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Pulwama attack: NIA arrests JeM over-ground worker

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an over-ground worker of the militant outfit Jaish (JeM) today, in a major breakthrough in the Pulwama attack case in which at least 40 CRPF soldiers were killed on February 14, 2019.

The accused, Shakir Bashir Magrey is a resident of Hajibal, Kakapora, in Pulwama. A furniture shop owner, Shakir Bashir Magrey, as per NIA, provided shelter and other logistical help to suicide-bomber Adil Ahmad Dar. He was introduced to Adil Ahmad Dar in mid-2018 by a Pakistani militant called Umar Farooq and became a full-time over-ground worker of JeM.

The Agency said during his initial interrogation, he has disclosed that on several occasions, he collected and delivered arms, ammunition, cash and explosive material to the JeM militants including those involved in Pulwama attack.

“Accused Shakir Bashir Magrey has further revealed that he had harboured Adil Ahmad Dar and Pakistani militant Mohammad Umar Farooq in his house from late 2018 till the attack in February 2019, and assisted them in the preparation of the IED,” the NIA said in a statement.

“His shop is located near Lethpora bridge, and as advised by Mohammad Umar, he started conducting reconnaissance of the movement of CRPF convoy on Jammu-Srinagar Highway in January 2019, and informed Mohammad Umar and Adil Ahmad Dar about it.”

The NIA statement said he was also involved in modifying the Maruti Eeco car and fitting the IED in it in early February, 2019.

“During investigation, the make, model and number of the car used in the attack was quickly ascertained by NIA to be a Maruti Eeco car through forensic examination of the tiny remnants of the car, which were seized from the spot during extended searches. This has been corroborated by accused Shakir Bashir Magrey,” the statement said adding that the explosives used in the attack were determined to be Ammonium Nitrate, Nitro-Glycerin and RDX through forensic investigation.

“Investigation has also confirmed the identity of the suicide bomber to be Adil Ahmad Dar through DNA matching with that of his father. Other key militants involved in the attack have been found to be Muddasir Ahmad Khan, (JeM’s Divisional Commander of South Kashmir killed in an operation by security forces on 11-03-2019) Pakistani militants Muhammad Umar Farooq and IED expert Kamran, (both killed on 29-03-2019) the owner of the car Sajjad Ahmad Bhat r/o Marhama, Anantnag (killed on 16-06-2019) and Qari Yassir, JeM’s Commander for Kashmir (killed on 25-01-2020),” it said.

The NIA statement said that the attack on the CRPF convoy, moving from Jammu towards Srinagar on February 14, 2019, in Pulwama, with an IED-laden vehicle by Jaish militant Adil Ahmad Dar had claimed lives of 40 CRPF personnel and grievously injured many others.

“OGW Shakir Bashir Magrey was produced before the NIA Special Court at Jammu today and remanded to 15 days of NIA custody for his detailed interrogation,” the statement said.

HAL delivers ‘Made in India’ L-40 stage for GSLV-MKII

New Delhi (NVI): Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has handed over the 50th set of L-40 stage of Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MKII) to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

This L-40 stage is meant for GSLV MKII- F12 flight scheduled to take off in August this year.

HAL’s Aerospace Division has so far integrated and supplied L-40 stages for 12 flights of GSLV MKII including the GSLV MKII -F10 flight planned in the first week of March.

HAL is also manufacturing the riveted structures, propellant tanks, feedlines of PSLV, GSLV MKII and its launch vehicles and structures of various satellites for ISRO.

The state owned compnay has been ISRO’s trusted partner for the past three decades and has contributed and participated in almost all of ISRO’s ambitious projects namely Chandrayaan-I, Chandrayaan-II, Mangalyaan and upcoming projects like Gaganyaan too.

Indian FS meets Afghan FM a day ahead of US-Taliban deal

Kabul (NVI): Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla today met Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Haroon Chakhansuri here, a day ahead of the signing of a deal between the US and Taliban which could have implications for India.

Shringla, on his first visit to Kabul since taking over as Foreign Secretary about a month back, conveyed India’s support to Afghanistan’s pursuit for sustainable peace, security and development.

During their meeting, Shringla conveyed congratulations on President Ashraf Ghani’s re-election and pledged India’s support to democracy, stability and development in Afghanistan, according to a statement issued by Afghan Foreign Ministry.

They discussed various aspects of political, security, economic, business, transit and cultural issues, including the Afghan peace process, strengthening of people-to-people relations, it said.

The problems posed by the spread of the coronavirus was also discussed, with the two sides agreeing to work together to combat this global phenomenon.

The timing of the Indian Foreign Secretary’s visit to Kabul is significant as the US is going to sign a deal with Taliban in Qatar tomorrow, which will pave the way for America to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan after 18 years of bloody engagement.

Leaders and representatives of a number of countries will be attending the deal-signing ceremony. India is likely to send its Ambassador in Doha to attend the event.

India is watching with anxiety the deal and its contours as it could have implications for this country, particularly since Taliban is a proxy of Pakistan and its notorious intelligence agency ISI.

US President Donald Trump, during his visit to India earlier this week, said the deal was part of his endeavour to bring home the American troops who have been in Afghanistan since December 2001.

The troops of the US and its NATO allies entered Afghanistan in pursuit of ‘war against terror’ in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks. The war against terror was mainly targeted at Al Qaida and the Taliban, which was then ruling Afghanistan.

Taliban, through a military campaign, had seized power in 1996 and ruled Afghanistan in a barbaric manner to impose fanatic systems. It crushed all human rights and particularly enforced extremely stiff rules on women.

The US removed Taliban from power in 2002, paving the way for a return of democracy in Afghanistan.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is already in Doha to attend tomorrow’s ceremony, said, “tomorrow is a big day for Afghans” and a great opportunity as Afghanistan is moving towards peace and reconciliation.

Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, who is also in Doha for the event, expressed optimism about the Afghan peace process.

He underlined the need for working together to address the problems in Afghanistan.

Science must work for people: President

New Delhi (NVI): President Ram Nath Kovind today said that the purpose of science must be towards working for people by contributing to their development and well-being.

While speaking at the National Science Day celebrations, organised by the Department of Science and Technology here, President Kovind emphasised to enhance the quality and relevance of scientific enterprise.

“Our science must work for our people by contributing to their development and well-being,” he said.

“We should aim to reach all the stakeholders of science and indeed society at large with all the tools, knowledge, manpower and infrastructure in our universities and laboratories,” the president said.

President Kovind expressed happiness to note that on the lines of corporate social responsibility, the Department of Science and Technology is developing the concept of ‘Scientific Social Responsibility’.

He noted that department is turning it into a policy which will involve voluntary activities like sharing scientific infrastructure, mentoring college faculty, fostering research culture, and organizing young students’ visits to top laboratories.

Here are the 37 Central Acts to be applied in J&K soon

GI registration

New Delhi (NVI): With the Union Cabinet’s nod to apply 37 Central Acts in Jammu and Kashmir, the stage is all set for the adaptation of these laws which were not applicable to the Union Territory before.

The adaptation of these Central laws will be under Section 96 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh without one — and got President Ram Nath Kovind’s assent on August 9, 2019, just four days after the Parliament passed it.

The Central Acts include The Advocates Act 1961, The All India Services Act 1951, The Census Act, 1948 among others. Here is a detailed list of all Central laws to be applied in the Union Territory soon:

On Wednesday, the Cabinet approved an order for issuance of adaptation of central laws in the concurrent list — subjects that give powers to both the Centre and state– for the newly formed UT.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision in this regard.

While briefing media on Wednesday, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that it is necessary to adapt the Central laws made under the concurrent list, with required modifications and amendments.

As per Section 96, the Central government has powers to make adaptations and modifications of the laws, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of facilitating the application of any law made before the appointed date till the expiration of one year from the appointed date in relation to the successor Union Territories.

1,394 playgrounds to come up in Panchayat Halqas across Kashmir

Representational image

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): With an aim to provide playing space for children, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has planned to build 1,394 playgrounds in different Panchayat Halqas across the Valley at an estimated cost of Rs 59.10 crore.

Official data reveals that only 780 panchayats in Kashmir have designated playgrounds. More than 1,402 panchayats do not have any playfields.

Under the first phase, the government is building 496 playgrounds in Kashmir at an estimated cost of Rs 5,815 lakhs.

The government has identified land in 898 panchayats for building playgrounds. 157 playgrounds will be established in Baramulla.

Likewise in Anantnag, Bandipora, Shopian, Pulwama and Ganderbal, the administration has decided to build 137, 60, 4, 43 and 26 playgrounds respectively.

The government has decided to build eight playgrounds in Kulgam, four in Budgam and 118 in Kupwara.

Earlier this month, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan held a meeting with Deputy Commissioners to review the working of panchayats.

He directed Deputy Commissioners to establish at least one playground in each Panchayat. “Besides, playfields of the nearest area should be utilized in case there is non-availability of grounds in any of the Panchayat Halqas,” Khan said in an order.

The need for playgrounds at the village level is aimed at providing space to the children to involve themselves in sporting activities.

Nearly 17,000 schools in J&K are without playgrounds, while 16.1 per cent schools have the playground facility outside the premises, the official data said.

On February 18, the government postponed eight-phase polls for vacant panchayats after receiving inputs from security agencies about a possible threat. The polls were scheduled to be held from March 5.

A week later, the UT administration has decided to shift focus on developmental activities and establish at least one playground in each Panchayat Halqa across Jammu and Kashmir.

Nirbhaya convict files curative plea in SC

New Delhi (NVI): Pawan Kumar Gupta, one of the convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case today approached Supreme Court and sought that his death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment.

Pawan Kumar Gupta and the three other convicts including Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar and Mukesh Singh are scheduled to be hanged on March 3 at 6 am in Tihar Jail.

Earlier this month, the Patiala House court in Delhi signed fresh death warrants for the four men convicted in the case.

Nirbhaya, a 23-year-old girl, was brutally raped and murdered on the night of December 16, 2012, in a south Delhi area.

WHO provides support in detection of coronavirus globally

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The World Health Organisation is utilising an international network of expert laboratories to provide support in the detection of the COVID-19 virus globally.

On January 9, the global health body had published interim laboratory guidance for detection of the novel coronavirus.

The purpose of the document is to provide interim guidance to laboratories and stakeholders involved in laboratory testing of patients who meet the definition of suspected case of pneumonia associated with a novel coronavirus identified in Wuhan, China.

The guidance is continually updated as more data becomes available. The first COVID-19 cases were detected using genomic sequencing.

Nine new countires — Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Norway, Pakistan, Romania, and North Macedonia– have reported cases of COVID-19 virus in the past 24 hours.

WHO has taken a three-pronged approach to enhance global diagnostic capacity for the COVID-19 virus:

  •  Developing a WHO network of 15 COVID-19 reference laboratories with demonstrated expertise in the molecular detection of coronaviruses. These international laboratories can support national labs to confirm the COVID-19 virus and troubleshoot their molecular assays.
  • Strengthening national capacity for detection of the COVID-19 virus so that diagnostic testing can be performed rapidly without the need for overseas shipping. Existing global networks for detection of respiratory pathogens are being utilized including, notably, the National Influenza Centers that support the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.
  •  Ensuring ongoing test availability. WHO has procured a commercial assay (manufactured under ISO:13485) with strong performance data and shipped to over 150 laboratories globally as an interim measure for Member States requesting support. The main goal is to strengthen global diagnostic capacity for detection of the COVID-19 virus. Support is now also provided to ensure the quality of testing through the implementation of an External Quality Assurance mechanism.

The deadly virus originated from Wuhan in Chinese Province Hubei in December last year. The virus, which is now rapidly spreading in Europe and Middle East now, has claimed around 2,788 lives. More than 80,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus so far.

WHO head Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said that coronavirus outbreak has reached a “decisive point” and has “pandemic potential”.

Proposed Muslim-Pandit ‘peace march’ foiled in Srinagar

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): A march, planned by some Muslim and Kashmiri Pandit activists to promote co-existence and peace in the Valley, was foiled by the police here today.

The police thwarted the joint march — ‘Saath Do’ — by detaining Satish Mahaldar, Chairman of little-known Reconciliation, Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits (RRRKP), at Srinagar Airport when arrived to participate in the programme.

Mahaldar and Bollywood singer Saim Bhat were supposed to lead the march from Srinagar’s Batmaloo and move through downtown before culminating at the Kashmir Press Club.

However, as soon as Mahaldar reached Srinagar Airport, police detained him and took him to Kothibagh police station in Srinagar.

It was for the first time that such a programme had been planned in Kashmir. The main aim of the event was to “promote peace, pluralism and coexistence” in the valley.

Organisers had distributed white flags among the people in the area for hoisting atop their houses, shops and other places.

“People will hoist flags individually on their houses and shops across the valley. We have arranged flags and distributed them among the people for the event,” Mahaldar told NVI earlier.

The holding of protests and rallies is prohibited in Kashmir since Section 144 of CrPC, which bars assembly of more than 4 people, is in place in the Valley.

COVID-19: Tokyo Disneyland to be closed till mid-March

New Delhi (NVI): Tokyo’s two Disney resorts, Disneyland and DisneySea will be closed temporarily till March 15 due to concerns over Coronavirus infection spreading in Japan, reports in foreign media said.

The Disney resorts will be closed from February 29 to March 15 after a government recommendation that big gatherings and events be deprived for two weeks.

The announcement also came a day after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked all elementary, middle and high schools nationwide to close until late March to help control the spread of the new virus in the country.

According to a statement by Oriental Land, the operator of the parks, there are plans to reopen the resorts on March 16. But it said that will depend on the overall situation. The operator added that it would inform ticket holders of policies on refunds.

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea attract more than 30 million visitors every year.

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