TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| Amid IWT suspension, Centre clears Dulhasti stage-II hydel project on Chenab | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 26: In a significant push to accelerate hydropower development in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has granted environmental clearance to the second phase of the Dulhasti Hydroelectric Project.
The approval was accorded during the 45th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), paving the way for floating construction tenders for the project.
The 260-megawatt run-of-the-river project, to be built over the Chenab River in Kishtwar district, is estimated to cost over ₹3,200 crore. The clearance comes in the backdrop of India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 25 civilians.
According to official documents, while India has put the IWT on hold, the Dulhasti Stage-II project continues to adhere to the technical parameters laid down under the treaty provisions. The move signals a renewed focus on harnessing the hyd... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Baramulla: Ancient stone sculpture of Goddess Durga recovered from Jhelum | | | | Early Time Report
Baramulla, Dec 26: Baramulla Police have played a key role in safeguarding cultural heritage after facilitating the lawful recovery and handover of an ancient stone sculpture of Goddess Durga, retrieved from the River Jhelum, to the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums for preservation and conservation.
In a statement, On 25 December 2025, a fisherman identified as Nazir Ahmad Latoo S/o Ghulam Mohammad Latoo, R/o Shaltang/Zogyar, reported to Police Station Sheeri, Baramulla, that he had recovered a stone sculpture while fishing in River Jhelum. The sculpture was immediately brought to the notice of police authorities and kept in safe custody at Police Statio... | |
| | | | PM Modi ensured justice to victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots: LG Sinha | | “Veer Baal Diwas” | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 26 : Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured justice to the to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that under the leadership of PM Modi, historic steps have been taken to honor the legacy of Sikh Gurus.
While paying tributes to the Sahibzades, Mata Gujri Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on the occasion of ‘Veer Baal Diwas,’ LG Sinha said, “PM Modi ensured justice to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The grant of FCRA approval to Sri Harmandir Sahib has enabled the global Sangat to participate in the service of the holy shrine.”
He said, “The Sri Kartarpur Sahib corridor, rejuvenation of ... | |
| | | | Mirwaiz drops Hurriyat Chairman title from X | | End Of Separatism In Kashmir ? | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 26: Decision of the separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to move the designation “Chairman, All Parties Hurriyat Conference” from his social media profile has raised many eyebrows.
This move has triggered speculation and discussion not in the mainstream politics but also in the separatists circles of Kashmir Valley.
The change was noticed on Thursday evening, when Mirwaiz’s profile—followed by over 200,000 users—was updated to display only his name along with general location details.
The reference to his long-held position as chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was conspicuously absent, marking a significant departure from his earlier... | |
| | | | Reservation issue triggers showdown between CM, Ruhullah Mehdi | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 26: The standoff between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and dissident National Conference Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is set to escalate on Saturday, with the Srinagar MP announcing his decision to join ongoing student protests over the reservation policy if the government fails to initiate dialogue by December 27.
Ruhullah Mehdi, who has emerged as a vocal critic within the party, warned that continued inaction on the contentious reservation issue would compel him to personally participate in the agitation. He has repeatedly accused the National Conference leadership of reneging on commitments made in its 2024 election manifesto.
Responding sha... | |
| | | | No conflict between science and dharma: RSS Chief | | | | Early Times Report
Tirupati, Dec 26: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said there was no conflict between science and dharma, and asserted that ultimately all seek the same truth through different paths.
Addressing the Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan here, Bhagwat said dharma was often misunderstood as religion, whereas it was actually the “science governing the functioning of creation”. “Dharma is not religion. It is the law by which creation runs. Whether one accepts it or not, no one can function outside it,” he said, noting that imbalance in dharma leads to destruction. Science had historically “kept distance” from dharma due to the assumption that it had no place in scientific inquiry, h... | |
| | | | NIA court extends custody of 2 accused | | Red Fort Blast Case | | | Early Times Report
New Delhi, Dec 26: A special court on Friday extended the custody of two key accused being investigated by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the deadly Red Fort blast case, even as the anti-terror agency continues to unravel the larger conspiracy behind the attack.
Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma granted the NIA ten more days of custody of accused Yasir Ahmed Dar while allowing the agency to interrogate Dr Bilal Naseer Malla for a further eight days. The court accepted the prosecution’s submission that sustained custodial interrogation was necessary to trace the remaining links of the terror network and verify the material collected so far... | |
| | | | Assault on Kashmiri shawl sellers won’t be tolerated: MHA | | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 26: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken a strong note of an assault on a Kashmiri seasonal Shawl Seller in Uttarakhand, making it unequivocally clear that such acts against Kashmiri shawl sellers will not be tolerated at any cost.
A top official from the Ministry of Home Affairs said that “MHA has taken strong note of the incident and has made it clear that such acts against Kashmiri shawl sellers will not be tolerated at any cost.” Kashmiri traders are equal Indian citizens, constitutionally entitled to work anywhere in India, he said.
According to officials, on the afternoon of Monday, December 22, 2025, Bilal Ahmad Ganie (28), a shawl seller... | |
| | | | ‘Expedite installation of prepaid smart meters’ | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has directed all Government departments, institutions, local bodies and Government residential colonies to expedite the installation of prepaid smart electri city meters under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to ensure financial stability of power utilities and reliable 24×7 power supply.... | |
| | | | ACB arrests RDD employee while accepting bribe | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 26: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday arrested an employee of the Rural Development Department (RDD) red-handed while accepting a bribe at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Anantnag.
Official said, the accused has been identified as Manzoor Ahangar, son of Mohammad Rafiq, a resident of Srandoo, who was working as a helper in the RDD department Anantnag.
The arrest was carried out by an ACB team led by DySP Mehraj-ud-Din. Officials said the accused was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe amount of ₹4,000.
Further investigation into the matter is underway.... | |
| | | | Chenani murder case: Court awards life term to 5 convicts | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 26: The Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Udhampur, Virinder Singh Bhou, has awarded rigorous imprisonment for life to five convicts in the Chenani murder case arising out of FIR No. 135/2020, Police Station Chenani, holding them guilty for offences including murder (Section 302 IPC) and attempt to murder (Section 307 IPC).
The convicts are Pahar Singh alias Parshotam, Radha Devi, Harish Singh, Anil Singh and Arnood Singh @ Rajesh, all tried in Sessions Case (Murder) No. 13/2021.
The Court recorded that the prosecution case was that the alleged occurrence stemmed from an illicit relationship between accused Pahar Singh and Radha Devi, which was opposed b... | |
| | | | CBI prosecutor injured in Banihal accident, succumbs | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 26: A young CBI prosecutor who was critically injured in a road accident near Banihal on Thursday succumbed to his injuries during treatment, on Friday morning, triggering widespread grief across the legal fraternity and his native area.
Official sources said the accident occurred on Thursday at around 3:00 pm when an Alto car (JK10), driven by Advocate Sheikh Adil Nabi, son of Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, a resident of Bijbehara in Anantnag district, was travelling from Banihal towards Kashmir.
Sheikh Adil, aged around 35 years, had recently cleared the UPSC examination and joined as a Public Prosecutor with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Chandiga... | |
| | | | Unclaimed suitcase creates panic | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 26: Panic spread in a part of Udhampur town in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday after an unidentified suitcase was discovered on a busy road, prompting swift action from the police, officials said.
Acting on information received from locals, police immediately cordoned off the area near the post office on Dhar Road and called in a bomb disposal squad for inspection, they said. During the brief traffic halt, the team examined the suitcase, which revealed nothing untoward. Normal traffic was resumed once the area was declared safe, they added.... | |
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