Kashmir.Watch

Blog

  • 38 new COVID-19 cases in Ladakh, tally 687

    PTI

    Leh: There were 38 more novel coronavirus cases in Ladakh, taking the tally to 687 on Wednesday, the Health Department said.

    The number of active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is 594 — 479 in Kargil and 115 in Leh — and seven more people were discharged, taking the total recoveries to 92, officials said.

    Twenty-seven of the 38 new COVID-19 cases were from Kargil district and 11 in Leh district, the department officials said.

    Meanwhile, Gyal P Wangyal, chairperson of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, and his deputy Tsering Sandup met Lt Governor Radha Krishna Mathur, requesting for complete lockdown for at least two weeks amid the rising COVID-19 cases.

    Wangyal apprised Mathur about a meeting of the LAHDC with various stakeholders, in which all were in favour of a lockdown, the official said.

  • Robbers In Pakistan Return Valuables To Man, Console Him In Viral Video

    “A small act of kindness has moved us to tears,” wrote one person in the comments section of the viral video.

    The video of this uniquely unsuccessful robbery has gone viral on social media since it emerged a few days ago, collecting thousands of views and comments.

    Watch it below:

    “A small act of kindness has moved us to tears. This tells a lot about the kind of toxic environment we live in. Little things make a big difference,” wrote one person in the comments section.

    “This gives me hope for humanity,” another wrote.

    A pair of robbers in Pakistan apparently had a change of heart after their victim broke down in tears. A video that is being widely circulated online shows the robbers returning the valuables they had stolen from a food delivery man and even consoling him with a hug as he broke down after the theft.

    According to Geo News, the bizarre but heartwarming incident occurred in Karachi – the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. CCTV footage that has gone viral shows the food delivery man – an employee of a popular food delivery platform in the country – walking up to his parked bike after making a delivery.

    The footage shows two robbers pulling up next to him on their own bike. The robbers first tried to intimidate their target, reports Gulf News. While one got off the bike and tried to wrest his valuables from him, the other was seen keeping watch during the mugging attempt.

    However, the delivery man reportedly broke down during the robbery attempt, heartbroken at the loss of his hard-earned money. Seeing this, the robbers had a change of heart and were filmed returning his things to him instead of fleeing. They were even seen hugging him and shaking his hand in an attempt to console him before driving away.

    Police officials have confirmed that the incident occurred in Karachi, according to Geo News. They are yet to identify in which police station’s jurisdiction the crime occurred.

    Last year, a thief managed to gain the Internet’s sympathy and praise when he returned the money he stole from his victim after checking her bank balance.

    With inputs from NDTV

  • Russian Poplars and Covid-19

    HC Warns Govt Of ‘Punitive’ Action If Report Not Filed By June 23

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has warned authorities of “punitive” action if the report by an expert committee on aspects relating to the Russian Poplar trees including the impact of the pollen and fluff from these trees on the spread of the novel coronavirus was not filed before it by June 23.

    Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Vinod Chatterji Koul warned the authorities after Additional Advocate General Aseem Sawhney said that he has received oral instructions that the needful has been done by the General Administration Department.

    “It is truly unfortunate that we have not been informed about what is the ‘needful’ which is done,” the court said, adding, “In case the action taken report is not filed before us before the next date of hearing, we shall be constrained to take a strict view of the matter and pass punitive orders against the authorities concerned”. The case has been listed for fruiter consideration on June 23.

    Last month, Additional Advocate General Amit Gupta had informed the court that the General Administration Department has taken a view on the report submitted by the Expert Committee and the same stands forwarded to the Department of Law and the Forest Department for compliance.

    “Neither report of expert committee nor the decision taken thereon has been placed before us,” the court had said previously and sought the same.

    Headed by Dr. Mohit Gera (IFS), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF, the members of panel included Farooq Ahmad Gillani (Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir), Dr. Mushtaq Siddiqi (Vice-Chancellor, Islamic University of Science & Technology), Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah (HoD, Pulmonary Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar), Zubair Ahmad Shah (Conservator of Forests, Srinagar), Dr. Tariq. H. Masoodi (Dean, Department of Forestry, SKUAST, Kashmir) and Mehraj-ud-din Malik (Regional Director, Social Forestry, Kashmir).

    The panel was formed following the Court’s order on April 10 last, directing the Chief Secretary to constitute it to examine the impact of the pollen and fluff from the poplar trees and the desirability of felling poplar trees amid coronavirus pandemic.

    The court had passed the orders days after almost all deputy commissioners in Kashmir ordered axing of the “female” poplar trees.

    “Significantly a grave error is pointed out which is to the effect that female poplar trees have been directed by the authorities to be felled on account of the “pollen” generated by them. This by itself is a basic mistake,” the court had observed.

    “Pollen is generated by the male of the specie and not by the female tree. Therefore felling of the female of the Species would not have any impact,” the court had said as per GNS.

    It was also pointed out, the court observed, that the fluff carries the seed and not pollen.

    “The two reports brought to our notice refer to views of several experts doubting the correctness of the statement that the fluff generated by the poplars could be effecting respiratory diseases or would impact spread of the COVID-19 infection,” the court had observed, adding, “The Committee which is constituted would examine all aspects relating to the matter including the impact of the pollen and fluff from the poplar trees, the desirability of felling poplar trees (also called Russian Poplar) and related issues.

    The Committee, the court had said, shall suggest all necessary steps, including felling of trees, if necessary.

    The Secretaries, Health and Forest Departments, were directed by the court to take a “considered view” on the committee’s report and place the same before the Chief Secretary for consideration at the earliest. “The final recommendations shall be placed before us at the earliest (now before June 26),” the court added. (GNS)

  • Nepalese army chief visits Kalapani border area

    Gen. Thapa has maintained a cautious distance from the dispute that erupted in May

    Nepalese army chief General Purna Chandra Thapa on Wednesday began a visit of the westernmost border outpost of the forces in the Sudurpaschim Pradesh near the disputed Kalapani region. This is the General’s first visit to the area after the border dispute erupted with India in May.

    Nepalese army chief General Purna Chandra Thapa. File photo
    Nepalese army chief General Purna Chandra Thapa
    File Photo | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy

    Nepal set up a new outpost at Chharung manned by the Nepal Armed Police Force last month after India inaugurated the Darchula-Lipulekh link road on May 8.

    General Thapa, who has maintained a cautious distance from the dispute so far, was accompanied by I-G of the Nepal Armed Police Force Shailendra Khanal. Official sources in Kathmandu said both were on a visit to the frontier. He is expected to stop at the Nepal army base camp at Ghanti Bazaar and inspect a temporary base camp near the border.

    The visit comes a day before the upper house of Nepal’s parliament had passed the Second Constitution Amendment 2077 to legalise the new political map which depicts the Kalapani region as part of their territory. The region is known for the strategic Lipulekh pass that connects India with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region and has special significance in view of the tension between Indian and Chinese forces at the Galwan Valley of Ladakh.

    India-Nepal relations saw some heated moments last month when Army chief General Manoj Naravane said China was behind Nepal’s claims over the Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh-Kalapani region. The Nepalese army had refused to respond to the comments saying such issues were not part of its mandate. The Nepal-India border at Sitamarhi district of Bihar witnessed violence on June 12 which left one Indian national dead in firing by the Nepal Armed Police Force.

    The Nepalese lower house, Pratinidhi Sabha, has already passed the Amendment unanimously and the legislative process will be completed on Thursday before the bill is made part of the constitution.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Assure nation with ‘truth and facts’ on Ladakh border violence: Sonia Gandhi

    Martyrdom of soldiers on border has shaken up the entire country’s inner conscience, she says

    Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assure the nation with “truth and facts” about what happened on the Ladakh border and spell out the government’s thinking to resolve the dispute.

    In a video message, Ms. Gandhi said ‘the martyrdom of our soldiers on the border has shaken up the entire country’s inner conscience’ and offered her condolences to the families of those killed.

    “For the past one and half months, Chinese troops have infiltrated into Indian territory in Ladakh. When there is so much outrage in the country over this, the Prime Minister should come forward and tell the truth to the nation”, she said.

    “I would request the Prime Minister to assure the nation on the basis of truth and facts. How did the Chinese occupy our land and why did we lose 20 of our brave soldiers? What is the situation on the ground now? Are our soldiers in the captivity of the Chinese? How many of our soldiers have been injured? How much of our territory have been occupied by the Chinese and where all have they occupied?”.

    The Congress stood behind the Indian Army, the families of every soldier and the government, she said.

    “What is the thinking and strategy of the Government of India to deal with and resolve this situation”, she asked.

    “We want to assure that in this time of crisis, the Congress party is fully behind our Army, their families and the government. I firmly believe that in these challenging times, the country will face the enemy as one”, she added.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • PM Modi on Ladakh face-off: India wants peace but capable of giving a befitting reply

    “Sacrifice made by soldiers will not go in vain.”

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday responded to the violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops that left 20 Indian soldiers dead in east Ladakh, saying the sacrifice made by soldiers would not go in vain. India was a peace-loving country but “let no one doubt that India will defend its sovereignty and integrity with all its might,” he asserted.

    Mr. Modi said this as part of his opening remarks to Chief Ministers, the second part of his videoconference with them and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, (UTs) on handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “I pay homage to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country and convey my condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I want to tell the country that the sacrifice of the soldiers will not go in vain. India wants peace but if antagonised it can and will give a befitting reply whatever the situation is,” he said.

    India had through its history tried to get along with its neighbours in the spirit of cooperation, and resolved differences before they became disputes. “But we have also, whenever our sovereignity is challenged, reacted with strength in defending ourselves. Peace and sacrifice is in our national character but so is valour and resolve,” he said.

    “Let there be no doubt that we will act to defend our integrity and sovereignity,” he stated.

    The Prime Minister has been briefed in detail about the events that took place on Monday night in east Ladakh and his only reference to that in his statement was to assure Indians that “our soldiers died having battled and killed the enemy”, a signal that there were significant casualties on the Chinese side as well.

    He then asked the Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors of 15 States and UTs present at the meeting to observe two minutes of silence as a mark of respect to the soldiers who died on Monday.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Galwan violence: Army, Navy, Air Force raise alert level

    PTI

    New Delhi: Front-line bases of the Indian army and the air force along the nearly 3,500 km de-facto border with China were Wednesday put on high alert in view of the worst border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh that left 20 Army personnel dead, official sources said.

    The Indian Navy has also been asked to raise its alert level in the Indian Ocean Region where Chinese Navy has been making regular forays.

    The decision to raise the alert level of the three forces were taken at a high-level meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs, sources said.

    The Army has already rushed in additional troops to all its key front-line bases and formations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, they said.

    The Indian Air Force has already raised the alert level in all its front-line bases tasked to keep an eye on the LAC, the de-facto border.

    The sources said the Navy is increasing its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region to send across a strong message to the Chinese Navy.

  • Film Director wishes to make a movie on the life of Basant Rath

    Srinagar: Indian film director, producer and screenwriter who is known for his works in Hindi cinema has expressed his desire to make a bollywood movie on the life of ‘controversial’ police officer Basant Rath.

    Basant Rath is 2000 batch IPS officer who belongs to the Jammu and Kashmir cadre.

    “Some day I wish to make a film on the life of this enigmatic poet/ police officer. Janam din mubarak Basant. People like you are so hard to find,” Mahesh Bhatt tweeted along with a photograph of Rath with the caption.

    Basant Rath according to news agency KNT is known for his candid comments and behavior. His tweets always attract the attention of his foes and friends alike. Sometimes, his tweets offend even his friends.

    He became a house hold name in Jammu and Kashmir after assuming charge of traffic department.

    In2018, Rath was removed from his post as IGP, Traffic as he got involved in a major brawl with former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Matoo whom he called a ‘cabbage’, probably for his remarks on wet lands. (KNT)

  • Ladakh face-off: PM convenes all-party meeting on Friday

    PTI

    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened an all-party virtual meet on June 19 to discuss the situation on the India-China border, his office said on Wednesday.

    Twenty Indian Army personnel including a colonel were killed in the clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff between the two.

    “In order to discuss the situation in the India-China border areas, Prime Minister @narendramodi has called for an all-party meeting at 5 pm on 19th June. Presidents of various political parties would take part in this virtual meeting,” the PMO tweeted.

  • New Delhi | 2 RPF personnel held for raping teen: Police

    PTI

    New Delhi: Two Railway Protection Force constables were arrested for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl in Delhi, police said on Wednesday.

    The teenager, who used to work as a domestic help in east Delhi, left the house on Friday and reached the New Delhi Railway station to go back to her home in Ranchi, according to the police.

    She was allegedly lured by the two RPF personnel on the pretext of helping her to board a train to Jharkhand, police said.

    The suspects took her to a secluded place from the station, gave her some sedative substance and later raped her, an officer said, adding that the two dropped the her near the Old Delhi station.

    Later, a policeman noticed the girl and took her to the Kotwali police station where a case under relevant sections was registered after she narrated the story, the officer said.

    During investigation, the CCTV footage of the area was analysed and the two were arrested on Monday, police added.