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Rumours disrupt Metro service in West Delhi briefly

New Delhi (NVI): Rumours of violence prompted sudden closure of entry and exit gates of Delhi Metro rail in some West Delhi areas for a brief period tonight.

Normal services, however, were resumed after it became clear that all was well.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it had shut down the entry and exit gates of seven metro stations — Tilak Nagar, Nangloi, Surajmal Stadium, Badarpur, Tughlakabad, Uttam Nagar west and Nawada. But it did not give any reason for the sudden action. The stations were later reopened.

The first DMRC tweet at 7:53 pm read: “Security Update | Entry & exit gates of Tilak Nagar are closed.”

The second tweet at 8:23 pm followed: “Security Update | Entry & exit of Nangloi, Surajmal Stadium, Badarpur, Tughlakabad, Uttam Nagar west and Nawada are closed.”

The third tweet by Metro at 8:40 pm confirmed that normal services have resumed: “Security UpdateEntry & exit gates of all stations are open.  Normal service has resumed.”

Delhi Police denied any untoward incident and appealed to people to remain calm.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) tweeted: “Rumour is the biggest enemy. A rumour has been noticed that there is some tension in Khyala-Raghubir Nagar area of West District. There is no truth behind it. All are requested to keep calm as the situation is absolutely normal and peaceful.”

Shops were shut and people rushed to reach home in some areas including Subhash Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Janakpuri, Palam and Khyala in west Delhi.

However, Delhi Police teams went out in groups in these areas and appealed to residents to remain calm and do not believe in rumors.

Two active LeT militants, 5 associates arrested in Kashmir

woman SPO

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today claimed to have arrested two active militants and five associates from different places in Kashmir.

Two active militants belonging to LeT outfit were arrested in Srinagar while five militant associates were arrested in Ganderbal and Budgam districts respectively.

“On a credible input, Police along with security forces intercepted a militant borne Santro vehicle bearing registration No. JK13C-0941 on Barzulla-Chanapora road. While checking the vehicle with two persons on board officers was able to recover arms and ammunition from their possession,” police said in official statement.

They have been identified as Vakeel Ahmed Bhat @Abu Zarrar and Omar Ismail Das, both residents of Bijbehara, Anantnag.

Police said that both the arrested militants have been shifted to police station where they remain in custody.

“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered from their possession has been seized and taken into records in order to probe their complicity in other terror crimes,” police said.

A case under FIR No. 40/2020 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Saddar.

In a separate incident, Police in Ganderbal arrested a militant associate linked to LeT.

He has been identified as Fayaz Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Akhal Kangan.

As per police records, he was involved in assisting the active militants of LeT operating in the areas of Ganderbal.

“As per the investigations, he was involved in providing logistic support and shelter to the active militants of LeT operating in the areas of Ganderbal besides transporting militants from one district to another district. Moreover, he was also involved in lobbing grenade on Police Station Kangan regarding which a case stands registered at PS Kangan,” police said.

Similarly, in Budgam, police have arrested four militant associates and recovered huge arms and ammunition from their possession.

“On a credible input, police along with security forces arrested four militant associates identified as Muzamil Nabi, Umer Ajaz both residents of Kanihama, Rouf Bhat and Ishfaq Bhat both residents of Kantebagh SK Pora and recovered incriminating materials including arms and ammunition from their possession,” police said.

Police said that they were involved in providing logistic support and shelter to the active militants operating in the areas of Magam Budgam.

Coronavirus outbreak: Quick takeaways as death toll reaches 2,980

New Delhi (NVI): The United States has confirmed its first coronavirus death, amid fears of the virus spreading in Washington state over the past few weeks. As the US marks its first death, President Trump has announced new travel restrictions. Here are the top key developments as COVID-19 spreads rapidly in some parts of the world with the death toll exceeding 2,900:

– At least  87,000 global cases are confirmed

– The death toll stands at over 2,900

– WHO warns risk of global spread ‘very high’

-Iran’s death toll from coronavirus jumps to 54, with 978 infected

– Australia and Thailand reported first deaths from coronavirus

–Cases exceed 3,500 in South Korea in largest outbreak outside China

– Italy places around 50,000 people in quarantine

– Schools across Japan to close amid the outbreak

– New cases in China fall to the lowest since January

Parl to approve J&K UT’s first budget in session resuming tomorrow

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): The first budget of Jammu and Kashmir after being converted into a Union Territory will be presented in the Parliament session resuming tomorrow.

This will be the UT’s first budget to be presented in the Parliament after the abrogation of Article 370, in August last year.

The J&K Reorganisation Act passed by Parliament on August 6 bifurcated the State into two Union Territories – J&K (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).

The budget will be presented by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in both the Houses of Parliament in the second week of March.

J&K and Ladakh will have two separate budgets since both these regions have been converted into two UTs. “The annual budget of Jammu and Kashmir was set to cross Rs 1.2 lakh crore figure,” officials said.

Ladakh will have separate budget-cum-funding from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs like other UTs of the country without Legislature.

Earlier, the UT’s Finance Department directed all Administrative Departments and Head of Departments (HoDs) to start the preparations for the annual budget of 2020-21.

The annual budget for 2019-20 was passed in December last year during the Governor’s rule with the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik approving the budget estimates as well as revised estimates.

During the past few years, the annual budget is being approved in the month of January. The last budget by a political government was introduced and passed in the State Legislature in January-February session in 2018 by the then Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu.

During current financial year of 2019-20, Jammu and Kashmir’s budget was to the tune of Rs 88,911 crore.

Sources said the Union Territory administration has held wide-ranging discussions with all Government Departments and senior functionaries to ascertain their requirements for the next financial year before giving a final touch to the budgetary proposals.

The 15th Finance Commission has already recommended one per cent share in the divisible pool of taxes for the newly created Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for the financial year 2020-21, thus retaining the devolution formula of the earlier Commission.

Lt Gen BS Raju is new Chinar Corps commader

Srinagar (NVI): Lieutenant General BS Raju assumed the charge of strategic Kashmir-based Chinar Corps as the 49th Corps Commander today.

Lt Gen Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon handed over the command of 15 Corps to Lt Gen Raju, yesterday.

After taking over the command, Raju paid homage to martyrs. He also conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the ‘Awam’ (people) of Kashmir. “I am happy for being posted to Kashmir once again and that this tenure would be a wonderful opportunity to interact closely with the Awam at many levels,” he said.

“I am sanguine that this is a momentous time in the history of the Valley and is optimistic that together with the Awam, we will usher in an era of peace and stability,” BS Raju said.

Lt Gen BS Raju

He also interacted with the troops of Chinar Corps and enthused them to continue to work with unflinching dedication and perseverance.

Lieutenant General BS Raju, an alumni of Sainik School, Bijapur and National Defence Academy, Pune was commissioned in December 1984 and has an illustrious military career spanning 36 years during which he has held varied prestigious commands, staff and instructional appointments.

The General Officer has an incisive understanding of Jammu & Kashmir, having served here for five tenures since 1984, notable being Force Commander of Rashtriya Rifles and Brigade Commander of an Infantry Brigade on the Line of Control.

A graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (TN) & Royal College of Defence College, United Kingdom, Lieutenant General Raju is credited with important appointments at Army Headquarters and instructional appointments at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and leading the Indian Army Training Team abroad. Before taking over as the Chinar Corps Commander, the General was tenanting the prestigious appointment of Director General Staff Duties at Army Headquarters.

HRD Min to celebrate International Women’s Day with week-long campaign

Quality education
Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’

New Delhi (NVI): To take forward the momentum of empowerment of girls and women through education, the Ministry of HRD will celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) in schools and colleges across the country.

Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhrial Nishank said that the government has launched a special campaign in this regard.

The week-long campaign begins with effect from today in the run-up to International Women’s Day on March 8, Ministry of Human Resource Development said in a statement today.

“The Government has launched a special theme-based focused campaign from 1st-7th March in the run up to the International Women’s Day on 8th March this year with Education being the theme on 1st March,” Pokhriyal said adding that as a tribute to women, the celebration by HRD Ministry will continue throughout the year.

The HRD Minister also said that the Government has taken several game-changing initiatives since 2014 for the education of the girl child.

“This is one of the reasons for the success of the scheme of Beti Bachao Padhao whereby the Gross Enrolment Ratio of girls across all levels of education is now higher than boys. At elementary level, GER is 94.32 % as against 89.28% for boys. At Secondary level, it is 81.32 % as compared to 78 %,” he said.

The minister further said that a Self-Defence Olympiad will be organised for girls at school level on the lines of Yoga Olympiad. “To ensure safety and security of girls, Self defence training is imparted to girls of class VI to XII belonging to Government Schools,” he said.

Nishank added that to motivate girl students, special morning assemblies will be organised once a week in schools throughout the year. He said that in these assemblies, talks on women achievers in different fields, role play, thought of the day, group songs on women empowerment, awards/recognition to the girl students who have performed well in different fields such as academics, sports, dance, music, arts, social service and novel areas will be included.

Section 144 imposed in Shaheen Bagh

File

New Delhi (NVI): A heavy police force was deployed and section 144 was clamped in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area today even as the Hindu Sena called off a protest proposed to be held against blocking of the road.

Police has advised people not to assemble in the area where anti Citizenship Acts have been going on for some time. A large number of people, mainly women have been holding a sit-in protest in Shaheen Bagh area since Mid-December last year in protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

A stretch of road at Shaheen Bagh remains blocked. Commuters said they have been facing inconvenience due to the protest as they have to take a long detour.

Apart from that, some shopkeepers in the area who have had their shutters down for over two months have said they are running in losses.

Temperature falls in Delhi after fresh spell of rain

Light rains in Delhi
Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The day temperature in Delhi has dipped due to a fresh spell of rain as the minimum temperature was recorded today at 16 degrees Celsius and the maximum at 25 degrees Celsius.

Rains and thundershowers have also lashed several parts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, leading to a dip in mercury in these areas as well, according to SkymetWeather.

The Western Disturbance is over Jammu and Kashmir at present. It’s induced Cyclonic Circulation is over Punjab and Haryana. A Trough is extending from this system up to West Uttar Pradesh across Haryana, the weather monitor says.

Day before yesterday, Punjab and Haryana received rains. Yesterday, Delhi and parts of western Uttar Pradesh witnessed rains. The rain activity in Delhi took place in the afternoon and evening hours yesterday.

However, only isolated rains are expected in Delhi NCR and southern districts of Haryana today. Moderate rains might appear over northern districts of Punjab, Haryana, and Northwest Uttar Pradesh. The weather over all these areas will start clearing up by noon.

Air Quality Index (AQI) in ‘satisfactory’ category in RK Puram, Mundka, Ashok Vihar and Patparganj, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. AQI is in ‘satisfactory’ and ‘moderate’ category in all the stations for which data has been computed.

WHO issues safety guidelines on coronavirus

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): World Health Organization today issued guidelines for reduction of risk of contracting coronavirus.

According to the WHO if a person is sick, they should stay at home and should eat and sleep separately from their kin. They should use different utensils and cutlery to eat.

If the shortness of breath develops then the person should call on doctor and seek immediate care.

Underlying the guidance for senior citizens, WHO says that if a person is 60+ or suffering from cardiovascular disease, a respiratory condition or diabetes, then they have a higher risk of developing severe COVID 19.

It urged people to avoid crowded areas, or places where they might interact with people who are sick.

It added that if a person is having fever and cough, they should avoid traveling.

If they become sick while on a flight, they should inform the crew immediately.

Avoid touching face after touching contaminated surfaces; should clean hands regularly and clean surfaces regularly with disinfectant.

Guidelines for making workplace safe from coronavirus: WHO

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued guidelines for businesses and employers, outlining simple ways to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus and means that can help prevent the spread of infections at the workplace.

WHO has stated that there is a high risk of the COVID-19 of spreading. Despite this, it has not declared it a pandemic yet but is taking action to contain the disease.

These low-cost measures can help prevent the spread of infections in a workplace, such as colds, flu and stomach bugs, and protect the customers, contractors and employees.

Employers should start following these steps, even if COVID-19 has not arrived in the communities where they operate.They can already reduce working days lost due to illness and stop or slow the spread of the virus if it arrives at one of the workplaces.

Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are:

– Make sure the workplaces are clean and hygienic like surfaces and objects need to be wiped with disinfectant regularly. This is because contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that the coronavirus spreads

– Promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors and customers which can be enhanced by putting sanitising hand rub dispensers in prominent places and making sure the dispensers are filled regularly.

– Promote good respiratory hygiene in the workplace. This could be done by providing face masks for those who develop a runny nose or cough at work, along with closed bins for its hygienic disposal. Paper tissues should also be readily available.

– Advise employees and contractors to consult national travel advice before going on business trips

– It should be explained, as a precaution, that if COVID-19 starts spreading among anyone with even a mild cough or low-grade fever needs to stay at home.

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