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J&K Covid tally mounts to 28,470 with 449 fresh cases

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 449 fresh coronavirus cases, including 76 travellers, taking the total number of positive cases in the UT to 28,470.

With 449 new cases, the tally of positive cases in J&K has reached 28,470 including 22,093 from Kashmir and 6,377 from Jammu division.

Officials said that among 449 new cases, 349 belong to Kashmir division while 100 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 22,093 including 16,201 recoveries. The total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 6,377 including 4,742 recoveries and 41 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in J&K is 6,985 including 5,391 from Kashmir and 1,594 from Jammu division.

With 267 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in the UT has reached 20,943  which is 73.56 percent of the total cases.

Pertinently, Srinagar district alone has 6,915 positive cases which is more than the total number of positive cases in Jammu division where total cases are 6,377.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 129 from Srinagar, 42 from Baramulla, 24 from Pulwama, 31 from Budgam, 23 from Anantnag, 00 from Kulgam, 05 from Shopian, 27 from Kupwara, 43 from Bandipora and 25 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 100 from Jammu division include 58 from Jammu, 06 from Rajouri, 08 from Kathua, 03 from Udhampur, 00 from Ramban, 08 from Samba, 03 from Doda, 07 from Poonch and 07 from Reasi,” the daily Covid bulletin read.

As per the daily information bulletin, 4,13,305 persons in J&K are under observation while 41,723 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 6,985 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 3,17,675 persons have completed the surveillance period and 46,380 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 7,93,537 samples are available out of which 765,067 stand negative while 28,470 have been tested positive. Among positve cases, 6,985 are active and 20,943 persons have recovered.

-ARK

India raises misuse of darknet for drug trafficking at BRICS meet

New Delhi (NVI): The fourth session of the BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group comprising of Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and India was held this week where New Delhi discussed misuse of darknet and other advanced technologies for drug trafficking.

This year’s session, held over video conference on August 12, was chaired by Russia, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

The common points emerged during the discussions include need for real time information sharing among the member states and need to curb increased drug trafficking through maritime routes.

Apart from that, fruitful exchange of opinions concerning the drug situation in the BRICS states, the international and regional trends of illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as the impact of various internal and external factors on the situation took place during the summit.

BRICS is an informal group of states comprising the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa.

The growing economic might of BRICS countries, their significance as one of the main driving forces of global economic development, their substantial population and abundant natural resources form the foundation of their influence on the international scene and are the driving forces behind the grouping, the Home Ministry said in a statement.

Among other areas of collaboration, matters pertaining to drug trafficking is an important area of cooperation among the BRICS member states.

The Indian delegation was led by Rakesh Asthana, Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau and comprised of B. Radhika, Deputy Director General (Ops), NCB, Vrindaba Gohil, First Secretary (Trade), Embassy of India, Moscow, Dr. Vaibhav Tandale, Under Secretary (Multilateral Economic Relations), MEA and Shri KPS Malhotra, Deputy Director (Ops), NCB.

-ARK

Centre to assist J&K to establish Grievances Portal in each district

New Delhi (NVI): In a significant drive to strengthen the ongoing good governance initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre will now assist the Union Territory Government to establish Grievance Portal in each of the 20 districts of the UT, Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced today.

The minister held a telephonic discussion with J&K LG Manoj Sinha on the plan for next phase of expansion of the online Public Grievance Redressal portal in the Union Territory, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said in a statement.

Following the discussion, Jitendra Singh immediately convened a meeting of senior officers dealing with Public Grievances, including Secretary ARPG Dr. ChhatrapatiShivaji and Additional Secretary V. Srinivas.

A plan was finalised to extend and establish a Portal in each of District Headquarters in Jammu & Kashmir for addressing the grievances of citizens and for providing services seamlessly at their doorstep.

To implement this initiative, it has been decided that Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (ARPG), Government of India will further enhance the ongoing collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Government to revamp the “Awaaz e-Awam” Portal with mapping of last mile grievance officers for improved quality of grievance redressal and reduced timelines in effective disposal of cases.

Jitendra Singh informed that in pursuance of this endeavour, a focused team of officials from DARPG would be constituted to work with Jammu & Kashmir Government in the coming days.

This initiative is a continuation of a series of sustained efforts by the Union Government to create a transparent, accountable and citizen-friendly effective administration in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in line with the vision outlined by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry said.

After the conversion of Jammu & Kashmir into a Union Territory, the DARPG had organized two important Conferences there on Good Governance. These include Regional Conference on Replication of Good Governance Practices in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on November 15-16, 2019 and Conference on Ek Bharat-Shresht Bharat with focus on Jal Shakti and Disaster Management on November 30- December 1, 2019

Above two Conferences convened by the DARPG represented the first important events by the Government of India in the newly created Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and laid down a roadmap for good governance in the Union Territories.

-ARK

Chetan Chauhan dies of Covid-19

New Delhi (NVI): Chetan Chauhan, former Indian opener and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister passed away today at the age of 73 while battling Covid-19.

Chauhan tested positive in July and was put on ventilator but succumbed to the virus after his health deteriorated, affecting kidneys and causing blood pressure problems.

Initially, he was admitted at SGPGI in Lucknow, and later moved to Gurugram’s Medanta hospital.

Chauhan represented India in 40 Tests and seven ODIs in an international career that spanned around 12 years. After his playing days, he took on various roles in the sport, as manager of the team as well as an administrator with the DDCA.

-ARK

People throng shrines in Kashmir as religious places reopen after 5 months

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Shrines across Kashmir, especially Srinagar, witnessed hustle and bustle, long queues of devotees wearing masks today as authorities re-opened all religious places in J&K after a gap of over five months.

These places were closed as per the Centre’s advisory in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak that has claimed over 550 lives in the UT and affected almost 30,000 people so far.

The famous Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir also witnessed devotees turning up in large numbers to pay obeisance.

Srinagar houses at least over 200 shrines, 50 of them revered, especially the one at Hazratbal area of the city which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad.

On Friday, the J&K government announced the re-opening of religious places including shrines, mosques, temples and gurdwaras across the UT with strict protocols that include wearing of masks, maintaining social distance and using hand sanitizers frequently. The government announced that the use of the Aarogya Setu App was mandatory at the religious places in Kashmir.

“Touching statues, idols or holy books will not be permitted,” the fresh guidelines by the J&K government read. “Any deviation from SOPs shall attract penal action under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.”

Farooq Ahmed, a 70-year-old resident of old Srinagar visited the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Sultanul Arifeen Sheikh Hamzah Makhdoomi in Rainawari area of Srinagar early this morning. “I saw people crying loudly, praying and paying obeisance at the shrine. All were wearing masks and using sanitizers. Nobody was allowed to kiss the tomb of sufi saint,” said Farooq, who visited the shrine after a gap of five months.

“I found solace there. It’s a  place of peace and blessings. God listens to my prayers here only as I plead before him with the name of this revered saint,” he told NVI.

A large number of women too were seen visiting the shrine. People also visited Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar and offered prayers. The majority of shrines are located in old Srinagar and according to residents, all were thrown open for the people today after five months.

Women were seen offering prayers at the shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani at Khanyar area of Srinagar, which is one of the most revered shrines in Srinagar.

“I distributed ‘tehri’ (yellow coloured cooked rice) among the devotees at the shrine first time after February,” said Fatima, who had been a regular visitor to the shrine since her childhood. Khanyar is the Srinagar locality where the first Covid-19 case of Kashmir was reported on February 19.

At another shrine of Baba Reshi at Tangmarg area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir, people including women devotees followed the protocols in spirit. “The shrine management asked us to stay in queues and to maintain social distancing while paying obeisance,” said Nasreena, a women devotee. “I prayed for the well being of my family and the health of my husband and children.”

She said it was an emotional moment for many devotees as they visited the shrine after a long gap due to the pandemic.

-ARK

10 Baloch men ‘abducted’ by Pak security forces in Quetta

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistani security forces have detained 10 persons from a family in Kahan area of Quetta city, in what seems to be yet another instance of enforced disappearances of Baloch people in the country.

According to The Balochistan Post, these 10 men were arrested by Pakistan security forces in Kahan area of Quetta city last night who raided their house and harassed women and children.

The family members, in a statement, have said that they were sleeping at 1:30 am when suddenly a heavy contingent of Pakistani security forces raided their house. “They called the 10 people in the house by names and whisked them away,” they said.

They have appealed to the authorities including Chief Minister of Balochistan, Interior Minister, Pakistan High Court and Supreme Court to order their release.

“We have nothing to do with any political organization. After the abduction of all the men in our house, women and children have become helpless. We appeal to the Chief Minister of Balochistan, the Interior Minister of Balochistan, the Supreme Court and the High Court to recover our loved ones and provide us justice”, a family member was quoted in the statement as saying by the Balochistan Post.

Enforced disappearances of Baloch people are quite common in Pakistan and the family members of such persons are waiting for years for their loved ones.

Many Human Rights experts have noted that Pakistan doesn’t follow its constitution and laws while dealing with the Baloch people and rather detain them at undisclosed places in inhuman conditions. Extra-judicial killing, mysterious disappearance is the fate of those who oppose the Pakistan military there.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has appealed to the Pakistan government to stop these transgressions. But Pakistan has done nothing to address the situation and rather treated Baloch people as separatists.

It is pertinent to mention here that Balochistan’s struggle for freedom has continued for almost seven decades now as it regards itself as a separate territory that has been forcibly occupied by Pakistan.

-ARK

India provides assistance to Mauritius to contain oil spill

New Delhi (NVI): India has dispatched over 30 tonnes of technical equipment and material on board an IAF Aircraft to Mauritius to deal with an oil spill near the country’s south-east coast after a Japanese ship ran aground on a coral reef.

The government of Mauritius declared a “state of environmental emergency” late Friday as coastal areas including an island nature reserve face an ecological disaster.

Mauritius had requested for assistance from India in dealing with the environmental crisis due to the oil spill on its south-east coast and help in containment and salvage operations.

The specialized equipment sent by India, consisting of Ocean Booms, River Booms, Disc Skimmers, Heli Skimmers, Power packs, Blowers, Salvage barge and Oil absorbent Graphene pads and other accessories, is specifically designed to contain the oil slick, skim oil from water, and assist in clean up and salvage operations, an official release stated.

A 10-member Technical Response Team, consisting of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel specially trained for dealing with oil spill containment measures, has also been deployed to Mauritius to extend necessary technical and operational assistance at the site, it said.

“India’s assistance is in line with its policy to extend humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to its neighbours in the Indian Ocean region, guided by the Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). The urgent assistance reflects the close bonds of friendship between India and Mauritius and India’s abiding commitment to assist the people of Mauritius in need,” the statement read.

The Indian assistance follows recent support provided by India to Mauritius in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, including supply of essential medicines, a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines as well as a medical assistance team sent as part of Mission ‘Sagar’, it added.

-ARK

No change in Pranab Mukherjee’s condition, continues to be on ventilator

Former President Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi (NVI): There is no change in the condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee and he continues to be on ventilator support, Army’s R&R Hospital in Delhi Cantt said in a fresh statement today.

However, the 84-year-old leader’s vital parameters are stable, as per the statement. “The health condition of the former president who also has multiple old co-morbidities is being closely monitored by a team of specialists,” the Army hospital said.

Mukherjee was admitted to the hospital on Monday and underwent brain surgery to remove a clot after he suffered a fall at his Rajaji Marg residence last Sunday. His condition has not improved since then and he continues to be in coma. He was also tested positive for Covid-19.

Meanwhile, prayers for the speedy recovery of former President continued in his hometown- Kirnahar in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. Residents at his native place held a ‘yajna’ for his recovery.

-ARK

NCC set for major expansion, to cover 173 border and coastal districts

New Delhi (NVI): National Cadet Corps (NCC) is all set for a major expansion as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal in this regard which will see the induction of a total of one lakh cadets from 173 border and coastal districts in the country.

The proposals of the scheme were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address yesterday.

One-third of the Cadets would be girl Cadets. More than 1000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced, Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing) said in a statement.

As part of the expansion plan, a total of 83 NCC units will be upgraded (Army 53, Navy 20, Air Force 10), to impart NCC training to the cadets in the border and coastal areas.

While Army will provide training and administrative support to the NCC units located in the border areas, Navy shall provide support to NCC units in the coastal areas and similarly Air Force will provide support to the NCC units located close to the Air Force stations.

This will not only provide exposure to the youth of the border and coastal areas to military training and disciplined way of life but will also motivate them to join the armed forces, the official release stated.

The NCC expansion plan will be implemented in partnership with the States.

-ARK

India’s Covid tally mounts to 25.89 lakh, death toll nears 50K mark

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): 63,000 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours took the overall tally of confirmed cases in India to 25.89 lakh. The country has recorded 944 deaths since yesterday, taking the overall death toll due to the virus to 49,980, according to the Ministry of Health.

The number of active cases stands at 6,77,444 and 18,62,258 patients have been discharged so far.

Over 13,500 deaths have been reported from across the country so far this month. The whole of July saw a total of 19,122 fatalities.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra, the worst-hit state in the country, reported around 12,614 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, taking the state’s total tally to 5,84,754.

With 322 deaths during the past 24 hours, the state death toll climbed to 19,749, according to the state health department.

India is the third worst-affected country by the pandemic after the United States and Brazil. It has been reporting a higher daily surge in caseload for the past 12 days, according to the WHO. India has reported over 49,000 Covid-linked deaths so far.

-ARK

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