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  • Chinese army still present at ‘Finger Four’


    Only demarcation is the solution: Konchok Stanzin

    Leh: Konchok Stanzin Executive Councilor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Sunday said that the standoff between China and India will continue till Coronavirus pandemic doesn’t come to an end. He said whole world is blaming China for the spread of this lethal disease and this country is under severe pressure and coming under sharp criticism, and to divert the attention of world, it is showing aggressiveness in Ladakh.

    Konchok Stanzin admitted that Chinese Army has entered into Indian Territory and it is not retreating. He said there is lot of tension among border villagers who are unable to graze their cattle due to presence of Chinese Army at Finger Four.

    The commander level talks between the two armies of China and India took place yesterday in Chushul, Ladakh. Stanzin represents the same Chushul in LAHDC (Ladakh Autonouous Hill Development Council) as Executive Councillor.

    He expressed his concern about the winter grazing pastures of the Line of Control at the ‘Finger Four’ of Pangong and Galvan valley of ladakh.

    “There is army build-up from both sides and it is a matter of great concern. Nomads are worst sufferers as they are unable to graze their cattle. Their movement has come to a standstill,” Stazin told news agency KNT adding that most of the villagers are nomads in the region rearing Pashmina goats and grazing cattle is the life-line.

    While responding to a question, Konchok Stanzin Executive Councilor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development said that around seven villages which are on the Line of Actual Control have become a buffer zone. He said Chinese army is not showing any sign of retreating from the region and are present at Finger Four. “There is hardly any civilian movement in Galvan valley or the Finger Four area after the build up as the entire region is cut off, he said.

    He said only proper demarcation of boundary is the solution of present crisis and the solution will come out through talks. “There is no demarcation line between the two countries in Ladakh region. The claim over the grazing pastures on the border keeps changing.”

    He said that though people living in town are not feeling any heat of the conflict, but border people are very anxious and want the solution of the stand-off. (KNT)

  • UP ATS arrests arms supplier to Khalistani militants

    PTI

    Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad on Sunday arrested an alleged arms supplier to Khalistani militants, a senior officer said.

    Additional Director General of the ATS, Dhruva Kant Thakur, said, “The UP ATS has arrested Javed, an arms supplier to Khalistani militants, from Hapur. Javed is a resident of the Kithore area of Meerut. His interrogation is on and the Punjab Police has been informed about the arrest.”

    Thakur said Javed has also supplied illegal arms to criminals in Amritsar.

    He was arrested following an input from the state special cell, Amritsar, the ADG said.

    ATS officials said a number of pro-Khalistan militants have been caught in western UP and the Punjab Police was searching Javed for quite some time.

    In May, in a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh ATS and the Special Operation Group of the Punjab Police, Tirath Singh, a suspected militant owing allegiance to the Khalistan movement was arrested from Thapar Nagar in Meerut.

    He was handed over to the Punjab Police after interrogation.

  • COVID-19 | Many mosques shut again in Saudi Arabia

    Gulf News

    Saudi authorities have closed down 39 mosques anew in the kingdom after coronavirus infections were suspected among worshippers or those in charge of the sites, Saudi-owned television Al Arabiya reported.

    The decision was taken by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Call as part of strict health measures to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease.

    Those mosques are being sterilized, the television added without specifying their locations.

    Last week, Saudi Arabia reopened mosques except in Mecca, in line with a plan to gradually return to normal life.

    Authorities have put in place a set of precautions for performing group prayers in mosques. They include opening mosques 15 minutes before the Adhan and close them 10 minutes after the end of the prayer with the interval between the Adhan and the start of the prayer shortened to 10 minutes.

    Worshippers are kept apart with a distance of two metres. Children under 15 are barred from going to mosques as a preventive measure.

    Toilets and ablution places are closed with a ban on the distribution of water and food inside mosques. Likewise, mosque classes and the Holy Quran memorisation gatherings are suspended.

    Worshippers have their temperatures checked before they are allowed into the mosques.

    In March, the kingdom closed the mosques as part of strict measures to curb the spread of the virus.

  • Army foils infiltration bid along LoC in north Kashmir

    PTI

    Srinagar: Army has foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Naugam sector of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

    On the night of June 3, a patrol team of the Indian Army along the LoC spotted a group of Pakistani terrorists trying to infiltrate into Indian territory, an army spokesperson said.

    He said on being challenged, the infiltrators retrieved back under the cover of darkness and inclement weather.

    “In a hurry, the infiltrators left behind their rucksacks with winter clothing, batteries and other equipment to be used for their attempted crossing of the fence,” he said.

    The spokesperson said repeated attempts of infiltration in north Kashmir continue to be foiled by the alert and watchful Army units based on sound intelligence, thus blunting the nefarious designs of Pakistan to foment trouble in the Valley.

  • Reopening amid surge in Covid cases risky: Doctors Association Kashmir

    “If we reopen now we will be back into a situation where our only response would be another lockdown,”

    Srinagar: With Kashmir valley witnessing surge in number of Covid-19 cases, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said reopening of economic activities in presence of high degree of virus transmission would be risky.

    “Reopening of activities while Covid is still circulating widely will accelerate virus transmission in the community which would be disastrous,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.
    “If we reopen now we will be back into a situation where our only response would be another lockdown,” he said

    Dr Nisar said the purpose of lockdown was to keep people away from coming into contact with each other, therefore curbing the spread of the virus.

    “With cases rising thick and fast, reopening would further deteriorate the situation, the effect of which could be worse than what has happened,” he said.

    Dr Nisar said the vast majority of people are uninfected making them like dry kindling or a forest floor.
    “Sudden relaxation of restrictions will supply new targets for the novel coronavirus,” he said adding “the virus will keep burning until it runs out of fuel.”

    Dr Nisar said we understand the anxiety that our people are facing and are acutely aware of the economic and social impact of prolonged closure of various sectors. All of us want to get back to normal as soon as possible and to be able to see our friends and families.

    “But, we are not in a situation to open it up because opening prematurely will result in more cases and we will have to shut down again,” he said.
    Dr Nisar said next few weeks are crucial. Returning to a situation where we will have no control is far worse than a week or two of social measures.

    He said as per reopening criteria there should be minimum 14 days of declining cases before even considering reopening.

    “And it would be like driving blind if we reopen activities without setting up strong track and trace system to beat back flare ups of the novel coronavirus,” said Dr Nisar.

  • Pak approves USD 7.2 bn railway line upgradation project under CPEC

    PTI

    Islamabad: Pakistan has approved the strategic USD 7.2 billion railway line upgradation project between Peshawar and Karachi under the CPEC, paving the way for the final negotiations with China for the finance, a media report said on Sunday.

    The approval of the project to upgrade the 1,872 km-long railway track from Peshawar to Karachi is a big milestone for the second phase of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said Lieutenant General (retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa, chairman of the CPEC Authority.

    The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Saturday approved the Pakistan Railways’ Mainline-I (ML-1) Project, The Express Tribune reported.

    The approval by the key government body has set the stage for the final negotiations with China for financing the project and talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address its concern over a big loan from Beijing.

    Pakistan will also have to seek relaxations from the IMF, as under the existing deal with the global financial body, it does not have space to provide sovereign guarantees to the tune of Rs 1.2 trillion (USD 7.2 billion), the report said.

    It was for the fourth time that the project came before the CDWP for approval. The CDWP considered the project for the first time in 2016.

    After the approval, the project would go to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council for further approval, the Ministry of Planning said.

    It would be finally approved by the Cabinet but the initial approval of the CDWP is considered as a key for any big project.

    Once completed, the speed of passenger trains will increase from 65/110 km/h to 160 km/h on the track.

    The speed of the freight trains will also increase to 120km/h from 80 kilometer per hour.

    The package-1 of the ML-I will be completed between January 2021 to December 2024 and will cover the construction of 527 km-long track between Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Lahore.

    Package 2 will be completed from January 2022 to December 2026 and will upgrade 521 km-long track from Lahore to Hyderabad while package 3 will upgrade the 740 km-track of Rawalpindi-Peshawar and Hyderabad-Multan.

    Pakistan gives high priority to the ML-1 project due to its strategic importance and the CDWP’s clearance will also pave the way for its inauguration by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to the country this year, the report said.

    Earlier, the Pakistan Railways proposed the construction of the project at a cost of USD 9.2 billion. However, the transport and communication wing of the planning ministry reduced the cost by USD 2 billion, the report said.

    However, the World Bank linked the success of the project to bringing governance reforms in the railways and warned that the project’s debt servicing was not sustainable, the paper added.

    The multi-billion dollar CPEC is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China’s resource-rich Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan’s strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.

    The project was launched in 2015 when Chinese President Xi visited Pakistan and it now envisages investment of over USD 60 billion in different projects of development in Pakistan.

    India has objected to the CPEC as it is being laid through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

  • Hina Bashir Begh, Kashmiri woman held for planning terror acts tests positive for COVID-19 in NIA custody

    The COVID-19 tests of accused persons were conducted on June 6.

    PTI

    A Kashmiri woman, who was arrested earlier this year for allegedly planning a terror attack in the country during anti-CAA protests here, has tested positive for COVID-19 while in the custody of National Investigation Agency (NIA).

    The judge directed the NIA to admit Hina Bashir Begh to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital with immediate effect.

    The court sent her husband Jahanzaib Sami and another accused Abdul Basith to judicial custody in the case after the agency did not seek their further remand.

    Her lawyer advocate M.S. Khan, meanwhile, filed an application seeking interim bail for two months for her, saying “Delhi is struggling to cope up with the rising number of coronavirus positive cases” and that there is “lack of proper treatment facilities in government hospitals”.

    The accused were arrested for allegedly promoting the Islamic State’s ideology and instigating protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the agency had alleged.

    The COVID-19 tests of accused persons were conducted on June 6 on the directions of the court, while their 10-day custodial interrogation ended on Sunday.

    “The report of COVID-19 test of accused persons namely Jahanzaib Sami and Mohd Abdullah Basith is negative but report of Hina Bashir Begh is found positive,” the NIA informed the court.

    In the bail application, which is likely to come up for hearing in the coming days, advocate Khan said, “Delhi is struggling to cope up with the rising number of Corona positive cases that have gone up to 27,000 as of now and due to the lack of proper treatment facilities in government hospitals, which has also been highlighted in the media, the Delhi government has been compelled to issue a list of 56 private hospitals for corona treatment.”

    The three accused, allegedly having links with Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), were arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police in March and later sent to judicial custody on March 23.

    Basith was already lodged in jail in another case being probed by the NIA when the Delhi Police arrested him in the present matter.

    The case was later transferred to the NIA, which lodged a case on March 20 under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 124-A (sedition) and 153-A (provocation for causing riot) of IPC and sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities) and 20 (being member of terrorist gang or organisation) of stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

    The NIA later approached a special court here seeking the custodial interrogation of three accused, which was allowed for 10 days by the judge on May 20, with a direction to Tihar jail authorities to hand over their custody to NIA “after conducting their COVID-19 test and ensure that its found negative”.

    The NIA took their remand on May 29 after the test result had come negative. The custody ended today.

    The agency said the accused were actively following the ideology of ISIS and planning for terror strike in India and also recruiting cadres for ISKP.

    “In one audio message Abdul Basith said to Jahanzaib to motivate and prepare some guys who may be used for lone wolf attack and kill the people through a truck or lorry by running them over on people,” the Delhi Police had earlier said.

    Police said that the trio was in contact with Abu Ushman al Kashmiri, who is the head of Indian affairs of ISKP.

  • Shopian Encounter | Five Militants killed operation over: IGP Kashmir

    Srinagar: Five militant were killed in a gunfight with government forces in Reben area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday.

    Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar (IPS) told GNS that five militants were killed in the operation. However, he said, the identity of the slain militants was yet to be ascertained.

    As per the sources top commander is among the five slain militants.

    Earlier, according to the reports reaching GNS, a joint team of Police, Army’s 01RR and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Reben.

    As the joint team approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the joint team, triggering off an encounter. (GNS)

  • MMU aghast over attack on places of religious worship

    Srinagar: Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema Jammu Kashmir, headed by incarcerated Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has strongly condemned the attacks on religious places of worship by some miscreants and anti-socials during the last few days amid the continuous lockdown due to coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

    All the constituents of the MMU which include Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Darul Uloom Raheemiya, Muslim Personal Law Board, Anjuman Sharian Shian, Jamiat Ahle Hadeeth, Jamaat-e-Islami, Karwaan-e-Islami, Itihaad-ul-Muslimeen, Anjuman Himaayat-ul-Islam, Anjuman Tableegh-ul-Islam, Jamiat Hamdania, Anjuman Ulma-e-Ahnaaf, Darul Uloom Qasmiya, Darul Uloom Bilaliya, Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam, Anjuman Mazhar-ul-Haq, Anjuman Aima Wa Mashaaikh Kashmir, Muslim Waqf Board, Darul uloom Naqashbandia, Darul Uloom Rashidia, Ahli Bait foundation, Parvaani wilayat and other social, religious and educational organizations in a joint statement condemned the attack and hurling of petrol bomb on Aastaana Bab-ul-Hawaaij Sajjad Abad, Chhatabal, which also houses a centuries old manuscript of Holy Quran. Prior to this Masjid Hazrat Ali (RA) which also has a Darsgah and the final resting place of a religious personality adjacent to it was also attacked by some miscreants

    The MMU expressed strong resentment over these acts and condemned it in the strong words.

    The MMU warned these miscreants and forces inimical to peace and unity that such kind of acts are intolerable and unacceptable saying the aim was to disturb the centuries old Shia-Sunni unity of the Muslims of the valley

    The Majlis-e-Ulema urged the people to remain alert against the nefarious designs of the elements inimical to our unity and harmony.

  • Panic in Pattan after 8 people including 3 non-local barbers found positive for Covid-19 infection

    No Covid norms being followed at Trauma Hospital

    Pattan: With outside barbers turning out Covid-19 positive, panic has gripped North Kashmir’s Pattan town of Baramulla district.

    At least 8 people including 3 non-local barbers were tested positive for Covid-19 infection today in Pattan town. All these infected barbers used to offer home service and have visited a number of houses for hair cuts of people.

    “Scores of people in Pattan town have come into the contact of these barbers. A week ago their samples were taken and now 8 people including 3 barbers have turned out positive and isolated. People are requested to come voluntarily for sampling and quarantine themselves,” said an official to news agency KNT.

    There are other barbers who need to be tested.

    Besides, these 8 people, a cop from Jammu Kashmir Armed wing has also been declared positive. Till date 48 persons have tested positive in Medical Block Pattan and among which are over 15 pregnant ladies.

    The data reveals that almost all the pregnant ladies who visited Tramua Hospital Pattan were later declared positive for Covid-19 infection.

    Trauma Hospital Pattan was turned into maternity hospital after the outbreak of Covid-19 pendemic and slowly all the pregnant women from North Kashmir started visiting it. Despite the huge rush, hospital authorities didn’t take the matter seriously and made no efforts to maintain Covid-19 norms.

    “Even a police station has a thermal scanner to scan a visitor but in Trauma Hospital Pattan, you won’t find anyone,” said a local adding that more than 15 pregnant ladies who visited this hospital have been found positive so for.

    ‘There is complete mismanagement at Trauma Hospital Pattan, locals said.

    Despite repeated attempts, Block Medical Officer Pattan, Dr Tasavur didn’t pick up the phone. (KNT)