Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], October 6 (ANI): The Centre for Youth Development (CYD) and its initiative Downtown Coordination Committee held a grand programme on "rising drug abuse and role of civil society" at 7C's Restaurant, Sangar Mall in Srinagar.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], October 5 (ANI): More than 300 participants competed in different age categories of the Yogasana competition organized at Indoor Hall Sports Complex Polo Ground, Srinagar by the J&K Sports Council and J&K Yogasana Association. It came to an end on Tuesday.

Kabul [Afghanistan], July 31 (ANI): Afghans on Sunday decried the delay in the issuance of electronic identification cards adding to their plight in war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Jammu Mar 27 PTI Authorities on Sunday carried out a massive anti-encroachment drive in different parts of Jammu triggering protests by people who blocked the Narwal Bypass for several hours officials saidAn official spokesman said 84 structures including six large commercial buildings were demolished during the day-long drive which led to the retrieval of over 260 kanals 325 acres of state land worth crores of rupees from encroachersDozens of structures including buildings and shops were demolished partially or completely near the Bathindi crossing on the Narwal Bypass early in the morning by the revenue department amid heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces the officials saidHundreds of people took to streets and blocked the highway by burning tyres and staging a sit-in against what they termed was a selective drive to dislodge a particular communityAdditional Deputy Commissioner Jammu Shyambir had a tough time maintaining law and order and was seen persuading protesters to lift the blockade with the assurance that the administration will look into their grievances sympatheticallyWe suspended the drive on public demand and asked them to form a committee to raise their issues at the right forum We are here to address their genuine issues he told reporters at the scene of the protestAsked about the demand for compensation for the damage he said the issue of compensation will be decided during deliberations with the committeeThe police officer said the drive was carried out in accordance with the laid down rules to reclaim state land illegally occupied by people and there was no violation on part of the administrationHowever the protesters accused the district administration of going for selective anti-encroachment drives to dislodge the particular communityThey came around 4 am and started the demolition drive without any prior notice The law is equal for everyone but why this selective drive in our areas Was the government sleeping when the buildings were raised Shabir Ahmad one of the protesters saidHe said properties worth crores were damagedWe have electricity connections and ration cards there is no justification for the drive It is nothing but hooliganism Ahmad allegedSeveral protesters also claimed to have legal documents for the land in question and said they were occupants of the land for many decadesAn official spokesman said the anti-encroachment drive was launched in Jammu Khas village in the Jammu tehsil and Chhanni Rama village of Bahu tehsil whereby 260 kanals of state land was retrieved during the day-long exerciseA large patch of 220 kanals of state land located near the Tawi river in Jammu Khas has also been retrieved after dismantling 15 structures the spokesman said adding the total value of this patch is estimated to be close to Rs 200 crore as per stamp duty ratesAnother prime patch of land totalling 40 kanals situated along the national highway in Chhanni Ramahas also been retrieved simultaneously the spokesman saidA total of 52 structures including six large commercial buildings situated on this patch have been demolished during the exercise he saidThe spokesman said the value of this land is estimated to be Rs 56 crore as per stamp duty rates though the market value is much higher owing to large scale commercial establishments that are located in the vicinity and along the highwayProminent sign boards depicting state land have been erected at the retrieved sites in order to secure them and prevent re-encroachment attempt by the land grabbers he saidSeveral directives were issued by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and the administration for removal of encroachments on state landIn pursuance to the directions an action plan was formulated for retrieval of such land and state land and over 15000 kanals of state land was retrieved in Jammu district over the past three months and sign boards stand installed the spokesman saidHe said the land so retrieved shall be put to gainful use keeping in view the requirements projected by various government departments as well as priorities of the administrationIn a separate exercise the spokesman said the forest department has retrieved 12 kanals of forest land in Bahu area located along the highway in demarcated forest area near Raika Environmental ParkThe joint eviction drive was carried out by forest department and police whereby 17 structures were dismantled he said PTI TAS TAS ANB ANB

Jammu Mar 27 PTI Authorities on Sunday carried out an anti-encroachment drive in different parts of Jammu triggering protests by people who blocked the Narwal Bypass for several hours officials saidDozens of structures including buildings and shops were demolished partially or completely near Bathindi crossing on the Narwal Bypass in the early morning drive by the revenue department amid heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces they saidMeanwhile hundreds of people took to streets and blocked the highway by burning tyres and staging a sit-in against the selective driveAdditional Deputy Commissioner Jammu Shyambir had a tough time in maintaining law and order and was seen persuading the protesters to lift the blockade with an assurance that the administration will look into their grievances sympatheticallyWe suspended the drive on the public demand and asked them to form a committee to raise their issues at the right forum We are here to address their genuine issues he told reporters at the scene of the protestAsked about the demand for compensation for the damage he said the issue of compensation will be decided during deliberations with the committeeThe police officer said the drive was carried out in accordance with the laid down rules to reclaim the state land illegally occupied by the people and there was no violation on part of the administrationHowever the protesters accused the district administration of going for selective drives to dislodge a particular communityThey came around 4 am and started the demolition drive without any prior notice The law is equal for everyone but why this selective drive in our areas Was the government sleeping when the buildings were raised Shabir Ahmad one of the protesters saidHe said properties worth crores were damagedWe have electricity connections and ration cards there is no justification for the drive It is nothing but hooliganism he allegedSeveral protesters also claimed to have legal documents for the land in questionOfficials said the anti-encroachment drive was also carried out in Belli Charana Sunjwa and Sidhra bypassAt Belli Charana a large chunk of land under occupation of a prominent politician was retrieved and several structures demolished they said adding that illegal constructions were also removed in Sidhra and SunjwaPTI TAS SRY

Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 22 (ANI): Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Pulwama in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) organized two days long skill development programme on the theme of "Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Cultivation and Processing of High-Value Aroma Cash Crops" for Kashmiri students as part of the CSIR's integrated skill initiative at its field station, Bonera in the Pulwama district of South Kashmir.

Shopian (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 2 (ANI): A policeman was injured on Tuesday after terrorists fired at him in the Amishijipora area of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, informed Kashmir Zone Police.

Kabul [Afghanistan], October 12 (ANI): The National Statistics and Information Authority in Afghanistan said that electronic National Identity Card (eNIC) centres are going to reopen across the country on Wednesday.