Srinagar, Sep 22: Security forces arrested a ‘hybrid’ militant and an overground worker of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Sopore sub-district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, Police said.
Police said the two were arrested during a cordon and a search operation (CASO) which was launched by Sopore Police along with Army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles, 179 battalion CRPF and Marcos on the basis of a reliable information about the presence of LeT militants at Botingoo village in Sopore.
“During search, two persons in an orchard were found moving in a suspicious condition and were apprehended. They revealed their names as Imtiyaz Ahmad Ganai and Waseem Ahmad Lone, both residents of Botingoo. Upon their personal search a pistol, a magazine, eight pistol rounds were recovered from the possession of one Imtiyaz Ganai, and a Chinese hand grenade was recovered from the possession of Waseem Lone,” a police officer in Sopore said. “During preliminary questioning, the duo revealed that they were working as hybrid terrorist and OGW respectively for the banned terrorist organization LeT.”
“The two revealed that at the behest of active LeT terrorist Bilal Hamza Mir of Brath Kalan Sopore they were planning to attack security forces and civilians in and around Sopore area,” he added.
A case has been registered in Police Station Sopore under relevant provisions of law. (Agencies)
J-K: Hybrid militant, one helper arrested in Sopore
Active Covid cases in country rise to 46,342
New Delhi, Sep 22: With 5,443 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,45,53,042, while the active cases climbed to 46,342, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The death toll climbed to 5,28,429 with 26 fatalities which includes 12 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.
An increase of 126 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
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. (Agencies)
Cabinet approves Rs 19,500 crore PLI scheme for Solar PV Modules
New Delhi, September 21: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme solar PV modules with an outlay of Rs 19,500 crore for achieving a manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules.
The cabinet approved the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy’s proposal for the implementation of the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (Tranche II) on the ‘National programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules’, with an outlay of Rs.19,500 crore for achieving the manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules, according to an official statement released after the cabinet meeting.
The national programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules aims to build an ecosystem for manufacturing of high-efficiency solar PV modules in India, and thus reduce import dependence in the area of Renewable Energy. It will strengthen the Atamnirbhar Bharat initiative and generate employment, it said.
Solar PV manufacturers will be selected through a transparent selection process. PLI will be disbursed for 5 years post commissioning of solar PV manufacturing plants on sales of high-efficiency solar PV modules from the domestic market will be incentivised.
It is estimated that about 65,000 MW per annum manufacturing capacity of fully and partially integrated, solar PV modules would be installed.
The scheme will bring a direct investment of around Rs 94,000 crore, according to a statement released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
The scheme will lead to the creation of manufacturing capacity for the Balance of Materials like EVA, Solar glass, Backsheet, etc.
It is estimated to provide direct employment of about 1,95,000 and indirect employment of around 7,80,000 persons.
The scheme will lead to import substitution of approximately Rs 1.37 lakh crore. It will give impetus to Research and Development to achieve higher efficiencies in Solar PV Modules, the ministry said. (Agencies)
1989 kidnapping case | Rubaiya Sayeed appears before Jammu TADA court
Jammu, Sept 21: The TADA court on Wednesday ordered a production warrant for chief of banned J-K Liberation Front Yasin Malik to Tihar jail in connection with the 1989 Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping case in which he is an accused, according to CBI lawyer Monika Kohli.
“Yasin Malik will be called for cross-examination on October 20. The court has ordered production warrants to Tihar jail for Yasin Malik. He’ll be physically present for the hearing, as per his demands,” said Kohli.
Earlier, Malik had asked the court to allow him to appear physically at the August 23 hearing, however, the court had said that all accused were appearing through video conferencing as per the High Court order, so physical appearance is not possible for him.
Kohli further said that Rubaiya Sayeed’s (PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s sister) cross-examination was done in the court today.
“Rubaiya Sayeed (PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s sister) was presented today at TADA court, Jammu. Her cross-examination was done, along with the rest of the accused. Only Yasin Malik’s cross-examination was left,” she said.
Rubaiya Sayeed, the daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was abducted by Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) militants on December 8, 1989.
Yasin Malik, who is serving life imprisonment in Tihar Jail in a terror funding case, is an accused in this case along with others.
Notably, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in May this year awarded life imprisonment to separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case.
The NIA court while sentencing Malik to life imprisonment also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment twice. NIA had sought the death penalty for the separatist leader who was convicted on May 19.
Malik had told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him. (Agencies)
Dr Jitendra interacts with US Chamber, American CEO; invites investments
WASHINGTON DC, September 21 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Earth Science; MoS PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Space and Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh today interacted with CEOs and representatives of more than 30 prominent American companies at the US Chamber of Commerce headquarters here and exhorted them to avail of enabling business milieu created in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Minister said, India under Modi is incentivising investments and called upon them to also engage in Joint Venture opportunities in the wake of pro-business reforms carried out by the Government over the last 8 years.
Miriam Daniel and Priscilla Baek of Google on Geospatial Data, Stafan Alexander, CEO of Nextler Innovations, Emily Beline, Senior Counsel of FedEx, Randy Liebermann, CEO of HoT Technologies, Timothy Puckorius, CEO of Earth Observation Technologies, Glenn Grab of Cyient Technologies, Kevin James, CEO of Climate Compass, Ajeeth Ibrahim of Nanorocks Space Technologies, Ravnish Luthra, CEO of ITGlobe Inc, Sanjay Singhal, CEO of Sintel Satellite Services Inc, were some of the prominent business leaders who interacted in detail with Indian Delegation led by Dr Jitendra Singh.
Apart from business leaders, representatives from USG/Space, DC Government, NASA, American Think Tanks, and Federal Representatives took part in the Roundtable in areas associated with Geospatial, Space, Earth & Ocean Science, Pharma and Biotech Sectors, organised by US-India Business Council (USIBC) at U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Washington, DC. The USIBC represents top global companies operating across the United States, India, and the Indo-Pacific.
Earlier, Dr Jitendra Singh as the head of Joint Ministerial Indian delegation, arrived at New York last evening and proceeded to Washington on the first leg of the 5-day US visit, which includes participation in Global Clean Energy Action Forum scheduled from 21st to 23rd September at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is also scheduled to interact with eminent academicians as well as Indian diaspora.
Atul Keshap, President, USIBC welcomed Dr Jitendra Singh at the Business Roundtable, while Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Indian Embassy, Washington, D.C. set the tone for Industry Interaction. The CEOs and representatives of Geospatial, Space, Earth & Ocean Science, Pharma, Biotech and other emerging Sectors held discussions on topics like “The Commercial Opportunities for U.S.-India Space Collaboration, “The Potential of Geospatial”, “Expansive Potential for Growth in Satcoms” and “Commercial Space: Brown, Green and Blue”
Dr Jitendra Singh told the Business Leaders that India and America have very successful cooperation in Space Science and Exploration and ISRO and NASA are working together to launch a joint radar satellite for Earth observation named NISAR [NASA -ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar]. The NISAR mission will collect data vital to tackling the climate crisis. The Minister also informed that ISRO has been getting Deep Space Network Antenna support from NASA in its Missions such as Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and Chandrayaan-2 mission and will continue availing support for our Chandrayaan-3 mission. He said, given the space reforms in India in place, India is looking forward to engaging with private sectors for fabrication, manufacturing, and joint development of space system and infrastructure.
On the subject of Geospatial Ecosystem, Dr Jitendra Singh said in the panel discussion that the recent policy reforms provides opportunities to work with academia, industry, and other stakeholders to create a vibrant and dynamical data-driven digital economy. He said, apart from
NISAR Earth observation satellite, both the sides could expand cooperation in jointly developed geostational data sets used for weather forecasting, ground referencing, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) information.
On the issue of “Earth Science and observations’, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that combined scientific and technical skills and satellite data are being used to enhance observations of the earth and use information [Indian Ocean Variability and Monsoon] most effectively for the benefit of society. The Minister said, realising the importance of Arabian Sea, Scientific Teams from India and the USA have come together to define a collaborative India-USA program called EKAMSAT, where the scientific teams will engage in joint scientific collaboration in the Open waters of the Arabian Sea using research vessels from India and USA for better prediction of Monsoons, cyclone, and severe weather systems.
Dwelling on the aspects of Clean Energy Technologies, Dr Jitendra Singh said, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Government of India [led by Ministry of Science & Technology] signed an agreement in 2021 to establish the Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center (JCERDC) to promote clean energy innovation by teams of scientists and engineers from India and the United States in Public- Private consortia modes and identified areas of mutual interest such as – Clean Coal Technologies, Advanced Supercritical Carbon dioxide (SCO2) cycle and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS).
Regarding “Health Sciences & Technologies”, Dr Jitendra Singh said, there has been longstanding collaboration between India and USA in Health Sector. The scientific community and private sector of both the nations have been working together in several programs to understand important diseases and develop new therapeutic, diagnostic and vaccine. He said, new MOU was signed last in October, 2021, which provides an umbrella MOU for expanding cooperation and partnership in the healthcare sector between the two countries.
Indian Minister was happy to note that in the area of Emerging Technologies, DST and NSF( National Science Foundation ) of USA launched joint projects recently in wide range of areas of common interests such as – Cobotics, Computer vision, Robotics and Automation Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Sensors, and Networking and Technologies for Internet of Things & Internet of Everything. He informed that bilateral S&T collaboration range from Mega Science such as LIGO [Laser Interferometer Gravitational Observatory], TMT [Thirty Meter telescope], and Neutrino Physics to Clean Energy Technologies, Health Science, Earth and Ocean Science, Agricultural Science and recent interest in expanding our collaboration in Emerging Technologies.
Apart from giving a brief view of India’s Digital Economy, Dr Jitendra Singh concluded by saying that there is huge scope in expanding cooperation in the areas of common priority such as Quantum Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Ocean Exploration, Electric Vehicles, Emerging Technologies for Telecommunications and Semiconductor Research and Innovation, geospatial technology areas related to acquisition, processing, and dissemination of high-resolution geospatial data. We shall look forward to working with you and continue supporting scientific communities of both the nations to create solution for pressing world problems
‘Preparation for Assembly polls in J&K afoot’, claims Congress leader
SRINAGAR, Sept 21: Senior Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra on Wednesday hinted at assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir before the end of the year claiming truck-loads of election-related material, including EVMs, have arrived in Jammu.
“Reportedly 150 Truck Loads of election material that includes EVMs & other election related stationary has reached Jammu which was downloaded & stored in the Civil Secretariat during night time,” Karra tweeted.
“Seems ECI gearing up for a surprise regarding holding elections in J&K,” the Congress Working Committee member added.
The process of publishing updated electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir is currently under process and the exercise is scheduled to be completed by November 25. (Agencies)
Tramboo condoles demise of Journalist Nasir K Shah’s mother
Expresses sympathy with the bereaved family, prays for the departed soul
DODA, September 21: Sr NHM Leader and Former District President NHM Employees Association Doda Faizan A Tramboo has expressed his grief and sorrow over the demise of the mother of Journalist Nasir K Shah from Bhaderwah who breathed her last on Monday after a brief illness.
In his condolence message, Faizan A Tramboo said, “I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of Nasir K Shah’s mother and expressed heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family. He has also prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to Nasir K Shah and other members of the bereaved family and pray for the much-needed strength for them to bear the pain of this irreparable loss, Tramboo said.”
Northern railway observes ‘Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat’ Mission from 16 Sep to 2 Oct
‘Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat’ Mission is being observed from 16th September 2022 till 02nd October 2022 by the Northern Railway. Ashutosh Gangal, General Manager of Northern railway administered the Swachhata Pledged on “Swachhta Pakhwara” over Railways.
Principal Heads of Departments of Headquarters and other senior railway officials were also present on the occasion while Divisional Railway Managers, Workshops Heads, and Units joined the program through a web link.
Speaking on the occasion Gangal said that keeping trains and railway premises clean is everyone’s responsibility. During the Swachhata Pakhwara, intensive cleaning and sanitization of stations, trains, tracks, colonies, and other railway establishments is being carried out with a special focus on plastic waste management. To create awareness about keeping the railway premises clean and safe webinars are being organized.
During the webinar, speakers of N.G.O. and experts on the environment from various government, private and non-governmental organizations shall address and participate.
Steps were taken by railways for proper solid waste management, saving of water and conservation of energy, a convergence of IR initiatives with the Swachh Bharat Mission, green rating of railway stations, combating plastic waste, and perspectives on the circular economy would also be discussed in the webinar.
DGP Dilbag Singh direct police officers to be alert on narco-terrorism, radicalization of youth
DGP Dilbag Singh has ordered police and security forces officers to remain alert on narco-terrorism and new trends of radicalization of youth.
DGP was speaking in meetings during his visit to Reasi and Gulabgarh in Jammu division where Pakistani agencies are trying to revive terrorism. He reviewed the crime and security scenario.
ADGP Jammu Zone Mukesh Singh accompanied the DGP. Senior officers of J&K Police, CRPF and IRP were present in the meetings.
He also interacted with local civilians at Gulabgarh.
DGP said that Reasi district is a sensitive place and directed the officers to be prompt and alert on all fronts. He stressed for taking stringent action against those involved in narco-trade.
The DGP stressed for community policing and added that cooperation of people is must for maintaining peace in the area.
He said though the area of district Reasi is militancy free for a long time now yet few cases came to fore where conspiracies were hatched to revive terrorism in some parts of the Jammu region.
He said that J&K Police and other security forces are alert and we were successful in foiling all such attempts of terrorists. A most wanted terrorist and his network, working on the directions from across the border was busted and those involved in different terror activities were not only arrested but strict action against them was taken under the law.
The DGP said that Jammu and Kashmir Police has contributed greatly in the fight against terrorism and in the process a number of officers, jawans including SPOs have sacrificed their lives.
The DGP said that Pakistan is continuously making attempts to create trouble however, “we are fully prepared and vigilant to thwart any attempt”.
He said that peace and order which has been established in Jammu and Kashmir will be further strengthened and stabilized with the continuous support and cooperation of people.
He said attempts were made to infiltrate terrorists and smuggle arms and ammunition from across the border, however, most of such attempts were foiled. Those who managed to sneak were tracked down, he added.
Livestreaming Of Supreme Court Constitution Bench Hearings From Next Week
NEW DELHI, Sept 21: The Supreme Court of India has decided to begin live streaming of Constitution bench cases from September 27, Tuesday.
The decision was taken at a full court meeting convened by Chief Justice of India UU Lalit on Tuesday evening.
The decision was unanimous and the hearings will initially be telecast live on YouTube, sources said.
The top court will soon develop its own platform to host the live telecast of proceedings.
The cases likely to be live-streamed include challenges to the economically backward class quota law, the religious practice of excommunication in the Dawoodi Bohra community, the Supreme Court’s power to dissolve marriages on the ground of irretrievable breakdown, and the Centre’s petition on enhanced compensation for victims of 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising last week wrote to the CJI and his companion judges requesting the Supreme Court to begin live streaming of proceedings of matters of public and constitutional importance. She was one of the petitioners in 2018 for the declaration of live-streaming a part of the right to freedom of information and the right of access to justice for every citizen. (Agencies)