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| 17 mysterious Badhal deaths resonate in Assembly, legislators seek CBI probe | | Budget Session 2025 | | | Toxins were detected from samples collected, from viscera of deceased, says Govt
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: The demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the 17 mysterious deaths in Badhal village of Rajouri echoed in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, with MLAs alleging a larger conspiracy behind these fatalities and even linking them with the recent deaths in Kulgam and Kathua.
The Jammu & Kashmir Government informed the House that nearly a half-a-dozen toxins were found from the samples collected from the area and viscera of the deceased.
As Question Hour began NC’s Javed Iqbal Choudhary raised the demand for a CBI probe into the deaths after Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakina Ittoo informed the House that half-a-dozen toxins were detected from samples collected in the area as well as from viscera of the deceased.
“Different toxins have been found in the samples. It seems they were poisoned with a substantial amount of toxins, “he said.
He said these deaths shouldn’t be viewed in isolation from the incidents in Ku... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Ask Centre to hold talks with Pak: NC MLA tells BJP legislators | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: National Conference (NC) MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar on Wednesday pitched for holding talks with Pakistan and urged the BJP members in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to push New Delhi to engage in dialogue with the neighbouring country.
The NC MLA also took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for communal clashes taking place across the country and said his party follows Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology and not Nathuram Godse’s.
“Nothing is possible without di... | |
| | | | It seems Pak is in NC’s DNA: LoP Sharma | | Says speaker allowing anti-national statements in Assembly | | 
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on Wednesday raised doubts over the credibility of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, alleging that the Speaker was allowing anti-national statements in the Assembly. Sharma’s remarks came after National Conference (NC) leader Ali Mohammad Sagar allegedly mentioned Pakistan in his speech.
“It seems Pakistan is in NC’s DNA. I had written a letter to Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, but NC MLAs continue to ... | |
| | | | You are not Om Birla: PDP MLA to Speaker | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: The Jammu & Kashmir Assembly witnessed a stormy session on Tuesday as PDP legislators engaged in a war of words with treasury bench MLAs, leading to chaos in the House.
The confrontation escalated when PDP leader Waheed Para accused Speaker Rahim Rather of bias, stating, "You are not Om Birla, and this Assembly can't run on bias and arbitrariness."
As tensions flared, Para also took on National Conference MLAs, declaring, "Threaten, shout, and try to int... | |
| | | | Jan for promotion of border tourism in Poonch | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: Ajaz Jan, MLA Poonch, highlighted several pressing issues in the J&K Legislative Assembly during the Chief Minister’s grants session.
He strongly condemned the incident in which a woman was allegedly beaten by a police officer in Kulgam. He urged the Union Home Minister to intervene and ensure justice for the victim.
In addition, Jan advocated for the promotion of border tourism in Poonch and Mandi, demanding the inclusion of Poonch, Mandi, Loaran, Gagri... | |
| | | | 290 consultant posts vacant in J&K | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 19: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said 290 consultant posts remain vacant across various hospitals in the Union Territory.
Responding to a question from MLA Arjun Singh Raju, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo said J&K has a sanctioned strength of 852 consultants, out of which 562 are in position, while 290 posts remain vacant as of March 1, 2025.
Itoo said the vacant posts are being filled based on a 60:40 recruitment ratio, with 60% of the posts being directly recruited through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and 40% reserved for promotion.
The promotional quota is under review by the Departme... | |
| | | | ‘Don’t resort to sensationalism’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather today called upon the members of the House to conduct themselves responsibly and refrain from sensationalism, emphasizing their role as public representatives.
His remarks came in response to a tweet by MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, who alleged on social media platform X that his cut motions against Grants for various departments, including Law, Tourism, Estates, Culture, and the General Administration Department (GAD), were not admitted by the Assembly Secretariat, which he termed as discriminatory towards him and the opposition.
Addressing the House, the Speaker clarified that, as per Rule 227 of the Conduct of Business Ru... | |
| | | | ‘683 teaching, non- teaching posts vacant in Bhaderwah’ | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that there are 683 teaching and non-teaching posts vacant in Bhaderwah constituency. The Minister was replying to a question raised by Daleep Singh Parihar. She informed that the posts included Principals, Headmasters, Masters, Teachers and Non Teaching staff.
The Minister said due to freezing of teacher posts, no recruitment of teachers could be made in the department for the past 6 years which has added to... | |
| | | | Wages of NHM employees revised: Itoo | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the house that the wages of all NHM employees in J&K had been revised from 15 percent to 17 percent during the year 2021-22 with a 5 percent increase being given annually.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Ch. Vikram Randhawa in the Legislative Assembly. The Minister informed the house that the National Health Mission (NHM) in Jammu and Kashmir is being fully funded by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). “Salary adjustments for NHM employees in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly to bridge the salary gap at par with employees in other states, must a... | |
| | | | Govt extends deadline for employees to submit self-assessment report | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday directed all employees to complete their self-assessment for the fourth quarter of 2024 (October-December), while announcing an extension of the submission deadline following widespread delays.
As per Circular No. 02-JK(GAD) of 2024, issued on January 11, 2024, employees were initially required to submit their quarterly self-assessment reports on the Employees Performance Monitoring System (EPM) during the first week of January 2025. However, officials noted that a significant number of employees failed to meet this deadline due to various reasons, prompting multiple requests for an extension. In response, ... | |
| | | | 6-member committee to examine regularization of daily wagers | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: In response to escalating tensions between the ruling National Conference and the opposition BJP over the plight of temporary employees in various government departments, the Jammu and Kashmir government took decisive action on Wednesday by establishing a formal committee to tackle the issue of regularizing daily wagers.
According to an official order from the General Administration Department, the six-member panel will be chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dullo. The committee comprises senior officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, the Administrative Secretary of the Finance Department, the Administrative Secretary of ... | |
| | | | Old mortar shell found | | |  Early Times Report
SAMBA/JAMMU, Mar 19: Police on Wednesday recovered an old mortar shell in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, officials said.
Locals spotted an old live mortar shell in the fields of Sarore village and subsequently informed the police, they said.
A police team rushed to the spot and safely secured the mortar shell.
Subsequently, a bomb disposal squad reached the scene and carefully defused it.
Police officials said the mortar shell appeared to be old. Investigatio... | |
| | | | NIA intensifies crackdown against terror supporters | | Raids 12 locations in Jammu region | | 
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: Intensifying the crackdown against terror supporters in Jammu sleuths of National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out raids at 12 locations in the region on Wednesday.
The raids, according to a NIA statement were held in connection with infiltration of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists.
The statement said that the NIA received information regarding infiltration of LeT and JeM terrorists into India through the international Border (IB) ... | |
| | | | Apni Party leaders look towards PDP | | Establish backchannel communications, seek ‘Ghar Wapsi’ | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 19: The Jammu Kashmir Apni Party, once seen as a rising political force, is reportedly on the verge of becoming a one-man show, with a growing number of its leaders eager to rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to reliable sources, several prominent Apni Party members have established backchannel communications with PDP leadership, seeking a return to their former political home. Sources indicate that the PDP is carefully evaluating the situation and is likely to take a final call on welcoming back these leaders who had previously distanced themselves from the party.
A significant number of PDP members had joined the Apni Party, but the pa... | |
| | | | Maintain open communication with police: DGP Prabhat to people | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 19: Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat on Wednesday conducted his maiden Public Grievance Redressal programme at the Police Control Room (PCR) Kashmir here.
A police spokesman in a statement said that around 200 public delegations met the DGP and all the grievances were taken note of for appropriate action.
“The DGP encouraged citizens to maintain open communication with the police and assured them that their concerns would be treated with the high... | |
| | | | Arrest AAP MLA: Court directs Police | | Defamation Case | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: A Jammu court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Mehraj Malik, the sitting MLA from Doda and a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in a defamation case filed by former minister GM Saroori. The Special Excise Mobile Magistrate in Janipora, Jammu, directed the police to arrest Malik and present him before the court on May 14, 2025. The case was registered at Gandoh Police Station under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with defamation.
Saroori had approached the court, alleging that Malik made false statements aimed at damaging his reputation. ... | |
| | | | Terrorists will either go to ‘jail or jahannum’: Rai | | |  NEW DELHI, Mar 19:
Agencies
There has been a 71 per cent reduction in incidents of terror in the country under the Modi government and terrorists will now either go to jail or “jahannum” (hell), Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Replying to queries from members during Question Hour, the minister said unlike in the past when terrorists were glorified and served “good food”, the Modi government has a ‘”zero tolerance” policy towards terrorism th... | |
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