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Minority community members among stranded Indians evacuated from Afghanistan

New Delhi (NVI): A Sikh man who was abducted by Taliban and a minor girl are among eleven members, belonging to Sikh and Hindu minority communities of Afghanistan, who arrived here today as part of the eighth batch of stranded Indians evacuated from the country.

Nidan Singh Sachdeva, the Afghan Sikh man who was kidnapped a month ago and released recently arrived here this afternoon as a Kam Air flight landed. Sachdeva was abducted from a gurdwara in Paktia province last month.

“Around eleven members, belonging to the Sikh & Hindu minority community of Afghanistan, arrived in India today. Mr. Nidan Singh Sachdeva, who was released from captivity on July 18, is also among those who reached Delhi today,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

India has granted appropriate visa and facilitated their travel to India, MEA said.

“We appreciate the efforts of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in extending necessary support for the safe return of these families,” it added.

The Ministry had recently announced that India will facilitate the return of Afghan Hindus and Sikh community members facing threat in the country.

A 15-year-old girl who was recently “rescued” from an alleged attempt at forced conversion and marriage was also among those who arrived today.

The batch left Kabul by Kam air to Delhi today under the Vande Bharat Mission, the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan tweeted.

“The eighth batch of stranded Indian citizens left Kabul by Kam Air to Delhi today. Travel of some members of the Hindu and Sikh Community, interested in moving to India, was also facilitated,” the embassy tweeted.

Recently, members of the Afghan Sikh community had, in several appeals to the Indian government, sought immediate evacuation following the March 25 attack on a gurudwara in Kabul. At least 25 people were killed and more than eight others were wounded during the dastardly attack in which women and children were also killed.

The process was delayed in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting restrictions on international travel.

No Srinagar resident in terrorist ranks now: J&K Police

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar (File photo)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A day after the killing of a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant in an encounter at Ranbirgarh in Lawaypora on Srinagar outskirts, Jammu and Kashmir police today said that no Srinagar resident is in militant ranks now.

“After the killing of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Ishfaq Rashid Khan, no resident of Srinagar district is in militant ranks now,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar in a tweet on J&K Police’s official Twitter handle.  Yesterday two militants including Ishfaq were killed in an encounter on Srinagar outskirts.

However, a senior police officer while giving a new twist to the case of missing Phd scholar Hilal Ahmed Dar, said that police have not listed Dar from Bemina, Srinagar in the militant category yet. “We have not listed him as a militant yet as more verification is needed to find out whether he has actually joined the militancy,” he told NVI.

On June 16, Dar, a resident of Housing Colony Bemina, who was pursuing Phd in Management studies, went missing after going on a trekking on the hills of Naranag in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir. Though four of his friends had returned home, Dar didn’t. Since then, his family members, especially his uncles have been moving from pillar to post to track Dar, but so far there are no whereabouts of him.

Speaking to reporters on June 23, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar in presence of DGP Dilbagh Singh had said that the missing Bemina youth had joined militant ranks. However, the family members of Dar, strongly refuted the police claim stating that their son had no inclination to the militancy.

The missing Bemina youth’s uncle Nisar Ahmed said after today’s police tweet that their claim stands vindicated. “Even today, we had gone to Naranag to look for our son. We walked right up to the top where the friends of our son had spotted Hilal last time. We request that the police now help us track our son,” he said and appealed to the police to put in extra efforts to trace their son.”

-ARK

Cleaning Dal lake for 2 yrs, Kashmiri girl wants to become a scientist, as she turns 8

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jannat, who found mention in a Hyderabad school textbook recently after cleaning Dal lake for two years, wants to become a scientist to save the famous water body in Srinagar, as she turns 8 today.

Jannat’s Dal cleaning has gone popular in the Hindi school book namely “Megha” and the title of the story is “Jannat Ki Jannat”.

In order to make Dal lake pollution-free, Jannat is always spending some time cleaning the lake. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also praised her in his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program.

The Kashmiri girl first came to limelight through a video two years ago where she was seen cleaning the lake along with her father while highlighting the plight of the lake.

At the age of 5, she started questioning her father Tariq Ahmed, who used to row a shikara (boat) in the Lake, to clean the lake of pollutants that include plastic bottles, polythene, used shoes, chips covers and other types of garbage.

Jannat’s father Tariq Ahmed

For the past two years, she is accompanying her father every Sunday to clean whatever portion of the lake is possible. Both father-daughter live in the lake on a boat, which perhaps is the reason why they are so concerned about the preservation of the water body.

The father-daughter duo has a mission to see the lake as clean as possible, free from encroachments, garbage and above all to preserve nature’s beautiful gift bestowed on the people of Srinagar, a city of 1.5 million. Dal Lake is situated in the heart of Srinagar at Dalgate on one side and covers foreshore or boulevard road up to revered Hazratbal shrine and Rainawari area of the downtown city as well.

“People throwing garbage into the Lake hurts me the most. I have many times screamed at those who tried to pollute the Lake by throwing plastic bottles into it,” says Janat, who studies in class 2 in a Srinagar school.

While cleaning the lake along with her father on Sundays, Jannat says she was shocked to pull out used shoes, undergarments, used clothes, chips covers and other garbage items from the lake. With her father’s guidance, Janat has learned the art of rowing the boat (Shikara) also.

“My father has taught me everything about the Lake. He keeps on telling me how clean the lake was once and movies would be shot in the lake with houseboats in the background,” she says. “Today, lake is polluted on all sides and continues to be polluted by the people who have no mercy for it.”

For Jannat, Dal Lake is a natural gift for the people of Srinagar and entire Kashmir and preserving it is the duty of every single citizen of the Valley. “I am playing a bit so is my father. But that’s not enough. Two people can’t clean the entire lake,” she says.

Asked about her birthday wish, Jannat says with a gentle smile on her face: “I want to become a scientist, a good scientist so that I can find ways and means to preserve the Lake. I dream to come up with a remedy for growing weeds in the Lake, which make our efforts difficult when it comes to cleaning it. Unnecessary weeds are growing just because of pollution in the Lake.”

She says although it will take many years for her to become a scientist, till then J&K government must come up with something extraordinary to save the Lake. “We hear lot of announcements from the government, but on ground nothing much happens. There are a few cleaning machines installed in the Lake. I urge government to install as much cleaning machines as possible,” says Janat.

Her father, Tariq also feels proud to have a daughter like Janat. “Recently one of my friend from Hyderabad called me saying, my daughter’s efforts to clean the lake has got a mention a textbook there. That was really a proud moment for me.”

Tariq says there are so many reasons as to why Dal Lake is polluted and one of the major factors is unabated illegal construction of hotels, lodges and guest houses in the green area around the Lake. “This shouldn’t have happened but it has happened over two decades and permissions for constructing hotels have been given like anything. This has taken off the sheen from the lake,” he says.

“At present, an impression is being given that Lake is just an area where houseboats are kept, which is wrong. Huge portion of it has been encroached upon and there has been filling of the lake at various points where residential houses have been constructed.”

Tariq says he along with her daughter will continue to play their part in cleaning the lake but every citizen of Srinagar city must rise to an occasion to contribute in whatever they can to preserve this natural gift. “Otherwise, time is not far, when there would be just a small pond available for us out of the big Lake,” he says.

-ARK

Coronavirus is as lethal as it was in beginning: PM in Mann ki Baat

New Delhi (NVI): In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues to be lethal and asked the people to remain vigilant like before.

He said that wearing masks and maintaining social distancing has to continue if the country has to win the war against the pandemic. He added that if one feels tired of wearing a mask, then he/she should think about Covid warriors and their exemplary efforts.

“Sometimes, do you feel tired of wearing a mask? When you do, think of our COVID warriors and their exemplary efforts,” the PM said in his monthly radio address.

“Friends, the danger of corona is still there. It is spreading at a fast pace in many places. We have to be very vigilant now. We have to take care that it is as lethal as it was before, therefore we have to be cautious. To wear a mask or cover your face with a cloth, regularly washing hands, not spit in public, take care of hygiene and cleanliness- these are our weapons against corona that will save us,” the PM said.

Modi added that the COVID-19 recovery rate in the country is better than others. “Our fatality rate is much less than most of the other countries. We managed to save the lives of lakhs of people, but the threat of coronavirus is not over yet. It is spreading fast many areas, we need to remain vigilant”, he said.

The PM also mentioned about Madhubani masks from Bihar in his address, saying they are becoming increasingly popular. He said these masks are promoting a tradition as well as providing health safety and employment to people.

He also expressed solidarity with people affected by floods and heavy rainfall across India. “Centre, State Governments, local administrations, #NDRF and social organisations are working to provide all possible assistance to those affected,” he said.

With the country observing Kargil Vijay Diwas today, PM Modi also recalled the valour of brave Indian soldiers who fought in the 1999 war against Pakistan as the country emerged victorious on this day.

“Thanks to the courage of our armed forces, India showed great strength in Kargil,” PM said in his address while hitting out at Pakistan for trying to “backstab” India despite the latter’s friendship.

-ARK

Rajnath Singh pays tributes to Kargil heroes at National War Memorial

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today paid tributes to the Kargil war martyrs at National War Memorial on the 21st anniversary of India’s victory in ‘Operation Vijay’, here today.

Indian Armed Forces’ victory in Kargil on 26 July 1999 is a saga of strong political, military and diplomatic actions. The Nation is celebrating this day with pride, honour and inspiration, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The Defence Minister was accompanied by Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff & Secretary Department of Military Affairs General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General MM Naravane, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.

Rajnath also wrote a message in the visitors’ book at the War Memorial, “On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas today, I pay my obeisance and salutation to the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives to protect motherland from the enemy. The country will always remember the courage, valour, restraint & determination of our fallen heroes and will march ahead taking inspiration from their supreme sacrifice.”

He said Kargil Vijay Divas is not just a day but a celebration of the courage and valour of the soldiers of this country.

“Brave soldiers of the Indian Army had overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, hostile terrain, inclement weather, and the enemy occupying dominating heights, to win the conflict with the help of Indian Air Force, which gave the air support,” the Ministry of Defence said in a release.

“On this momentous occasion, the proud nation is celebrating this victory in memory of fallen heroes with events covering a myriad spectrum all across the country,” it added.

Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and other senior civil and military officials of the Ministry of Defence were also present on the occasion.

-ARK

Operation Vijay: How India won the 1999 Kargil war against Pakistan

New Delhi (NVI): It was this day 21 years ago when India emerged victorious in a three-month-long battle with Pakistan as its armed forces evicted Pakistani troops perched on mountain tops of Kargil in Ladakh.

The Kargil war was fought between India and Pakistan between May and July 1999 in the Kargil sector of Line of Control (LOC). During the war, the Indian Army evicted Pakistani intruders and succeeded in recapturing the Tiger Hill and other posts as a part of ‘Operation Vijay’.

It was on this day in 1999 that the Indian Army had declared successful culmination of ‘Operation Vijay’ after recapturing the peaks occupied by Pakistan Army and hoisted the national tricolor.

To commemorate the supreme sacrifice of brave Indian officers and soldiers, Kargil Day or Vijay Diwas is observed every year on July 26.

The Indian troops fought the months-long battle under one of the toughest conditions and difficult terrain. Therefore, the war is the most recent example of high-altitude warfare in mountainous terrain, and as such posed significant logistical problems for the combating sides.

The War

The war took place from May 3 to July 26 in 1999 as the Indian Army evicted Pakistani intruders– both regular troops and mujahideens (intruders)- from the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC). The whole world was concerned as the armies of the nuclear-armed nations fought the war. India launched Operation Vijay to clear the posts in the Kargil sector, which was occupied by the Pakistani soldiers and infiltrators on the Indian side of the LoC.

The Pakistani soldiers and intruders had positioned themselves at higher altitudes, which gave them an advantage over their Indian counterparts as they could easily shoot down on them. Due to this height advantage, two Indian fighter jets — one Mig-21 and one MiG-27 were shot down by Pakistan.

Pakistan had also asked the US to intervene in the war. However, the international diplomatic community stood with India. As a result, Pakistan started withdrawing its troops after India continued to chase the intruders despite heavy losses. The Indian armed forces attacked the rest of the outposts and July on 26, the Indian Army had managed to conquer back the last of these posts.

In the war fought along Line of Control (LoC), the country lost nearly 490 Army officers and soldiers, while flushing out militias and regular troops of Pakistan. Pakistan also lost a number of its regular and irregular troops.

Among the brave hearts of the war are Captain Vikram Batra, Captain Anuj Nayar, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, Major Vivek Gupta, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, Naik Digendra Kumar and Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari.

-ARK

DC office in Jammu declared containment zone after 3 test positive

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Three people working in the office of Deputy Commissioner- Jammu tested positive for the Covid-19, forcing the district administration to declare the entire office complex as a containment zone.

Officials said that three people including a petition writer, security guard and a sanitary worker at the office complex tested positive for Covid this morning after which the district administration Jammu decided to close the office and declare the entire building as a containment zone. The DC office, along with the external area on Wazarat road, Jammu has been declared as a containment zone, officials said.

DC Jammu also wrote on his Twitter handle: “3 persons (petitioner writer, security guard, sanitary worker) engaged in the premises of the DC office complex have turned Covid +ve. The entire complex of DC office with external holding area on Wazarat road is declared temporarily as a containment zone for extensive sanitization.”

Officials said that entry and exit of all the employees have been restricted to the complex for some time till the entire building is sanitized extensively. The Jammu division has over 3,600 positive cases with around 2,000 recoveries and 22 deaths.

-ARK

Terrorists fire at security forces party in J&K’s Shopian, flee

Kashmir
Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Terrorists attacked a joint party of Police and CRPF at the main town in South Kashmir’s Shopian today and managed to flee from the spot, police said.

No loss of life or injury was reported in the incident.

A police official said that militants fired a few bullets from a distance at the joint teams of police at main town Shopian and managed to escape from the spot.

“The forces didn’t retaliate as the place witnesses huge rush of people,” he said, adding that the entire area has been cordoned off and a massive search operation is launched.

“An alert has been sounded in the area and forces deployed at all entry and exit points are maintaining a tight vigil,” the officer said.

-ARK

PM pays tributes to martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas, while remembering the courage and determination of the Indian armed forces who fought bravely against Pakistan at chilling heights.

“On Kargil Vijay Diwas, we remember the courage and determination of our armed forces, who steadfastly protected our nation in 1999. Their valour continues to inspire generations,” PM Modi tweeted.

In another tweet, the PM shared a small video clip on the Kargil war by the Indian Army, while tweeting: “India remains eternally grateful to our soldiers for their bravery.”

The Prime Minister also said that he will speak more on Vijay Diwas during his Mann Ki Baat radio address today.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tributes at the National War Memorial on New Delhi on the occasion of 21st anniversary of the country’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil war.

Every year, July 26 is celebrated as ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ to mark the successful completion of ‘Operation Vijay’, that ended after a three-month battle with Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC). The country lost nearly 490 Indian Army officers and soldiers in the war while flushing out militias and regular troops of Pakistan.

.-ARK

Daily Covid-19 tests in India reach up to 4.2 lakh amid surge in cases

New Delhi (NVI): India has registered a record number of single-day COVID-19 tests on the second consecutive day as a total of 4,42,031 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said today.

The daily testing has been increased as there has been no let-up in daily new infection rate. The total number of coronavirus positive cases in the country now stand at 13,36,861 with 31,358 deaths recorded so far. 8,49,431 patients have been cured or discharged so far.

48,661 fresh cases and 705 new deaths were recorded since yesterday.

Currently, India is the third worst-hit country after the US and Brazil. Union Health Ministry yesterday said that india has ramped up its testing capacity to 4.2 lakh tests in a day. The rate at which the infection is spreading remains nearly double than the US and Brazil at present.

For the first time, government labs set a new record of testing 3,62,153 samples. Private labs also scaled a new high of 79,878 samples tested in a single day, the Health Ministry said.

Apart from that, the Central Government has advised all States to keep up with the strategy of aggressive testing, tracking and treatment which may initially lead to a high number of daily positive cases but would eventually achieve a decline as has been demonstrated after Union Govt’s efforts in Delhi.

In another development, North Korea has imposed lockdown on the border city of Kaesong after the country’s first suspected case of the novel coronavirus.

According to North Korean state media KCNA, its leader Kim Jong Un convened an emergency politburo meeting yesterday to implement a “maximum emergency system and issue a top-class alert” to contain the virus.

Meanwhile, over 16 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide with around 6,44,000 deaths and approximately 9.23 million people recovered.

-ARK

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