village Jalga.During the operation the incharge beat guard was found moving on the same route in his personal vehicle and a mechanical cutter packed in a bag was recovered they said.The suspended guard has been attached to the Divisional Forest Office Bhadarwah pending enquiry. (Agencies) 2199945 Apr 24, 2026 Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi Inducted Into International Hall Of Fame At US Army War College Daily Excelsior Latest News WASHINGTON Apr 24 Indias Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi was inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the US Army War College in Pennsylvania becoming the third Indian head of the army to receive such honour.General Dwivedi a distinguished fellow of the US Army War College is the third Indian Chief of Armed Forces to be inducted in the International Hall of Fame after General V K Singh and General Bikram Singh.#GeneralUpendraDwivedi #COAS visited the Army War College (AWC) Carlisle Barracks #USA where he was inducted into the International Hall of Fame the third Indian Army Chief to receive this honour after General V K Singh and General Bikram Singh the Indian Army said in a post on X.General Dwivedi who was on a visit to the US also addressed the faculty and international student officers leadership professional military education and evolving security dynamics.An alumnus of the prestigious college General Dwivedi toured key facilities and participated in academic engagements including panel discussions reviewing advanced
study projects of the scholars program and interacting with distinguished members of the institution.Earlier this week the Army chief began his US visit in Hawaii where he was accorded a Guard of Honour at Fort Shafter the headquarters of the United States Army Pacific.He held discussions with General Ronald P. Clark Commanding General US Army Pacific and other senior leaders focusing on strengthening IndiaUS Defence Cooperation and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability in the IndoPacific the Indian Army said in a social media post.#COAS also undertook an aerial tour of Oahu island gaining insights into the training ecosystem and multidomain operational readiness the Indian Army said.The Army chiefs visit comes close on the heels of the visits of Air Chief Amar Preet Singh and Navy chief Dinesh Tripathi to the US marking the continuance of highlevel militarytomilitary exchanges between India and the US. (Agencies) 2199941 Apr 24, 2026 Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ‘Gravely Wounded’: NYT Daily Excelsior Latest News Washington D.C. Apr 24 Irans new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously wounded in the U.S.Israeli airstrike that killed his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei but he is mentally sharp the New York Times (NYT) reported on Thursday.Citing several Iranian officials which it did not name the Times said Mojtaba Khamenei had at least for now delegated decisionmaking to generals in the Revolutionary Guards ideological Army.Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since succeeding his father and only issued written statements creating speculation over his condition and if he is still alive.Although Mojtaba Khamenei was gravely wounded (in the February 28 airstrike) he is mentally sharp and engaged said the NYT.One leg was operated on three times and he is awaiting a prosthetic. He had surgery on one hand and is slowly regaining function. His face and lips have been burnt severely making it difficult for him to speak it cited the officials as saying adding that eventually he will need plastic surgery.Access for security reasons is
extremely limited to Mr. Khamenei who remains in hiding with only handwritten messages passed on it said.Guards commanders do not visit him but President Masoud Pezeshkian who is also a heart surgeon has been involved in his care it said.It said the generals from the Guards who viewed the war with the U.S. and Israel as a threat to the regimes survival have now been contained.They have also been in charge of military strategy including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. (Agencies) 2199937 Apr 24, 2026 PM Takes Boat Ride On Hooghly River In Kolkata, Tries His Hand At Photographing Daily Excelsior National KOLKATA Apr 24 Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a boat ride on the Hooghly river here on Friday morning and met with boatmen and morning walkers.Modi posted a few photographs of his river trip on social media in which he is seen seated on a wooden boat with a camera in hand and the iconic Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu are visible in the background.Tried my hand at photographing this great river. Also caught a close glimpse of the Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah Bridge the Prime Minister said on X.For every Bengali the Ganga occupies a very special place he said. One can say that the Ganga flows through the soul of Bengal. Her divine waters carry the timeless spirit of an entire civilisation.This morning in Kolkata I spent some time on the banks of the Hooghly river an opportunity to express gratitude to Maa Ganga Modi said on social media. The Prime Minister said he had the opportunity to meet boatmen whose hardworking nature is admirable and morning walkers.On the Hooghly reiterated our commitment to work towards the development
of West Bengal and the prosperity of the great Bengali people Modi said.The Prime Minister is actively campaigning for the BJP in the assembly elections the first phase of which was held on Thursday.The second round of the elections will be held on April 29 and the counting of votes will be on May 4. (Agencies) 2199931 Apr 24, 2026 UP ATS Arrests 2 Men In Noida For Allegedly Working For Pak Criminals, ISI Daily Excelsior National Lucknow Apr 24 Two men have been arrested in Noida for allegedly working with Pakistani handlers including from the ISI as well as some gangsters and radical YouTubers of the neighbouring country.The Uttar Pradesh AntiTerrorist Squad (ATS) investigating the presence of Pakistani sleeper cells created through social media found that two men one from Meerut and another from Delhi were allegedly in direct contact with Pakistani operatives and planning a major disruptive act.ADGP (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said the ATS had initiated a probe following intelligence inputs regarding sleeper cells created through Instagram and other social media platforms.During the investigation it emerged that Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti Abid Jatt and radical Pakistani YouTubers allegedly acting on instructions from the ISI were attempting to radicalise Indian youths and entice them with financial incentives to disturb internal peace and communal harmony he said in a statement.They were encouraging Indian youths to conduct reconnaissance of
sensitive locations and carry out terrorist attacks as per their directions. They were also instigating them to target certain individuals who had left Islam using sophisticated weapons he said.According to the probe Meerut resident Tushar Chauhan alias Hizbullah Ali Khan and Delhi resident Sameer Khan had come under the influence of the network.A team of the ATS arrested the duo from Noida on Thursday. A pistol five cartridges and a knife were recovered from their possession the officer said.During preliminary interrogation Chauhan allegedly confessed that he had come in contact with Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti and Abid Jatt through Instagram and later communicated with them via voice and video pushtotalk calls.To gain Bhattis trust Chauhan allegedly created Instagram accounts in his name one of which was blocked after which he made another account and obtained Bhattis phone number to establish direct contact Yash said.He further said Bhatti had allegedly asked Chauhan to carry out grenade attacks on targeted individuals and
assured him that sophisticated weapons would be provided. Chauhan was promised Rs 50000 in advance and Rs 2.5 lakh after completing the task along with an offer to facilitate travel to Pakistan via Dubai the officer added.According to the ADG Chauhan also claimed that Bhatti had mentioned that three ISI agents would assign targets.Police said that interrogation also revealed that Sameer Khan communicated with Bhatti through social media and had allegedly been tasked with writing TehreekeTaliban Hindustan on walls and recruiting more individuals police said.Chauhan had contacted Sameer through Instagram and both were allegedly preparing to carry out activities as directed by their handlers including reconnaissance of targets Yash said.The officer added that the accused had also issued death threats to certain individuals at the behest of Bhatti and Jatt with Pakistani handlers joining some of the calls via conference.A case has been registered against both accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita the Arms Act and
the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act he said.Police will seek custody remand of the accused to gather further information about their associates and the wider network he added. (Agencies) 2199924 Apr 24, 2026 RSS Not Indian Ku Klux Klan, Says Hosabale; Flags Misunderstandings In US Daily Excelsior National WASHINGTON Apr 24 The RSS is not an Indian version of the Ku Klux Klan the American white supremacist group RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said here highlighting the organisations work across different spheres of society.Speaking at an interactive session at the New India Conference organised by the Hudson Institute Hosabale said there are misconceptions about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) similar to misunderstandings about India in the US.The narrative that has been built for decades knowingly or unknowingly as part of an agenda or otherwise is that RSS is a Hindu supremacist organisation or that it is antiChristian antiminority antidevelopment and antimodernisation he said during a discussion with author Walter Russell Mead on Thursday.So what is pro is not highlighted instead the anti has always been propagated... some Indian version of the Ku Klux Klan which we are not Hosabale said.He said Hindu philosophy and culture view the whole world as one family and do not endorse supremacy.We see oneness in everything
living and nonliving. When that is the basic philosophy of Hindus the question of a supremacist nature does not arise. Also in history Hindus have never invaded any country the RSS chief said.Hosabale described RSS as a volunteerdriven movement rooted in Indias cultural and civilisational ethos.RSS is a peoples voluntary movement inspired by cultural ethos and civilisation values of the ancient society of India which is generally known as Hindu culture.To create volunteers with character selfconfidence a sense of service to the community and for organising the society the RSS organises daily assemblies and weekly assemblies for one hour. Through these onehour gatherings called shakhas we inculcate values of life he said.Hosabale said that the RSS views Hindu identity as a civilisational not religious identity.Tensions with minority groups and neighbouring countries stem from political interests and wrong interpretations of history he said adding that ongoing dialogue with minority communities was key to resolving
misunderstandings.Hosabale said tensions between neighbouring countries were because of various factors including the political leadership there.The problem is only with one neighbouring country which was born out of the Indian womb. It has become a neighbouring country but many people are behind that country to create problems he said.The Indian American diaspora also held a public reception in honour of Hosabale on Thursday evening in a Virginia suburb which saw a good turnout from people in the greater Washington region.Hosabale said the RSS holds about 83000 shakhas (daily meetings) to instil a sense of service and inculcate life values aimed at promoting social harmony.People from every walk of life and all age groups have become volunteers of our organisation. RSS undertakes relief work during natural calamities and is also active in areas such as education health selfdefence rural development and environmental issues he said.The RSS leader said cultural values and modernisation are not necessarily contradictory and can coexist
though some tensions may arise.Both modernisation and cultural values require adaptation according to the times. While modernisation brings industrialisation technology and individualistic trends it can function alongside culture and cultural values Hosabale said.He added that the coexistence of culture and modernity has been visible in several societies in recent decades.Whether it is Hindu society Indian society Japan or China all have modernised while keeping their cultural and civilisational values intact and drawing inspiration from them. That is why I dont think cultural values and modernisation pull in opposite directions Hosabale said. (Agencies) 2199855 Apr 24, 2026 Samson, Hosein power CSK to massive 103-run win over MI in IPL Daily Excelsior sports news Mumbai Apr 23 Sanju Samson carried his bat with a splendid 101 not out while Akeal Hoseins stunning 417 powered Chennai Super Kings to a crushing 103run victory over a listless Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League clash here on Thursday.Samson stood tall with a 54ball 101 (10x4s 8x6s) in the first half which took a faltering CSK to a challenging 2076.In reply Mumbai Indians endured a horror start slumping to 11 for three inside the first three overs and never recovered as they were bowled out for 104 in 19 overs.Backed by a partisan crowd that made it feel more like Chepauk than the Wankhede Stadium CSK produced a clinical allround performance despite the absence of MS Dhoni.In a season marred by poor returns in the powerplay Mumbai Indians endured their worst start yet crawling to 29 for three after six overs following an early burst of wickets.Danish Malewar (0) fell first in classical fashion edging a Hosein delivery that gripped and spun away to be caught behind by Samson in the first over.Mukesh Choudhary (131) then
struck to dismiss Quinton de Kock (7) who chopped one back onto his stumps before Hosein returned in the third over to clean up Naman Dhir (0) with a delivery that straightened and rattled the top of middle stump.A horror start notwithstanding MI still had plenty of batting left in the form of last games centurion Tilak Varma Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya but none could spark a fightback.Tilak and Suryakumar looked more intent on rebuilding than counterattacking stitching a 56ball 73run stand for the fourth wicket but the effort only allowed the asking rate to spiral further out of reach.Suryakumars 30ball 35 laced with five fours was scratchy by his standards with the India T20I skipper even missing his trademark flick off the pads twice.On one occasion he was left writhing in pain after being struck by an Anshul Kamboj delivery and on the other he thumped the ground in frustration as his bat slipped out of his hands while attempting the shot.The floodgates reopened once again when Tilak who scored 37 off 29 with five fours
played one back onto his stumps to become Hoseins third victim in the 12th over. Hosein then completed a fine spell by dismissing Suryakumar whose topedged sweep was safely pouched at deep backward square leg.Noor Ahmed then delivered a decisive doublewicket over removing the outofsorts Hardik Pandya (1) and Sherfane Rutherford (0) to virtually seal the contest leaving Mumbai Indians reeling at 87 for seven.Earlier Samson anchored a faltering Chennai Super Kings with his second century of the season steering the visitors to a competitive 207 for six.With wickets falling around him due to poor shot selection and lack of application the India wicketkeeperbatter held firm pacing his innings to perfection and playing each delivery on merit to script another memorable knock.Jasprit Bumrah (131) began with a tight opening over though Samson still managed to pierce the field with a crisp drive through coverpoint before flicking Hardik Pandya (038) off his pads for a six.CSK had earlier made a bright start with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (22)
and Samson taking 19 runs each off Pandyas first two overs in the powerplay and despite a couple of early wickets the visitors were well placed at 73 for two.Gaikwad looked to be easing back into form beginning with a heave on the onside off Pandya before pulling the pacer for a six to take 19 runs from the second over.However his promising start was cut short when he went insideout against AM Ghazanfar (225) in the third over only to be smartly caught by Tilak running in from longoff.There was also no happy homecoming for Mumbai players in the CSK camp with Sarfaraz Khan (14) and Shivam Dube (5) failing to make an impact. Dewald Brevis struck a few powerful blows in his 11ball 21 before falling to a welldirected short ball from Ashwani Kumar (237).Samson blended caution with aggression to keep the scoreboard ticking and in the final over he capped his effort in style by smashing Krish Bhagat for a towering six over cover before pulling the last ball for a four to bring up his fifth IPL hundred.Meanwhile CSK players took the field
wearing black armbands in tribute to Choudharys mother who passed away.&nbspBrief ScoresChennai Super Kings 2076 20 overs (Sanju Samson 101 not out Ruturaj Gaikwad 22 Dewald Brevis 21 Ashwani Kumar 237 AM Ghazanfar 225 Jasprit Bumrah 131). Mumbai Indians 104 19 overs (Akeal Hosein 417 Noor Ahmed 223). CSK won by 103 runs.PTI 2199892 Apr 24, 2026 Joint Commanders Conference proposed on Op Sindoor anniversary in Jaipur Daily Excelsior Todays story Top Comdrs of triservices to attendSituation in last one year roadmap ahead to figureSanjeev PargalJAMMU Apr 23 A Joint Commanders Conference (JCC) is proposed to be held on the anniversary of Operation Sindoor on May 7 to discuss situation during past one year and roadmap ahead especially if Pakistanbacked terrorists try to commit another terror act.The conference assumes significance as it is being held between May 68 in Jaipur exactly a year after Operation Sindoor carried out by the Indian Armed Forces deep inside Pakistan and PoJK in the aftermath of April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians including 25 tourists and a local guide were killed.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppThe JCC is expected to be joined by top commanders of triservices including Army Indian Air Force and Navy and may well be addressed by the Chief of Defence Staff among others official sources said.The Northern Command is expected to give detailed briefing at the JCC post one year of Operation Sindoor including the situation along
frontiers with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. Though the situation remains normal along the borders with Pakistan the infiltration attempts remain a cause of concern the sources said.The roadmap ahead will also figure prominently at the JCC the sources said adding almost all issues along Pakistan China and other frontiers besides antiterror situation in Jammu and Kashmir will be reviewed.Recently the Army Commanders Conference was held in New Delhi for three days.Though several States share borders with Pakistan including Jammu and Kashmir Punjab Rajasthan and Gujarat the situation remains volatile primarily in J&ampK though of late attempts of smuggling weapons and narcotics have also increased in neighbouring Punjab.During Operation Sindoor the Indian Armed Forces destroyed several terror camps and military installations deep inside Pakistan and PoJK from May 610. Several terrorists including top commanders of the outfits were killed. 2199704 Apr 24, 2026 PM Modi condoles deaths in Uttarakhand due to accident; announces ex gratia Daily Excelsior National 24NEW DELHI Apr 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the loss of lives in an accident in Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50000 for the injured.Eight people were killed and two others injured after a pickup vehicle fell into a deep gorge in the Chamba area of the Tehri district.The loss of lives due to an accident in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand is saddening. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover at the earliest.An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given Rs 50000 the prime minister said in a post on X. (PTI) 2199891 Apr 24, 2026 LG calls upon students, teachers to contribute to nation building Daily Excelsior Todays story Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today inaugurated the New School Building of Swami Pranavanand Vidyamandir in Panjgrain Nagrota. The School is run by Bharat Sevashram Sangha a renowned sociocultural and philanthropic organisation. Bharat Sevashram Sangh started preprimary to Class 8 education here in 2014 under Har Ghar Shiksha. Over half the students are from poor families they have illuminated countless lives.Addressing a gathering on the occasion the Lieutenant Governor said that new higher secondary building and skill infrastructure will ensure disadvantaged students get quality education.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppOnce all the floors of building are complete it will serve more than 1500 students transform thousands of lives. With future residential facilities for 100 boys local economy will get a boost backward areas will be transformed and society will advance with new confidence the Lieutenant Governor said.In his address the Lieutenant Governor called upon students and
teachers to contribute to nationbuilding and adapt classrooms to todays changing global landscape positioning India as the worlds leading knowledge economy.We must strengthen cultural awareness in students as unity in diversity defines global society. Promote communication skills for clear expression enabling the new generation to improve lives uphold democratic values and foster collaboration for a prosperous J&ampK the Lieutenant Governor said.The Lieutenant Governor observed that every student talented in art craft music or entrepreneurship deserves equal respect and opportunity.Teachers must recognize that education focused solely on marks and narrow academics sidelining art sports and skills is unfit for the future. We must prepare students for irreplaceable human capacities like creativity critical thinking moral decisionmaking collaboration and lifelong learning which no machine can replace he said.The Lieutenant Governor said the world is changing rapidly and unlike the stable careers in the past professional workforce
requires continuous learning skilling and upskilling.We are at a threshold where AI and automation is transforming industries offices hospitals and schools and our human resource need to be a step ahead the Lieutenant Governor said.The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) and emphasised that the policy is a potent tool to meet national needs boost societal capacity and accelerate economic growth.To bridge ruralurban and regionalsocial gaps NEP is a powerful tool societal asset and reliable partner for meritorious students. India will emerge as a robust knowledge economy nurturing generations with scientific temper moral strength cultural values skills and a spirit of service and sacrifice the Lieutenant Governor observed.He said a students view of the external world depends on selfperception shaped by experiences.True education balances both equipping students with knowledge and skills for outer world plus selfawareness and emotional resilience for inner world. This holistic
approach is every schools core duty.Every student must blend science and values for progress. NEP measures guarantee Viksit Bharat for the first time in decades our talented children teens and youth are policy priorities the Lieutenant Governor said.The initiative of Bharat Sevashram Sangha is supported by Indian Oil Hindustan Petroleum and other donors.Srimat Swami Biswatmanandaji Maharaj General Secretary Bharat Sevashram Sangha Srimat Swami Ambarishanandaji Maharaj Joint Secretary and senior sanyasins of Bharat Sevashrasm Sangha and senior officials were present.Jugal Kishore Sharma Member of Parliament Devyani Rana MLA from Nagrota Dr Nirmal Singh former DyCM Rashmi Govil Director HR Indian Oil Corporation Limited Vilas Zode Executive DirectorHR Hindustan Petroleum Chander Mohan Gupta former Mayor JMC and other prominent citizens also attended the inaugural ceremony. 2199705 Apr 24, 2026 8 killed, 2 injured as vehicle plunges into gorge in Uttarakhand's Tehri Daily Excelsior National NEW TEHRI Apr 23 Eight people died and two others injured when a utility pickup vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a 300metre deep gorge near Chamba in Tehri district on Thursday officials said.The accident occurred around 2.15 pm near Nail village on the ChambaKoti Colony road.The victims all of them from Thyoldhar village in the Ghansali were returning home from a funeral when the driver lost control of the vehicle Tehri District Magistrate Nitika Khandelwal said.There were around 10 people onboard at the time of the accident.The accident was reported to the police via the Dial 112 emergency service after which two ambulances and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the spot.The police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams recovered eight bodies and took the injured to a nearby hospital.The victims were returning home after performing the last rites of 65yearold Sampat Lal in Haridwar.The deceased were identified as Sampat Lals 36yearold son Prem Lal and 35yearold driver Shiv Singh.Others were Asha Lal 40
Vijay Lal 36 Mahavir 60 Sehat Lal 65 and Laxman 33. The identity of one more victim was not confirmed.Two injured are undergoing treatment at the Tehri District Hospital. Chief Medical Superintendent Dr Amit Rai stated their condition is out of danger.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the deaths and directed the district administration to ensure proper medical care for the injured.Praying to God to grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense loss Dhami posted on X. (PTI) 2199585 Apr 24, 2026 Cong, opposition obstructing women’s reservation in parliament: Minister Daily Excelsior State J&ampK Govt visible only in elite functions LoPSuhail BhatSrinagar Apr 23 Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today accused opposition parties particularly Congress of obstructing efforts to fasttrack the implementation of womens reservation in Parliament saying delays linked to census and delimitation processes could prevent its implementation before the 2029 general election.Click here to watch videoAddressing a press conference here Rathore said the Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had demonstrated clear intent and political will by passing the Womens Reservation Bill in 2023 but acknowledged that its implementation remained tied to the completion of a national census and subsequent delimitation exercise.The bill that was passed in 2023 had an operative text. Its implementation was linked to census and delimitation. It cannot be executed on its own he said.The Minister said three measures introduced on 16th April 2026 the Constitution (131st Amendment) the Delimitation Bill 2026
and the Union Territories Law Amendment Bill 2026 were intended to enable implementation in time for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. If we wait for the census it can take 1.5 to 2.5 years. After that delimitation can take another one to three years. That means it could reach the 2029 elections he said.Responding to opposition particularly the Congress party questioning the need for fresh amendments arguing that the law had already been passed. Rathore rejected that position. To say it has already been passed and nothing more is required is a delusion. The earlier bill clearly deferred implementation to future processes he said.He also addressed concerns raised by some parties about the potential impact of delimitation on representation in southern states saying seat expansion would prevent any reduction. The percentage is clearly increasing. Seats will increase proportionally in every state. There is no loss at all he said adding that representation could see marginal gains.On demands for including quotas for Other Backward Classes
(OBCs) Rathore said the issue could be debated in Parliament but should not delay implementation. There was already provision for SCST women in the 2023 law. Parliament is open for discussion on OBCs but getting stuck on this is just a reason to stall he said.The Minister said womens reservation had been debated for decades noting that similar proposals were introduced in 1996 1998 1999 and 2008 but were not passed. There was a lot of discussion. The difference is clear who discusses it and who has the power to implement it he said.He added that the Modi Government had demonstrated its intent by passing the 2023 law unanimously and by attempting to ensure its implementation. The Modi Government does what it says. When we brought the bill it was clear we wanted to implement it he said.Referring to Jammu and Kashmir Rathore praised the courage resilience and leadership of women in the region and said their role was an example for the country. Women now want equal opportunity in lawmaking and policymaking. They should not just be a
symbol but have a real place he said.Responding to questions on why existing parliamentary seats could not be reallocated he said the Government favoured expanding the Lok Sabha rather than reducing current representation. We do not want to take from anyone. The Lok Sabha has been waiting for expansion for decades. Womens seats should come through expansion he said.He said informing the public through the media was essential in a democracy. If the truth and details are known people can make good decisions. That is why we are reaching out he said.Meanwhile the Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma alleged that the Government is largely absent at the grassroots level saying it is visible mainly at highprofile events while key public issues such as roads electricity and daily civic concerns remain unaddressed.Sharma said demands for restoring statehood should not overshadow what he described as unmet public promises. He urged people to question Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over issues affecting daily life.You ask Omar Abdullah where the
cylinders have gone where the 200 units of electricity have gone where the 1lakh jobs have gone Sharma said referring to previous commitments.He said that the restoration of statehood has to come when it has to and it will not come because he became the Chief Minister. He added that statehood should not be associated with a prince from Sheikh Muhammad Abdullahs family.Sharma alleged that governance in the region had come to a standstill citing what he described as a lack of ministerial presence on the ground and worsening public services. There is a water crisis. There is an electricity crisis. The roads are in a bad state he said adding that employees were also facing difficulties. He further claimed that the government was more visible at public events than in addressing administrative issues saying it was visible in marathons cycling skiing and Five Star dinners but not visible anywhere on the ground.He also alleged an increase in corruption since October 2024 claiming that ordinary citizens were being forced to pay bribes to get
routine work done at local offices. According to Sharma corruption is touching the sky and transfers had become an industry.The opposition leader further criticised what he described as a lack of administrative oversight saying the Chief Minister who holds multiple portfolios had not conducted adequate departmental reviews or engaged sufficiently with officials. 2199870 Apr 24, 2026 True value of journalism lies not in speed alone; but in verification, integrity: CJ Daily Excelsior Todays story Journalists often become voice of unheardExcelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Chief Justice of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Justice Arun Palli said today that true value of journalism lies not in speed alone but in verification balance and integrity and asserted that journalism remains one of the noblest responsibilities in public life.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppJustice Palli made these remarks in his address after presenting RK Chhibber Memorial Best Journalists of the Year Award given by Chhibber Memorial Trust in association with the Press Club of Jammu this evening.Journalism occupies a vital place in every democracy by informing the people raising issues of public concern questioning injustice and promoting accountability in governance he said in his address to the distinguished gathering.Observing that journalism remains one of the noblest responsibilities in public life as it is founded upon the pursuit of truth and service to society Justice Arun Palli said the journalists often become the voice of
those unheard and the mirror through which society sees itself.This he said makes journalism one of the most valuable pillars of democratic life.Referring to the present digital age the Chief Justice noted that while technology has made communication faster and wider it has also multiplied the challenge of maintaining credibility accuracy and public trust.In such times the true value of journalism lies not in speed alone but in verification balance and integrity he emphasized.The Chief Justice of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court remarked that integrity discipline honesty and commitment to truth are timeless values which continue to guide institutions inspire public confidence and define the true purpose of journalism.He advised the younger generation of journalists that while technology may change tools platforms and methods fairness shall always remain an enduring constant of real journalism.Paying rich tribute to Prof. R.K. Chhibber the Chief Justice observed that the values associated with his life assume even greater
significance today. He noted that the institution of awards in his memory is deeply fitting as it recognizes journalists who inform citizens highlight public concerns and strengthen democracy.Congratulating the awardees Justice Arun Palli stated that through their reporting they had served society and contributed to informed public discourse and therefore richly deserved the honour being conferred upon them.The Chief Justice also congratulated the Prof R K Chhibber Memorial Trust and the Press Club of Jammu for sustaining such a meaningful initiative observing that the finest tribute to a great individual lies not merely in remembrance but in carrying forward his values through institutions that inspire future generations.He expressed hope that the awards would continue to encourage fearless fair and credible journalism and reinforce the value of truth in public life. 2199586 Apr 24, 2026 Justice Palli presents Chhibber Memorial Trust-Press Club Journalism Awards Daily Excelsior State Tantray Meenia Vinod Kumar get honoursJAMMU Apr 23 Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Justice Arun Palli today presented the Prof R.K. Chhibber Memorial TrustPress Club of Jammu Journalism Awards to TV Bharat Senior Correspondent Amir Tantray Dainik Jagran Deputy Chief ReporterBureau Chief Ajay Meenia and Gulistan News Consultant Editor Vinod Kumar.Each awardee received a cheque for Rs 25000 and a memento.The awards were presented at a function organised by the Prof. R.K. Chhibber Memorial Trust and the Press Club of Jammu here today.Chief Justice Arun Palli congratulated the winners. He also applauded the Prof RK Chhibber Memorial Trust and Press Club of Jammu for recognising the hard work of the journalists and for establishing the awards.Press Club of Jammu president Sanjeev Pargal welcomed the Chief Justice and Trust office bearers and members to the Club.In his interaction with the Chief Justice Pargal described as bold and unprecedented the decision taken by Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court
Collegium under the leadership of Justice Arun Palli for filling up 11 vacancies in the Court by giving representation to all regions besides women.The decision will lead to filling up of the vacancies and reduce pendency of cases in the High Court Pargal said.He presented lifetime honorary membership of the Press Club of Jammu to the Chief Justice.Pargal also lauded Chhibber Memorial Trusts Managing Trustee Sushil Chhibber and Senior Journalist Maneesh Chhibber for continuing their association with the Press Club of Jammu and presenting third edition of the awards today. He expressed confidence that the process will be carried forward by both the Trust as well as the PCJ.Pargal who was first recipient of the award congratulated the three awardees.Press Club Secretary General Dinesh Manhotra presented welcome address and explained the Clubs association with the Trust for past one decade.In her address Sushil Chhibber Managing Trustee of Prof R.K. Chhibber Memorial Trust said free media is the lifeblood of democracy. Just like
educationists which her late husband was journalists are expected to keep asking questions she said.Advocate Ved Bhushan Gupta Trustee of the Prof R.K. Chhibber Memorial Trust said the best tribute to Prof Chhibber would be to do our respective jobs with honesty and sincerity.In his address Maneesh Chhibber said that Chief Justice Arun Palli was a leading lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court before his elevation as a Judge.In Chief Justice Palli the two Union Territories have a fine legal mind and a genteel person as head of the legal institution. One keeps hearing about all the good things that are happening under his leadership he added.Advocate Anshuja SharmaTak was the master of the ceremony. 2199718 Apr 24, 2026 Rajnath invites German industry to co-develop, co-produce modern defence systems with India Daily Excelsior National NEW DELHI Apr 23 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday invited the German industry to codevelop and coproduce with India as he underscored the need to forge partnerships based on reliability and shared interests amid the current shifts in geopolitical alignments and disruptions in supply chains.He was addressing Indian and German defence industry leaders during the Defence Investor Summit in Munich on the final day of threeday maiden visit to the European nation.Singh invited the German industry to codevelop and coproduce with India particularly in the field of niche technologies the defence ministry said in a statement.He underscored the need to forge partnerships based on reliability and shared interests terming them as indispensable in the current shifts in geopolitical alignments disruptions in supply chains rapid technological transformations and increasing global uncertainties.The defence minister asserted that nations and industries are reevaluating their dependencies diversifying their supply chains and seeking reliable
partners who ensure resilience continuity and mutual trust.Singh said India in this scenario offers an expanding market young and skilled workforce and a rapidly evolving industrial ecosystem coupled with stability predictability and a commitment to the rule of law. These are the critical factors for longterm investment decisions in an uncertain world he added.Referring to the significant untapped potential under the ReArm Europe and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives he reiterated that Indian companies are keen to engage with German firms for codevelopment and coproduction in areas including advanced radar and sensor technology multisensors AIenabled Unmanned Aerial Systems and highpower low frequency underwater transmitters.Singh highlighted Indias transformative journey of becoming a developed nation by 2047 the ministry said.This goal he said is supported by a clear vision strong policy direction and the collective aspiration of 1.4 billion people.We are one of the fastestgrowing and stable major economies in the world with a strong
macroeconomic foundation and a clear policy direction Singh added.In todays interconnected and interdependent world partnerships are not optional they are essential. Our engagement with Germany is rooted in mutual respect and shared interests. It is a partnership that offers mutual benefit shared growth and longterm value creation he said.Singh pointed out that India recognises the significant role of the defence sector in the journey towards becoming a developed nation and has placed it at the heart of its industrial and technological strategy.Defence industrial ecosystem encourages collaboration among industry academia and research institutions. This leads to the creation of startups the development of niche technologies and the strengthening of supply chains.In this sense a strong defence industrial base contributes not only to national security but also to economic resilience and global competitiveness. We aspire to build a strong modern and a selfreliant defence industrial base. It is essential for strategic autonomy and economic
future he asserted.Singh told the German industry captains that the government of India over the past decade has undertaken a series of structural reforms to improve the ease of doing business and make India an attractive destination for investment.Our policies are transparent predictable and investorfriendly. We have liberalised our norms strengthened our regulatory frameworks and invested heavily in infrastructure he said.As a partner in global supply chains collaboration with India can help diversify risks and build resilience. This is not a shortterm opportunity. It is a longterm strategic proposition the defence minister asserted.Singh appreciated the deepening of IndiaGermany defence relations through significant industrial partnerships with a growing focus on codevelopment and coproduction.Both nations are aligning their industries to create resilient supply chains for defence equipment particularly in response to geopolitical shifts he said.Singh also said that India looks forward to a deep and enduring partnership with
Germany.If the earlier chapters of IndiaGermany partnership were written through technology enterprise and culture the next chapter can be written through innovation capability and strategic cooperation he said.On April 22 Singh visited the TKMS Submarine building facility in Kiel underscoring the deepening defence engagement between India and Germany.The visit provided an opportunity to exchange views on advanced maritime capabilities and explore avenues for collaboration in naval technologies in line with Indias defence modernisation priorities the ministry said.Earlier Singh held bilateral talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin aimed at further strengthening the strategic defence partnership with the European nation.The Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training were inked and exchanged during the meeting. (PTI) 2199869 Apr 24, 2026 WB records 92% turnout, TN 85% in Phase-I Daily Excelsior Todays story Sporadic incidents of violenceKOLKATACHENNAI Apr 23 West Bengal registered a record voter turnout of 92.72 per cent in the first phase of assembly polls today amid sporadic incidents of violence while Tamil Nadu recorded unprecedented voting of 85.14 per cent as the BJP pushed to unseat Mamata Banerjee in Bengal and expand in the South.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppIn the first phase 152 constituencies in West Bengal went to polls while voting for the 234member Tamil Nadu assembly was held in one go. The elections are taking place against the backdrop of a massive political row over the SIR of the electoral rolls a major flashpoint between the BJP and opposition parties including the Trinamool Congress (TMC).In West Bengal the BJP is eyeing to wrest power from Banerjeeled TMC which seeks a fourth straight term in a state the saffron party has never governed and in Tamil Nadu key contenders are the ruling DMK and main opposition AIADMK while actorpolitician Vijayled TVK and Tamil nationalist Seemanled NTK are putting up
a determined fight.The second phase for the remaining 142 of 294 seats in West Bengal will be held on April 29. The counting for all four states and one Union TerritoryKerala Assam West Bengal Tamil Nadu and Puducherrywill be on May 4.Over 90 per cent in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections set the tone for a fiercely contested battle even as allegations over electoral roll revisions sporadic violence and duelling political narratives underscored a highstakes opening round between the ruling TMC and the BJP.Meanwhile Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls was the states highestever percentage since Independence.Polling across 152 constituencies in 16 districts remained brisk through the day with long queues at booths particularly in rural belts reflecting intense mobilisation by both camps in what is being seen as a crucial early test of strength.The high participation in Bengal came against the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision
(SIR) of electoral rolls which saw over 91 lakh names deleted statewide an exercise that has moved to the centre of the political contest shaping both campaign rhetoric and voter perception.Compared with the 2021 Assembly elections when turnout ranged between 79 and 86 per cent across phases the current figures mark a sharp spike in voter turnout in West Bengal though the SIRlinked contraction of the electorate complicates direct comparisons. In 2021 the BJP won 59 of these 152 seats against the TMCs 93.Reports of clashes allegations of intimidation and attacks on candidatesincluding two from the BJPfrom several constituencies prompted the Election Commission to seek detailed reports even as it maintained that polling in West Bengal was largely peaceful.In Tamil Nadu the contest is primarily between the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance against the AIADMKled NDA. Chief Minister M K Stalin centred his campaign around the Dravidian Model of governance and accused the AIADMK of being controlled by the BJP in Delhi. AIADMK General
Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is fighting to return to the treasury benches after five years.Tamil Nadu registered 73.63 per cent voting in 2021. It recorded its highest voter turnout 78.29 percent in the 2011 assembly polls which the AIADMK swept.Incidentally through the SIR the electorate size has been reduced from 6.41 crore recorded in October 2025 to the current 5.73 crore. Consequently the 2021 polls saw about 6.29 crore people registered 56 lakh voters more than this year. (PTI) 2199716 Apr 24, 2026 Bengal first-phase turnout tops 90% amid sporadic violence Daily Excelsior National KOLKATA Apr 23 The first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections on Thursday set a highdecibel tone for a tightly fought contest with an exceptionally heavy turnout as voters across 152 constituencies had their say after months of rancour over deletion of names from electoral rolls and a vituperative political campaign.Sporadic incidents of violence failed to deter the electorate as the turnout exceeded 90 per cent a figure that led both the rival parties the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to express hopes of a decisive verdict in their favour. While the former chose to construe it as a strong antiincumbency sentiment the ruling party felt people voted in larger numbers to avoid losing their rights.Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Nadia described the turnout as an overwhelming mandate for change and asserted that pollrelated violence was at its lowest in five decades a claim sharply contested by the ruling party.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the high turnout reflected fear
among people that if they dont vote they may lose their voting rights and citizenship linking voter participation to the SIR exercise.That divergence captured a broader shift in the nature of the contest from a conventional battle over governance and delivery to one increasingly centred on identity citizenship and the integrity of the electoral process.On the ground that tension manifested in scattered but sharp flashpoints.In Birbhums Kharisaol allegations that votes cast for the TMC were being registered in favour of the BJP triggered protests a temporary halt in polling and clashes between locals and security personnel. Eyewitnesses said the situation escalated after an argument with polling officials with stone pelting reported and paramilitary forces resorting to mild force to restore order.Earlier in the day BJP candidate Suvendu Sarkar was allegedly manhandled in Dakshin Dinajpurs Kumarganj while BJP MLA Agnimitra Pauls car was attacked near Rahmat Nagar in Asansol Dakshin with stones shattering its rear window incidents cited
by the party as evidence of targeted violence.In Naoda stones were allegedly hurled at the convoy of AJUP leader Humayun Kabir leading to clashes between rival supporters and a baton charge by central forces. Further incidents of violence and intimidation were reported from Labhpur Chanchal and Murarai where clashes between party workers left several people injured.In Domkal allegations surfaced that voters were prevented from reaching polling booths necessitating a security escort.The Election Commission while maintaining that polling was largely peaceful acknowledged receiving around 500 complaints by noon and hundreds more through the cVIGIL app. The TMC alone claimed to have lodged over 700 complaints by midafternoon many relating to alleged EVM malfunction and the conduct of central forces.Districtwise data reflected both enthusiasm and regional variation.Murshidabad Bankura and Cooch Behar recorded turnout figures hovering around or above 90 per cent while Malda Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur reported similar levels. Kalimpong
remained relatively lower at around 81 per cent.Despite the incidents of violence polling remained largely peaceful compared to previous elections in the state which have historically been marked by widespread violence.By 5 pm the turnout climbed to nearly 90 per cent of the 3.60 crore electorate with officials indicating the final figure could rise further possibly bordering 95 per cent capping a brisk polling day shaped as much by mobilisation as by contestation over the electorate itself.The steady climb from 18.76 per cent in the first two hours to 41.11 per cent by 11 am and 62.18 per cent by 1 pm reflected strong participation across geographies from north Bengals tea gardens to the communally sensitive belts of Murshidabad and the politically volatile Junglemahal.Long queues at booths particularly in rural areas pointed to intense boothlevel mobilisation by both the ruling TMC and the BJP in what is being seen as a crucial early test of organisational strength.Yet beneath the headline turnout lay a more complex electoral
undercurrent. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls which saw over 91 lakh names nearly 12 per cent of the electorate deleted injected both a statistical and political dimension into the turnout figures. With a reduced denominator even comparable participation translates into higher percentages while simultaneously altering the composition of the electorate itself.That turned the turnout figure into a politically contested signal. For the TMC the surge was being read as anxious participation driven by fears of disenfranchisement among vulnerable sections. The party has framed the SIR as a disenfranchisement project alleging that minorities and poorer voters were disproportionately affected.For the BJP however the same numbers validate its longstanding argument on cleaning the electoral rolls. A higher turnout in a reduced electorate the party argues indicates a greater proportion of genuine voters making the spike both a statistical outcome and a political endorsement.Compared with the 2021 assembly elections when
turnout ranged between 79 and 86 per cent across phases the current figures mark a sharper spike though the SIRlinked contraction of the electorate complicates direct comparisons.The first phase covering all 54 seats in north Bengal along with key constituencies in the south is central to the BJPs strategy of consolidating its northern gains a region that powered its rise in 2019 and where it remained competitive in 2021.Union Home Minister Amit Shah who is camping in the state visited the BJPs election control room in Salt Lake during polling hours underlining the premium the party has placed on this phase.For the TMC the immediate objective is to blunt that northern push early and retain narrative control banking on its welfare outreach and entrenched organisational network.In 2021 the BJP had won 59 of these 152 seats against the TMCs 93 making Thursdays polling a critical battleground for shaping momentum in the remaining phases.As Bengal moves into the remaining phases the twin dynamic of high participation and high contestation
is set to shape an election increasingly defined as much by process as by outcome. (PTI) 2199587 Apr 24, 2026 LG attends foundation day of Sarv Shakti Chandi Mata Mandir Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today attended the foundation day of Sarv Shakti Chandi Mata Mandir at Dhammi Nagrota.The Lieutenant Governor paid obeisance at the holy temple and prayed for peace prosperity and wellbeing of all.The religious proceedings were marked by the lighting of the Akhand Jyot and the traditional reciting of Ved Path.During his visit the Lieutenant Governor also reviewed the ongoing construction works of Yatri Halls being developed by the Temple Committee to facilitate the devotees traveling to the Shri Amarnath Ji and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. He assured all the necessary support and assistance from the administration.Sanjay Gandotra President Sarv Shakti Chandi Mata Mandir and temple committee members including Dr DS Jamwal Vikas Singh Jamwal Praveen Singh Balwan Singh were present.Devyani Rana Member of Legislative Assembly from Nagrota Dr Nirmal Singh former Deputy Chief Minister Purnima Sharma former Deputy Mayor JMC senior officials and devotees in large number
also attended the foundation day ceremony. 2199868 Apr 24, 2026 Vice Chancellors of SMVDU, SKUAST-Jammu get extension Daily Excelsior Todays story Six of 9 J&ampK University VCs now on extended tenureNishikant KhajuriaJAMMU Apr 23 ViceChancellors of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) Katra and ShereKashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Jammu have been granted extension in tenure thus taking the number of varsity heads serving on extension to six out of the total nine State Universities in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppWhile the ViceChancellor of SMVDU has been accorded an extension of two years the ViceChancellor of SKUASTJammu has been given an extension of 13 months (up to the date of his attainment of 65 years) upon completion of their respective existing term of three years.According to an order issued by the J&ampK Lieutenant Governors Secretariat Prof Pragati Kumar Vice Chancellor of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) has been given an extension of two years in his tenure upon completion of his existing term of three years on June 19 2026 as the VC.In a separate order Prof
Bhupendra Nath Tripathi Vice Chancellor of ShereKashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu has been granted an extension up to 19072027 ( date of his attainment of 65 years of age) with effect from 20062026 upon completion of his existing term of three years as the VC.Pertinent to mention that as per the ShereKashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Act which governs both the agriculture universities in J&ampK the ViceChancellor cannot continue beyond the age of 65 years.With these extensions six out of the total nine State Universities in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory are now having ViceChancellor serving on extended terms. The other four varsities with ViceChancellor on extension are University of Kashmir University of Jammu SKUASTKashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora.Prof Nilofer Khan was reappointed as the ViceChancellor of the University of Kashmir for a two year extension starting from May 19 2025 while Prof Umesh Rai was reappointed
as VC of the University of Jammu for a second term of three years with effect from April 5 2025.Similarly SKUASTKashmir ViceChancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai and IUST ViceChancellor Prof Shakil Ahmad Romshoo are on extended tenure of two years from December 16 2024 and August 15 2024 respectively.The move reflects a growing trend of granting extensions to incumbent ViceChancellors a decision claimed to be linked to maintaining stability in ongoing academic research and infrastructural initiatives.According to the sources such extensions are typically considered in view of institutional requirements ongoing projects and the performance of the incumbents. The development on the extensions assumes significance as universities across Jammu and Kashmir continue to implement reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) and expand their academic and research footprints sources said.However on the other hand the increasing number of extensions has also sparked discussions in academic circles regarding the need for timely appointments and
fresh leadership in the universities. 2199588 Apr 24, 2026 CJ flags off Multi Utility Vehicles for strengthening legal aid outreach across J&K Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 In a significant step towards strengthening access to justice and expanding outreach of legal services to the grassroots level Justice Arun Palli Chief Justice High Court of Jammu &amp Kashmir and Ladakh and PatroninChief J&ampK Legal Services Authority in the presence of Justice Sanjeev Kumar Executive Chairman J&ampK Legal Services Authority and other Judges of the High Court at Jammu today flagged off a fleet of Multi Utility Vehicles for District Legal Services Authorities of the Jammu Province at High Court Complex Janipur here.These vehicles have been procured under the guidance of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) with the objective of strengthening the delivery of legal aid and welfare services particularly in farflung rural remote and underserved areas of the Union Territory.Chief Justice appreciated the initiative and observed that access to justice must not remain confined to courtrooms alone but should meaningfully reach every citizen especially those belonging to
vulnerable and marginalized sections of society. He emphasized that such initiatives are essential for taking justice to the doorsteps of the people.Justice Sanjeev Kumar Executive Chairman J&ampK Legal Services Authority also appreciated the launch of the vehicles and stated that the same would greatly enhance the outreach and efficiency of District Legal Services Authorities. He further observed that this initiative marks another important step in making legal services more accessible to the common people.Justice Sanjeev Kumar also expressed that similar Multi Utility Vehicles are planned to be launched shortly for districts of Kashmir Province as well so that the benefits of this initiative reach every region of the Union Territory in an equitable manner.While interacting with media persons Shazia Tabasum Member Secretary J&ampK Legal Services Authority highlighted that the vehicles shall be utilized for conducting legal awareness programmes facilitating outreach camps extending assistance to beneficiaries under various
legal aid schemes supporting Para Legal Volunteers and ensuring better coordination of legal services activities at the district level. She further stated that the initiative would significantly strengthen the institutional capacity of District Legal Services Authorities in serving the people more efficiently.The programme was attended by M. K. Sharma Registrar General High Court of J&ampK and Ladakh Judicial Officers officers of the Registry Muzamil Hayat Kabli Administrative Officer other officials of J&ampK Legal Services Authority staff members and other dignitaries. 2199867 Apr 24, 2026 J&K Bank appoints Ashish Kundra, Pravin Raghavendra as Addl Directors Daily Excelsior Todays story Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 The Board of Directors of J&ampK Bank has approved the appointment of 1996 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer Ashish Kundra as an Additional Director in the category of Rotational Directors and distinguished banking professional Pravin Raghavendra as an Additional Director in the category of Independent Directors.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppAs per an official communication of the Bank the appointments were cleared at a Board meeting held on Apr 22 2026 subject to shareholders approval.While Kundra will assume the charge from Apr 23 2026 Raghavendra has been appointed for a period of three years from Apr 23 2026 to Apr 22 2029 the communication said.Ashish Kundra who is currently serving as the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh has previously held several key positions in the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi including Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and Transport Commissioner where he was closely associated with policy formulation
infrastructure development and urban governance.He also has rich experience in election management having served as Chief Electoral Officer in Mizoram and has handled administrative responsibilities in challenging regions.His service in the NorthEast included roles as Commissioner and Secretary in Mizoram and as District Magistrate.He has also served as Administrator of the Union Territories of Daman &amp Diu and Dadra &amp Nagar Haveli between 2014 and 2018.He is also the author of the book Resurgent Northeast Narratives of Change reflecting his engagement with regional development issues.Similarly Pravin Raghavendra brings over 35 years of extensive experience in the banking and financial sector.He has served in several senior leadership positions at State Bank of India including as Deputy Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer where he supervised operations across over 24000 branches and led initiatives in digital transformation compliance risk governance and customer service improvement.He has also served as Deputy
Managing Director (Agri &amp SME) managing key portfolios related to agriculture and MSME sectors introducing innovative loan products and strengthening recovery mechanisms.As Chief General Manager of the Mumbai Metro Circle he led one of SBIs largest business regions during the Covid19 period achieving strong business growth and improved asset quality.Academically he holds qualifications from premier institutions including the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance and Patna Law College.Both appointees are not debarred from holding the office of Director by any regulatory authority. 2199721 Apr 24, 2026 Delhi rape-murder case: Accused claims crime 'just happened' after woman refused to open locker Daily Excelsior National NEW DELHI Apr 23 The accused in the rape and murder of a 22yearold woman in southeast Delhis Kailash Hills has told investigators that originally he planned to only rob the house but the rest just happened after she refused to open the safe.Police said that Rahul Meena (19) is responding to all questions during the interrogation but has changed his statements repeatedly.They said that Rahul was a gambling addict and was in debt. He had earlier sold off his mobile phone to clear his debt but couldnt collect sufficient funds. Following this he resorted to robbery.The accused had entered the society around 6 am and waited at a park near the house for the victims parents to leave for the gym. He then used a spare key to access the apartment and went straight to the rooftop study where the woman was preparing for her civil services examination according to police sources.He further said that the moment he reached upstairs the victim confronted him about his presence. He began demanding money which led to an argument.Asked about the rape
and murder he told police that he went there to steal cash. When he asked the girl to open the safe using her fingerprint she refused and the crime just happened.He hit her multiple times with a heavy object on her head before allegedly strangling her with a mobile phone charging cable and raping her while she was unconscious.He later dragged her bloodsoaked body downstairs and attempted to open the locker using her fingerprint but failed.Police said he then broke open the locker using a screwdriver stole cash and jewellery changed his bloodstained clothes and slippers and fled the scene.To avoid suspicion the accused made a fake phone call while leaving the house and pretended to be speaking to someone as he walked out of the building towards Dwarka. He also switched off his mobile phone to evade tracking.When a car cleaner questioned him about his visit he casually said he would get his dues back today the source said.Investigators believe the robbery was preplanned with the accused taking several steps to avoid detection. CCTV
footage showed he entered the colony around 6.30 am accessed the house at 6.49 am and left at about 7.20 am. He was inside the house for over 30 minutes.The incident came to light when the victims parents returned home and found her lying in a pool of blood.The accused a former domestic help who had worked at the house for eight months before being fired a month ago was aware of the familys routine police said. (PTI) 2199726 Apr 24, 2026 France operationalises visa-free transit for Indians transiting through its airports, says MEA Daily Excelsior National NEW DELHI Apr 23 Indians transiting through France exclusively by air will no longer require a transit visa as the French government has operationalised an agreement to remove such a requirement the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the announcement at his weekly media briefing here saying India welcomes the move.Later in a statement the MEA said the visafree transit for Indian nationals transiting through the European territory of France has now been operationalised by the French government.The decision showcases deep commitment by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron to strengthen bilateral relations the MEA said.At the media briefing Jaiswal said the decision reflects the enduring partnership between India and France elevated to the level of a Special Global Strategic Partnership during the recent visit of President Macron to India as also further facilitation of smoother movement of people and enhancing of peopletopeople ties.The government of France has now
operationalised this agreement and Indian nationals transiting through mainland France exclusively by air will no longer need a transit visa with effect from 10th April 2026 Jaiswal said.We welcome the announcement on the operationalisation of visafree transit for Indian nationals transiting through French airports. As you may recall the removal of the requirement of transit visas for Indian passport holders was agreed between the prime minister and President Macron during their meeting in Mumbai in February this year he said. (PTI) 2199589 Apr 24, 2026 CS reviews Rs 3440.43 cr plan for flood restoration works Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 The Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a highlevel meeting to review the comprehensive plan for utilization of funds earmarked for works related to the permanent restoration of damages caused by floods and associated calamities in 2025.The meeting besides the ACS PDD ACS Finance ACS PWD Principal Secretary DMRR&ampR was attended by Commissioner Secretary H&ampUDD Commissioner Secretary YS&ampS Commissioner Secretary School Education Department.The Deputy Commissioners also attended the meeting through video conferencing from their respective offices.The Chief Secretary emphasised upon all departments to accord necessary administrative approval and technical sanction to ensure that works are tendered and completed without any delay.He called for submission of workwise completion details in due course and stressed that each project must be executed strictly as per the approved list and within the prescribed estimates. He enjoined upon the departments to expedite approvals so that
tendering is completed promptly and execution of works is taken up by June this year.The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of strict adherence to the guidelines issued by the Disaster Management Division Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for recovery and reconstruction. He observed that the Ministry is going to have its focus on the execution of these works therefore demands highest priority on our part as well. He directed all departments to ensure that project proposals are aligned with the PDNA findings and that there is no duplication of funding across different schemes particularly between R&ampR and SASCI components.The Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shailendra Kumar underscored the need to fix strict timelines for each stage of implementation to ensure timely completion of all projects. He assured that the UT share would be made available without any hindrance to facilitate smooth execution of these works.During the meeting a detailed presentation was made by Principal Secretary DMRR&ampR Chandraker Bharti
outlining the componentwise allocation of Rs 3440.43 Cr structured across multiple funding streams to address both immediate relief and longterm resilience.The Principal Secretary apprised that the largest share of Rs 1579.09 Cr has been approved under the Recovery &amp Reconstruction (R&ampR) component of the UT Disaster Response Fund (UTDRF) as Central Financial Assistance based on the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). This includes Rs 1421.118 Cr as Central share and Rs 157.909 Cr as UT share.Moreover it was divulged that the funds are aimed at permanent restoration of critical infrastructure such as roads bridges irrigation systems and public assets with a focus on adopting a build back better approach to enhance disaster resilience. The Central share is to be released in three installments of 30% 40% and 30% subject to utilization conditions.The meeting further reviewed the strategy to spend Rs 1431 Cr Special Additional Central Assistance under SASCI component which provides supplementary support for critical gaps
and resilienceoriented interventions not fully covered under other funding mechanisms.It was emphasized that this funding window would be utilized judiciously for priority sectors requiring additional financial backing while ensuring no overlap with R&ampR allocations. The component constitutes funding for raising critical infrastructure in R&ampB Sector worth Rs 860 Cr Jal Shakti (Rs 315 Cr) PDD (Rs 173 Cr) Agriculture Production Department (Rs 51Cr) and Youth Services &amp Sports Department (Rs 32 Cr).The CAPEX Budget 202526 was also highlighted as an important component of the overall outlay with dedicated provisions for flood mitigation and restoration works.These include strengthening of flood control infrastructure construction of protective works such as embankments and drainage systems and integration of disaster resilience into capital development planning. 2199866 Apr 24, 2026 4 OGWs including woman arrested Daily Excelsior Todays story Excelsior CorrespondentSRINAGAR Apr 23 Four Over Ground Workers (OGWs) including a woman were arrested in Srinagar for allegedly providing logistic support to terrorists.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppAn official said that Police arrested the four OGWs from Hazratbal area of the city last night.They identified the OGWs as Zahoor Ahmad Mir Bashir Ahmad Bhat and Ghulam Mohammad Bhat all residents of Hazratbal.The woman was identified as Shazia Mohammad a resident of Hazratbal as well.He said a hand grenade 15 AK47 rounds four mobile phones and some cash were recovered from their possession.A case has been filed against them under various sections of the UAPA and Arms Act. 2199865 Apr 24, 2026 Trump orders ‘shoot & kill’ Iranian boats choking Strait of Hormuz Daily Excelsior Todays story DUBAI Apr 23 President Donald Trump today said he has ordered the US military to shoot and kill small Iranian boats that deploy mines to choke traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppTrumps post on social media came shortly after the US military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil ratcheting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20 per cent of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes.I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat small boats though they may be...that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz Trump posted. There is to be no hesitation. Additionally our mine sweepers are clearing the Strait right now.I am hereby ordering that activity to continue but at a tripled up level! Trump added.He also said the military is intensifying mine clearing operations in the critical waterway.The move comes a day after Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guards attacked three cargo ships in the strait capturing two
of them.The Defence Department released video footage earlier on Thursday of US forces on the deck of the Guineaflagged oil tanker Majestic X which was seized in the Indian Ocean.We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran wherever they operate a Pentagon statement said.Shiptracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia roughly the same location as the oil tanker Tifani earlier seized by American forces. It had been bound for Zhoushan China.The vessel previously had been named Phonix and had been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of US sanctions on the Islamic Republic.There was no immediate response from Iran on the news of the seizure.On Tuesday Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports. There was no immediate sign whether peace talks previously hosted by Pakistan would resume anytime soon.The standoff
between the US and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the strait with no end in sight.On Thursday Irans exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was splattered with red liquid as he left a building after a news conference in Berlin. The alleged perpetrator was immediately detained by police.During the event Pahlavi criticised the ceasefire between the US and Iran arguing that the agreement assumes the Iranian governments behaviour will change and youre going to deal with people who all of a sudden have become pragmatists.Since the Feb. 28 start of the war between Iran Israel and the United States over 30 ships have come under attack in the waters of the Persian Gulf the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.The threat of attack rising insurance premiums and other fears have stopped traffic from moving through the strait. Irans ability to restrict traffic through the strait which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean has proved a major strategic advantage.The ceasefire has been strained by duelling US attacks on
Iranian ships and those by Iran on commercial vessels. It also remains unclear when or if the two sides will meet again in the Pakistani capital Islamabad where officials say they are still trying to bring the countries together to reach a diplomatic deal.Meanwhile in new Delhi India today described as uninformed and inappropriate a social media repost by US President Donald Trump that referred to India and some other countries as hellholes in the context of immigration.Indias response came after a controversy was created by Trump reposting comments by American radio show host Michael Savage that contained derogatory references to India.Savage had made the comments in the context of a case in the US supreme court challenging birthright citizenship.The US embassy sought to control the damage caused by the remarks as it put out a message that Trump believes India is a great country led by a good friend of mine.We have seen the comments as also the subsequent statement issued by the US embassy in response External Affairs Ministry
spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.The remarks are obviously uninformed inappropriate and in poor taste. They certainly do not reflect the reality of the IndiaUS relationship which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests he said. (Agencies) 2199590 Apr 24, 2026 Pencil workers’ protest dharna enters 10th day Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Hindustan Pencils Factory Ploura workers dharna entered 10th consecutive day today against the illegal closure of the factory.More than 150 workers are continuously staging protest demonstration and dharna in front of the factory gate of Ms Hindustan Pencils Pvt. Ltd (Natraj Pencils) Jammu for illegal clouser of factory without complying to the Labour laws.They pointed out that labourersworkers who were working in the factory from the last over 2025 years have been ignored and denied statutory dues. Neither any permission has been obtained by the management nor any intimation in this regard was given to the workers.The Workers Union alleged that management with a planned conspiracy and just to get rid of the regular employment to the contractual employment have done all this and also alleged that any talks negotiations were not conducted with the workers those who were working in the factory from the last 30 35 years just to get rid of the workers on the name of closure alleged the workers.The Union
has appealed the Labour department to take action against the management for illegal closure in violation of Labour laws or force management to make payments as per golden hand shake scheme as given by Bhilwara Dajudwala Hindustan Coca Cola Hindustan Lever Ltd. Himalyan Wool Combers etc.Prominent among those who addressed the gathering included Harnam Singh president of the Union Mohinder Lal general secretary Yashpaul Sharda Devi Nitu Rani Reena Sharma Chanchal Sharma Arun Katoch and Prem Nath. 2199724 Apr 24, 2026 Polling held so far in first phase of Bengal polls indicates TMC already in position to win: Mamata Daily Excelsior National KOLKATA Apr 23 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asserted that polling held so far in the first phase of the assembly polls indicates the TMC is already in a position to win.Banerjee also the Trinamool Congress supremo said at a rally in Bow Bazar area of Kolkata that she will conquer Delhi taking along all opposition parties after winning the election.A voter turnout of 89.93 per cent was recorded till 5 pm as polling was underway in 152 of the 294 assembly seats in phase 1. The next round will take place on April 29 while counting will be held on May 4.From my understanding of peoples mind we are already in a position to win given the polling held so far today Banerjee said.I am not interested in any post I dont want the chair. I only want the end of BJP government in Delhi she said.Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at a rally in Krishnanagar congratulated the people of West Bengal for the massive turnout in the first phase of the polls terming it an overwhelming mandate for change.Banerjee however
asserted that people voted in good numbers to protest the deletion of names in the SIR exercise claiming that her efforts led to inclusion of 32 lakh names in the voter list.On the day of the polls you (PM) are saying you will win can you say this Banerjee said adding How can the BJP be so naive.Responding to Modis remarks that the BJPs Bengal unit would hold victory celebrations on May 4 after the counting of votes gets over and the party would distribute among people not just sweets but also jhalmuri the CM said I will send bhelpuri (popular street food) to you it is available in Delhi.The PM had savoured jhalmuri (another popular street snack) at an unscheduled stop during his visit to Jhargram last week.At the Krishnanagar rally on Thursday Modi also said I have heard that even jhalmuri has given certain individuals a thunderous jolt. I had jhalmuri but it seems that the TMC leaders are feeling heat of the chillies.Replying to the PM Banerjee said we are used to jhalmuris spiciness.Speaking at another rally in Tollygunj
constituency Banerjee said she has always championed the cause of people and will continue to do so.They (the BJP) have been bothering Bengal for the last 12 years the TMC chief said maintaining that the BJPled government at the Centre was not releasing the states pending dues.Criticising the PM Banerjee said that while on one hand he talks about lawlessness in Bengal and on the other he says that peaceful polls were held.Noting that 90 lakh names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR process Banerjee said even those who never used to go to vote came out to exercise their franchise in the first phase on Thursday.We will win on their votes no other party will win. Why will the TMC not win We will surely win she asserted.Banerjee added that she was not concerned with the record number of central force deployment for the assembly polls. It is the people who will cast the votes and not the police or the CAPF. (PTI) 2199864 Apr 24, 2026 NIA attaches property in Pulwama Daily Excelsior Todays story Excelsior CorrespondentSRINAGAR Apr 23 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today attached an immovable property under UAPA in Rajpora area of Pulwama district.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppAn official said that the NIA team attached the property belonging to Tanveer Ahmad Wani son of Ghulam Ahmad Wani under the provisions of section 33 (1) of the unlawful activities (Prevention)The property comprises land measuring 3 Kanals and 4 Marlas recorded under Khewat No. 98 Khata No. 527 and Survey No. 1678858 at Abhama and Draklaran. 2199728 Apr 24, 2026 Delhi reels under scorching heat as mercury touches 43 C; IMD issues heat wave alert Daily Excelsior National NEW DELHI April 23 Delhi woke up to a relatively pleasant but breezy morning on Thursday only for the heat to intensify sharply as the day progressed. The minimum temperature settled around 25.4 C but by 8 am it had already climbed to nearly 33 C.Several weather stations across the city crossed the 40 C mark with Ridges temperature soaring to 43 C pushing the capital closer to isolated heatwave conditions.Safdarjung Delhis based Observatory and Ayanagar temperatures logged at 41.4 C according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Palam and Lodi Road also touched 41.6 C and 41.4 C respectively.The IMD has warned that the heat will intensify further issuing heat wave alerts for isolated parts of Delhi on Friday and Saturday.Daytime temperatures may reach 4244 C over the next two days with a marginal drop afterwards while remaining above 40 C. A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 C and is 4.5 C above normal or when it crosses 45 C.Officials advised residents to avoid outdoor activity during peak
afternoon hours stay hydrated and watch for signs of heat exhaustion. With clear skies and limited wind speed expected due to the absence of a western disturbance Delhi is bracing for several sweltering days ahead.(UNI) 2199591 Apr 24, 2026 Annual conference of Jammu Mathematical Society begins at JU Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 A national seminar on Recent Trends in Topological Algebraic Analysis and Applications (RTTAAA2026) along with 32nd annual conference of Jammu Mathematical Society (JMS) were inaugurated today at the University of Jammu.The threeday academic activity is being organized by the Department of Mathematics University of Jammu in collaboration with Jammu Mathematical Society (JMS).Padma Shri Prof Dinesh Singh Vice Chairman Higher Education Council UT of Jammu and Kashmir graced the event as the chief guest. Addressing the inaugural session he noted that great mathematicians such as Fourier Newton and Kepler developed theories from reallife problems and urged young scholars to revive this tradition. He cautioned against excessive focus on blackboard mathematics without societal relevance and called for a balanced approach that combines rigour with bold thinking. Referring to artificial intelligence he observed that if applied meaningfully it can help uncover patterns and generate new insights.Presiding
over the occasion. Prof. Umesh Rai Vice Chancellor University of Jammu emphasized the need to reform teaching methods and move towards applicationbased learning. He pointed out that the current system often prioritizes rote learning and completion of syllabus over genuine understanding and innovation. Advocating a shift in pedagogy he suggested that students should first engage with practical experiences and then connect them with theoretical concepts.Prof A P Singh former Head of the Department of Mathematics and former Dean Faculty of Sciences JU noted that such initiatives provide valuable exposure to students and prepare them for wider academic engagement.Earlier Prof Romesh Kumar Head Department of Mathematics and President of the Jammu Mathematical Society highlighted the achievements of the Department and the Society. Dr Tirth Ram Secretary of the Jammu Mathematical Society presented a detailed report on the activities of the Society. The formal vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Manish Kumar.The conference has attracted
leading mathematicians from across the country along with a large number of young researchers and scholars. The threeday programme includes plenary talks invited lectures and paper presentations focusing on recent developments in topological algebraic analysis and applications. Eminent mathematicians present on the occasion included Prof. Ajay Kumar (Delhi) Prof Riddhi Shah (JNU) Prof Debashis Ghosal (JNU) and Prof Shobha Bagai (University of Delhi). 2199863 Apr 24, 2026 No plan to raise fuel price: Govt Daily Excelsior Todays story NEW DELHI Apr 23 Stateowned fuel retailers are incurring losses of about Rs 20 per litre on petrol and roughly Rs 100 per litre on diesel as pump prices remain frozen for nearly four years despite a surge in global oil prices the government said on Thursday signalling there is no immediate plan to raise retail fuel rates.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppDismissing reports of a potential Rs 2528 per litre increase in petrol and diesel prices after assembly elections the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) said in a post on X that there is no such proposal under consideration by the government.At a news briefing on developments in West Asia Sujata Sharma Joint Secretary in MoPNG said international prices of crude oil (raw material used to make fuel like petrol and diesel) and LPG rates have been very volatile yet the government has not increased prices.Crude which was USD 70 per barrel last year averaged over USD 113 this month she said. There is a huge increase... inspite of that the government has not increased
prices and the effort of the government has been to keep the prices stable.Retail petrol and diesel prices have remained frozen since early April 2022 a period during which oil prices rose in some months and fell in other times. When prices fell stateowned oil firms made handsome profits which they used to set off losses when rates rose.Sharma said despite the increase in oil prices after war in West Asia the government has not increased retail pump rates. The effort of the government has been to keep the price stable.The sharp increase in prices in international markets on which India is 88 per cent dependent to meet its oil needs has led to PSUs incurring underrecoveries on petrol and diesel she said.Underrecoveries the difference between retail price and the desired rate if domestic prices were aligned with import parity vary on daily basis.(Underrecovery) may be around Rs 20 (per litre) on petrol and around Rs 100 (a litre) on diesel she said.She however hastened to add that government interventions so far have been to provide
stability in terms of price and it will continue to do that.The government last month cut tax on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 a litre each so as to ensure that the burden of high oil prices are not transferred to consumers she said.Alongside the government also imposed a tax on fuel export so as to motivate refiners to prioritise domestic sales she said.On cooking gas LPG she said while the Saudi CP the benchmark for LPG pricing has increased 102 per cent between July 2023 and April 2026 rates in the country have fallen 17 per cent.Data is speaking for itself and the effort of the government is also visible she added.The clarification came after a report by Kotak Institutional Equities hinted of a steep increase in petrol and diesel prices once the polling for assembly elections in states like West Bengal ends on April 29. Kotak projected a Rs 2528 a litre increase in price based on crude oil staying close to USD 120 per barrel.The ministry said such reports are designed to create fear and panic amongst the citizens and are
mischievous and misleading.In fact India is the only country where petrol and diesel prices havent increased in the last four years it said. Government of India and oil PSUs have taken relentless steps in order to insulate the Indian citizens from steep increases in international prices.International oil prices spiked after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28 and Tehrans sweeping retaliation that effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz one of the worlds most critical energy arteries linking the Persian Gulf to global markets and handling roughly a fifth of global oil trade along with significant volumes of liquefied natural gas.After the Iran war oil prices spiked from around USD 70 per barrel to USD 119 before seeing some correction. Renewed tensions have pushed Brent the worlds most known crude oil benchmark to USD 103106 per barrel.Despite a more than 50 per cent rise in input crude oil prices petrol and diesel rates have remained unchanged in India. Petrol is priced at Rs 94.77 a litre in the national capital and
diesel comes for Rs 87.67. (PTI) 2199733 Apr 24, 2026 Gujarat pilgrim dies of heart attack in Kedarnath; body stranded for 5 hrs before free airlift Daily Excelsior National RUDRAPRAYAG Apr 23 A 69yearold pilgrim from Gujarat died of cardiac arrest in Kedarnath but his body remained stranded for over five hours before the administration arranged a free airlift to the base while the family paid Rs 53000 for a private ambulance home.Dilip Bhai Mannu Mali from Vadodaras Gorwa collapsed near the White House area at 6.30 am Wednesday just moments before the temple gates opened. Yatra Management Force (YMF) personnel shifted him to the Kedarnath Primary Health Centre where doctors declared him dead at 7.30 pm.The victims son Hemant Bhai Mali alleged that despite pleas no transport was arranged until 1 pm. Following the delay the deceaseds body and Hemant were airlifted for free to the Jamu helipad. Four other members of the group were forced to travel down to the base on horses paying Rs 3000 each.We requested the district magistrate for a helicopter but no arrangement was made for hours despite assurances. I eventually had to pay Rs 53000 for a private ambulance from Rudraprayag to take my fathers body home to
Vadodara Hemant told PTI.The district administration denied allegations of negligence stating that relief efforts began immediately despite a temporary suspension of helicopter services.Refuting claims of administrative apathy Nodal Officer for Kedarnath Yatra and SDM Ukhimath Anil Singh Rawat told PTI that the delay was because helicopter services were halted temporarily because of safety inspection protocols by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).Several helicopter companies were conducting test flights at the time. Operations to Kedarnath resumed after the NoC was granted Rawat said.The administration maintained that officials acted with sensitivity and quick decisionmaking. The body was shifted to the Kedarnath helipad and airlifted to Jamu as soon as flight operations resumed following DGCA clearance.From Jamu the body was transported to the district hospital in Rudraprayag. The family left for Gujarat by ambulance late Wednesday night after completing formalities.The incident occurred despite a Standard Operating
Procedure (SoP) by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) that prioritises the air transportation of deceased pilgrims.Officials noted that while medical emergencies get priority body transport depends on resource availability and technical clearances.While the administration maintains that a special plan is in place for pilgrim safety the victims son expressed deep anguish. I do not wish to blame anyone now but we felt helpless for several hours during the ordeal Hemant said.Health data released on Wednesday evening showed that of the 38000 pilgrims at the shrine only 424 underwent medical fitness tests. Only five devotees were flagged as unfit to continue the highaltitude trek. (PTI) 2199592 Apr 24, 2026 CGPWA, BSS organize Bhajan Sandhya Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU April 23 A Bhajan Sandhya for senior citizens organized by the Central Government Pensioners Welfare Association (CGPWA) in collaboration with the Bharatiya Sangeet Sansthan (BSS) was held here today.The evening featured 14 budding artists trained under the prestigious GuruShishya Parampara by renowned Hindustani classical maestro Vijay Kumar Sambyal popularly known as Rangeeley Thakur.The performance mesmerised the jampacked hall blending melodious bhajans with deep classical foundations.The president of CGPWA Kuldeep Khoda presided while Padam Shree awardee Dr Nirmal Vinod Ashok Angurana Dr Ashok Bhan B R Sharma Dr Sudarshan Kumar K B Jandial V K Sambyal Prem Gupta S S Bijral Yoginder Kaul Hemant Sharma and V K Padha were also present during the event.The musical evening took off with the serene invocation Vartaman Sundar Kar Lo Prabhu May Jeevan Kar Nirbhaya Ho presented by Vanshika Asmi Anika Banat and Ragnya setting a deeply devotional tone for the evening.It was followed by two poignant bhajans by
Tahyra and TejasviBol Sachidanand Om Om and Yeh Khel Anokha Saara Koi Samjhe Samjhan Haarawhich were appreciated for their depth and expression.Uday and Davinder continued the musical journey with their engaging performances.Ridhima Bajpai presented a soulful Dogri bhajanMannua Neyi Kar Mera Mera Ae Nagri Maya Nagri Ae Itthe Rain Basera penned by Dr. Nirmal Vinod and composed by Rangeeley Thakur.She also presented another heart touching bhajan Jamuna Kinare Hove Gram Braj Mein Ho Bisram.V K Sambyal Rangeeley Thakur accompanied by Ridhima descended on the stage amidst huge applause and enthralled the audience through profound renditions including Sundar Samujhi Samujhi Pag Dhar Re Uttam Raah Pakad Re and Panchhi Kai Din Ka Mehmaan Soch Samajh Geh Gyaan written by noted lyricist of Rajasthan late Kanh Singh.A deeply philosophical bhajan encapsulating the essence of the Avdhoot Gita Jal Jaaye Jibhva Paap Ni Shri Raam Ke Bina was a grand finale of the musical event resonating deep in the mind of the audience.Kuldeep Khoda congratulated
the young artists for their excellent performance.Madhavi Sharma conducted the proceedings gracefully. 2199593 Apr 24, 2026 Situation grim, Govt failed to meet expectations despite strong mandate: Mufti Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSRINAGAR Apr 23 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today criticised the Government saying it has failed to meet public expectations despite receiving a strong electoral mandate.Addressing a gathering in Baramulla district in north Kashmir Mufti described the present situation as grim pointing to rising unemployment and increasing distress among both young people and older residents.Click here to watch videoShe also alleged interference in religious institutions and expressed concern over rising electricity tariffs. The current situation in the region is grim she told supporters adding that economic hardship was affecting large sections of society.Mufti said the National Conference (NC) has failed to meet public expectations despite receiving a strong electoral mandate. She claimed that during its time in office the PDP had implemented groundlevel initiatives despite facing significant challenges whereas the present administration had not achieved comparable progress.She highlighted the
opening of the crossLine of Control trade route to Muzaffarabad which she said was intended to boost economic activity and ease tensions. Mufti said the closure of the route had been a setback its continuation could have improved economic conditions particularly for the fruit industry she said.On tourism she said destinations such as Pahalgam had faced closures and urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address broader regional concerns.Highlighting her partys record in Government Mufti said that developments such as medical colleges and infrastructure projects had been delivered within a short period something she claimed other administrations had taken decades to achieve.Defending the PDPs past alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) she said key regional interests had been protected and that there had been no compromise on powerrelated projects.She also called for greater recognition of regional demands including district status for Sopore and hill district status for Uri which she described as a potential gateway to Kashmir.
In addition she appealed for a special package for the Sikh community and urged authorities to extend land lease benefits to labourers. 2199862 Apr 24, 2026 Pak should clamp down on terror groups: US lawmaker Daily Excelsior Todays story WASHINGTON Apr 23 US Congressman Brad Sherman has called on Pakistan to clamp down on terror groups such as LashkareTaiba (LeT) which has been linked to the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsAppSpeaking at an exhibition organised by the Indian Embassy here on the Human Cost of Terrorism Sherman remembered the victims of the Pahalgam attack on the first anniversary of the incident in which 26 innocent lives were killed.The attackers identified as The Resistance Front targeted innocent people reportedly separating victims by religion. The group is widely seen as linked to LashkareTaiba which has found sanctuary in Pakistan Sherman said at the exhibition on Wednesday evening.We must use this moment to demand that the Pakistani government clamp down on LashkareTaiba JaisheMohammed and other terrorist groups the Democrat leader said.The exhibition organised at Capitol Hill comes at a time when Pakistan is projecting itself as a peacemaker by mediating efforts to end the sevenweek USIran war.The event
was attended by lawmakers from both Democratic and Republican parties.The digital exhibition also displays major terror attacks perpetrated across the world including the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and the Pahalgam attack. It also identifies the terror outfits responsible for the attacks including several Pakistanbased individuals and entities such as LashkareTaiba terror group.The special exhibition essentially serves to remind us of a few things. One the scourge of terror upon humanity remains determined to destroy our societies. Countries around the world need to come together and remain resolute in defeating terrorism Indias Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra told reporters.Kwatra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been clear about Indias unwavering resolve to deal with and defeat the scourge of terrorism.Lawmakers who attended the exhibition included Michael Baumgartner Bill Huizenga and Lisa McClain (all Republicans) and Julie Johnson April Delaney Ro Khanna Raja Krishnamoorthi Jamie Raskin
Shree Thanedar and Jonathan Jackson (all Democrats).We can share intelligence ideas policies and information to fight this threat jointly. When you work in silos it is harder to coordinate and respond effectively. Through partnership we can combine what each side is doing and build on what works McClain chair of the House Republican Conference said.That is the right way forward working hand in hand sharing information learning from each other and acting together she added.The images and visuals at the exhibition each moment memory artefact and word narrated stories of lives interrupted and altered by terrorism.On May 7 2025 India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure decimated multiple terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir. The operation targeted nine sites including the headquarters and training centres of LeT and another terrorist group JaisheMohammed from where terror attacks against India were planned and directed.Pakistan later also launched offensives against India. The military
conflict between the two nucleararmed neighbours lasting nearly 88 hours halted after they reached an understanding on the evening of May 10.Leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee were warning about this threat back in the 1990s but very few people took him seriously. After the September 11 attacks the United States realised terrorism is not confined to one region it spreads and threatens freedom around the world Khanna said.What Prime Minister Vajpayee said years ago was true this is a global threat he added.I look forward to continuing to work as a cochair of the caucus to support intelligence sharing defence cooperation and the fight against terrorism while standing up for freedom and democracy around the world Khanna said.Congressman Richard McCormick described terrorism as a unique evil threatening both India and the US.We face extremist forces that seek to crush those who think differently and reject freedom selfdetermination and unity. That is our common enemy McCormick said.Terrorism is everyones problem. Those who try to destroy
our diversity through violence and who do not accept us for who we are are the true enemy. I stand with you and I look forward to working together. We will have peace through strength he said. (PTI) 2199736 Apr 24, 2026 India's First UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development to be launched by Jayant Chaudhary Daily Excelsior National PUNE Apr 23 Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU) Pune in association with UNESCO Paris is set to mark a significant milestone in Indias education and skilling landscape with the launch of Asias first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development for Womens Empowerment.The UNESCO Chair will be formally launched by Jayant Chaudhary union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development &amp Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education on Friday at the International Conference on Women Leading the Future of Work organised in collaboration with UNESCO and being held at SSPU Campus Kiwale Pune a release stated.The initiative is spearheaded by Dr. Swati Mujumdar ProChancellor of SSPU and UNESCO Chairholder who is a globally recognized Skill development policy expert a member of the B20 Task Force and recipient of the prestigious FulbrightNehru (FINEAS) Grant (20242025).This landmark initiative positions India at the forefront of global efforts to strengthen skills ecosystems technical
education and workforce readiness in alignment with international standards and future workforce demands.Established under the aegis of UNESCO Paris the UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development at SSPU will act as a centre of excellence and global knowledge hub for advancing skillbased education and employability with a focus on increasing the participation of women in the workforce.This International Conference on Women Leading the Future of Work will reinforce the critical role of skills development in enabling womens participation in sunrising sectors like AI Semiconductor Technology and Defence Tech the release added. (UNI) 2199594 Apr 24, 2026 Clean hands, clean mind, complete candour key to extraordinary relief: HC Daily Excelsior State *Dismisses petition for suppression imposes costsExcelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Emphasising that a litigant must approach the court withclean hands clean mind and complete candourand suppression of factsamounts to playing fraud upon the courtthe High Court of Jammu &amp Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a writ petition asutterly misconceivedand anabuse of the process of lawwith Rs 50000 costs.Delivering judgment in a writ petition filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India by three residents of Harnoo tehsil of Budgam district Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal came down heavily on the petitioners for concealing crucial facts and attempting to secure relief through parallel proceedings.The case arose from a challenge to an order dated March 24 2026 passed by the Court of SubJudgeSpecial Mobile Magistrate Budgam directing the Tehsildar to implement an earlier order. However during the hearing it was brought to the notice of the High Court that the petitioners had already approached the same court seeking suspension of the
order.The trial court after hearing both sides had passed an order on April 6 2026 directing that the impugned order shall not be executed till further orders and restraining the respondents from proceeding with its execution. Despite this development the petitioners failed to disclose the order before the High Court.Taking serious note Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal observed once the execution of the impugned order already stood stayed by the court concerned there was no occasion for the petitioners to invoke the supervisory jurisdiction of this court under Article 227 of the Constitution of India seeking quashment of the same order. The filing of the present petition therefore appears to be wholly unnecessary and misconceived.The petitioners had not only suppressed the material fact of the stay order but had also concealed the filing and dismissal of an earlier writ petition on the same issue before a Coordinate Bench the High Court said and held that such suppression was deliberate and aimed at misleading the court to obtain interim
relief.Agreeing with the arguments of the respondents the High Court ruled that the petition fell squarely within therealm of abuse of the process of the courtas the grievance projected had already been redressed by the competent court.It is well settled that a litigant invoking the extraordinary jurisdiction of this court must come with clean hands clean mind and complete candour and is under a bounden obligation to disclose all material facts which have a bearing on the adjudication of the case the High Court said adding suppression or concealment of material facts is not a mere irregularity but amounts to playing fraud upon the court.It further held the duty to disclose is absolute and extends not only to facts which support the case of the party but equally to those which are adverse to it. Any attempt to mislead the court strikes at the very root of the administration of justice and undermines the confidence reposed in judicial proceedings.The High Court also relied on the Supreme Court judgment inAuroville Foundation Vs Natasha
Storeyand earlier High Court rulings to reiterate that petitions involving suppression of facts are liable to be dismissed without going into merits.Holding that the petitioners had indulged in concealment and attempted to overreach the judicial process the High Court observed that a litigant who seeks topollute the stream of justiceis not entitled to any relief.Declaring the petition asutterly misconceived and devoid of any meritthe High Court dismissed it and imposed costs of Rs 50000 directing the petitioners to deposit the amount with the Registry within two weeks. The High Court further directed that the matter be listed on May 15 2026 for compliance in case the costs are not deposited within the stipulated time. 2199731 Apr 24, 2026 No evidence that temple was demolished and mosque built at Bhojshala: Muslim side tells HC Daily Excelsior National INDORE Apr 23 A Muslim petitioner before the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday claimed that there was no evidence that a specific temple was demolished at the present site of Bhojshala complex in Dhar district and a mosque was built there.The high court is hearing petitions over the original religious nature of the structure at the site which Hindus claim to be a Saraswati temple built in 1034 by Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty and the Muslims recognise as Kamal Maula Mosque.Senior advocate Salman Khurshid representing Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society of Dhar presented detailed arguments before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the Indore bench which has been hearing four petitions and a writ appeal related to the dispute since April 6.There was no evidence that any specific temple in Dhar was demolished during any specific period and a mosque was subsequently built on its site said Khurshid.Citing a 2003 letter purportedly sent by the British High Commission to the then chief minister of Madhya Pradesh the senior
lawyer claimed that a statue in the British Museum in London which the Hindu petitioners claim to be of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) from Bhojshala is actually a statue of the Jain goddess Ambika.He also cited the Supreme Courts landmark judgment in the Ram JanmabhoomiBabri Masjid case and argued that the ownership of the disputed complex should be determined on the basis of established principles of law and standards of evidence that govern the proceedings of a civil suit.The authenticity of all documents texts and other materials presented before the high court should be thoroughly scrutinized Khurshid said.Citing Ramsevak Gargs Hindi book Hazrat Maulana Kamaluddin Chishti (Rahmatullah Alaih) and His Era he said that the city of Dhar once the capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa witnessed numerous attacks plunder destruction and reconstruction during the princely era including by Hindu kings.AinulMulk Multani had no need to plunder and conquer Dhar during his invasion of Malwa in 1305 and after conquering Mandu (another historic
city in Malwa) he simply had to establish his rule in Dhar Khurshid said citing Gargs book.According to historians AinulMulk Multani was a general of Alauddin Khilji who played a key role in strengthening Khiljis power in Malwa.Khurshid also argued that the mosque associated with Maulana Kamaluddin a Sufi saint of the Chishti order of Ajmer was built within the disputed Dhar complex by the then ruler and rejected the Hindu sides claim that it was built by force.Khurshid concluded his arguments on Thursday. The hearing would now resume on Monday. (PTI) 2199595 Apr 24, 2026 Water released in Kathua Canal after permanent restoration Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 In a major relief to farmers water has been released into the Kathua Canal following the successful completion of permanent restoration works ensuring assured and uninterrupted irrigation supply across thousands of hectares.The Kathua Canal which originates from the Kashmir Canal at Chakunder Feeder in Jagatpur and irrigates a Culturable Command Area (CCA) of 8463 hectares had suffered extensive damage due to unprecedented floods in Sahar Khad and subsequent flooding in the River Ravi.Following the damage the authorities had carried out temporary restoration works which were completed on October 7 2025. This interim arrangement ensured irrigation for the last watering of standing Kharif crops and supported agricultural needs during the subsequent Rabi season thereby providing immediate relief to the farming community.Subsequently the Jal Shakti (Irrigation &amp Flood Control) Department undertook sustained efforts to execute permanent restoration works. These included strengthening of damaged
embankments and protection works of the siphon during the canal closure period to fully stabilise the canal system.With the completion of these works the canal is now fully operational and capable of functioning at its designed capacity. This will ensure reliable irrigation supply particularly during the crucial Kharif season when water demand peaks.The timely restoration has averted potential disruptions to agricultural activities and will enable farmers to plan their cropping operations with confidence and without uncertainty.The achievement has been credited to the concerted efforts of the Jal Shakti (I&ampFC) Department Jammu under the guidance of Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana and Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Shaleen Kabra. 2199596 Apr 24, 2026 Govt frames Panel to standardise place names Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a committee to verify and finalize the spelling of place names and their translation into regional languages for preparation of official maps in Hindi and Urdu.As per an order Director Jammu &amp Kashmir and Ladakh Geospatial Directorate SoI shall be convener of the panel while Gulzar Ahmad Dar Special Secretary to the Government Planning Development &amp Monitoring Department Dr Anju Sharma Thappa Professor Department of Hindi Centre for Distance and Online Education University of Jammu and Dr Mushtaq Hussain Magloo Assistant Professor Department of Urdu University of Kashmir shall be the members.The committee has been tasked with examining and finalizing the standardized spelling of place names of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in Hindi and Urdu ensuring constituency with existing official records maps and notifications and verifying the translation of descriptive remarks from English into Hindi and Urdu ensuring accuracy and
uniform terminology. 2199597 Apr 24, 2026 LG Saxena approves landmark tourism reforms in Ladakh Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentLEH Apr 23 In a major step towards promoting ease of doing business and boosting the tourism sector in Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today approved some landmark reforms that would deregulate the tourism industry and enhance the overall experience of the tourists visiting Ladakh.The reforms have been undertaken to reduce compliance burden on stakeholders and create a unified streamlined and citizenfriendly registration mechanism for tourism units in the Union Territory.The initiative follows a series of meetings held by the LG with tourism stakeholders and delegations representing various tourism associations. It is also aligned with the vision of PM Narendra Modis dictum of Minimum Government Maximum Governance.It is a transformative step for the tourism sector in Ladakh by making the processes simpler transparent and peoplefriendly. Reducing compliance burden and ensuring ease of doing business would empower local stakeholders and significantly enhance Ladakhs standing as a premier tourist
destination. I am confident that these reforms would help position Ladakh among the top tourism destinations not only in India but globally said LG Saxena.To begin with the registration validity of tour operators has been increased from one year to five years thereby eliminating the need for renewal every year.Similarly tour and travel operators engaged in adventure and mountaineering activities were earlier required to register separately as Adventure Tour Operator and Mountaineering Tour Operator at an additional registration fee of Rs 3000 each.This requirement too has been done away with.A unified category under the nomenclature Travel Agent has been introduced which will authorise the registered entity to undertake all activities permitted under the Registration of Tourist Act.The number of documents required for registration of tour operators has been reduced significantly from 7 documents to 4 documents.Under the new framework the requirement of a character certificate a fixed bank balance and educational qualification for
running a tour and travel agency has also been removed thereby making the registration process easier. 2199598 Apr 24, 2026 DyCM calls for safety alignment of Ramnagar accident site, says responsibility to be fixed Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentUDHAMPUR Apr 23 Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today called for safety alignment construction at Kaghoti Ramnagar accident site after detailed inspection of the spot.Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the recent bus accident the Deputy Chief Minister called for immediate road safety alignment and a comprehensive safety audit of concrete parapet and protection walls across the 13 kilometres long Udhampur Ramnagar stretch.Click here to watch videoWe have lost many innocent lives in the unfortunate accident however responsibility shall be fixed on it he said.The concerned Chief Engineer were instructed to prepare a plan after due consultation with the consultancy and ensure that the measures are enforced to prevent such tragic mishaps in the future.The Deputy Chief Minister who conducted an extensive tour of to assess progress of ongoing infrastructure works across Udhampur District stressed strict adherence to quality standards timely completion and accountability at all levels.He inspected
the underconstruction PWD Dak Bungalow at Udhampur and emphasized timely completion of the renovation works. He directed the officials to ensure that all the works are completed by May 2026.As part of the daylong tour the Deputy Chief Minister also inspected several key road and bridge projects across the district including Majalta Bridge Doder Nallah Gudar Bridge and the DhanaBunal road.He directed the concerned to expedite the pace of work while maintaining the highest quality standards to ensure timely completion.Additionally he reviewed the ongoing permanent protection works along the SidraSuransarMansar road emphasizing durable and resilient construction at all floodaffected stretches.Reiterating the Governments commitment to robust infrastructure development the Deputy Chief Minister called for strict adherence to the set guidelines and quality benchmarks across all projects. He asserted that accountability must be ensured for any lapses warning that action including blacklisting of contractors would be considered in cases of
substandard work.During the visit the Deputy Chief Minister also carried out surprise inspections of local stone crushers and macadam plants at Birma Pull directing the officials to ensure strict compliance with the mining norms. He warned that any laxity would be dealt with strictly as per rules.He also assessed the ongoing mining operations and asked for ensuring strict ban on illegal mining operations.Chief Engineer PMGSY Purshotam Kumar Chief Engineer DIQC Atul Bali SDM Ramnagar SDPO SEs Tehsildars Executive Engineers and other concerned officers accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister during the daylong tour. 2199599 Apr 24, 2026 Languages not only means of expression but guardians of history, identity: Sakeena Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Minister for Education Social Welfare Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo today remarked that languages are not merely a means of expressing thoughts but they are the guardians of our history identity and culture.The Minister stated this while delivering the keynote address during oneday seminar on Relation of Urdu with Regional Languages at University of Jammu here.The seminar was organised by Department of Urdu University of Jammu in collaboration with National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL).In her address the Minister said that this seminar is not just a formal event but a reflection of our identity as languages are not merely a means of expressing thoughts they are the guardians of our history identity and culture.Urdu is a language that has evolved through centuries and has absorbed the influences of various civilizations and cultures. Lukhnow and Delhi are considered the birthplaces of Urdu but Jammu and Kashmir has equally nurtured this unique language she stated.The
Minister highlighted that the Urdus bond with local languages like Kashmiri Dogri Gujri Pahari Bhadarwahi Kishtwari isnt just neighbourly but a deep linguistic relationship.Urdu adopted words idioms and tone from local languages and in return gave them a wider platform. J&ampK is a land where Urdu not only got official patronage but Sufis Rishis Sanskrit and Persian scholars played a key role in taking it to the masses she said.Sakeena Itoo further said that Urdu acts as a bridge connecting different communities here and helps reach each others hearts. Urdu language is the silken thread that unites our colorful culture she said.Reaffirming the Governments commitment Sakeena Itoo stated that sustained efforts are being made to promote and preserve regional languages including Kashmiri Dogri Gojri Pahari and others. She stressed the importance of inclusive policies that encourage multilingual education and safeguard linguistic identities.On the occasion the Minister also released a Urdu magazine.Addressing the gathering Vice
Chancellor Jammu University Prof. Umesh Rai said that Urdu is a diverse language and is spoken in several parts of the country. He added that languages are a powerful tool to bind communities.Prof. Rai highlighted that languages are connecting different cultures and traditions and we need to promote languages for National integration.Speaking on the occasion Director NCPUL Dr. Shams Equbal said that J&ampK is not only famous for its beautiful landscapes and valleys but also for its culture and traditions. He highlighted that the strong bond of different languages is evident in Jammu and Kashmir with varied number of languages spoken in its different parts.In his welcome address HoD Department of Urdu University of Jammu Prof. Shohab Inayat Malik lauded the Education Minister Sakeena Itoo for bringing new dimensions and upgradation in Higher Education sector.Noted writers and poet Prof. Quddos Javed and Dr. Khalid Hussain also spoke on the occasion and spoke about the multilingual multicultural and multireligious aspects of our
Country. 2199600 Apr 24, 2026 BJP gears up for district training camps Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Sat Sharma President J&ampK BJP and MP (Rajya Sabha) along with BJP J&ampK General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Koul and BJP Abhiyan Prabhari for Northern Zone and MLA Dr Devinder Manyal addressed a review and planning meeting of the district level training camps under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Prashikshan Mahabhiyan 2026 at the party headquarters Trikuta Nagar Jammu.The meeting witnessed detailed deliberations on the framework of the Abhiyan organizational strengthening and the roadmap for upcoming districtlevel training camps under the second phase of the Prashikshan Mahabhiyan. It was highlighted that the first phase of the Abhiyan witnessed the successful conduct of Mandallevel training camps across the Union Territory laying a strong foundation for the next phase.Sat Sharma while addressing the meeting emphasized that the core vision of the training initiative is to develop welltrained ideologically sound and mature leaders capable of serving the nation Jammu &amp Kashmir and
society effectively. He stressed the importance of blending the experience of senior leaders with the enthusiasm and energy of the youth cadre to build a sturdy and dynamic organization. He also called for ensuring a plasticfree environment in all training camps and reiterated BJPs commitment to sustainable practices. He asserted that BJP remains dedicated to strengthening grassroots democracy and empowering every section of society.Ashok Koul conducted a detailed review of the Mandallevel training camps through reports from Prabharis Presidents and Abhiyan Convenors of District. He called for maximum participation of both senior and youth cadre in the upcoming districtlevel training camps and stressed the importance of consistent attendance engagement and organizational discipline to further strengthen the party at the grassroots level.Dr Devinder Manyal delivered a comprehensive presentation reviewing the recently concluded training camps and outlining plans for the upcoming sessions. He underscored the need for maintaining high
standards of quality discipline and structured learning during the camps. He also emphasized organizing exhibitions during the training camps showcasing the partys rich history developmental achievements and visionary leadership to inspire party cadre.BJP J&ampK General Secretaries Sanjita Dogra Baldev Singh Billawaria and Gopal Mahajan and Abhiyan Convenor Parneesh Mahajan were also present during the meeting. District Prabharis District Presidents District SehPrabharis and District Abhiyan Convenors and Coconvenors participated in the meeting. 2199601 Apr 24, 2026 DIGP DKR Range Sargun Shukla reviews crime, security in Doda Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentDODA Apr 23 Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) DodaKishtwarRamban (DKR) Range Sargun Shukla today chaired an introductory and crimecumsecurity review meeting at District Police Office Doda stressing strict crime control stronger security grid and intensified antidrug operations.The meeting was attended by SSP Doda Kartik Shrotriya and other senior officers including SDPOs DySsP SHOs and Incharge Police Posts.A statement said the officers present in the meeting gave detailed presentations on the law and order situation crime trends security challenges and operational preparedness in their respective areas.The DIGP DKR Range reviewed the overall crime scenario disposal of cases counterinsurgency preparedness antidrug operations and functioning of police stations.All pending cases were discussed in detail with directions for timely and meritbased disposal.Special focus was laid on cases under the NDPS Act with instructions for speedy investigation close supervision and effective prosecution to improve
conviction rates.The DIGP DKR Range Sargun Shukla directed officers to act firmly against drug peddlers bovine smugglers and other organized criminals and to identify and monitor habitual offenders.She also stressed stronger action in cases related to crimes against women and children.Emphasizing intelligencebased policing she called for better coordination with security agencies intensified patrolling and area domination in vulnerable areas.The ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan was also reviewed with directions to strengthen enforcement and awareness drives among youth.The DIGP underlined the need for professional transparent and peoplefriendly policing.She stressed use of technology platforms like CCTNS eSakshya and eSummons and directed officers to ensure proper use of forensic services.Appreciating the efforts of Police in Doda district she urged all ranks to work with dedication and strengthen public trust.The meeting concluded with an interaction on fieldlevel issues. 2199602 Apr 24, 2026 Sethi holds public darbar to redress grievances Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 To listen the grievances of local residents and ensure prompt redressal of issues Yudhvir Sethi MLA Jammu East held a public darbar here today.A large number of people from different parts of the constituency attended the darbar and raised concerns related to water supply road maintenance sanitation drainage and other civic amenities.The MLA patiently heard each complaint and assured the public that their issues would be taken up with the concerned departments on priority.During the interaction Sethi emphasized the importance of direct communication between elected representatives and citizens.Public darbars serve as an effective platform to understand groundlevel problems and ensure transparency in governance he said.Sethi further directed party workers and officials present on the occasion to maintain proper records of complaints and follow up with the respective departments for timely resolution.He reiterated his commitment to the overall development of Jammu East and improving the quality of
life for its residents.Several local BJP leaders and workers were also present at the darbar and assisted in addressing public grievances. 2199603 Apr 24, 2026 CME-cum-workshop on bone marrow examination at SMVD Narayana Hospital Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentKATRA Apr 23 The Department of HaematoOncology at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital organized a CMEcumworkshop on bone marrow examination on Thursday.The program themed Advancing Diagnostics &amp Techniques in Bone Marrow Evaluation highlighted the importance of precision in diagnosing hematological disorders.The workshop was graced by distinguished dignitaries including Dr Yashpal Sharma Executive Director SMVD Institute of Medical Excellence Dr M M Mathavan Facility Director SMVD Narayana Superspeciality Hospital Dr Kuldeep Singh Professor and Head of Pathology Department SMVD Institute of Medical Excellence and Dr Jyotsana Suri Head of Department Pathology Government Medical College Jammu.Addressing the gathering Dr Yashpal Sharma emphasized the importance of continuous medical education noting that such initiatives are vital to keep pace with evolving diagnostic techniques enhance clinical skills and ultimately improve patient outcomes.A key highlight of the event was the handson
training session on bone marrow biopsy which provided valuable practical exposure to participating doctors and healthcare professionals. The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation and was widely appreciated for its practical relevance.Dr Deepika Gupta Organising Secretary of the CME and Consultant HematoOncologist &amp Bone Marrow Transplant Physician highlighted the growing significance of the HematoOncology department. She emphasized that with the rising burden of blood disorders and cancers specialized units play a crucial role in early diagnosis precise treatment and comprehensive patient management thereby improving survival and quality of life.The program concluded successfully receiving positive feedback from attendees for its academic value and handson learning experience. 2199604 Apr 24, 2026 HC cracks whip on laxity in District Judiciary, orders strict adherence to office timings Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 In a stern move aimed at enforcing discipline and ensuring smooth functioning of courts the High Court of Jammu &amp Kashmir and Ladakh has directed all officers and officials of the District Judiciary in the Union Territories of J&ampK and Ladakh to strictly adhere to prescribed office timings warning that any violation will be viewed seriously and dealt with under relevant provisions of law.According to a circular issued by the Registrar General MK Sharma some officers and officials were not following the office timings fixed earlier and were discharging their duties in a casual manner. The circular noted that in several instances staff members were leaving their offices even while Presiding Officers were still in court adversely affecting the speedy disposal of official business and amounting to noncompliance with earlier orders and circulars.To tighten discipline the High Court directed that all officers and officials must strictly follow the office timing prescribed vide High Court
Order No. 1638NG dated 22052020. It further made it clear that no officer or official shall arrive late or leave early and in no case shall anyone leave the office while the Presiding Officer remains in office unless prior permission is obtained. The circular also bars officers and officials from leaving their chair or office during working hours without prior permission from the Controlling Officer.The High Court has also placed responsibility on all Controlling Officers to ensure that every officer and official performs duties in a manner that official work does not suffer at any cost. Stressing strict compliance the circular states that the instructions are to be followed meticulously and that any contravention shall invite serious action. 2199605 Apr 24, 2026 Vanshika gets Shanti -Shaligram Puraskar by Hindi Sahitya Mandal Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Vanshika Jamwal a student who secured the highest rank in the Post Graduate Hindi Course 202325 of Jammu University was presented with the Shanti Shaligram Medha Puraskar 2025 by the Hindi Sahitya Mandal Jammu here today.The award was given at a special function organized by the Mandal at Kala Kendra in which former Additional Secretary of the JK Akademi for Art Culture and Languages Arvinder Singh Aman was the chief guest. Prof Rajni Bala Head of the Hindi Department University of Jammu presided over the function and Dr Agnishekar senior Hindi poet thinker and social activist was the guest of honour.This award based on a citation memento and a cash prize of Rs 11000 is given every year by the Hindi Sahitya Mandal to the topper student of Hindi Post Graduate course of Jammu University to encourage them to continue moving forward in the Hindi world.Vanshika secured the first position in her department in the twoyear term 202325 with 75.55 percent marks and an SGPA of 8.53. The award has been
sponsored by the family of Dr Chanchal Dogra President of Hindi Sahitya Mandal.On this occasion 6 students of Hindi Department and some senior poets associated with the Mandal recited their poetry compositions.Speaking on the occasion Arvinder Aman called upon the awardee student to aim to work in the Hindi realm and also endeavour to write creatively so that she and the region can benefit from her brilliant talent in Hindi.Prof Rajnibala Head of the Hindi Department said that the partnership between Hindi Sahitya Mandal and the Hindi Department should not only continue but also grow. Dr Agni Shekhar also congratulated the Mandal and the awarded student.At the beginning of the program Dr Chanchal Dogra President of the Mandal shared details of the activities of the Mandal in detail mentioned about the Mandal Book Mala and also informed about the online publication of the new issue 31 of the Mandal magazine Madhurima.General Secretary of the Mandal Manto Dutta Sharma Secretary Uma Sharma and Madhavi Sharma conducted the program. Rakesh
Abrol presented a vote of thanks. 2199606 Apr 24, 2026 Three hardcore criminals arrested in Bishnah: Police Daily Excelsior State Heroin USmade pistol vehicles seizedExcelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested three hardcore criminals in Bishnah area in two separate cases recovering heroin a pistol live cartridges and vehicles from their possession.Addressing media persons here SP Headquarters Jammu Anna Sinha said in the first case one Amit Kumar of Sehora who is involved in six FIRs related to attempt to murder and abduction was apprehended.She said 254 grams of heroin (chitta) 13 live cartridges and a USAmade Beretta pistol was recovered from his possession besides seizing a Baleno car bearing registration number JK21G3867.In another operation the police officer said that two accused identified as Lovely Singh and Swaran Singh both residents of R S Pura were arrested.A Thar vehicle bearing registration number JK02DJ9906 16 grams of heroin six mobile phones and Rs 25000 cash was recovered from their possession the SP Headquarters Jammu further said.She said the accused are also involved in serious crimes including abduction and
attempt to murder and further investigation is underway to uncover their wider criminal links.According to the police officer all the accused have been booked under relevant sections of law as part of a sustained crackdown on organized crime and drug trafficking reiterating zero tolerance against such activities and vowing to dismantle the entire network. 2199607 Apr 24, 2026 J&K set to spread red carpet for International Film Festival this year Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 In a significant initiative to promote cinema culture and tourism the Government of Jammu &amp Kashmir has initiated plans to host a prestigious International Film Festival through the Department of Information &amp Public Relations (DIPR).The decision was taken during a highlevel meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo which was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary Finance Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Commissioner Secretary Information Director Information &amp Public Relations and other senior officers.During the meeting the Chief Secretary directed the Information Department to begin preparations for this maiden film festival in the Union Territory. He emphasized the need for a professionally managed event of national stature drawing parallels with the International Film Festival of India held in Goa.To ensure seamless execution it was decided that a dedicated committee will be constituted at the earliest to oversee all arrangements related to the festival. The
committee will be responsible for planning coordination and overall supervision to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the event.The Chief Secretary further instructed that a competent and experienced agency be identified and engaged for efficient management of the festival. He stressed the importance of exploring best practices by studying similar events organized across the country.Underscoring the importance of adhering to timelines he directed that the process be initiated promptly with the issuance of the work order to the selected agency targeted before the end of May.The Commissioner Secretary Information while addressing logistical and financial aspects informed that the National Film Development Corporation of India has indicated reasonable financial requirements for organizing the event. She added that the Department has already undertaken the necessary groundwork and is wellprepared to ensure its success.The proposed festival is envisaged to be held after the conclusion of the annual Amarnath Yatra with final dates
to be decided by the concerned department.Highlighting the importance of inclusive development and tourism promotion it was also decided that the festival will not be confined to Srinagar alone. Film screenings and related events will be organized across multiple scenic locations including Bhaderwah Pahalgam Gulmarg and Jammu thereby boosting both emerging and established tourist destinations.This initiative marks a major step towards positioning Jammu &amp Kashmir as a vibrant hub for film tourism and cultural engagement at the national level. 2199608 Apr 24, 2026 Court awards life termin murder case Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Principal Sessions Judge Jammu RN Watal has convicted Sanjeev Kumar in the Rahul Puri murder case and sentenced him to life imprisonment under Section 302 RPC while also awarding three years simple imprisonment under Section 425 of the Arms Act with both sentences to run concurrently.The judgment was delivered by Principal Sessions Judge Jammu R N Watal in a case arising out of FIR No. 392016 of Police Station City Jammu. The prosecution was conducted by Public Prosecutor Hemanshu Parkash while the accused was represented by Advocate Anmol Sharma.As per the prosecution case recorded by the court both the accused and the deceased Rahul Puri had been working at the shop of Madan Lal Aggarwal and Brothers at Super Market Jammu. The court noted that there had been animosity between the two and on May 16 2016 Sanjeev Kumar attacked Rahul with a kirch on the abdomen causing grievous injuries. Rahul was initially treated at GMC Jammu and later shifted to PGI Chandigarh where he succumbed on June 30
2016.The court relied upon eyewitness accounts police testimony and medical evidence led during trial. The postmortem findings as noticed in the judgment attributed Rahul Puris death to septicemia with multiorgan failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome following the stab injury to the abdomen.After holding the accused guilty the court heard counsel on the question of sentence. Public Prosecutor Hemanshu Parkash sought capital punishment arguing that the convict had committed a heinous offence in an inhuman manner. On the other hand defence counsel Anmol Sharma sought leniency submitting that the convict was not a habitual offender was a young man and the sole breadwinner of his family.While declining the prosecutions plea for death sentence the court observed that capital punishment can be awarded only in the rarest of rare cases and held that the present matter did not fall in that category. It accordingly sentenced the convict to undergo life imprisonment for the offence under Section 302 RPC and simple imprisonment for
three years under the Arms Act. 2199609 Apr 24, 2026 After CEO Bandipora, CEO Baramulla attached Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSRINAGAR Apr 23 The School Education Department today ordered the attachment of the Incharge Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla with immediate effect.As per a Government Order No. 159JK (Edu) of 2026 dated April 23 Abdul Rashid Mir who was also holding additional charge as CEO Bandipora has been attached to the Directorate of School Education Kashmir.The order issued from the Civil Secretariat Jammu stated that the decision has been taken by the competent authority and comes into force immediately.It further directed that the Joint Director Education (North) Kashmir shall look after the responsibilities earlier held by Mir in addition to his own duties until further orders.An official said that the attachment of Mir was done for noncompliance.This is the second such order issued in the last two months in which CEOs were attached. Earlier in Feb this year the Government suspended Balbir Kumar CEO Bandipora. He was also attached to the office of the Directorate of School Education Kashmir.Kumar had relieved
(order No. CEOBprEstt026127782 dated 19022026) 34 teachers who were originally from Gurez Zone and were temporarily deployed in various other zones of Bandipora district.These teachers of Gurez zone were attached in the last one year since the taking over of the new Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while nine others were attached in the last 5 years.As per the order of the CEO Bandipora majority of them had been deployed in other zones of the district without any reason while the schools in far flung areas of Gurez are suffering due to acute staff shortage. 2199872 Apr 24, 2026 Ritvik becomes first from J&K to win U-17 National TT Title Daily Excelsior sports news Excelsior Sports CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Jammu &amp Kashmir has achieved a historic milestone in table tennis as Ritvik Gupta clinched the Under17 Boys National Title at the UTT 87th InterState Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships organized under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).The prestigious championship was held at the New Multipurpose Hall in Dehradun Uttarakhand where top young paddlers from across the country competed for national honours. In the highly anticipated final Ritvik Gupta faced Sarthak Arya of Odisha in a thrilling rematch that lived up to expectations.Demonstrating exceptional grit composure and tactical brilliance Ritvik Gupta emerged victorious in a hardfought sevengame encounter defeating Sarthak Arya by 43 with scores of 118 511 911 118 611 118 117. The match witnessed intense rallies and shifting momentum with both players displaying high levels of skill and determination. Ritvik held his nerve in the decisive moments tightening his defence and capitalizing on key
errors to seal the title.With this victory Ritvik Gupta has scripted history by becoming the first player from Jammu &amp Kashmir to win a National Championship title in the Under17 Boys category. His achievement marks a major breakthrough for the Union Territory in the sport of table tennis.The success of Ritvik Gupta is being seen as a testament to his relentless dedication disciplined training and the growing sports ecosystem in Jammu &amp Kashmir. The role of the Jammu &amp Kashmir Sports Council has been widely acknowledged for its continuous support in nurturing young talent and providing opportunities at the national level.Officials also credited the coaching staff for their tireless efforts and guidance which played a crucial role in shaping Ritvik Guptas journey to the top. This remarkable achievement is expected to inspire thousands of young paddlers across the Union Territory to take up the sport and strive for excellence at the national and international levels. 2199534 Apr 24, 2026 New pact to create Indo-UK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor Daily Excelsior International LONDON Apr 23 A new MoU between the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (CCAMP) and Imperial College London has paved the way for deepening IndiaUK ties in the life sciences sector.The IndoUK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor agreed in Bengaluru this week will facilitate crossborder innovation collaboration to leverage mutual biological research and entrepreneurial ecosystems.The corridor is designed to create and foster a longterm vision for greater bilateral innovation and a shared scope for exchanging talent including researchers innovators and startups.This ambitious partnership reflects Imperials deep commitment to strengthening longterm collaborations with Indias life sciences ecosystem said Professor Hugh Brady President of Imperial College London.By joining forces with CCAMP and supported through our Imperial Global India initiative we are creating a powerful bridge between the UK and India that connects worldclass research with entrepreneurship and translation.The IndoUK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor will enable
researchers innovators and startups to collaborate more effectively and accelerate new technologies to address global challenges he said.The new life sciences partnership is also expected to become a medium for a formalised twoway knowledge and evidence sharing system with respect to priority challenge areas innovation readiness and ecosystem initiatives that enable more problemsolving in mutually beneficial biology questions.The IndoUK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor marks a remarkable chapter of synergy between two of the worlds capital cities in biotech science and innovation Bengaluru and London said Dr Taslimarif Saiyed CCAMP Director and CEO.We are envisioning the next era of IndoBritish collaboration in the Biosciences a core area of interest to both geographies and human society at large. The fiveyearlong partnership is a strategic decision to provide an enduring platform to bring together the complementary strengths of both ecosystems in developing validating and deploying globally relevant life sciences solutions he
said.Among the novel initiatives on the cards for the corridor is a bidirectional exchange mechanism for the UKbased teams to assess deploymentreadiness in India and Indiabased teams to seek deployment avenues in the UK and potentially Europe due to contextual similarities.The corridor is set to explore joint fundraising and partnership pathways to ensure the sustainability and scalability of the programme bringing positive change and lasting impact.Last year Imperial College London launched Imperial Global India to drive highimpact science and technology programmes with academic industrial and innovation partners nurture a twoway flow of Science Technology Engineering Medicine and Business (STEMB) talent between the UK and India and support the universitys growing Indian alumni network.The liaison office in Indias tech capital Bengaluru creates a powerful hub and communication channel for us to build on this strong foundation of collaboration Imperial College London stated.The CCAMP is Indias premier research and innovation hub in
the biosciences supported by Indian government agencies including the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Science and Technology among others. (PTI) 2199610 Apr 24, 2026 Three held with heroin-like substance in Samba Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSAMBA Apr 23 Three individuals were arrested with 3.78 grams of heroinlike substance from Rakh Barotian area under the jurisdiction of Police Station Vijaypur here today.During checking of vehicles on link road leading towards Rakh Barotian area near AIIMS residential complex Vijaypur a scooty bearing registration number JK02DT1246 was intercepted a police official said.On search of three people riding on the scooty he said 3.78 grams of heroinlike substance was recovered from their possession.Accordingly the accused identified as Rahul Sharma and Nirmal Kumar of Kot Bhalwal and Sanju Bhagat of Nai Basti District Jammu were arrested and booked in case FIR number 642026 under sections 8212229 of the NDPS Act registered at Police Station Vijaypur and further investigation taken up added the police official. 2199875 Apr 24, 2026 Warriors FC beats Spartans by 2-0 in Nasha Mukt Night Football clash Daily Excelsior sports news Excelsior Sports CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 In a spellbinding display under the Nasha Mukt J&ampK Abhiyaan a highoctane night football match at Mini Stadium Parade Ground mesmerized spectators rather cast spells on them and ignited a powerful call to Get Addicted to Football Not Drugs.Warrior Football Club dominated Spartans Club with a commanding 20 victory keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats in this pulsating encounter that ran from 800 pm to 930 pm.Organized by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) J&ampK as part of the ambitious 100Day Campaign Against Drug Abuselaunched by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at MA Stadiumthe event masterfully blended thrilling sports action with a vital antidrug message.Rakesh Minhas Deputy Commissioner Jammu served as guest of honour tossing the coin to kick off the match amid roaring cheers from enthusiastic youth and fans.Ramesh Kumar Divisional Commissioner Jammu graced the occasion as chief guest. He led the pledge against drug abuse and delivered a stirring address
declaring the eradication of drugs as the UT Governments cherished dream. We stand united in our resolve to build a healthier drugfree Jammu and Kashmir he affirmed.Anuradha Gupta Director General Youth Services and Sports J&ampK expressed profound gratitude to dignitaries players and attendees. She presented trophies medals and mementos underscoring DYSSs unwavering commitment to youth empowerment and substance abuse prevention across the Union Territory. 2199535 Apr 24, 2026 Pakistan criticises India for linking it to Pahalgam terror attack Daily Excelsior International ISLAMABAD Apr 23 Pakistan on Thursday criticised India for linking it to the Pahalgam terror attack saying New Delhi was making baseless allegations at a time when Islamabad is undertaking concerted diplomatic efforts for regional and international peace and security.Twentysix people were killed when gunmen belonging to Pakistanbased terror group LashkareTaiba opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 2025.After the Pahalgam terror attack India launched Operation Sindoor to destroy terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir. The two countries were engaged in a brief conflict.At a time when Pakistan along with its international partners is undertaking concerted diplomatic efforts for regional and international peace and security it is deplorable that India has once again resorted to a campaign of baseless allegations and propaganda to link Pakistan with the Pahalgam incident the Foreign Office said.The FO termed it unfortunate that in the midst of an ongoing regional crisis India remains
focused on weaponising its false narrative against Pakistan for narrow domestic political gains.It also accused India of undermining regional peace and security.India observed the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack on Wednesday with the Indian Army reaffirming its steely resolve to fight against terrorism making it clear that for acts against India the response is assured. (PTI) 2199611 Apr 24, 2026 GOC-in-C reviews Ops preparedness of troops Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 The General Officer CommandinginChief Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma visited the Alwar Military Station and carried out a comprehensive review of the operational administrative and training aspects of the Strategic Strikers Division.During the visit the Army Commander assessed the preparedness of the formation and was briefed on various ongoing operational tasks and training initiatives. He also witnessed advanced innovations being adopted by the division to enhance efficiency and combat capabilities.The Northern Army Commander held detailed deliberations with senior officers and emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards of operational readiness in the evolving security environment.Appreciating the professionalism and dedication of all ranks the Army Commander lauded their commitment to duty and exhorted them to continue striving for excellence while upholding the highest standards of combat readiness. 2199874 Apr 24, 2026 Mulan CC clinches Jambu Lochan T20 Title Daily Excelsior sports news Excelsior Sports CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 The Jammu and Kashmir Masters Games Association (JKMGA) concluded the 1st Jambu Lochan T20 Cricket Tournament at MA Stadium Jammu with Mulan Cricket Club clinching a thrilling 6run victory over Rehari Kings in the final.Opting to bat first after winning the toss Mulan Cricket Club were bowled out for 111 runs in 20 overs. Ankush Bandral topscored with 29 off 35 balls while Kanan Mahajan (19 off 15) and Shaurya (16 off 12) made useful contributions. For Rehari Kings Dr Vishav Pratap Singh and Jatin claimed two wickets each.In reply Rehari Kings fell just short managing 105 for 8 in their 20 overs. Puneet Kumar scored 42 off 55 balls while Atul added 35 off 37 but the target proved elusive.Ankush Bandral turned the game in Mulans favour with a superb bowling spell taking 4 wickets for 17 runs. He held his nerve in the final over defending 11 runs to seal the match and earn the Man of the Match award.The winning team received a trophy and Rs 1 00000 from JKMGA President Ranjeet Singh Chib while
runnersup Rehari Kings were awarded Rs 50000 by General Secretary Neete Kaur. Jatin of Rehari Kings was named Man of the Series and awarded a trophy and Rs 5000 by the tournament sponsors including Deepak Handa (Owner Tiny Tots School) Navneet Abrol (Owner Pahalwans) and Narender Mahajan (MD Nama Group).Matches were officiated by umpires Harsh Nayyar and Deepak Gupta (Lucky) with Surinder Kumar as scorer and Raman as Tournament Coordinator.On the occasion medal winners and convenors of the 8th National Masters Games held in Pune were also felicitated. Addressing the gathering Ranjit Singh Chib former SSP international handball player and JKMGA President emphasized the role of Masters Games in promoting fitness and proving that age is no barrier to excellence.General Secretary Neete Kaur expressed gratitude to all conveners and officials for ensuring the smooth conduct of the tournament and reiterated the associations commitment to promoting fitness and sporting opportunities for all.Executive Member Ashok Kumar also addressed the
gathering stating that master athletes continue to inspire society with their dedication and perseverance proving that age is no barrier to excellence.The program was conducted by Mamta Bajaj whose energetic presence added vibrancy to the event. Prominent dignitaries of JKMGA in attendance included Romesh Sharma Som Raj Gupta Sanjay Puri Prabal Sharma Rameshwar Singh Manhas and other members of the sporting fraternity. 2199536 Apr 24, 2026 Trump orders US military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz Daily Excelsior International DUBAI Apr 23 US President Donald Trump in a morning social media post ordered the US military to shoot and kill Iranian small boats choking the Strait of Hormuz.Trump also said the military is intensifying its mine clearing efforts in the critical waterway.I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat small boats though they may be... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz Trump posted. There is to be no hesitation. Additionally our mine sweepers are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue but at a tripled up level! (AP) 2199612 Apr 24, 2026 Khatana alleges conspiracy in denying him accommodation Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentNEW DELHI Apr 23 Senior BJP leader and MP Rajya Sabha Er Gulam Ali Khatana criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah alleging a deliberate political conspiracy to deny him official accommodation in Srinagar.Khatana said the NCCongress alliance is uneasy because Kashmiris have decisively rejected them. Both parties misled the public for decades with hollow promises like plebiscites turning Kashmir into a graveyard. In contrast the BJPs influence is growing as development reaches the grassroots he added.Highlighting the shifting ground reality in the Valley the BJP leader credited the Central Governments strong policies. It is through the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah that we are finally seeing stability in Kashmir Khatana stated adding that their administration has successfully curbed militancy and ushered in peace after decades of unrest.The MP said that his accommodation application submitted in 2025 has been pending for over a year. He categorized this not as an
administrative delay but as a conscious effort to silence his tribal outreach. 2199871 Apr 24, 2026 MIET Jammu hosts Annual Research Awards programme Daily Excelsior sports news Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET) Kot Bhalwal Jammu organized its Annual Research Awards Function to felicitate faculty members for excellence in Research and Development. The event highlighted significant academic achievements and was attended by distinguished dignitaries from the University of Jammu and MIET leadership.ViceChancellor University of Jammu Prof. Umesh Rai was the chief guest while Dr. Neeraj Sharma Registrar University of Jammu attended as guest of honour. Other prominent dignitaries present on the occasion included Prof. Ankur Gupta Director MIET Prof. S.K. Sharma Member Board of Directors MIER Group Prof. Devanand Padha Dean Academic Affairs MIET Prof. Sahil Sawhney Dean Strategy &amp Quality Assurance Prof. Sunita Koul Dean School of Law Ajay Khajuria Professor of Practice and Ashwani Padha Controller of Examinations.The institution felicitated over 50 faculty members for their outstanding research contributions and also provided financial incentives. Prof.
Ankur Gupta presented the research report highlighting that since the last awards in 2024 MIET faculty have published 215 research papers including 201 Scopusindexed publications and 75 papers in SCISCIEESCI indexed journals. He further reported the filing of 20 new patents taking the total to 77 while 5 patents were granted bringing the total to 28.Prof. Umesh Rai inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Skill Development in emerging domains such as Cyber Physical Systems Additive Manufacturing Drone Technology and Electric Vehicles. He appreciated MIETs research ecosystem and stressed innovation in teaching practices. He also presented research awards and incentives to faculty members. The event was compered by Arushi Gupta Assistant Professor Applied Sciences and Humanities. 2199537 Apr 24, 2026 US still delivering weapons to Ukraine, Zelenskyy says, as Prince Harry visits Kyiv Daily Excelsior International KYIV Apr 23 US weapons deliveries to Ukraine havent stopped despite the Iran war and Ukrainian longrange strikes continue to hammer Russian oil production and manufacturing plants Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday.Of course we are hitting what is painful for Russia and it is very painful Zelenskyy said in voice messages to reporters. He said that Russian losses in the strikes have reached tens of billions of dollars.It wasnt possible to independently verify Zelenskyys comments but Russian officials have reported that attacks have struck infrastructure in regions more than 1000 kilometers (600 miles) inside Russia.While Russia presses its allout invasion which began on February 24 2022 Ukraine is using its domestically developed drone and missile technology to strike Russian territory. The Ukrainian military also uses Americanmade Patriot air defence systems to stop Russian missile attacks on Ukraines territory.We see that the Russians do not want to stop they are hitting our energy sector and our people. We will
respond Zelenskyy said.&nbspPrince Harry praises Ukraines resistance&nbspUkraines fight against Russias bigger army drew renewed praise from Prince Harry who arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for his third visit in a year.Ukrainians have demonstrated strength not just in bravery and capability but in unity in trust he said in a speech to a Kyiv security conference.Ukraine continues to hold together and hold together you must he said.The Duke of Sussex stepped off a train in Kyivs main station after an overnight journey from Poland which is the only way to travel to the Ukrainian capital.It wasnt clear whether Harry would meet with Zelenskyy who was due to attend a summit of European Union leaders in Cyprus on Thursday evening.&nbspRussian firefighters tackle huge drone strike blaze&nbspHours before Harry arrived three people were killed and 10 were wounded in a Russian drone attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro according to Oleksandr Hanzha the head of the regional military administration.A 13story building and an
administrative building were damaged in the strike Hanzha said on the Telegram messaging app.Russian air defences meanwhile intercepted 154 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions the annexed Crimea Peninsula the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea the Russian Defence Ministry said.Authorities in the Krasnodar region on Russias Black Sea coast said that 276 firefighters at the Black Sea port of Tuapse were fighting for a third straight day a huge blaze caused by a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week.Toxic material from the fire fell with rain covering several districts of Tuapse with a black layer of dirt the regions emergency headquarters reported. The concentration in the air of chemicals from the fire surpassed admissible levels officials said and authorities advised residents to stay indoors.&nbspUkraine targets more Russian oil facilities&nbspFor the second consecutive night Russias Samara region also was targeted. In the Samara city of Novokuybyshevsk about 1000 kilometres east of the Ukrainian border a drone attack on an
unspecified industrial facility killed one person regional Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said.Drone debris also fell on a roof of a residential building in the city of Samara wounding a number of people Fedorishchev said. One person was hospitalised.Unconfirmed media reports said that a petrochemical plant in Novokuybyshevsk owned by the Rosneft oil and gas company came under attack.Ukrainian forces also struck Russian oil infrastructure in the Samara region and a pipeline in the Nizhegorodskaya region that transports oil from Western Siberia to Tatarstan said Andriy Kovalenko the head of Ukraines Centre for Countering Disinformation.An oil refinery in the Samara region and an oil pipeline in the Nizhegorodskaya region were hit he said. The pipeline transports oil from Western Siberia to Tatarstan. He didnt offer more details about the strikes.Also units of Ukraines Security Service struck the Gorky oil pumping station in Russias Nizhny Novgorod region east of Moscow said a senior official from the agency which goes by the abbreviation
SBU.The nighttime drone attack damaged three oil tanks and caused a large fire the official said. The official wasnt authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.The operation of main pipelines is disrupted the efficiency of processing at refineries decreases and transportation costs increase. As a result this directly affects the revenues of the Russian budget which are used to finance the war against Ukraine the official said. (AP) 2199613 Apr 24, 2026 NC ensuring fast development in Chenab region: Javed Rana Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Senior National Conference leader and Minister for Jal Shakti Forest &amp Tribal Affairs Departments Javed Rana asserted that the Chenab region is witnessing a transformative infrastructural push under the Omarled Government.Addressing a large meeting of general public and Party functionaries at Batote during the first leg of his fiveday tour of the Chenab region Rana said the Omarled government has brought a renewed and resultsdriven focus on the Chenab region prioritizing the upgradation of tourism infrastructure and ensuring the delivery of essential civic amenities particularly potable water. He noted that the administration has decisively moved beyond symbolic tokenism in Tribal affairs to a framework of tangible development and meaningful outreach.Our government is working on a multipronged strategy to unlock the development and tourism potential of the Chenab region. Ecoparks are being conceptualized across key locations while longpending potable water schemes stalled during the previous
regime have been revived many are already functional and others nearing completion he said.Highlighting the Tribal welfare Rana added that communities in the region are once again at the center of policymaking. The biggest achievement of the Omar Government is restoring a sense of belonging among the people of Chenab. They feel heard seen and prioritized by an elected government that believes in delivery not rhetoric he remarked.Speaking on the occasion Provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta underscored that good governance under Omar Abdullah has laid the foundation for inclusive growth in the Chenab region. Development cannot take root without trust and transparency and this government has ensured both while strengthening communal harmony which remains the bedrock of progress in this region he said.Legislator Sajjad Shaheen emphasized the need for unity and vigilance against divisive narratives. The Omarled Government stands for inclusive development and social cohesion. The people of Chenab have always upheld communal harmony and
any propaganda aimed at disrupting this fabric must be defeated collectively he said.Legislator Arjun Singh Raju also spoke on the occasion. The meeting was organized and chaired by Abid Magray District president Ramban. Dr Shamshad Shan former DDC Chairperson Ramban Abdul Gani Teli Chairman OBC Cell and Arif Mir Provincial secretary Jammu were also present on the occasion. 2199873 Apr 24, 2026 Jammu Sahodaya holds GBM Daily Excelsior sports news Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Jammu Sahodaya School Complex held its first General Body Meeting bringing together Principals and representatives of leading CBSE schools across the region.The meeting was presided over by President Dr Atul Hans and attended by VicePresident Rajeev Sharma Joint Secretary Sanjeev Pradhan Secretary Media Manjari Seghal Secretary Finance K L Dogra along with mentors and Principals of member schools.The house reaffirmed its commitment to collaboration best practices and strengthening educational standards in alignment with NEP 2020 and CBSE guidelines. The Executive Committee formally unveiled the Trinity Model of Growth aimed at transforming the Jammu Chapter into a Centre of Excellence for Students Teachers and Principals.The meeting witnessed insightful presentations by Arindham and Dr Pramod Shrivastav which enriched the deliberations. The Annual Activity Calendar for 202627 was unanimously approved. Important discussions were held on NEPaligned initiatives integration of Artificial Intelligence
and Computational Thinking teacher training roadmap career counselling programmes and CBSE policy updates including admission norms and curriculum reforms.The framework focuses on holistic student development through academic exposure leadership programmes sports innovation career guidance and wellness initiatives. For teachers capacity building AI integration and subject enrichment programmes were emphasized while leadership training for principals was also outlined.The meeting welcomed new member schools and decided that four General Body Meetings will be hosted by member institutions. The event concluded with appreciation to Team Physics Wallah including Ronik (Business Head) Atul (Regional Head) and Yatin for full sponsorship and support. 2199614 Apr 24, 2026 Advanced recruitment can’t be scrapped on flimsy ground: DB Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Holding that an advancedstage recruitment process cannot be thrown out on a weak and purely technical ground the High Court of Jammu &amp Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed the appeals filed by the Union Territory and upheld the restoration of the JAKEDA selection process for the posts of Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal rejected LPA thereby affirming the earlier Writ Court decision which had quashed Order No. 08JAKEDA of 2019 dated December 2 2019 cancelling the recruitment initiated under Advertisement Notice Nos. 1 and 2 of 2017.The Court noted that 77 vacancies had been advertised by the J&ampK Energy Development Agency and that the written examination had already been conducted through an agency engaged after administrative approval. However the recruitment process was later scrapped on the ground that the agency had been appointed without issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Expression of
Interest (EOI) thereby denying other agencies an opportunity to participate.Rejecting the UTs stand the Bench observed that the cancellation order did not point to any fraud malpractice illegality or incompetence in the conduct of the examination. It held that nonissuance of an RFP or EOI was merely a procedural omission and could not constitute a cogent ground for cancelling a recruitment process that had already reached an advanced stage. The Court went on to describe the reason projected for cancellation as illusory in nature.The High Court also declined to accept the argument that the fresh reservation roster introduced after the J&ampK Reorganization Act 2019 including new categories such as EWS and PSP justified cancellation of the earlier process. The Bench made it clear that this ground did not form part of the original cancellation order and therefore could not be cited later to validate the action.Reiterating that the States power to cancel a recruitment process is not absolute and must be based on bona fide and rational
reasons the High Court found no merit in either of the appeals and dismissed both clearing the way for completion of the longpending JAKEDA recruitment process. 2199816 Apr 24, 2026 Sports Ministry to organise 'Chintan Shivir' in Srinagar from tomorrow Daily Excelsior sports news NEW DELHI Apr 23 The Sports Ministry will organise a threeday Chintan Shivir in Srinagar from Friday bringing together sports and youth affairs ministers from states and Union Territories to deliberate on strengthening sports governance and youth development frameworks through enhanced CentreState collaboration.The event which will conclude on Sunday will be held at the ShereKashmir International Convention Centre and will be led by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya along with Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse.The Chintan Shivir will serve as a highlevel platform for structured deliberations aimed at strengthening sports governance and youth development frameworks through enhanced CentreState collaboration policy alignment and institutional convergence said a ministry statement.The deliberations will place significant emphasis on strengthening the sports ecosystem in the country with focused discussions on medal strategies and athlete development pathways under the Khelo India
Mission improving CentreState coordination through the proposed Khelo Bharat Niti and advancing systems for talent identification and grassroots sports development it added.Among the key issues on the agenda will be promoting clean sport and exploring ways to position the country as a global hub for sports goods manufacturing.Issues related to sports governance promotion of clean and safe sport and the development of a robust sports goods manufacturing ecosystem will also be taken up. The Shivir will further review the Action Taken Report of previous editions to ensure continuity accountability and measurable outcomes it said.The Shivir will also include activities aimed at promoting holistic engagement including Yoga sessions a Fit India Cyclothon and a cultural programme along with opportunities for informal consultations among participating States and Union Territories.Besides sports the Shivir will also deliberate on youth affairs with a focus on expanding engagement strengthening delivery frameworks and enhancing institutional
impact.In line with the governments vision of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 the Shivir is being envisaged as a significant step towards fostering convergence among stakeholders and enhancing programme effectiveness across both the sports and youth development sectors.The outcomes are expected to guide future policy direction and contribute to building a robust sports ecosystem alongside an empowered and engaged youth base in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat at 2047 the release added.The sessions will include keynote addresses presentations by ministry officials and states sharing of best practices structured discussions and thematic group work. (PTI)&nbsp 2199815 Apr 24, 2026 RCB, GT eye batting revival in their IPL match Daily Excelsior sports news Bengaluru Apr 23 Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be eyeing a batting resurgence against an equally stuttering Gujarat Titans in their Indian Premier League match here on Friday.A slightly tacky Chinnaswamy pitch squeezed the usual firepower out of the RCB batting unit against Delhi Capitals in their previous match which they lost by six wickets.But more than the second defeat of the season which was also a first at home in IPL 2026 squandering a chance to firm up their position inside the top four might disappoint RCB management.Now third on the table with eight points they have Sunrisers Hyderabad (8 points) Delhi Capitals and the Titans (6 points each) close on their tail.The reigning champions would very well know that another slipup this time against GT would push them further into a tight spot particularly because they are now bracing for a slew of away matches including two at home away from home Raipur.Therefore the Royal Challengers would like to give a fitting farewell to their adoring and loyal Chinnaswamy fans producing a
forceful effort against Gujarat.But one prerequisite for that is RCB batters regaining their mojo and finding a way to put on board a challenging total even when conditions do not favour them.The opposite of it has happened in two matches in a row. RCB won quite easily in the end against Lucknow Super Giants in the 16th over but gave away five wickets in return.Against DC the RCB batters could not get going from ball one despite opener Phil Salt making a wellcrafted 63.Even acclaimed sixhitters like Rajat Patidar and Tim David had to look for alternate ways to score runs though without much success.So the RCB batters might do well to keep a Plan B in store as at times their allout attack approach might not work.RCB bowlers under Bhuvneshwar Kumar who has aged like fine wine dragged the contest against the Capitals to the penultimate over but did not have enough runs on board to play with.They would hope for a change in script on Friday.Similarly the Gujarat outfit too would envisage a changed script.The former champions were bundled
out for 100 by Mumbai Indians pushing them to a 99run defeat which also dealt a severe blow to their net run rate.Skipper Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler have shown some consistency but the likes of B Sai Sudharsan Glenn Phillips and Rahul Tewatia are yet to support them with knocks of importance or at least some handy cameos.It has resulted in GTs failure to come up with at least one signature batting effort this season unlike their Fridays rival RCB have done so often in IPL 2026.The Titans have a potent bowling lineup consisting of Prasidh Krishna Kagiso Rabada Mohammed Siraj and Rashid Khan but were often hampered by their batting colleagues inconsistencies.TeamsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru Rajat Patidar (captain) Virat Kohli Tim David Jacob Bethell Romario Shepherd Josh Hazlewood Nuwan Thushara Devdutt Padikkal Jitesh Sharma Krunal Pandya Rasikh Dar Bhuvneshwar Kumar Jordan Cox Suyash Sharma Venkatesh Iyer Swapnil Singh Jacob Duffy Kanishk Chouhan Abhinandan Singh Mangesh Yadav Phil Salt Satvik Deswal Vicky Ostwal Vihaan
Malhotra.Gujarat Titans Sai Sudharsan Shubman Gill (c) Shahrukh Khan Anuj Rawat Jos Buttler Kumar Kushagra Tom Banton Glenn Phillips Jason Holder Nishant Sindhu Rahul Tewatia Washington Sundar Sai Kishore Jayant Yadav Arshad Khan Shahrukh Khan Manav Suthar Rashid Khan Mohammed Siraj Kagiso Rabada Prasidh Krishna.Match starts at 7.30pm. (PTI) 2199814 Apr 24, 2026 Indian men eye Thomas Cup encore, women face tough test in Uber Cup Final Daily Excelsior sports news HORSENS (DENMARK) Apr 23 Banking on a settled core and bolstered by the rise of Ayush Shetty the Indian mens team will aim to reclaim the title while the womens side looks to punch above its weight at the BWF Thomas &amp Uber Cup Finals beginning here on Friday.India will open their campaign against Canada on Friday followed by matches against Australia on Monday (April 27) and China on Wednesday (April 29).Four years ago India did something unprecedented annexing the Thomas Cup crown considered the world team championship of badminton putting the sport firmly on the radar of the youth in this country.A bunch of bravehearts led by Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy defied all odds as they tamed Denmark Malaysia and Indonesia en route to that epic moment in Indian badminton history.That week witnessed Srikanth emerge as the invincible leader Prannoy the decider specialist and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty the gentle giants.Two years later Indias title defence ended against China in the quarterfinals.Cut to 2026 there is
renewed hope as the Indian men with the same core and the exuberance of rising star Ayush are eyeing a repeat.Ayush is coming off a strong show at the Badminton Asia Championships where he became the first Indian to reach the final after 61 years while Lakshya Sen recorded a second runnerup finish at the All England Championships last month.Both the Indians produced some stunning performances against top players such as Li Shi Feng and Jonatan Christie.After missing action due to a shoulder injury Satwik and his partner Chirag will be back with fresh mind and body as India face Pan Am champions Canada Oceania champions Australia and 11time winners and defending champions China in Group A.We will have a good chance to win the Thomas Cup again. With Ayush and Lakshya in singles and Satwik and Chirag in doubles of course everything will have to click former India coach Vimal Kumar said.India and China should pull through from the group.The onus will mainly be on the young guns to take India through as Srikanth and Prannoy are not in the
best of form.While Srikanth had two runnerup finishes last year he has struggled in the BWF World Tour events. Prannoy too has been bogged down by niggles and endured a forgettable season since the 2024 Olympics when he battled through chikungunya.While India will rely on their experience Kiran George might be called into service for the third singles while Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun will shoulder the second doubles responsibility.India should reach the quarterfinals first though they are likely to face resistance from world championships bronze medallist Viktor Lai of Canada who also have a good player in Brian Yang.In fact China no longer has that invincible aura of the past and on their day the Indian shuttlers are capable of taming them as Ayush and Lakshya have shown in the recent past.In the knockout stage India have the wherewithal to take on any team and there will be no dearth of motivation and team camaraderie as the core remains the same.In the Uber Cup the Indian womens team led by double Olympic medallist PV
Sindhu will face Denmark on Friday (April 24) Ukraine on Saturday (April 25) and China on Monday (April 27).India has won bronze medals in the 2014 and 2016 editions but it will be an uphill battle this time especially without the services of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly who is nursing an ankle injury.The womens team is clubbed with European Team Championships runnersup Denmark bronze medallists Ukraine and 16time champions China.India have a young core with world junior championships bronze medallist Tanvi Sharma Thailand Open Super 300 winner Devika Sihag Unnati Hooda winner of three Super 100 titles and two International Challenge titles and Isharani Baruah sharing responsibility for the second and third singles.In TreesaGayatris absence the pair of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra will handle the second doubles while Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi are likely to play the first doubles with the experience of Tanisha Crasto also coming into play.A lot will depend on Sindhu as she plays the first singles but she has
struggled to maintain consistency in recent times with a Malaysia Open semifinal her best show this season. (PTI) 2199812 Apr 24, 2026 New cricket stadium in Southern California heralds the sport's Olympic return after 128 years Daily Excelsior sports news LOS ANGELES Apr 23 Its been 126 years since cricket the second most watched sport in the world made an appearance in the Olympics. Thats about to change in 2028.On Wednesday shovels hit the ground in Pomona a city in the eastern edge of Los Angeles County where construction has begun for a 10000plus capacity premier cricket stadium. It will serve as the venue for mens and womens games played by six teams in each competition.The stadium is being erected in the Fairplex fairgrounds as the home of the Los Angeles Knight Riders a professional Major League Cricket team owned by the Mumbaibased Knight Riders Sports. The company is coled by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.The groundbreaking kicked off with a bhumi pujan a ritual rooted in Hindu tradition which often marks the start of a construction project as a way of seeking divine blessings and forgiveness for disturbing the earth.Cricket is already woven into the cultural fabric of U.S. diaspora communities from all over the world particularly South Asia where it is followed with
religious fervor. In the U.S. cricket fans coaches and players view a dedicated cricket stadium in a major sports market like Southern California as a huge milestone.Investors hope momentum from local major league cricket games carries into the Olympics taking the sport to a mainstream American sports audience. Many also believe that this newfound visibility will help carve out promising pathways for homegrown cricketing talent.Venky Mysore CEO of Knight Riders Sports said establishing the Knight Riders Cricket Field is just the first step in getting the average American fan engaged. Mysore is convinced of the sports commercial potential.People who watch the Olympics are not necessarily cricket fans Mysore said. When cricket becomes an Olympic sport that takes interest and awareness to the next level.Knight Riders Sports operates multiple teams worldwide in India the Caribbean and the United Arab Emirates. But the Pomona venue is the only stadium theyve built from scratch Mysore said. Only three internationallevel cricket stadiums
operate in the U.S. in Texas Florida and North Carolina. The sport is also played in other multipurpose venues like the Oakland Coliseum.Peter Della Penna who has been covering cricket in the U.S. for the past two decades says this is the first time an international cricket event in the U.S. will have a dedicated venue. In 2024 a highcapacity modular stadium was specifically built for the T20 World Cup in New York but was dismantled after the event.But during the LA Olympics it would not be ideal to hold the cricket matches in another part of the country he said.Cricket players would want to be in the Olympic Village walk shoulder to shoulder with U.S. track and field athletes swimmers and basketball players he said. Cricketers in America have not had such prominence and U.S. cricket really needs that.Cricket has had a long rich history in the U.S. The first international cricket match was played between the U.S. and Canada in 1844 at St. Georges Cricket Club in Manhattan New York. Canada beat the U.S. by a slim margin before
thousands of spectators with large wagers placed on the event.A high point came in 2024 when the U.S. national team achieved a stunning upset over Pakistan in a T20 World Cup match.Debjit Lahiri a Wisconsinbased cricket historian said Olympic cricket was last played in 1900 in Paris where the Summer Games were a chaotic sideshow to the Worlds Fair featuring events like live pigeon shooting. Cricket never made it to the 1904 Olympic Games held in St. Louis.Cricket in Los Angeles began around 1900 with local clubs. It gained prominence in the 1930s with the Hollywood Cricket Club formed by expat British actors drawing big names like Errol Flynn Laurence Olivier Cary Grant and Boris Karloff. The clubs original home at Griffith Park was torn down to build an equestrian center for the 1984 Olympics. It moved to Woodley Park in the San Fernando Valley where several aspiring cricketers learned to play the game including Ayan Desai a 22yearold rising star who hopes to play for Team USA in 2028.Desai whose family owns a motel near the future
Knight Riders stadium said he was thrilled to hear about a worldclass cricket venue almost in his backyard.To play the Olympics is special but to do it in front of your home crowd in your home city that would be amazing he said.Desai a leftarm fast bowler plays for the Seattle Orcas major league team and has competed in four international games as part of the U.S. national team.This is what weve needed to grow cricket in Los Angeles he said.Antigua native Reggie Benjamin a former U.S. cricketer and longtime coach based in Los Angeles remains skeptical.Im happy to see cricket get an opportunity to showcase itself here he said. But if you cant get average Americans to come to a game and sit in the stands for three hours or if you cant get American kids to play cricket the game is not going to grow.Yet big investors like Mysore are optimistic that a cooperative relationship is possible between USA Cricket and Major League Cricket. (AP) 2199813 Apr 24, 2026 3rd WT20I: Wolvaardt ton sets up crushing series win for South Africa Daily Excelsior sports news JOHANNESBURG Apr 23 India scored their highestever total against South Africa but still suffered a ninewicket thrashing at the hands of the home team with skipper Laura Wolvaardt leading the way with a splendid ton in the third womens T20 International here.South Africa thus took an unassailable 30 lead to clinch the fivematch series here on Wednesday. The remaining two WT20Is in Johannesburg and Benoni are now rendered inconsequential.Put in to bat India made 192 for 4 their highest ever against South Africa with captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Shafali Verma scoring 66 and 64 respectively.But South Africa captain Wolvaardt slammed 115 off just 53 balls while her opening partner Sune Luus struck 64 not out off 42 deliveries against a hapless Indian bowling attack to easily chase down the target of 193 with 21 balls to spare.South Africa reached 193 for 1 in 16.3 overs.This was the third highest successful run chase in womens T20I history after West Indies and England overhauled 212 and 198 against Australia and India
respectively in 2023 and 2018.Wolvaardt who has been in top form in the series having made 51 and 54 in the first two matches struck as many as 14 boundaries and five sixes while toying with the Indian bowlers.Luus who had made 13 and 57 in the first two matches hit six boundaries and two sixes.The South African duo were together for 183 runs for the opening wicket before Wolvaardt got out in the 16th over.Veteran India allrounder Deepti Sharma failed yet again with the ball as she continued to search for her first wicket in the series. She returned with figures of 046 in 3.3 overs.Earlier captain Harmanpreet and opening batter Shafali struck a half century each as India produced a far better batting performance to post 192 for 4.Shafali continued his impressive form as she struck his second consecutive half century while it was the first half ton for Harmanpreet in the series. She had made 47 not out and 12 in the first two games which India lost.Harmanpreets 66 came from 38 balls from which she struck seven boundaries and three
sixes.Shafali who has made 34 and 57 in Indias earlier two games dished out a solid batting display as her 64 came from 46 balls from which she struck eight boundaries and two sixes.She stitched 68 runs for the opening wicket with senior partner Smriti Mandhana (37 off 25 balls) and 73 runs with Harmanpreet for the third wicket. She miscued a Nonkululeko Mlaba short ball for Nadine de Klerk to take the catch in the 16th over.Harmanpreet who lived dangerously early on then took charge and hit some lusty blows. She was run out in the final ball if the Indian innings.Richa Ghosh remained not out on 18 off 10 balls.Mandhana got the start but failed to score big yet again. She was going strong in the company of Shafali as the opening duo made 51 for no loss at the end of Powerplay.But the complexion of the game changed in ninth over bowled by Mlaba with Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues (0) getting out in two consecutive deliveries.Mandhana failed to clear the boundary as she got out for 37 off 25 balls.The next ball Rodrigues failed to
control her sweep shot and got out for a duck as India suddenly slumped to 68 for 2.Brief ScoresIndia 192 for 4 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 64 Harmanpreet Kaur 66 Nonkululeko Mlaba 231).South Africa 193 for 1 in 16.3 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 115 Sune Luus 64 not out Shreyanka Patil 130). (PTI)&nbsp 2199809 Apr 24, 2026 Shooting Jr World Cup: India back at the top as Prachi Gaikwad strikes gold Daily Excelsior sports news NEW DELHI Apr 23 Prachi Gaikwad struck gold winning the junior womens 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) event at the ongoing International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup RiflePistolShotgun in Cairo Egypt firing 354.6 in the final to overcome Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) Darya Chuprys who shot 354.4.Another AIN shooter Elena Kretinina won bronze with a score of 343.3 exiting the 35shot final after the 34th shot. Naraen Pranav also won bronze in the junior mens 10m air rifle with a score of 229.5 in the final.This was Indias second gold of the competition after Shiva Narwal had won the mens 10m air pistol event on the opening day of competitions on Tuesday (Apr 21 2026) and with four silvers and three bronzes also in their kitty takes them back to the top of the medal tally.Prachi was the only Indian to qualify for the junior womens 3P final at the Olympic International City Shooting range. She took sixth spot with a score of 578 and then began the final placing fifth after the first 10 shots in the Kneeling
position.Thereafter she surged to second after the Prone round and was just 0.6 behind Darya who was leading at that stage. With a 50 return on the first five shots of the final Standing position she shot into the lead for the first time in the match.But Darya found a second wind and fired a 51.0 over the next five as Prachi missed the 10ring four times going down to third momentarily with the last five shots remaining.The minor setback did not deter the Indianas she delivered when it mattered most hitting the 10ring four times including two high 10s to clinch it from Darya by a margin of 0.2.In the junior mens 10m air rifle three Indians made the cut with Naraen best placed at third scoring 630.9. Abhinav Shaw was fourth with 630.0 while Divyanshu Dewangan took the seventh qualifying spot with on a score of 626.8.In the final Divyanshu was the first to be eliminated in eighth place with his score reading 122.4 after 12 shots of the 24shot final. Abhinav and Naraen were in the fight for third place at that point with Uzbek Javohir
Sokhibov and Cypriot Achilleas Sophocleous in first and second respectively.Naraen then fired a 10.7 followed by a perfect 10.9 to now challenge Sophocleous for silver as Abhinav faded away. Sokhibov seemed out of reach.Abhinav had 0.6 to make up on Naraen going into the 20th but a 9.9 put paid to his hopes as Naraen clinched bronze falling short of the Greek by 0.4 after the 22nd shot. Sokhibov romped to gold finishing with 251.2 a whole point ahead of Sophocleous.Vanshika Chaudhary Sejal Kamble and Kanak have also made the junior womens 10m air pistol final with scores of 579 577 and 576 giving them the top three spots on the leaderboard.The final is slated for 8.30 pm Indian StandardTime (IST) later today.(UNI)&nbsp 2199810 Apr 24, 2026 ICC celebrates LA28 stadium construction milestone Daily Excelsior sports news DUBAI April 23 The International Cricket Council (ICC) have hailed the beginning of construction of the cricket stadium at Pomona in Los Angeles County California.A ceremony marking the significant occasion was held on the Fairplex Grounds in Pomona on Wednesday.ICC Chairman Jay Shah said it is a major milestone for cricket and its 2.5 billion fans worldwide as the sport prepares for its historic Olympic return at LA28 after 128 years.These are very exciting times for the game of cricket as it makes giant strides in establishing itself as a global sport he said.Our focus has been on expanding the footprint of cricket and being part of the Olympic movement is something that brings both pride and dreams with it.The groundbreaking marks an important milestone in crickets return to the Olympics and is a proud moment for all ICC Members and stakeholders worldwide. Were confident this venue will take centrestage during the Games and leave a legacy for cricket in the USA.ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta who was present at the groundbreaking
ceremony said crickets world governing body remains focused on expanding the sport globally with itsreturn to the Olympics marking a significant step towards that goal.This is a groundbreaking moment in crickets return to the Olympic Games both for the sport and for the Olympic movement he said.The journey over the next two years will see many such milestones which enhance the sense of occasion culture and community as crickets home for LA28 is built in Pomona.With the inclusion in the Olympic Games and other regional multisport events cricket has already stepped into a new era of global growth powered by improved accessibility elevated visibility and stronger institutional support.The momentum for our game has never been stronger demonstrated by the recent ICC events which saw recordbreaking stadia attendance as well as broadcast and digital engagementcoupled with deep cultural and socioeconomic impact.Strong participation growth across the world and recent fanfirst efforts by the ICC to growkey markets will further bolster crickets
march into the Olympics.Also in attendance to mark the occasion were LA28 Vice President of Sports Niccol Campriani Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval Consul General of India in Los Angeles K. J. Srinivasa Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore and Fairplex President and CEO Walter Marquez accordingto ICCThe inclusion of cricket in LA28 is being viewed as a significant opportunity to expand the sport beyond its traditional strongholds and make a meaningful impact in the Americas inspiring more young people to take up the game and broaden the fan base across continents.Being part of the Olympic movement helps get more funding and support from many governments and the gap between traditionally strong teams and others has reduced considerably in recent years especially in the T20I format which will feature in the Olympics for both mens and womens competitions.The LA28 Olympics will be held from July 1430 with cricket making its return to the event for the first time since 1900 when Great Britain played France in a twoday match.Ahead of the Olympic
Games Fairplex Grounds will be the home venue for Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise Los Angeles Knight Riders for three matches between July 1 to 5.MLC is the premier professional T20 cricket league in the United States featuring six teams.(UNI)&nbsp 2199811 Apr 24, 2026 Shanto hundred, Mustafizur 5-for help Bangladesh clinch ODI series against New Zealand Daily Excelsior sports news Chattogram (Bangladesh) Apr 23 Najmul Hossain Shantos century and Mustafizur Rahmans fivewicket haul helped Bangladesh thrash New Zealand by 55 runs and clinch their ODI series on Thursday.The 21 victory marked Bangladeshs third straight in ODIs following wins against the West Indies and Pakistan.Shanto retired on 50 due to cramps in the second ODI on Monday and followed with 105 in 34degree sticky heat leading Bangladesh to a competitive 2658.He and Liton Das both former captains rescued Bangladesh from 323 with a 160run partnership in the testing conditions. Liton struck 76 his first ODI fifty since October 2023.New Zealand was dismissed for 210 in 44.5 overs and recalled fast bowler Mustafizur claimed 543 his first fivewicket haul since the 2019 Cricket World Cup.Opener Nick Kelly scored a slow 59 and Dean Foxcroft hit a careerbest 75 off 72 balls slogging seven sixes without pressure when the result was inevitable.We knew a big partnership would bring us back to the contest after we slumped to 92 Shanto said. Liton played
beautifully he held one end and took the pressure off me. Once we put up 250 plus we knew it would be difficult for them to chase in this conditions.New Zealand made Bangladesh bat first and the decision paid off immediately when fast bowler Will ORourke removed the openers and Soumya Sarkar to have 316 off five overs. But when ORourke bowled again Shanto was on 89 and Liton on 56.Leftarm mediumpacer Muhammad Abbas also wasnt bowled out as he tied down five overs with 016.Meanwhile Shanto and Liton resisted slow and steady rotating the strike and running well. They put 50 together by the 20th over and 100 by the 30th.Liton wearing a towel around his neck to soak the sweat was out for 76 off 91 balls backing away from leg stump and watching leftarm spinner Jayden Lennox knock it over.Shanto was more calculating to reach his fourth ODI century and first in two years off 114 balls with a single off Lennox. Soon after Lennox claimed Shanto for 105 caught on the boundary to a running catch by Nathan Smith.I am really excited to get a
hundred finally Shanto said. I got my last hundred in this venue in 2024.New Zealands chase struggled to get out of second gear.Mustafizur and Nahid Rana who took 237 following 532 on Monday ripped out the New Zealand top order. Kelly kept going for his second consecutive fifty in his fifth ODI without support.We kept losing wickets in the first 2025 overs New Zealand skipper Tom Latham said. We were happy with the target to achieve but lack of partnerships made it difficult.Mustafizur took three wickets in 17 balls for his sixth fivewicket haul leaving New Zealand 1609 when Foxcroft had a lash to delay Bangladeshs party.The teams begin a Twenty20 series on Monday. (AP) 2199542 Apr 24, 2026 Turkish parliament passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s Daily Excelsior International ISTANBUL Apr 23 Turkish lawmakers passed a bill late Wednesday that includes restricting access to social media platforms for children under 15 state media reported.The legislation is the latest in a global trend to protect young people from dangerous online activity.Its passage comes a week after a 14yearold boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in Kahramanmaras southern Turkiye in a gun attack. Police are investigating the online activity of the perpetrator who also died in a bid to uncover his motivation for the attack.The bill will force social media platforms to install ageverification systems provide parental control tools and require companies to rapidly respond to content deemed harmful the staterun Anadolu news agency said.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan must now accept the bill within 15 days for it to pass into law. He spoke in the wake of the Kahramanmaras killings of the need for to mitigate the online risks to childrens safety and privacy.We are living in a period where some digital sharing
applications are corrupting our childrens minds and social media platforms have to put it bluntly become cesspools he said in a televised address Monday.The main opposition party the Republican Peoples Party or CHP has criticized the proposal saying children should be protected not with bans but with rightsbased policies.Under the law digital platforms such as YouTube TikTok Facebook Instagram and others would have to block children under 15 from opening accounts and introduce parental controls that would manage childrens access.Online game companies will also be required to appoint a representative in Turkiye to ensure they abide by the new regulations. Potential penalties include internet bandwidth reductions and fines imposed by Turkiyes communications watchdog.The Turkish government has a recent record of restricting online platforms as they have grown as a means of expressing dissent. Online communications were widely restricted during last years protests in support of Istanbuls jailed opposition mayor Ekrem
Imamoglu.Restrictions on social media access for children under 16 first began in December in Australia where social media companies revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children.Last month Indonesia began implementing a new government regulation banning children younger than 16 from access to digital platforms that could expose them to pornography cyberbullying online scams and addiction.Some other countries including Spain France and the United Kingdom are also taking or considering measures to restrict childrens access to social media amid growing concern that they are being harmed by exposure to unregulated social media content. (AP)&nbsp 2199543 Apr 24, 2026 Negotiations are impossible until US admits defeat: Iranian lawmaker Haji Babaei Daily Excelsior International TEHRAN April 23 Iranian lawmaker Hamidreza Haji Babaei the deputy speaker of parliament on Thursday asserted that talks with the United States would not be possible unless Washington first acknowledges defeat.He stated that any negotiations are prohibited until the US admits defeat.He also issued a warning to regional countries saying they should not assist in attacks against Iranian officials. According to him airports hotels and even the leaders of countries that provide facilities to terrorists must be targeted.These statements have been issued by Iranian leaders as Iran retains significant military capability despite USIsraeli strikes which is even acknowledged by US officials. Iran continues to maintain substantial military capabilities despite weeks of US and Israeli strikes according to multiple US officials familiar with intelligence assessments.Officials told CBS News in a report published Tuesday that public statements by the White House and the US Department of Defense may understate the extent of Irans remaining strength
following the attacks.According to three officials roughly half of Irans ballistic missile stockpile and associated launch systems remained intact at the start of a ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump on April 7.They added that about 60% of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) remained operational including fastattack craft.Observers cited Irans continued defiance under sustained US pressure as evidence of Tehrans confidence in its defensive and retaliatory capabilities.(UNI) 2199541 Apr 24, 2026 UK development body launches climate fund with eye on India's energy transition Daily Excelsior International LONDON Apr 23 British International Investment (BII) on Thursday launched a new climate initiative targeted at accelerating energy transition with India among the key focus economies.The UKs development finance institution and impact investor said its new British Climate Partners (BCP) initiative worth 1.1 billion pounds is designed to mobilise private capital at scale to support developing economies in Asia to accelerate progress towards net zero.Net zero is the balance between greenhouse gases emitted and removed from the atmosphere by any given entity such as a country or an organisation.India has been periodically raising its ambition towards mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and after the update in 2022 has in March 2026 announced its targets for 203135 marking a significant step towards the goal of achieving net zero by 2070.BCP will focus on investments that support emissions reduction in fastgrowing countries with coalbased energy networks and rising demand for clean energy including India the Philippines Indonesia Vietnam
Thailand Malaysia and other SouthEast Asian economies.Over the past few months I have been setting out the need for a new UK approach to development one moving from traditional aid grants to longterm partnerships that bring investment expertise and international finance reform together said Jenny Chapman UK Minister for Development.It also means investing responsibly bringing everything the UK can offer from our work through international organisations and our investment tools to research practical advice and diplomacy. Used together this can help businesses grow create jobs and support the reforms and policies our partners choose for themselves.BII sits right at the heart of this approach and its new strategy is pulling in the same direction we have set as a government. I know BII will lead from the front in turning our joint ambitions into genuine results over the next five years she said.As part of a new fiveyear strategy unveiled this week BII claimed that Asian countries accounted for around threequarters of global coal demand
in 2024 and therefore at the centre of the global energy transition challenge. It referenced documented research to highlight the significant scale of investment required to transition away from coal in the region with India requiring an estimated 160 billion dollars a year and SouthEast Asia around 210 billion dollars annually until 2030.Asias energy transition will depend on mobilising private capital at scale and British Climate Partners is designed to do exactly that. Through this new initiative well use our experience capital and partnerships to build platforms derisk projects and crowd in longterm investment into commercially viable climate opportunities across the region said Srini Nagarajan BIIs managing director and head of Asia.According to the UNDP sustainable energy transition is a transformative shift in how energy is produced distributed and consumed aiming to move away from fossil fuels towards a system centred on renewable energy sources such as solar wind hydropower and geothermal.BII said through BCP it will work in
partnership with private investors to deploy capital through a combination of equity platforms and mezzanine finance to scale climate projects reduce earlystage risks and offer potential higher returns to attract commercial investors.In the next five years BII expects that at least 40 per cent of new investments including BCP will qualify as climate finance up from the target of 30 per cent in the last strategy period.During that period at least 25 per cent of BIIs new investments will be committed to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as defined by the United Nations where private capital remains scarce and development needs are greatest.In a further evolution of its approach BII said it will also seek to make marketlevel impact investments that go beyond a commitment to a single company and help to develop a wider sector or market. It also plans to increase its commitment to genderbased investing in support of womenled projects. (PTI) 2199540 Apr 24, 2026 Russia-US relations at lowest point: Deputy Foreign Minister Daily Excelsior International UNITED NATIONS April 23 Relations between Russia and the United States are currently at their lowest point Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said.They are (at) the lowest point. Its not me describing them that way. Thats our authorities... and its gruesome Pankin told reporters at the UN when asked to characterise relations between the two countries under US President Donald Trump.At the same time he said direct contacts between the two countries presidents in Anchorage were fruitful.The direct contacts between our presidents (the) Russian and US president(s) were quite fruitful. But in Anchorage probably the difficulty is that there is no predictability. You can hear one thing in the morning and another thing to the contrary in the evening or the action next day contrary to both. So the high unpredictability is the biggest problem Pankin said.Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump held talks in Alaska on August 15 2025. The meeting took place at the ElmendorfRichardson military base in Anchorage. The presidents
discussed ways to resolve the Ukrainian conflict. Both leaders described the meeting positively. After the summit the Russian president said it was possible to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and emphasised Russias interest in a longterm settlement.(UNI) 2199538 Apr 24, 2026 Nepal President Paudel suspends Parliament session of both houses without convening Daily Excelsior International KATHMANDU Apr 23 Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Thursday suspended the session of both houses of the Federal Parliament without even convening.Earlier Paudel had summoned the parliamentary session for April 30 on the recommendation of the cabinet on April 21.The president cited special reasons for suspending the session of both the houses the House of Representatives and the National Assembly on the recommendation of the Nepal government and the council of ministers Ritesh Kumar Shakya spokesperson of the Office of the President said.No further details were disclosed regarding the reasons behind the suspension.Seniormost Parliament Member and Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh K C said that the governments decision to suspend the Parliament session even without convening was unprecedented and surprising.The development comes a day after Nepal Home Minister Sudan Gurung tendered his resignation after allegations relating to his financial conduct while holding the office.On April 9 Prime Minister Balendra Shah sacked Minister
for Labour Employment and Social Security Dip Kumar Sah from his post at the recommendation of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).In March Shah popular only as Balen and his RSP rode to power decimating the traditional parties in the first general elections since last years violent Gen Z protests that sought generational change and a corruptionfree regime. (PTI) 2199539 Apr 24, 2026 Chinese envoy calls on Pak PM Shehbaz, discusses West Asia situation Daily Excelsior International ISLAMABAD Apr 23 Chinese envoy to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Thursday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed the West Asia situation and Islamabads peace efforts to end the USIran war.Ambassador Jiang paid a courtesy call on PM Shehbaz. Deputy Prime Minister &amp Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Minister for Planning Development &amp Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Minister for Information Ataullah Tarar were also present at the meeting.The meeting comes amid steppedup diplomatic engagements by Pakistan aimed at bringing Tehran and Washington to the negotiating table for the second round of talks.According to a statement by the PM Office the regional situation in West Asia and Pakistans peace efforts also came under discussion during the meeting.The Chinese Ambassador thanked the Prime Minister for receiving him and expressed Chinas appreciation of Pakistans diplomatic efforts for lasting peace in the region the statement read.The ambassador also reaffirmed Chinas commitment to strengthening its ironclad ties with
Pakistan and to take them to new heights as envisioned by President Xi Jinping.The Prime Minister expressing his satisfaction at the positive trajectory of PakistanChina bilateral relations reaffirmed that Pakistan took great pride in its AllWeather Cooperative Strategic Partnership with China.He also spoke of his resolve to continue working closely with the Chinese leadership to ensure that the relationship grows from strength to strength.The Prime Minister conveyed his warm regards and greetings to President Xi and Premier Li Qiang. (PTI) 2199615 Apr 24, 2026 MLA proposes Rs 2 Cr development works in Ranjeetpur Panchayat Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Aimed towards strengthening rural infrastructure and accelerating grassroots development MLA Jammu West Assembly Constituency Arvind Gupta today visited Ranjeetpur Panchayat and proposed a series of development works under the Viksit Village initiative.The proposed projects with an estimated cost of approximately Rs 2 crore include the construction of a community hall chopal development and upgradation of schools drainage systems street works and several other essential infrastructure improvements aimed at the overall development of the panchayat.During his visit Arvind Gupta personally inspected the sites of the proposed works and held detailed discussions with local residents and officials.He emphasized the need to prioritize projects based on the genuine requirements and aspirations of the people ensuring that development reaches every household.Addressing the gathering Gupta stated that the development of villages remains a top priority and the Viksit Village initiative is aimed at ensuring that
no area is left behind in terms of basic infrastructure and civic amenities.He said Ranjeetpur Panchayat has immense potential and our focus is to provide modern infrastructure while addressing longpending issues of the residents. The proposed works including community spaces improved drainage and better roads will bring visible change on the ground.Peoples participation is a must for every development work. When citizens actively engage monitor and support these projects the results are more effective transparent and sustainable. Development cannot be successful without the cooperation of the public he added.The MLA further assured that all works will be executed with quality transparency and within a fixed timeframe keeping the needs and aspirations of the people at the center of planning and implementation.Former deputy Mayor Dharamveer Jamwal and Mandal president Anil Angral former Sarpanch Avinash Singh former Sarpanch Preetpal Singh Harvinder Singh (Vicky) Arun Dubey Rajesh Saini Geeta Sodhi Vicky Angurana Anil Singh Rakwal and
other local residents were also present during the event. 2199876 Apr 24, 2026 Mumbai police arrests J&K cricketer, brother for sextortion Daily Excelsior sports news Excelsior CorrespondentSrinagar Apr 23 Mumbai Police Crime Branch arrested a woman cricketer linked to the Jammu and Kashmir T20 League her brother and an associate in connection with an alleged sextortion and extortion case involving a Mumbai based businessman.The accused have been identified as Farkhanda Aziz Khan 30 her brother Bazil Aziz Khan 27 and Imtiyaz Wani 22.Farkhanda who is presently pursuing Masters in Management in Cyprus and was arrested at New Delhi International Airport while she was returning home. Some mobile phones and cash was recovered from her possession.As per police her bank account had amount of Rs 10 lakh and she was also using crypto currency.Her brother Bazil was apprehended from Delhi and Wani was arrested from Srinagar.According to police the complainant is a 28yearold businessman residing in Colaba. He reportedly came into contact with Farkhanda in 2024 while living in Mumbais western suburbs.What began as routine mobile communication allegedly escalated into explicit exchanges initiated by the
accused.Farkhanda later introduced the complainant to her brother and Wani. She subsequently sought money citing financial distress and upon refusal allegedly threatened to make their private conversations public.Under alleged coercion the complainant transferred Rs 23.61 lakh to Farkhandas bank account through 32 transactions between April 30 2024 and January 13 2026. A substantial portion of these funds was later routed to Wanis account while some transactions were also traced to an account belonging to Farkhandas father Abdul Aziz Khan.Her father Aziz Khan was also called by Crime Branch Mumbai and he flew to Mumbai yesterday. 2199616 Apr 24, 2026 Bukhari welcomes new entrants into party fold Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSRINAGAR Apr 23Apni Party president Mohd Altaf Bukhari today extended a warm welcome to prominent political activists and workers from South Kashmirs Tral and North Kashmirs Pattan area who joined the party during an event held at the party headquarters in Srinagar.According to a press release Junaid Mir and Abdul Rehman Gojer the veteran political activists from Tral in Pulwama district joined the Apni Party along with their associates in the presence of the party president.On a separate occasion Imran Majeed Dawood Ahmed Bilal Bashir Mukhtar Ahmad Wani Zafar Ahmed Wani and several other prominent political and social workers from Pattan also joined the party.While welcoming the new entrants Altaf Bukhari assured them that the party would provide ample opportunities to serve the people in their respective areas.Prominent among those who extended greetings to the new members included senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir general secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir chief spokesperson and State secretary Muntazir Mohiudin
Media advisor Farooq Andrabi State Youth secretary and spokesperson Yawar Dilawar Mir State secretary (Organisation) and spokesperson Dr Harbaksh Singh Constituency Incharge Pattan Riyaz Ahmed Sheikh and others. 2199617 Apr 24, 2026 Ram Trust provides financial assistance to underprivileged sections Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Ram Trust a distinguished charitable organization today provided substantial financial aid and humanitarian support to poor and needy widows senior citizens disabled individuals BPL families and domestic workers irrespective of caste creed religion or language.The trust was established in 2006 has been consistently working towards the welfare and upliftment of the underprivileged sections of society.The financial assistance was distributed to deserving beneficiaries including widows elderly persons above the age of 60 disabled persons BPL families and domestic servants.Each beneficiary received Rs 2000 as immediate financial relief.The dedicated office bearers and members of the Trust have played a vital role in personally ensuring the successful execution of this welfare programme.C P Gupta Chairman Trustee Virender Mahajan Trustee Anjali Mahajan Trustee Raghav Gupta General Secretary along with patrons Rajni Gupta Sakshi Gupta and Jyoti Lachotra have worked tirelessly to make this initiative a
success.The Trust has also extended generous donations to several reputed social organizations to strengthen their social service initiatives.They contributed to Home for Aged and Infirm (Vridh Ashram) Gau Raksha Samiti and Ved Mandir Bal Niketan to help expand their social welfare activities.Furthermore the Trust contributes annually to Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha towards organizing the sacred Langar for devotees during the holy pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra which takes place every year in the month of July.In another remarkable social initiative Ram Trust recently organized a Stationery Distribution Camp on 31st March 2026 during which stationery kits containing exercise notebooks pens pencils erasers and sharpeners were distributed among more than 100 poor and needy students supporting their educational journey and encouraging academic growth.The organization remains committed to expanding its social welfare programmes and reaching every deserving individual in need. 2199618 Apr 24, 2026 Sawhney files complaint against BJP MLA Randhawa Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 District Congress Committee Jammu Urban president and former Minister J&ampK Yogesh Sawhney on Wednesday lodged a formal complaint at Peer Mitha Police Station against BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa over his crude abusive and defamatory remarks targeting Congress leadership.Sawhney accompanied by working president of JKPCC Raman Bhalla former MLC Ved Mahajan along with several ward presidents block presidents and party workers submitted the complaint to the SHO seeking registration of an FIR. The complaint alleges that Randhawa used highly offensive derogatory and unparliamentary language against senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi during a public address. It further states that his remarks included dehumanizing comparisons insinuations of blind allegiance and statements indicating threats of physical harm.Congress leaders said that these remarks widely circulated across social and electronic media platforms have caused serious reputational damage public outrage and concern over disturbance
of public peace. The complaint invokes provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including Sections 356 (defamation) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) along with other relevant provisions related to criminal intimidation and public disorder and calls for strict legal action along with preservation of electronic evidence.Speaking on the matter Congress leaders said The kind of language used by the person is abusive disgraceful and completely unbecoming of an elected representative. Such statements are not only defamatory but are clearly intended to provoke intimidate and create divisions among people. Public representatives are expected to uphold dignity and responsibility in their speech but this conduct reflects a deliberate attempt to lower the standards of political discourse. 2199619 Apr 24, 2026 BSP concerned over Smart City Project Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 The J&ampK unit of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has expressed deep concern over the slow pace poor execution and lack of accountability in the ongoing Smart City Project works in Jammu particularly in the Talab Tillo area.It has been observed that several development works initiated under the Smart City Project remain incomplete even after years of commencement. Critical infrastructure such as drainage systems footpaths and road improvements are either unfinished or executed in a haphazard manner causing serious inconvenience to the public.Reports from the ground indicate that open drains incomplete slab work and poorly managed construction sites pose a constant threat to pedestrians. Incidents of people falling into uncovered drains have become a matter of grave concern. Additionally electricity poles standing in the middle of roads and improper installation of streetlight infrastructure highlight serious lapses in planning and execution.Despite substantial financial allocations for the project
the visible outcomes remain unsatisfactory. The public is facing daily hardships including unsafe roads traffic disruptions and risk to life and property.The BSP strongly urged the concerned authorities to take immediate corrective measures ensure timely completion of all pending works and fix responsibility for the delays and negligence. 2199620 Apr 24, 2026 HC splits verdict in R S Pura killing; acquits 3, upholds conviction of one Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 In a split verdict in the 2014 R S Pura murder case the High Court of Jammu &amp Kashmir and Ladakh has acquitted three convicts while upholding the conviction and life sentence of Deepak Singh holding that the prosecution failed to prove the case against the coaccused beyond reasonable doubt but succeeded in establishing a complete chain of circumstances against Deepak Singh.The judgment was delivered by a Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar in Criminal Appeal. The appellants were represented by Advocate R K Kotwal with Advocate Fahim Ahmed Mir while the Union Territory was represented by Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi AAG Ravinder Gupta with Advocates Palvi Sharma Mehar Bali and Abdul Hafeez.The case arose out of FIR No. 1322014 registered at Police Station R S Pura under Sections 452 302 34 RPC read with Sections 425 and 30 of the Arms Act in the killing of Vinod Kumar. All four accused had earlier been convicted by the trial court and sentenced to imprisonment for
life prompting the appeal before the High Court.Upon reappraisal of the evidence the High Court found serious infirmities in the prosecution version against Shammi Singh Manjeet Singh and Charanjeet Singh. The Bench noted that the prosecution case rested primarily on three alleged eyewitnesses whose statements suffered from material contradictions unexplained delay in recording and lack of dependable corroboration.The Court also found that while the prosecution claimed the coaccused were armed with tokas the medical evidence disclosed only a single fatal firearm injury and no sharpedged injuries on the deceased.Holding that the prosecution had failed to prove common intention under Section 34 RPC or active participation of the three coaccused in the crime the Bench set aside their convictions and sentences and directed that they be released forthwith if not required in any other case.However the Court said the case against Deepak Singh stood on a different footing. It held that the medical and ballistic evidence clearly established
that the deceased died due to a firearm injury caused by a 12bore shotgun linked to Deepak Singh. The Bench also relied on evidence showing that cartridges had been issued to him shortly before the occurrence and that he had remained absent without authorization from the Army Transit Camp during the crucial period which according to the Court formed an unbroken chain pointing to his guilt.The High Court accordingly dismissed the appeal to the extent of Deepak Singh and maintained his conviction under Section 302 RPC while partly allowing the appeal of the remaining three appellants thus delivering a split verdict in the longpending murder case. 2199621 Apr 24, 2026 Panel framed to probe allegations against BDO Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentRAJOURI Apr 23 In response to a news circulating on social media alleging irregularities in the functioning of the BDO Office Nowshera the office of the Assistant Commissioner Development Rajouri has ordered the constitution of an enquiry committee to ascertain the factual position.According to the order issued by Assistant Commissioner Development Rajouri Auqil Nuvai the committee has been constituted following allegations reportedly raised by an individual concerning nonpayment for work which subsequently surfaced on social media. The enquiry aims to verify the authenticity of these claims through a fair transparent and timebound process.The committee comprises Sumeet Singh BDO Sunderbani Mohd Abrar BDO Qila Darhal Nand Kishore Assistant Engineer SubDivision Sunderbani Nitish Raina Junior Engineer Sunderbani and Vikas Sharma PAA Qila Darhal.The committee has been tasked to carry out an indepth and objective examination of the issue and submit a detailed report along with specific findings and recommendations
within a period of seven days from the date of issuance of the order.Meanwhile the BDO Nowshera has been directed to extend full cooperation to the enquiry committee and provide all relevant records documents and necessary assistance to facilitate a smooth and timely enquiry process. 2199622 Apr 24, 2026 Keshav organizes Aadhaar Enrollment Camp Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 An Aadhaar Enrollment and Update Camp was organized today at Government School Gandhi Nagar Jammu for schoolgoing children to ensure smooth access to education and Government welfare benefits. The initiative was led by Keshav Chopra Chairman of Samvedna Society in collaboration with District Child Protection Unit Jammu and Mission Vatsalya Department of Social Welfare.The camp was inaugurated by District Child Protection Officer Jammu Dr Preeti Sharma who appreciated the initiative as a strong step toward child welfare and inclusion. Technical teams facilitated new Aadhaar registrations biometric updates and corrections in existing records with special focus on children above five years requiring mandatory biometric reenrollment. Many of these children had been rescued from child labour and begging and are now enrolled in schools.Keshav Chopra reiterated his commitment to ensuring proper rehabilitation and uninterrupted access to Government benefits for all children. Officials present included
Principal Anjamin Jabeen Tipu Magrey (CPO Jammu) Meenakshi Sharma Mamta Taranjeet Kour Sunaina and Rohit Gupta. 2199850 Apr 24, 2026 DC assesses progress of major developmental project in Srinagar Daily Excelsior State Excelsior correspondentSRINAGAR Apr 23 In order to review the status of proposed major developmental projects and ongoing infrastructure works in the district the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar Akshay Labroo today chaired a comprehensive meeting of senior Officers here at the Meeting Hall of the DC Office complex.At the outset the Deputy Commissioner undertook a comprehensive assessment of the progress in planning and execution of utility shifting for both proposed and ongoing works emphasizing the need to further expedite the process to accelerate overall project execution.The DC was given project wise appraisal regarding the current status of estimate preparations and utility shifting for key development projects and ongoing infrastructure works including 4L Flyover from Parimpora to Dalgate Junction ParimporaShalteng Flyover Vehicle Under Pass (VUP) at Moominabad Panthachowk flyover FOB at Childrens Hospital Bemina expansion of Boulevard road and Vehicle Under Pass (VUP) at Nowgam Railway Crossing.The DC was apprised that the
encouraging progress has been achieved in the preparation of estimates of proposed major infrastructural projects with several key projects at advanced stages of finalization.On the occasion the DC emphasized the importance of interdepartmental coordination in timely addressing issues related to land acquisition clearances and utility relocation.He stressed the need to work diligently on designs technical feasibility and cost estimates to ensure that DPRs are robust accurate and ready for timely submission and approval.The DC directed Officers and Engineers to work with due diligence and ensure that all projects incorporate land acquisition costs in their DPRs for seamless and uninterrupted execution of major infrastructure development projects across the district within set timelines.The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Mir Imtiyaz Ul Aziz Chief Planning Officer Fayaz Ahmad Dar Chief Engineer SSCl Abdul Qayoom Kirmani Superintending Engineer R&ampB Tatheer Manzoor Joint Commisisoner SMC Suhail ul Islam
Collector Land Acquisition R&ampB Syed Farooq SDM West Irfan Bahadur Assistant Commissioner Revenue Umar Gulzar Executive Engineers of R&ampB PHE KPDCL City Drainage UEED &amp SMC Tehsildars South Tehsildar Shalteng and other Officers. 2199623 Apr 24, 2026 DJMC IUST holds workshop Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentAWANTIPORA Apr 23 The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (DJMC) Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) organised a workshop with Rouf Fida Video Producer Deutsche Welle on Thursday.The workshop as part of the departments ongoing Industry Connect initiative aimed to provide media students with insights into the process of transforming reports into compelling visual stories.During the workshop titled Journey of a Frame From Report to Story Fida shared key principles of visual storytelling urging students to start a story with a clear idea before filming it. Drawing from his professional experience Fida highlighted that every shot should serve a purpose with careful attention to be given to composition including framing balance and movement. He underscored the critical role of audio describing it as an essential component of storytelling that enhances both immersion and credibility. Emphasizing the human element he noted that compelling stories are rooted in real people emotions and lived
experiences. He advised students to capture a variety of shots and cutaways to build a coherent and engaging narrative.The workshop featured practical exercises and interactive discussions with students engaging actively on aspects of video production. Meanwhile a departmental profile video was screened on the occasion. 2199851 Apr 24, 2026 HADP: DC Reasi stresses maximum coverage, effective implementation across targeted sectors Daily Excelsior State Excelsior correspondentREASI Apr 23 District Development Commissioner Reasi Kumar Abhishek chaired a meeting today to review the implementation status of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) in the district.He conducted a comprehensive review of the progress achieved under various components of the programme and assessed its implementation across different sectors.Emphasizing timely execution the DDC directed the concerned officers to ensure effective groundlevel implementation so that the intended benefits reach farmers without delay.Detailed discussions were held on the physical and financial progress targets achieved and the challenges being faced in the execution of the programme.The DDC stressed the need for close monitoring and better coordination among departments to overcome bottlenecks and ensure smooth implementation of HADP across the district.Reviewing farmers coverage the DDC directed the concerned officers to ensure 100 percent registration to benefit all eligible beneficiaries.Furthermore he directed
the concerned department to ensure proper scrutiny of the newly established District Level Committee infrastructure and related assets.The meeting was attended by CPO Narinder Kumar officers from Sheep Husbandry and allied departments. 2199624 Apr 24, 2026 CUJ explores Cultural Branding through Panel Discussion Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Under the patronage of Prof. Sanjeev Jain ViceChancellor Central University of Jammu the Department of Tourism and Travel Management organized its weekly academic engagement Thursday Mind Meet in the form of a panel discussion on the theme Cultural Branding through Digital Storytelling.The session served as a vibrant academic platform for intellectual exchange and was effectively moderated by Prof. Bharti Gupta. The panel featured eminent speaker Dr. Juhie Mohan from Big FM 92.7 along with panelists Sumiran Maheshwari and Simranjeet Kaur Research Scholars of the Department and Sambarni and Parveen students of MBA Tourism and Travel Management.Prof. Sanjeev Jain ViceChancellor Central University of Jammu graced the initiative through his patronage while Prof. Vandana Sharma Convener Thursday Mind Meet was also present on the occasion. The proceedings were conducted by Dr Ajay Morea as Master of Ceremony and the formal vote of thanks was delivered by Rahul Thakur.Dr. Juhie Mohan drawing from her
experience in radio and media communication highlighted how storytelling humanizes brands and creates emotional connections through cultural narrativesThe panelists also discussed challenges of authenticity in digital storytelling emphasizing that it is cocreated by storytellers communities and audiences and must reflect genuine cultural representation rather than commercialized portrayals. The interactive session concluded with a lively Q&ampA with students and research scholars enriching academic dialogue on the subject. 2199625 Apr 24, 2026 CEO suspends 2 teachers Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentRAJOURI Apr 23 Chief Education Officer Rajouri Mohd Hafiz conducted a surprise inspection of several schools in Zone Kotranka suspended two teachers and sought explanations from many other staff members for negligence and poor functioning of schools today.Reports said during the inspection serious lapses were observed in staff attendance academic performance and implementation of the MidDay Meal (MDM) Scheme.At Govt Middle School Panjaira No. 1 the functioning of the institution was found highly unsatisfactory with poor academic standards and irregular MDM practices. Taking strict action CEO placed Shafiq Qabool teacher under suspension. Several staff members were also detached and reassigned to streamline academic functioning.At Govt Middle School Pateli Ajeet Singh teacher was found absent without authorization. He was also placed under suspension. The schools academic performance and attendance were noted to be below satisfactory levels.At Middle School Swari only three out of six teachers were present
prompting issuance of explanations to the three staff members. At Middle School Panjaira No. 2 Middle School Palwar and Middle School Nakha Gabber poor functioning low attendance and violations in MidDay Meal implementation were observed. All the concerned staff members have been directed to submit written explanations with in two days failing which disciplinary action will be initiated against them. 2199626 Apr 24, 2026 One held with heroin-like substance in Kathua Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentKATHUA Apr 23 Police claimed to have arrested one individual from Logate Morh area of the Kathua district and recovered approximately 9.16 grams of heroinlike substance from his possession.Acting on specific inputs received through reliable sources a team of Police Station Kathua under the guidance of Additional SP Kathua and DySP Headquarters Kathua laid a special naka at Logate Morh area of the district on April 22 a police official said.During checking he said the police team arrested one individual identified as Sachin Mehra alias Veenu of Khokhyal Tehsil Nagri District Kathua and recovered 9.16 grams of heroinlike substance from his possession.He was accordingly booked in case FIR number 2032026 under sections 82122 of the NDPS Act registered at Police Station Kathua and further investigation taken up the police official added. 2199627 Apr 24, 2026 PWD assigns E-in-C (Secy Tech) charge to Purshotam Kumar, Irfan Ahmad placed incharge XEN Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 The Public Works (Road &amp Building) Department has assigned the charge of the post of EngineerinChief (Secretary Technical) to Purshotam Kumar in addition to his own duties as Incharge Chief Engineer PMGSY Jammu.As per an order the decision has been taken purely in the interest of administration and as an interim arrangement for the purpose of addressing the administrative exigencies.Meanwhile Irfan Ahmad Miskeen incharge Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil) Degree Holder has been placed as incharge Executive Engineer (Civil) Degree Holder in his own pay and grade on a stopgap basis with immediate effect as prescribed in the J&ampK Engineering (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules 1978 amended vide SRO 297 of 2006 read with SO 281 dated October 28 2025 till the post is filled from the eligible engineers of the relevant quota.See Order Copy Click Here..... 2199628 Apr 24, 2026 23 bovines rescued, 2 smugglers arrested Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentUDHAMPUR Apr 23 Udhampur Police foiled two bovine smuggling attempts in separate incidents and rescued 23 bovines being transported illegally without valid permission.A patrolling party of PS Latti intercepted two brothers namely Mohd Tariq and Mohd Sain sons of Mohd Hussain resident of Sira Tehsil Latti who were found smuggling 10 bovine animals on foot from Chapper towards Kashmir without any valid permission.Both the accused were arrested and all the bovines were rescued safely. In this regard FIR No. 112026 US 223 BNS &amp 11 PCA Act has been registered at PS Latti and investigation is underway.Meanwhile during routine naka checking at NHW Tikri a police party intercepted a truck JK03P9380 driven by Amir Javid son of Mohd Javid Ahmed Kalas of Nar Sangar Tehsil Larnoo District Anantnag.During checking 13 bovine animals were found loaded in the vehicle and tied with ropes in a cruel manner. The driver failed to produce valid permission for the transportation of animals.The accused was arrested on the spot
and all the bovines were rescued safely. In this regard FIR No. 862026 US 223 BNS &amp 11 PCA Act has been registered at PS Rehambal. 2199629 Apr 24, 2026 BJYM stages protest, demands National Law University in Jammu Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentRAMBAN April 23 Demanding the establishment of a National Law University (NLU) in the Jammu region the activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest demonstration here today.The protest witnessed participation from a large number of party workers and youth activists who gathered at a prominent location in the town to voice their concerns over what they termed as the continued neglect of Jammus educational infrastructure particularly in the field of legal education.Raising slogans and holding placards the demonstrators emphasized the need for providing quality legal education opportunities to the youth of Jammu province.During the protest the workers also burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as a mark of protest accusing administrations of failing to prioritize higher education development in the region.Speaking on the occasion several BJYM leaders highlighted that the absence of a premier law institution in Jammu forces
aspiring students to move outside the region leading to financial and logistical hardships.They asserted that establishing a National Law University would not only strengthen academic infrastructure but also open new avenues for youth in legal studies and related professions.The protest remained largely peaceful with participants reiterating their commitment to continue the agitation until their demand is fulfilled.They called upon the administration to take immediate steps to address the issue and ensure equitable development of educational institutions across all regions of the Union Territory.The fight for education and justice will continue until the rightful demands of Jammus youth are met one of the protesting leaders stated.Local authorities monitored the situation to ensure law and order and no untoward incident was reported during the demonstration. 2199630 Apr 24, 2026 Court grants bail to accused in murder of Ikhwan Comdr Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSrinagar Apr 23 A court in Bandipora today granted bail to an undertrial accused in a 2017 murder case citing prolonged incarceration of nearly 8 years absence of strong corroborative evidence and violation of the constitutional right to a speedy trial.The Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Sumbal presided over by Mir Wajahat has granted bail to an accused in FIR No. 222017 registered at Police Station Hajin under Sections 302 and 120B RPC read with Section 725 of the Arms Act.The accused Aiyaz Ahmad Sofi a resident of Parray Mohalla Hajin was granted bail vide order dated April 23 2026.The case pertains to the killing of Abdul Rashid Parray alias Billa who was reportedly known as an Ikhwani commander. It is also on record that the deceased was allegedly involved in the killing of seven members of a family in the Saderkoot Bala massacre a separate case that remains under trial before a competent court.In the present FIR three accused persons are facing trial of whom Sofi is the first to be granted
bail.While considering the bail application the court took into account the prolonged incarceration of the accused for nearly eight years at District Jail Kot Bhalwal Jammu and the stage of the trial with a substantial portion of the prosecution evidence already recorded.The accused was represented by Advocate Tariq Ahmad Bhat and his associates who have been pursuing the case since its inception.The offences invoked include Section 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the erstwhile RPC along with provisions of the Arms Act. Bail in such cases is typically considered based on factors such as the duration of custody the progress of the trial and the available evidence at the preliminary stage. 2199631 Apr 24, 2026 Dr Manohar flags civic issues, accuses BJP for spreading false narratives Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentBILLAWAR Apr 23 Senior Congress leader and former Minister Manohar Lal Sharma today raised serious civic concerns and launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Partyled Government accusing it of Governance failures and spreading false narratives.Sharma was on an extensive tour of Billawar and Ramkote.During his visit to the villages including Thanthu Barota Ghar Tarkar and SC Mohalla Kough Dr Sharma interacted with locals and reviewed longpending grievances.A major issue highlighted during the visit was the ongoing drinking water crisis in Moda Ghar of village Kough.He said residents have been facing acute water shortages for over a year.Despite repeated appeals authorities have failed to restore regular supply. Women and elderly people are forced to walk long distances daily to fetch water which is unacceptable he said terming the situation a reflection of poor service delivery and administrative apathy.Sharma also drew attention to the incomplete link road from Thakur Dwara to Ghar village stating that
it continues to hamper mobility healthcare access and economic activities.He urged authorities to expedite infrastructure projects on priority.Expressing concern over recent heavy rains and flash floods Sharma criticized delays in compensation to affected families.Timely relief is a responsibility not a favour. The delay is worsening the suffering of already distressed households he remarked.Targeting the BJP Dr Sharma termed its claims of womens reservation and empowerment as a false narrative.He said that while the Government promotes womencentric policies ground realities in Jammu and Kashmir tell a different story.Women in rural areas are still struggling for basic amenities like water healthcare and livelihood. If empowerment is real why do these hardships persist he questioned adding that true empowerment requires sustained policy implementation and improved living conditions.Reaffirming his commitment to public welfare Sharma assured residents that their concerns would be raised at appropriate forums. 2199632 Apr 24, 2026 Awareness programme held Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 As part of the ongoing 100day Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan an awareness programme was organized at the 15 IR Battalion headquarters today.A statement said Commandant of the 15 IR Battalion SSP Dushyant Sharma greeted the guest speakers and participants.Retired Judge Subash Gupta Advocate Anisha Kohli and DySP Harmohinder Singh addressed the gathering and highlighted the growing threat of drug abuse stressing the need to protect youth and strengthen community participation to curb interborder drug trafficking.They also emphasised rehabilitation reducing demand for drugs promoting a healthy lifestyle and supporting affected families.Recruit constables who recently joined the unit also spoke on awareness and the ill effects of substance abuse.The programme was started by DySP Anita Pawar while Inspector Pooja Parihar conducted the proceedings.Mementos were presented to the speakers and participants by the Commandant 15 IR Battalion and the vote of thanks was delivered by DySP Sonali Kohli. 2199633 Apr 24, 2026 HC upholds writ court, revenue court decision on state land protection Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSrinagar Apr 23 The Division Bench of High Court upheld the order of revenue courts as also the judgment of writ court with regard to protection of 11000 kanals of state land from encroachments.The Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar dismissed the appeal challenging the writ court judgment whereby the court had upheld the orders of Settlement Commissioner and Financial Commissioner ordering for protection of 11000 kanals of state land from encroachments.The subject land is a State land measuring approximately 11000 Kanals commonly known as Musber Thang and Thunder Thang. The appellantvillagers apprehending that this big chunk of land may be encroached upon by the contesting respondentvillagers as such approached the Commissioner Survey and Land Records (exofficio Settlement Commissioner) J&ampK Srinagar by way of a revision petition filed in terms of Section 15 of the J&ampK Land Revenue Act.The contention of appellantvillagers in the appeal was that the Writ Court having
found that the order passed by the Settlement Commissioner and upheld by the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) had created a sort of confusion in that it was not clear as to whether the directions for management of the State land measuring approximately 11000 Kanals includes the 1500 Kanals in respect of which mutations have been attested in favour of the contesting respondentvillagers.There is no dispute with regard to the fact that the State land lying unutilized anywhere in the Union Territory of Ladakh is required to be protected by the Revenue Department. All the requisite steps are required to be taken so as to ensure that no illegal encroachment takes place. We do appreciate the concern shown by the appellants as publicspirited persons to protect the State land the DB said.The DB while upholding the judgment under challenge said the writ court took a correct view in the matter and remanded the case back to the Financial Commissioner so that the contesting respondentvillagers are afforded a fresh opportunity of being heard and
the issue as to whether the land measuring 1500 Kanals in respect of which there are mutations attested by the competent revenue officers in favour of the contesting respondents is part of 11000 Kanals of State land is effectively determined. For all these reasons we find no merit in this appeal the same is accordingly dismissed the bench concluded. 2199634 Apr 24, 2026 Power shutdown Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Chief Engineer (Distribution) JPDCL Jammu has informed that the power supply to Ramsoo and Banihal will remain affected on April 24 and 25 from 9 am to 6 pm.Similarly the power supply to Chakroi Pindi Flora BOP Kirpind and adjoining areas will remain affected on April 25 from 8 am to 11 am.Likewise the power supply to 13233 KV Jhajjar Kotli Grid Janipur New Sectt. Subash Nagar Muthi Rajinder Nagar Roop Nagar Sheetli (PHE) and adjoining areas will remain affected on April 25 from 7 am to 12 noon.Similarly the power supply to the areas fed from Grid StationSidhra Janipur Jhajjar Kotli Gandhi Nagar Nanak Nagar Trikuta Nagar Channi Himmat Transport Nagar Sainik Colony Bathindi Residency Road Dhounthly Bazar Karan Nagar Kachi Chawani and adjoining areas will remain affected on April 25 from 6 am to 1 pm.Meanwhile the Superintending Engineer (Distribution) JPDCL O&ampM Circle Kathua has informed that the power supply to Rahya and its adjoining areas will remain affected on April 24 and 26 from 8 am to
1 pm.Similarly the power supply to Rajenderpura and its adjoining areas will remain affected on April 25 from 8 am to 1 pm. 2199802 Apr 24, 2026 3 drug peddlers held with heroin Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentUDHAMPUR Apr 23 Udhampur Police arrested three drug peddlers in separate cases and recovered heroin from their possession.During naka checking at Motor Shed NHW Chenani police party from PS Chenani intercepted a Tavera vehicle bearing registration number JK01AP3290 which was coming from Udhampur towards Kashmir.During search 4.79 grams of heroin was recovered from one passenger namely Suheel Bashir son of Bashir Ahmad Wani resident of Shankarpura Bhagati Kanipora Srinagar. Accordingly FIR No. 652026 US 82122 NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Chenani and investigation has been taken up.During traffic checking a police party from PS Ramnagar intercepted one white coloured Toyota Glanza bearing registration number JK14J7490 coming from Kirmoo towards Ramnagar. On checking 6.21 grams of heroin was recovered from the possession of the driver namely Rahul Sharma son of Yograj Sharma resident of Nimbla Tehsil Ramnagar District Udhampur.In this regard FIR No. 542026 US 82122 NDPS Act has been registered at
Police Station Ramnagar and investigation is underway.Meanwhile a police party from PP Tikri apprehended one person namely Azlaan Ayoub son of Mohd Ayoub Rather resident of Kursi Padshahi Bagh Srinagar. During frisking 7.13 grams of heroin was recovered from his possession. Accordingly FIR No. 842026 US 82122 NDPS Act has been registered and investigation is underway. 2199806 Apr 24, 2026 Doctor's death in Doda: family seeks impartial probe Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Family members of Dr Prabjot Chalotra who died recently after reportedly slipping into a gorge in Doda district have demanded a fair and thorough investigation into the incident raising doubts over the circumstances surrounding his death.The family claimed that no visible injury marks were found on the body recovered from the deep gorge and questioned the absence of members from the house he had visited stating none of them were present at the hospital when his body was brought there.They further alleged that Dr Prabjots social media accounts were deleted after his death terming it suspicious as he was active online.Citing these concerns the family has urged the authorities to conduct a detailed probe to ascertain the exact cause of death. 2199805 Apr 24, 2026 One held with heroin-like substance from Bari Brahamana Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSAMBA Apr 23 An alleged drug peddler was arrested with 7 grams of heroinlike substance from Bari Brahamana area here today.Officials said Rakesh Kumar of Garn Katra Reasi District was arrested with the consignment whilst he was moving under suspicious circumstances from Teli Basti side towards Kikri Morh area.He was accordingly booked in case FIR number 1042026 under sections 82122 of the NDPS Act registered at Police Station Bari Brahamana and further investigation taken up they said. 2199804 Apr 24, 2026 Drug peddler held with heroin-like substance Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 An alleged drug peddler was arrested with approximately 45 grams of heroinlike substance from Rotary Chowk area here today.During checking of vehicles at Rotary Chowk area a motorcyclist identified as Irfan Bhatti of Ustad Mohalla was found in possession of the consignment a police official said.According to him the accused was accordingly booked in case FIR number 372026 under sections 8212225 of the NDPS Act registered at Police Station Pacca Danga and further investigation taken up. 2199803 Apr 24, 2026 Free medical & eye check-up camp held Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentUDHAMPUR Apr 23 Under the noble theme Nar Seva Narayan Seva a free Medical eye checkup camp and blood test camp was organized by Jammu Kashmir Blood Donors in collaboration with Rotary Club Udhampur and Atulaya Health Care at Divyang Ashram Shiv Nagar.A large number of people benefited from the camp where more than 150 patients were thoroughly examined by a team of experienced doctors. The camp provided free medical consultations eye examinations and blood tests to the attendees.Notably over 70 eye patients were provided with spectacles free of cost bringing muchneeded relief and improving their vision. 2199838 Apr 24, 2026 3 houses of alleged drug peddlers demolished at Rajiv Nagar Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU Apr 23 Authorities today demolished three houses belonging to alleged drug peddlers at Rajiv Nagar area here as part of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan.The action was carried out early in the morning when a joint team of police and CRPF personnel led by senior officers reached the Narwal area and razed the structures which were reportedly built using proceeds from narcotics trade.Officials said the owners of the properties are absconding and had been identified during recent investigations.A senior officer stated that similar action was taken in the area a few months ago and more such cases have since surfaced prompting fresh demolitions.He said the drive is aimed at dismantling the financial networks of drug peddlers and sending a strong message against narcoticsrelated activities.Reiterating the administrations resolve the officer said strict action will continue against those involved in the drug trade and their illegally acquired assets adding that efforts are also being made to steer
youth towards constructive activities like sports to curb the menace. 2199801 Apr 24, 2026 Police in Shopian deploy canine unit in anti-drug campaign Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSrinagar Apr 23 Intensifying efforts under the Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan Shopian Police in coordination with the CRPF 14th Battalion has deployed its canine unit (Narcotic Dog Squad) to strengthen action against drug trafficking in the district.As part of a special enforcement drive trained sniffer dogs have been deployed at multiple checkpoints to detect concealed narcotics. The canine unit plays a crucial role in identifying hidden contraband enabling timely recovery and apprehension of those involved in illicit drug trade. The initiative aims to disrupt the supply chain of narcotics and act as a strong deterrent to drug peddlers. Alongside enforcement measures Shopian Police has been actively conducting awareness campaigns to educate the public and promote the vision of a drugfree society.Additionally intensified vehicle checking operations are being carried out across the district. Suspicious vehicles are thoroughly searched at designated naka points in strict adherence to established Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs). 2199841 Apr 24, 2026 World Book Day-2026: Libraries Deptt showcases rare collection of literary resources Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSRINAGAR Apr 23 A series of events were organized by the Department of Libraries &amp Research today across Kashmir division to commemorate the World Book &amp Copyright Day2026.World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated on April 23 every year to promote the love for reading and writing power of publishing making reading accessible for all and the importance of protecting intellectual property through copyright laws.The Day also signifies the potential of books and literature in shaping minds uniting people and inspiring social transformation.Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1995 the day commemorates the passing away of literary legends including William Shakespeare Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all of whom passed away on this day.This years theme for World Book and Copyright Day is Literacy through multilingualism and access to books for all.To mark the day todays main event was organized at SPS Central Library complex with an Exhibition of Special Literary Collections including Manuscripts
Rare Books and Miniature Paintings.The exhibition was opened to public by Mrs Rubina Kousar Director General Libraries &amp Research J&ampK.The main attractions of the exhibition jointly organized by SPS Library Srinagar &amp the Oriental Research Library (ORL) Srinagar were the historic manuscripts like QarabaiDin Sadh PandLuqman and Shahnama Firdous. Some of the rare books including Mahabharata &amp Ramayana Rajtarangni by KalhannaTareekheRasheedi Gazetteer of India and Kashur a history of Kashmir were also displayed at the exhibition.Speaking on the occasion Director General Libraries &amp Research J&ampK said the Oriental Research Library Srinagar established in 1904 is a repository of around 6000 rare manuscripts in 17 languages encompassing varied fields. The library also has around 500 rare books and miniature paintings.Mrs Rubina said the manuscript collection of ORL is a treasuretrove of religious philosophical historical literary and scientific writings rich in classical languages like Persian
Sanskrit Hindi Urdu Turki Brij Bhasha and Arabic.These languages have left deep impression on Kashmiri language by conditioning its growth in terms of forms and scope she said and added that the Sanskrit language of court and culture in 9th and beginning of 10thcentury in Kashmir contributes number of religious aesthetic and poetic articulations and are preserved in ORL Srinagar. 2199837 Apr 24, 2026 Army porter dies in mishap Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentPOONCH Apr 23 A youth working as porter with the Army was killed in a road accident near Gurdiwala village in Sathra area of Tehsil Mandi in Poonch District today.Official sources said that the youth was travelling from Gali Pindi towards Jandrolla when his motorcycle met with an accident. He lost control over the speeding bike and rolled down into a deep gorge along his twowheeler.The locals of the area rescued him and tried to shift to hospital in Mandi but he died on the way.The deceased has been identified as Mohd Shoket son of Mohd Rashid a resident of Jandrolla Sathra. The police has taken cognizance of the matter. 2199840 Apr 24, 2026 HC upholds PSA of 2 OGWs Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentSRINAGAR Apr 23 High Court upheld the detention order passed against two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and dismissed their pleas challenging the orders of PSAs citing the preventive detention is devised to afford protection to society.Justice M A Chowdhary upheld the PSA of Ishfaq Ahmad Sheikh of Chakoora Litter and Mohammad Ashraf Mantoo of Bijbehara. The duo was detained by the District Magistrates of District Pulwama and Anantnag vide orders dated 26.04.2025 and 30.04.2025 respectively.The court after perusal of the grounds of detention of detenue Sheikh said that right from the year 2020 till 2025 the detenue was kept under preventive measures for his involvement in criminal and antinational activities.It was also found that the detenue was involved in the subversive activities and was working as close aide and hardcore OGW of killed terrorists Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo and Dr. Saifullah as also the detenue is the brother of hardcore terrorist of LeT Irfan Ahmad Sheikh of Pulwama who was eliminated on 06.02.2019 to
whom the petitioner was providing all assistance logistic support and transportation facilities involving him in the case FIR No.392020 under sections 120 B 307 IPC 45 Explosive Substance Act 725 Arms Act and 13 18 39 UA(P) Act at PS Litter.The court in the case of detenueMantoo has been informed that he was involved in two criminal cases registered vide FIR No.1922021 under NDPS Act and FIR No.942022 under UAP Act at Police Station Bijbehara and on being admitted to bail the detenue was found involved himself in creation of underground hideout in orchards to facilitate shelter to terrorists and providing of logistic support to them and indulged in subversive activities being affiliated with LeT.The court while upholding both the PSAs of these detenues said those who are responsible for national security or for maintenance of public order must be the sole judges of what the national security public order or security of the State requires.Preventive detention is devised to afford protection to society. The object is not to punish a man
for having done something but to intercept before he does it and to prevent him from doing. Justification for such detention is suspicion or reasonable probability and not criminal conviction which can only be warranted by legal evidence the court recorded.The court further added that preventive detention is devised to afford protection to society. Rulings on the subject have consistently taken the view that preventive detention is devised to afford protection to society. The object is not to punish a man for having done something but to intercept before he does it and to prevent him from doing so.With these reasons the court has upheld the detention order under challenge and recorded that the petitions are found devoid of any merit and are accordingly dismissed alongwith pending applications. 2199839 Apr 24, 2026 Drug-peddler booked under PITNDPS Act Daily Excelsior State Excelsior CorrespondentRAJOURI Apr 23 In a strong action against drug trafficking the police in Rajouri today detained a notorious drug peddler under PITNDPS Act.A police spokesman said that the accused Munshi Khan son of Khan Mohd resident of Dhanour Dindian in Rajouri district was involved in multiple cases of drug peddling. Taking cognizance of his continuous involvement in such illegal activities the competent authority issued detention orders under the PITNDPS Act and sent him to Jammu Jail.