SRINAGAR, Sept 22: Security Forces have almost drawn the last nail in the coffin of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir leaving the terror bosses sitting across the Line of Control (LoC) exasperated.
Recently, J-K Police arrested three hybrid terrorists, Waseem, Yawar and Muzammil for their involvement in the killing of Mohammad Amrez, a labourer hailing from Bihar. He was shot dead by the terrorists in August this year at Sadunara in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
The arrested trio after questioning revealed that they had kept a watch on outside labourers and wanted to strike fear among them by such killings. They were in touch with a Pakistan handler code-named Babar and Amreez’s killing was carried out at his direction.
After August 5, 2019–when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J-K’s special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories–terrorist bosses sitting in Pakistan have made desperate attempts to terrorize the people, especially the non-locals and the members of the minority communities.
Terrorists operating in Kashmir during the past three years have made desperate attempts to vitiate peace by targeting innocents. The arrested terrorists have revealed that their bosses sitting across the Line of Control have given them clear-cut instructions to kill people for conflict to remain alive.
The attacks on the members of minority communities and non-locals were carried out under a well-devised conspiracy to push them out of Kashmir so that 1990 like the situation is recreated but the minorities and non-locals have held their ground. They haven’t left Kashmir, nor have they got intimidated by the pressure exerted by the terrorists.
Swift action by security forces instils confidence
The swift action by the security forces against the terrorists has prevented the situation from taking an ugly turn. Terrorists who were involved in the killings of innocents have either been eliminated or arrested. The security forces acting tough against the killers instilled confidence among the people to stay firm in their fight against terrorism and the terrorists.
Terrorism in the Union Territory is on its last legs and the final assault has been launched to neutralize the terrorism forever.
Personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the central armed forces have rendered invaluable sacrifices to defeat the elements sponsored by Pakistan. The security forces have achieved a lot on different fronts and jawans are working hard to ensure that normalcy in Kashmir becomes a permanent feature.
The work and sacrifices of the security forces have been acknowledged by the entire country, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and others.
Hurriyat becomes history
It’s not only the terrorism that has been controlled, separatists, who used to act as advocates of Pakistan in Kashmir, have been cut to size. The Hurriyat Conference, funded by the terror bosses sitting across the LoC, has wound up its offices as there is no one left in Kashmir to carry forward the agenda of separatism and sedition.
To fill in the void a new chapter of the Hurriyat has been opened in Pakistan to provoke people of J-K. However, its shutdown call on August 5 this year was totally ignored by the people of J-K. Instead, there were huge celebrations.
Terrorists based in Pakistan were using social media to instigate youth to foment trouble in the Himalayan region, but after the scrapping of Article 370, people in Jammu and Kashmir are not falling into their trap as they have understood that neither Pakistan nor the terrorists are their friends.
They have rejected the path of violence and their overwhelming participation in national events like Har Ghar Tiranga campaign and Independence Day celebrations is ample proof of the fact that no one in Kashmir is interested in what Pakistan is trying to preach.
All out efforts
The security forces are putting in all-out efforts to consolidate peace in J-K and no chance is being provided to anti-national elements to regroup and put Kashmir on the path of destruction again.
During the past three years, security agencies have dismantled the terror ecosystem which sustained the terror for 30 years. Terrorist supporters and sympathizers are being identified and nailed. The network of the overground workers that helped the terrorists to carry on with their nefarious acts has been trampled.
Politicians, who posed as nationalists and supported the separatists and Pakistan, have been cut to size and made to understand that the days to sail in two boats have ended. The government employees with separatist leanings have been told in clear terms that it’s the government whom they serve and they cannot indulge in any such activity which is against the national interest.
Spirit of nationalism
After 2019, the spirit of nationalism has been inculcated among the people. The alienation that prevailed during the rule of politicians has been addressed. The abrogation of Article 370 has made every Kashmiri realize that he is an Indian and the country cares for him.
The inculcation of nationalism has helped people of J-K to differentiate between friends and foes. The Himalayan region witnessing massive development in 3-years has made it clear that New Delhi always wanted J-K to prosper and come at par with other states across the country but the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and Article 370 acted as biggest stumbling blocks.
Pak suffers severe blows
Pakistan has lost the proxy war that it fought in the Himalayan region. Till 2019, it kept J-K on the precipice through its stooges. But in the last three years it has suffered consecutive blows as the present dispensation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is no mood to compromise with the terrorists, their sponsors and their advocates.
The security forces have been given a free hand to wipe out terrorism from J-K and a mechanism has been devised to ensure that terror doesn’t raise its ugly head again.
The Ministry of Home Affairs led by Amit Shah is directly monitoring anti-terror operations in the Union Territory and is providing all the support to the security forces to end the era of bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir.
Terrorist handlers based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have given clear-cut instructions to the terrorists to keep on spilling the blood but their nefarious designs are being foiled on a daily basis by the security agencies.
Jammu and Kashmir have changed after its complete merger with the Union of India as the terrorists have lost local support and their agenda is finding no takers. A new dawn has already broken in the Himalayan region and the end of terrorism is not that far away. (Agencies)
Last Nail In Coffin Of Terrorism Drawn; J&K Rejects Separatism, Pak Agenda
Jammu: Vaishno Devi shrine officials gear up for Navratri festival
Jammu: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has started preparations to handle the rush of pilgrims as Navratri festival is about to begin. Chairing a meeting, boards’ CEO Anshul Garg asked the stakeholders to work in coordination. Arrangements to be made by tourism officials and board were also discussed.
Mainly clear weather likely in J&K
Srinagar, Sep 22: Jammu and Kashmir will have mainly clear weather during the next 24 hours, the Meteorological (MeT) office said on Thursday.
The weather was partly cloudy in the last 24 hours.
“Weather is likely to remain clear during the next 24 hours in J&K,” an officer of the MeT department said.
Srinagar had 13.3, Pahalgam 7.8 and Gulmarg 7.5 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
Drass town in Ladakh region had 2.8, Kargil 7 and Leh 2.5 as the minimum temperature.
Jammu had 22.5, Katra 20.2, Batote 14.1, Banihal 11.4 and Bhaderwah 13.4 as the minimum temperature.
J&K: IAS G Prasanna Ramaswamy Posted as Administrative Secy., Transport Department
Jammu: J&K government has posted senior IAS officer G Prasanna Ramaswamy as the Administrative Secretary, Transport Department.
“In the interest of administration, G Prasanna Ramaswamy, IAS (AGMUT:2010), awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department is hereby posted as Administrative Secretary, Transport Department with immediate effect,” read GAD order.
NIA raids PFI offices in ‘largest-ever investigation’, nearly 100 detained in 10 States
NEW DELHI, Sept 22: Nearly 100 activists of Popular Front of India were detained or arrested in early morning raids by multi-agencies led by the National Investigation Agency in around 10 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country, officials said.
According to the officials, nearly 100 people were either arrested or detained during the raids which have been termed as the “largest-ever investigation process till date”.
Details of the arrests were not available immediately, but officials said the arrests were done by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the police forces of six states so far.
The raids are taking place in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karantaka, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and the national capital.
Terror funding
The officials said the searches are taking place at the premises of persons involved in terror funding, organising training camps, and radicalising people to join proscribed organisations.
The Popular Front of India (PFI), in a statement, said, “The raids are taking place at the homes of national, state and local leaders of PFI. The state committee office is also being raided.
“We strongly protest the fascist regime’s move to use agencies to silence dissenting voices,” it said.
The ED has been investigating the PFI’s alleged “financial links” on charges of fuelling the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in the country, the Delhi riots that took place in February, 2020, alleged conspiracy in the Hathras (a district in Uttar Pradesh) case of alleged gang-rape and death of a Dalit woman, and a few other instances.
The Popular Front of India was formed in 2006 in Kerala and is headquartered in Delhi.
The probe agency has filed two charge sheets against PFI and its office-bearers before a special PMLA court in Lucknow.
In February last year, the ED filed its first charge sheet against PFI and its student wing Campus Front of India (CFI) on money laundering charges, claiming its members wanted to “incite communal riots and spread terror” in the aftermath of the alleged Hathras gang-rape.
Those named in the charge sheet include K. A. Rauf Sherif, national general secretary of CFI and a member of PFI; Atikur Rahman, national treasurer of campus front of India (CFI); Masud Ahmed, Delhi-based general secretary of CFI; journalist “associated with PFI” Siddique Kappan and Mohammed Alam, another CFI/PFI member.
In the second charge sheet filed this year, the ED had claimed that a hotel based in the UAE hotel “served” as a money laundering front for the PFI. (Agencies)
J-K: Hybrid militant, one helper arrested in Sopore
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)
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