New Delhi, Nov 10: India logged 1,016 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,46,63,968, while the active cases dipped to 13,187, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The death toll climbed to 5,30,514 with three new fatalities — two in Maharashtra and one in Rajasthan –being reported in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.78 per cent, according to the ministry website.
A decrease of 372 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,20,267, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry’s website, 219.76 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. 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)
India Logs 1,016 New Covid Cases In Last 24 Hours, Active Tally Dip To 13,187
Crime Branch produces chargesheet against accused in Building permission fraud
SRINAGAR, Nov 10: The economic offence wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has produced chargesheet in a Srinagar court against a man posing as civil engineer to fraudulently mint money from a man on pretext of providing building permission in Jammu.
Quoting an official statement, that the Crime Branch filed the chargesheet under section 420 RPC against Rajinder Pandita alias Raju, at present a resident of Jammu, before the Court of Passenger Tax Srinagar.
The official said that the case had been registered upon receipt of written complaint, wherein it was alleged by the complainant that Rajinder Pandita deceived him dishonestly and fraudulently by inducing him to pay huge amount under the pretext of providing building permission from Jammu Municipal Corporation for construction over his land at Jammu.
“The Economic Offence Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir conducted investigation in the matter and during the course of investigation, it came to fore that Rajinder Pandita projected himself as Civil Engineer and fraudulently, dishonestly induced the complainant to pay huge amount for providing building permission and other formalities,” it read.
It said that the act omitted and committed have prima facie disclosed the commission of offence under section 420.
“The instant case stands registered against the accused person at Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir and accordingly Charge Sheet of the said case produced in the Court of Passenger Tax Srinagar,” it read. (KNO)
India’s progress in next 25 years will be tech driven: Jitendra Singh
SRINAGAR, Nov 10 : Union minister Jitendra Singh Wednesday said the progress of the country in the next 25 years will be technology driven and the sooner the youth of the country realise that the better it would be for the nation.
Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day ‘Kashmir Expo – start-up for livelihood’ event at SKICC here, Singh appealed to the youth to avail of unexplored start-ups.
“The entire progress and growth in the years to come is going to be technology-driven, and the sooner we understand this, the better for us,” said the Union Minister of State (Independent charge) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
However, he said the country lacked a direction before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.
“The paradox is that we had the potential, we had the capacity, but, we didn’t have the direction … There was no priority at the policy, planning level. That gap has been filled by Modi now with thinking that there is no alternative, no option without it in the future,” he said.
Singh, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, said the valley could be the hub of agri-tech start-ups, “because we have the resources which no other region has”.
“If you are not able to explore this, the deficiency lies somewhere with us,” he, however, added.
The MoS said the next 25 years are an opportunity for the people of the country.
“Our youth, who have the potential and the energy, will raise our flag high when the country will celebrate its 100th year of independence. God has gifted them and they should realise this. Whether we will be there or not after 25 years, we should feel satisfied that we performed our role – the role which was expected from us, in their capacity building,” he said.
He said when the prime minister announced the ‘Start Up India, Stand Up India’ campaign from the ramparts of Red Fort in 2015, a movement started across the country, but it did not gain speed in J-K.
“It means that there is a lack of information and that there is a need to change the mindset of the people. Our youth should realise that there is a world beyond government jobs and many opportunities have been provided by this government through which income of more than a government employee can be generated,” he said.
He said J-K and other hill states will play an important role in India’s economy in the next 25 years. (Agencies)
BJP CEC meeting discusses on 182 Gujarat Assembly seats, likely to release 1st candidates’ list on Thursday
A meeting of BJP’s Central Election Committee was held on Wednesday at the party headquarters in New Delhi for the upcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat scheduled to be held in two phases on December 1 and 5.
The CEC discussed and decided the names of 182 party candidates for the Gujarat polls. According to sources, the BJP is likely to release its first list of candidates for the Gujarat Assembly polls on Thursday.
Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat BJP Chief C.R. Patil, BJP National President J.P. Nadda, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, among others.
After former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and former Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, including several veteran leaders opted not to contest the state polls on their own, it is expected that BJP’s candidates’ list will include young party leaders this time as compared to the last state Assembly elections.
According to sources, in the marathon meetings held on Wednesday, it has been decided not to give party tickets to several other veteran leaders and induct young party leaders.
After concluding meeting of the Central Election Committee, Union Home Minister Shah also held a separate meeting with the Gujarat Chief Minister and Gujarat BJP Chief.
According to sources, the BJP is likely to announce the names of candidates to be chosen for 89 Assembly seats in the state for the first phase of election to be held on December 1 including nearly 100 candidates.
Polling is to be held on 89 Assembly seats in the state on December 1 and 93 seats on December 5. The last date for nominations for 89 assembly constituencies in the first phase of elections in the state is November 14 and November 17 is the last date for nominations for the 93 assembly seats to be held in the second phase on December 5.
3 dead, 17 injured in bus collision in J-K’s Samba district
Three people including a 13-year-old girl were killed and 17 others were injured after two buses collided in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday evening.
The accident happened at the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway. Among the injured, at least seven people have received multiple injuries.
“17 injured, 3 including a 13-year-old girl killed. At least 7 have been referred to other hospitals as they received multiple injuries,” said Dr Bharat Bhushan, Samba district hospital Medical officer.
Expressing grief, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was extremely pained by the loss of lives in the road accidents in Doda and Samba.
“Extremely pained by the loss of lives in unfortunate road accidents in Doda and Samba. My deepest condolences to the families of deceased. Praying for the early recovery of the injured. Directed the district administrations to provide all possible assistance,” the Lieutenant Governor said in a tweet.
Further details are awaited.
Meanwhile, four persons were reported missing after their car lost control and plunged into the Chenab in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
The Indian Army and the State Disaster Response Force were involved in the rescue operation.
Earlier, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that every possible effort is being made to trace the victims of the accident and he is in constant touch with the authorities.
On Tuesday, at least 20 people were injured after the vehicle carrying them met with an accident in the Watyin area of Handwara in the Kupwara district of North Kashmir.
Previously, after the snowfall lashed the Gulmarg-Butapathri road on Saturday night, six people were reported injured in a car accident near Nagin on the next day (Sunday) due to overspeeding despite the promulgation of strict driving instructions, an Army press release had informed.
All passengers were then rescued and taken to the hospital.
T20 World Cup: Pakistan crush New Zealand, storm into final
Babar Azam, woefully out of form in the league stage, struck timely form after being dropped off the first ball he faced in the ICC T20 World Cup semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground tonight.
And the Pakistan captain punished the Kiwis for the costly lapse by wicket keeper Devon Conway off the bowling of Trent Boult, a one handed effort that the stumper couldn’t latch on to.
Taking full advantage of the largesse, Azam piloted his team into their third final in the history of the competition, and their first since winning the title in 2009, with a well-crafted half century.
Azam, who had just 39 to his credit after five games in the Super 12 stage, compiled 53 in 42 balls which was his 30th half ton. He struck 7 fours, most of them timed well.
More importantly he also put on a century partnership with his opening partner Mohammed Rizwan who too recorded a half century (57 in 43 balls with 5 fours).
The duo’s stand of 105 in 12.4 overs, their third triple digit stand in T20 World Cups and ninth overall, smoothened the path for Pakistan as they convincingly chased down New Zealand’s modest tally of 152 after rattling up 55 runs in power play and 87 at the end of ten overs.
They finally clinched the contest by seven wickets with five balls to spare with Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed being the not out batsmen at the crease
Pakistan now await the winners of the second semi-final between India and England, to be held at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow, in the final on November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It had been a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of Pakistan in the competition as they looked down for the count till South Africa shockingly lost to the Netherlands and gave their chances a fresh lease of life.
Today they fielded brilliantly, bowled with purpose and batted in determined fashion, egged on by a raucous capacity crowd filled with their flag waving and shouting supporters, to outsmart New Zealand who were aiming for their third straight entry into an ICC World Cup summit clash.
In contrast, New Zealand performed below par with the bat and the ball and even more surprisingly in their pet department, fielding too.
Electing to bat on winning the toss, New Zealand were rocked by an incisive opening spell by the tall Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi who got opener Finn Allen leg before in the third ball.
Allen’s opening partner Devon Conway was run out by a brilliantly directed throw from mid-on by Shan Masood off the last ball of power play.
And the Kiwis couldn’t recover fully from these two early blows that reduced them to 38 for two in six overs.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson rallied the side around with his classy knock of 46 in 42 balls. He was also sent back by Afridi at the right time for Pakistan, in the 17th over when he was ready to cut loose.
Daryl Mitchell’s fine counter-attacking innings of 53 off 35 balls, inclusive of 3 fours and one six, gave New Zealand a total that looked healthier before Azam got the costly reprieve and took the game away in the company of his long-time partner Rizwan.
Both were dismissed by the unlucky left arm bowler Boult in his second spell but by then the damage had been done.
Pak-based terror handlers training youth to create IED explosives using locally-available chemicals: NIA
Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Wednesday filed a chargesheet against the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) offshoot The Resistance Front (TRF) and said that Pakistan-based handlers were radicalising youth to join terror groups and training them to create explosives using locally-available chemicals.A statement of the NIA issued here said that the NIA filed a chargesheet against the activities of TRF, an offshoot of LeT, in RC-32/2021/NIA/DLI.
It said that the NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet in this case against the activities of the TRF in the NIA Special Court, PHC, New Delhi against accused Muzamil Mushtaq Bhat alias Hamza and Daniyal of Baramulla under Section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 25 (1AA) of the Arms Act, Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and Sections 17, 18, 18 B, 20, 38, and 39 of the UA(P) Act, 1967.
The statement said that NIA registered the case suo moto on November 18, 2021.
It said that during investigations, it emerged that the accused Muzamil was associated with Pakistan-based handlers and operative commanders of LeT and TRF and had radicalised, motivated, and instigated vulnerable youth to join terror groups like TRF in Kashmir.
The NIA statement said that he entered into a conspiracy with active terrorist commanders in Kashmir to train Kashmiri youth to fabricate IEDs and explosives using locally available chemicals.
It said that he along with other co-accused and Pakistan-based handlers and operatives of LeT and TRF actively participated in the acts in support of LeT and received funds from Pakistan-based operatives of LeT.
The NIA statement said that he also facilitated the transfer of weapons in Kashmir for the furtherance of terrorist activities in India.
It said that further investigations in the case were in progress.
Nomads brave rains, cold weather as Paidal march reaches Srinagar on day 6
JAMMU: The onset of winter in Jammu and Kashmir, amongst other things, also marks the seasonal migration of the Gujjars and Bakerwals from higher reaches of Valley to the plains of Jammu region. This year, however, these nomadic tribals are in Kashmir, braving the falling mercury as they embark on a month-long march, for the protection of their rights under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The foot march, started from Kupwara on November 4, has covered 5 districts in the Valley so far and has reached summer capital Srinagar on 6th day, with the protestors gaining huge number of supporters at every place. The march is slated to end in Kathua, by the end of this month.
Led by youth leaders under the banner of Gujjar-Bakarwal Joint Action Committee (GBJAC), the ‘Tribal Bachao Paidal March’ is taken out primarily against the proposed inclusion of Paharis in ST reservation quota.
The community leaders and members are protesting against the decision of the Registrar General of India and the National Commission for Schedule Tribes to accept the recommendations of Justice GD Sharma Commission report to notify Paharis as STs.
Largely refraining from using the word ‘Paharis’ in any of their slogans, the tribals maintained that their protest is against the inclusion of upper castes in the ST quota.
Defreezing PoJK seats in assembly polls Centre’s jurisdiction: EC to Jammu lawyer
JAMMU, Nov 9: Responding to a Jammu-based lawyer’s request seeking defreezing of eight seats out of 24 earmarked for the Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir refugees as per the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution in 1956, the Election Commission has said that the issue is under the Union Government’s jurisdiction.
Advocate Aditya Sharma of Jammu and Kashmir High Court at Jammu wing, in a letter dated September 21, to the Chief Election Commissioner, had stated that Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed a historic moment when the Article 370 was abrogated by the Union of India on August 5, 2019, whereby the doors of various opportunities have been opened for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and ended decades long the discrimination.
Prior to the abrogation of Article 370 no voting right was there for refugees from West Pakistan i.e. PoJK refugees of West Pakistan, people of Valmiki community and many and the State Constitution enacted in 1956 had also reserved 24 seats in Assembly for PoJK and left the same vacant, he said in a letter.
Sharma further stated that after the abrogation, a ray of hope had arisen for West Pakistan Refugees and other migrants from Pakistan to have right to vote and for the same purpose, if the eight seats out of 24 reserved seats, which belongs to west PoJK can be defreezed — it will give long pending justice to the migrants.
Further more, a Parliamentary Committee report on PoJK refugees was submitted in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha that recognized that PoJK refugees were not given relief and compensation due to their non-registered status, he stated.
“The committee also recommended to defreeze 8 seats out of 24 vacant seats,” Sharma added, saying further that in the 2022 Delimitation Commission Report, it was recommended that at least two members from the community of Kashmiri migrants be in the Legislative Assembly.
The Commission said that the Central Government may consider of giving representations to refugees in assembly as well and it is therefore submitted that kindly consider the committee report of 2014 and delimitation commission recommendation of 2022 for defreezing of eight seats out of 24 seats for Kashmiri migrants, refugees from PoJK which were left vacant in the year 1956 and for giving representation to them respectively, Sharma said in the plea.
However, the Election Commission in its reply stated, In reference to your letter, the Delimitation Commission constituted for the purpose of constituencies delimitation in UT of Jammu and Kashmir is already ceased to exist from May 5, 2022 after publication of its final Delimitation order in respect of UT of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Delimitation Commission in this regard had also prepared a report titled as Delimited Landscape of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is available on Commission’s website, the EC said. It also said that the Delimitation Commission had recommended to the Union Government to consider the issue of representation by way of nomination of representatives to the Displaced Persons from PoJK in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Therefore, the issue is now under the jurisdiction of the Union Government, the EC said in the reply. So as of now, the EC has sent these recommendations to the GoI as it is and at present the recommendations are under consideration of the GoI and we hope that the Government will give its decision on these recommendations very soon, Sharma told UNI. Aditya believes that in the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, not only the refugees, who have been deprived of voting till now, will vote, but if the Central Government conducts elections on these eight seats or nominate their representatives, justice will be delivered and they have a voice in the Assembly.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Indresh Kumar, during his recent Jammu visit had referred to his meeting with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha stating that they held a brief interaction over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and also on Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
PoJK is part of Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral part of the country. We request the countrymen to pray, every morning, for the return of Kailash Mansarovar and PoJK and they again become part of India, he had said. (AGENCIES)
Woman who kidnapped infant in Kishtwar booked under PSA: Police
KISHTWAR: A lady involved in the kidnapping of an infant in Kishtwar has been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA), police said.
In a statement, the police said that recently Kishtwar Police solved the mystery of a kidnapping case at District Hospital Kishtwar where one burqa Clad woman kidnapped the infant male baby age about 06 months by arresting the accused lady namely Shabnum Begum wife of Killed Militants Zahoor Din resident of Kripak Mohallah Kishtwar and booked in case FIR No. 232/2022 under relevant sections of law registered at police station Kishtwar.
The statement further stated that bail petitions were rejected by the CJM Court Kishtwar. The bail plea of the accused lady was argued by a battery of lawyers, wherein Police and prosecution officers contested logically for rejection of the Bail application as the case is of public interest.
Latter on Hon’ble Session Court granted bail in favour of the said lady. The normal law against her will not have the desired result of stopping her from indulging in further such illegal acts. Therefore normal law which has been invoked against the subject is not sufficient to deter the subject from indulging further in such type of crimes, they said.
Keeping in view all the circumstances, said lady has been detained under PSA after obtaining a PSA warrant from the concerned authorities for her involvement in the kidnapping case of an Infant male baby namely Afnan Ahmed son of Afreen Ahmed resident of Chirala At present Link Road Kishtwar. They said Lady Shabnam has been lodged in District Jail Kutha, they said.
Meanwhile, SSP Kishtwar Shafqat Hussain Bath-JKPS time and again requested the general public to be aware not to fall prey to such type of crime and report any such suspicious or fraudulent activity in your neighbourhood immediately to the concerned Police station, reads the statement.