New Delhi: India on Monday reported 170 coronavirus infections, taking the total number of cases to 4,46,80,094.
The death count stands at 5,30,721 with one more fatality reported from Madhya Pradesh. While the active cases declined by 52 to reach 2,371.
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According to the health ministry, active Covid-19 cases now constitute about 0.01 per cent of the total number of infections. The Covid-19 recovery rate in the country has increased to 98.80 per cent.
Security forces arrest two drug cartel kingpins, seize 31 kg heroin in Punjab
In a major breakthrough against trans-border narcotic smuggling networks, a joint team of Border Security Force (BSF) along with state police arrested two drug cartel kingpins and recovered 31.02 kg heroin here from Punjab’s Fazilka district.
The security forces succeeded in making the arrest and recovery of such a huge consignment of narcotics following an operation launched on the intervening night of January 5-6. “During night intervening January 5 and 6, 2023, alert BSF troops noted suspicious movement in AOR (Area of Responsibility) of Border Outpost Chakmira, 55 Bn, Abohar sector and fired upon the suspects,” the BSF said in a statement.
Following the footprints from the border fence, officers and troops cordoned of the area and followed up evidence leading upto the border village, it said.
“The hard work of BSF staff in joint work with police resulted in the arrest of two persons and recovery of 31.02 kg of narcotics from the suspects in district Fazilka,” mentions the statement.
General Secretary, AGS also pass on good wishes to new appointees
Srinagar, 07 January: The Jammu and Kashmir Team Red NGO today finalised major nominations of senior office bearers for its functioning.
Following the recent nomination of Secretaries, the NGO Administration on Saturday nominated hard working & dedicated members as office bearers for different wings, areas & domains.
The newly nominated members include: Maqsood Rather as Secretary Sports Coordination, Zahid Moon as Chief Administrative Secretary, Misbah Rather as Spokesperson, Ubaid Syeed as Administrative Secretary, Isra Wani as Secretary/Advisor to Chairman, Wariq Wani as Executive Assistant, Syed Faraaz Qadri as Regulatory Officer, M. Muzaffar Khan as Administrative Assistant,
Farhat Wani as Dy. Head – Health, Fazil Banka as Corporate Relations (CRM), Aaliya Hameed as Dy. Head Environment.
Chairman Team Red Saadat Nasir Wani Sogami felicitated the new appointees and hoped that the wide ranging experience of the new appointees will help the team widen it’s base and reach out. ” Keeping in view the increased base of the team, it was imperative to have responsibilities streamlined. The members who have been entrusted with the responsibility come from different walks of life and different areas. We have tried to accommodate diversity among our rows in order to meet the expectations of people. This decision, I believe will go a long way in strengthening the team,”he said.
Meantime Team Red General Secratary Sarmad Nasir Sogami has also congratulated the newly appointed secrataries hoping that they will live up to their responsibilities.
In a major breakthrough against trans-border narcotic smuggling networks, a joint team of Border Security Force (BSF) along with state police arrested two drug cartel kingpins and recovered 31.02 kg heroin here from Punjab’s Fazilka district.
The security forces succeeded in making the arrest and recovery of such a huge consignment of narcotics following an operation launched on the intervening night of January 5-6. “During night intervening January 5 and 6, 2023, alert BSF troops noted suspicious movement in AOR (Area of Responsibility) of Border Outpost Chakmira, 55 Bn, Abohar sector and fired upon the suspects,” the BSF said in a statement.
Following the footprints from the border fence, officers and troops cordoned of the area and followed up evidence leading upto the border village, it said.
“The hard work of BSF staff in joint work with police resulted in the arrest of two persons and recovery of 31.02 kg of narcotics from the suspects in district Fazilka,” mentions the statement.
The BSF, which is responsible to guard the 3,323 km India-Pakistan border, said the state police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and launched a further investigation to break forward and backward linkages.
BSF’s Punjab Frontier is responsible to safeguard the 553 km long tough and challenging India-Pakistan International Border of Punjab. During many challenges including inclement weather conditions and smuggling, valiant BSF personnel guard the borders round the clock with utmost dedication and unflinching spirit.
During the year 2022, BSF troops of the Punjab Frontier have maintained extremely high level of alertness and vigil. Resultantly, the BSF has successfully detected and captured 22 drones and seized 316.988 kg heroin, 67 weapons, 850 rounds of live cartridges, killed two Pakistani intruders and apprehended 23 Pakistani Nationals in different incidents.
Displaying a humanitarian approach, the BSF has also handed over nine Pakistani Nationals to Pakistan Rangers, who had inadvertently crossed the International Border.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government.
Addressing a Press conference in Delhi, Patra said, “The budget given by the Delhi government is continuously being published in the newspapers, you will be surprised that none of their ‘Big Ticket Announcements’ are being implemented on the ground.”
He further said, “The Delhi Government had announced the ‘Employment Budget’. There was a promise to provide employment to 20,000 people but the ‘Outcome Budget’ is saying that till date no work has been done on it. There are only big words, no work.”
Slamming Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said, “They had a promise of digital classroom but nothing like this is there in any school yet. Nothing happened on the subject of Geographical Labs, a promise to subsidise school uniforms but the Outcome Budget reports that only 37 per cent of children have received the benefit in eight years.”
On CCTV promise by Delhi Chief Minister, Patra said, “Only 60 per cent of the CCTV work in Delhi has been completed and the Delhi government itself is saying today that out of this 60 per cent only half of the CCTVs are functional. This is the truth of Arvind Kejriwal ji – saying something, doing nothing.”
Punjab Minister Fauja Singh Sarari resigned from the Cabinet on Saturday, months after he was embroiled in a controversy over an audio clip in which he allegedly discussed ways to “trap” some contractors in order to “extort” money.
Sarari has resigned from the cabinet of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, confirmed a senior leader of the ruling Aam Admi Party (AAP).
AAP’s Punjab unit spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said Sarari has resigned from the cabinet, citing “personal reasons”.
Sources said Patiala Rural MLA Dr Balbir Singh was likely to replace Sarari, who held portfolios including horticulture and food processing.
A purported audio clip of an alleged conversation between Sarari and his former close aide, discussing ways to “trap” some contractors involved in food grain transportation through some officials to “extort money” from them, had surfaced in September.
Sarari (61), a retired policeman, was elected to the Punjab Assembly from Guru Har Sahai in Ferozepur. He had defeated SAD candidate Vardev Singh by 10,574 votes.
Earlier in May, barely two months after the AAP had stormed to power winning 92 of the 117 assembly seats in Punjab, Health Minister Vijay Singla had been sacked from the state cabinet over alleged graft charges. Opposition parties in the state had been demanding Sarari’s sacking and arrest. He, however, had rubbished allegations against him.
The Congress and the BJP had questioned why the AAP government had not taken action against him after the audio clip surfaced about four months ago.
After the arrest of former Punjab minister Sunder Sham Arora last year by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau for allegedly offering a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to one of its officers to help him settle cases against him, the opposition had accused the AAP government of adopting double standards over the issue of corruption and asked why Sarari was not being arrested in the audio clip issue.
Arora was a minister in the Congress government and had joined the BJP in June last year.
In July 2022, the Bhagwant Mann government had carried out its first cabinet expansion inducting five party legislators, including Sarari. After that, the strength of the state cabinet had reached 15, including the chief minister.
There are 18 berths in the cabinet, including the chief minister.
JAMMU, Jan 6: Soldiers of the Border Security Forces (BSF) carried out area domination patrolling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
In a recent video shared by the BSF on their official Twitter handle on Friday, the soldiers are seen patrolling the snow-clad mountains with heavy winds, bad weather and rugged terrain.
In the tweet, BSF wrote that the tough terrain, bad weather, high wind speeds, extreme cold of minus 20 degree celsius and deep snow conditions serve no problem to the patrolling soldiers.
“Nothing deters the Sentinels of the Borders,” read the tweet.
Meanwhile, Border Security Force (BSF) troops, deployed at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab’s Amritsar, are also missing no chance to dominate the area by standing tall and patrolling despite a dense fog, zero visibility, and cold winter days.
As visibility dropped below 10 meters, due to fog, the alertness of troops increased at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab’s Amritsar.
BSF troops were seen wading through a thick blanket of fog and patrolling the India-Pakistan border. However, the spirit inside the soldiers did not seem to subside with the increasing fog.
According to Nitika, Sub-Inspector, BSF, they are always alert in challenging conditions so that millions of Indians can sleep peacefully. (Agencies)
National Democratic Party Indian (NDPI) J&K UT Chief Rajesh Gupta appealed to Prime Minister Nsarendra Modi to create awareness among public regarding generic medicines through door to door campaign in each and every state/UT. Speaking to media in an interview today Gupta said, as “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana” (PMBJP) was a very good initiative by Prime Minister Nsarendra Modi making quality medicines available at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor and disadvantaged, through exclusive outlets “Jan
Aushadhi Medical Store”, so as to reduce out of pocket expenses in healthcare. But it is no fun if this scheme not reached to common people, said Gupta.”
NDPI president said, it is very unfortunate that people in Jammu and Kashmir are very less aware about generic medicines availability. Generic medicines which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs. Gupta urged J&K LG administration to encourage doctors, more specifically in government hospital to prescribe generic medicines. Enable substantial savings in health care more particularly in the case of poor patients and those suffering from chronic ailments requiring long periods of drug use.
NDPI leader said Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses. PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs. Gupta stressed the need to create awareness through education and awareness program that high price need not be synonymous with high quality. He further added provide all the
commonly used generic medicines covering all the therapeutic groups and all the related health care products too under the scheme. And to bring down the healthcare budget of every citizen of India through providing
Quality generic Medicines at Affordable Prices.
In Ladakh, Chairman, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmed Khan appreciated the efforts of all authorities on the closure of the Zojila Pass today.
He said, the efforts of all agencies including Project VIJAYAK, Project Beacon, Ladakh Police, Traffic Police Ladakh, UT Administration Ladakh and others are commendable for keeping strategic Zojila Pass open for a record time this year.
Last year, the Zojila Pass was kept open till the 03rd of January. This year once again, due to concerted efforts, the Pass was open for the first time ever, till the 06th of January.
The CEC said the people of Kargil acknowledge the efforts of BRO agencies in keeping the Zojila Pass open by regularly maintaining the pass despite the severe cold. He appreciated the coordination between Ganderbal Administration and Ladakh Police.
SRINAGAR, Jan 7: A majority of Kashmiri Pandit employees, who had struck work following the killing of Rahul Bhat by terrorists last year, have returned to work, a senior official of the Jammu and Kashmir administration said here. “I reject this notion that all Kashmiri Pandit employees are protesting in Jammu. A majority of these employees have already joined their offices (and) we are releasing their salaries. They have understood the importance of reporting to work,” Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang Kundbarao Pole said. Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit employee, was shot dead by the ultras inside his office at Chadoora in Budgam district in May last year. The killing had sparked off protests by the Kashmiri Pandit employees who refused to return to work.
A group of protesting employees left the Valley and demonstrated in Jammu, demanding that they be relocated out of Kashmir till the security situation improved here. Though the administration agreed to look into most of the demands of the Kashmiri Pandits (KPs), it refused to relocate them out of Kashmir. It further hardened its stand against the protesting employees and stopped salaries of those who did not return to work.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir police stated that work was going on to expeditiously complete transit accommodations for the Kashmiri Pandit employees posted in the Valley.
“The government has reserved 6,000 jobs for the Kashmiri Pandits under the Prime Minister employment package. The selection process is almost complete and 6,000 flats are being raised at 17 places in Kashmir for them,” a police officer said. “We have tried to establish these accommodations near main roads and not in the interiors. However, this also depends on the availability of government land,” he said. Pole said while police personnel will be deployed for the security of these accommodations, preference has been given to set up these flats near CRPF camps so that the occupants feel a sense of security and protection. He said the compounds for Kashmiri Pandits employees will have other facilities like mini hospitals, anganwari centres and fair price retail shops.
While 600 flats for the employees are already operational, another 500 will be completed by March-end. The total number of flats is expected to go up to 2,000 by June this year.
“Till now, 600 flats are completed at Vessu (Kulgam) and Sheihkpura (Budgam) area. Prefabricated huts have been provided at Natnusa and Veerwan in Baramulla. By March 2023, nearly 500 flats will be completed and in June 2023, we are expecting the completion of 2,000 flats,” the divisional commissioner added.
Even as the administration asserts that the employees from the community have nothing to fear in the Valley, political parties maintain that a sense of security among the minority community members was as important as physical security. “It is not about one-room or two-room apartments. The government thinks that providing accommodation will resolve the entire issue about Kashmiri Pandits, but that is not the case. “The government has to build a sense of security and confidence among the Kashmiri Pandits,” PDP spokesman Mohit Bhan said.
He said the Kashmiri Pandit employees came back to the Valley in 2010 to restore the community’s essence and culture.
“Unfortunately, since 2019, we have seen incidents of target killings of minorities. When regional parties were governing Jammu and Kashmir, not a single Kashmiri Pandit was harmed during agitations like in 2010 and 2016. Now, they are losing trust in the security establishment,” he added.
National Conference spokesman Imran Nabi Dar echoed similar views.
“Primarily, the government has to give the employees a sense of security which it has failed. Otherwise, why are they protesting in Jammu for the past so many days? They are not ready to come back as they do not feel secure enough,” he said. BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur had a different take to offer on the issue. “The biggest security for the Kashmiri Pandits are the majority Muslims living in the Valley…,” he said. Thakur said security forces are capable enough to fight against terrorists and provide adequate security to the Kashmiri Pandits.
”… The KPs should come back. They should not surrender before the hollow threats of terrorists as the motive of these Pakistan-sponsored ultras is that the Kashmiri Pandits should not come back (to the Valley),” he added. (Agencies)