Srinagar, Aug 12: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday said that 3.65 pilgrims performed the annual pilgrimage of Amarnath this year and the figure is the highest in the past five years.
“The annual pilgrimage has concluded with the Samapan Pooja of Chadi Mubarak. In total, 3.65 pilgrims performed darshan at the cave shrine of Amarnath. The figure is highest in the past five years,” Sinha said addressing a press conference here. He said that due to the cloudburst, yatra remained suspended for three days and due to the efforts of security forces, NDRF and SDRF ensured early resumption of the pilgrimage.
The LG said that pilgrims from all over India came to the cave shrine and performed darsh of Shiv Lingum.
Sinha said that during the 44 day Yatra period, weather remained erratic for 20 days and the Shrine Board besides SDRF and NDRF teams had to issue weather advisories for pilgrims.
He said that this year the capacity to accommodate Yatri at Yatra Niwas facilities was increased from 70,000 to 125,000. “RFID chips played a great role to keep track of pilgrims. A female child was lost who was tracked within a few minutes through RFID,” the LG said.
He said overall the Yatra remained peaceful and the pilgrims at both base camps Baltal in Sonmarg and Chandanwari in Pahalgam expressed their satisfaction to the arrangements through various surveys conducted by the administration. The LG thanked the security forces including police, army, CRPF and other Central forces in general and particularly the locals of Pahalgam and Baltal for extending whole hearted support to the pilgrims. “I am thankful to the people of entire Kashmir for welcoming pilgrims with open arms,” the LG said, adding that security forces provided fool-proof security cover to the pilgrims and ensured peaceful pilgrimage.
Asked if tourist flow decreased due to Amarnath pilgrimage, the LG said that Yatra didn’t affect tourism in Kashmir. “If we compare figures of past three years during the pilgrimage, this year, tourist figures were much higher during the pilgrimage,” he said, adding that tourism shouldn’t be correlated with the pilgrimage. “In future, there will be much better yatra given the nature of feedback we have received from people across India,” he said. (KNO)
3.65 lakh pilgrims visited holy cave of Amarnath shrine this year: LG Manoj Sinha
151 police personnel get Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation
New Delhi, August 12: The Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation for 2022 was awarded to 151 Police personnel on Friday.
Among those receiving the awards, 15 are from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), 11 from Maharashtra Police, 10 each from Madhya Pradesh Police and Uttar Pradesh Police, eight each from Kerala Police, Rajasthan Police and West Bengal Police and the remaining from other states and Union Territory organizations. These awardees also include 28 women police officers.
The Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation was constituted in 2018 with the objective to promote high professional standards of investigation of crime and to recognize such Excellence in Investigation. It is announced every year on the 12th of August.
The medal is given on the grounds of excellence in an investigation to the members of Central Investigation Agencies, states or UTs Police Force in recognition of the outstanding service in the investigation.
The recommendations of the eligible officials of the rank– ranging from Head Constable to Superintendent of Police– is asked to be submitted online.
The Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation for the year 2021 was awarded to 152 police personnel. Among the personnel who received these awards in 2021 included 15 from CBI, 11 each from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra Police, 10 from Uttar Pradesh, nine from Kerala and Rajasthan Police, eight from Tamil Nadu Police, seven from Bihar, six each from Gujarat, Karnataka and Delhi Police and the remaining from the other states and UTs. (Agencies)
Policeman injured in Bijbehara attack
Srinagar, Aug 12: Terrorists on Friday attacked a joint party of police and CRPF in southern Anantnag district, leaving a cop injured.
A police spokesman said the terrorists opened fire on a joint naka of police and CRPF in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag.
“Terrorists fired upon joint naka party of police/CRPF in #Bijbehara area of #Anantnag. In this #terror incident, one police personnel got injured who was immediately evacuated to hospital for treatment. Area cordoned off. Search in progress,” he said on Twitter.
Case registered against social media users for ‘live transmission of explicit content’
Srinagar, Aug 12: Cyber Police Kashmir has registered a case against few unascertained Instagram handles for alleged transmission of explicit content.
“After taking cognisance of live transmission of explicit content by some unknown Social Media (Instagram) users, Cyber Police Kashmir has registered a case FIR No. 43/2022 U/S 67, 67A IT Act, 294 IPC and investigation set into motion”, Cyber Police Kashmir said in a tweet.
The action has been taken after concerns were expressed by netizens over transmission of explicit content over Instagram – a photo and video sharing social networking service – by few handles, news agency GNS reported
Armed man attempting to breach FBI office killed after standoff
Washington, Aug 12: An armed man who tried to breach a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field office in the US city of Cincinnati was shot dead by law enforcement after a standoff.
The person attempted to breach the visitor screening facility at the office at around 9.15 a.m. on Thursday, according to a statement from the federal law enforcement agency.
The manfled and was encountered by law enforcement officers near Wilmington, where they exchanged gunfire in which he “was shot and is deceased” in the afternoon, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.
The FBI said it is “reviewing this agent-involved shooting”.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol tweeted troopers and their law enforcement partners “attempted to negotiate with the suspect to bring the standoff to a peaceful end” throughout the afternoon.
Avoid large gatherings while celebrating I-Day in view of Covid cases: Centre to States
NEW DELHI, Aug 12: As the country continues to record an average of over 15,000 coronavirus cases daily, the Centre has asked States to ensure there are no large gatherings for Independence Day celebrations and that everyone follows Covid protocols.
The Union Home Ministry has also conveyed to all States and Union Territories to carry out a ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign at a prominent location of each district in the state and UT and carry out a fortnight and month-long campaign to keep it ‘Swachh’ through voluntary civil action.
In a communication, the ministry said, “As a precaution, against COVID-19, large congregations in the ceremony be avoided. It is imperative that Covid guidelines are followed”.
India added 16,561 new coronavirus cases taking the total tally of Covid cases to 4,42,23,557, while the active cases dipped to 1,23,535, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
The death toll climbed to 5,26,928 with 49 fatalities which include 10 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The Home Ministry also asked Government departments and educational institutions to carry out tree plantation programmes to spread awareness for conservation of environment. (Agencies)
LG Manoj Sinha flags off ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ rally at Dal Lake Srinagar
SRINAGAR, August 12: The Youth Services and Sports Department of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday organised a Tiranga Shikara rally at the Dal Lake in Srinagar.
The rally was flagged off by the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory, Manoj Sinha under the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
As India celebrates its 75th year of Independence this year, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav has brought a wave of celebration to the country. ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ is the campaign launched by the Government of India to encourage every citizen of our great nation to bring home the tricolour and hoist it with pride.
The ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign’ under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mohatsav is a big hit in Jammu and Kashmir with a large number of people joining the celebrations to mark the 75 years of India’s Independence.
Various activities are being conducted by different departments and schools across the Kashmir Valley as part of this initiative.
Delhi government refuses to honour CWG 2022 winner Divya Kakran as she represents UP
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday said the Delhi government cannot give cash rewards to Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner Divya Kakran as she represents Uttar Pradesh. His statement came after Indian wrestler Kakran accused the Delhi government of not giving any kind of help because of which she was forced to move to Uttar Pradesh.
“Player lives in Delhi but has only played for the state till 2016-17. As for respect, CM called her in 2018 respectfully. We can’t give her cash rewards as she represents UP but we have always respected her,” said AAP MLA over allegations by Divya.
Addressing a press conference, Kakran said, “I moved to Delhi in 2001, and in 2006, I started practicing wrestling. I am putting up in Gokalpur for the last 22 years. My father somehow managed to provide me with wrestling training. I earned money by competing with boys but the Delhi government did not provide any assistance. I went to UP only when our family, suffered and cried a lot due to our financial condition.
Kakran further said she won numerous medals for Delhi. “In 2011 I won bronze for Delhi. Till 2017, I got 58 medals and all for Delhi. Only Manoj Tiwari came to us and gave me 3 lakh, That money helped me a lot,” she said. She received the Rani Lakshmi Bai award from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and a cheque of Rs 3,11,000.
Meanwhile, BJP national spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla said the verbal fight between the AAP government and wrestler Divya Kakran was an insult to athletes, youth, and the Tricolour. Addressing a press conference held by the BJP, Poonawalla said, “A topic has come to the fore in which the players of the country, the women of the country, the honor of our sisters have been insulted. The sisters of the country, the players of the country, and the national flag have been insulted. I am placing the subject in front of everyone on behalf of the party.”
The only mistake Kakran made was that she told the truth to Kejriwal. Our daughter, our sister, who made the country proud, if she spoke the truth, then the entire social media infrastructure of the Aam Aadmi Party got dominant,” he said. Poonawalla also slammed AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj saying, “Earlier AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj questioned the player, who brought laurels to our country, are you not from Delhi? I thought you are from Uttar Pradesh. The player plays under the name of a country’s flag and respects India. CWG people do not sit in the provinces, AAP leaders say that you are not from Delhi, you are from Uttar Pradesh. You show proof, this is the process of asking for proof as they had asked for proof from our jawan. When did the surgical strike happen, proof from the jawan who defended India’s flag.”
The controversy erupted after, Kakran won bronze in the women’s 68 kg freestyle category on August 6 and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulated her. In a reply to Kejriwal’s tweet, she expressed disappointment with the Delhi Government highlighting that she didn’t receive any help from the state even after residing in the national capital for years.
Kashmir to get its first multiplex cinema in September
JAMMU, Aug 12: Kashmir will get its first multiplex cinema in September which will screen latest Bollywood and Hollywood movies for the entertainment-starved locals.
Designed by INOX, the multiplex with a seating capacity of 520, will be the first cinema theatre in Kashmir after three decades since separatist violence broke out here in 1989.
It will have many food courts to attract youth and children besides providing them the feel of the most modern cinema entertainment.
The decor of the multiplex includes the ‘Khatambandh’ ceiling which is part of Kashmir’s central Asia inspired architecture.
Vikas Dhar, the owner of the multiplex, is the son of Vijay Dhar who owned the iconic ‘Broadway’ theatre in Srinagar that was gutted in a fire incident in mid 1990s.
Vijay Dhar is the son of illustrious Kashmiri politician late D.P.Dhar who remained pivotal to power equations in Jammu and Kashmir because of his proximity to both late Prime Ministers — Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
D.P.Dhar as Indian ambassador in Russia played a vital role in consolidating Indo-Soviet relations. (AGENCIES)
WazirX episode reveals darker side of crypto, say Government sources
JAMMU, Aug 12: The ED probe into alleged money laundering by crypto exchange WazirX and the subsequent squabbling among its promoters has revealed the ‘darker side’ of cryptocurrencies, a top government source said on Thursday.
The source added that people should exercise caution in absence of a regulation to govern cryptocurrencies and so-called exchanges trading in them.
“Caution is the word that should be in the minds of the people dealing with crypto. In the episode of WazirX, people got to know many darker sides, caution is necessary in crypto transaction,” the source said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been investigating allegations of money laundering against WazirX.
The agency has frozen Rs 64.67 crore worth bank deposits as part of an ongoing money laundering probe against some fraud smartphone-based loan apps “backed” by Chinese funds.
Within days of the ED action, a public spat broke out between global cryptocurrency platform Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and WazirX co-founder Nischal Shetty.
Binance CEO distanced himself from the operations at WazirX exchange, while the Indian entity said it was exploring legal action against Binance.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary had said in Parliament that a show-cause notice has been issued under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) against WazirX for allowing outward remittance of crypto assets worth Rs 2,790 crore to unknown wallets.
Further, in another case, it was noticed that WazirX allowed the foreign users’ request to convert one crypto into another on its own platform as well as by using transfers from third-party exchanges, namely FTX, Binance, etc, he said.
Government sources said the WazirX episode has brought to fore a lot of issues and the ED is investigating the case.
India does not recognise cryptocurrencies, but levies a 30 per cent tax on income earned from such virtual digital assets.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been making a strong case for global regulation of cryptocurrencies to tackle the risks of money laundering and terror funding.
At the G20 Ministerial Symposium on Tax and Development in Bali, she had suggested that G20 should examine the feasibility of bringing non-financial assets like crypto into the ambit of automatic exchange of information among nations to check tax evasion. (Agencies)