Direct Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Train Likely from April 30, All Preparations Completed

Jammu, Apr 22: The much-awaited direct Vande Bharat train service between Jammu and Srinagar is expected to commence on April 30, with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw likely to flag off the service from Jammu Railway Station, officials said.

Official sources as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, all arrangements including infrastructure, trial runs, and security protocols have been finalized for the launch of the direct rail connectivity between the two capital cities.

Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh is also expected to be present at the inaugural function along with senior railway officials and other dignitaries.

Officials said the trains and tracks are fully ready and successful trial runs have already been conducted, while security arrangements have been put in place ahead of the launch.

Currently, Vande Bharat trains operate between Katra and Srinagar, which are now being extended up to Jammu with revised timings to be notified by the Railways.

The introduction of direct train service is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar and further enhance connectivity between the two regions.

The development comes ahead of the annual move of the Civil Secretariat to Srinagar, scheduled in early May, and is also expected to benefit pilgrims of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra starting July 3.

Officials said while the rail link will provide major relief in case of highway disruptions, the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway will continue to remain a key transport route for commuters and goods movement. (KNC)

PM Modi led regime has taken development to every doorstep: LG Sinha

Says crores of families who once had no roof over their heads now have their own homes; Roads have reached every village, number of airports has doubled, digital revolution has connected every section of society; Marginalised sections have bank accounts, identity, hold smart mobile phones for financial transactions

Jammu, Apr 21: Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led regime has taken development beyond mere statistics and has carried it to every doorstep, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that crores of families who once had no roof over their heads now have their own homes.

Speaking at the statue unveiling ceremony of Shri Vijay Bahadur Singh, a well‑known social worker and the founder of Mahamandaleshwar Shri Bal Krishna Yati Inter College at Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, LG Sinha, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that steps taken by the PM Modi led regime have brought dignity and security in society.

“Roads have reached every village, the number of airports has doubled, the digital revolution has connected every section of society. Today the marginalised section have bank accounts, they have an identity, they hold smart mobile phones for financial transactions, and in my view this is not merely technological progress but social empowerment,” he said.

“In far‑flung regions of the country, new schools, new universities and a new education policy together have begun to build an India in which the hands of the youth hold the reins of the future. The facilities now available particularly for girls are unprecedented in our history, and the purpose of education through innovation and research is no longer merely to pass exams but to create an aware and responsible citizen,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said, “We have to build an India which our freedom fighters once dreamed of. In which every section and every individual will be a part of the mainstream of progress.”

“India is moving decisively towards becoming a developed nation. The goal of 2047 is not merely a date; it is a national resolve,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Paying homage to Shri Vijay Bahadur Singh, the Lieutenant Governor that he discharged his duties without any expectation, served without any desire for fame, and built not for himself but for the coming generations.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that we must carry the ideals of Shri Vijay Bahadur Singh Ji, a true karma‑yogi, to every segment of society.

“I feel particularly proud that Shri Vijay Bahadur Singh Ji did not ask what Bindravan could do for him; instead, he showed what Bindravan and the Jakhania region could do for themselves. This Inter College, born of a people’s movement, is just a small symbol of his transformative work.

Shri Vijay Bahadur Singh Ji did not merely establish a college; he made a pledge, a promise to the future. In 1974, when he laid the foundation of this institution, there was no major financial support and no assurance of success. All he had was an unshakeable belief that education is the power which can change society,” the Lieutenant Governor said—(KNO)

KU Professor Booked in Rape, Cheating Case in Srinagar, Suspended

Srinagar, Apr 21: Jammu and Kashmir Police has booked a professor of University of Kashmir, a Srinagar resident, for alleged rape, cheating and criminal intimidation, with the complainant accusing him of prolonged exploitation under the pretext of marriage.

A senior police officer told news agency JKNS that the accused has been arrested, after an FIR was registered against him on the basis of the victim’s complaint.

Police have registered the case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and initiated an investigation to probe all allegations and establish the full extent of the offence.

Meanwhile, University of Kashmir in an official notification issued by the administration, teaching section, a copy of which lies with JKNS reads, “Whereas, Sajad Mohammed Khan, Scientist-C, Department of Computer Science, has been arrested in connection with the FIR No 11 of 2026 lodged at Women’s Police station Rambagh.”

“Now, therefore, in terms of Rule 31 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, and in view of his detention in custody, Mr Sajad Mohammed Khan, Scientist-C, Department of Computer Science, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect,” it reads. (JKNS)

PDP Opposes Removal of Urdu Requirement in J&K Revenue Recruitment Rules

Srinagar, April 21: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday strongly opposed the decision to remove Urdu as a mandatory qualification from revenue recruitment rules in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a move that undermines both administrative continuity and cultural identity.

In a statement, the party said the decision represents a deliberate attempt to sideline Urdu from the region’s administrative framework, despite its longstanding role in governance.

The PDP said Urdu has historically formed the backbone of revenue records, land documentation, and official communication in Jammu and Kashmir, and removing it from recruitment criteria could create practical challenges in handling existing records.

The party described the move as “culturally insensitive” and “administratively unsound,” stating that any dilution of Urdu’s role would weaken the continuity of governance systems that have relied on the language for decades.

The PDP further said the decision reflects a broader pattern of changes that, according to the party, risk undermining the linguistic and cultural identity of the region.

Highlighting public sentiment, the party said Urdu maintains a deep-rooted connection with the people and continues to play a significant role in official and social spheres.

The PDP urged the government to immediately withdraw the notification and restore Urdu as an essential qualification for revenue posts.

It added that any attempt to diminish the status of the language would be opposed. [KNT]