The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet against a Srinagar resident in a case concerning an alleged attempt to grab land and obtain building permission using forged documents.

The chargesheet was filed before the Court of Sub-Judge, Srinagar, in FIR No. 08/2016 registered under Sections 420/511, 167, 471 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).

The accused has been identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, a resident of Barapather, Haft Chinar, Srinagar. The case also names the then Patwari, who has since died.

According to the case, the allegations arose from a complaint that Malik, allegedly in connivance with the Patwari, attempted to take possession of land and obtain building permission from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation by relying on forged documents.

During the investigation, the agency said it found evidence supporting allegations of fraudulent documentation, misrepresentation of material facts and alleged misuse of official position.

The investigation was concluded as “Proved”, following which the chargesheet was presented before the competent court for judicial determination.

The filing of the chargesheet brings the matter before the court, which will determine the allegations and evidence in accordance with law.

The article first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse at https://kashmirpulse.com/jk/kashmir/eow-kashmir-chargesheets-srinagar-man-in-forged-land-documents-case/115978.html

SRINAGAR — What began as an emergency response after the Pahalgam terror attack has evolved into a round-the-clock support system for residents of Jammu and Kashmir across the country and beyond.

The dedicated toll-free helpline, 1800-8900-166, was launched by the Omar Abdullah-led government on April 25, 2025, as a 24x7 channel for people seeking emergency assistance, grievance redressal and coordination with authorities in other states.

The helpline was established in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, when reports of intimidation, harassment and assaults involving students and residents of Jammu and Kashmir studying or working outside the Union Territory began to surface.

The Chief Minister’s Office subsequently set up the control mechanism to provide immediate assistance, coordinate with state governments and law-enforcement agencies and provide citizens with a direct channel to seek help.

Officials told news agency KNO that the service has since expanded beyond its original purpose and now functions as a single-window support platform for residents facing difficulties across India and abroad.

The helpline has been used to assist students, facilitate emergency travel, coordinate with local administrations and address various public-service-related issues, officials said.

One of its significant interventions came during the Iran-Israel conflict, when scores of students from Jammu and Kashmir were stranded amid escalating tensions.

The helpline maintained communication with affected students, coordinated with their families in Jammu and Kashmir and facilitated the flow of information between the administration and those caught in the crisis, according to the source material.

The service also received appreciation from students and families following the Pahalgam attack, with those affected describing it as a dependable point of contact during a period of uncertainty and fear.

The operation is being managed by a single officer posted at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, who monitors calls, coordinates responses and follows up with departments and authorities across jurisdictions.

Despite its lean structure, officials said the helpline has responded to thousands of calls and messages and often serves as the first point of contact for people seeking urgent intervention.

Government sources said the initiative reflects the administration’s effort to remain accessible beyond traditional office channels and provide residents of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of their location, with a direct line to the government.

More than a year after its launch, the helpline has increasingly been used not only as an emergency contact number but also as a support channel for students, workers, professionals and families from Jammu and Kashmir dealing with difficulties away from home.

The article first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse at https://kashmirpulse.com/jk/jk-govt-helpline-evolves-into-round-the-clock-support-system-for-residents-across-india/115970.html

NEW DELHI — The Union Home Ministry’s cybercrime arm has warned of a fresh wave of malicious applications disguised as pornography platforms that can hijack Android smartphones and potentially facilitate the siphoning of funds from victims’ bank accounts.

The National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit, operating under the Integrated Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), issued an advisory warning that the applications are being circulated through advertisements and links on Facebook and Instagram.

According to the advisory accessed by news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), the apps operate under names including “Night Play”, “Reloop”, “Kyss”, “Vimo”, “Rivo”, “Nexo” and “Vixa”.

The applications allegedly lure users with pornographic content before redirecting them to phishing websites using “.live” domains. Users are then persuaded to download APK files from outside the Google Play Store, which the ministry described as a major security risk.

Officials said that once installed, the applications can seek permissions that allow them to install additional applications and misuse Android’s Accessibility feature to gain control of the device.

Some of the applications also install a VPN, which officials said could be used to route internet traffic linked to malicious or criminal activity.

The advisory warned that the malware can also prevent users from uninstalling it through normal device settings, making it difficult for victims to regain control of their phones.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has advised Android users to download applications only from Google Play or other trusted app stores and to avoid installing APK files received through advertisements or suspicious links.

Users have also been urged not to grant Accessibility permissions to unknown applications and to periodically review installed applications for any unfamiliar ones.

The cybercrime unit recommended keeping Google Play Protect enabled, updating Android devices regularly and monitoring bank accounts and UPI transactions for unauthorised activity.

Further investigation into the network behind the fraudulent campaigns is underway, official sources said.

The article first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse at https://kashmirpulse.com/india/mha-cybercrime-unit-warns-of-malicious-android-apps-posing-as-pornography-platforms/115968.html