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  • India refutes “China’s untenable claim with regard to Line of Actual Control”

    Srinagar: India has said that attempts by the Chinese side to now advance exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to Line of Actual Control are not acceptable.

    It also said that the position with regard to the Galwan Valley area has been historically clear.
    According to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) in response to queries on the statement issued by the Chinese Spokesperson on the events in the Galwan valley area, External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Anurag Srivastava said such claims are not in accordance with China’s own position in the past.

    He said, “Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the LAC in all sectors of the India-China border areas, including in the Galwan Valley”.

    They abide by it scrupulously and the Indian side has never undertaken any actions across the LAC. “In fact, they have been patrolling this area for a long time without any incident”. “All infrastructure built by the Indian side is naturally on its own side of the LAC”.

    The Spokesman said that since early May this year, the Chinese side has been hindering India’s normal, traditional patrolling pattern in this area.
    “This had resulted in a face-off which was addressed by the ground commanders as per the provisions of the bilateral agreements and protocols”.

    The Spokesman said, the two sides are in regular touch and early meetings of military and diplomatic mechanisms are currently being discussed. (KINS)

  • Yoga has emerged as force for unity, does not discriminate: Modi

    PTI

    New Delhi: Yoga has emerged as a force for unity and it does not discriminate as it goes beyond race, colour, gender, faith and nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

    In his message on the sixth International Day of Yoga, he said due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world is feeling the need for Yoga more than ever.

    If our immunity is strong, it is of great help in defeating this disease. For boosting immunity, there are several techniques in Yoga, various asanas’ are there, he said.

    COVID-19 specifically attacks our respiratory system which gets strengthened on doing ‘Pranayama’ or breathing exercise, Modi said.

    Yoga enhances our quest for a healthier planet. It has emerged as a force for unity and deepens the bonds of humanity. It does not discriminate. It goes beyond race, colour, gender, faith and nations. Anybody can embrace Yoga, the prime minister said.

    If we can fine-tune our chords of health and hope, the day is not far away when the world will witness the success of a healthy and happy humanity. Yoga can definitely help us make this happen, he said in his message telecast this morning.

    Doing work and performing duties properly is also Yoga, he said.

    With the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic looming large, International Day of Yoga is being marked on digital media platforms sans mass gatherings.

    This year’s theme is ‘Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family’.

    On December 11, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly had declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga’, months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed the idea.

  • Pakistan Opens Fire and Lobs Mortars at Forward Areas along LoC in Poonch and Kathua districts of J-K

    A police official said the cross-border firing between the two sides triggered panic among border residents.

    PTI

    Pakistani troops on Sunday opened fire and lobbed mortars at forward posts and villages along the Line of Control and International Border in Poonch and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

    There was no report of any casualty or damage on the Indian side, the officials said.

    “At about 6:15 am, Pakistan initiated the unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelled mortars along LoC in Balakote sector of Poonch district. Indian Army is retaliating befittingly,” a defence spokesman said.

    A police official said the cross-border firing between the two sides triggered panic among border residents.

    The Pakistani Rangers also fired on forward posts and villages in Karol Matrai area along the IB in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, drawing strong retaliation from the Border Security Force (BSF), he said.

    The official said the firing and mortar shelling from the Pakistani side started around 1 am and continued for over four-and-a-half hours.

    There has been a spurt in Pakistani shelling along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir this year, with over 2027 ceasefire violations reported till June 10.

    Three Army personnel have been killed in the Pakistani firing in the twin sectors of Rajouri and Poonch this month.

  • Will go for DNA to ascertain militant identity: Police

    A top police official told KNT that the third militant killed in Srinagar encounter is Mohsin Aslam Khandaw of Anchar Soura and he is not missing trekker Hilal Ahmed but later opted for DNA testing inorder to ascertain with the identity of the militant.


    Srinagar: IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar Sunday said that the identity of the slain militants who were killed in a gunfight at Zoonimar area of Srinagar district is yet to be ascertained.

    Addressing a press conference IGP Kashmir said, “We had inputs that Hilal was one among the three militants killed in the gunfight but another family has also made a claim for the body so we are going for the DNA to ascertain the identity.
    Another official also said that the identity of the slain militants is yet to be ascertained.

    Earlier there were reports that a PhD scholar who disappeared while trekking in Naranag was one among the three militants killed in a gunfight.

    Note: Once KINS gets the official confirmation we will update the story accordingly. (KINS)

  • Punjab | 7-kg heroin seized near Indo-Pak border

    PTI

    Ferozepur: About seven kg of heroin having a market value of Rs 35 crore was seized by the BSF and police in a joint operation in Punjab’s Ferozepur district, an officer said on Saturday.

    Four people — Rajinder Singh, Gurmit Singh, Rukmandeep Singh and Arshdeep Singh — were nabbed on Friday and Rs 2.60 lakh cash was recovered from their possession, police said.

    During questioning, the suspects confessed to having links with Pakistan-based smugglers and having received the drug consignment from them, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh.

    A joint operation was carried out with the help of the 136 battalion of the BSF near the Bare Ke border outpost along the Indo-Pakistan border, the SSP said.

    A total of 6.92 kg of heroin was recovered from the fields along the barbed-wire fencing.

  • Diesel price hits record high after rates hiked for 15th day in a row; petrol up 35 paise

    PTI

    New Delhi: Diesel price on Sunday hit a fresh record high after rates were hiked by 60 paise per litre while petrol price was up 35 paise, taking the cumulative increase in rates in 15 days to Rs 8.88 a litre and Rs 7.97 respectively.

    Petrol price in Delhi was hiked to Rs 79.23 per litre from Rs 78.88, while diesel rates were increased to Rs 78.27 a litre from Rs 77.67, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.

    Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT.

    Taxes make up for nearly two-thirds of the retail selling price. As much as Rs 50.69 per litre, or 64 per cent, in petrol price is due to taxes — Rs 32.98 is the central excise duty and Rs 17.71 is local sales tax or VAT.

    Over 63 per cent of the retail selling price of diesel is taxes. Out of the total tax incidence of Rs 49.43 per litre, Rs 31.83 is by way of central excise and Rs 17.60 is VAT.

    Petrol in Mumbai costs Rs 86.04 per litre and diesel is priced at Rs 76.69.

    The 15th daily increase in rates since oil companies on June 7 restarted revising prices in line with costs after ending an 82-day hiatus in rate revision, has taken diesel prices to fresh highs. Petrol price too is at a two-year high.

    Prior to the current rally, the peak diesel rates had touched was on October 16, 2018 when prices had climbed to Rs 75.69 per litre in Delhi. The highest-ever petrol price was on October 4, 2018 when rates soared to Rs 84 a litre in Delhi.

    When rates had peaked in October 2018, the government had cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 1.50 per litre each. State-owned oil companies were asked to absorb another Re 1 a litre to help cut retail rates by Rs 2.50 a litre.

    Oil companies had quickly recouped the Re 1 and the government in July 2019 raised excise duty by Rs 2 a litre.

    The 82-day freeze in rates this year was imposed in mid-March soon after the government hiked excise duty on petrol and diesel to shore up additional finances.

    The government on March 14 hiked excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 3 per litre each and then again on May 5 by a record Rs 10 per litre in case of petrol and Rs 13 on diesel. The two hikes gave the government Rs 2 lakh crore in additional tax revenues.

    Oil PSUs Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL), instead of passing on the excise duty hikes to customers, adjusted them against the fall in the retail rates that was warranted because of a decline in international oil prices to two-decade lows.

    International oil prices have since rebounded and oil firms are now adjusting retail rates in line with them.

    In 15 hikes, petrol price has gone up by Rs 7.97 per litre and diesel by Rs 8.88 a litre.

  • Another COVID-19 patient dies in Jammu

    PTI

    Jammu: A 72-year-old COVID-19 patient died here, taking the death toll due to the novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir to 81, officials said on Sunday.

    The patient, who hailed from village Chak Murar in Bishnah tehsil of Jammu, died of COVID-19 at a military hospital here on Saturday, they said.

    The officials said the man had tested positive for the virus on June 12 and was suffering from various ailments including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

    He became the 10th person to die of the pandemic in Jammu region which has recorded a total of 1,346 coronavirus cases till Saturday evening. Jammu topped the list of the COVID-19 fatalities with seven deaths, while one death each was reported from Udhampur, Doda and Rajouri districts.

    Kashmir valley has recorded 71 deaths. Srinagar, with 19 deaths tops the list followed by 13 in Baramulla, 10 in Shopian, nine in Kulgam, six in Budgam, five each in Anantnag and Kupwara, three in Pulwama and one in Bandipora district.

    Out of the total 5,834 cases in Jammu and Kashmir, 3,336 patients 2597 in Kashmir and 739 in Jammu region — have been cured and subsequently discharged from hospitals, the officials said, adding the rest of 2,417 patients including 597 in Jammu region are undergoing treatment at various COVID hospitals.

  • Multiplex Cinema coming up in Kashmir capital Srinagar, permission granted

    Srinagar: Government has given permission to establish a Multiplex Cinema in Kashmir capital Srinagar.

    The permission for establishment of Multiplex Cinema was sought by Vikas Dhar who is Managing Director M/S Taksal Hospitality Pvt Ltd in March this year and after inspection of the land and the building, district administration Srinagar has accorded permission for the same.

    Sources told news agency KNT that Vikas Dhar had submitted application for the permission to establish an international starndard Multiplex in Srinagar, pursuant to which a committee of officers was deputed for inspection and report.

    Tehsildar South Srinagar city has submitted that land measuring 2 kanals 18 Marlas and 64 Square Feet situation in Survey number 946/802 of Estate Sonwar is owned by Vikas Dhar and Vishal Dhar, sons of Vijay Dhar (who runs Delhi Public School) and are residents of Gupkar Srinagar and permission for the construction has been issued by the Cantonment Board.

    Executive Engineer Public Works Department confirmed inspection of the 5 storey building under construction and presently raised up to 2 floors level having two cinema halls. He has further recommended technical check for structural safety sand seismic resistance, which shall be done in due course before operationalization.

    The building has also been inspected by Deputy Director, Fire and Emergency Services who has recommended that fire safety measures should be properly adopted.

    The permission to set up Multiplex Cinema has been granted under ‘The Cinematography Act’ 1952 to Vikas Dhar-Managing Director M/S Taksal Hospitality Pvt Ltd.

    As per the order issued by District Magistrate Srinagar the license under section 11 of ‘The Cinematography Act’ to operate the Multiplex Cinema shall follow on completion of the building.

    Pertinently, the last Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik had said that there is a need to set up big malls, multiplexes and other recreational stuff in Kashmir Valley. (KNT)

  • Reports of Search Operation in downtown; Mobile Internet Service Suspended

    CASO in Srinagar: Mobile internet services suspended in district; deployment in parts of downtown

    Srinagar: A massive cordon and search operation (CASO) has been launched by Jammu & Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces in Zoonimar, Srinagar following inputs about presence of militants in the area.

    Official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that authorities have snapped mobile internet services in the summer capital district and have also deployed forces in large numbers in downtown area of the city as a precautionary measure—(KNO)

    Further details awaited

  • PMO says ‘mischievous’ spin given to Narendra Modi’s remark at all-party meeting

    Congress questions statement, alleges ‘a lame attempt to obfuscate the truth’

    A storm sparked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on Friday that nobody had intruded across the Indian frontier in eastern Ladakh continued to swirl on Saturday, with a clarification issued by his office leading to more questioning by the Opposition.

    The statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said attempts were being made “in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation to remarks by the Prime Minister” at the all-party meeting on Friday.

    An Army truck drives along a road in Leh, Ladakh on June 20, 2020.
    An Army truck drives along a road in Leh, Ladakh on June 20, 2020.   | Photo Credit: AFP

    In his closing remarks at the meeting to discuss Chinese aggression, Mr. Modi had said: “Neither has anyone intruded into our frontier, nor is anyone present there, nor are any of our posts under someone else’s occupation.”

    The Congress said the government must clarify if Chinese troops were present on Indian territory.

    The PMO statement, which did not make a specific reference to the line that has turned controversial, said: “Prime Minister was clear that India would respond firmly to any attempts to transgress the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In fact, he specifically emphasised that in contrast to the past neglect of such challenges, Indian forces now decisively counter any violations of LAC.”

    Ladakh face-off | PMO says ‘mischievous’ spin given to Narendra Modi’s remark at all-party meeting

    Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had said the violent clash between the forces of both countries on June 15 in the Galwan Valley that led to the loss 20 Indian lives, was “a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there.”

    Claims over Galwan

    As China reiterated its claims over the Galwan region, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said it was the Chinese side that had crossed the LAC and “sought to erect structures”. “When this attempt was foiled, Chinese troops took violent actions,” he said.

    The PMO statement said Mr. Modi’s remarks made a distinction between the current government and its predecessors. “Insofar as there is some illegal occupation…over the last 60 years, more than 43,000 sq.km has been yielded…this Government will not allow any unilateral change of the LAC.”

    The Congress said the statement was “a lame attempt to obfuscate”. “PMO and the government need to clearly state their position on the Galwan Valley. Is it not part of Indian territory?” party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked.

    Pointing out that the PMO statement referred only to incidents of June 15, Mr. Surjewala asked: “But what about the intrusions between May 5 and June 15? We refer to several statements of the Defence Minister admitting to the presence of Chinese forces “in large numbers” and the statement of the Chief of Army Staff on “disengagement….If Chinese troops are not present in Indian territory, why is the MEA harping on disengagement and de-escalation as late as on June 17, 2020?,” he asked.

    With inputs from The Hindu