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Around 100 to 200 active terrorists in Kashmir: J&K Police

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar (File photo)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The number of active terrorists in Kashmir at present is somewhere between 100 to 200 even as 106 ultras have been killed so far, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar said today.

Addressing a press conference at police control room Srinagar, the IGP Kashmir said that when he took charge, there were 252 active militants in Kashmir and at present, the number is between 100 and 200. “The reason for this number is that there may have been some successful infiltration bids…,” he said.

The IGP said that police don’t go by numbers and its job is to kill militants wherever it gets a lead about their presence.

On today’s encounter at Zonimar, Kadikadal area of Srinagar’s downtown, the Kashmir police chief said that late last night, police received a tip-off about the presence of three militants. “A siege was laid and hectic efforts were made to ensure surrender of militants. Two of the three were locals and we brought their families and made repeated announcements on loudspeakers through area elders and also by the parents,” he said, adding that the hiding militants lobbed grenades and fired at the security forces, triggering an encounter. “In the ensuing encounter, they were killed,” he said.

Two of them have been identified and their families will be allowed to participate in the last rites either in Handwara or Baramulla district of north Kashmir. “The identity of the third slain terrorist is being ascertained,” he said.

The IGP said that the slain militants were listed as the Islamic State of J&K militants as per police records but there were reports that they had joined Hizbul of late. “One AK-47 rifle and two pistols were recovered from the slain militants,” he said, adding that the operation was held in a very clean manner and there was no collateral damage for which CRPF and police deserve applause.

Asked whether Srinagar was witnessing a resurgence of militancy, the IGP said if there are no anti-militancy operations taking place in any district, that doesn’t mean militancy isn’t there. “There are two active militants in Srinagar at present. Srinagar being the Central district is used by militants to receive funds and meet group leaders and other associates,” he said.

About the identity of slain militants, the IGP said one of the two local slain militants has been identified as Shakoor Farooq Langoo of Qamarwari, Srinagar. “He was involved in the killing of two BSF men at Soura and had also snatched their weapons. There were other militants also involved, but Shakoor was the one who had fired at BSF men,” Kumar said.

He said that police and CRPF teams acted professionally and didn’t damage the house where the trio was hiding. “This is for the first time in history that militant leadership in Kashmir stands collapsed. In the recent months, we have been able to kill all the leaders of the four major outfits: Hizbul, Lashkar, Jaish and Ansaar Gazwatul Hind (AGH),” he said.

-ARK

Op Samudra Setu next phase starts today; over 250 Indians to return from Maldives

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Naval ship (INS) Airavat is all set to bring back around 250 Indian nationals from the Maldives as part of the next phase of ‘Operation Samudra Setu’ that kicks-in from today.

The Navy ship which reached Male yesterday will set sail for Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu with the evacuated Indian citizens late today.

The Indian Embassy in the Maldives tweeted that the passengers of today’s evacuation by INS Airavat were being assisted and provided food packets at the Velana airport in Male.

The Indian Navy had started Operation Samudra Setu (Sea Bridge) on May 8 as part of national efforts to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas who are stuck in foreign countries amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Navy had also deployed INS Jalashwa and INS Magar in earlier phases of the evacuation process.

#INSAiravat waits patiently at #Malé port for passengers to commence boarding. She will set sail for #Tuticorin later today as part of Op. #SamudraSetu.@indiannavy @MEAIndia @DDNewslive @CollectorTuty pic.twitter.com/H4LvgvqbD7

On June 11, INS Shardul reached Porbandar in Gujarat with 233 Indians stranded in Iran. All of them were quarantined for seven days at various locations in Porbandar.

Earlier, INS ‘Jalashwa’ and INS ‘Magar’ had evacuated 2,874 Indians from the Maldives and Sri Lanka to ports of Kochi and Tuticorin under ‘Samudra Setu’ operation.

-ARK

Summer Solstice 2020: Cultural & historical significance of the longest day of year

New Delhi (NVI): The word ‘solstice’ is derived from the Latin sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”). On this day (June 21), the seasonal movement of the Sun’s daily path (as seen from Earth) appears to “stand still” at a northern or southern limit before reversing direction.

This is an annual event that occurs when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly day-arc relative to the equator.

There are two solstices that occur annually: around June 21 (commonly known as “Summer Solstice” for being the first day of summer and the longest day of the year) and December 21 (commonly known as “Winter Solstice” for being the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year).

On the other hand, an equinox — derived from the Latin aequinoctium, from aequus (equal) and nox (night) — is commonly regarded as the instant when the center of the visible Sun is directly above the Equator, and this occurs twice each year: around 20 March (called “Spring Equinox” as it marks the begining of spring in most cultures) and 23 September (called “Autumnal Equinox” as it marks the beginning of autumn).

The equinoxes are the only times when the solar terminator (the “edge” between night and day) is perpendicular to the equator, and hence daytime and nighttime are of approximately equal duration.

The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with seasons, harvests and livelihood. Therefore, many cultures celebrate various combinations of the solstices, the equinoxes, and the midpoints between them, leading to various holidays arising around these events, according to the United Nations.

The solstices and equinoxes symbolize the fertility of the land, agricultural and food production systems, cultural heritage and their millenary traditions.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has acknowledged that the celebration of these events is an embodiment of the unity of the cultural heritage and centuries-long traditions, and further play a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples on the basis of mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good-neighborliness. It, therefore, recognized 21 June as the International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice.

The summer solstice fire festivals take place in the Pyrenees (Mountain range in Europe) each year on the same night when the sun is at its zenith. Once night falls, people from different towns and villages carry flaming torches down the mountains to light a variety of traditionally constructed beacons.

The descent is a special moment for young people, signifying the transition from adolescence to adulthood, according to a UN report. The festival is considered a time for regenerating social ties and strengthening feelings of belonging, identity and continuity with celebrations including popular folklore and communal dining. Roles are assigned to specific people.

In some municipalities, the mayor is involved with lighting the first beacon. In others, a priest blesses or lights the fire. Elsewhere, the most recently married man lights the fire and leads the descent to the village. Often, young unmarried girls await the arrival of the torchbearers in the village with wine and sweet pastries.

In the morning, people collect embers or ashes to protect their homes or gardens. The element has deep roots among local communities and is perpetuated thanks to a network of associations and local institutions. The most important locus of transmission is the family, where people keep the memory of this heritage alive.

J&K: 3 terrorists killed in Srinagar encounter, search operation on

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

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Three terrorists have been killed in an ongoing operation in Zoonimar area of downtown Srinagar after repeated efforts by their family members, forces to persuade them to surrender failed, police said today.

A gunfight broke out in Zoonimar- Gilkadal area of Srinagar’s old city after joint teams of Police and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) of CRPF cordoned off the area on the basis of specific information about the presence of militants there, they said.

Talking to NVI, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, said that the three militants were holed up in a house which also suffered damage in the gunfight. “Two of them are locals. We launched the operation in the night. For almost two-and-a-half hours, we tried to persuade the hiding militants to surrender. Repeated announcements to them by the locals of the area were also made. We also brought family members of two militants to the spot. They also appealed their children to surrender, but all efforts didn’t succeed,” the IGP said.

He said that two out of the three militants are locals and one is believed to be a foreigner. A police official said that as the hiding militants refused to surrender and opened fire at the forces triggering an encounter, two unidentified militants were gunned down. Later, the third ultra was also taken down after an intense exchange of gunfire.

This is the second encounter in Srinagar’s downtown in the recent past. Earlier, two militants including the divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit Junaid Sehrai were killed. The authorities have snapped mobile internet services in the entire Srinagar district as a “precautionary measure.”

A day before yesterday, addressing a joint press conference with the police, Srinagar based Army’s 15 Corps commander Lieutenant General BS Raju had said that over 100 militants including top commanders of various outfits were killed. Lt Gen Raju had stated that in the next few months, Army will try to ensure normalcy in full across the Valley.

IGP Kashmir has already announced that from next month, police will shift focus from South Kashmir to North Kashmir. Today’s encounter is believed to be a chance encounter as security officials have been maintaining that in Srinagar. militancy was already wiped out but some were on the move, who get trapped after human and technical intelligence is used by the security agencies.

‘Ring of fire’ solar eclipse visible from parts of India

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): A rare kind of solar eclipse takes place today which also coincides with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, or the first day of summer. The rare celestial event, annular solar eclipse, popularly called ‘ring of fire’ is visible today from various parts of India.

“The first solar eclipse of this year takes place on the summer solstice, which is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere,” the Ministry of Science & Technology said in a release yesterday.

While people living along the path annular eclipse passing through Anupgarh, Suratgarh, Sirsa, Jakhal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Dehradun, Tapowan and Joshimath will be able to see the annular phase, people in rest of India can witness a partial eclipse.

The solar eclipse started at 9:15 AM (IST) and will be visible until 3:04 PM. At 12:10 PM, the maximum eclipse will take place. The eclipse will be visible from much of Asia, Africa, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, parts of Europe and Australia.

In India, the path of the ‘Ring of Fire’ solar eclipse began near Gharsana in Rajasthan around 10:12 AM today.

When Moon comes between the Sun and Earth, the shadow falls on the surface of the Earth. The Sun is entirely covered by the Moon for a brief period. Those places that are engulfed by the dark, dense umbral shadow of the Moon experience the total solar eclipse.

In the regions that plunge into the soft diffused penumbral shadow of the Moon experience the partial eclipse. In all solar eclipse the Sun, Moon and Earth may not be perfectly aligned, and then we only have a partial eclipse. When the three celestial bodies happen to be in a straight line, we have Total solar eclipse.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has also warned people not to look at the sun during the eclipse. “Sun is a very bright object, and looking at it directly can cause severe damage to the eye and vision. There are special goggles made for looking at the Sun. These goggles filter the sunlight for safe viewing,” it said.


-ARK

Yoga has emerged as force for unity, doesn’t discriminate: PM

New Delhi (NVI): Highlighting the importance of Yoga for a healthy and peaceful world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Yoga has emerged as a force of unity as it deepens bonds of humanity and doesn’t discriminate.

“It goes beyond race, colour, gender, faith and nations. Anybody can embrace Yoga. If we can fine tune our chords of health and hope, the day is not far away when world will witness the success of healthy and happy humanity. Yoga can definitely help us make this happen,” the Prime Minister said in his address to the nation on the occasion of sixth International Yoga Day.

PM Modi said that International Yoga Day is a day of solidarity, a day of universal brotherhood.

The PM said that the World is feeling the need of Yoga more now as the Covid pandemic has threatened human life. “Yoga boosts immune system of the body. You must include Pranayama in your daily life. Pranayama Yoga or breathing exercises strengthens our respiratory system. It is more relevant in the current times as it is the respiratory system of the body that is most adversely affected by the Covid19 virus,” he said.

Due to COVID-19 global health emergency, this year International Yoga Day is being observed through the electronic and digital platform.

“Today, all of us should stay away from large gathering and practice yoga at home with our families. This year’s theme is ‘Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family’. Yoga promotes family bonding as children, youngsters, elders in family come together to practise yoga, there is a flow of positive energy in home. Yoga also promotes emotional stability,” the PM said.

“As conscious citizens, we will move forward as a family and society in unison. We will try to make ‘Yoga at home and Yoga with family’ a part of our lives. We will surely succeed, we will surely win”, he added.

President Ram Nath Kovind also shared a message on Yoga on Twitter. “Greetings on #InternationalYogaDay. The ancient science of Yoga is India’s great gift to the world. Glad to see more and more people adopting it. Amid stress and strife, especially with #Covid19, practicing Yoga can help keep the body fit and mind serene,” he wrote.


PM Modi also said that the huge participation of people in ‘My Life – My Yoga’ video blogging competition from across the globe reflects the growing popularity of yoga.

This is for the first time that the celebrations are being held virtually since it was instituted on June 21, 2015.

-ARK

Over 4 lakh Covid-19 cases in India; total 13,254 deaths, 306 in past 24 hrs

New Delhi (NVI): With 15,413 new coronavirus cases, India has crossed the 4 lakh mark with 13254 Covid-19 deaths so far. There are 4,10,461 confirmed cases in the country now.

While there are 1,69,451 active cases, 2,27,755 patients have been cured or discharged, according to the Health Ministry. 306 people have died of the infection in the past 24 hours.

Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu remain the worst-hit states with 1,28,205 and 56,845 cases respectively. Delhi has 56,746  confirmed cases so far.

Over 8.7 lakh cases have been reported globally. The deadly virus has killed at least 4.6 lakh people. The World Health Organisation has warned that the pandemic is “accelerating”, but also expressed optimism that vaccines may be available before the end of this year.

Meanwhile, the country is observing its sixth International Yoga Day and this is for the first time that the celebrations are being held virtually since it was instituted on June 21, 2015. The theme for this year is “Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended his greetings on the Yoga Day while appealing to people to celebrate the day while remaining indoors.

Addressing the nation, on the occasion of International Yoga Day, Prime Minister Modi said that Yoga Day is a day of solidarity and universal brotherhood. He said that Yoga promotes family bonding as well as boosts the immune system against Covid-19.

“Yoga boosts immune system of the body. You must include Pranayama in your daily life. Pranayama Yoga or breathing exercises strengthens our respiratory system. It is more relevant in the current times as it is the respiratory system of the body that is most adversely affected by the Covid19 virus,” the Prime Minister said.

-ARK

Covid-19: 15 CRPF personnel among 154 test positive in J&K, tally 5,834

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed another spike in Covid positive cases as 15 CRPF personnel, five cops, five pregnant women and three minors tested positive for the deadly virus taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 5,834.

Officials said that among the 154 new cases, 57 were tested positive at SKIMS, 36 at CD hospital Lab, 17 at JVC Bemina and rest at other hospitals.

Among 154 new cases, 114 belong to Kashmir division while 40 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division has reached 4,488 including 2,597 recoveries and 71 deaths while total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 1,346 including 739 recoveries and 10 deaths.

The officials also added that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 2,417 including 1,820 from Kashmir division and 597 from Jammu division.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 3 from Anantnag, 9 from Kulgam, 28 from Srinagar, 20 from Budgam, 7 from Kupwara, 12 from Shopian, 21 from Baramulla, 2, from Bandipora, 11 from Pulwama and one from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 40 from Jammu division include 6 each from Udhampur and Ramban, 11 from Jammu, 7 from Kuthua, 3 from Samba, 4 from Doda and one each from Rajouri, Reasi and Kishtiwar.

As per the officials figures, in Kashmir division, 675 positive cases including 9 deaths and 473 recoveries are from Kulgam, 582 including 13 deaths and 267 recoveries are from Baramulla, 641 including 19 deaths and 226 recoveries are from Srinagar, 591 including 425 recoveries and 05 deaths are from Anantnag, 614 including 420 recoveries and 10 deaths are from Shopian, 435 including 315 recoveries and 5 deaths are from Kupwara, 260 including 214 recoveries and 01 death are from Bandipora, 311 including 129 recoveries and 6 deaths are from Budgam, 312 including 70 recoveries and 3 deaths are from Pulwama and 67 including 58 recoveries are from Ganderbal.

In Jammu division, 309 including 193 recoveries and 7 deaths are from Jammu district, 207 including 116 recoveries are from Ramban, 209 including 117 recoveries and 1 death are from Udhampur, 189 including 102 recoveries are from Kathua, 108 including 57 recoveries from Poonch, 127 including 50 recoveries are from Samba, 74 including 1 death and 35 recoveries are from Rajouri, 67 including 39 recoveries and 01 death are from Doda, 32 including 22 recoveries are from Reasi and 24 including 8 recoveries are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 2,51,788 people in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 38,424 people have been kept under home quarantine while 2,417 people are in hospital isolation while 29 people are placed under hospital quarantine.

In addition to this, 1,64,169 people have completed surveillance period and 46,668 people are under home surveillance. So far, results of 3,01,209 samples have been made available.

Out of 3,01,209, the number of samples tested negative stands at 2,95,375 while 5,834 have been tested positive, among them 2,417 are active and 3,336 people have recovered while 81 people have died.

-CHK

China tried to transgress, responsible for face-off: India

India-China face-off: Core issue is to 'strictly' follow bilateral border pacts, says MEA

New Delhi (NVI): India rejected today the Chinese contention that it was “unilaterally changing the status quo” on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and asserted that the Chinese side was responsible for the face-off in Galwan Valley as it had attempted to transgress.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said India expects the Chinese side to “sincerely follow the understanding” reached between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries during their telephonic talk on June 17 “to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, which is so essential for the overall development of our bilateral relations.”

Responding to queries on the statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson yesterday, Srivastava said, “The position with regard to the Galwan Valley area has been historically clear. Attempts by the Chinese side to now advance exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to Line of Actual Control (LAC) there are not acceptable. They are not in accordance with China’s own position in the past.”

He said Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the LAC in all sectors of the India-China border areas, including in the Galwan Valley and they “abide by it scrupulously here, as they do elsewhere.”

“The Indian side has never undertaken any actions across the LAC. In fact, they have been patrolling this area for a long time without any incident.  All infrastructure built by the Indian side is naturally on its own side of the LAC,” the spokesman said.

Since early May 2020, the Chinese side has been hindering India’s normal, traditional patrolling pattern in this area, he said, adding “this had resulted in a face-off which was addressed by the ground commanders as per the provisions of the bilateral agreements and protocols.”

Srivastava asserted, “We do not accept the contention that India was unilaterally changing the status quo. On the contrary, we were maintaining it.”

He went on to add that in mid-May, the Chinese side “attempted to transgress the LAC in other areas of the Western Sector of the India-China border areas” and “These attempts were invariably met with an appropriate response from us. Thereafter, the two sides were engaged in discussions through established diplomatic and military channels to address the situation arising out of Chinese activities on the LAC.”

The Senior Commanders met on June 6, 2020 and agreed on a process for de-escalation and disengagement along the LAC that involved reciprocal actions, the MEA spokesman said.

“Both sides had agreed to respect and abide by the LAC and not undertake any activity to alter the status quo. However, the Chinese side departed from these understandings in respect of the LAC in the Galwan Valley area and sought to erect structures just across the LAC. When this attempt was foiled, Chinese troops took violent actions on June 15, 2020 that directly resulted in casualties.”

He noted that External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and the Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi had a conversation on June 17, 2020 wherein EAM conveyed Indian protest in the strongest terms on the events leading up to and on the violent face-off on June 15, 2020. “He (Jaishankar) firmly rejected the unfounded allegations made by the Chinese side and the misrepresentation of the understandings reached between the Senior Commanders. He also underlined that it was for China to reassess its actions and take corrective steps,” Srivastava said.

“The two Ministers also agreed that the overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner, and that both sides would implement the disengagement understanding of June 6 sincerely. The two sides are in regular touch and early meetings of military and diplomatic mechanisms are currently being discussed,” he said.

“We expect that the Chinese side will sincerely follow the understanding reached between the Foreign Ministers to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, which is so essential for the overall development of our bilateral relations,” the spokesman added.

Bangladesh COVID-19 tally exceeds 1.08 lakh; 1,425 dead

Bangladesh lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Bangladesh have reached 1,08,775 after detection of 3,240 new cases in the last 24 hours.

In addition to this, 37 more patients lost their lives due to the deadly contagion, raising the death toll to 1,425 in the country.

So far, 42,945 people have recovered in the country after 1,048 more patients were recovered during this period.

The detection rate of new patients in the country was recorded at 23.09 percent today.

Meanwhile, former Bangladesh cricket captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been diagnosed with coronavirus today.

-CHK

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