Srinagar, September :
Two persons reportedly having links with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) have been apprehended in Botingoo village. They have been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Ganai and Waseem Ahmad Lone.
The police said they had been taking instructions from LeT terrorist Bilal Hamza Mir. A pistol, a magazine, eight rounds and a grenade have been seized from them.
Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s rallies in Purnea and Kishanganj, former Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Shah does not require a passport from Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav to come to Bihar.
Shah will address a rally in Bihar’s Purnea district on Friday and in Kishanganj district on Saturday.
Both, the JD-U and the RJD, have claimed that Shah is coming to Bihar to disturb the communal harmony in the state.
“The leaders of Mahagathbandhan are feeling uneasy. They are asking questions about why Amit Shah is coming to Bihar. Amit Shah does not require to give any clarification to the leaders of Mahagathbandhan. Bihar is an integral part of the country and any person including Union Home Minister does not require any permission or passport from any one to visit here,” Prasad said.
“Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad came together only for political benefits. They have compromised on corruption and cheated the mandate of the people of Bihar. Amit Shah is coming here to point out this issue. The people of the country will elect Narendra Modi again in 2024 and BJP will form the government in Bihar in 2025 on its own,” the former Law Minister added.
Reacting on Shah’s rallies, deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said: “Everyone knows the motive of Amit Shah’s visit in Bihar. He is coming here to create communal tension, and talk about useless and meaningless things.”
“The Narendra Modi government at Centre has not fulfilled any of its promises. He (Shah) is not coming to announce a special package for Bihar. The Narendra Modi government forgot its poll promise of two crore jobs every year. It has cheated people of the country and Amit Shah is coming here to mislead the people of Bihar,” Tejashwi added.
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Dilbag Singh on Thursday said some elements were disturbed by witnessing growing peace in Jammu and Kashmir and are making attempts to disturb it.
He said besides J&K Police and other security forces, it was the responsibility of the people to consolidate this peace further.
Director General of Police J&K was talking to reporters in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir after a function at Zainapora Police Station.
“The cross border terrorist training camps, launch pads are still active and infiltration attempts were made from Line of Control and International Border,” he said, adding J&K Police and security forces have tracked down many of these infiltrators who had sneaked here.
“During the current year around three dozen Pakistani terrorists affiliated with JeM & LeT were neutralized which indicated involvement of Pakistan and its agencies in fomenting trouble in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said adding that Police, security forces and the people of J&K would continue to work together to foil their evil intentions and further strengthen the peace.
He said there is a possibility that before winter sets in some more infiltration bids would be attempted.
Earlier in his speech, DGP said it was time to work together in strengthening the prevailing peace to build a better future.
Dilbag Singh alongwith Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Home Department J&K, R K Goyal presided over a function of Thana Diwas Zainapora Police Station in Shopian.
“We all have to work jointly to stop those who are against the peace, brotherhood and harmony,” he said while denouncing terrorism.
The DGP said that the youth who have traveled to different parts of the country would know the vastness of flora & fauna of the country which is unique in nature in which people of different faiths, castes, colours are living together.
He said that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir over the past three decades have witnessed destruction of life & property adding that it’s time to forget the past and work together in strengthening the prevailing peace to build a better future.
Referring to the innocent killings the DGP said no religion teaches murder of humanity, killing of innocent people adding that we have to work jointly to stop those who are against the peace, brotherhood and harmony.
The DGP said that Pakistan has been sending weapons to drag the youth of J&K on the path of destruction.
“With intensified efforts and strong response of J&K Police and CAPFs coupled with rejection by the youth, it is now pushing drugs to harm our younger generation,” he said, adding “we have to stand and work mutually to stop this trend too for better tomorrow.” (Agencies)
JAMMU, Sep 23: Dry weather conditions will prevail in Jammu and Kashmir for the next 24 hours, the Meteorological (MeT) office said on Friday.
“Dry weather is likely to continue in J&K during the next 24 hours,”, an official of the MeT department said.
Jammu had 22.6, Katra 21, Batote 15.7, Banihal 15 and Bhaderwah 14.4 as the minimum temperature.
Srinagar had 13.7, Pahalgam 9.6 and Gulmarg 8.6 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
In the Ladakh region, Drass town had 2.9, Kargil 7.6 and Leh 5 as the minimum temperature.(AGENCIES)
New Delhi, Sep 23: With 5,383 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,45,58,425, while the active cases declined to 45,281, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
The death toll climbed to 5,28,449 with 20 fatalities which includes eight deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.10 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.71 per cent, the ministry said.
A decline of 1,061 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.68 per cent while weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.70 per cent, according to the ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,39,84,695, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry, 217.26 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.
The 12 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours include three from Maharashtra and one each from Chhattisgarh, Goa and Gujarat.(Agencies)
People’s Hut Foundation conducted a Free Medical Check-up Camp for the local residents of Janipur Colony, New Plot, Paloura and adjoining areas. In the camp a team of 4 Doctors under the able guidance and supervision of Dr. Suresh Sharma District Ayush Officer along with other paramedical staff delivered their services under the banner of Health and Medical Education Department. More than 400 people from nearby areas availed the benefits. Patients underwent Free Diagnostic Check Up and health check-up by the team of specialist doctors and were given consultation and medicines free of Cost.
The beneficiaries received the medicines including Multivitamin, Vitamin B Complex, protein, Iron and Calcium tablets etc. Medicines on cold and cough, pain relief ointment were also distributed to the needy people free of cost.
Organizer of the camp Dr. Rohit Koul who is the Director and CEO of People’s Hut Foundation said, “Such kind of medical health check-up camps for needy citizens will be organized periodically at various locations in Jammu and neighbouring districts.
Speaking on these important initiatives The camp incharge Mr. Surinder Sharma who is a Senior BJP Leader and Corporator Pamposh Colony Janipur said, “ We will keep collaborating with the registered National NGOs like People’s Hut Foundation who are committed to undertake a number of social activities in the larger interest of the community.
Chief Guest of the Camp was Sh. Omi Khajuria President – JKUT Kisan Morcha and said Inaccessibility of the good healthcare due to the strenuous walks up and down makes it impossible for the people living in the remote villages to avail healthcare services and these medical camps are providing accessibility to a better healthcare.
Guest of Honour Mr. Vishnu Dutt Sharma, (Prabhari Kisan Morcha) added, Healthcare nowadays is not affordable by everyone living in the society and underprivileged people are deprived of this basic and access to good healthcare is a basic right of every individual and these initiatives’ are the real efforts towards serving mankind.
Special Guests were and Sh. MK Koul, Advisor to People’s Hut Foundation and S. Amardeep Singh Chairman – Vinayak Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences.
Jammu, Sept 22: The Jammu and Kashmir government Thursday imposed complete ban on import of bovines from neighboring states and inter-district movement of bovines within the UT for any purpose, till 25th of October, 2022 due to the Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak.
The decision has been taken as a measure of abundant precaution and in view of declaration of whole UT of J&K as “Controlled Area” for Lumpy Skin Disease vide S.0 424, dated 05.09.2022 and in exercise of powers conferred under Section 10 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases Act, 2009, news agency GNS quoted an order saying.
The order further said that the decision will be reviewed on the basis of evolving situation.
The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on various petitions challenging Karnataka High Court upholding a ban on Hijab in educational institutes.
A bench of justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia reserved its judgment after the parties appearing from both sides concluded their arguments.
The arguments in the matter that continued for 10 days, involved 21 lawyers from the petitioner’s side and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, Karnataka Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi argued for the respondents.
The court was hearing several pleas against the Karnataka HC’s judgment upholding the state government’s decision to direct educational institutes to prescribe uniforms in educational institutes.
Addressing the court, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, in his rejoinder submission said that the Karnataka Government Circular which enforced a dress code has no reference to the Popular Front of India. Senior Advocate Dave was representing the petitioner.
Countering the submission of the respondent, the petitioner’s lawyer Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid said that the respondent’s arguments mentioned the examples of France and Turkey. Khurshid further said that anything that expresses religious belief is not allowed to be displayed in public including a cross.
Various petitioners have approached the apex court challenging the Karnataka HC order upholding the Karnataka government’s order which directs strict enforcement of schools and colleges’ uniform rules.
One of the appeals in the top court had alleged “step-motherly behaviour of the government authorities which has prevented students from practising their faith and resulted in an unwanted law and order situation”.
The appeal said the High Court in its impugned order “had vehemently failed to apply its mind and was unable to understand the gravity of the situation as well as the core aspect of the Essential Religious Practices enshrined under Article 25 of the Constitution of India”.
A bench of Karnataka High Court comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit, and Justice JM Khazi had earlier held that the prescription of the uniform is a reasonable restriction that students could not object to and dismissed various petitions challenging a ban on Hijab in education institutions saying that they are without merit.
The Hijab row erupted in January this year when the Government PU College in Udupi allegedly barred six girls wearing the hijab from entering. Following this, the girls sat in protest outside the college after they were denied entry.
After this, boys of several colleges in Udupi started attending classes wearing saffron scarves. This protest spread to other parts of the state as well leading to massive agitations in several places of Karnataka.
As a result, the Karnataka government said that all students must adhere to the uniform and banned both hijab and saffron scarves till an expert committee decided on the issue.
On February 5, the Pre-University education board released a circular stating that the students could only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and that no other religious attire would be allowed in colleges.
Ramban/Jammu, September 22
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway will remain closed for traffic for four hours daily till September 27 to undertake repairs in various landslide-prone areas, officials said.
Traffic would be halted from 3 am to 7 am during the repair work, according to the direction issued by Chief Secretary AK Mehta.
To carry out urgent repairs on shooting stones prone NH-44 stretch by NHAI, including Cafeteria Morh-Mehad, the chief secretary called for a four-hour halt of traffic for a period of five days from Friday, they said.
Mehta asked officers to ensure smooth movement of fruit-laden trucks on the highway.
He also asked officers to complete the double laning of stretches between Banihal and Ramban and its subsequent black topping within a period of 10 days.
The chief secretary underlined the need for creating minimum obstacles for the movement of traffic during the five days and asked officials to halt traffic only during the night when traffic is lean and minimum.
He asked officials to look for different scientific methods like use of GPS technology and others for better management of traffic and procure road safety gear.
Srinagar, Sep 22: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Thursday flagged off the Kashmir Cyclothon, which will cover eight mostly unexplored destinations in the Valley over three days.
About 60 cyclists from across India and Nepal are taking part in the cyclothon, which was flagged off from Royal Springs Golf Club here.
Mehta told reporters, “The purpose of the cyclothon is for people to explore Kashmir in a better way. They will also carry the message of ‘nasha-mukt abhiyan’ (drugs-free campaign),” Mehta told reporters.
He said 60 cyclists — some over 60 years of age — from across the country and even Nepal, were taking part in the event.
It is a very good activity, very refreshing. The cyclists have come from all over the country and even Nepal. It is good to see people over 60 (years) participating,” he said.
Mehta added that the participants would cover the 300-km distance over three days.
Tourism Secretary Sarmad Hafeez said Kashmir was one of the finest destinations for cycling and mountain biking.
We have beautiful destinations, with untapped potential. We have identified many new places so that tourists reach there and people benefit,” he said.
Hafeez said the cyclists would travel through Verinag, Kokernag, Daksum, Vasaknag, Dubjan, Aharbal, Shikargah, and Srinagar for the event.
The cyclists described the event as an opportunity to explore Kashmir.
This event gives us a chance to explore the areas which we usually do not hear about. I am very thankful to the tourism department for organising this cyclothon and inviting us,” said Ritu from Jammu.
Suchanda, who has travelled from Delhi for the event, said cycling was the best way to explore the Valley.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us to explore unexplored destinations. I am sure this will be a great experience,” she said. (AGENCIES)