Jammu Sep 28 PTI A Pakistani intruder was apprehended along the Line of Control LoC in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday officials said Army troops guarding the LoC picked up the movement of a person who attempted to sneak into this side from across the border in Keri sector the officials said They said the infiltrator was challenged and taken into custody for questioning Nothing incriminating was recovered from his possession the officials said adding further details are awaited PTI TAS AB AQS AQS

Jammu Sep 28 PTI Director of Tourism Jammu Vivekanand Rai on Tuesday said his department is planning major events in the coming months to boost the tourism sector which was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemicSky is the limit as far as the tourism potential of Jammu region is concerned and the department has intensified its activities to bring unexplored destinations on the tourism map of the country he saidThe outbreak of COVID-19 hampered tourism-related activities but since the situation has improved restrictions are being eased and accordingly we are planning our activities to promote the tourism sector Rai told reporters after flagging off a three-day trekking expedition to Shankhpal hereHe said the tourism department has planned major events during the next four monthsWe had a two-day monsoon festival at Patnitop and a bike rally from Sidhra to Basohli Kathua over the past few days A series of big events are planned like iconic week Navratra festival Christmas and winter festival in the coming months which will be projected at national level he saidSome more events are also in the pipeline Rai addedHe said the department has decided to focus on offbeat destinations in addition to the regular attractionsThe picturesque Bani-Basohli in Kathua district will be given its due focus through tourism promotion eventsThe place was not developed as per its potential The infrastructure development is time-consuming but will be done in a phased manner officials saidRai said the department is also coming up with a plan to welcome tourists at the airport railway stations and bus stands PTI TASAB IJT

Jammu Sep 27 PTI A 42-year-old man died after being run over by a train on the outskirts of Jammu on Monday an official said Baldev Raj a resident of Dewan village was reportedly crossing the track at Ratnuchak around 8 am when he was run over by the train the official saidHe said the body of the deceased was shifted to the hospital for post-mortem and would be handed over to his family after completion of legal formalities PTI TAS AB TDS TDS

Jammu Sep 26 PTI Jammu Divisional Commissioner Raghav Langer on Sunday visited Katra the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Reasi district and reviewed arrangements for the upcoming nine-day-long annual Navratra festival an official spokesperson said Accompanied by senior civil and police officers including Director Tourism Jammu Vivekanand Rai Deputy Commissioner Reasi Charadeep Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Reasi Shailender Singh Langer conducted on-the-spot inspection of the venues proposed for conducting different activities during the Navratra festival scheduled to commence on October 7 he saidThe divisional commissioner stressed that in view of the Covid pandemic all the activities should be planned according to the standard operating procedure SOPLanger also stressed on adhering to the Covid protocols while holding the festival events the spokesperson said adding that he also suggested excluding activities involving large gatheringsThe highlight of the festival include devotional song contest wrestling competition Prabhat Pheris Shobha Yatra Mata ki Kahani recitation and other cultural items he saidLanger directed the concerned officers to put in place all necessary arrangements and work in a well-coordinated manner to make preparations well in advanceHe also stressed on effective regulation of traffic fool-proof security maintenance of roads streets beautification of shops and market and sanitation of Katra town he said PTI TAS KJ

Jammu Sep 26 PTI The first-ever two-day Monsoon Festival concluded at the famous Patnitop hill station in Udhampur on Sunday attracting over 6000 visitors who enjoyed enthralling cultural and musical performances by popular artists and singers from within and outside Jammu and Kashmir The second day was marked by a soulful Sufi rendition by the Ali brothers and foot-tapping Punjabi songs performed by Armaan Bedil an official spokesman said He said the folk art giants of Jammu region including renowned Romalo Ram and Party Ram Ditta and Party Kud Dance Pancheri Party Deepak Vishakha and Divya Bharti were amongst the main attractions Volleyball and kabaddi competitions were also organised by involving local youth clubs and winners were felicitated the spokesman said The two-day festival was organised by the Directorate of Tourism Jammu in collaboration with Patnitop Development Authority to encourage tourism in the region and promote it as a hill resort destination This would create awareness about its many natural and cultural attractions during the monsoon season The festival held as part of the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav exposed tourists to traditional culture music cuisines handicraft handlooms games besides performances by celebrity artists from outside JK at a single venue the spokesman said Chief Executive Officer Patnitop Development Authority Sher Singh said the festival was aimed at promoting tourism of different kinds -- leisure adventure and religious -- in and around the hill resort such as Sudh Mahadev Shankhpal Gouri Kund Nag Temple Shivgali and Mantalai Adventure activities like cable car at Skyview Empyrean Zipline at Patnitop and Sanasar trekking on picturesque routes found in this circuit have enormous tourism potential which are required to be explored he said He said the Patnitop Development Authority would be organising more events in the coming days and make them a regular annual affair We are looking at reaching a footfall of more than 6 lakh this year he said Nearly three lakh tourists have visited Patnitop circuit this year since COVID-19 induced lockdown curbs were relaxed in the second week of June PTI TAS HDA

Jammu Sep 26 PTI An 18-year-old youth died of electrocution after he came in contact with live wire in a village in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district on Sunday officials said The death of Mohammad Shoib triggered protests against the Power Development Department PDD by people in Kewal village of Kotranka in Budhal tehsil Shoib was busy in tree pruning near his house when he accidentally touched the electricity wire and died on the spot the officials said The locals blamed the PDD for the death of the youth and said the department has tied the low-tension electricity wires with trees instead of erecting electricity poles The protesters demanded adequate compensation to the bereaved poor family PTI TAS AQS AQS

Jammu Sep 25 PTI Suchiter Sharma 22 kept his passion for singing and painting aside to crack the civil services examination in his first attempt but plans another attempt next year to improve his 146th rank He said the COVID-19 induced lockdown helped him a lot to concentrate on his studies and fulfil the dream of his parents who are both teachers and an inspiration for him Kuchh paane ke liye kuchh khona padta hai we have to lose something in order to gain something remarked Sharma as he revealed how he kept aside his love for singing and painting to prepare for the gruelling examination At least nine candidates from Jammu and Kashmir have qualified in this years Union Public Service Commission UPSC exam and Sharma a resident of Salehar village in Bishnah came at the top of the list of successful candidates mostly from Kashmir valley Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and various others including former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti congratulated them for the accomplishment Heartiest congratulations to all those from JK who qualified the UPSC exam 2020 They are the true inspiration for our youth I wish all of them a bright future the Lt Governor said in a tweet circulated through the handle of his office Mufti in a separate tweet said Congratulations to all the hard working IAS aspirants from JK who cracked this years UPSC exam Wishing them all the best success in their new endeavour The process of UPSC election is exhaustive but not difficult where your morale sometimes gets high and down as well After god I am thankful to my parents and my younger sister who stood by my side and never made me think that I wont achieve this feat said Sharma who did his schooling from Army School Ratnuchak with 948 per cent in Class 12 and his graduation from GGM Science College Jammu with main subjects -- Botany Zoology and Geology -- securing 86 per cent in 2020 The exam topper said he fell in love with singing when he was in Class 10 and started thinking of becoming a rapper I have written several songs and was also doing painting as well but gave up both to focus on the UPSC exam which was on my mind he said Thanking his teachers for the guidance Sharma said he was initially preparing for MBBS but later decided to work on cracking the UPSC exam I have some more attempts to improve my ranking and I will utilise this opportunity to get to the IAS post he added Sharma who appeared in the preliminary exam of IAS just five days after his BSc final exams said he was already prepared for it as Covid-19 induced lockdown had made things easy as he remained at home and focussed on the examination He said motivation remains the key to keep your morale high for the examination which is very important for success Lauding his friends Irfan and Zaid for their support he said a positive environment is imperative for such an achievement Irfan is like my elder brother and Zaid is my batch-mate Both of them expressed faith in me and motivated me all along he said His father Madan Lal said he had never thought of such an achievement by his son at this young age I consider this a lucky moment of my lifeDetermination hardwork and a clear goal is the key for success Lal said PTI TAS HDA

Jammu Sep 25 PTI A 24-year-old man died after allegedly jumping into Basantar river in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday police said Deepak Kumar a resident of Goran village died on the spot after hitting the dried-up river bed a police official said He said the body was recovered by a joint team of the State Disaster Response Force SDRF and police and taken to a hospital for conducting a post-mortem The motive behind the youth taking such an extreme step was not known immediately the official said PTI TAS HDA

Jammu Sep 25 PTI A former terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen was arrested after a long hunt of 19 years in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir police said on Saturday Dulla alias Jameel a resident of Arnas village in Reasi was the third former militant turned absconder arrested by police in Kishtwar in the past 11 days they said A police spokesman said a special police party on specific information carried out raids at various suspected locations and arrested Dulla who was presently putting up at Kundwar village in Chatroo area Dulla was wanted in a militancy-related case registered against him at police station Chatroo in 2002 but was evading arrest he said He was produced in a local court which sent him to judicial custody the spokesman added Earlier two former militants turned absconders -- Nazir Ahmad of Budhar-Bonjwah and Abdul Gani alias Mavia -- were arrested after a long hunt of 12 years and 19 years on September 15 and 17 respectively PTI TAS AQS AQS

Jammu Sep 24 PTI The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board SASB on Friday night announced that yatris who were registered for the annual yatra to the cave shrine of Amarnath this year can get refund of their registration fee officials saidIt has been decided that the registration fee pilgrims will be refunded to them from October 1 to October 31 officials saidThose who want to get their fee refunded shall have to approach the concerned bank branch which had issued the yatra permit and surrender the original permit along with an application for the refund they addedThe refund shall be made to each yatri individually and not to anybody else on their behalfThe SASB has also kept the option for revalidation of yatra permit for yatra-2022 For this pilgrims must keep the yatra permit form intact which they can get revalidated by visiting the same bank branch when the registration opens for yatra- 2022 the officials saidPertinently the annual pilgrimage of Amarnath this year was cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic but SASB carried out all the traditional religious rituals at Shri Amarnathji caveSASB had also made arrangements for the live telecast of morning and evening aarti on TV Channels and social media in addition to facilitating Virtual Pooja Hawan and Online Prasad booking PTI AB ANB ANB