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Pak terrorist went to meet girl, falls in security net and got killed in Kashmir

Kashmir terror attack
Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): A Pakistani terrorist, who was killed in encounter in Kashmir’s Baramulla district, got trapped in the net of security forces as he had gone to meet a girl, according to a purported Whatsapp chat.

Yesterday, a terrorist identified as Sultan was killed in an encounter with forces in Check-e-Saloosa area at around 11 am. “When joint teams zeroed in on a suspected spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under heavy volume of fire leading to a gunbattle,” security officials said in a statement.


Today, a Srinagar-based activist Al Iskandar posted a tweet, sharing a purported WhatsApp chat, believed to be a conversation between an Over Ground Worker (OGW) and his terrorist handler. The Whatsapp chat reveals what Pakistani terrorists do in Kashmir in the name of so-called jihad.

“Bhai aap ko mainay pehlay hi bataya tha ki iska khayal rakhna yeh Pakistani kum dimag hotay hai (Brother I had told you to handle him, these Pakistanis are dim-wit),” reads the purported chat, apparently by a terrorist-handler.

The OGW, whom the terrorist handler is addressing as ‘Musa’ in the chat, is believed to have accompanied the slain terrorist who went to meet the girl. “Bhai jaan mai khud badi mushkil se bach gaya yeh raat ko us ladki ko milnay gaya tha mainay bahut mana kiya yeh nahi mana (Brother, I myself saved my life somehow, he (Sultan) went to meet that girl. I requested him a lot but he refused),” says the OGW in a reply to the handler, indicating that the former might have escaped during the cordon and search operation in the area by forces.

In further conversation, as shown in the purported chat, the handles ask about the girl to which the OGW replies that she is from a family where some terrorists and OGWs had taken shelter a few days ago.

“Bhai jis time cordon hua mai usi time waha se bhag gaya (When the forces cordoned off the area, I immediately escaped),” the OGW tells the handler.

The handler further replies to the OGW to keep it a secret that the slain Pakistani terrorist was affiliated to Al-Badr, a lesser-known terror outfit, trying to stage a comeback years after it became extinct.

Al-Badr was banned by the Government of India under The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2004. On 27 April, 2005 the State Department of the United States Government identified Al-Badr as a terrorist organisation in its list of 40 Foreign militant Organisations. Al-Badr is currently on the U.S. State Department list of Designated Foreign militant Organisations.

-ARK

Govt releases SOPs for resuming production of films, TV serials

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting today released Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for resuming work in the media production industry that will allow shooting of films and TV serials in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

The SOP ensures adequate distancing at shoot locations and other workplaces and contains measures including proper sanitization, crowd management and provision for protective equipment.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a tweet that ‘Contact Minimisation’ is at the core of the SOP. “This will be ensured by minimal physical contact and sharing of props, PPEs for hairstylists and make-up artists among others,” he tweeted.

As per the preventive measures for media production, face covers/masks are mandatory for cast and crew except for actors in front of the camera. Sharing of costumes, wigs, makeup items etc has to be kept to a minimum.

Make-up artists and hairstylists will have to use PPE, as per the new norms. Apart from that, persons handling shared equipment will have to wear gloves.

Lapel mics may be avoided and never shared. Direct contact with diaphragm of mics has to be avoided.

Among other SOPs, six-feet distancing at shoot locations, recording studios, editing rooms etc has been advised.

The I&B Ministry has formulated the general SOPs taking into consideration international practices notified in the sector including physical distancing, designated entry and exit for shoot locations, sanitization, safety of staff, contact minimization and following of travel related guidelines issued by MHA including quarantine/isolation.

Specifically, with regard to face masks, as per international practices, face mask has been made mandatory for cast and crew except for actors in front of the camera.

The SOP has been issued in consultation with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Home Affairs.

-ARK

Bharat Biotech gets nod to test administering Covaxin through skin

Pakistan

New Delhi (NVI): Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, which is developing Covaxin, one of the three vaccine candidates against coronavirus, has been given approval by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to conduct skin trials.

The separate clinical trial will see administering the vaccine through the intradermal route, which is just under the skin. The vaccine is currently tested through an intramuscular route, where it is injected directly into the muscle.

Covaxin, developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV), has received Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approval for Phase I and II human clinical trials. The trials commenced across India from July.

Bharat Biotech is currently conducting a phase I/II clinical trial of Covaxin on 1,125 patients at 12 hospitals across the country, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi and Patna, King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad and PGIMS in Rohtak.

-ARK

India’s Covid tally crosses 30 lakh mark with 69,239 fresh cases

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed 30 lakh mark with a whopping 69,239 fresh infections in the past 24 hours.

Out of 30.44 lakh cases, 7,07,668 are active cases, while 22,80,567 patients have been discharged. 912 fresh deaths have pushed the death toll in the country to 56,706, as per the latest figures released by Union Health Ministry.

Apart from that, the recovery rate stood at 74.89 per cent. India is currently third-worst affected countries in the world, after the US and Brazil.

The country has been reporting the highest number of daily Covid cases for the last 18 days. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India has been testing around 74.7 people per lakh population. That is higher than WHO’s guidelines of testing 14 people per lakh population.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 deaths have passed 8,00,000 mark in the world as total confirmed cases rose to more than 23 million.

-ARK

Toys can be a medium to further the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Toys can be an excellent medium to further the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said exhorting that toys should reflect India’s value system and culturally established environment-friendly approach.

At a meeting to discuss ways to boost toy manufacturing in the country, Modi said India should tap the huge potential in the digital gaming arena by developing games that are inspired from its culture and folk tales.

Focus should be on use of technology and innovation besides manufacturing products that meet global standards, he added.

PM Modi further added, “India is home to several toy clusters and thousands of artisans who produce indigenous toys which not only have cultural connect but also helps in building life-skills and psychomotor skills among children at an early age. He said such clusters should be promoted through innovative and creative methods.”

He also stressed on the need to organise hackathons for innovations in toy technology and design.

Laying emphasis on the fast-growing digital gaming arena, Modi said India should tap the huge potential in this area and lead the international digital gaming sector by developing games that reflect Indian ethos and values.

The Prime Minister tweeted after the meeting, “Had an extensive meeting on ways to boost toy manufacturing in India. Our focus would be to support the sector and create toys that ensure physical fitness and holistic personality development.”

-CHK

COVID-19: 76 travelers among 620 fresh cases in J&K; tally mounts to 31,981

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today reported 610 fresh cases of coronavirus including 76 travelers taking the total number of positive cases to 31,981 in the Union Territory.

Of the total 31,981 cases, 24,987 are from Kashmir and 6,994 are from Jammu division.

Officials said that among the 610 new cases, 492 belong to Kashmir division while 118 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached 24,987 including 18,905 recoveries while the total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached 6,994 including 5,493 recoveries and 45 deaths.

The officials said that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 6,975 including 5,519 from Kashmir division and 1,456 from Jammu division.

With 593 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 24,398 which is 76.28 per cent of the total cases.

Pertinently, Srinagar district alone has 7,821 positive cases which is more than the total number of positive cases in Jammu division where total cases are 6,994.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 211 from Srinagar, 20 from Baramulla, 42 from Pulwama, 42 from Budgam, 48 from Anantnag, 17 from Kulgam, 05 from Shopian, 27 from Kupwara, 46 from Bandipora and 34 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 118 from Jammu division include 66 from Jammu, 04 from Rajouri, 12 from Kuthua, 12 from Udhampur, 06 from Samba, 05 from Doda, 06 from Poonch and 07 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.

As per the officials figures, 7,821 positive cases including 194 deaths and 6,378 recoveries are from Srinagar, 2,606 including 93 deaths and 1,950 recoveries are from Baramulla, 2,278 including 1,798 recoveries and 43 deaths are from Pulwama, 2,089  including 1,470 recoveries and 52 deaths are from Budgam, 2,040 including 45 deaths and 1,567 recoveries are from Anantnag, 1,812 including 1,555 recoveries and 31 deaths are from Kulgam, 1,622 cases including 1,488 and 27 deaths are from Shopian, 1,780 including 1,208 recoveries and 41 deaths are from Kupwara, 1,794 including 936 recoveries and 23 deaths are from Bandipora and 1,145 including 555 recoveries and 14 deaths are from Ganderbal.

In Jammu division, 2,262 including 1,599 recoveries and 30 deaths are from Jammu district, 808 including 741 recoveries and 03 deaths are from Rajouri, 718 including 594 recoveries and 01 death are from Kuthua, 705 including 613 recoveries and 02 deaths are from Udhampur, 634 including 608 recoveries and 01 death are from Ramban, 616 including 431 recoveries and 02 deaths are from Samba, 368 including 308 recoveries and 02 deaths are from Doda, 343 including 276 recoveries and 03 deaths are from Poonch, 349 including 153 recoveries are from Reasi and 191 including 170 recoveries are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 4,30,647 people in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 43,363 people have been kept under home quarantine. Furthermore, 6,975 people are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 3,36,753 people have completed surveillance period and 42,948 people are under home surveillance. So far, results of 8,55,991 samples have been made available.

-CHK

India rejects China-Pak reference to Kashmir

MEA

New Delhi (NVI):  A day after China told Pakistan it opposes any ‘unilateral’ action that complicates the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, India today hit back at both the countries and urged them not to interfere in India’s internal matters. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also iterated that Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Anurag Srivastava, said, “As in the past, we categorically reject the reference to Jammu & Kashmir in the joint press release of 2nd round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. J&K is an integral and inalienable part of India and we expect the parties concerned to not to interfere in matters that are internal affairs of India.”

“At the same time we also reiterate our consistent position on the so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” he added.

India has repeatedly conveyed its concerns to both China and to Pakistan on the projects in the CPEC, which are in the territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan.

“We resolutely oppose actions by other countries that change the status quo in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and call on the parties concerned to cease such actions,” said Srivastava.

CHK

These countries have the lowest internet access

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Over the decades, internet adaptation has steadily increased, but significant portion of the global population isn’t still connected to the internet, even in some of the world’s biggest economies.

The internet access has more than doubled since 2010. But despite its widespread use, the majority of countries have lower rates of access especially in Asia and Africa.

India has the highest number of disconnected people despite having the second largest online market in the world, almost 50 per cent of the country’s population still doesn’t have internet access, whereas, only 14 per cent of the US population remains disconnected to the web.

China takes second place, with over 582 million people not connected to the internet. This is partly because of the country’s significant rural population — in 2019, 39 per cent of the country’s population was living in rural areas.

Moreover, the gap in internet access between rural and urban China is significant. This was made apparent during China’s recent switch to online learning in response to the pandemic, when one-third of elementary school children living in rural areas were not able to access their online classes.

Notably, the rural-urban divide is an issue in many countries, not just China, even in places like the US struggle to provide internet access to remote or rugged rural areas.

While India, China, and Pakistan have the highest number of people without internet access, there are countries arguably more disconnected.

There are various reasons why these regions have a high percentage of people not online—some are political, which is the case of North Korea, where only a select few people can access the wider web. Regular citizens are restricted from using the global internet but have access to a domestic internet.

Other reasons are financial, which is the case in South Sudan, the country has struggled with civil conflict and economic hardship for years, which has caused widespread poverty throughout the nation.

In Papua New Guinea, a massive rural population is likely the reason behind its low percentage of internet users — 80 per cent of the population lives in rural areas, with little to no connections to modern life.

Meanwhile, with internet advancements like 5G are happening in certain regions, and showing no signs of slowing down, there’s still a long way to go before we reach global connectivity.

Despite the long road ahead, the gap is closing and previously untapped markets are seeing significant growth.

In addition to this, Africa has seen significant growth, mainly because of a massive spike of internet users in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — between 2019 and 2020, the country’s number of internet users increased by 9 million (+122 per cent).

Therefore, this growth has been facilitated by non-profit organizations and companies like Facebook, which have invested heavily in the development of Africa’s internet connectivity.

Apart from this, India has also seen significant growth — between 2019 and 2020, the number of internet users in the country grew by 128 million (+23 per cent).

-RJV

J&K: Fake FB account of IGP Kashmir created, cyber police registers case

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar (File photo)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Cyber police of Jammu and Kashmir today lodged an FIR into the case regarding fake social media accounts, including a fake account of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.

Police spokesman said that taking cognizance of the fake facebook profiles created in the name of IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar and others, cyber police registered a case and started the investigations.

The fake FB accounts have been created by some miscreants with pictures of IGP Kumar with the mala-fide intention to cause mischief and cheat common masses by virtue of misrepresenting him, spokesman said.

Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigations is going on.

Notably, this is the second FIR filed by the cyber police of Kashmir since August 15. Earlier, some people had created fake twitter accounts of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and had uploaded his picture as profile picture and made a few comments also.

An official in the cyber police wing said that the main aim of creating fake accounts of officials from the administration and police is to spread wrong information and to create confusion among the masses. “Investigations are on in full swing and those behind the acts will soon be behind the bars,” the official said.

-CHK

ISJK terror module busted in J&K’s Bandipora, 5 held

 Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today busted a terror module of Islamic State of J&K in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district by arresting five terror associates and recovering a large quantity of arms and ammunition from them.

Addressing a press conference at Bandipora, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bandipora, Rahul Malik, said that while conducting the investigation, it was found that these five terror associates were affiliated to ISJK and had carried out a recee of Army camp to launch a strike on the same.

“The five terror associates were waiting for the weapon consignment from Pakistan and in between, we received the specific information about that group following which the arrests were made,” the SSP said.

The group, according to the SSP Bandipora, was also “involved in making flags to recruit local boys and were sharing videos and photographs while propagating their ideology also.”

“The group was providing support, motivating and, radicalizing the youths to join the ISJK terror outfit. They were making ISJK flags in Chittibandy-Aragam area of Bandipora and supplying the same to their associates in Srinagar,” the SSP Bandipora said.

He said that arrests were made from various places of Bandipora district. “Arms, ammunition, matrix sheets, ISJK flags was recovered from possession of arrested persons of whom one belongs to Srinagar,” the SSP said, without revealing the identity of the arrested persons.

-CHK

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