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J&K: SSB constable, SPO desert units along with AK-47 rifles, one INSAS in Budgam

Cop goes missing along with rifle from south Kashmir
Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) constable and a Special Police Officer (SPO) deserted their respective units along with two AK-47 rifles and one INSAS rifle in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said today.

Officials told NVI that the SSB constable identified as Altaf Hussain, who was posted with 14th battalion of SSB at Nagam area of Budgam district, went missing along with his INSAS service rifle.

“A missing report has been filed at Chadoora police station and investigations have been started,” the official said, adding that a massive manhunt has been launched to track the missing SSB jawan.

Barely a few hours after the SSB constable deserted his camp, a Special Police Officer (SPO) identified as Altaf Bhat, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, a resident of Qazipora, Chadoora in Budgam district, also went missing along with two AK-47 rifles and three magazines from the SoG camp in Chadoora, Budgam.

Officials said that Altaf has been working as SPO since past five years in J&K police.

A police officer said that a high alert has been sounded in the district and all exit and entry points are maintaining a tight vigil.

“A massive manhunt has been launched across the district by all security agencies to track down the missing SSB man and the SPO,” officer said, adding, it seems the missing men may have been influenced by the terrorists and may have joined the militancy.

-CHK

Coronavirus cases surpass 38 million worldwide; death toll nears 11 lakh

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 38 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19 while the death toll has crossed 10,85,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. More than 26.3 million people have recovered from the disease.

In the US, the number of coronavirus infections have exceeded 7.85 million while the number of fatalities have crossed 2,15,000 in the country.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases have surged past 5.1 million while the number of death due to the deadly contagion have surpassed 1,50,000.

Mexico has reported 4,295 new cases of Covid-19 and 475 more fatalities. The country has racked up 8,25,340 cases and 84,420 deaths.

Coronavirus clusters have emerged in Australia’s two most populous states, officials said on Wednesday, prompting the most populous, New South Wales, to delay easing some restrictions. Australia is one of the most successful countries to combat the virus, recording 904 deaths and around 245 active cases according to official tallies.

Northern Ireland is set to re-enter a tough lockdown after executive ministers agreed to closures of schools, pubs and restaurants. It comes after Derry and Strabane council area recorded the highest infection rate in the UK and Ireland, with a seven day average of 970 cases per 100,000 people.

Germany has recorded another 5,132 cases, taking its total to 3,34,585. The reported death toll rose by 40 to 9,677, the tally showed.

-CHK

11 killed as heavy rains lash Telangana

Flood like situation in Telangana (Source: @twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): At least 11 people have died in rain-related incidents in Telangana, which has been witnessing heavy rainfall since last two days.

According to the reports, nine persons died in the boundary wall collapse incident in Bandlaguda area, due to the heavy rains here in the last two days and four others were critically injured.

In another incident, a 40-year-old woman and her teenage daughter died after the roof of their old house collapsed in Ibrahimpatnam area in Hyderabad yesterday due to continuous rainfall.

The intensity of rain increased after 6pm yesterday and the pounding continued throughout the night, resulting in waterlogging in Hyderabad and other parts of the state. Several low-lying areas in Begum Bazar, Khairatabad, Tolichowki, Shaikpet, Mehdipatnam and Mallapur were completely submerged.

Meanwhile, all exams under the jurisdiction of Osmania University, scheduled to be held on October 14 and 15, postponed, due to heavy rainfall and flooding in various parts of Hyderabad.

-RJV

India’s COVID tally over 72 lakh, death toll at 1,10,586

India’s COVID tally tops 10.34 million with 16,505 new cases
(File/ Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): India registered a single-day rise of 63,509 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, taking the overall tally to 72,39,390, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has gone up to 1,10,586 with 730 fatalities reported during this period.

Notably, the number of active cases stands at 8,26,876, while 63,01,928 patients have been cured and discharged from the hospitals across the country. With this, the recovery rate further improves to 87 per cent in India.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases stands at 15,43,837, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 7,63,573 cases, and Karnataka with 7,26,106 cases.

The other worst affected states in the country are Tamil Nadu (6,65,930), Uttar Pradesh (4,42,118) and Delhi (3,14,224).

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of death toll at 4,701 followed by 10,371 deaths in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 5,854, while 2,86,880 patients have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, a total 9,00,90,122 samples tested for COVID-19 in the country up to October 13. Of these 1,145,015 samples were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is planning to conduct an online survey to study the possibility of commuters planning their travel in flexible timings in order to avoid overcrowding while using the rapid transit system, amid the COVID-19 situation.

-RJV

Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti released from detention, her PSA revoked

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is being released from preventive detention after over a year as the J&K government today revoked her PSA detention, officials in the UT administration said.

They said that the J&K government’s Home department this evening revoked the PSA detention order of the PDP chief. She was detained hours before the Centre revoked Article 370 and reorganised J&K into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. “Her PSA has been revoked,” J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal said.

Kansal also tweeted that Mehbooba is being released. An order issued by Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, Shaleen Kabra read: “In exercise of powers conferred under section 19 (1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, the government hereby revokes the detention order bearing, No DMS/PSA/147/2020 dated 5-2-2020 issued by the district magistrate, Srinagar which was last extended for a period of three months vide government order number Home/PB-V/1`449 of 2020 dated 31-07-2020 of Mehbooba Mufti D/o Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed R/o /Bijbehara at present Nowgam Srinagar with immediate effect.”

In August last year, more than 40 mainstream leaders, including former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and top leaders like Ali Muhammad Sagar, Sajad Gani Lone, IAS topper turned politician Shah Faesal were detained by the government.

-ARK

India, Norway welcome establishment of global Covid-19 vaccine facility COVAX

New Delhi (NVI): India and Norway today welcomed the establishment of the global COVID-19 vaccine initiative known as COVAX and the work to secure fair global access to vaccines, especially among the third world countries.

At the sixth session of the India-Norway Joint Commission held on a virtual platform today, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the bilateral cooperation on maternal and child health, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the meeting, the Norwegian delegation was led by Ine Eriksen Søreide, Foreign Minister of Norway and the Indian delegation was led by Dr. S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement here.

During the meeting, the Ministers agreed that the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis provides the opportunity to build more sustainable economies.

Noting that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic had posed significant challenges to nations across the world, the Ministers reiterated their commitment to cooperate closely in combating the pandemic.

In addition to that, both sides took note of the significant progress made in the Ocean Dialogue and the initiatives undertaken by the Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development to synergize potentials both in India and Norway, particularly in areas such as fisheries, aquaculture, green technologies for maritime use, construction of vessels, ship recycling and green ports.

Both sides emphasized the cohesive action undertaken in areas of marine pollution, integrated ocean management and research, and marine spatial planning. The ministers underscored the potential for cooperation on the blue economy to help protect the oceans, while creating sustainable growth and jobs.

Apart from that, both sides discussed the Dialogue on Trade and Investment (DTI) which gave impetus to business cooperation and participation of Norwegian companies in the flagship programmes of India. The first meeting of DTI held in January 2020 in New Delhi identified areas of cooperation to include maritime, fisheries, tourism, skill development, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) and renewable energy among others areas, the MEA said.

The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to expand the bilateral trade in order to realize the untapped potential in the commercial and economic relationship. They expressed their hope for an early conclusion of the India and EFTA trade negotiations.

The activities undertaken under the Joint Working Groups (JWG) on Maritime, Marine, Hydrocarbons, Environment, Science and Technology, and Higher Education also featured in the talks. Both the Ministers underlined the significance of the JWGs giving impetus and direction to the cooperation between the two countries, in particular to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, combat climate change and move towards a greener economy.

Jaishankar and his Norwegian counterpart also emphasised the central role of the UN in maintaining global peace and security.

“Now that India and Norway are incoming elected members of the United Nations Security Council, both sides agreed to engage in regular consultations at senior officials level on Security Council issues during the membership period 2021-22,” the MEA statement read.

The two Ministers also reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over significant progress. They noted that the visit of Prime Minister Erna Solberg to New Delhi in January 2019 laid down a blueprint for a comprehensive partnership between India and Norway.

Towards the end of the virtual session, both sides decided to hold the next round of Joint Commission Meeting in Oslo at a mutually convenient date.

-ARK

J&K: Around 250 terrorists waiting along LoC to sneak in, says Army

Major General ADS Aujla

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): At least 250 militants are waiting at terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, in a bid to sneak into this side before the snowfall starts, a senior army officer said today.

However, the officer said that alert India troops, who are well-equipped with latest technology, are ready to foil any infiltration attempts by the militants along LoC.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of ‘Machil Mela’ in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, General officer Commanding (GoC) of Kupwara based Army’s 28-division, Major General ADS Aujla said, “Troops are laced with the latest equipment and ready to foil all the infiltration bids.”

On possible infiltration bids this year, he said that 250 militants are ready to infiltrate this year as they are ready on the launch pads across the LoC.

The GoC also said that no new youth has joined militancy in the entire Kupwara district in the past one year. “No agitation, no stone pelting, no recruitment has happened for the past one year in Kupwara district,” he said.

“After remaining the hub of militancy for almost 30 years, Kupwara is growing as a most normal district in the region. People here haven’t joined militant ranks for a year now and no drone attempt to drop weapons close to LoC has been made so far,” said Major Gen. Aujla.

Referring to Pakistan’s use of winter cover (White cover recovered from slain militants killed in Keran sector in winters), the GoC said the army is well trained and laced with latest equipment that will help trace and track the infiltrators, using white cover.

To a question on the deployment or Army’s women wing in the district, he said they have deployed Army constables at some vital places to stop the smuggling of weapons, currency and drugs in the Tandghar area of the district.

“Women soldiers are frisking women carriers of militants which earlier was an issue for us as we couldn’t frisk women carriers. Women soldiers are assisted by the women SPOs of (J&K) Police. Let me tell you, since the deployment of women soldiers, we have been able to plug the supply of drugs, Pakistani currency, weapons, etc,” said the GoC.

Replying to another query on the use of drones to deliver weapons, GoC Aujla said that this is a reality but there is nothing such in the Kuwpara district and this is happening in Jammu and Punjab divisions only. “Our deployment and high altitude is a major challenge for them to use drones to drop the weapons,” the Army officer said.

-ARK

Can’t disrupt traffic on highway for little militant movement: J&K DGP

Abid Bashir

Pulwama (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh today said that civillian traffic on strategic Srinagar-Jammu National Highway cannot be disrupted and every vehicle checked or frisked, for a little militant movement on the NH.

Addressing a press conference in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, DGP Singh said that there is only 0.1 percent movement of militants on the highway compared to 99.9 civilian movement.

He, however, said elaborate security arrangements are in place to deal with the militant attacks on highways.

“For a miniscule movement of militants, we can’t stop every civilian vehicle and frisk them. However, frisking of a specific vehicle takes place on the basis of an input or a lead as seen in Nagrota, Jammu where a truck was stopped in which militants were travelling. Arms and ammunition was also recovered from the truck,” the J&K Police chief said, in reply to a query that whether fresh arrangements are in place to deal with the highway attacks.

Apart from that, the DGP termed the killing of Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zahid Tiger in an encounter at South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday, a big success for security forces. “Every single militant is given an opportunity to surrender during encounters. Recently, we managed to save the life of a newly recruited militant at Dadoora, Pulwama,” he said. Zahid was gunned down by forces along with another Pakistani militant.

He said that at Dadoora, there were three militants and all were asked to surrender. “Two of them fired on forces which was retaliated in which two militants were killed. The slain were Zahid (Tiger) and another one from Pakistan,” the DGP said. “The killing of Zahid is a big success for the security forces. In the gunfight, we managed to save the life of a newly recruited militant from Doda district of Jammu,” he added.

On foreign militants present in south Kashmir, he said that many Lashkar militants from Pakistan are active in that region. “This year we managed to kill over 24 militants from Pakistan. All were associated with LeT. Their presence is a threat to forces and civilians. Efforts are on to kill the remaining foreign militants,” he said.

Replying to another query, the DGP said that infiltration has been low this year as compared to previous years. “However, Pakistan continues to make attempts to drop ammunition through drones and efforts are on to foil their every bid,” he said. “We have framed a counter-strategy to deal with the fresh threat,” he added.

-ARK

LAC stand-off: 7th round of India-China military talks ‘positive’, ‘constructive’

Chinese troops

New Delhi(NVI): The seventh round of military-level talks held yesterday at Chushul between Senior Commanders of India and China were “positive” and “constructive”, and had enhanced understanding of each other’s positions at Line of Actual Control (LAC), a joint statement by the two armies said today.

“Both sides agreed to earnestly implement the important understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, not to turn differences into disputes, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas,” the Ministry of Defence said in the joint statement.

Military commanders of India and China yesterday met for the talks to discuss how to end the faceoff in the Ladakh sector of LAC, which has been triggered by Chinese aggression detected in May.

“The two sides had a sincere, in-depth and constructive exchange of views on disengagement along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of India-China border areas,” the joint statement read.

Both the sides also agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, and arrive at a mutually acceptable solution for disengagement as early as possible, the MoD said.

The earlier six rounds of military-level talks and agreements reached during those talks have failed to translate into disengagement at the border, where the situation continues to be tense and dangerously poised.

After the 6th round of talks held on September 21 at the Line of Actual Control, the two sides had reached an agreement which was reflected in a Joint Statement. The main features of the agreement were that the two sides will stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation.

The two sides had also agreed to take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area.

India has been insisting on it since the beginning but China is not implementing it. China has reportedly amassed over 50,000 troops and deployed fighter planes and missile systems at the LAC. India has also undertaken the deployment in equal measure.

This has led to a dangerous eyeball-to-eyeball situation at the LAC, for the first time since the 1962 War.

-ARK

COVID-19 a respiratory virus, most respiratory viruses escalate during winter: Govt

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): COVID-19 is a respiratory virus and most such viruses escalate during winter, the government said today.

Addressing the Health Ministry media briefing, VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, said, “We have to be more careful in our hygiene practices as it is a respiratory virus and most respiratory viruses escalate during winter. Behavioural change is necessary, masks are mandatory.”

The government also said that India’s COVID-19 graph had plateaued but warned against a more severe second wave in winters than the first one if people became lax and disregarded COVID appropriate behaviour.

The three-ply masks and homemade masks are beneficial against preventing the transmission of the virus. N-95 masks are beneficial for health workers working in hospitals while surgical masks are effective in general practice use, Paul added.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that India has crossed the 62 lakh COVID-19 recoveries mark, the highest in the world. Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan also said that the active cases are below nine lakh for the fifth consecutive day in India.

Furthermore, it was informed that the COVID-19 positivity rate in India is on a constant downward trend – cumulative positivity rate at 8.07 per cent, weekly rate at 6.24 per cent and daily rate at 5.16 per cent.

“Around 87 per cent of people have been discharged/cured. There are 11.69 per cent active cases who are either in hospitals or under home isolation and 1.53 per cent are death cases,” the ministry added.

The percentage of active cases in the country is 11.69 per cent of which 11 per cent are in Kerala, 25 per cent are in Maharashtra and 13 per cent are in Karnataka. “We are conducting discussions with these states to figure out a way to curb the COVID-19 cases, the health secretary said.

Fourteen states and Union Territories have higher test per million and lower positivity rate than India average, Bhushan said, adding, “10 states account for 79 per cent of total active COVID-19 cases in the country. Maharashtra accounts for 25.38 per cent active cases, Kerala is a later entrant with 11.26 per cent active cases in the state.”

-CHK

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