Jammu, Dec 16: Two civilians were killed and one person was injured when an Army sentry allegedly opened fire on them in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday morning, officials said.
The victims, who were reportedly working as porters with the Army, were approaching the alpha gate of an Army camp in the district around 6.15 am when they were fired upon, they said.
The officials said Shalinder Kumar and Kamal Kishore, both residents of Rajouri, died in the firing, while another person was injured.
The cause of the firing is not yet known, they said, adding that the situation in the area is tense and some agitated people pelted stones at the camp.
Reinforcements have been rushed in and further details are awaited, the officials said. (AGENCIES)
Two Civilians Killed as Army Sentry Opens Fire in J&K’s Rajouri
Srinagar records season’s coldest night; Pahalgam freezes at minus 5.3°C
Srinagar, Dec 16: Sub-zero temperatures continued unabated in Kashmir Valley with Srinagar recording season’s coldest night at minus 3.6°C on Friday.
There is no respite in sight also as Chillai-e-Kalan— the 40-day long chilliest part of the winter season—is all set to start from December 21 amid forecast of dry weather at least till December 25.
Quoting a meteorological department official, GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.6°C against the previous night’s minus 3.2°C. While the mercury was around 2.6°C below normal during this time of the year, the official said, it was coldest this season sofar.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.4°C against minus 3.6°C on the previous night. The temperature 2.3°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
He said that Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.3°C against minus 5.6°C on previous night and it was 1.9°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.1°C against minus 1.3°C as on the previous night and it was 1.°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 2.5°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.7°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 3.6°C against minus 3.2°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.9°C below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 9.3°C against 7.1°C on the previous night. It was 2.6°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 5.6°C (above normal by 3.9°C), Batote 6.0°C (2.3°C above normal), Katra 7.0°C (0.8°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 2.1°C (1.7°C above normal).
Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 11.0°C and Kargil minus 12.3°C, the official said. The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather till December 25.
ISI-run drug racket busted, Poonch schoolgirl detained
Jammu, December 15
The police have detained a juvenile schoolgirl, believed to be a part of a drug racket being run by Pakistan’s ISI, in Poonch. As much as 400-gm narcotic powder has been seized from her. The girl, said to be a Class X student, was detained on Wednesday after intelligence agencies zeroed in on her after receiving specific inputs. The girl is a resident of Mendhar sector along the Line of Control (LoC).
According to information, a Pakistani handler, Aashiq, had been visiting her house to deliver the drugs. She had also kept more drugs in a ditch near her house.
She is being further questioned to know more about the peddlers and their customers in the area, said police sources who believe it to be a tip of the iceberg. The police are also trying to know if the racket is linked to some narco-terror module.
A number of Indian habitations are located ahead of the India-Pakistan LoC fence, also known as the anti-infiltration obstacle system, in Jammu and Kashmir and intelligence agencies have reported that Pakistanis living on the other side “frequently” visit several houses here to push drugs and weapons and to gather inputs about Indian security forces deployed to guard the front, prone to infiltration by terrorists. Officials said the detection of the case indicated Pakistan spy agency ISI’s evil designs to push drugs through the LoC to harm youth.
Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, who was in Poonch on Wednesday, had said Pakistan and terror groups had been supplying drugs with criminal intention to harm the younger generation and to generate funds for terror activities. He stressed for stringent action against the elements found involved in drug trade as the menace not only harmed the individuals but society as a whole. The DGP also warned of stringent action if any officer was found involved in the drug trade.
The DGP emphasized for strengthening of checkpoints on the Mughal road and also on the national highway to keep a check on transportation of drugs, weapons and other criminal activities.
India announces candidature for UNSC membership for 2028-29 term
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday announced the candidature of India for non-permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term.
“I am glad to inform you. We have declared our candidature for our next tenure at Security Council for 2028-29. And we look forward to being back”, announces EAM Jaishankar. During a media stakeout at the UN, minister Jaishankar noted that December is the last month of India’s current membership at the security council.
“And during this eighth inning of ours, we have attempted to bring many themes of contemporary relevance like maritime security, technology in UN peacekeeping, reforms of the UN, and counterterrorism to the center of the agenda and of the debate in the UN,” he said.
The external affairs minister said India has also sought to be the voice of Global South on many issues of concern. “We have not only tried to articulate their interest and anxieties but also tried to see whether we can serve as a bridge in the council,” he added.
India assumed the monthly rotating Presidency of the UNSC in December. This is the second time India got the Presidency after holding the top spot in August last year, during which the government focused on maritime security, UN peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.
India has presided over the Security Council during its two-year tenure as an elected member. UNSC rules of procedure say that the Council presidency rotates between each of the 15 members of the UNSC in alphabetical order.
During India’s December Presidency of the UN Security Council, two high-level signature events took place on December 14-15. The meetings were held on ‘Reformed Multilateralism and Counter-Terrorism’ and chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The high-level open debate on the theme – “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism” was held on December 14.
The open debate encouraged the UN members to take the conversation forward on reforms in the current multilateral architecture with the UN at its centre to make it “more representative and fit for purpose.”
On December 15, a high-level briefing on the theme – “Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts: Global Approach to Counter Terrorism – Challenges and Way Forward” sought to build a consensus on the principles of a global counter-terror architecture.
The high-level briefing aimed to enhance the Delhi Declaration adopted during the special meeting of the counter-terrorism committee held in October in India
Firing By Unidentified Terrorists In J&K Result In Fatal Casualties Of Two: Indian Army
Rajouri, Dec 16: Two individuals lost their lives after unidentified terrorists opened fire on Friday morning near Military Hospital in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri.
The Indian Army has informed that the police, security forces and civil administration officials are currently at the site.
“In an early morning firing incident by unidentified terrorists at Rajouri near Military Hospital, there has been fatal casualty of two individuals. The Police, security forces and civil administration officials are on the site,” White Knight Corps tweeted. (Agencies)
New Land Policy to start dark chapter for Jammu and Kashmir: Sajad Lone
SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone Thursday said the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s new land policy is ”not without motive” as it is an attempt at ”othering” Kashmiris.
Lone’s remarks came in the wake of land lease holders in Jammu and Kashmir being asked to return the possession to the government.
”The new Land policy is not at par with the rest of the country. It may well start the dark chapter of now blatantly othering the Kashmiris. Lease rules across the world and in India r fairly simple and on similar lines. But these r different and not without motives,” Lone said in a tweet.
The National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also criticised the government’s move. (Agencies)
Electrocuted in 2018, Bandipora minor gets Rs 30.20 lakh compensation from J&K High Court
JAMMU: In a significant decision, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Power Development Department (PDD) to pay Rs 30.2 lakhs as compensation to a 5-year-old boy disabled for life by 33,000 KV HT line laid by Department in Bandipora district of Kashmir Valley.
Overruling the government’s defence that the victim was electrocuted due to his own negligence while playing with some metallic object on his 3rd storied residential house, the court said that it was government’s responsibility to have not permitted the alleged construction of 3rd story of the house in close proximity of HT line in question.
“Where an enterprise is engaged in a hazardous and inherently dangerous activity and harm is caused on anyone on account of the accident in operation of the such activity, the enterprise is strictly and absolutely liable to compensate those who get affected by the accident and such liability is not subject to any of the exceptions to the principle of strict liability,” said Justice Javed Iqbal Wani.
The incident dates back to November 17, 2018, when the victim Aatif Ershad Kumar, then aged 5 years came in a direct contact with live 33000 KV HT line passing through adjacent to his residential house situated at Mantrigam Bandipora.
The residential house was constructed in the year 2008 and the 33000 KV HT line was laid by the government in the year 2012. The said HT line is stated to have been knowingly installed by the PDD adjacent to the residential house in question despite objections raised by the inhabitants of the village including Irshad Ahmad Kumar, father of the victim, also the petitioner in the case.
The victim suffered severe burnt injuries on account of electrocution and consequently admitted in SMHS hospital Srinagar, where he was operated number of times resulting into amputation of his right hand, thumb of the left hand, finger of right foot, besides burnt injuries to the whole body, and leading to 90% Permanent Disability.
The victim was also shifted to Delhi for further treatment where the authorities assessed the cost of providing an artificial limb at Rs. 13,36,633, even as the parents of the victim incurred an amount of Rs 2 lakhs for getting the victim treated at Delhi.
With the victim requiring a monthly treatment amounting to Rs. 30000-35000, the father of the victim approached the government official including Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, for providing assistance in this regard as also for grant of compensation which, however, is stated to have not been provided compelling him to approach the High Court for grant of reliefs, Rs 1.22 Crores along with bank interest.
During the course of hearing, the PDD said that the electrocution of the victim cannot be attributed to the department, as there is no negligence on its part.
The PDD said that that the HT line in question was laid in the year 2012 passing through the road side all along its feasibility routes, however, the father of victim petitioner constructed 3rd story of his residential house after laying of HT line, as such, there was no negligence on the part of the department.
The court said that this assertion of the PDD is not based on any proof or documentary evidence supporting the said assertion.
“The said assertion is stated to be based on the version of the locals whose particulars even have not been provided in the objections. Assuming for the sake of arguments the said assertion of the respondents (PDD) to be true and correct yet, it was incumbent and obligatory for the respondents under and in terms of the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Act, 2010 read with Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Rules 1978 to have not permitted the father of the victim petitioner to raise alleged construction of 3rd story of his residential house in close proximity of HT line in question,” said Justice Wani.
Deciding the amount for compensation, the Court computed the pain, suffering together with shock as an ingredient of pain and suffering on the strength of loss of amenities together with notional loss of income at Rs. 10,00,000.
Under the Pecuniary Heads, the court assessed the cost towards providing and fixing of artificial limb at Rs 13.50 lakhs, cost incurred for treatment at New Delhi including Transportation at Rs. 2.50 lakhs, and expenses to be incurred towards hiring of service of attendant keeping in view disability of 90% for minimum period of 07 years and Rs 5000 per month at Rs 4.20 lakhs.
“The respondents are commanded to pay an amount of Rs 30,20,000 along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of filing of the petition till the date of actual deposit to the victim petitioner by depositing the same in a Fixed Deposit Account in the name of the victim (minor). The monthly interest earned during the period of minority of the victim petitioner will be withdrawn by the father of the victim and spend upon victim as monthly expenses including treatment,” the court ruled.
At least 115 media workers killed on the job in 2022: report
Geneva, Dec 15: Since January, 115 media workers have been killed in 29 countries so far, while Ukraine and Mexico topped the list for the most dangerous nations for mediapersons, a Geneva-based rights body said in a report.By region, Latin America topped the list with 39 journalists killed, followed by Europe with 37 victims, Asia 30, Africa seven and North America two, according to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).
Europe experienced the worst deterioration in the safety of journalists since the wars in former Yugoslavia from 1992 to 1999, said the EC report.
There has been at least 34 victims since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24, with eight journalists killed in the line of duty.
Mexico came in second with 17 victims, the highest annual death toll in the countyr since at least the beginning of the century.
They were the target of criminal gangs in a climate of violence and impunity.
At the third place with eight victims is Haiti, followed by Pakistan (six), the Philippines (five), Colombia (four) and India (four).
Bangladesh, Honduras, Israel/Palestine and Yemen reported three media fatalities each.
Two media fatalities were registered each in Brazil, Chad, Ecuador, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria and the US.
The countries with just one victim each were the Central African Republic, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Paraguay, Russia, Sweden, Turkey and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, there was no casualties among mediapersons in Afghanistan so far this year, compared to the 12 in 2021.However, many journalists have fled the country.
“Rage Grab: The Revolutionary New Fashion Startup Bringing the Next Wave of Change to the Industry”
Indian-based entrepreneur, photographer, and crypto enthusiast Mutahir Showkat recently announced the launch of his new fashion startup, Rage Grab. Unlike traditional clothing brands, Rage Grab will be a platform for the fashion world, providing a space for individuals and businesses to launch their own fashion stores.
Showkat, who is also the founder of Indian IT startup Chinar Media, has been interested in the potential of cryptocurrencies and web-3 technology for some time. With Rage Grab, he aims to address some of the problems he has identified within the fashion industry, particularly the lack of funding, platform, and direction for aspiring fashion designers and entrepreneurs.
In a recent statement, Showkat said that he has spent the last few years analyzing the fashion industry and has seen firsthand the challenges that many individuals and businesses face in trying to break into the market. “There are so many young people who are interested in fashion, but they often struggle to get the funding, investments, and guidance they need to launch their own brands,” he said.
With Rage Grab, Showkat hopes to provide a one-stop solution for fashion-related problems, offering everything from funding and investment opportunities to mentorship and guidance. He also revealed that the platform will have a strong focus on connecting the fashion industry with the emerging web-3 world, which he believes will be a revolutionary step for the industry.
Showkat said that Rage Grab is currently in the final stages of development and is expected to launch in beta form in August 2023. “We believe that Rage Grab will be a game-changer for the fashion world, providing a much-needed platform and support system for aspiring designers and entrepreneurs,” he said.
Overall, Mutahir Showkat’s announcement has been met with excitement and anticipation within the fashion and crypto communities, with many looking forward to seeing the potential of web-3 technology in the fashion industry.
DGP Dilbhag Singh directs for monitoring and keeping vigil on terror support system
Say situation across J&K improving very fast & efforts are on to strengthen it further
JAMMU: The Director General of Police, J&K Dilbag Singh today visited Poonch, frontier District of Jammu Zone where he inaugurated newly constructed Police Station and Lower Subordinate Quarters at Loran. He later presided over a Darbar of Jawans and officers at DPL Poonch and also reviewed the security scenario of the District in officers meeting besides interacting with public representatives.
Accompanied by ADGP Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh and ADGP (Hqrs) PHQ, M.K Sinha, the DGP was received by DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range, Dr. Mohammad Haseeb Mughal, SSP Poonch Rohit Baskotra, and other senior officers. The DGP first inaugurated the newly constructed Police station at Loran and interacted with the Police personnel and locals there.
The DGP while addressing the Police Darbar said that district Poonch is by and large militancy free for that he congratulated personnel of Police, other Security forces and people of the area for their joint efforts. He said that Pakistan and its agencies are making continuous attempts to revive the terror structure here and want to keep anti-national activities alive in any form. He said that some people in the past have managed to cross the border and are in touch with their associates to revive the terror structure here adding that we have to make sure that no space is allowed to anyone linked with terror.
The DGP said that J&K Police alongwith other security forces have been working in a mission mode to ensure terror-free J&K. He stressed for utilizing the technical as well as human resources in tracking the terrorists who managed to infiltrate. He also directed for monitoring and keeping vigilance on terror support system to demolish the ecosystem. He said that a number of terror funding cases have been busted in the recent past yet there are reports of some elements attempting to generate funds for terror activities which he said are on constant radar.
He said that Pak and its agencies are supplying drugs with criminal intention to harm our young generation and to generate funds for terror activities. He stressed for stringent action against the elements found involved in drug trade as the menace not only harms the individual but society as a whole. The DGP also warned of stringent action against any officer or official found involved or helping drug trade, if any.
With regard to the welfare measures, Shri Singh said that welfare of Jawans and officers has always been the priority of PHQ and said that every possible help and assistance is being provided to our Jawans and officers including SPOs and NOKs of martyrs as and when required. He issued directions for redressing some grievances highlighted during the Darbar.
The DGP while chairing the officers meeting, directed for maintaining synergy to uproot the terrorism, terrorist networks and narco-terrorism. He said that twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch have been witnessing terrorist infiltration bids backed by the Pakistani authorities and added that due to synergy and close liaison between the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and other security forces many of such acts were thwarted on the border and in the hinterland successfully. He emphasized for strengthening of naka points on Mughal Road and also on national highway to keep check on transportation of drugs, weapons and other criminal activities. The DGP at the end of the meeting decorated the SP rank to the newly promoted officer Shri Sachin Gupta.
DIG RP range and SSP Poonch briefed the DGP about the security situation and measures taken to keep drug trade and anti-peace activities under check.
While speaking at the interaction with public representatives, the DGP thanked the people for their participation and assured them that their highlighted grievances would be taken up with concerned authorities for redressal. He cautioned them about the conspiracy being made from across the border to revive terror base in the district and said that like in the past, we have to work together to foil their intentions. “We have been moving forward successfully and have now reached to a final stage to realize the peaceful Jammu and Kashmir ” , he added. He said that People in J&K have understood the designs of anti-peace elements and are not responding to any sponsored bandh call. He appreciated the people of the District for maintaining the highest level of brotherhood.
Speaking to the media, the DGP said that the locals of the area have always extended their support to forces in war against terrorism. He said that the situation across J&K is improving very fast and efforts are on to strengthen it further. The DGP said that stone pelting, hartal call culture has completely ended and youth are taking part in constructive activities. He said that it is being ensured that people don’t face any inconvenience during their day to day activities. With regard to the inauguration of the Police station building and Lower Subordinate Quarters at Loran, he said that it is aimed to provide better working and living facilities to Jawans and officers.
ADGP Jammu Zone while speaking on the occasion said that Jammu and Kashmir Police alongwith other security forces has been working tirelessly to provide a better and secure environment to the people. He said that we have to continue our efforts with further strength to achieve the desired results.
The security review meeting besides the visiting officers was attended by DIG Rajouri Poonch, SSP Poonch, Commandant JKAP 6th Bn. Shri Suram Singh, Commandant CRPF 72 Bn Shri Ram Meena, Addl. SP Poonch Shri Mushim Ahmed, DySP DAR (Now SP) Shri Sachin Gupta and other jurisdictional officers. The Public meeting/interaction besides the senior police officers was attended by Shri Sunil Sharma chairman Municipal Poonch, Shri Riaz Naz DDC Loran, Shri Satish Sasan Pardan Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Moulana Farooq Ahmed Misbai, Shri Rajesh Sharma BJP District President, other PRIs and a large number of locals of the area.