Category: Union Territory

In what appears to be a multi-front deliberate ploy by China to keep India on its toes the Indian Air Force was forced to rush its fighter jet patrols in Ladakh after Chinese military choppers were found to be flying close to the Line of Actual Control.

PTI

Chinese helicopters spotted flying close to undemarcated border between India and China in Eastern Ladakh after around 250 soldiers of both sides were engaged in fierce face-off near Pangong lake in the area last week: Official Sources

After the scuffle between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops and Indian troops along the LAC in North Sikkim which led to injuries on both sides, China appears to be continuing on the path of belligerence towards India, this time along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

In what appears to be a multi-front deliberate ploy by China to keep India on its toes, the Indian Air Force was forced to rush its fighter jet patrols in Ladakh after Chinese military choppers were found to be flying close to the Line of Actual Control. This incident happened last week, around the same time the PLA troops and Indian army forces came to blows in the upper reaches of North Sikkim.

“The Chinese military helicopters were flying very close to the Line of Actual Control. After their movement was picked up, the Indian Air Force fighter jets flew patrols in the area,” government sources told ANI here.

Government sources who requested anonymity due to knowledge of frontline operations, informed that the Chinese choppers did not cross the LAC into Indian territory in that particular area, they said.

The Indian Air Force frequently flies its Sukhoi 30MKI fighter aircraft fleet from Leh air base in Ladakh along with other planes.

This latest development comes soon after the Indian security establishment noticed that Pakistani Air Force increased its patrols of F-16S and JF-17s along its Eastern Border with India, especially night sorties, after the Handwara terror attack that led to the death of 5 Indian security personnel. A fear of retaliation by Indian forces was cited as the reason by Indian security establishment sources for this ramping up of PAF air patrols.

The Indian Air Force has two main bases in the Ladakh union territory including the Leh and the Thoise airbase where fighter jets are not deployed permanently but detachments from combat aircraft squadrons are operational throughout the year.There have been several occasions in the past when Chinese military helicopters have entered Indian airspace in the Ladakh sector and deliberately left behind tell-tale signs to stake claim on areas which are part of India. The LAC in this location, like in other parts of the India-China border in the country, is poorly demarcated, hence incursions sometimes are inadvertent as well.

However, the scuffle with Indian troops in North Sikkim was a new front opened up by China which was a cause for concern. Ever since the outbreak of Covid-19, Chinese President Xi Jinping is under immense pressure to increase transparency in his country and reveal the real origin of the virus, which some have speculated emanated from a lab in China’s Wuhan. Trade wars with countries like USA and Australia have intensified and most multi-national companies have actively begun looking for manufacturing alternative,India being one such preferred destination.

Security sources speculated that this could be the reason behind China’s new aggression. Similar muscle flexing was also seen recently when PLA Navy boats entered into disputed waters in the South China Sea.

With inputs from Asian News International

Srinagar: Deans of different faculties at Kashmir University have expressed strong resentment over the appointment of
Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo of Department of Earth Sciences University of Kashmir as new Dean Research of the Varsity.

Sources told KNT that a meeting of Deans Committee was held under the Chairmanship of Prof Akbar Masood in which deans of different faculties alleged that incumbent Vice Chancellor flouted all the rules and made this appointment on personal basis.

Sources added that during the meeting some of the deans while questioning the appointment of Prof Shakil Romshoo said that how come this appointment has taken and why the senior most professors were bypassed.

Sources said that senior most professors like Prof. Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Prof. Farooq Masoodi, Prof. Mehmood Ahmed Khan, Prof. Khursheed Ahmed Bhat who have served at various important positions and have contributed immensely towards the corporate life of the university have been ignored deliberately. It is also learnt that the senior professors may take up the matter with the Chancellor of the University.

“The Vice Chancellor flouted all the rules. Seniority mattered the most in this regard. The convention is that a senior most professor is appointed as Dean Research and when seniority is not taken account, the post was simply advertised and professors were interviewed by a selection committee. But this time, all the rules were flouted and nobody was taken into confidence before making such an important appointment,” said a couple of Professors to KNT on condition of anonymity.

They alleged that Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmed made this appointment because the duo has some project interests. “Both are running some joint projects. In order to defend and protect the interests, VC appointed its own man,” they said.

Pertinently, as per an order issued by the University, Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo Department of Earth Sciences has been nominated by vice chancellor to function as Dean Research for a period of three years from May 13, 2020.

Professor Romshoo has research interests including in Hydrology, Glaciology, Geoinformatics and Climate Change. (KNT)

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary on Tuesday said if Covid-19 caseloads will show decline in numbers, restriction will also be eased accordingly in red zone areas in coming days. He said there would have 40 percent avoidable cases in the district if people had cooperated timely with authorities.

Talking to KNS, DC Srinagar said that administration is mulling to ease restrictions in red zone areas of Srinagar if Covid-19 caseloads will show decline in coming days. “If number’s will lessen in coming days, obviously restrictions will be eased in red zone areas of Srinagar district”, DC Shahid Chowdhary said.

He said administration, in some areas, had allowed groceries shops to function in a limited period of time and suppliers as well have also given permission to deliver goods but if there will be a decline in Covid-19 cases in coming days; obviously more relaxations will be given in red zone areas.

DC said we have 27 red zone areas in Srinagar where more relaxations for the benefit of residents will be allowed if Covid-19 caseloads will show a decline in coming days.

He clarified that restrictions are enforced for containment of transmission of virus and safety of community so people should act upon in letter and spirit without putting obstacles on its execution.

DC added there would have 40 per cent avoidable cases in Srinagar if people had cooperated timely with authorities but unfortunately people kept their travel and contact history into hide which triggered a hike in numbers. KNS

“By dint of his hard work, GNS in a short time became a household name in Kashmir valley,”

Srinagar: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Tuesday condoled the sad demise of Tanveer-ul-Ahad, editor-in-chief of Global News Service (GNS) and owner of Kashmir glory newspaper who breathed his last yesterday at SMHS hospital after a brief illness.

He was 35. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Saddened over the death, DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and expressed heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.

Paying rich tributes to the deceased, Dr Nisar said his death is a great loss to the media fraternity and has resulted in an unbridgeable void in the field of journalism.

“Born in village Muqami Shahwali of Drugmulla area in district Kupwara, Tanveer was a man of impeccable integrity,” he said.

“By dint of his hard work, GNS in a short time became a household name in Kashmir valley,” he said.

Dr Nisar said he was a fearless and uncompromising journalist who spoke truth to power. He was always respected and revered for his brave journalism and for him, the newspaper was a conduit for speaking truth.

“His contributions in the field of journalism will be remembered for a long time to come,” he said.

Calling the death as an irreparable loss, Dr Nisar said we have lost a gem of a person in the demise of Tanveer-ul- Ahad.

“He had maintained a good and brotherly relation with all his media colleagues and was known for his generosity, kindness, compassion and empathy,” he said.

“Media has lost an asset, but I have lost a dear friend,” said Dr Nisar.

‘More positive cases may surface if locals are tested’

Srinagar: Two consecutive deaths due to Covid-19 infection have created panic in Srinagar locality. People are scared and want aggressive testing in the area.

Father-son duo of Kralpora Hawal locality of Srinagar died within a span of week. A 34 year old man died of Covid-19 infection at SMHS Hospital last week while his father died too of this lethal infection at CD Hospital Srinagar yesterday.

A 70 year old man Muhammad Maqbool Joo was admitted at Super Specialty Hospital at Shireen Bagh. According to his doctors his attendant son got infected in the hospital after coming in contact with a couple of other attendants.

He died within less than 24 hours after being admitted in the hospital. His ailing father was shortly shifted to CD Hospital where before his death he was declared positive for Covid-19 infection.

These two deaths have created panic among the locals in the locality. At least 18 family members of the victim family were quarantined in a hotel. Locals said that all the family members were not tested even after the expiry of 8 days. “We are dumbfound and don’t know what to do. The young man in the locality died on Wednesday last week while the samples of his family members were collected only yesterday and that too after we protested and requested authorities to do so,” a local told KNT.

“The family has lost two members due to Covid-19 infection and yet the members of family were tested after the expiry of a week. After using our good books and registering protest, authorities agreed to take samples of the family members. This is ridiculous. How can you ignore the family members of a deceased Covid-19 patient and don’t bother to test them for the infection,” said the locals.

The area has already been declared red-zone. Locals are scared of coming out from their houses. There is pin drop silence in the locality. Neighbours don’t visit a neighbor.

“The deceased father-son duo had returned from New Delhi in February this year, when Coronavirus threat was little known. They spend time in New Delhi where Muhammad Maqbool Joo, a cancer patient was admitted in a hospital. Everyone in the locality is scared and wants to get tested. We are quite sure that more positive cases may surface from the locality, if people are tested for this lethal infection,” they told KNT.

Srinagar: Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers committed suicide by pumping bullets into their bodies with their service rifles in Kashmir Valley.

One incident occurred in Srinagar while another in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Sub-Inspector GD Fateh Singh (851290185) S/o Eidan Singh of Rajisthan Battalion of CRPF shot himself with his Insas weapon at Akrun Mattan area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, said an official to KNT.

The official added that in a separate incident an Assistant Sub-Inspector of CRPF Bangali Babu (921110873) aged about 47 Years of Madhya Pradesh of F/49 Battalion located at Neelam Cinema Karan Nagar also shots self to death.

He said the officer was shifted to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police have registered a case and set investigation into motion. (KNT)

Complete Ban On Internet To Continue In Pulwama, Shopian For Now

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday extended ban on high-speed internet till May 27 even as 2G service shall remain suspended in Pulwama and Shopian district for now.

Among others, the government has cited use of high speed mobile internet for coordinating acts of militancy, both within and from across the border.

“Over the past two weeks, there has been a sharp increase in (militancy) related incidents, ranging from isolated attacks on civilians, hurling of grenades in public places, indiscriminate firing and attacks on the security forces’ personnel deployed on Naka duties to enforce restrictions to contain COVID-19,” it said, adding, “(There has been) Increased presence of (militants) in the thickly populated areas and engagements with Security Forces leading to killing of (militants and recovery of arms and ammunition,” reads an order issued by the Home department.

The government said it has been reported that there have been concerted efforts by the “Pak handlers to cause incitement among the general public, particularly youth, through circulation of varied nature of “propaganda audios, videos and photographs, while continuing with attempts to spread misinformation and fake news. Despite serious concerns related to spread of COVID-19, there have even been instances of stone pelting at militant encounter sites.”

The government said that there are reports, indicating that high speed mobile internet is likely to be used for coordinating acts of militantcy- both within and from across the border; and In view of killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo and other militants in Pulwama district on May 6, the authorities said that they were “compelled to snap down mobile cellular services i.e. voice/sms as well as internet services, across the Kashmir valley to ensure maintenance of public order.”

“There are credible inputs from intelligence agencies that (militants) may make desperate attempts to avenge the reverses in the recent past,” the order issued by Principal Secretary Home said.

On examining the reports of the field agencies and the prevailing security situation, the government said that there was apparent necessity to take suitable steps to prevent misuse of internet for incitement and propagation of militant activities.

“Given the availability of fixed line internet connectivity without any speed related restrictions and taking cognizance of the fact that mobile internet connectivity at 2G speed does not cause any impediment in taking measures concerning control of COVID -19, it is considered appropriate that while the mobile internet is restored in the Kashmir Valley excluding Pulwama and the adjoining district of Shopian, it is restricted to 2G speed,” it said, as per Global News Service.

The government said that the internet speed shall remain restricted to 2G only across the J&K excluding Pulwama and Shopian. The IsGP, Kashmir and Jammu have been asked to ensure communication of these directions to the service providers with immediate effect and ensure their implementation in letter and spirit.

“(These) directions shall be effective from 12.05.2020 and remain in force till 27.05.2020, unless modified earlier,” the order added. (GNS)

Majority say restoration a “mockery, even G-mail not opening properly”

Srinagar: The restoration of 2-G internet services in parts of Kashmir late yesterday evening by the authorities after a gap of five days, has brought a little hope and smile on the faces of students in the Valley of unease with majority of them saying that “the internet has a very low speed as they were not even able to access Gmail properly.”

The students, who are relying on online classes to pursue their studies in Kashmir amid lockdown in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, claimed that the restoration of 2-G seems to be a big joke as they are not even able to access their email accounts.

The authorities in Kashmir restored 2-G internet services across Kashmir barring two districts of southern Kashmir—Pulwama and Shopian. The authorities had snapped mobile phone services including voice calling, text messages and internet services on all platforms in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Operation Commander for Kashmir Reyaz Naikoo on Wednesday.

Even though voice calling was restored partially, the authorities on late night yesterday restored 2-G services on all platforms. In southern Pulwama and Shopian districts, only voice calling was restored while as mobile internet continued to remain suspended there.

The student community while expressed their deep anguish over the slow speed of 2-G services said as they tried to access Gmail accounts, it took them 20 minutes to see their emails as internet speed was too low. “We are not even able to attend our online classes as internet speed is very low. Online classes buffer after every second. This internet irritates a lot,” Asim Shabir, a student of Class 8 at Delhi Public School (DPS) Srinagar told news agency KINS.

Sumaiya Qureshi, another student preparing for NEET, said that earlier at least 2-G services would help open web pages and listen to the youtube lessons without very less buffering but since yesterday evening, “we are not even able to access our mails while youtube is not opening at all.”

She said that whenever she tries to participate in online lessons or lectures, a message flashed on her scree, “Check your internet connection.” Her friend, Tabasum Jan, alleged that, “authorities were playing with the career of students. We fail to understand when no law and order situation took place anywhere in Kashmir, internet was shut for five days. These five days mean a lot for us. Authorities are not bothered about our future. Now restoring 2-G which is not even 1-G, is another mockery they are making in the name of restoring internet services.”

It may be recalled that 4-G internet services were snapped on August 4 last year across J&K and continue to remain suspended till date. On Monday, Supreme Court directed a penal led by MHA secretary to study the pleas seeking restoration of 4-Services. Security grid in Kashmir have been opposing the restoration of high speed internet services in the Valley citing its “misuse from across LoC as a major reason.” (KINS)

Srinagar: Deputy commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhury on Monday evening said FIR has been registered against a group of four including a Doctor and a houseboat owner for skipping qurantine after arrival from Delhi.

According to news agency KINS DC Srinagar in a tweet said, “four persons including a doctor, houseboat owner giving slip to screening staff at TRC on arrival from Delhi.The group skipped qurantine later one among them tested positive”.

He further said FIR has been registered for violation of SOP.(KINS)

Srinagar: The administration has decided to restore the mobile internet services by 10:00 PM this evening, top official said on Monday.

A top official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the mobile internet services will be restored by 10:00 PM in the evening.

The services were suspended on last Wednesday following apprehensions about law and order in wake of the encounter between forces and militants in which a top Hizb Commander Riyaz Naikoo was killed at Beigh Pora area of Awantipora.

He said that to suspend the services were mandatory to maintain law and order – (KNO)