Kashmir.Watch

Blog

  • Govt intends to reopen schools from mid June

    Directors asked to make availability of safety items to students and staff

    Srinagar: Directors of school education Kashmir and Jammu have been directed to make availability of safety items in government schools to students in view outbreak of coronavirus.

    Director Finance School Education Department has written a letter to Director School Education Kashmir and Jammu. As per the letter, a copy of which lies with KINS reads, “As Government intends to re-open schools in mid of June 2020. I am directed to convey to ensure safety measures in all government schools to arrest spread of Coronavirus to students and staff therein.

    In this connection necessary instructions may be circulated to heads of all government schools to provide a pair of reusable masks and a pair of hand gloves to every student and ensure availability of one thousand (1000) ml bulk hand sanitizes and 1200 ml liquid soap with disperser at entry point to each Government school. Expenditure on this account shall be debited to Samagra Grants released to all institutions for day to day expenses.”

  • Maruti records 86.23% decline in Sales

    The company said its showrooms have also started opening in accordance with centre and state guidelines in a graded manner

    PTI

    The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Monday reported a 86.23% decline in total sales at 18,539 units in May.

    The company had sold 1,34,641 units in May last year, MSI said in a statement.

    Domestic sales declined by 88.93% to 13,888 units last month, as against 1,25,552 units in May 2019, it added.

    The company exported 4,651 units last month, down 48.82% from 9,089 units in May 2019, MSI said.

    The auto major said it has resumed manufacturing operations post lockdown, strictly in accordance with the government regulations and guidelines, from May 12 at its Manesar facility and from May 18 at its Gurugram facility.

    Production also resumed at Suzuki Motor Gujarat, which manufactures cars on a contract basis for MSI, from May 25, it added.

    Likewise, the company said its showrooms have also started opening in accordance with centre and state guidelines in a graded manner across different cities.

  • Security forces launch search operation after ‘suspected movement’ along International Border in J&K

    Checkpoints along the International Border and on the Jammu-Pathankot highway are on alert

    PTI

    Security forces launched a search operation following “suspected movement” in the riverine areas along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua-Samba sector, officials said on Monday.

    The Border Security Force (BSF) and police launched the operation in the Hiranagar area late Sunday night after receiving information about the use of torch lights and suspected movement along the border, they said.

    The entire area was cordoned off and searches conducted till Monday morning, the officials said.

    The operation is going on in Samba sector’s riverine areas of Basantar and Eik Nalah areas, which are adjacent to Hiranagar, they said.

    In the last few years, terrorists have infiltrated into India through Hiranagar and Samba and carried out attacks on army camps, police stations in Samba, Kathua, Jammu and Nagrota areas.

    Checkpoints along the International Border and on the Jammu-Pathankot highway are on alert.

  • Another Covid-19 Death Reported in J&K, Toll 30

    Srinagar: A 72-year-old man with comorbities from Doda district on Monday died of covid-19 at GMC Jammu, taking the death toll due to the virus to 30 in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “He had multiple problems like COPD and heart ailments,” Medical Superintendent GMC Jammu, Dr. Dara Singh, told GNS. He said that test for the covid-19 had returned positive yesterday.

    Earlier in the day, a 45-year-old man from Shopian district died at SKIMS Soura.

    The victim, a resident of Ramnagar Shopian, was admitted to in SKIMS Soura’s Emergency at 9 P.M. on May 31 as a case of “CKD, ESRD with b/l Chest infiltrates”, Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent of SKIMS told GNS. “The patient had AGE like illness and was in shock,” he said, adding, “after initial stabilization, the patient was shifted to Ward 2A as a suspect case of COVID-19 and his nasopharyngeal swab was taken.”

    He said that the patient expired during midnight. “The body was kept in mortuary and all precautions were taken,” he said. The swab sample for the COVID-19 came positive at 2p.m., he added.

    With these fatalities, the death toll due to the virus in J&K has gone upto 30. So far Srinagar district has highest number of the fatalities—7 followed by Anantnag and Baramulla with five deaths each, Kulgam has reported four while Budgam, shopian and Jammu have two each and one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Doda and Udhampur. (GNS)

  • Indian manufacturing output falls further in May, rate of job cuts accelerates: PMI

    The IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index stood at 30.8 in May, up from 27.4 in April, pointing to another substantial decline in the health of the country’s manufacturing sector. In PMI parlance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes contraction.

    PTI

    The country’s manufacturing sector activity recorded another sharp deterioration in business conditions during May as new orders placed with producers continued to fall after April’s record contraction, leading firms to cut jobs at the quickest pace on record, a monthly survey said on June 1.

    The IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 30.8 in May, up from 27.4 in April, pointing to another substantial decline in the health of the country’s manufacturing sector, albeit one that was slightly softer than that recorded in April.

    In April, the index had slipped into contraction mode, after remaining in the growth territory for 32 consecutive months. In PMI parlance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes contraction.

    “The latest PMI data suggested that Indian manufacturing output fell further in May. This result is particularly poignant given the record contraction in April which was driven by widespread business closures,” said Eliot Kerr, economist at IHS Markit.

    As per the survey, weaker demand drove output lower following April’s record decline. Consequently, firms cut staff numbers at the quickest pace since data collection began over 15 years ago.

    “The further reduction in May highlights the challenges that businesses might face in the recovery from this crisis, with demand remaining subdued while the longevity of the pandemic remains uncertain,” Mr. Kerr noted.

    Weak demand from international markets added to the deteriorating sales trend, with new business from abroad declining further in May.

    “Anecdotal evidence suggested that global measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 continued to stifle exports,” the survey noted.

    Going ahead, Indian manufacturers remained optimistic towards the one-year business outlook in May.

    Confidence was supported by expectations for a return to growth once all coronavirus-related restrictions are lifted, the survey said, adding, that “the degree of positivity eased slightly from April and remained historically subdued”.

    Meanwhile, India’s GDP growth tumbled to 3.1% in the March quarter — the slowest pace since the global financial crisis more than a decade ago. In 2019-20, the Indian economy grew by 4.2%, the slowest in 11 years.

  • Trump took shelter in White House bunker as protests raged

    Mr. Trump spent nearly an hour in the bunker, which was designed for use in emergencies like terrorist attacks, according to a Republican close to the White House who was not authorized to publicly discuss private matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

    AP

    Secret Service agents rushed President Donald Trump to a White House bunker on Friday night as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion, some of them throwing rocks and tugging at police barricades.

    Mr. Trump spent nearly an hour in the bunker, which was designed for use in emergencies like terrorist attacks, according to a Republican close to the White House who was not authorized to publicly discuss private matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. The account was confirmed by an administration official who also on condition of anonymity.

    The abrupt decision by the agents underscored the rattled mood inside the White House, where the chants from protesters in Lafayette Park could be heard all weekend and Secret Service agents and law enforcement officers struggled to contain the crowds.

    Friday’s protests were triggered by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after he was pinned at the neck by a white Minneapolis police officer. The demonstrations in Washington turned violent and appeared to catch officers by surprise. They sparked one of the highest alerts on the White House complex since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 .

    “The White House does not comment on security protocols and decisions,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere. The Secret Service said it does not discuss the means and methods of its protective operations. The president’s move to the bunker was first reported by The New York Times.

    The president and his family have been shaken by the size and venom of the crowds, according to the Republican. It was not immediately clear if first lady Melania Trump and the couple’s 14-year-old son, Barron, joined the president in the bunker. Secret Service protocol would have called for all those under the agency’s protection to be in the underground shelter.

    Mr. Trump has told advisers he worries about his safety, while both privately and publicly praising the work of the Secret Service.

    Mr. Trump traveled to Florida on Saturday to view the first manned space launch from the U.S. in nearly a decade. He returned to a White House under virtual siege, with protesters – some violent – gathered just a few hundred yards away through much of the night.

    Demonstrators returned Sunday afternoon, facing off against police at Lafayette Park into the evening.

    Mr. Trump continued his effort to project strength, using a series of inflammatory tweets and delivering partisan attacks during a time of national crisis.

    As cities burned night after night and images of violence dominated television coverage, Mr. Trump’s advisers discussed the prospect of an Oval Office address in an attempt to ease tensions. The notion was quickly scrapped for lack of policy proposals and the president’s own seeming disinterest in delivering a message of unity.

    Mr. Trump did not appear in public on Sunday. Instead, a White House official who was not authorized to discuss the plans ahead of time said Mr. Trump was expected in the coming days to draw distinctions between the legitimate anger of peaceful protesters and the unacceptable actions of violent agitators.

    On Sunday, Mr. Trump retweeted a message from a conservative commentator encouraging authorities to respond with greater force.

    “This isn’t going to stop until the good guys are willing to use overwhelming force against the bad guys,” Buck Sexton wrote in a message amplified by the president.

    In recent days security at the White House has been reinforced by the National Guard and additional personnel from the Secret Service and the U.S. Park Police.

    On Sunday, the Justice Department deployed members of the U.S. Marshals Service and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration to supplement National Guard troops outside the White House, according to a senior Justice Department official. The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

  • 45-year-old Shopian Covid-19 patient dies, J&K Toll 29

    Srinagar: A day after a 45-year-old man from Shopian district died at SKIMS Soura, his swap sample returned positive for the novel coronavirus on Monday, taking the death toll due to the dreaded disease in Jammu and Kashmir to 29.

    The victim, a resident of Ramnagar Shopian, was admitted to in SKIMS Soura’s Emergency at 9 P.M. on May 31 as a case of “CKD, ESRD with b/l Chest infiltrates”, Professor Farooq Jan, Medical superintendent of the tertiary hospital told GNS. “The patient had AGE like illness and was in shock,” he said, adding, “after initial stabilization, the patient was shifted to Ward 2A as a suspect case of COVID-19 and his nasopharyngeal swab was taken.”

    He said that the patient expired during midnight. “The body was kept in mortuary and all precautions were taken,” he said. The swab sample for the COVID-19 came positive at 2p.m., he added.

    With the fatality, the death toll due to the virus in J&K has gone upto 29. So far Srinagar district has highest number of the fatalities—7 followed by Anantnag and Baramulla with five deaths each, Kulgam has reported four while Budgam, Shopian and Jammu have two each and one death each has been reported from Bandipora and Udhampur. (GNS)

  • Four-year-old girl sexually assaulted, killed in Madhya Pradesh

    Villagers found the body floating in a well in Chhatarpur district on May 29.

    The police have registered a case in the sexual assault and killing of a four-year-old girl in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh.

    Villagers found the body floating in a well on May 29 and informed the police who took it for a post-mortem, the police said.

    “The post-mortem has revealed sexual assault and homicide of the girl,” said Kumar Saurabh, District Superintendent of police. “We are inquiring into the incident.”

    Mr. Saurabh said though the case relating to the incident, which occurred on the intervening night of May 28-29, was registered on May 31, the accused were yet to be identified. “Suspects have been called in for questioning,” he added.

    During the course of the investigation, a police official was found negligent. “We have suspended the in-charge of the police station under whose limits the incident had occurred,” he said.

    “He didn’t inform senior officials of the incident or reach the spot immediately, and didn’t collect information from villagers for a report to seniors,” said Mr. Saurabh.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Nepal tables amendment for new map as rift with Madhesis re-appear

    Crowds gather outside House; Indian envoy not allowed in

    The government of Nepal on Sunday tabled the crucial Constitution Amendment bill to formalise the country’s new map which claims parts of India as its territory. The bill was tabled by Nepal’s Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Shiva Maya Tumbahangphe even as Nepal’s Madhesi parties refused to welcome the bill as of now.

    The bill was tabled by Nepal’s Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Shiva Maya Tumbahangphe amid high drama on the streets with reports that senior diplomats wanted to reach the parliament to witness the historic session.

    Strategic sliver 

    The Constitution Second Amendment bill will change the Schedule 3 of the Nepalese Constitution and replace the existing map with the map that was unveiled on May 20. The new map depicts the sliver of strategically important land covering Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani as part of Nepal. The area is currently part of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand but Nepal has disputed the Indian position based on historical documents and bilateral understanding. 

    Political map of Nepal released by the country on May 20, 2020.

    Ms. Tumbahangphe said the Coat of Arms of Nepal will be altered after the amendment is passed as it will depict the new map. The tabling of the amendment bill came a day after the chief opposition, the Nepali Congress, extended support to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government which ensured that the bill will get the required two-thirds majority in the parliament. The entire process is expected to take around a week.

    Unanimous support

    Former foreign secretary of Nepal Madhu Raman Acharya said the amendment is bound to sail through given the unanimity among major political parties. “It’s just a matter of time as all sides are united on this that Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh belong to Nepal and the map needs to show the correct territory of of our country,” said Mr. Acharya speaking to The Hindu on the phone. 

    However, despite Mr. Acharya’s claim of support from “all sides”, the parliament showed the deep division within Nepal’s polity as the parties from the plains or the Madhes region, appeared less than enthusiastic about the new map, which has emerged as an emotive issue among a majority of the people of Nepal.

    Upendra Yadav, leader of the Samajbadi Party maintained that his party, which has been at the forefront of struggle for rights of the Madhesis, has not taken a clear stand on the map.

    “We have not decided to support or oppose the amendment bill till now. The main issue is that the bill has the single agenda of ratifying the map but we want it to reflect other concerns of the country too,” said Mr Yadav. The Samajbadi Party and the larger Rastriya Janata Party are the chief representatives of the people from the Terai plains known as the Madhesis. 

    The position of the Madhesis will not make a difference in the final acceptance of the new map but it definitely indicates at the lingering internal differences in Nepal. Madhesis maintain that they have been historically marginalised in the Himalayan country and had launched the 2015 agitation to bring in changes through amendments to the constitution which was adopted in September that year.

    Indian diplomatic commentators have maintained that the Constitution Second Amendment is a setback to bilateral ties as it will formalise a new territorial dispute with India. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has urged India to withdraw troops from Kalapani and Lipulekh and restore status quo in the region. India has maintained that it remains open to dialogue though a recent attempt to connect the two prime ministers of India and Nepal failed last week.

    Latest reports indicate that a similar telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli is expected in a day or two.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Forces launch searches in Khimber village of Zakura area of district Srinagar

    Srinagar: Government forces on Monday morning launched a Cordon and search Operation in Khimber village of Zakura area of district Srinagar.

    Official Sources told news agency —Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that joint of forces including 5 RR, SOG Srinagar and Jammu kashmir police launched searches after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in Khimber village of Zakura district Srinagar.

    Sources added that door to door search operation is underway and all the entry and exit points of the village have been sealed.

    Local sources said that huge contingents of forces have been deployed in Kimber village and door-to-door searches are going on,however, no contact with militants has been established so for—(KNO)