Category: Union Territory

Shopain, 7 June: An encounter between militants and the security forces broke out in Reben area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Further Details Awaited

PTI

Srinagar: A youth was shot dead by militants in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

Civilian Ishfaq Ahmad Najar (25) was attacked by the militants at his residence in Adipora in Bomai area of north Kashmir at around 9:30 PM, a police official said.

He said Najar was injured when the militants opened fire at him. He was rushed to a hospital, but was declared brought dead by the doctors there.

Police have registered a case and a manhunt has been launched to nab the assailants, the official said.

PTI

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday recorded 143 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections to 3,467, officials said.

They said while 100 of these cases were reported from the Kashmir region, 43 were from Jammu.

“143 new positive cases of coronavirus were detected in the union territory on Saturday,” one of them said.

The officials said the total number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir has now reached 3,467 — 2,615 in Kashmir region, 852 in Jammu.

They said there are 2,302 active cases in the union territory — 1,646 in Kashmir and 656 in Jammu.

A total of 1,126 patients have recovered, they said.

The UT has witnessed 39 COVID-19 related deaths.

PTI

Leh: Two more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Ladakh taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory to 99, Health department officials said on Saturday.

A senior Congress leader had died due to the virus while 50 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the officials added.

The officials said two people from Kargil district tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of active cases in Ladakh to 48.

While 40 active cases are undergoing treatment in Kargil, the remaining eight are admitted in a COVID-19 hospital in Leh, they said, adding the condition of all the 48 patients is stable.

They said the new patients were shifted to a COVID-19 hospital in Kargil and efforts are on to identify their contacts.

Out of the 50 patients cured of the disease, the officials said two of them were discharged from Mahabodhi COVID-19 hospital in Leh on Saturday morning after their negative sample reports were received by the department on Friday night.

PTI

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday approved setting up of Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities (UMTAs) for better management and regulation of vehicular traffic in Jammu and Srinagar, an official spokesperson said.

The approval was given at a meeting of the administrative council which met here under the chairmanship of Lt Governor G C Murmu, he said.

“The decision is aimed at developing an advanced, well planned and better coordinated transport system in the capital cities by overcoming the dissonance arising from multiplicity of existing agencies with their separate and at times conflicting policies under the guidance of National Urban Transport Policy, 2006,” the spokesperson said.

Once functional, the UMTA would secure the development of an integrated, efficient, modern, multi-modal mobility system including non-motorized transport.

“UMTA is also envisioned to aid policy formulation and regulation for undertaking integrated and holistic planning for transport services with associated infrastructure by focusing on coordination across different organisations, agencies and management of common facilities,” he said.

The spokesperson said the sanctioned bodies will be headed by the chief secretary with administrative secretaries and officers of the key departments or authorities impinging on transport and mobility, nominees of agencies of central government and independent experts as members.

These new bodies will function as a part of respective Metropolitan Region Development Authorities created under the J&K Metropolitan Region Development Authorities Act, 2018, he said.

Indian and Chinese officers meet at Moldo border personnel meeting point, opposite Chushul in eastern Ladakh.

India and China held crucial talks between senior military commanders on Saturday in an effort to ease the tension along the border.

Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh, Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, led the Indian delegation to the Chinese border personnel meeting point at Moldo, opposite Chushul in eastern Ladakh. The Chinese side was represented by Maj. Gen. Liu Lin, Commander of the South Xinjiang military region.

Sources said the difference in ranks did not denote a difference in seniority, and it was because of China’s military structure being different from India’s. The talks were scheduled to begin early but were delayed and started around 11.30 a.m. and went on for several hours, sources said.

No breakthrough

While the outcome was not known, the talks were not believed to lead to any major breakthrough but only set the stage for further talks.

India’s major demand is the restoration of status quo before May, as beginning early May Chinese troops moved in large numbers into Indian territory at Pangong Tso, Galwan and Gogra in eastern Ladakh, and de-induction of troops by China.

Another concern is Chinese build-up at Finger 4 of Pangong Tso up to where India has always held territory, while it claims areas as far as Finger 8. In addition, China moved armour and artillery close to the Line of Actual Control on its side, a measure which is against the boundary agreements.

As a procedure, at the end of the talks, the two sides finalise the minutes of the meeting. Once the delegation returns, the Corps Commander would give an update to the Northern Army Commander and the Army chief, sources explained.

Before the talks began, the Army issued an advisory to the media that both sides remained engaged through established military and diplomatic channels “to address the current situation in the India-China border areas” and speculation would not be helpful. “At this stage, therefore, any speculative and unsubstantiated reporting about these engagements would not be helpful and the media is advised to refrain from such reporting,” it said.

Since the tension began, both Armies have held dialogues at various levels, including three meetings at the level of Major-General. Military experts had already stated that the military talks would not lead to a solution but would set the ground for diplomatic talks to end the impasse.

On Friday, Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia), Ministry of External Affairs, held a video-conference with Wu Jianghao, Director-General of the Asia Department at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China said both sides agreed to “implement the consensus that two countries do not constitute a threat to each other” and “do not let differences rise into disputes”.

Separately, in the midst of the tension, China has appointed a new commander to oversee the People’s Liberation Army’s Ground Forces along the India border. On June 1, it was announced that Lt. Gen. Xu Qiling was appointed as the new commander of the PLA Western Theater Command Ground Force. He will report to General Zhao Zongqi, commander of China’s Western Theater Command.

With inputs from The Hindu

The Srinagar NIT scholars shared memes making light of the fact that Eid coincided in J&K and Pakistan. But a fellow student found them ‘anti-national’ & filed a complaint.

Srinagar: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar has formed an internal committee to look into a complaint against 14 Kashmiri research scholars who have been accused of posting “anti-national” memes on an official WhatsApp group for the institute’s researchers.

The institute, it is learnt, has also decided to halt the fellowships of the scholars, even though the university officially denies it has taken any such action.

The incident centres on certain WhatsApp messages regarding Eid-ul-Fitr, which was celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir on 24 May, the same day as Pakistan and some other countries, and the rest of India on 25 May.

The date for Eid-ul-Fitr varies with the sighting of the new moon by local religious authorities. As the new moon this year was sighted in Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir on 23 May, they celebrated Eid the next day.

According to the complaint, accessed by ThePrint, the research scholars, besides exchanging ‘Eid Mubarak’ messages in the official WhatsApp group, also shared memes poking fun at the fact that J&K was celebrating Eid with Pakistan instead of India.

Some NIT scholars said the memes were meant to be jokes. They said the memes were shared after residents of Jammu & Kashmir were vilified on social media once it emerged that Eid date in the union territory would coincide with that in Pakistan, which claims Kashmir to be its own territory. They also called the administration’s response outsized compared to the nature of the episode.

“When to celebrate Eid depends on the moon sighting, so why should anyone object to that and, second, some memes were shared among friends and colleagues as a funny gesture. Does it warrant such a response?” an NIT scholar asked.

Memes kick up row 

The memes in question include a famous scene from Sanjay Dutt-starrer Hindi film Munnabhai MBBS, depicting protagonist Munnabhai’s close companion Circuit as saying, “Bhai ne bola karne ka matlab karne ka (Bhai has said you ought to do it, so you must).” 

In the movie, the dialogue seeks to represent Circuit’s efforts to execute all of Munnabhai’s instructions. In the meme, it was supposed to make light of criticism about the Eid date coinciding in J&K and Pakistan, NIT scholars said. 

The screenshots sent by the complainant also include a popular meme that invokes a common joke among Muslims regarding the belief that “shaitan” or the devil remains chained during the month of Ramzan. The belief is meant to convey that sins ebb during the holy period.

The meme shows a man dressed in orange pyjamas sleeping on his bed, beside a new set of clothes and shoes.

While the original meme was meant to make fun of the fact that several people were excitedly waiting for the Covid-19 lockdown to end, the Kashmiri version gives it a twist.

The meme shared on the group sought to depict the man in the photo as the devil waiting for Ramzan to end so he can go out.

Another meme cited by the complainant included a still from the popular Turkish series Dirilis Ertugrul, with a caption underneath saying “Eid Mubarak”. It wasn’t immediately clear why this meme was found offensive.

In his email to the NIT authorities as well as the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Home Affairs, the complainant has interpreted the meme as an attack on a particular religion because the man is wearing orange pyjamas. The colour saffron is often associated with Hinduism.

The complainant has sought suspension of the research scholars and also demanded that their scholarships be stopped and an inquiry be initiated against them.

An internal communication of NIT dated 25 May suggests that the dean of academic affairs, Kowsar Majid, on the direction of director Rakesh Sehgal, subsequently called for the 14 research scholars’ fellowships to be halted. However, the premier engineering institute told ThePrint that they had let the students off with counselling.

NIT registrar Professor S.K. Bukhari said the management had not taken any action yet but had advised and counselled the students to use the official WhatsApp group for academic purposes and not share posts others might find objectionable.

“It is not a major issue. Some scholars posted material found objectionable by an individual. We haven’t taken any action yet but we have advised and counselled all the students to be respectful to each other’s sentiments,” Bukhari told ThePrint Tuesday.

However, the scholars said the NIT’s decision to take action against them was a “disturbing development”.

“It is disturbing to see the management take the exact decisions recommended by the complainant, who is himself a student. To stop our stipends based on sharing of memes is beyond humiliating,” said a second NIT scholar.

“We are in this institute because we have qualified competitive exams, no one did a favour to us by admitting us here. Our work not only helps our careers but also helps the institute build its name. The scholars here have chosen research because they have a passion for it despite being paid low stipends. And today we are being told that your ‘hefty’ stipends have been stopped. We are not beggars,” said the scholar.

With inputs from ThePrint

DC visits spot assures strict action against culprits, Police registers case, probe on

Srinagar: Miscreants made an unsuccessful bid to torch a shrine at Chattabal area of Srinagar late-night yesterday by hurling a petrol bomb that exploded on a parked two-wheeler.

Police sources said that at around 1 O’clock, miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at Babul Hawaij (Ra) shrine at Chattabal. “The petrol bomb however, landed on a two wheeler parked on a road side causing damage to it,” they told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

Soon after the incident, police officials and the officers from the administration visited the spot to take stock of the situation. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary also visited the spot and ordered a probe into the incident besides condemning the act in strong words.

Police have registered case under sections 78/20 under section/447, 427, 295, 436, 511 of IPC in police station Safa Kadal.

Meanwhile, president of Itehadul Muslimeen Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari strongly condemned the attack on the shrine stating that shrine is revered as it houses a copy of holy Quran written by the great grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Hazrat Moosa Kazim (As). In a statement issued here, Masroor Abbas Ansari said that some elements wan to trigger a communal frenzy by resorting such acts for their personal gains.

“It is clear that some elements are out to divide people on sectarian lines and we must remain vigilant to defeat these vested interests. We urge the administration to take strict action against those who are behind the act,” Ansari said—(KNO)

Srinagar: The Srinagar district administration reached out to and held interactive sessions with religious heads and heads of places of worship in various Tehsils across the district. Hundreds of clerics and heads of religious institutions participated.

The aim of the interactive sessions to urge these heads to be messengers and sensitize the masses about the critical need to follow precautions to prevent spread and contraction of COVID-19.

The sessions were held in Tehsils Khanyar and North Srinagar witnessing considerable participation therein. Religious heads of all places of worship belonging to all different faiths attended the sessions and took part in interactions and deliberations held on the occasion.

In Khanyar Tehsil Deputy Commissioner Srinagar chaired the interactive session in which besides religious heads of places of worship from the across the Tehsil civil society members and other respectable citizens were also present as participants.

Speaking on the occasion the DC said that COVID-19 is now a part of life at least till a vaccine becomes available and since lockdown and restrictions cannot be enforced forever following all precautions as due gains crucial significance.

He urged all religious and other heads to assist the administration in efforts to sensitise the masses about the dangers of taking the novel coronavirus for granted and the critical need to follow all precautions and guidelines to prevent its spread and contraction.

Referring to religious heads of mosques, gurdwaras, temples and churches who were present on the occasion Dr Shahid said people listen to them and believe in their words and messages and urged them to use their influence in spreading awareness and encouraging a culture of preventions.

Experts from Department of Preventive Medicine dwelled on precautions to be adopted by the public including mandatory use of mask, social distancing, hygiene and observing SOPs.

Tehsildar North and other senior officers organiser the interactive session at Hazratbal. Significant participation of religious and other heads as well as respectable members of civil societies were witnessed in each Tehsil.

During these sessions the importance of social distancing, using of face masks, washing of hands with soap, avoiding crowd and social gatherings among other guidelines were emphasises. The participants were urged to propagate these messages and help the administration in its efforts to contain spread of COVID-19 disease.

In each of these interactive sessions held across the district suggestions and feedback were also sought from participants and representatives and heads of mohallas. These suggestions and feedback were noted for incorporation in guidelines and improvements in services and efforts put in place on the ground.

The administration shared its future plans and strategies with participants in each interactive session and urged all citizens to support it in its sincere efforts. The participants in all these interactive sessions assured the administration of their full support and assistance to reach out to masses and spread the message of precautions and guidelines.

The district wise initiative to elicit greater involvement of clerics and heads of religious institutions for public awareness on precautions will cover more than 2000 mosques , madarsas, temples , Gurudwara, church and all places of worship. Printed material about precautions Wareness is also being distributed.

Srinagar: Amid continuous lockdown across Jammu and Kashmir, the government on Saturday said that fresh guidelines is being formulated and will be issued on June 08.

Talking exclusively to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, P K Pole said that the future course has not been decided yet, but a new guideline is being framed.

He said that the guidelines will be made public on June 08, when the ongoing phase of lockdown will come to an end in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The fresh guidelines will be compiled till Monday following which it will be made public,” he said.

About Amarnath Yatra, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir said the government said that the final call in this regard has to be taken by the Shrine Board. “The shrine board will have to take a final call regarding the Amarnath Yatra keeping in view of the prevalent situation due to COVID outbreak,” he said—(KNO)