3 UP youth questioned in Kashmir stone pelting case
Lucknow, June 21: Three youth have been detained and are being questioned in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh for their alleged complicity in stone-pelting in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar district, police said on Thursday.
The police has constituted a team of the local intelligence unit (LIU) to probe their background and to question their families, an official said.
The youngsters told the police that they were taken to Pulwama district in Kashmir for employment at a stitching factory by a contractor.
The police suspects the contractor coerced them into stone-pelting during search operations by the Indian Army and security forces.
The youngsters hail from Nuka and Nanauta areas while there are other suspects believed to be from Baghpat district.
The families of the detained youth told the police that their children had gone to Kashmir for a contractual job at a stitching factory but they returned, complaining of being coerced into stone-pelting.
Saharanpur District Magistrate Alok Pandey told IANS that the issue was being probed and all aspects were being verified.
Superintendent of Police of Saharanpur Jai Prakash said the youth were changing their statements frequently. "Hence the police and LIU are trying to corroborate the information provided by them."
The police is also on the lookout for the contractor who took these youth to the Valley.
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Sea Plane, Heli Taxi planned under Coastal Tourism Development Plan: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that the government will formulate a Comprehensive Coastal Tourism Development Plan to utilise the tourism potential of Karnataka’s coastal districts.
Presenting the 2026–27 state budget in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah said connectivity between major coastal tourism destinations will be enhanced through Sea Plane and Heli Taxi services in collaboration with aviation and water adventure tourism partners. Joy Ride and River Cruise activities will also be promoted as part of the initiative.
The Chief Minister also announced measures to improve the overall experience of tourists visiting the state. An amount of Rs 1 crore will be allocated to provide soft skills training to taxi drivers, auto drivers and security personnel to enhance professionalism while interacting with visitors. A diploma course will also be introduced in selected universities to provide skill training for tourist guides.
To strengthen tourism infrastructure, the Gadag–Kappatagudda–Lakkundi tourism circuit will be developed. In Chikkamagaluru district, a ropeway will be constructed between Mullayanagiri–Seethalayyanagiri and Kaimara under the PPP model to promote tourism in the region.
Siddaramaiah said Rs 10 crore will be allocated for the development of integrated infrastructure under the Karnataka Exhibition Authority. In order to protect the state’s heritage sites, 1,000 monument volunteers will be identified and trained to help conserve 844 protected monuments and around 1,000 unprotected monuments. These volunteers will be included in the department’s recognised list.
The government has also prepared a comprehensive plan worth Rs 100 crore to develop Anjanadri Hill as a globally recognised tourist destination. The works will be taken up on priority after securing forest and environmental clearances from the Government of India and approval from UNESCO, he said.
