Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed hope that J&K’s status as a Union Territory is a temporary situation and reiterated the central government’s commitment to restoring its statehood.

“It has been a little over two months since we assumed office. We needed time to comprehend the functioning of the UT government. Our previous experience of governance vastly differs from the current framework,” Abdullah stated during a media interaction at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC).

He described the initial phases of the new government as “decent” and indicated that they encountered minimal challenges. “We are committed to our election pledges. We have initiated the implementation of some promises, while others require systemic changes. I remain hopeful that Jammu and Kashmir’s status as a UT is only temporary,” Abdullah remarked.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the populace expects the fulfillment of the promises made to them, with the restoration of statehood being the most significant. He noted that the Supreme Court had also asserted that statehood should be reinstated promptly.

“A year has elapsed, and we believe this timeframe is adequate,” he added. Abdullah underlined the importance of respecting the sentiments of the people and addressing their aspirations.

Referring to the event, the Chief Minister characterized it as an interaction rather than a formal press conference. “We are not making any substantial announcements as speculated on social media. Our intention was merely to engage, and we will strive to respond to your inquiries,” he stated. He expressed a preference for such engagements without a set agenda at least twice annually.

On December 19, 2024, Abdullah met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, where they discussed the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and the challenges faced by the newly elected government over the past two months. This meeting marked Abdullah’s second request to meet with the Home Minister since taking office. He has consistently advocated for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir with the Centre.

“The meeting occurred in a cordial atmosphere, and conversations regarding the situation in Kashmir, particularly about restoring J&K’s statehood, have been ongoing. We are hopeful that these discussions will ultimately benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir and lead to the restoration of statehood,” Abdullah remarked following the meeting.

Official sources indicated that Abdullah also addressed issues necessitating the Centre’s support for effective governance in Jammu and Kashmir. “The experiences and challenges we have encountered in the past two months, after establishing the popular government, were also discussed during this meeting,” Abdullah explained.

He also clarified the reasons for the delay in formulating the Transaction of Business Rules (TBR), which will outline the roles of the Chief Minister, the Council of Ministers, and the Lieutenant Governor in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sleuths from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched operations at eight locations in West Bengal on Thursday as part of their investigation into a cyber fraud scheme involving over ₹1,000 crore originating in Tamil Nadu, according to a senior official. The raids are being conducted simultaneously at five sites in the Park Street, Salt Lake, and Baguihati areas of Kolkata, alongside three other locations in various districts.

During the operations in Salt Lake, one individual was detained for questioning. Additionally, raids are in progress at a flat located in a high-end residential complex in Baguihati. The investigation has revealed that multiple individuals from various eastern Indian states are implicated in these crimes.

In Tamil Nadu, cyber financial frauds attributed to the period from January to September 2024 have resulted in a loss of ₹1,116 crore, from which the State Cyber Crime Wing has successfully frozen ₹526 crore through both automatic and manual methods. Approximately ₹48 crore has been recovered and returned to complainants from the fraudsters’ accounts.

The police have stressed the importance of promptly reporting any incidents. Delayed complaints may yield no results, so victims are encouraged to file reports immediately after experiencing any losses or cyber-attacks.

To facilitate timely reporting of financial cyber fraud, the Citizen Financial Cyber Frauds Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) has been developed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This system allows for quick reporting of financial losses related to digital banking, credit/debit card transactions, payment intermediaries, and UPI.

Additional Director General of Police for the Cyber Crime Wing, Sandeep Mittal, noted that the Cyber Helpline 1930 is gaining popularity. The system ensures that complaints lodged through the CFCFRMS are automatically processed and blocked without delay. Victims need not visit police stations to register cyber complaints; they can file them quickly via www.cybercrime.gov.in or by calling 1930, thus saving both time and effort.

In a chilling incident that has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s Nashik district, a man and his son reportedly hacked their neighbor to death and later surrendered to the police with the victim’s severed head.

The brutal crime occurred on Wednesday morning in Nanashi village, located in Dindori taluka. The accused, identified as 40-year-old Suresh Boke and his son, attacked their neighbor, 35-year-old Gulab Ramchandra Waghmare, using an axe and a sickle. After committing the crime, the duo arrived at the Nanashi Outpost police chowki carrying the severed head and the weapons used in the attack, according to police officials.

Tensions escalate in the village

The gruesome act sparked outrage among the local residents. Angered by the crime, villagers vandalized the accused’s house and set their car on fire. In response to the unrest, additional police personnel, including the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), were deployed to maintain order in the area.

“The situation is currently under control, and security has been tightened to prevent further escalation,” said a senior police official.

Long-Standing dispute turns deadly

Preliminary investigations reveal that the accused and the victim were embroiled in a long-standing feud. Both families had lodged police complaints against each other on December 31. The feud allegedly took a violent turn when the Boke family suspected Waghmare of assisting Suresh’s daughter in eloping.

The motive for the murder is believed to be rooted in this suspicion, which led to the brutal killing.

Legal proceedings begin

The victim’s wife, Minabai Waghmare, filed a complaint, prompting the police to register a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of murder and criminal intimidation.

While Suresh Boke has been arrested, his son, whose age has not yet been confirmed, is being detained. Both have been handed over to the Dindori police for further investigation and safety. They are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

This horrifying incident has left the village of Nanashi in shock, with authorities working to ensure that peace is restored while investigations continue.