TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| After repeated terror attacks in Kathua, Govt to revive VDGs in Jammu region | | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 1: In response to a series of relentless terrorist attacks disrupting the tranquility of Jammu province, the Union Government is taking decisive steps to bolster the capabilities of the Village Defence Guards (VDGs). This initiative includes not only reinforcing their numbers but also arming these local defense units with advanced, sophisticated weaponry to counter the escalating threats.
According to highly placed sources, a comprehensive blueprint for enhancing the VDGs has already been drafted. The proposal awaits final approval, which is expected following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s upcoming visit to Jammu and Kashmir. The government’s strategy hinges on the critical understanding that local participation is indispensable in rooting out terrorism from the region. To this end, authorities are committed to equipping the VDGs with cutting-edge firearms, a move aimed at thwarting the sinister intentions of terrorist groups operating in Jammu p... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| DGP Prabhat, IGP Jammu review combing operation | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 1: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bhim Sen Tuti on Tuesday visited Kathua district and reviewed the ongoing operation
DGP Prabhat, along with IGP Tuti and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shiv Kumar Sharma, arrived at the Panjtirthi site in Kathua where a combing operation is underway to track down three terrorists who escaped after a brief encounter with security forces on Monday night, the offic... | |
| | | | ‘Seek and destroy operation’ intensifies | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 1: A seek and destroy operation to track down three terrorists, believed to be hiding in a forested area in Panjthirthi-Barota in Kathua following an encounter last night, resumed Thursday with multiple agencies engaged in the effort, officials said
The area was placed under a cordon after the Monday night gunfire between police and terrorists.
The officials said the three terrorists are believed to be from a group that had its first face-off with security forces in the Nursery area near the International Border on March 23. All of the terrorists had managed to escape.
Four days later, security forces engaged them in an encounter in a forest area of th... | |
| | | | Silent killer: J&K registers over 13,000 cancer cases annually | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 1: The Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir has seen a rise in the incidence of deadly cancer, with over 13000 new cases reported annually.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Pratap Rao Jadhav said that as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), the estimated number of incidence of all types of cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir were 14112 in the year 2024.
T... | |
| | | | Amit Shah’s J&K visit not linked to anti-terror operation in Kathua: CM Omar | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 1: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir was not linked to the anti-militancy operation in Kathua.
The programme was finalised before the operation, he added.
“Do not link the Union minister’s visit to the Kathua (operation). His programme was finalised before the Kathua encounter. It is a coincidence that his visit comes around the time of the Kathua operation,” the chief minister told rep... | |
| | | | Srinagar-Leh NH reopens in record 33 days | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 1: The strategic Srinagar-Leh National Highway was reopened for traffic on Tuesday after remaining closed for just over a month — a record minimum duration — due to heavy snow accumulation on the Zojila Pass stretch, officials said. This was the shortest winter closure of the Zojila Pass. The pass was thrown open by Director General Border Roads Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan. “Eid was celebrated yesterday (Monday) but today is an Eid for us as this road, which is vital for the people and important strategically for the defence forces, was officially reopened,” Lt Gen Srinivasan told reporters near the Zojila Pass.
He complimented the Border Roads Organisation ... | |
| | | | J&K to implement 3 new criminal laws by April end | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 1: The Union Government today made it clear that three new criminal laws would be fully implemented in Jammu and Kashmir by April this year.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that the Government has taken measures to ensure the full implementation of the three new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir.
“A Steering Committee under the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir and an Empowered Committee u... | |
| | | | LG Sinha attends Odisha Day celebration at Raj Bhawan | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 1: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha attended the Odisha Day ‘Utkala Dibasa’ celebration, today.
Officials, Students, Faculty members from various educational institutions and the people of Odisha living in J&K UT were the special invitees for the commemorative event hosted by Jammu Kashmir Raj Bhawan at Jammu.
While addressing the guests, the Lieutenant Governor extended his felicitations and best wishes on the occasion of ‘Utkala Dibasa’.
“Odisha's ri... | |
| | | | Naxal-affected districts came down from 12 to 6: Amit Shah | | |  New Delhi, Apr 1:
Agencies
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the Naxal issue is now confined to just six districts in the country, from the earlier 12.
Shah said the Modi government is building a ‘Sashakt, Surakshit and Samriddh Bharat’ with a ruthless approach to Naxalism and relentless efforts for all-pervasive development.
He said Bharat is determined to uproot Naxalism for good by March 31, 2026.
“Taking a giant stride towards building a Naxal-free Bharat, today our n... | |
| | | | MHA extends validity of FCRA-registered NGOs | | | 
New Delhi, Apr 1:
Agencies
The Union Home Ministry has extended the validity till June 30 of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)-registered NGOs whose renewal application is pending and whose five-year licence is expiring between April 1 and June 30.
All NGOs or entities receiving foreign funding have to be mandatorily registered under the FCRA.
In a notification, the ministry said the central government has decided in public interest to extend till June 30 the validity of FCR... | |
| | | | 13,000 sq km of forest area encroached in 25 states, UTs | | |  New Delhi, Apr 1:
Agencies
Over 13,000 square kilometres of forest area -- more than the total geographical area of Delhi, Sikkim and Goa combined -- is under encroachment in 25 states and Union territories that have so far submitted data to the Union environment ministry.
Ten states are yet to submit data on forest encroachment.
Last year, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took suo motu cognisance of a PTI report that cited government data showing 7,50,648 hectares (7,506.48 square ki... | |
| | | | India's defence exports surge in 2024-25: Rajnath | | |  New Delhi, Apr 1:
Agencies
India's defence exports have surged to a record high of Rs 23,622 crore (approx. USD 2.76 billion) in 2024-25 registering a 12.04 per cent growth over the previous fiscal, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday.
Singh also said that the country is poised to achieve the target of Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
India's defence exports in 2023-24 were Rs 21,083 crore.
"India's defence exports have surged to a record high of Rs 23,622 crore... | |
| | | | RBI working towards balancing financial stability: Guv | | |  Mumbai, Apr 1:
Agencies
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Tuesday underscored the central bank’s commitment to bolstering consumer protection, while optimising regulatory frameworks, to strike a balance between financial stability and efficiency.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the commemoration of the 90th year of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), he said, “as we mark this milestone, we recognize that the RBI’s role has expanded significantly beyond initial mandate.
Today, we stand a... | |
| | | | Firing along LoC | | |  Early Times Report
Poonch/Jammu, Apr 1: Security forces resorted to brief firing following a mine blast along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Wednesday, officials said The mine blast occurred under suspicious circumstances in a forward area of the Krishna Gati sector early this morning, they said.
This prompted the troops deployed along the LoC to open retaliatory fire briefly. There were no injuries or casualties reported in the incident.
However, loc... | |
| | | | NHAI hikes toll charges by 4-5% | | |  New Delhi, Apr 1:
Agencies
Commuters on national highways and expressways will need to pay more for their road journeys, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has increased toll charges by an average of 4 to 5 per cent on highway sections across the country.
The revised toll charges for motorists on national highways across the country have come into effect from Tuesday, a senior highways ministry official said.
NHAI notifies toll rate hikes for all the national highways a... | |
| | | | Searches underway in 5 areas | | | | Early Times Report
Mendhar/Jammu, Apr 1: Security forces on Tuesday launched search operations in five areas of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said.
The operations are part of enhanced security measures aimed at maintaining high vigilance in the border district, they said.
The search operations were conducted by joint teams of the Special Operations Group (SoG) of the police and units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The areas where these operations were conducted include hinterland and border areas such as Behramgalla-Chatran Sailan, Kala Jhoola, and Nakka Nar forest in Gursai Mastandara Jabri and Chajala-Seagi areas of Mankote. ... | |
| | | | Earthquake hits Leh | | | 
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 1: An earthquake measuring magnitude 4.2 on the Richter scale struck Leh in Ladakh on Tuesday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
According to NSC, “EQ of M: 4.2, On: 01/04/2025 17:38:42 IST, Lat: 35.37 N, Long: 76.93 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Leh, Ladakh.”... | |
| | | | Prices of commercial LPG cylinders slashed | | | | New Delhi, Apr 1:
Agencies
Oil marketing companies have announced a reduction in the prices of 19 kg commercial LPG gas cylinders by Rs 41, effective from Tuesday.
In Delhi, the retail sale price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder is Rs 1762 from today.
Earlier, on February 1, the prices of commercial LPG cylinders were reduced by Rs 7.
Meanwhile, oil companies regularly revise LPG prices based on changes in global crude oil rates and other factors. The prices of domestic LPG cylinders, which are used for household cooking, remain unchanged in this revision.
In December, the oil companies increased the rates of 19 kg commercial LPG cylinders by Rs 62. These price adjustments ar... | |
| | | | Lt Gen Mishra takes over as GOC of White Knight Corps | | | 
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 1: Lieutenant General P K Mishra on Tuesday took over as new General-Officer-Commanding of Jammu based White Knight Corps.
“Lt Gen PK Mishra, took over the Command of @Whiteknight_IA from Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva,” PRO Defence Jammu posted on X.
It further said, “the Corps Commander urged all ranks to uphold the highest standards of operational excellence and continue fostering peace and stability in the region. ... | |
| | | | WhatsApp bans over 9.7 million accounts in India | | | | New Delhi, Apr 1:
Agencies
WhatsApp on Tuesday said it banned more than 9.7 million accounts in India during February 2025, 1.4 million of which were proactively banned prior to any user reports.
Releasing its monthly safety report, the Meta-owned messaging app also shared tips on using the platform responsibly. It listed out ways to do so, including respecting boundaries, avoiding spamming with bulk and auto messages, and using broadcast lists responsibly.
“According to the report for the month of February 2025, WhatsApp banned over 9.7 million accounts in India for violating its Terms of Service. More than 1.4 million of these accounts were proactively banned prior to any user re... | |
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