Category: Union Territory

The PLA reduced its troops in Pangong Tso area of eastern Ladakh but there has been no pullback like the one which took place in Galwan Valley and Gogra-Hot Springs.

New Delhi: China’s People Liberation Army (PLA) has reduced its troops in the Pangong Tso area of eastern Ladakh but there has been pullback similar to the ones which took place in Galwan Valley and Gogra-Hot Springs.

The Phase-1 of the de-escalation plan will be completed only after the Chinese soldiers withdraw from Finger-4 to Finger-5 area on the north bank of Pangong Tso

This comes ahead of the joint verification expected to be carried by the Indian and Chinese armies in eastern Ladakh to assess the implementation of the disengagement process.

PLA yet to vacate the area

The two militaries are set to hold extensive talks on finalising modalities for restoring normalcy and bringing back peace and tranquillity in the region after the verification of the disengagement exercise is completed, sources told PTI. 

According to a report by TOI, while the PLA has pulled down few tents, moved some vehicles back and slightly reduced its troop at Finger-4 but is yet to vacate the area.

However, Chinese heavy armoured vehicles are still present in the depth areas in the Galwan river area.

Sources aware of the development told TOI that troop confrontation in the lake area is “proving to be the toughest to resolve with over 3,000 PLA soldiers occupying the 8-km stretch from Finger-4 to 8 since early May.”

PLA claims territory till Finger-2

The Chinese military has already withdrawn troops from Galwan Valley and Hot Springs, while the pullback is likely to be over in Gogra on Thursday.

While India wants China to pull back to their post at Finger 8 and permanent bases at Sirijap-I and II further beyond, PLA has claimed territory till Finger-2 after building fortifications and occupying heights from Finger-4 to 8.

India has a post between Finger-2 and 3 and maintains an administrative base between Finger-3 and 4.

With inputs from Times Now News

Four Special Rapporteurs express ‘grave concern over alleged excessive use of force, ill treatment during arrests and detentions’

United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs have made public their third communication forwarded to India since the August 5, 2019 decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, expressing “grave concern over alleged excessive use of force, ill treatment during arrests and detentions”.

Four UN Special Rapporteurs on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions; on minority issues; and on freedom of religion or belief — had forwarded a joint communication to India on May 4, 2010, and made it public recently, after 60 days of response time.

“We would like to bring to the attention of Your Excellency’s Government information we have received concerning the continued deterioration of human rights conditions in J&K following severe restrictions imposed after 5 August 2019, in particular citing arbitrary detentions, violations to the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment and rights of persons belonging to minorities,” the communication reads.

The first communication was forwarded to India by the UN on August 16, 2019 on “restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly”. The second was communicated on February 27 on alleged “mass crackdown targeting those expressing dissent against the decision taken” by the Central government.

‘No response received’

“We regret that no response has been received to either communication, in particular the former. We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing human rights violations,” it added.

The UN urged the Indian government “to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation, if it has not done so already, into the allegations of arbitrary killings, torture and ill-treatment and to prosecute suspected perpetrators under articles 6 and of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and articles 7 and 12 of the Committee Against Torture (CAT)”.

With inputs from The Hindu

PTI

Jammu: A 45-year-old woman was rescued from drowning in a three-hour-long joint operation by the teams of the State Disaster Management Force (SDRF) and the police here on Wednesday, police said.

Bagu Begum was caught in the middle of Tawi river in the Billicharana area due to a sudden increase in the water level following heavy rains in its catchment area, Sub-Inspector Ranjit Singh said.

Singh, who is in-charge of police post Billicharana, said the woman was crossing the river along with her cattle from Nikki Tawi to Billicharana side around 9 am.

He said police teams immediately rushed to the scene after getting the information and launched a rescue operation but their efforts could not bore fruit due to increased water level.

Accordingly, an SDRF team was called in and the woman was successfully rescued around 12.15 pm and handed over to her family, the officer said.

PTI

Jammu: The administration on Wednesday suspended a Junior Engineer (JE) for “poor” performance and alleged dereliction of duty in the implementation of MGNREGA scheme in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, officials said.

District Development Commissioner (DDC) Piyush Singla on Wednesday convened a meeting of officers and field functionaries of the Rural Development Department (RDD) to review physical and financial achievements of all the schemes being implemented in the district, they said.

Singla reviewed the progress of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 14th FC, Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana(PMAGY), Aadhaar seeding, status of strengthening of self-help groups (SHGs), convergence of water conservation works, registration of migrant labourers, job cards verification, providing of job cards to labourers from other states.

While reviewing the scheme-wise estimates, the DDC placed Kulwanta block JE under suspension for “poor performance and dereliction of duties”, they said.

The DDC directed Block Development Officers to complete all SOS works within one month. He asked officials to hold a meeting of the rate fixation committee to update the rates of construction materials.

Singla stressed on water conversation and water harvesting structures and asked the RDD to take up water bodies existing in revenue record on priority. He further asked it to quantify the area put under water conservation and water harvesting.

The DDC also asked the officials concerned to ensure that maximum area is irrigated through micro-irrigation channels.

He instructed the field functionaries to ensure that they remain present in the area of their posting and are accessible to the public.

PTI

A 65-year-old woman was killed and another critically injured on Wednesday in heavy shelling by Pakistan Army on forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The shelling from across the border in Balakote and Mendhar sectors started around 2 am, drawing strong retaliation by the Indian army, a police officer said.

He said two women, Resham Bi and Hakam Bi, were critically injured in the Pakistani shelling at village Lanjote and were evacuated to hospital.

However, Resham Bi later succumbed to her injuries while Hakam bi was referred to Jammu hospital for specialised treatment, he said.

A defence spokesperson said Pakistan initiated the unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars at around 2 am.

The cross-border shelling from both sides continued for 45 minutes, the spokesperson said.

The casualties suffered by Pakistan in the retaliatory action was not known immediately, he said.

Srinagar: The spat between suspended IPS officer Basant Rath and DGP Dilbagh Singh has gone rebellious despite action taken by MHA on Wednesday.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), 2000-batch IPS officer and former IGP Traffic Basant Rath tweeted, “Apna tou Kaam hai jalaate rahe chiraag, Rastey mai chahiye Dost ya Dilloo ka ghar miley”.

“It’s our job to keep the lamp burning, whether a friend or foe’s house comes on the way”. The couplet actually written by eminent poet Kaleem Ajizi was edited by IPS officer and replaced “Dilloo” instead of “Dushman” (enemy) in a tweet.

Earlier Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) suspended former IGP (Traffic) Basant Rath in connection with repeated instances of gross misconduct.

An order issued by Under Secretary to the Government of India S D Sarkar reads, “Whereas, a disciplinary proceeding against Shri Basant Rath (IPS: RR 2000, JK) is contemplated in connection with repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehavior, which have been brought to the notice of the Government”.

“Now, therefore, the Competent Authority in the Ministry of Home Affairs, in exercise of powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-rule (i) of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, hereby places, the said Shri Basant Rath, (IPS: RR: 2000, JK), under suspension with immediate effect”. (KNS)

Srinagar: From past couple of weaks, after goverment decided to lift the restrictions that were imposed after the outbreak of COVID-19, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing steady rise in COVID-19 positive cases and fatalities.

In last less than 15 days, Jammu and Kashmir has reported more than sixty COVID-19 related deaths and around three thousand cases. According to doctors, the situation is worry and they attribute the current situation to the people going out without taking any precautions.

Despite the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities, the government has decided to open parks from today. The experts are concerned about this decision and according to them this move will throw up new challenges to the health department.

The health experts and doctors are unhappy with the policymakers and according to them deadly virus curve has flattened in the previous few weeks due to the failure of authorities. “They (authorities) have failed to ensure that precautions are being used in markets and other public places post unlock,” said a doctor.

“No distancing is being maintained by people, masks are not being used. The sudden rise in fatalities and positive cases is it’s results. We may see more worse situation in upcoming days as authorities have decided to re-open the parks. Tall claims of government have fallen flat. Opening of parks is clearly a wrong decision,” he added.

Youth don’t take precautions, and the rise in facilities is a result of it. “Youth don’t take precautions. They become the carrier of virus to their homes. They infect their elderly parents who are already underlying diseases and then subsequently die,” a doctor posted at SKIMS said.

The data provided by government shows that the virus started to turn deadly in Jammu and Kashmir after the government’s decision to remove restrictions. The official data available shows that in the first three months after the outbreak of virus, 51 fatalities were reported. On July 2, J&K saw the highest single-day spike of 10 deaths.

The highest fatalities have been reported from Srinagar, 35, followed by 28 from Baramulla, 17 from Kulgam, 14 from Shopian, 12 from Anantnag, 10 from Budgam, 7 from Kupwara, 4 from Pulwama, 3 from Bandipora, 1 from Ganderbal, 8 from Jammu, 2 from Doda, and 1 each from Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua and Udhampur.

Our E-commerce sector is on ventilator since 5th August and has suffered immense losses. Nobody is raising voice in favour of businesses which are constantly being driven into losses. It is estimated that more than 10000 business proprietors are associated with e-commerce in valley and have been ignored by and large by everyone.

We, the associated members have tried to find and give work to thousands of the people and helped in reducing the burden on state departments in conditions when job availability is miniscule and unemployment rate is rising.

It is high time to lend support to the ventures by giving them chances to grow rather than giving free hand and access only to mega giants like myntra, amazon, flipkart etc. The products that are developed and are unique as far as the cultural association of the products is concerned are not finding markets due to unavailability of resources and frequent data barring.

Since now the conditions have more or less stabilised, it is the need of hour to give support and lend a helping hand to these businesses for the greater good of community

PTI

Jammu: Some villagers were booked for organising a bull race in violation of the social distancing norms in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Tuesday, police said.

According to Rajouri SSP Chandan Kohli, a few residents of Derian village had organised the race leading to a huge gathering of people despite the prohibitory orders imposed to check the spread of coronavirus.

The case in this regard has been registered at Rajouri police station and an investigation is underway, the senior superintendent of police said.

People are requested not to indulge in such violations of norms, Kohli added.

PTI

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced that all the parks and gardens in the union territory will be thrown open to the public from Wednesday.

Advisor to the J-K Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan made the announcement on Tuesday, an official spokesperson said.

Khan, however, stressed that all the people should strictly observe the protocols and medical advice related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He requested the people to wear face masks, use hand sanitizers and maintain social distancing norms both inside and outside these places.

Khan also directed the authorities to penalize those found violating the precautionary measures.

Officials informed Khan that there will be thermal screening of people at the entry gates of gardens and parks.

They also told the advisor that hand sanitizers would be made available for the use of visitors in the park and gardens.