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  • Man held for raping 15-yr-old girl in UP’s Muzaffarnagar

    PTI

    Muzaffarnagar: Police have arrested one of the three men accused of raping a 15-year-old girl here, an official said on Saturday.

    According to an FIR registered in the case, the accused abducted the minor on Thursday when she had gone out of her house to throw garbage in the village dump yard.

    They allegedly took the girl to a sugarcane field and took turns to rape her, SHO of Bhopa police station Sanjeev Kumar said, adding that one of the three men had also recorded a video of the incident.

    The accused, identified as Gaurav, was arrested on Friday evening, the SHO said.

    Kumar said efforts were underway to nab the other two accused.

  • Hand grenade found by roadside in District Pulwama

    PTI

    Srinagar: Security forces on Saturday found a hand grenade lying by the side of a road in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said.

    Cops found the grenade lying by the roadside near main chowk in Tral area of Pulwama district around 10.30 am, a police official said.

    He said a bomb disposal squad was rushed to the spot and the grenade was destroyed without causing any loss.

  • India Records Biggest Single-day Jump Of Over 57000 Coronavirus Cases, 764 Deaths

    With a record single-day surge of 57,117 infections, India’s COVID-19 caseload neared 17 lakh on Saturday, just three days after it reached the 15-lakh mark, while the number of recoveries rose to 10,94,374, according to Union Health Ministry data.

    The country has so far registered 16,95,988 instances of the coronavirus infection. The death toll increased to 36,511 with 764 fatalities being reported in 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    This is the third consecutive day that COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50,000. The total number of confirmed cases also includes foreigners.

    There are 5,65,103 active COVID-19 cases in the country.

  • Yes Bank takes possession of Anil Ambani’s group HQ in Mumbai for failure to repay dues

    PTI

    Mumbai: Yes Bank has taken over the headquarter of Anil Ambani’s group in surburban Santacruz for failure to repay dues worth Rs 2,892 crore.

    The private sector lender has also taken possession of two flats in South Mumbai for the non-payment of dues by Reliance Infrastructure, according to a notice published by Yes Bank in a newspaper on Wednesday.

    Nearly all the major companies in Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) were operating out of the Santacruz office called ‘Reliance Centre’. However, in the last few years, the fortunes of the group have gone south with the companies meeting various fates, including bankruptcies and stake sales.

    Yes Bank said it had sought to recover dues of Rs 2,892.44 crore from Reliance Infrastructure on May 6 and took possession of the three properties on July 22 after a failure to repay even after 60 days of the notice.

    It cautioned the general public not to deal with the properties, adding that any dealing with the properties will be subject to a charge of Yes Bank for an amount of Rs 2,892 crore.

    Last year, the group was looking to lease out the same headquarters — which admeasures 21,432 square metres as per the Yes Bank notice — in an attempt to raise resources to pay off debts.

    The other two properties are spread over two different floors in South Mumbai’s Nagin Mahal, admeasuring 1,717 sq ft and 4,936 sq ft.

    It can be noted that exposure to ADAG firms is blamed as among the key reasons for the high amount of bad debt piled up by Yes Bank. Due to the high amount of non-performing assets, the lender had to be bailed out by a SBI-led consortium of lenders for Rs 10,000 crore.

    Before the bail-out, the government and the RBI superseded the Yes Bank board in March and installed a new chief executive and board.

    On June 23, Anil Ambani had claimed that R-Infra, which has loans outstanding of Rs 6,000 crore, will be completely debt-free this fiscal year.

    In 2018, the company sold its Mumbai energy business to Adani Transmission for nearly Rs 18,800 crore, which helped reduce the debt to nearly Rs 7,500 crore.

  • Madrasa head in Ramban, booked for ‘hurting’ religious feelings

    PTI

    Banihal: The head of a madrasa in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district was booked on Friday for allegedly hurting religious feelings, officials said.

    The case was registered against Ghulam Rasool in Banihal on the complaint of a religious leader over an advertisement in a newspaper, the officials said.

    Rasool was booked under Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), the officials said.

  • Govt extends suspension of international flights till Aug 31

    PTI

    New Delhi: Aviation regulator DGCA on Friday said the suspension of scheduled international flights to and from the country has been extended till August 31 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    The suspension of scheduled international commercial services was till July 31. In the wake of the pandemic, overseas flights were suspended in late March, while cargo flights and those approved by the DGCA have been permitted to operate.

    In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the government has decided to “extend the suspension on the Scheduled International Commercial Passenger Services to/from India up to 2359 hours IST of 31st August”.

    However, this restriction would not applicable for international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA.

    During the suspension period, more than 2,500 repatriation flights by foreign carriers to uplift stranded passengers to/ from India have been approved, the statement said.

    Under the Vande Bharat Mission, Air India and Air India Express have uplifted 2,67,436 stranded passengers, and other charters have uplifted 4,86,811 stranded passengers during May 6 to July 30 period, it added.

    As part of allowing gradual movement of passenger traffic amid the pandemic situation, ‘Transport Bubble’ agreements have been signed with the US, France, and Germany.

    “Recently, ‘Transport Bubble’ agreement has also been signed with Kuwait to uplift stranded passenger both to/ from India. More similar arrangements are likely to fructify and ease passenger movements from different countries,” the statement said.

    Such bilateral agreements allow operation of flights between the two countries subject to a set of regulations.

    International flight services to and from India remain suspended since March 23 due to the pandemic.

  • Army man killed along LoC in Rajouri

    Rajouri: An Army man was killed on Friday night in a fresh exchange of fire between the armies of India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district.

    Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, Pakistan Army violated ceasefire on Line of Control in Tarkundi, and Balakote areas in Rajouri.

    “An army man who was posted on LoC received multiple splinter injuries and was evacuated to a nearby Army medical center where he succumbed to his injuries,” officials said.

    They added that the slain Army man is a resident of Punjab.

    “The Army has also retaliated effectively to unprovoked fire from Pakistan,” officials said—(KNO)

  • Kashmiri children to miss Eid gifts, Eidi this festival; Courtesy: Covid pandemic

    Srinagar: Nine year-old Aamir Shafiq couldn’t believe that this Eid-ul-Adha he cannot go out to enjoy the perks of Eidi (a gift or pocket-money usually given to children) with his little friends to buy his favorite gun-toy and other play-toys.

    Two days before the holy Muslim festival, the parents of Aamir enlightened him about the ongoing situation due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    It was an upsetting fact for Aamir when he was asked to refrain from the usual activities on Eid-ul-Adha, which will be celebrated on August 01.

    “I used to purchase gun-toys, balloons and a number of fire-crackers to enjoy with my neighboring friends, however, this Eid, my Mom asked me to refrain from the usual activities,” he told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

    Aamir said that he has never celebrated Eid-ul-Adha at home but this year, he cannot enjoy the festival with his little buddies.

    Aamir’s father, Shafiq Ahmad while narrating the ordeals of the ongoing situation said that on the eve of Eid, he usually along with his two kids and wife used to purchase new clothes, baked cookies and sweets and on the day of Eid, “I used to take my children to parks and other gift shops,” he said.

    The pandemic has not only victimized Aamir but almost all the children across the globe that usually used to enjoy and celebrate the festival in different ways.

    Another 10-year-old kid, Farhaan says that the grim situation of Eid-ul-Adha is not that different from Eid-ul-Fitr, however, it was not that deserted as it appears it would be this time.

    “I really don’t know as to how I will celebrate the Eid by staying indoors but the way I am being explained about the grim situation of COVID-19; I can imagine the deserted parks and closed shops and ultimately no-fun on this day,” Farhaan said.

    “In the morning, I used to visit friends at their home and offer Eid greetings to his family too. Then my friend and I used to purchase toys and play in our backyard till evening, we used to go to the park on my friends bicycle,” he said.

    Farhaan in a low tone said that he is not sure as to whether he can enjoy that much at home this time or not.

    On Eid-ul-Fitr, people amid pandemic preferred to offer the Eid prayers at home, either individually or in small groups comprising family members.

    The kids say that they will miss the usual practice of waking-up early and rushing to the Masjids to offer the congregation prayers.

    “There was a time when I couldn’t sleep whole night in the joy of waiting for Eid, but this year, I feel like I am being caged somewhere in a jail. I miss the excitement and the joy which I used to have earlier before the Pandemic,” he said—(KNO)

  • Mehbooba’s detention extended by 3 months

    Srinagar: The detention of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti was on Friday extended by three more months.

    Mehbooba Mufti was charged under the draconian Public Safety Act along with former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah. However, the father and son have been released, Mehbooba continues to be under detention.

    Principal Secretary Home J&K Friday issued an order, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), reads, “Whereas District Magistrate, Srinagar in exercise of powers conferred u/s 8 (1) (a) (I) of the and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 19/8. vide order No. DM-WS:VI-1112020 dated 05-02-2020 read with coingendum Issued vide endorsement No. DMSPSA/920-24/2020 and 2836-2841 dated 06-02-2020. ordered the detention of Mehbooba Mufti daughter of late Mufti Mohd Sayed R/o Bijbehera A.P Nowgam, Srinagar with a view to prevent her from acing in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of Public Order and directed her lodgment in Subsidiary Jail DMQ.6 Transport Yard. M.A.Road. Srinagar.”

    “Whereas the aforesaid order of District Magistrate Srinagar came to be executed on 06-02-2020. Whereas. the Government. vide order No HOME. PB-V 1 372 of 2020 dated 14-02-2020, approved the above order of District Magistrate Srinagar, and Whereas on receipt of opinion from the advisory Board, the Government vide order No HOME PB-V 1543 M 2020 dated: 26-02-2020, conferred the above order of District Magistrate.

    Srinagar and directed the detenue be detained to the period of three months in the first instance. Whereas in exercise of powers conferred by section 10 of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, the detenue was ordered to be shifted/moved from Subsidiary Jail. DMO-6 Transport Yard MA Road Srinagar to Subsidiary Jail Fairview Gupkar Road Srinagar vide Government order No Home,PB-V-913 00 2020 dated 27-04-2020,” it reads.

    “Whereas on the reports from field formations the detention period of the detenue was further extended for three months of 05-05-2020. Whereas the period of detention of the detenue is scheduled to expire on 05.08 2020.”

    “Whereas the law enforcement agencies have recommended further extension in the period of detention and on examination the same is considered to be necessary. The Government hereby directs that the period of detention of Mehbooba Mufti be extended for a period of three months and she may be lodged in subsidiary jail Fairview Gupkar road Srinagar,” the order reads.(KINS)

  • Anjuamn Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar greets people on Eid-ul-Adha

    Stresses on adhering to SOPs during Qurbani

    Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who is under house arrest for the last one year, has greeted the Millat-e-Islamia in general and the Muslims in Jammu & Kashmir in particular on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, and urged those performing Qurbani to adhere to SOPs and other precautionary measures while following the Sunnat-e-Ibraheem (AS).

    In a statement, the Anjuman said, “Owing to coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and lockdown therein, like Eid-ul-Fitr, large religious gatherings are not possible on the Eid-ul-Adha too; however, those intending to follow the Sunnat-e-Ibraheem (AS) by sacrificing animal(s) must strictly adhere to all precautionary measures, SOPs and cleanliness.”

    The Anjuman said that the Sunnat-e-Khaleeli (AS) teaches us the lesson of selflessness and sacrifice. “Given the prevailing unfortunate situation of the nation and Covid-19, the situation demands that we must celebrate the festival with austerity,” it said.

    The Anjuman has also stressed upon the affluent people to take care of the much needy and destitute in their vicinity so that they also join the Eid celebrations. It also urged people to continue praying for refuge from the deadly virus and completely follow health advisories to save themselves their families and the society from the havoc the present outbreak has wreaked upon humanity.