Category: Union Territory

Talks with China cordial; diplomatic engagements will continue to resolve the issue, says MEA.

India has firmly conveyed its demand to China for restoring the status quo as existed in April along the border during the senior military commander talks on Saturday, sources said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the talks were held in a “cordial and positive” atmosphere, and both sides will continue the military and diplomatic engagements to “resolve the situation”.

Sources said the talks, which went on for several hours, remained inconclusive, but each side put across their issues, which would be conveyed to the respective governments and taken up in subsequent meetings. While India was firm on restoring the status quo of April and pull back of Chinese troops and equipment from inside India territory and along the LAC, the Chinese side raised objections to India’s infrastructure development.

It was conveyed that infrastructure development will go on in Indian territory and that China has already developed infrastructure on its side, sources said. Senior defence sources had told The Hindu earlier that infrastructure development would continue along the LAC despite the ongoing tensions. China’s actions violate the existing boundary agreement meant to preserve peace and tranquillity on the border and this was also communicated, it has been learnt.

“A meeting was held between the Corps Commander based in Leh and the Chinese Commander on June 6, 2020 in the Chushul-Moldo region,” the MEA said in a statement. The Indian delegation was led by Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh, 14 Corps commander and the Chinese side was led by Maj. Gen. Liu Lin, Commander of South Xinjiang military region.

Both sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in the border areas in accordance with various bilateral agreements and keeping in view the agreement between the leaders that peace and tranquillity in the India-China border regions is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations, the MEA stated.

In a release indicating that the government is still hopeful of a resolution of the standoff that has lasted weeks, the MEA said both sides have “maintained communications” through diplomatic and military channels in recent weeks, and called for an “early resolution” to the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. The senior military commander level talks are at the highest level so far in the series of military and diplomatic communications that the two sides have held to address the standoff.

Tensions between the two sides have continued for more than a month, and serious skirmishes were reported between the Indian Army and PLA soldiers at several points of the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh and Sikkim since May 5, where China is understood to have made significant incursions, and the Indian Army has also bolstered its positions. In its release, the MEA said the two sides will continue diplomatic and military engagements to resolve the “situation”, without elaborating on developments on the ground.

Communications between senior military commanders will ensure that tensions don’t flare up on the ground as talks continue at the highest levels to find a way to resolve the issue, an officer, who had served in the area in the past, said on condition of anonymity.

“Like we saw in Doklam and other standoffs in the past, troops on the ground will remain dug up till the issue is resolved at the diplomatic or political level,” the officer said, adding that it could be a long haul.

“Both sides also noted that this year marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and agreed that an early resolution would contribute to the further development of the relationship,” the MEA statement added.

With inputs from The Hindu

This is the second encounter in the district in the past 24 hours.

PTI

An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, June 8, 2020, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Pinjora area of Shopian, in South Kashmir, this morning after receiving specific information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants fired upon a search party of the forces, who retaliated.

The exchange of fire is going on and further details are awaited.

This is the second encounter in Shopian district in the past 24 hours.

Five Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a self styled commander, were killed in the gunbattle with security forces in Reban area of the district on Sunday.

State media outlets have repeatedly showcased military exercises in high-altitude areas

For the second time in one week, China’s State media outlets have showcased military exercises tailored to high-altitude regions, linking the drills to the ongoing tensions with India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

On Sunday, the Communist Party-run Global Times reported that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) “organised a large-scale manoeuvre operation featuring thousands of paratroopers plus armoured vehicles to the country’s high-altitude northwestern region over a long distance from central China’s Hubei province amid border tensions between China and India”.

The Global Times, a newspaper that plays a key role in external propaganda, said of the latest drill that “the entire process was completed in just a few hours, demonstrating China’s capability of quickly reinforcing border defences when necessary”.

China has in the past used official media outlets to showcase military drills amid territorial disputes, an approach that the Chinese military has described as a “struggle for public opinion”.

Manoeuvres aimed at Taiwan are frequently shown on television, particularly when political tensions are high. On occasion, videos of earlier drills have been used for broadcast during times of tensions.

During the 72-day border stand-off with India at Doklam in 2017, state media broadcast regular images showcasing China’s military capabilities, aimed at both the domestic and overseas audience. The official PLA Daily in an August 2017 article described the strategy as aimed “to fully integrate the publicity forces of public opinion, radio, TV, newspapers and social media, and carry out a multi-wave and high-density centralised publicity in a fixed period of time to form favourable public opinion situation to allow for a final victory”.

The PLA’s Western Theatre Command said in a 2017 analysis of the Doklam media strategy that “seizing the initiative was key in the struggle for public opinion.”

Lessons for future

It said the aim was “to make India succumb without a confrontation between the two armies,” adding that the approach served lessons “for future struggles”.

The latest drills were also broadcast on the official broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), which reported “using civilian airlines, logistical transportation channels and railways, several thousand paratroopers under a PLA Air Force airborne brigade recently manoeuvred from Hubei to an undisclosed location on the plateaus of northwestern China, thousands of kilometers away”.

Major Colonel Mao Lei, head of the training department at the airborne brigade, told CCTV: “This manoeuvre mission saw significant breakthroughs not only in the scale of mobilised troops but also means of transportation. [Using civilian transportation] substantially expanded our means of transporting forces and increased efficiency in manoeuvring an entire organisation of troops.”

On June 3, China’s official media reported that another drill was held on the Tibetan plateau, which it described as “night-time high-altitude infiltration exercises behind enemy lines”. Reports indicated the drills were held in the Tanggula Mountains, not close to the border with India but on the far side of the Tibetan plateau in the east, near the border of Tibet and Qinghai province. A report in the Global Times said the PLA Tibet Military Command recently sent troops to a high-altitude region at night for “infiltration exercises behind enemy lines and tested their combat capability.”

With inputs from The Hindu

PTI

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir administration announced that religious places would continue to remain closed in the Union Territory as it allowed certain activities, including reopening of malls, barber shops, hotels and restaurants with new guidelines from Monday.

The administration on Sunday also exempted private transport from the purview of the coronavirus-triggered lockdown outside containment zones but decided against allowing inter-state and inter-province movement without passes.

Earlier during the day, the administration issued a fresh classification of the districts on the eve of implementation of the lockdown relaxations in the country effective till June 30.

While eight districts in Kashmir and one in Jammu were placed under red zone indicating no change in the lockdown restrictions till this month end, nine districts — seven in Jammu province and two in Kashmir — were covered under orange zone and two other districts, both in Jammu region, in green zone.

Shops and business establishments reopened in orange and green zones, mostly in Jammu region, on May 20, while the government and private offices also started functioning across the UT.

In an order issued here this evening, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam came out with new guidelines and instructions for regulating activities within the Union Territory for effective containment of COVID-19 with effect from June 8 till further orders.

“All the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and instructions issued earlier and referred to will be deemed to have been extended till the validity of this order, or modified otherwise. Any deviation from this order shall attract penal action under the disaster management Act, 2005,” Subrahmanyam, who is also the chairperson of the State Executive Committee, said.

According to the new guidelines, all religious places across the Union Territory, which were closed nearly a week ahead of the nationwide lockdown, would continue to remain closed till further orders.

However, malls, barber shops, salons and parlours have been asked to open in the entire Jammu and Kashmir (subject to an SOP to be issued on Monday), while restaurants will function only for home delivery and take-away and hotels allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity, the order said.

With regard to public and private transport, the order said mini buses and buses can operate at 50 per cent and 67 per cent capacity, respectively in orange and green zones (only on notified routes), while only State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses can operate in red zone.

It said no inter-state and inter-province movement would be allowed except for those having valid passes issued by the competent authorities.

PTI

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday witnessed a massive spike in COVID-19 cases with 620 people testing positive for the infection, taking the tally in the union territory to 4,087, officials said.

The Kashmir Valley reported 583 of the fresh cases, while 37 people tested positive for the disease in Jammu region.

“A total of 620 new positive cases of coronavirus were detected in the union territory on Sunday,” the officials said.

Of the total 4,087 cases in the union territory, 3198 are in Kashmir, while 889 in Jammu region, they added.

J&K has 2,830 active cases 2,146 in Kashmir and 684 in Jammu. A total of 1,216 patients have recovered so far and 41 died due to the disease, they said.

Srinagar: Government on Sunday said that 620 persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, taking the number of covid-19 patients in J&K 4087.

Officials said that among them 583 were reported from Kashmir and 37 from Jammu.

Giving district-wise breakup of the cases, the officials said Anantnag reported 59, Srinagar 87, Kulgam 161, Shopian 24, Baramulla 132,
Kupwara 7, Bandipora 21, Budgam 18, Pulwama 60, Ganderbal 14,
Jammu 22, Udhampur 1, Kathua 2, Poonch 1, Samba 2, Rajouri 4 and Doda 5.

Among the fresh cases, sources said 274 were reported at CD’s diagnostic lab and 58 at SKIMS Soura’s viral diagnostic laboratory.

Sources said that among the cases include 308 cases reported by GNS last night.

Among them 308 cases were reported by GNS last night—253 were confirmed at CD hospital’s diagnostic lab and include 51 pregnant women who are residents of Gund, Wussan, Matrgund, Serch, Kangan, Narayan Bagh in Ganderbal district; Gulabagh, Chanapora, Baghwanpora Lal Bazar in Srinagar; Kreeri, Khawajabagh, Tapper, Putha Kreeri, Matipora Pattan, Vizer in Baramulla, Wazirthal Telail, Budugaam in Bandipora district. (GNS)

PTI

Srinagar: Army has foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Naugam sector of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

On the night of June 3, a patrol team of the Indian Army along the LoC spotted a group of Pakistani terrorists trying to infiltrate into Indian territory, an army spokesperson said.

He said on being challenged, the infiltrators retrieved back under the cover of darkness and inclement weather.

“In a hurry, the infiltrators left behind their rucksacks with winter clothing, batteries and other equipment to be used for their attempted crossing of the fence,” he said.

The spokesperson said repeated attempts of infiltration in north Kashmir continue to be foiled by the alert and watchful Army units based on sound intelligence, thus blunting the nefarious designs of Pakistan to foment trouble in the Valley.

“If we reopen now we will be back into a situation where our only response would be another lockdown,”

Srinagar: With Kashmir valley witnessing surge in number of Covid-19 cases, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said reopening of economic activities in presence of high degree of virus transmission would be risky.

“Reopening of activities while Covid is still circulating widely will accelerate virus transmission in the community which would be disastrous,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.
“If we reopen now we will be back into a situation where our only response would be another lockdown,” he said

Dr Nisar said the purpose of lockdown was to keep people away from coming into contact with each other, therefore curbing the spread of the virus.

“With cases rising thick and fast, reopening would further deteriorate the situation, the effect of which could be worse than what has happened,” he said.

Dr Nisar said the vast majority of people are uninfected making them like dry kindling or a forest floor.
“Sudden relaxation of restrictions will supply new targets for the novel coronavirus,” he said adding “the virus will keep burning until it runs out of fuel.”

Dr Nisar said we understand the anxiety that our people are facing and are acutely aware of the economic and social impact of prolonged closure of various sectors. All of us want to get back to normal as soon as possible and to be able to see our friends and families.

“But, we are not in a situation to open it up because opening prematurely will result in more cases and we will have to shut down again,” he said.
Dr Nisar said next few weeks are crucial. Returning to a situation where we will have no control is far worse than a week or two of social measures.

He said as per reopening criteria there should be minimum 14 days of declining cases before even considering reopening.

“And it would be like driving blind if we reopen activities without setting up strong track and trace system to beat back flare ups of the novel coronavirus,” said Dr Nisar.

The COVID-19 tests of accused persons were conducted on June 6.

PTI

A Kashmiri woman, who was arrested earlier this year for allegedly planning a terror attack in the country during anti-CAA protests here, has tested positive for COVID-19 while in the custody of National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The judge directed the NIA to admit Hina Bashir Begh to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital with immediate effect.

The court sent her husband Jahanzaib Sami and another accused Abdul Basith to judicial custody in the case after the agency did not seek their further remand.

Her lawyer advocate M.S. Khan, meanwhile, filed an application seeking interim bail for two months for her, saying “Delhi is struggling to cope up with the rising number of coronavirus positive cases” and that there is “lack of proper treatment facilities in government hospitals”.

The accused were arrested for allegedly promoting the Islamic State’s ideology and instigating protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the agency had alleged.

The COVID-19 tests of accused persons were conducted on June 6 on the directions of the court, while their 10-day custodial interrogation ended on Sunday.

“The report of COVID-19 test of accused persons namely Jahanzaib Sami and Mohd Abdullah Basith is negative but report of Hina Bashir Begh is found positive,” the NIA informed the court.

In the bail application, which is likely to come up for hearing in the coming days, advocate Khan said, “Delhi is struggling to cope up with the rising number of Corona positive cases that have gone up to 27,000 as of now and due to the lack of proper treatment facilities in government hospitals, which has also been highlighted in the media, the Delhi government has been compelled to issue a list of 56 private hospitals for corona treatment.”

The three accused, allegedly having links with Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), were arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police in March and later sent to judicial custody on March 23.

Basith was already lodged in jail in another case being probed by the NIA when the Delhi Police arrested him in the present matter.

The case was later transferred to the NIA, which lodged a case on March 20 under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 124-A (sedition) and 153-A (provocation for causing riot) of IPC and sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities) and 20 (being member of terrorist gang or organisation) of stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The NIA later approached a special court here seeking the custodial interrogation of three accused, which was allowed for 10 days by the judge on May 20, with a direction to Tihar jail authorities to hand over their custody to NIA “after conducting their COVID-19 test and ensure that its found negative”.

The NIA took their remand on May 29 after the test result had come negative. The custody ended today.

The agency said the accused were actively following the ideology of ISIS and planning for terror strike in India and also recruiting cadres for ISKP.

“In one audio message Abdul Basith said to Jahanzaib to motivate and prepare some guys who may be used for lone wolf attack and kill the people through a truck or lorry by running them over on people,” the Delhi Police had earlier said.

Police said that the trio was in contact with Abu Ushman al Kashmiri, who is the head of Indian affairs of ISKP.

Srinagar: Five militant were killed in a gunfight with government forces in Reben area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday.

Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar (IPS) told GNS that five militants were killed in the operation. However, he said, the identity of the slain militants was yet to be ascertained.

As per the sources top commander is among the five slain militants.

Earlier, according to the reports reaching GNS, a joint team of Police, Army’s 01RR and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Reben.

As the joint team approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the joint team, triggering off an encounter. (GNS)