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Pahalgam: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced to establish a memorial for the 26 victims of last month’s tragic terror attack at Baisaran near Pahalgam.

“We have been discussing this from day-one; a memorial will be set up in Baisaran for the 26 innocent lives lost, as a lasting tribute and a reminder that they will never be forgotten,” the Chief Minister said.

According to an official press release, addressing a gathering of travel and tour operators from across the country, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of reviving tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. “In today’s cabinet meeting, held here in Pahalgam, the Public Works Department was authorized to grant in-principle approval for this memorial,” he announced.

He added that suggestions would be sought to ensure that the memorial is not only magnificent but also dignified and respectful.

Extending heartfelt gratitude to the visiting tour operators, the Chief Minister said, “I thank each one of you for coming to Pahalgam and supporting the revival of tourism. I recognize many of you as those who reignited tourism in the Valley during the most challenging times — when even the locals feared venturing out.”

He recalled the early 1990s when tourism first resumed in the Valley with the arrival of groups from Mumbai and Gujarat. “They helped restart tourism and brought it to its peak— until the events of April 22. No matter how strongly we condemn what happened that day, it will never be enough. We lack words to comfort the families of those 26 victims. We can only bow our heads in their memory.”

While acknowledging security challenges, Omar Abdullah stressed the need for strict measures. “Although we do not fully control the security apparatus, I believe what happened should never have happened. And we must do everything possible to ensure it never happens again.”

On the reopening of tourist destinations post-Baisaran incident, he urged for transparency and openness in communicating with tourists. “Let’s not focus on what’s closed, but on what’s open. I believe it’s better to speak the truth rather than have tourists feel misled.”

He added, “The process of reopening will begin in a phased manner in the coming days. I visited Betaab Valley myself to assess the situation and to build confidence. Not all destinations will reopen at once, but some will gradually become accessible.”

The Chief Minister assured tour operators that they would be consulted throughout this process. “Together with the administration, we will ensure destinations are reopened responsibly, in a timely manner.”

On attracting international tourists, the CM said, “In our experience, international guests arrive after domestic tourism shows signs of recovery. The first sign of normalcy is when school children and domestic tourists begin visiting picnic spots again. Once this wave is visible, international bookings will follow. While we must continue to promote globally, I believe a strong focus on domestic tourism will build the right momentum.”

Reaffirming his confidence in the revival process, he said, “We have come a long way. What happened, happened. But with your courage and commitment, I am certain we will overcome this and bounce back.”

He acknowledged that certain shortcomings exist and assured these would be addressed moving forward. “We are aware of the gaps — and we will act on them.”

Tour operators who interacted with the Chief Minister represented a cross-section of travel and operators and bodies such as Raja Rani Travels, Pooja Travels, Heena Travels, Veena World, Offbeat Destinations, KK Tours, Jai Mata Di Travels, Arihant Travels, Madhuchanda Travels, TAFI, Kass Travels, ADTOI, Beckon Tours Pvt Ltd, Trans Global Travels, SHR Harshil Travels (representing OTOAI), Golden Tours (under ETAA), Ajay Modi Travels (Gujarat), Travel Munk (Jain Travel Associations), Thomas Cook, Tamarind, Kraft Vacations, and Travel Lounge.

Delegates from national print and electronic media also interacted with the CM, alongside local tour operators, hoteliers, travel and tourism stakeholders.

Present during the session were former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, MLAs from Pahalgam and Bijbehara, Director Tourism, MD JKTDC, and other senior officials.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister chaired a cabinet meeting in Pahalgam. He described it as more than a routine ‘Council of Ministers’ session, calling it a strong message against terrorism. “The enemies of peace will not deter our resolve. Jammu & Kashmir stands firm, united, and unafraid.”

The Chief Minister also met local delegations led by MLA Pahalgam. “Valuable insights were shared about local issues and aspirations. The support extended by locals during the recent tragedy — to both tourists and the administration — was exemplary,” he said.

He also visited Nunwan Base Camp to review preparations for the Amarnath Yatra, interacted with officials on the ground, and emphasized the importance of coordination for ensuring pilgrims’ safety and comfort.

The visit to Betaab Valley was followed by an impromptu cycling tour by the Chief Minister from a local hotel to Nunwan Base Camp and back, to promote new initiatives taken by Tourism Department towards sustainable tourism and eco-tourism, a message strongly advocated by CM Omar Abdullah who also holds the portfolio of Minister for Tourism in J&K.

Pahalgam: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday cycled on the streets of Pahalgam, alongside his two sons Zamir and Zahir, and interacted with people assuring them of revival of tourism.

This outing comes just over a month after the terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, in the hill resort.

The family’s cycling tour, spanning 2.5 kms, from a hotel to the base camp for the upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra followed a special cabinet meeting led by Abdullah.

The event aimed to convey a clear message that the government will not be cowed by such acts of terrorism.

The 38-day Amarnath Yatra, which leads to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave housing a naturally formed ice-shivlingam, is set to commence on July 3. Pilgrims can choose between the traditional 48-km route from Pahalgam in Anantnag district or the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

Following the deadly April 22 attack, the tourism sector in Kashmir has faced significant challenges, with Pahalgam experiencing a drastic decline in visitors.

However, Abdullah’s cycling initiative has garnered positive attention from local tourism stakeholders who viewed it as a vital step towards rebuilding confidence among potential tourists.

“This is a welcome gesture from the Abdullah family, and we are hopeful that the chief minister’s efforts will contribute to the revival of tourism in the valley,” said Amir, a local hotelier.

He noted that the recent attack had cast a shadow over the region, leading to mass cancellations by prospective visitors.

“Despite the difficulties, we remain optimistic about a resurgence in tourism in Pahalgam and beyond in the coming months,” he added.

During the cycling trip, the chief minister also made several stops and interacted with the locals as well as the tourists who were there at the hill resort besides posing for a selfie.

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today held an interaction with a delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) at the Civil Secretariat here where wide-ranging issues pertaining to different sectors were discussed.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Finance Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary Youth Services & Sports Sarmad Hafeez, Director Tourism Kashmir Raja Yaqoob and other concerned officers.

According to an official press release, the delegation, led by KCCI president Javed Ahmad Tenga, highlighted concerns across industries including trade, travel and tourism, agriculture, horticulture, education, health, hospitality, urban development and transport sectors..

The Chief Minister assured the delegation of full governmental support and expressed solidarity with the business community of Jammu and Kashmir during these challenging times. “Whatever issues you have raised here, we are examining them with utmost seriousness. We will extend all possible help. If needed, we will approach the Government of India to secure the necessary assistance,” he stated.

CM Abdullah emphasized that the economic slowdown currently faced by the region is not recent but a legacy of previous years.

He underlined the need for a realistic and targeted relief package, designed in consultation with stakeholders from the business community.

“We are asking for support in light of the unprecedented circumstances we face. A joint proposal for a package will be prepared, but it must be distinct from regular demands to ensure focused and definite attention,” he said.

The Chief Minister specifically addressed concerns suggested by the KCCI demanding moratorium on repayment of loans, interest relief, account protection from NPA, emergency credit lines, soft loans for transporters, tourism promotion, issue of litigations in allotment of land to industrial units, facilitating export of goods through multiple airlines, conservation of wetlands, parking issues in downtown Srinagar. CM assured the delegation that these matters would be addressed and more specifically the difficulties faced by businesses shall be taken up with the Union Finance Ministry and other relevant authorities.

Recognizing the severe impact of the downturn in tourism, CM Omar Abdullah assured that restrictions on tourists to travel to 48 destinations needs to be reviewed gradually. He also called for measures which include promotion of local tourism and encouraging schools and colleges to plan excursions within Jammu & Kashmir.

He said that he has requested the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Department to hold Standing and Consultative Committee meetings of Parliament in Kashmir, aimed at boosting confidence and visibility.

Besides, he said that he had called upon participants at NITI Aayog conference to help organize PSU conferences, meetings, incentive tours, and national-level events in Kashmir. CM announced participation in upcoming Travel & Tourism Fairs (TTFs) in Kolkata and Ahmedabad to reinvigorate tourists’ interest.

To address long-standing structural issues such as lease policy, electricity amnesty to commercial sector, Ease of Doing Business measures, difficulties in obtaining of NOCs, business compliance, and environmental clearances, the Chief Minister said these concerns, some dating back several years, are being actively reviewed.

CM Abdullah stressed that the government’s priority would be the small stakeholders associated with tourism who had just started and invested in tourism and transport sectors and they are the most vulnerable:

“I am deeply worried about the Sumo driver who upgraded to an Innova, the homestay owner who built a 15-room hotel, or the local vendor whose daily income fed his family. These are the people we must stand by now.”

He highlighted the importance of equitable relief to ensure that grassroots-level entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, and small business owners are not sidelined in comparison to big & established players.

Discussing agriculture and logistics, CM Abdullah shared updates on the ongoing efforts with the Railway Ministry to improve cargo movement, particularly for agriculture and horticulture produce. He expressed optimism that freight logistics would soon become more streamlined, aiding producers across the valley.

Reaffirming his commitment, the Chief Minister stated that his government will prepare a well-structured, implementable plan in consultation with all stakeholders. “We will present our case unitedly to the Government of India. The Union Finance Minister was receptive when I spoke to her, and I am hopeful of a positive response.”

The Chief Minister concluded by assuring the business community that the administration is committed to helping them overcome current difficulties and plan for a sustainable, resilient future.

While concluding, CM called upon all those associated with tourism to adopt ethical practices and transact honestly with tourists so that fair trade is ensured and tourists would want to come back to Jammu and Kashmir again and again.

He warned against unfair trade practices being employed by some elements which would bring a bad name to Kashmir Tourism and products.

He said that the government would also step in to curb instances of misbranding, overcharging and sale of counterfeit items.

Srinagar: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh court has held that mere discharge or quashing of a FIR by a competent court does not automatically result in the quashing of an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The judgment was delivered in a case filed by a 27-year-old Niket Kansal of Delhi against the ED. The petitioner, working as operational head of M/s N. K. Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd is engaged in the marketing and transportation of the codeine-based cough syrup Cocrex.

He asserted “the respondent is engaging in his harassment through an egregious abuse of authority and misuse of power, driven by ulterior motives, by claiming that the property owned and possessed by him qualifies as ‘proceeds of crime’ as defined in Section 2 (1)(u) of the PMLA”.

The petitioner pleaded “a judgment/order rendered on 13.12.2024 by the trial court, the charges against him were dismissed on the basis that the purported articles do not constitute “manufactured drugs”, and hence, no offence under the NDPS was applicable.

“The petitioner has not obtained any property, directly or indirectly, from any criminal activity associated with a scheduled offence; hence, his prosecution, including unlawful search and seizure, is inadmissible and should be annulled as arbitrary and devoid of merit,” said his counsel, Sunil Sethi, (Sr. Advocate).

He argued “the money laundering procedures should end if a person is freed from the scheduled offence”.

He further asserted “PMLA proceedings are based on the scheduled crime. Under PMLA section 2(y) (1), a scheduled offence is one mentioned in the Schedule, which includes crime under other laws. Section 3 of PMLA defines money laundering as involving proceeds of crime from a scheduled offence”.

Justice Wasim Sadq Nargal after hearing the contending counsels held that the summons issued to the petitioner constitutes a procedural measure within the legal framework, and its validity persists itself, despite the petitioner’s discharge in the predicate offence.

The judge said “the mere discharge of the petitioner concerning the predicate offence does not, in itself grant the court the power to annul the summons”.

He referred to the ruling by the Supreme Court in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary & others, saying it is binding for all subordinate courts.

“Nonetheless, the implementation of the concepts established therein cannot be mechanical or abstract. The judgment must be applied with careful consideration of the specific factual context and legal matters unique to each case, necessitating a case-by-case analysis,” said Justice Nargal.

He said “mere discharge or quashing of a FIR by a competent court does not automatically result in the quashing of an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002”, adding “the two proceedings, while factually linked by the scheduled offence, are legally independent and governed separately”.

The bench made it clear that ECIR, pursuant to the PMLA, is not simply an extension of the FIR; rather, it is founded on the exclusive aim of investigating and prosecuting money laundering offences.

“The scheduled offence serves as the foundation for commencing action under the PMLA, whereas the offence of money laundering under Section 3 of the Act is a distinct and ongoing offence that must be evaluated independently”, it said.

“Consequently, the discharge in the predicate offence may influence the procedures under the PMLA; however, it cannot be regarded as an automatic or definitive basis for nullifying the ECIR”, continued the judgment.

“The decision to uphold or annul an ECIR”, it stated,  “necessitates a detailed and fact-oriented examination, considering the stage of investigation, grounds for discharge, any challenges to the discharge order, evidence collected by the Enforcement Directorate, and the identification or tracing of proceeds of crime as defined in Section 2(1)(u) of the Act”.

The court also said that a mechanical or blanket approach in treating the discharge in a FIR as conclusive for the outcome of an ECIR would contradict the objectives and framework of the PMLA.

It could, in certain instances, undermine the legislative intent, which is to prevent, control, and prosecute money laundering offences that pose a significant threat to the financial systems and integrity of the nation the court said.

It held that the matter of nullifying an ECIR must be evaluated independently and on a case-by-case basis.

Srinagar: Director General of Police Jammu and Kashmir Nalin Prabhat on Saturday reviewed the security arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.

Prabhat chaired a meeting with officers from the police, CRPF, ITBP, Traffic Police, Railways, and security and intelligence agencies at the Police Control Room-Kashmir.  The meeting was attended by Special DGP Coordination S J M Gillani, ADGP M K Sinha, ADGP-CID Nitish Kumar, IGs of Kashmir and Jammu Zones, and IG, BSF, Kashmir.

At the outset of the meeting, the zonal IGsP briefed the chair on the proposed security arrangements for the conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2025.

The officers of Central Armed Police Force and other security forces also briefed the chair, gave their feedback.

During the meeting, the DGP ordered the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures.

He also directed the field officers to intensify their efforts to dismantle the terror ecosystem.

The DGP instructed the officers to bolster security measures and mitigate potential risks by deploying anti-sabotage teams along the yatra routes.

He also directed the officers to enhance surveillance and threat detection capabilities by using advanced technologies and real-time monitoring of both pilgrimage routes.

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today conducted a weekly Public Outreach Programme at his Raabita Office at Gupkar in Srinagar, engaging directly with the public to address their issues and concerns, an official press release informed.

It said former minister Mohammad Ashraf Mir brought to the Chief Minister’s attention various developmental challenges in Athwajan, Pantha Chowk and surrounding areas.

Students from the SPS Library, MA Road Lal Chowk, requested the extension of library hours and resolution of internet connectivity and other student-related issues.

“Libraries are vital to a learning society—we are committed to making them more modern and student-friendly. All genuine concerns will be looked into,” CM assured the students delegation.

A delegation led by Peerzada Masood Hamdani from Khankah-e-Moula raised concerns related to the upkeep and development of the Khankah Shrine, along with other local matters.

Retired veterinary employees presented issues related to pay anomalies and pension disbursements. Similarly, employees of the J&K Sports Council sought the Chief Minister’s intervention regarding the grant of pensionary benefits to Council staff.

Social workers associated with Special Cells advocated for the continuation and strengthening of Special Cells for Women in Jammu and Kashmir.

Employees of the J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) also met with the Chief Minister to discuss matters concerning their career progression and other employment-related concerns.

A delegation of visually impaired and physically challenged individuals, led by Showkat Ahmad Lone, highlighted several key issues, including free public transport, accessibility in educational institutions and government offices, skill development programs, and an establishment of a single-window system for grievance redressal.

In addition, a delegation led by hotelier Mushtaq Burza appealed for government support in the revival of tourism and raised key concerns relating to the industry, trade and hospitality sectors.

Representatives from Kishtwar voiced their concerns related to Waqf properties and other local developmental issues.

Several other delegations comprising sitting and former MLAs, public representatives, and concerned citizens also met with the Chief Minister to raise issues such as old-age pensions, access to potable drinking water, and infrastructure development in their respective constituencies.

The Chief Minister patiently listened to all delegations and assured prompt and priority-based redressal of their genuine concerns, the press release said.

It said on-the-spot instructions were issued by the Chief Minister in several cases to ensure swift resolution of grievances.

“We remain committed to listening, resolving issues, and building a responsive and people-centric Government,” he added.

Advisor to CM, Nasir Aslam Wani and other senior officers were present during the public hearing.

Govt to take up relief for Pak shelling victims with Centre: CM

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the assessment of damages caused by cross-border shelling by Pakistan is almost complete and his government will take up the issue with the Centre for providing relief to the victims.

“The assessment is almost complete. Reports from two districts are awaited. Once we get them, we will take up the matter with the Government of India and try to prepare a (relief) package,” Abdullah told reporters here.

The chief minister also expressed gratitude for the visits by opposition leaders, including a Trinamool Congress delegation, to the areas affected by Pakistani shelling in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack that had cross-border links.

“Rahul Gandhi is visiting Poonch (on Saturday), where he will interact with the victims. I am especially thankful to the Trinamool leaders, who were the first to come. They first went to Poonch and are in Rajouri now. These visits make us feel that there are people standing with us in these difficult times,” Abdullah said.

Brushing aside a question on the BJP claiming that the resolutions passed recently by the National Conference working committee came at the behest of Pakistani spy agency ISI, Abdullah said, “It is okay. Let them say.”

The chief minister refused to comment on a chargesheet filed by the CBI against former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik.

The central agency said on Thursday that it has filed a chargesheet against Malik and seven others in connection with alleged corruption in the award of Rs 2,200-crore worth civil works for the Kiru hydropower project in J-K’s Kishtwar district.