District Election Officer (DEO) Kupwara, Ms. Ayushi Sudan on Friday convened a meeting of EROs, and other officers to review the preparations for upcoming Lok Sabha elections . The meeting discussed threadbare various aspects of the preparations which included, the availability of drinking water, electricity, and toilet facilities for camping locations / identified buildings for accommodation of Para-Military Security forces to be deployed for the LS Polls in Kupwara district. The DEO on the occasion, directed EXen PDD and EXen PHE to ensure the availability of electricity and water supply for ..read more

The Udhampur area had a good voter turnout of over 65 percent by 5 pm during the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to reports, different areas within Udhampur had varying turnout percentages. The voting began at 7 am despite heavy rain in some parts. The main competition is between BJP’s Jatinder Singh and INC’s Lal Singh. This phase covers 102 seats across 21 states and Union Territories. While giving constituency wise details, officials Bani reported 60.65% turnout, Banihal-56.62%,, Basohli-63.57%, Bhaderwah-60.85%, Bilawar-64.51%, Chenani-66.33%, Doda-65.78%, Doda West ..read more

As of 3 pm on Friday, the Udhampur constituency saw a voter turnout of over 57 percent in the first round of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. An official reported that a 57.09% voter turnout was recorded in Udhampur by 3 pm, with voter participation increasing. Polling in this crucial seat began at 7 am today despite heavy rain in parts of Udhampur and Kathua districts. The first phase of the national elections is taking place in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories ..read more

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Friday dismissed apprehensions about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and assured people that their vote was safe and secure. Kumar asserted that the EVMs were 100 per cent safe as a large number of safeguards – technological, administrative and process-oriented – were in place. “It is a settled issue. It is 100 per cent safe. It has been raised in the honourable Court also. We are awaiting judgment, nothing can happen to the machines. Every stage political parties and their candidates are involved. Mock polls are done,” he said to questions on doubt ..read more

A woman was injured after a mudslide damaged a temporary Kotha in Kokernag area of South Kashmir Anantnag district on Friday. An official told that a mudslide due to incessant rains at Takiya Magam, Kokernag damaged one Kotha belonging to Ab Hamid son of Ab Rehman Ahanger. He said that in the incident his wife Saleema Begum came under the debris and received injuries who was shifted to SDH Kokernag for treatment. Meanwhile authorities have taken cognizance of the incident.(KS ..read more

Braving incessant rains, an estimated 43 per cent of voters registered their choice by 1 pm on Friday in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur parliamentary constituency, officials said. Polling began at 7 am in 2,637 polling stations across the constituency and was going on peacefully with no untoward incident reported, they said, adding that there are 12 candidates in the fray. Union minister Jitendra Singh, who is eyeing a third term after winning the Udhampur seat for the BJP in 2014 and 2019, is contesting against Congress leader and two-time former MP ..read more

Senior IPS officer Nalin Prabhat has been appointed as the chief of National Security Guard (NSG), the country’s counter-terrorism force, according to a Personnel Ministry order. Prabhat, a 1992 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, is presently working as Additional Director General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment as the Director General, NSG for a period up to August 31, 2028 i.e. the date of his superannuation, the order said. Popularly known as the “black cats”, the federal ..read more

Joined by his friends in traditional outfits, a groom dressed in a sherwani and vibrant headgear was one of the first to vote at a polling station in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, as the Lok Sabha election’s first phase kicked off today. Voting began at 7 am despite the challenging weather, across the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat that includes five districts: Udhampur, Kathua, Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar. Kapil Gupta, who got married on Thursday, voted early at a polling station located within the premises of the Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes & Backward Classes Development ..read more

Pakistan, a nation with diverse regions and cultures, has been grappling with disparities in the distribution of power and resources between its federal capital, Islamabad, and the province of Baluchistan. This disparity not only reflects economic and developmental challenges but also highlights the complex interplay of politics, governance, and security issues that have shaped the region’s landscape. The recent statistics from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, depict a disturbing reality of the economic divide between Islamabad and Balochistan. During the financial year of 2022-2023, it can ..read more

Gender discrimination against females is a pervasive issue that persists from birth to death, impacting every aspect of their lives. Despite progress in many areas, females continue to face unequal choices and challenges compared to males. This discrimination is deeply ingrained in societal norms and practices, often leading to a lack of support and opportunities for girls and women. I have witnessed these challenges firsthand while working in the health department in a rural area, I feel compelled to shed light on this issue.From the moment a female child is born, she is often greeted with l ..read more