TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| NC devises strategy to emerge BJP’s main rival in Jammu | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 21: The National Conference (NC) on Tuesday concluded a two-day meeting of its block presidents and senior leaders from across Jammu province, with party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in attendance, signaling a renewed political push to strengthen the party’s base in the region.
Sources said the meeting focused on devising a strategy to expand the party’s footprint in Jammu province and position the National Conference as the principal alternative to the BJP, gradually replacing the Congress, which has traditionally enjoyed a strong hold in this part of the Union Territory.
According to sources, party workers were directed to aggressively take up public issues at the grassroots level and ensure their resolution with the support of the government, so as to regain public confidence and strengthen the organization at the block and panchayat levels.
“The emphasis was on sustained public outreach, resolving local griev... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Pak breaks ceasefire in Kupwara; IED foiled, terror hideout busted | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 21: Tension flared once again along the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday as Pakistan violated the ceasefire in the Keran sector of Kupwara district, triggering a strong and effective retaliation by Indian security forces. Officials said the firing was unprovoked, and troops responded with heavy cross-border fire, forcing the adversary to fall silent. Amid the rising security alert, forces also averted a major tragedy in South Kashmir after recovering an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Shopian. The explosive was safely seized and defused, preventing what could have been a deadly attack on civilians and security personnel.
These developments come clos... | |
| | | | Day 2: Pre-budget meeting consultations continue, CM chairs key meetings | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 21: For the second consecutive day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today held pre-budget consultations with several key departments to assess priorities, sectoral needs and development imperatives for the upcoming Budget Session of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, scheduled to begin on February 2. The Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister, chaired extensive deliberations with the departments of Social Welfare, Health & Medical E... | |
| | | | NIA Court rejects bail in terror conspiracy case | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 21: In a significant order in a high-profile UAPA terror-conspiracy case, the Court of Special Judge, NIA Cases, Jammu, Prem Sagar, has dismissed the bail application of Irfan Ahmed Dar (A-11), holding that the material on record reflects his alleged role in furtherance of a larger unlawful conspiracy and that his release could influence key witnesses yet to be examined. Dar, son of Mohd Yaqoob Dar, a resident of Batengoo, Anantnag, presently lodged in District ... | |
| | | | Security beefed up in Srinagar ahead of Republic Day | | Night patrols, surprise inspections conducted | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 21: Police have intensified security measures in Srinagar ahead of Republic Day to ensure smooth and incident-free celebrations, officials said on Wednesday.
In preparation for the upcoming Republic Day festivities, the Srinagar police has heightened security and inspection protocols throughout the city to guarantee a peaceful and safe observance of this national event, police officials said.
As part of the enhanced security framework, police personnel have been deployed at strategic locations across the city.
Special checkpoints and mobile patrols have been established, where thorough checks of vehicles and individuals are being conducted, accordin... | |
| | | | Kishtwar: Search ops intensified ahead of R-Day | | More troops Inducted near encounter site | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 21: As Republic Day is nearing, safety protocols are being significantly tightened across Jammu, with security forces on Wednesday conducting house to house searches in a locality with a large concentration of Rohingya Muslims, officials said.
They said additional Army troops were inducted in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district on day four of the ongoing search operation to flush out terrorists, who have escaped into deep forest after an encounter on Sunday.
Police, assisted by the Central Reserve Police Force personnel, are carrying out house to house searches at Bhatindi-Narwal-Rajiv Nagar area in the outskirts of Jammu city, officials said.
The ... | |
| | | | Ahead of Republic Day, DGP Prabhat reviews security, anti-terror operations in Shopian | | | 
Early Times Report
Shopian, Jan 21: Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat (IPS), on Wednesday chaired a high-level security review meeting at the District Police Office (DPO) Shopian to assess the prevailing security situation and review ongoing anti-terror operations, with a special focus on arrangements for Republic Day–2026.
Prabhat, chaired a comprehensive Security Review Meeting at the Conference Hall, District Police Office (DPO), Shopian, to assess the prevai... | |
| | | | Census-linked house listing operations to begin in J&K from June 1 | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 21: House Listing Operations (HLO) will be conducted across Jammu and Kashmir from June 1 to 30 as part of the upcoming census exercise, with self-enumeration commencing 15 days prior, officials said on Wednesday. The schedule was decided by the Union Territory Level Census Coordination Committee, which met here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, they said, adding that the government will issue the requisite notification by January... | |
| | | | Assistant Professor suspended in GDC Doda suicide case | | | | Early Times Report
Doda, Jan 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department has ordered a formal inquiry into the alleged suicide of a student of Government Degree College Doda, even as a faculty member has been placed under suspension pending the outcome of the probe.
According to an official government order issued by the Higher Education Department, a three-member committee has been constituted to inquire into the incident of reported suicide committed on January 16, 2026, by a student identified as Ms Saba Banoo of Government Degree College Doda. The committee has been directed to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and submit its report within a period of seve... | |
| | | | Chisoti cloudburst: Families of missing wait for closure to perform rituals | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 21: For months, Rajesh Kumar and Bindiya from Punjab’s Jalandhar are living between despair and acceptance, searching in Jammu for answers about their 22-year-old daughter and her friend, who went missing after a cloudburst in Kishtwar district in August last year.
Another family from Jammu has lost eight members to the tragedy. The families say they are not asking for compensation but acknowledgement — death certificates that would allow them to perform the rituals for the dead.
As DNA reports remain pending, they say every passing day deepens the pain of not knowing whether to hold on to hope or accept the loss.
The devastating cloudburst struck Chisoti... | |
| | | | Microlite aircraft meets with accident | | |  Early Times Report
NEW DELHI/PRAYAGRAJ, Jan 21: A two-seater microlite aircraft of the Indian Air Force met with an accident in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Wednesday, defence sources said.
Both the pilot and the other crew member who were onboard the aircraft are safe, they said.
A microlite aircraft is a small aircraft generally used for training, bird recce and survey purposes.
The aircraft met with an accident while it was on a routine sortie. The recovery system was initiated, and... | |
| | | | Cross-border illegal arms module linked to Pak smugglers busted, 2 held | | | | Chandigarh, Jan 21:
Punjab Police on Wednesday said it has unearthed a cross-border illegal arms module linked to Pakistan-based smugglers with the arrest of two persons.
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police also recovered six sophisticated pistols (two Glock, four .30 bore) along with two cartridges, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said.
The arrested accused were involved in illegal arms trafficking and supplying weapons to gangsters under directions of foreign handlers, Yadav said in a post on X.
An FIR has been registered under the Arms Act at Police Station Islamabad in Amritsar, he added. (PTI) ... | |
| | | | Cabinet approves continuation of Atal Pension Yojana | | |  Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, Jan 21: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved continuation of government’s flagship Atal Pension Yojana (APY) up to financial year 2030-31 along with extension of funding support for promotional and developmental activities and gap funding.
APY was launched on May 9, 2015 with the objective of providing old-age income security to workers in the unorganised sector.
As of January 19, 2026, over 8.66 crore subscribers have been enrolled under APY.
The schem... | |
| | | | Minimum temperatures improves in Kashmir | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 21: The minimum temperature improved at most places across Kashmir, even as the prolonged dry spell in the plains of the Valley is likely to end with the Meteorological Department forecasting spells of wet weather, including widespread snowfall for the upcoming week, officials said on Wednesday.
Two strong western disturbances are likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir this week, with the first one making its impact on Thursday, and another on January 26, the officials said.
Under the influence of these systems, widespread light to moderate rainfall/snowfall is expected, including in the plains of the Valley, with heavy falls at a few places, the official... | |
| | | | Gold futures hit record Rs 1.58 lakh | | |  Early Times Report
New Delhi, Jan 21: Gold futures soared by Rs 7,774 to scale an all-time high of Rs 1,58,339 per 10 grams on Wednesday, as global prices breached the USD 4,800 per ounce-level amid sustained demand for the safe-haven assets.
Rallying for the third straight day, the yellow metal futures for February delivery climbed by Rs 7,774, or 5.16 per cent, to touch a record of Rs 1,58,339 per 10 grams on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX).
On Tuesday, the yellow metal extended its r... | |
| | | | Probe ordered in allegations | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 21: The Government of J&K has ordered a time-bound inquiry into allegations against three officials of the Designs, Inspections and Control Department, Jammu.
As per an order issued by the Public Works (R&B) Department, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Engineer-in-Chief, has been appointed as the Inquiry Officer to conduct a comprehensive probe into the allegations against Pankaj Gupta, Junior Assistant, and Kewal Krishan and Ashok Raina, both Senior Assistants.
The inquiry officer has been directed to submit a detailed report with specific recommendations within 15 days.
Meanwhile, Accounts Officer of the department, Kuldeep Kumar has been appointed as the Presenting... | |
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