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  • No Border Village Evacuated, Say Army Sources Amid China Tension

    India-China: Troops from both sides clashed at a point called PP-14 or patrolling point 14 a few kilometres from the LAC, the de-facto border between India and China.

    New Delhi: No village has been evacuated close to the Line of Actual Control or LAC, army sources said today amid tension after a deadly face-off between India and China on Monday. Mobile network in border areas is operational; data services, though, have been snapped. The Srinagar-Leh highway remains open to traffic.
    The clash took place at a point called PP-14 or patrolling point 14 a few kilometres from the LAC, the de-facto border between India and China.

    New satellite images from Reuters taken on Tuesday shows a massive build-up on the Chinese side of the LAC. Sources say the army is apprehensive that the Chinese may deploy troops at Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK) to build pressure.

    The army is reviewing decades-old rules of engagement with China of not opening fire on confronting Chinese troops. The Navy and Air Force are also on alert at the LAC.

    On Monday, hundreds of soldiers clashed at a height of 15,000 feet, near the Galwan river. Indian soldiers were assaulted with iron rods, stones wrapped in barbed wire and nail-studded clubs in the fight that started in the afternoon and went on till midnight.

    Soldiers were even thrown off a high ridge into the icy Galwan river. About 45 Chinese soldiers were also killed or injured, said army sources. The area also saw violent clashes in 1962, when Indian posts were overrun. But in over five decades, there had been no violence and no active Chinese presence.

    With inputs from NDTV

  • Pakistan keen to forge long-term partnership with Russia: FM Qureshi to Sergey Lavrov

    PTI

    The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views about the socio-economic ramifications about the coronavirus pandemic.

    Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday called his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and expressed Islamabad’s desire to forge a long-term and multi-dimensional partnership with Moscow as the two leaders discussed matters such as coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the Afghan peace process.

    During their telephonic conversation, Mr. Qureshi offered condolences on the loss of precious lives in Russia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Russia, currently the third worst-hit country from COVID-19, has reported 5,61,091 confirmed cases. The country’s death toll stands at 7,660. Matters of mutual interest, including the COVID-19 pandemic, cooperation at the multilateral fora, prospects of enhanced bilateral cooperation, and regional issues were discussed, according to Foreign Office in Islamabad.

    The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views about the socio-economic ramifications about the pandemic. Foreign Minister Lavrov expressed solidarity with Pakistan in its efforts to combat the outbreak.

    Mr. Qureshi underlined that Pakistan considered Russia an important partner and desired to forge a long-term and multi-dimensional partnership with Russia.

    Pakistan’s ties with Russia have moved past the bitter Cold War hostilities and the chill in the U.S.-Pakistan relations has further pushed the country towards Russia and China.

    The two Foreign Ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan in the context of the recent positive developments.

    Mr. Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process and underlined Pakistan’s positive contribution to the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement.

    After more than 18 years of war in Afghanistan, the U.S. and the Taliban reached an agreement on February 29 in what was both sides” most intensive efforts yet to end the war.

    Central to the deal is a significant drawdown of the U.S. troops and guarantees from the Taliban that the country would not become a safe haven for terrorists. Mr. Qureshi stressed the importance of inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations as the only way to build durable peace and security in the country.

    The two Foreign Ministers agreed on maintaining close consultations as part of regional efforts to support the Afghan peace process. He also discussed Kashmir with Mr. Lavrov.

    During the telephonic talks, Mr. Qureshi shared deep concern over the “continuing double lockdown” in Kashmir and the new domicile law, the Foreign Office said.

    Mr. Qureshi underlined the importance of urgent steps to address the situation in Kashmir, the Foreign Office said. The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact to take forward the important bilateral agenda and close cooperation in the regional context, it said.

    Mr. Qureshi apprised his Russian counterpart of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for Global Initiative on Debt Relief for developing countries. Mr. Khan in April urged the global community to launch an initiative to give debt relief to developing countries that are fighting the novel coronavirus. Pakistan’s total coronavirus tally stands at 1,60,118 with over 3,000 deaths.

    Mr. Qureshi said that coordinated and comprehensive actions were essential to creating fiscal space needed by the developing world to deal with the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19.

    The Russian Foreign Minister expressed support for the debt relief initiative and assured to play a positive role.

  • China’s People’s Liberation Army meticulously planned attack in Galwan, says senior government official

    Chinese released water at high speed; charged, pushed Indian Army personnel and many fell into river, says official.

    The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) meticulously planned the attack on Indian troops in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan for at least two days, a senior government official said.

    The Chinese blocked small rivulets in heightened areas, releasing water at high speed when Indian Army personnel appeared at the disputed site in Galwan area on June 15. “The strong gush of water made the men lose balance. The Chinese charged, pushed the Army personnel and many fell into the Galwan river,” the official said.

    The Chinese did a reconnaissance by flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to see the strength of the Indian troops and accordingly bolstered their presence on the other side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the official stated.

    The Hindu reported on Wednesday that the clash took place after Colonel Santosh Babu, who was commanding the unit, dismantled a tent erected by the Chinese and later set it on fire. During the June 6 military level talks, the two sides decided to remove the tent. It has now emerged that the tent was destroyed two days before the June 15 clash. When Indian troopers were patrolling the contested site, the Chinese threw boulders on them and unleashed strong current of water by unblocking the rivulets.

    The Chinese were wearing body protecters, helmets and carried spiked batons, the official noted.

    MEA statement

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had issued a statement that the “Chinese side took premeditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties.”

    The official said, “The patrolling team walked into an ambush. The area had witnessed clashes on May 5 and the attack took place despite a high alert. The men were outnumbered by the Chinese. No gunshot was fired”.

    As reported, some men “died on the spot” and the exercise to locate the missing bodies continued till late hours of June 16. As many as 20 Army personnel were killed and several injured.

    The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), deployed with the Army along the LAC, helped move the injured to the base camp the next day. An ITBP rescue team trekked 3-4 km the next day to evacuate the injured.

    At least 20 helicopter sorties from the base camp in Galwan were undertaken to evacuate the injured and retrieve the bodies.

    The clash, a first of its kind in the last 45 years, came amidst a “de-escalation” process that was started last week after a month long stand-off between troops at several points along the LAC in Ladakh and Sikkim.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Husband, in-laws held for killing woman in Jammu

    PTI

    Jammu: Jammu Police on Wednesday claimed to have solved a woman’s murder with the arrest of her husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law, a spokesperson said.

    The dead body of Rakha Devi (31) bearing injury marks was found at her residence in Satwari area of Jammu on April 23 this year, he said.

    Her husband Chader Kant Tiwari had told police that she died after falling from the stairs, the police spokesperson said.

    However, investigation revealed that on the day of the incident Tiwari had allegedly stopped Devi from visiting her mother and this led to a heated argument between the two, he said.

    Later, Tiwari’s mother Sunehla and sister Sunita joined the fight. They allegedly caught Devi’s hands, while Tiwari hit her on head with an iron rod, the spokesperson said.

    Tiwari, his mother and sister wanted to dispose Devi’s body, but a neighbour noticed them and informed police, he alleged.

    Devi’s body was recovered and the post-mortem report overruled the theory that she fell from stairs, saying injury marks on the head were caused with a blunt object, the spokesperson said.

  • 2 more die of COVID-19 in Jammu

    PTI

    Jammu: Two more people have died due to COVID-19 in Jammu city raising the number of fatalities in Jammu and Kashmir to 71, officials said on Thursday.

    A 65-year-old coronavirus positive man, who had returned from New Delhi along with three family members, died at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu on Wednesday night, officials said.

    He belonged to Bohri area of Talab Tilloo belt of Jammu city, the official said, adding that the family was under paid administrative quarantine at a hotel.

    The officials said that a 68-year-old man belonging to Kote Garhi hamlet of Akhnoor tehsil too died at the GMC Jammu.

    He had tested positive for the virus and admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital, they added.

  • Militant arrested from Anantnag in J-K

    PTI

    Srinagar: Security forces have apprehended a militant from Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, an Army official said on Thursday.

    “In a joint operation, security forces apprehended terrorist Imran Nabi Dar late last night (Wednesday) near Janglat Mandi, Anantnag,” the official said.

    He said a pistol was recovered from the arrested militant, who had joined militancy on 10 May.

  • Petrol price hiked by 53 paise/litre, diesel by 64 paise; 12th straight day of increase

    PTI

    New Delhi: Petrol price on Thursday was hiked by 53 paise per litre and diesel by 64 paise a litre, the 12th straight day of increase in rates that now totals to Rs 6.55 for petrol and Rs 7.04 for diesel.

    Petrol price in Delhi was hiked to Rs 77.81 per litre from Rs 77.28, while diesel rates were increased to Rs 76.43 a litre from Rs 75.79, 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.

    This is the 12th daily increase in rates in a row since oil companies on June 7 restarted revising prices in line with costs, after ending an 82-day hiatus in rate revision.

    In 12 hikes, petrol price has gone up by Rs 6.55 per litre and diesel by Rs 7.04 a litre.

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

    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 fall in international oil prices to two decade low.

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

  • India asks China to confine its activities to its side of LAC

    PTI

    New Delhi: India on Thursday asked China to confine its activities to its side of the Line of Actual Control and that it must not take any unilateral action to alter it.

    Referring to the Galwan Valley clash, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India was strongly committed to ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Speaking to reporters at an online media briefing, he also said that no Indian soldiers were missing since the Galwan Valley clash on Monday evening.

    “Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the Chinese side to also confine its activities to its side of the LAC,” Srivastava said.

    He said the two sides are in regular touch through their respective embassies and foreign offices besides maintaining contacts at the ground level.

    “Meetings of other established diplomatic mechanisms such as Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC) are under discussion,” Srivastava said.

    “While we remain firmly convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquility in the borders areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue, at the same time, as the prime minister stated yesterday, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.

    The Galwan Valley was the site of the violent clash between the two militaries on Monday evening in which a Colonel and 19 other Indian Army personnel were killed.

    It was the biggest confrontation along the LAC between the two forces after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La in 1967 when India lost around 80 soldiers and China lost over 300 PLA personnel.

    In a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar too talked about the need for implementation of the decisions taken at the June 6 meeting.

    Replying to a separate question, the MEA spokesperson said the external affairs minister will participate in the Russia-India-China (RIC) foreign ministers meeting on June 23.

  • Sheikh Imran denies of being proxy of BJP ‘Series of incidents involving Corporators need to be probed’

    Srinagar: Former Deputy Mayor Shiekh Imran who addressed media on behalf of 42 Corporators that were part of floor test and unseated Junaid Azam Matuu Thursday appealed police to probe a series of incidents involving those Corporators who fought against the outgoing Mayor.

    “The Corporators who questioned the ‘corrupt’ practices of outgoing Mayor and defeated him in floor test are being targeted. I appeal people to conduct probe into a series of incidents and provide safe and secure atmosphere for these Corporators,” he said.

    Sheikh Imran according to news agency KNT interacted with media here at Mayor’s Private Office in Srinagar.

    “A live grenade was kept in the house of our youngest female Corporator Nazia. The vehicle of our another Corporator Afroza was damaged. I was myself hounded and pursued a couple of days back in Srinagar and I have filed a complaint at police station Barzulla. Some substances were mixed in the beverage of our 2 Corporators- Ashraf Palapori and Asif. They spat blood with saliva,” these incidents need to be probed,” he said.

    While hailing the role of the police and Commissioner SMC in ensuring smooth floor test, Sheikh Imran said that Corporators should be provided security and secure accommodation.

    “We do believe in democratic principles and ethics. We are here to serve people,” he said and denied the reports of being proxy of BJP. “Congress abstained in the floor test and so does BJP. Congress has 16 Corporators, while BJP has only 4 and is it possible that a party with 4 Corporators can oust a Mayor. Actually, all the Corporators cutting across party line joined hands to show door to ‘corrupt’ Mayor,” he said. (KNT)

  • Rupee settles on a flat note, up 2 paise at 76.14 against US dollar

    The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex was trading 550 points higher at 34,057.92 and broader NSE Nifty rose 167.85 points to 10,049.

    PTI

    The rupee settled on a flat note, registering a rise of just 2 paise to 76.14 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, tracking weak U.S. dollar and gains in the domestic equity market.

    Forex traders said rupee was trading in a narrow range as positive domestic equities and weak U.S. currency supported the local unit, while rising coronavirus cases, border tension with China and foreign fund outflows capped the gains.

    The rupee opened at 76.17 against the U.S. dollar, and finally settled for the day at 76.14 against the U.S. dollar, up 2 paise over its previous close.

    It had settled at 76.16 against the greenback on Wednesday.

    During the four-hour trading session, the rupee saw an intra-day high of 76.08 and a low of 76.19 against the U.S. dollar.

    Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.05% to 97.10.

    The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex was trading 550 points higher at 34,057.92 and broader NSE Nifty rose 167.85 points to 10,049.

    Foreign institutional investors were net sellers in the capital market as they sold shares worth ₹486.62 crore on Wednesday, according to provisional exchange data.

    Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.42 per cent to USD 40.88 per barrel.