Briefs: Police detain drug peddler in Rajouri under NDPS Act

Jammu: A suspected drug peddler was detained under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act in Rajouri district, police said on Wednesday. Sunny Kumar alias Sundi, a resident of Bareri Nowshera, is a habitual offender and has been involved in multiple cases of narcotics across the border district, a police spokesman said. "A detention warrant under the PIT-NDPS Act was obtained from the competent authority. Acting on the warrant, Kumar has been detained and lodged in Jammu Jail," the spokesman said.

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Demolition drive in Pooch for road-widening project

Jammu: Around 150 structures, including houses and small commercial establishments, were demolished to facilitate road widening and infrastructure development along the Surankote-Bufliaz road stretch in Poonch district, officials said on Wednesday. All sites where demolitions were carried out fall within the area acquired for the project, they said. The day-long drive was carried out on Tuesday on the directions of Poonch Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal and was aimed at clearing the alignment for the upcoming road expansion, which will significantly improve regional connectivity and transportation access. The land acquisition process was completed in accordance with applicable legal provisions before the demolition activity began, the officials said, adding the drive marks a major step forward in the execution of key infrastructure projects.

Man charred to death fighting forest fire

Jammu: A 68-year-old man was burnt to death while trying to control a forest fire in Rajouri district, officials said on Wednesday. Abdul Aziz, a retired government teacher hailing from Panda Khetar village of Dalyote panchayat, voluntarily joined a team of forest officials to extinguish fire in Garn forest in Kalakote sub-division on Tuesday, the officials said. While the forest fire was controlled to a large extent by late evening, Aziz went deep to oversee the situation when he found himself trapped with winds igniting the fire again, they said. They said despite efforts, he could not be saved and died on the spot. His charred body was later retrieved and handed over to his family for last rites after completion of legal formalities, the officials said.