Category: Union Territory

The talks were held under the WMCC framework, the second in 2 weeks, as disengagement between the Indian and Chinese forces in Ladakh is progressing at a ‘slow pace’.

New Delhi: India and China Friday held yet another round of talks under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs, ThePrint has learnt. The talks come amid reports that the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh has slowed down.

The Indian delegation was led by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) joint secretary for East Asia, while China was represented by the director general of the foreign ministry’s boundary and oceanic department, an official statement issued by New Delhi said.

“The two sides reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas and the ongoing disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector. They agreed that early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols and full restoration of peace and tranquillity was essential for smooth overall development of bilateral relations,” the MEA added.

According to the MEA, it was also agreed that another meeting of senior commanders may be held soon to work out “further steps to ensure expeditiously complete” disengagement and de-escalation and restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

The WMCC meeting Friday, sources said, was held because China is “not fully cooperating” with the Indian side, thus causing the disengagement and de-escalation process to deviate from the agreement arrived at during the 5 July phone call between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The Chinese side is maintaining a heavy troop deployment in the entire eastern Ladakh sector, sources added. The weaponry deployed includes air defence systems and long-range artillery.

Sources said the de-escalation process in the Hot Springs and Gogra area is not progressing as desired.

If the pace of the disengagement and de-escalation process continues to be like this, sources said, Doval and Wang, who are also the designated Indian and Chinese special representatives for boundary talks, may have to hold one more round of discussions.

The WMCC is one of the India-China bilateral frameworks to resolve border tensions.

‘Earliest complete disengagement’

During their discussions earlier this month, Doval and Wang had agreed on “earliest complete disengagement”.

The talks set the stage for a fresh attempt at disengagement in Ladakh beginning 6 July. 

However, since the plan didn’t appear to be going as expected, the latest WMCC meeting was organised to discuss the modalities, sources said. The previous round of WMCC talks was held just two weeks ago, on 10 July, following which India and China held a Corps commander-level dialogue at the border on 14 July, the fourth such interaction since bilateral tensions soared amid incursions by Chinese soldiers beginning May.

At a media briefing Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs’ spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said a WMCC meeting will be held soon, adding that the basis of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas between India and China is “respecting and strictly abiding” by the LAC. 

“As we have stated earlier, the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas is the basis of our bilateral relationship. Therefore, it is our expectation that the Chinese side will sincerely work with us for complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas at the earliest as agreed to by the special representatives,” Srivastava added.

This report has been updated with the MEA’s statement

With inputs from The Print

PTI

Bhaderwah (Doda): Police on Saturday booked the president of Anjuman-e-Islamia, Bhaderwah for making a “provocative and seditious” statement during Friday prayers, an officer said.

The FIR was registered against Pervaiz Ahmed Sheikh at the Bhaderwah Police Station for disobeying the orders of the district magistrate by organising Friday prayers, the officer said.

The Anjuman president has been booked under sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth), 505 B, 188 IPC (disobedience to order dully promulgated by public servant) and Epidemic disease Act after police took cognizance of his speech while addressing Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid, Bhaderwah, he said.

The investigating officer of Doda Police said that Sheikh’s speech was provocative, deliberate and seditious and intended to cause disharmony and create a rift in the society.

The case is being investigated by the senior officers of Bhaderwah Police, he said.

The gunfight broke out in Ranbirgarh area.

Two suspected militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranbirgarh area on Saturday, the police said.

Security forces launched a search operation in the area, which is located on the outskirts of Srinagar, after receiving information about the presence of suspected militants, an unidentified police official was quoted as saying by PTI.

Further details awaited

With inputs from Scroll.in

PTI

Srinagar: An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces on the outskirts of Srinagar on Saturday, police said.

The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Ranbirgarh area in the morning following inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

The forces retaliated when the ultras fired upon them. A militant was killed in the gunfight, the official said.

The identity and group affiliation of the militant was being ascertained. The operation is going on and further details were awaited, he added.

Srinagar: Kashmir Valley on Saturday reported four more deaths due to covid-19, taking the number of people succumbing to the virus to 302 in J&K.

Among the fresh casualties, three were from Srinagar, the worst hit district both in terms of the causalities as well as number of the covid-19 cases, while another victim belonged to Baramulla, officials told GNS.

They said a 70-year-old man from Peerbagh area of Srinagar, who was admitted on July 20, and tested positive for the virus subsequently, died at SKIMS Soura at 7 a.m. today.

At 7:40 a.m., they said, another patient—a 75-year-old man from Rawalpora Srinagar— died at the tertiary care hospital. “He had cardio-pulmonary arrest. The patient was suffering from pneumonia and ARDS,” a senior doctor of the hospital told GNS.

Later at 9:30 a.m., a 48-year-old woman from Kantbagh Baramulla passed away at the hospital, the doctor. She was admitted on July 22 and diagnosed as case of pneumonia and ARDS besides hypothyroidism, he added.
Meanwhile, a 70-year-old woman from Safa Kadal area of Srinagar died at SMHS hospital, a senior doctor confirmed to GNS.

The septuagenarian was admitted on July 21 and was suffering from pneumonia and hypertension, the doctor added.
So far 280 deaths have been reported in Kashmir and 22 in Jammu division.

Srinagar district with 85 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (63), Kulgam (26), Anantnag (21), twenty each in Shopian and Budgam, 16 each in Pulwama and Kupwara, Jammu(14), five each in Bandipora and Ganderbal, two each in Rajouri and Doda and one each in Poonch, Udhampur, and Kathua. (GNS)

PTI

Srinagar: A bank robbery attempt was foiled in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir and one person with a toy pistol was arrested, police said on Friday.

Police in Kulgam arrested an individual for attempting to rob J&K Bank at Yaripora in the south Kashmir district, a police spokesman said.

He said a toy pistol was also seized from the arrested person by the police.

Giving details of the incident, the spokesman said, police received a distress call on Thursday night from J&K Bank in Yaripora that a person, pointing his pistol at a private security personnel, was threatening him to open the gates of the bank branch.

Acting swiftly, a police party rushed to the spot, he said.

Meanwhile, the spokesman said the alert security guards of the bank branch caught hold of the person and snatched the toy pistol from his possession.

The person has been arrested and a case has been registered, he said.

The spokesman said the bravery and commitment by the security guards of J&K Bank, Yaripora and prompt action by Kulgam police foiled the bank robbery attempt.

The police lauds the bravery and commitment of the private security guards deployed at the bank, he said.

PTI

Srinagar: Five additional COVID testing laboratories are being set up in the recently established government medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir which would be functional in the next two weeks, an official spokesman said here on Friday.

Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) — a fully-owned company of the J-K government — has placed purchase orders for machinery and equipment for these laboratories, he said.

The official said these labs are likely to be made functional in the next two weeks.

The JKMSCL is leading the fight against COVID-19 by providing uninterrupted key medical supplies in the form of equipment, safety material and medicines, he said.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the corporation has extended all resources to strengthen the healthcare institutions in the UT, the spokesman said, adding that it has provided 6,566 oxygen cylinders, including 2,673 for Jammu Division and 3,893 for Kashmir Division.

In view of the rapid increase in serious patients in the Kashmir Division, purchase orders were placed for additional 5,192 (D-type and B-type) oxygen cylinders and supplies have started reaching the UT, he said.

The spokesman said 2,800 oxygen concentrators have also been provided to COVID healthcare facilities (970 in Jammu and 1,830 in Kashmir).

In addition to that, 327 ventilators have been provided — 151 in Jammu and 176 in Kashmir, he said.

The installation of the ventilators is underway and an additional 400 ventilators are expected from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare very shortly, the official said.

Around 2,600 fingertip pulse oximeters, 3,000 non-contact thermometers, 776 patient monitors, 126 ECG units, 805 Fowler and Semi-Fowler beds, 840 bedside lockers, 1,200 saline stands etc have also been provided, he said.

The spokesman said to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals, around 3.30 lakh PPE kits, 3.90 lakh N95 masks, 37 lakh triple-layer masks, 65,000 sanitisers etc have been made available, and sufficient stocks are being maintained to overcome any unforeseen event.

To strengthen COVID testing in the existing labs, the JKMSCL has provided 6,04,000 Viral Transport Media (VTM) kits, 1,90,700 RT-PCR kits, 1,60,000 RNA Extraction kits, 25,000 Rapid Antigen Tests etc, he said.

For treatment of very serious patients, the JKMSCL has placed a purchase order for 1020 vials of remdesivir, and supplies are expected shortly, the spokesman added.

Srinagar: The deadly novel Coronavirus on Friday claimed 12 more lives in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the total number of people who died due to the pandemic in the Union Territory to 300.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that eight patients who died include a 75-year-old man from Saderbal Srinagar, a 65-year-old man from Maharaj Gunj Srinagar, a 65-year-old woman from Malaknag Anantnag, a 58-year-old IRP Sub Inspector from Jammu, a 68-year-old woman from Sopore, a 70-year-old male from Rainawari Srinagar, a 75-year-old Lady from Peerbagh Srinagar, a 60-year-old male patient from Khanyar Srinagar, an 80-year-old lady from Sarnal Anantanag, a 50-year old woman from Tangmarg Baramulla, a 60-year old woman from Dab Ganderbal and a 44-year-old male from Karan Bagh Satwari Jammu.

An official from SKIMS said that a patient from Saderbal was admitted on July 08 with multiple ailments and he died on Friday morning.

Sources at SMHS said that a 65-year-old patient from Maharaj Gung, presently living at Kraltang Rajouri Kadal who was admitted on July 20 with bilateral Pneumonia and was tested positive on 22 July died on Friday.

They said that a patient from Sopore who was admitted on July 21 with bilateral Pneumonia died at SMHS on Thursday and was tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.

They further added that a 60-year-old man from Khanyar who was admitted on 21 July with community acquired pneumonia died last evening and was tested positive on Friday.

The health officials said that a 60-year old lady from Dab Ganderbal who was admitted with hypertension and pneumonia on 18 July died on Friday evening.

“A 50 year old lady from Tangmarg Baramulla who was admitted on 23 July with multiple ailments died on Friday and was tested positive for covid-19 after her death,” They added.

A health official at GMC Anantnag said that a 65-year-old woman from Malaknag Anantnag who was admitted on July 22 died at GMC Anantnag on Friday morning.

He said the patient was suffering from hypertension, pneumonia and other ailments.

He further added that an 80 year old lady from Sarnal Anantnag who was admitted on July 19 with bilateral pneumonia, hypertension died at GMC on Friday.

Officials from GMC Jammu told KNO that a 58-year-old IRP Sub Inspector from Gandhi Nagar who was admitted on July 22 and tested positive for the virus, breathed his last at GMC on Friday.

He further added that a 44-year-old shopkeeper from who was shitted from CD hospital to isolation ward of GMC Jammu on 23 July with fever, cough, haemoptysis and respiratory distress died on Friday at around 6:30 pm.

An official at SKIMS Bemina (JVC) said that a 75-year-old lady from Peerbagh Srinagar who was admitted on July 14 after testing positive for COVID-19 died on Friday.

An official from CD hospital said that a 70-year old man from Rainawari who was tested positive for COVID-19, died hours after he was admitted at CD hospital on Friday.

With twelve more deaths, the death toll due to COVID-19 has reached to 300 in J&K including 278 from Kashmir division and 22 from Jammu division—(KNO)

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir’s four Rajya Sabha members will complete their six-year term in February next year.

Details available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reveal that incumbent MPs of J&K Union Territory in Upper House of the Parliament will complete their six-year term between February 10 to 15 next year.

While Fayaz Ahmad Mir (PDP) and Shamsher Singh Manhas(BJP) will complete their innings on February 10, the six-year term of leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad (Congress) and Nazir Ahmad Laway( PDP) will end on February 15.

Nearly a month before formation of PDP-BJP government in 2015, Mir, Laway and Manhas managed to win after tacit understanding between the two parties. Azad emerged victorious due to support from National Conference and independent MLAs.

With J&K presently without Legislative Assembly, the UT could remain without representation in Rajya Sabha in absence of electoral college for these seats.

“MLAs of J&K UT Assembly constitute electoral college for these seats. There seems no chance of holding Assembly elections in J&K in near future due to ongoing delimitation process. So these seats could remain vacant for some time,” an official said.

It is worthwhile to mention here that J&K’s representation in Rajya Sabha as well as remaining term of its incumbent MPs was protected by The Jammu & Kashmir Re-Organisation Act enacted by the Parliament in August last year.

In March this year, the Centre had defined Electoral College for J&K’s Rajya Sabha seats by making amendments in the Representation of Peoples Act-1951.

According to the amendments notified in Jammu & Kashmir Re-Organization (adaptation of central laws) Order-2020, MLAs of J&K UT Legislative Assembly will constitute Electoral College for these seats—(KNO)

The semester fee was pending since March, haven’t asked for fee of two semesters: Officials

Srinagar: As the government has directed all private and government institutions not to deprive any student from pursuing the education during COVID-19 crisis, the students of Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Friday alleged that the management of the varsity is compelling them to pay the charges of two semesters simultaneously.

Nadia Rashid Naik, spokesperson CUK students’ federation told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the students of 7th semester and being compelled to pay the semester fee of 8th semester as well.

“I am pursuing law studies at CUK and currently I am in the 7th semester. The CUK authorities are compelling us to pay the registration charges of both semesters,” Naik said.

“This is not the case of only 7th semester students, but of all students,” she said.

She said that there are many students who have no earning hand in their family and in times of Coronavirus pandemic wherein their family members are sitting idle at home, the CUK authorities are asking them to pay the charges of both semesters.

The students’ spokesperson said that the CUK management has set a last date of submitting the fee till July-28.

“This is not possible for most of the students as from past year, the Kashmir valley was reeling under the shutdown following the abrogation of Article-370 and since March it was put under safety lockdown in view of COVID-19,” Naik said.

CUK Registrar Farooq Ahmad Shah told KNO that the fee was pending since the beginning of the semester.

“This semester fee was supposed to be collected in the month of March-April, however, due to the COVID-19 crisis, we couldn’t,” he said.

Shah said, “But now by the end of this month we are supposed to collect it. We are not asking for the fee of two semesters.”—(KNO)