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J&K: Pulwama teenager makes Kashmir proud, shines in NEET with 695 points

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A teenage boy from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today made the entire Kashmir proud as he shined in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) exams by securing 695 points out of a total 720.

Eighteen-year-old Khan Basit Bilal, son of Bilal Ahmad Khan, a resident of Narwah village of Pulwama district secured 695 points out of 720. Talking to NVI, a visibly happy Basit said that the credit for his success goes to God and his parents besides teachers, who kept guiding him every second.

“Let me tell you, any dream can come true, if we work hard,” beamed Basit, adding that “I was expecting that I will qualify NEET but I never thought my percentage would be so high. Entire credit goes to teachers of Mission E Coaching Centre who showed me the right track and gave me tips as to how NEET can be cracked.”

He said that he studied hard from day one as he was aware that points matter in NEET.

“I am very happy at the moment and whatever position I will get in my life, my sole motive will be to serve people,” he said. “Children get involved in evil and odd things because their parents aren’t giving time to them and there remains a gap which forces them to take harsh steps.”

Basit’s father Bilal Ahmad Khan said that he is feeling much happy with the performance of his son and the environment is very much festive at their home.  “Our neighbours and relatives started visiting us with greetings and blessings,” he said, adding there are jubilations all around.

He said that the moment results were out and the word about Basit’s performance spread in the village, people in hundreds flooded their house to greet and felicitate the young boy for a remarkable performance in the NEET.

-ARK

Pakistan’s opposition parties protest to topple Imran Khan govt

New Delhi (NVI): Major opposition parties in Pakistan have joined hands for a nationwide protest to oust the Imran Khan government as the Pak PM has been accused of being installed by the military in a rigged 2018 election.

The supporters of at least 11 opposition parties in Pakistan gathered in huge numbers at a stadium in Gujranwala city to begin the protest against the Pakistan PM.

Last month, nine major opposition parties had formed a joint platform called the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to begin a nationwide agitation against the government.

However, Khan, who came to power on an anti-graft platform said today that he wasn’t afraid of the opposition’s campaign, which was aimed at “blackmailing him” to drop corruption charges against their leaders. Khan also denies that the army helped him win.

Apart from Gujranwala, hundreds of Pakistan citizens have also hit the streets of Islamabad to protest against Imran Khan.

They are protesting against the price hike and ‘anti-employee policies’ of the local government.

Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz, the daughter and political heir of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said: “We have come out for the supremacy of the law”. “Our struggle is against injustice, unemployment and all-time price hikes,” Maryam was quoted as saying by foreign media.

It is pertinent to mention here that Nawaz Sharif is currently residing in London after being released from prison earlier this year for medical treatment. In August, he broke a nearly yearlong silence from exile by vowing to oust Khan from office through protests.

Islamabad is witnessing a storm of union-led protests from various sectors. Yesterday thousands converged outside the Pakistani parliament and staged a sit-in. This included government employees, farmers, teachers, doctors, health workers and pensioners.

Among other opposition leaders, Bilawal Bhutto, the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who heads her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and a religious leader, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, were leading separate rallies to join the main gathering at the stadium in Gujranwala.

Apart from that, Asif Ali Zardari, the former President of Pakistan and the leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been issued an arrest warrant by the national accountability bureau of Pakistan — the country’s anti-corruption watchdog.

Meanwhile, the protest movement comes when Pakistan is experiencing an economic crisis, with inflation touching double digits and negative growth. The next general election is scheduled for 2023.

-ARK

WATCH | Terrorist surrenders before security forces in J&K’s Budgam


Security forces in Kashmir today successfully convinced a newly recruited terrorist to surrender during a search operation in J&K’s Budgam after an encounter. The militant identified as Jehangir Ahmed Bhat had fired at security forces along with another SPO turned militant Altaf Hussain this morning. Altaf fled from his unit on October 13 (Wednesday). “We could have killed Jehangir but we conducted the operation professionally and caught him alive,” said IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar in a press conference today.

-ARK

NCRTC permitted to use drone

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Directorate General of Civil Aviation have granted conditional exemption to National Capital Region Transport Corporation for the deployment of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System for Data Acquisition for mapping and implementation of Web-based Geographical Information System platform for Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System.

Commenting on the development, Amber Dubey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation said, “Congratulations to NCRTC for receiving the drone surveillance approvals. This will help them in effective aerial surveillance and project planning. The granting of these approvals is in line with the MoCA’s objective of promoting use of drones for mass benefit.”

The conditional exemption is until 31st December 2020 or until the full operationalisation of Digital Sky Platform, whichever is earlier.

-ARK

India hosts 7th meeting of Ministers of Justice of SCO member states

New Delhi (NVI): Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today hosted the Seventh Meeting of Ministers of Justice of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The virtual meeting was attended by justice ministers from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, according to a statement by Ministry Of Law and Justice.

The Seventh Session of the Justice Ministers of SCO member states deliberated on areas of cooperation; emphasized the high relevance of mutual exchange of legal information on counteraction to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and acknowledged the need for cooperation in ADR mechanism area, among others, the statement added.

Addressing the gathering, Ravi Shankar Prasad, highlighted the initiatives taken by the Indian Government under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing affordable and easy access to justice for all.

He also mentioned initiating Pro Bono Legal Services to provide free legal aid to marginalized sections of the society.

Prasad further highlighted that through Tele-Law services initiated in 2017, so far 3.44 Lakh free legal consultations have been given to poor people through video conferencing. He also spoke about the e-Courts project with video-conferencing facility and rolling out of virtual courts, as part of government’s successful transformative change in process automation from the conventional brick and mortar court architecture.

As part of activities of Justice Ministers’ Forum, the Law Minister urged SCO Member States to promote exchange of ideas, best practices and experiences in identified areas through the platform. He also stressed on widening the spectrum of activities being undertaken in the Forum, in particular and SCO in general.

A Joint Statement following the Results of the Seventh Session of the Ministers of Justice of the SCO Member States was also adopted.

The salient features of the Joint Statement are as under:

1. To strengthen the work on implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministries of Justice of the SCO Member States (Dushanbe, 18 August 2015).

2. To continue the work on implementation of the Action Plans of the working groups of experts on forensic activities and legal services for 2018-2020, as well as to develop Action Plans for 2021-2023.

3. Consider organizing exchange programs for representatives of the ministries (law and justice of the SCO member-states) to study the best practices in alternative dispute resolution.

4. To continue discussing the parties’ positions on the issues of mutual legal assistance and development of legal services in accordance with national legislation.

5. Actively develop cooperation with the ministries of justice of the SCO observer and dialogue partner states.

6. Continue efforts to develop an online platform for the exchange of legal information, taking into account national laws.

-CHK

Atlantic Ocean had its hottest decade in 3,000 years: Study

The part of Atlantic Ocean as seen from the airplane

New Delhi (NVI): The past decade has seen the Atlantic Ocean’s hottest temperatures in almost three thousand years, according to a new study.

The study published in the journal ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ USA (PNAS), said that the Oceanic temperatures tend to rise and fall in a cyclical pattern over decades and even centuries.

“But the recent spikes in temperature on the surface of Atlantic Ocean are well beyond the scope of that natural pattern,” the study said, noting that, it’s a dire sign for the state of the oceans, in part because rising temperatures are linked to increasingly-severe hurricanes, the World Economic Forum reported.

The team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Quebec were able to track the Atlantic’s fluctuating temperature back about 2,900 years by studying sediment cores in the Canadian Arctic, which fluctuate along with temperature.

They used temperature data and studied debris from the bottom of the ocean including sediment from melted ice in Canada. Also, the cores showed the regular rise and fall of Atlantic temperatures, but they also showed that in recent decades there’s been an unprecedented increase in the speed at which the ocean is heating up.

“Temperatures have steadily increased since the 15th century minimum; the rate and magnitude of warming over the last few centuries are unprecedented in the entire record, leading to the last decade which was the warmest of the past 2900 years,” the study found.

The team’s study didn’t seek to identify the exact causes of the temperature changes, but given that the recent increases are well beyond normal fluctuations, all signs point to global climate change, which can affect wildlife and ecosystems and mean sea levels rise.

However, the rising temperatures in the Atlantic could also lead to storms, mass extinction for many species and the study suggests the problem will continue to get worse.

-RJV

J&K: 6 militant associates held, vehicles used in Highway attacks seized

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Six militant associates were arrested and vehicles used by militants in carrying out attacks on security forces on Srinagar-Jammu national highway were seized by J&K police while a house where militants took shelter has been also identified, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said today.

Addressing a press conference at police station Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, IGP Kumar said that a series of attacks took place from August 14 this year to October 5 that include an attack on joint party of police and SSB personnel at Nowgam, Srinagar on August 14 in which two policemen were killed and one INSAS rifle was snatched.

“Similarly, on September 21, militants attacked ROP at new bypass and on September 25 militants attacked the CRPF party at Chadoora in which one CRPF man was killed and his weapon was also snatched. On October 5, another attack was carried out on ROP of CRPF at Taingan By-pass in which two CRPF men were killed and four others injured,” the IGP said.

He said in order to investigate the attacks, different teams were constituted by the West Zone Police, Srinagar.

“Around 9 to 10 suspects were identified and subsequently picked up by these teams. The teams were able to identify the links through human intelligence. Raids were conducted in Chadoora, Budgam, Nowgam and other areas of District Srinagar. The suspects were subjected to sustained interrogation and they confessed about their involvements and the militants involved,” the IGP said, adding that pinpoint location of the house where militants involved in these attacks were hiding at Barzullah, Srinagar was also obtained using human intelligence.

The IGP said that six militant associates were arrested, who have been identified as Waseem Ahmed Ganai of Ganaimohalla, Chatergam, Chadoora, Faisal Mushtaq Ganai of Aribagh, Nowgam, Shakir Ahmed Dar of Marvel, Kakapora, Pulwama, Suhail Shabir Ganai of Ganai Mohalla Chattergam, Chadoora, Budgam, Umar Nisar of Iqbal Coloney Wanbal, Shakerpora, Nowgam, Srinagar and Sahil Nisar of Aribagh, Nowgam.

He said that six vehicles were also seized from the arrested militant associates that include a Tavera jeep, a Pulsar motorcycle, a Yamaha bike, an Alto car, Alto-800, and another bike.

-ARK

J&K Budgam encounter: SPO turned militant escapes, his aide caught alive

(Updating earlier copy)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A Special Police Officer (SPO) turned militant managed to escape while his aide was caught alive in a search operation conducted after an encounter that broke out at Chadoora area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district this morning, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said today.

Addressing a press conference at police station Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, IGP Kumar said that SPO Altaf Hussain who fled from his unit on October 13 (Wednesday) along with his friend Jehangir Ahmed Bhat, fired at a security forces party at Chadoora, Budgam in the morning. “However, security forces cordoned off the area and cornered the militants. They had emptied a full magazine of AK-47 while firing at the forces,” the IGP said.

IGP Vijay Kumar addressing a presser in Srinagar today (Pic via arrangement)

He said that SPO Altaf managed to escape from the cordon amid firing but security forces caught Jehangir alive. “One Ak-47 rifle and a magazine have been recovered from Jehangir,” the IGP said.

He said that security forces exercised maximum restraint by catching the militant alive. “Jehangir was missing since past four days and had got the AK-47 rifle from SPO Altaf, who had decamped with two AK-47 rifles from his unit,” the Kashmir police chief said.

He said police brought the family members of Jehangir to the encounter site who appealed him to surrender. “We urge parents to keep a close watch on the children and ensure they don’t tread on wrong path,” said the IGP. “We could have killed Jehangir but we conducted the operation professionally and caught him alive,” he said.

He said a massive manhunt is on to catch the SPO too. “If he doesn’t surrender, he will be killed,” the IGP said.

-CHK/ARK

Gadkari inaugurates 16 NH projects in AP

National Highways
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

New Delhi (NVI): Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 16 national highway projects with a total length of 1,411 kms worth Rs 15,592 crore in Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said that the length of national highways in Andhra Pradesh before May 2014 was 4,193 km, which has now increased to 6,860 km. Thus, there has been increase of 2,667 km (64 per cent) in NH length during past 6 years.

The event was presided by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in virtual mode via a video conference from New Delhi and Vijayawada.

Gadkari also informed that works costing Rs 34,100 crore are under DPR Stage and targeted for completion by 2024, while works costing Rs 25,440 crore are under implementation and that 50-60 per cent progress has been achieved in projects costing Rs 18,100 crore.

The minister informed that 5,000 km of NHs are being developed as a part of Bharatmala Pariyojana in the state. In addition to this, 400 km of port connectivity roads will also be developed under the programme.

“In line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a New India, development of world-class transport infrastructure has been prioritized, through initiatives such as the Bharatmala Pariyojana, India’s largest ever infrastructure development programme,” the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said quoting the Minister.

Gadkari also said that the 335 km Anantpur – Amaravati expressway is being developed as a part of the Pariyojana. The access control expressway improving connectivity of Capital Region, Coastal and Northern region of the state and will greatly enable the economic prosperity of the region.

The expressway has 16 packages and is being developed with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore. It connects Amaravati, new capital city of Andhra Pradesh with Anantapuramu and provides a major connectivity between NH-44 & NH-16 which are lifeline in the state.

The minister further said the Bangalore – Chennai expressway with a length of 262 km is also one of the expressways being developed as a part of the programme.

Also, three packages with a length of 85 km are being developed in Andhra Pradesh with a cost of Rs 5,200 crore. The works have been sanctioned and construction is being initiated in another 16 projects of length 878 km at an investment of Rs 7,585 crore. It includes construction of Western Side Benz Circle Flyover in the city limits of Vijayawada.

Union MoSs Gen (Retd) V K Singh and G Kishan Reddy, Union Secretary (MoRTH) A Giridhar, state minister for Roads and Buildings M Sankara Narayana, Principal Secretary M T Krishna Babu were among the others who attended the event.

-RJV

Army Vice Chief to visit US ahead of 2+2 dialogue

New Delhi (NVI): To enhance military cooperation between the India and US armies, Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen SK Saini will be proceeding four-day visit to the United States from October 17 to 20.

The visit comes days ahead of the crucial 2+2 dialogue between the two countries that is scheduled to take place on October 26-27. Foreign and Defence Ministers of India and the US are to review the entire gamut of bilateral and defence cooperation at the meeting.

During his visit, the Army vice chief will visit the US Army Pacific Command (USARPRAC), the Army component of Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) and exchange ideas extensively with the military leadership apart from witnessing training and equipment capabilities of US Army, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Later, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff will also visit INDOPACOM where aspects of military cooperation and furthering military to military engagement including procurements, training in niche domains, joint exercises and capability building will be discussed, the MoD said.

“The visit will further enhance the operational and strategic level collaboration between both armies, which is emphasised by the fact India is participating in two joint exercises with the US despite COVID-19 restrictions. These are Yudh Abhyas (February 2021) and Vajra Prahar (March 2021),” read the official statement.

At the 2+2 dialogue this month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper will hold talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Both sides are expected to focus on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the wake of China’s growing assertiveness, besides key bilateral issues.

-ARK

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