The Kashmir Pulse

BUDGAM — In a major food safety operation, approximately 1,600 kilograms of rotten meat was seized at Budgam Railway Station during a late-night joint operation involving the District Administration Budgam, Railway authorities, Municipal Committee Budgam and Animal Husbandry Department.

The seizure has raised serious concerns over the transportation of unsafe and unhygienic meat and the possibility of its eventual entry into the local food supply chain, posing potential health risks to consumers.

Officials said the joint operation was conducted to prevent the circulation of unsafe food products and safeguard public health.

The recovery of such a huge quantity of rotten meat has also brought the issue of monitoring meat transportation and enforcing food safety standards into focus.

Further details regarding the source of the consignment, its intended destination and the action initiated against those responsible are awaited.

SRINAGAR — The Congress party released its manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, promising to bring back full statehood to the region if elected. However, it did not mention anything about restoring Article 370.

The manifesto emphasised the Congress party’s responsibility to oppose “divisive forces,” and expressed willingness to work with other similar-minded parties.

While the manifesto neither supported nor opposed the removal of Article 370, it did promise to reintroduce the Legislative Council, which was removed after Article 370 was revoked. The Congress also committed to holding Panchayat and Urban elections as per the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments.

The party also promised inclusive and accountable governance and to reinstate the practice of shifting key government offices between Srinagar and Jammu every six months.

For government jobs, the Congress pledged to prioritise citizens of Jammu and Kashmir with proper residency status.

If elected, the party plans to present a white paper on corruption and set up a Lokayukta within its first 100 days in office. The Congress also promised to give more power to MLAs to better represent their constituencies.

They vowed not to evict poor people and farmers from land they have continuously occupied.

Congress said it would also fully enforce the Public Services Guarantee Act and offer all rights to displaced persons from West Pakistan who came to Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, 1965, and 1971. They also promised to regularise settlements of displaced persons and refugees.

Under the Mahila Samman Scheme, Congress promised to give Rs 3,000 per month to women heads of households in the Economically Weaker Sections. They also pledged an unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 per month for qualified youth for one year.

The party said it would fill 1 lakh vacant government jobs and release a job schedule within 30 days.

Congress also promised to provide health insurance of Rs 25 lakh covering treatments, diagnostics, and medicines.

KISHTWAR — Following the killing of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Kishtwar, Police have issued wanted posters of three wanted militants and announced a collective cash reward of Rs 30 lakh for information leading to their arrest.

The three wanted individuals have been identified as Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir, Riyaz Ahmed alias Hazari and Mudasir Hussain.

The posters, issued by District Police Kishtwar, carry photographs of the three men and appeal to the public to share any information regarding their whereabouts or movements.

Police have provided two contact numbers, 1995357494 and 9797900958, for sharing information, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.

The announcement comes amid intensified security operations in Kishtwar following the killing of two SPOs, Rashpal and Babbi Chand, whose bullet-riddled bodies were recovered from the forest area of Marwah.

Security agencies have stepped up efforts to trace those involved in the killings, while the reward announcement is aimed at securing public assistance in locating the three wanted men.