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Delhi to implement Centre’s guidelines on lockdown 3.0 from tomorrow

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi will follow MHA guidelines issued on the third phase of lockdown from May 4 onwards, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today, while asserting that the National Capital was ready to “lift the lockdown” if allowed by the Centre.

The Delhi Chief Minister, while addressing a virtual press conference also highlighted certain activities that will be allowed as well as restrictions that are in place.


He said that it was time to permit all kinds of economic activities in the capital’s not-containment zones, instead of an entire shutdown. He said that the lockdown is having consequences on the economy as revenue is drying up.

Kejriwal said that from tomorrow, Delhi government offices engaged in essential services will function with full strength while private offices can operate with up to 33 per cent strength.

He said that self-employed people like electricians, plumbers and household help can begin work but barbers and salons will continue to remain closed. Markets and malls, excepts shops providing essential services will also remain closed. There will be no movement of people for non-essential work from 7pm to 7am, unless a medical emergency or situation, he said.

Public transport will not ply on roads in red zones. Private four-wheelers can have two people apart from driver but only one person will be allowed on two wheelers, he said.

Kejriwal further said that while religious places will remain shut, 50 people will be allowd in a wedding and 20 people in case of a death. He reiterated that social distancing and other safety norms will not be compromised at any cost.

The Delhi CM said that lockdown was necessary but time has come to re-open Delhi as economy was suffering due to the extended lockdown. He said that a large number of people will be forced to leave Delhi if they do not find work or get their salaries.

Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in J&K’s Poonch, Rajouri

July 18 Shopian encounter: Army completes summary of evidence
An encounter site in Kashmir (File Pic)

Jammu (NVI): In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops tonight resorted to firing with small arms and mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts, defence officials said.

Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation in Balakote sector in Poonch at around 9 pm, they said.

“At about 2100 hours Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms & shelling with Mortars along LoC in Balakote Sector, District Poonch(J&K),” they said.

Later, Pakistan also targeted Manjakote sector in Rajouri district, they said, adding that the Indian Army is retaliating befittingly.

The latest ceasefire violation by Pakistan comes close on the heels of fierce Handwara encounter in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, in which four Army personnel including two officers lost their lives. A J&K policeman, who was part of SOG (Special Operations Group) also lost his life in the overnight gunbattle. Two militants were eliminated in the gunfight that ended this morning.

WATCH | Illuminated warships in Kochi to salute Corona warriors

Southern Naval Command illuminated warships in Kochi (Kerala) this evening, as a thanksgiving gesture to healthcare professionals and all those at the forefront of the Covid-19 battle. Earlier in the day, the Indian Air Force and Indian Army conducted flypasts and band performances respectively to pay tribute to corona warriors in the country. Army and Navy choppers also showered flower petals at hospitals across the nation treating coronavirus patients.

Braveheart J&K cop who took terrorists head-on

Srinagar (NVI): In his career spanning over two decades, Sageer Pathan Qazi had earned three out of turn promotions as he rose from a Constable to a Sub-inspector, due to his passion for challenges and unflinching determination to take on terrorists in the Valley.

Born in 1978 in Trad Karnah of Kupwara district, Qazi joined as a Constable in Armed Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police in 1999, at the age of 21.

He volunteered for working in Police SOG (Special Operations Group), an elite Counter-Terrorist Force in 2006, and continued with his outstanding performance till yesterday, when he lost his life in an anti-terrorist operation at Chanjmulla in Handwara, while trying to save the lives of civilians taken hostage by two terrorists.

He was part of a joint team led by Commanding Officer of 21 RR, Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, including Major Anuj Sood and two soldiers of the same unit, all of whom lost their lives in the fierce overnight gunbattle.

A true Pathan, Qazi was honoured with various medals which include Sher-e-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry in 2009,  Police Medal for Gallantry by President of India in 2011, DGP J&K Commendation Medal and GOC-in-C, Northern Command Commendation Disc.

Yesterday, when inputs were received about the presence of terrorists in village Chanjmulla in Handwara, he led the SOG team under the command of District SP Handwara along with CO 21 RR and launched the operation. He was part of the original team which went in to evacuate the civilian inmates in a house who were taken hostage by the hiding terrorists, J&K police said in a statement today.


The team could safely rescue the inmates but came under heavy fire from the terrorists, during the evacuation process and suffered casualties.

The entire Jammu and Kashmir Police today paid tribute to the braveheart and other members of the operation led by Colonel Ashutosh in the Handwara operation. Qazi is survived by three daughters, a son and aged parents.

8 minors among 35 new Covid cases in J&K, tally reaches 701

Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed yet another surge in Covid cases as 35 more people were tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the overall tally in the Union Territory to 701.

However, the government said more people testing positive was the outcome of the increase in the UT’s testing capacity as the administration was conducting 2,500 plus tests a day.

J&K government spokesperson, Rohit Kansal in a tweet said that the government has increased the testing capacity and over 2,500 people tested in a day, breaking the 2,000 tests a day barrier.

“Finally J&K breaks the 2000 tests a day barrier. Over 2500 tests conducted in a day. New positives 35; Recoveries 33. Total Cases now 701 (Kashmir 640, Jammu 61),” Kansal tweeted.

He said that the positive cases have crossed 700-mark as 35 more people tested positive today, taking the tally of positive cases to 701. Kansal said that 640 cases out of 701 belong to Kashmir division and 61 are from Jammu region.

Officials said that out of 35 fresh cases, 34 are from Kashmir division and one from Jammu division. They said that out of 34 positive cases in Kashmir, 24 were tested positive at SKIMS Lab, 10 were tested positive at CD hospital Lab and one in Jammu GMC laboratory.

Among the new 34 new cases from Kashmir division, 11 are from Kupwara, 10 from Anantnag, 5 from Budgam, 4 from Shopian, 3 from Baramulla and one from Pulwama district.

Officials at the SKIMS Soura hospital in Srinagar said that that out of 24 cases tested positive at SKIMS today, 6 are between the age group of 3 and 14 while officials from GMC Srinagar said out of ten new positive patients, two are in the age group of 3 and 14. “In total, there were eight minors in the total 35 cases tested positive today,” the officials said.

As per officials figures, 128 positive cases including one death and 55 recoveries are from Bandipora, 109 positive cases including one death and a recovery from Anantnag, 106 including two deaths and 70 recoveries from Srinagar, 91 including 34 recoveries and 3 deaths from Baramulla, 81 including 19 recoveries from Shopian, 66 including 23 recoveries from Kupwara, 26 including 12 recoveries from Budgam, 14 with all 14 recoveries are from Ganderbal, 11 including 03 recoveries from Kulgam and 08 including 03 recoveries from Pulwama.

In Jammu division, all 26 patients have recovered in Jammu district, 20 including one death and 19 recoveries are from Udhampur, 7 with four recoveries are from Samba and 4 including three recoveries are from Rajouri, one from Kishtwar who has also recovered and one active case each from Ramban, Kuthua and Reasi.

As per the daily bulletin, 75,838 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 10,751 persons have been kept under home quarantine, besides 406 persons in hospital isolation and 183 persons under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 57,386 persons have completed surveillance period and 7,104 persons are under home surveillance.

Apart from that, results of 26,038 samples are available out of which 25,337 samples have tested negative. 701 have been tested positive and among them 406 are active, 287 persons have recovered and 8 persons have died.

Kashmiri saffron, world’s most expensive spice, gets GI tag

New Delhi (NVI): Kashmiri ‘kesar’ (saffron), an aromatic spice known world over for its unique taste and rich colour, has got the much-awaited Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Cultivated and harvested exclusively in the Karewas (high lands) of Jammu and Kashmir, the saffron variety is a much sought after spice in the world as well as in the country, famous for its aroma, deep colour and long and thick threads.

“Kashmir Saffron gets a GI tag! Kashmir Saffron has the distinction of being the purely chemical-free, organic and safe consequently being the preferred choice of the consumers,” the Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a tweet.

Kashmir saffron is the only saffron grown at an altitude of 1600m to 1800m above the Mean Sea Level in the world, which adds to its distinctiveness and differentiates it from other saffron varieties available in the market world over.

The spice is grown in some regions of the Kashmir including Budgam, Pulwama, Kishtwar and Srinagar. It also serves as a means of livelihood for many farmers in the region. Pampore in Pulwama is known as “Saffron Town of Kashmir”. The spice is known and used for its herbal and medicinal properties.

The Spices Board, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry also congratulated Directorate of Agriculture, J&K for getting GI tag for Kashmir saffron.

J&K: 8 civilians injured as unexploded shell goes off near Handwara encounter site

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): At least eight people were injured after an unexploded shell went off, a few kilometers from the Handwara encounter site, where a deadly overnight gunbattle ended this morning.

Eye-witnesses said that scores of people assembled at Ahgam in Handwara area, a village geographically located on a higher side, from where people were watching the sanitisation operation by security forces. All of a sudden a blast occurred and at least eight people were flat on the ground.

“We immediately whisked the injured away to the nearby medical facility for treatment. Thank God, all are stable,” said an eye-witness. He said it wasn’t clear what caused the explosion but those hurt received splinter injuries.

Residents of Ahgam said that the injured were shifted to Sub-District Hospital Handwara from where two were shifted to Srinagar hospital for advanced treatment.

A police official also said that an explosion has occurred in Ahgam village but stated that the entire police force of the area was busy in sanitising the encounter spot. “We are ascertaining the details what caused the explosion,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Army suffered heavy losses as a Colonel, a Major, two soldiers died along with a J&K police sub-inspector, in the overnight encounter at Changimul, Handwara. Two terrorists were also killed in the gunfight while a residential house was damaged.

WATCH | IAF SU-30 aircraft fly past Marine Drive in Mumbai to honour Covid warriors

Indian Air Force SU-30 aircraft flew past Marine Drive in Mumbai to express gratitude towards medical professionals and all Covid warriors working day and night to contain the spread of coronavirus in India. Army, Navy and Air Force today carried out coordinated activities including flypasts and showering flower petals overs hospitals as a special gesture towards those at the forefront on Covid-19 in the country. Read more

WATCH | Army targets house where militants were hiding in Handwara encounter in J&K

Security forces target house where militants were hiding in Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district late last evening. Defence spokesperson in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia told NVI that a joint operation was launched by Army and Police on the basis of an intelligence input that militants had taken some civilians as hostages at a house in Changimul. Two Army officers including a Colonel and a Major, two soldiers, and a J&K Police sub-inspector were killed in the encounter. The overnight encounter ended early this morning with the killing of two militants. Read more

Armed forces honour corona warriors: IAF conducts flypast, choppers shower flowers

New Delhi (NVI): In a big salute to corona warriors by Armed forces, Indian Air Force aircraft are conducting a fly past across the length and breadth of the country today, while Army bands are performing outside hospitals treating coronavirus patients.

The Armed forces are holding these activities in a special thanksgiving exercise to healthcare workers in the country. This comes as the nationwide lockdown has been extended to May 17 to combat Covid-19 and the districts in the country have been divided into red, orange and green zones.

Armed forces have organised multiple events like fly past by fighter and transport aircraft of the IAF from Srinagar to Thiruvanthapuram, and from Dibrugarh to Kacchh.


Army, Navy and Air Force are conducting these activities in a coordinated manner. The Navy and Indian Coast Guard will move ships in formations at sea at select locations while Army bands will visit COVID hospitals and play tunes outside the hospitals in an expression of gratitude to the Corona Warriors.


On Friday, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat had conducted a press conference along with the three services chiefs, announcing the special gesture by the armed forces to honour COVID warriors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also welcomed the decision by CDS Gen, Rawat, saying in a tweet: “…our Forces are, in a unique way, saying a big thank you to our frontline COVID-19 warriors for their endeavour towards making India COVID-19 free…”

The Prime Minister also shared a video via Tweet today, appreciating the unique gesture by the three forces to thank Covid warriors.

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