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Massive CASO launched by security forces in J&K’s Pulwama, Shopian

2 LeT militants surrender after gunfight in J&K's Kulgam
(Representational/file image)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Security forces have launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in southern districts of Pulwama and Shopian in a bid to flush out terrorists, official sources said.

Officials said that joint teams of Army, police and CRPF launched the search operations in several villages in Shopian district that include Nully Poshwari, Imamsahib and Yuwam. “A joint search was launched in Chuwan, Keller village of Shopian also,” officials said.

They said that CASO was also launched in many Pulwama villages including Jamia Mohalla, Tiken area.

A police officer told NVI that it’s a “speculative CASO” and so far no contact has been established with the terrorists in any of the twin districts — Pulwama and Shopian. “Such CASOs are part of the security drills as it forces terrorists to change their locations and hideouts which ultimately helps us to track them down,” he said.

This year so far, 130 terrorists have been killed in a series of anti-militancy operations which includes top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit. Hizb has borne the maximum brunt as the outfit has lost 60 terrorists alone including its chief operational commander Reyaz Naikoo.

Official figures suggest that since June 1, 50 terrorists have been killed in various counter insurgency operations across Kashmir.

-CHK

Earthquake of 4.5 magnitude hits Rajkot

quake
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): An earthquake measuring 4.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale hit Rajkot in Gujarat today morning, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said.

The earthquake struck at 7:40 am at a depth of more than 10 kilometres beneath ground, according to the NCS. The epicentre of the earthquake was 22 km southwest of Rajkot.

Several other parts of the state including Amreli and Junagadh districts felt tremors.

This was the second earthquake to hit the western state this month. On July 5, a 4.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded with its epicentre around 14 kms from Bhachau in Kutch district of Gujarat.

However, there were no reports of any damage to life or property.

-RJV

COVID cases in India climb to over 9.6 lakh, death toll 24,915

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

New Delhi (NVI): India today registered biggest single-day spike with 32,695 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of cases to 9,68,876.

In addition to this, this is the first time that COVID-19 cases crossed the 30,000-mark in a single day.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the country stood at 24,915 with 606 fresh fatalities being reported in the past 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

As many as 6,12,814 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far. With this the recovery rate stands at 63.25 per cent in India.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 2,75,640, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,51,820 cases, and Delhi with 1,17,993 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of deaths at 10,928, followed by 2,079 in Gujarat and 2,167 in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 3,487, while 95,699 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

The other worst affected states are Gujarat (44,552), Uttar Pradesh (41,383), West Bengal (34,427) and Rajasthan (26,437).

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in total, 1,27,39,490 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the country till July 15. Of these, 3,26,826 were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday said that the COVID-19 situation in Delhi is under control, but cautioned against complacency.

Apart from this, Goa announced a three-day lockdown with stricter restrictions from July 17, in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the state.

-RJV

Jadav Payeng, the ‘Forest Man’ of India who planted an entire forest on his own

New Delhi (NVI): He planted one tree every day and then continued it for the next 37 years. Now, an island destroyed by years of flooding along the Brahmaputra river in eastern Assam is converted into a lush green forest where wildlife has thrived, with tigers and elephants often seen.

Meet Jadav Payeng, the Forest Man of India from Majuli, who was honoured with Padma Shri in 2015 for his tireless efforts. In March this year, Jadav received the 128th Commonwealth Points of Light award, which includes a certificate signed by Queen Elizabeth II, for his exceptional voluntary service to environmental conservation.

Payeng started his extraordinary journey in 1979 when he was just 16-years-old. He encountered a large number of snakes that had died due to excessive heat after floods washed them onto the tree-less sandbar along the Brahmaputra river. That is when he planted around 20 bamboo seedlings on the sandbar.

Concerned over the rise in temperature in the sandbar, Payeng started trees on his own and quietly transformed the piece of land into a forest. A part of the sandbar also lies in the famous Majuli island in Assam.

To plant a tee every day, he would walk for 20 minutes, take a boat to cross the river, then walk another 2 hours to reach the place. This has been the forest man’s daily routine for all these years.

Thanks to Jadav’s efforts, the land is now a paradise for biodiversity, including endangered Royal Bengal tiger and vultures. However, Jadav’s journey has not ended yet and he plans to plant 5,000 acres of more trees on Majuli.

Meanwhile, the Assam floods, which have wreaked havoc in the entire region, have affected his own house. A video is going viral on social media in which Jadav is seen walking in front of his house in knee-deep waters.

The video, originally shared by Manoranjan Pegu, was retweeted by Naveed Trumboo, an Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer.

-ARK

‘Abducted’ BJP leader walks home in J&K’s Baramulla; Police says it rescued him

Mehrajuddin Malla (Left); his daughter (Right) had appealed to the abductors to release her father.

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice President from Rafiabad constituency, Mehrajuddin Malla, who was abducted by unknown men in the morning outside his residence at Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, walked home this evening, police said while claiming that it has rescued him.

“We rescued him,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told NVI, without elaborating who had picked Mehrajuddin, also the vice president of Municipal Committee (MC) Watergam in Sopore. Family members of the BJP leader also said he reached home this evening safely.

Malla, Son of Ghulam Ahmed of Maraizgund had left his home at around 9 am to attend a marriage function at his friend’s house but he was allegedly abducted midway.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Javiad Iqbal had earlier said that they had put in all efforts to trace the missing BJP leader. BJP (J&K) spokesman Altaf Thakur had stated that Malla was the BJP leader and constituency president of the party for Rafiabad. “His father Ghulam Ahmed Malla is also a senior BJP leader and is affiliated with the BJP since long,” Thakur said.

Earlier in the day, Malla’s daughter appealed to the abductors to release her father, in a video. “My father only hope for us, so if he is with somebody, please allow him to return home. He left his home in the morning to attend a marriage function at this friend’s house, but he was kidnaped mid-way by some unknown people. Please allow my father to join back his family, we have no support other than him,” she had said in a video message.

-ARK

Australia now ready to join Malabar naval exercises: Report

(Pic: ABC News)

New Delhi (NVI): After prolonged hesitation, Australia finally appears inclined to join India, the US and Japan actively to activate the ‘Quad’, which is intended mainly to ensure free movement in the Indo-Pacific region in the backdrop of China’s growing assertiveness.

Giving an indication in this regard, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Australia “looks almost certain” to join annual Malabar naval exercises with India, the United States and Japan “as the four democracies tighten military cooperation to stare down a rising China”.

The media report, quoting an unnamed senior source of Australia, said there were “very positive signs” an invitation will soon be formally issued to the country.

“Since 2017, Australia, India, Japan and the US have intensified cooperation through the “Quad” security dialogue, but expanding Malabar to include all four nations would give the grouping a sharper military edge,” the report said.

It would also represent a substantial diplomatic and strategic victory for Australia, it said.

The proposal to form the Quad was mooted way back in 2007 but Australia, after committing itself, backed out in 2008, after apparently China talked tough against, what it saw, was an effort to encircle it.

India, the US and Japan have been maintaining that the grouping is not aimed against any country but only to ensure free and secure movement in the Indo-Pacific maritime zone, where piracy threats also exist.

Australia’s inclination to join the Malabar naval exercises, which are held annually but may be delayed this year due to coronavirus, comes against the backdrop of friction in its ties with China over the issue of the pandemic.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has recently held virtual meetings with  Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and discussed the regional situation.

India and Australia have elevated bilateral ties through a comprehensive strategic partnership and an agreement to allow reciprocal access to military bases.

Armed forces get special powers for urgent purchases worth Rs 300 cr

New Delhi (NVI): In the wake of prevailing situation along the northern border, especially the India-China face-off in Ladakh, the defence ministry today delegated special powers the armed forces for urgent purchases worth Rs 300 crore.

A special meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) was convened in this regard today under the chairmanship of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

“The DAC delegated the powers for progressing urgent Capital Acquisition Cases upto Rs 300 crores to the Armed Forces to meet their emergent operational requirements,” read an official statement by MoD.

The Ministry said that this will shrink the procurement timelines and ensure the placement of orders within six months and commencement of deliveries within one year.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also tweeted: “The powers for progressing urgent Capital Acquisition cases upto Rs 300 crores have now been delegated to the Armed Forces to meet their emergent operational requirements This will shrink procurement timelines, ensure speedy placement of orders and start deliveries within 1 year.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the three services have started procurement of a series of military equipment and weapon systems amid the ongoing tense border situation between India and China after the violent Galwan valley clashes last month.

Indian and Chinese troops had a deadly face-off in Galwan Valley area of Eastern Ladakh on June 15 in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives. Scores of PLA troops were also killed by China has not revealed the exact numbers so far.

Although a series of military and diplomatic level talks have taken place between the two countries after the stand-off, both sides have enhanced border infrastructure along Line of Actual Control (LAC).

-ARK

Pak-China begin building dam in Gilgit-Baltistan

New Delhi (NVI): Construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam, being built by Pakistan with the help of China in Gilgit-Baltistan, began today, despite protests by the local people and India which says Pakistan has no right to undertake any such activity in the Indian territory illegally occupied by it.

The dam project in Diamer district of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan marks a major Chinese footprint in the region which is originally a part of undivided Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan signed a contract with China two months back for construction of the dam at the cost of Rs 442 billion. After the agreement, the local people of Gilgit-Baltistan protested, particularly against Pakistan government’s Land Reforms Act under which their lands would be acquired for the project.

Citizens of Gilgit-Baltistan aired their anger on the ground as well as social media, saying it was Pakistan’s move to disempower them and grab their lands with the help of Chinese muscle power.

“They can’t snatch our ancestors land through their greedy acts like that of ‘Land Reforms Act’. People of #GilgitBaltistan will unitedly raise their voice against any such forceful oppression,” said a tweet by Sayed Ali Baig, a prominent resident of GB.

Another resident, Ejaz Hussain Nasiry said, “Land Reforms Act is a move to change our demography. One such example is Gilgit city where the locals are almost close to become minority due to abolishing of SSR and now the Land Reforms Act will add fuel to the fire”.

The dam will be built jointly by China Power, a State-run company, and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), the commercial arm of the country’s all-powerful Army. In the joint venture, the Chinese company has 70% stake, while FWO has the remaining 30% stake.

After the contract was signed, India’s External Affairs Ministry registered New Delhi’s objections to the project.

“Our position is consistent and clear that the entire territory of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are, and will continue to be an integral and inalienable part of India,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava had said.

“We have consistently conveyed our protest and shared concerns with both China and Pakistan on all such projects in the Indian territories under Pakistan’s illegal occupation,” he said.

The dam project was conceived some years back and India had registered its protest even then.

Message to China: Two US aircraft carriers in South China Sea

New Delhi (NVI): Sending out a message to China, two US aircraft carriers have sailed through the South China Sea, over which Beijing lays its absolute claim and attempts to usurp the rights of its neighbours like Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

Nuclear-powered USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan sailed along with their strike groups into the sea in a major show of strength to China, according to the ‘Sun’ newspaper of the UK.

Pictures showed the steel armada sailing through the region that has been the source of years of tensions between the US and China, it said.

The aircraft carriers launched F/A 18E Super Hornet fighter jets, and were joined by guided missile destroyers and cruisers in the exercise.

Meanwhile, Britain has announced that its new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth could also be sent to the Far East.

The American move comes after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted that China’s claim over South China Sea was not “lawful” or “coherent”.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, he said the United States “rejects any PRC (People’s Republic of China) claim to waters beyond a 12-nautical mile territorial sea derived from islands it claims in the Spratly Islands.”

Pompeo said the US also “rejects any PRC maritime claim in the waters surrounding Vanguard Bank (off Vietnam), Luconia Shoals (off Malaysia), waters in Brunei’s EEZ, and Natuna Besar (off Indonesia).”

He warned that any action by China to harass other states’ fishing or hydrocarbon development in these waters, or to carry out such activities unilaterally, is unlawful.

Contending that China engages in a campaign of “bullying” against its neighbours, he said, “Beijing uses intimidation to undermine the sovereign rights of Southeast Asian coastal states in the South China Sea.”

The Secretary of State went on to add: “America stands with our Southeast Asian allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources, consistent with their rights and obligations under international law.”

South China Sea is considered to be potentially energy rich and a key lane for international maritime.

Chinese response to the American move came through State-run newspaper ‘The Global Times’, which said the Communist country has missiles which can “kill” aircraft carriers.

“China has a wide selection of anti-aircraft carrier weapons like DF-21D and DF-26 ‘aircraft carrier killer’ #missiles. South China Sea is fully within grasp of the #PLA; any US #aircraftcarrier movement in the region is at the pleasure of PLA,” it tweeted.

The US Navy’s chief of information replied: “And yet, there they are.Two @USNavy aircraft carriers operating in the international waters of the South China Sea. #USSNimitz & #USSRonaldReagan are not intimidated.”

Meanwhile, according to British media reports, ‘The HMS Queen Elizabeth’, the latest aircraft carrier of the UK, will be deployed in the Indo-Pacific region to counter an increasingly aggressive China.

It will be accompanied by a fleet of warships, including two Type 45 destroyers and two frigates. It will also be deployed with two squadrons of F-35B Lightning II jets, likely to be from the RAF and the US Marine Corps.

Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd, fleet commander, was quoted by The Times newspaper as saying that the Royal Navy was “going to be coming back to the Indo-Pacific”.

Explaining how Britain could get involved in the region, he said: “Our ambition is to be absolutely persistent and forward-based there, maybe with a carrier strike group, or maybe not. We’ll see.”

Vice-Admiral Kyd added that British stealth fighter jets could be sustained “through our US allies and through the hub in Japan”, and be transported by the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Bangladesh COVID-19 tally surpasses 1.93 lakh; 2,457 dead

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): Coronavirus cases in Bangladesh exceeded 1.93 lakh after 3,533 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours.

In addition to this, 33 new deaths were reported during this period, taking the total number of Covid-19 fatalities in the country to 2,457, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The daily infection rate was today recorded at 25.23 percent in the country, while the overall rate of infection since March 8 is 19.75 percent.

So far, 1,05,023 people have recovered in the country after 1,696 more patients were recovered during this period.

The recovery rate in the country is now at 54.25 percent while the mortality rate is at 1.27 percent.

-CHK

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