New Delhi:  Border Security Force (BSF) DG Pankaj Singh on Sunday reviewed the current security scenario at forward locations on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

He also reviewed the status of synergy between the Army and the BSF, interacted with troops and was briefed by 53 Brigade Deputy Commandant about the prevailing operational scenario and preparations for the coming months.

Singh was also briefed about the BSF deployment in Machil sector and also interacted with troops and appreciated their professionalism, steely resolve to maintain the sanctity of the LoC.

The BSF DG expressed satisfaction on the operational preparedness of BSF and good synergy between Army and BSF and was apprised about the hardships being faced by the troops while working on high altitude.

He appreciated the very fact that despite hardships, zeal and enthusiasm of BSF troops in performing their assigned task is very praiseworthy and the Force has been successfully holding the ground on LoC in all these years.

This is a critical time as the snow starts melting in the coming week and the attempts of infiltration from the hostile neighbouring country is likely to increase in weeks to come, the officials in the security set up said.

They also said that with proper coordination with Army and BSF, the Indian security forces deployed at LoC will thwart any such endeavours from the neighbouring country.

The BSF DG had reviewed the security situation along the International Border and LoC on March 18, 202. He also interacted with the BSF personnel in Jammu division and appreciated their efforts in maintaining the sanctity of the border.

He was briefed about the critical aspects of border security and domination on the IB and the LoC and the general security scenario in its ‘Area of Responsibility’, covering the deployment pattern of BSF battalions on the Jammu IB.

The Jammu Frontiers officials also briefed the DG about the security challenges ranging from underground tunnelling to attempts to smuggle narcotics and weapons by Pakistan-based elements.

Singh also discussed the threat posed by the use of drones by Pakistan in abetting smuggling of weapons and narcotics into the Indian side, the officials had said.

Srinagar:  The Army has initiated general court martial proceedings against a Captain in operation Amshipura, Shopian in south Kashmir in July 2020 after the Court of Inquiry and the summary of evidence indicated a need for disciplinary proceedings, an Army spokesman said in a statement.
The Indian Army is committed to ethical conduct of operations, it said, adding that further updates on the case will be shared in a manner so as not to prejudice due process of law.

Bandipora: Police in this north Kashmir’s district on Sunday claimed to have arrested five aides of Lashker-e-Toiba.

In one case, a police spokesperson said that militant associates identified as Irfan Ahmad Bhat of Ashtango, Sajad Ahmad Mir, Shariq Ahmad Mir, both from Arin and Irfan Ahmad Jan of Qazipora Bandipora were arrested. “They were providing Sims and other logistic support to militants,” the police spokesperson said in a statement. Two Chinese Grenades were recovered, he said.

Police said that they were arrested based on specific information and arrests were culminated by Police along with security forces.

“During naka at Rakh Hajin , Security forces arrested one militant associate namely Irfan Aziz Bhat of Hajin and recovered one chinese grenade from his possession.”

The militant associate, he said, was also in touch with Pak based militant Umer Lala and killed militant Saleem Parray of Hajin. “The militant associate along with his Pak based militant were planning to create militant incident in Hajin area,” the spokesperson claimed, adding, “In both the cases, Cognizance has been taken in Police station Bandipora and Hajin under relevant Section of Law and further investigation taken up”.

Srinagar: Militants shot at and injured two Punjab labourers in Nowpora Litter area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday evening, officials said.

Police said the incident took place at 7.10 pm when militants shot at and injured two non local labourers of Punjab at Litter area.

The injured were identified as Dheeraj Dutt son of Susheil Dutt and Surinder Singh son of Bishan Singh residents of Pathankot Punjab were shifted to District hospital Pulwama for treatment.

Surinder Singh has been referred to SMHS hospital Srinagar for specialized treatment.

The area has been cordoned off and a manhunt launched to nab the attackers, police said and added

Case has been registered in this regard under relevant sections of law.

New Delhi: India’s exports touched a record high of $418 billion in 2021-22, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday.

“In March, India’s exports touched around $40 billion which is itself a record as we have never bagged such a huge amount from exports in a month ever before,” he added.

Addressing a media briefing here, Goyal said that during 2021-22, $30 billion export was recorded on a monthly basis, and this was despite the second and third wave of Coronavirus pandemic hitting the country hard.

The engineering goods exports hit a record $111 billion, of which about $16 billion worth goods were shipped to the U.S. alone.

“Our MSME sector, farmers, everybody together took India to new heights successfully,” Goyal said.

Mentioning about ‘RRR’ film, the Union Minister said it has been learnt that the film has done the highest-ever business of Rs 750 crore in the history of Indian cinema.

Goyal said that similarly, Indian economy is also ready to break all records and the country has the capability to achieve impossible targets.

“The growth has occurred in sectors that has smaller enterprises and involves the agriculture sector. I congratulate the farmers for raising the agricultural produce. Wheat exports have grown from 2 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 21.55 lakh tonnes last year and to over 70 lakh tonnes in 2021-22,” the Commerce Minister said.

Similar growth has been recorded in jute products, textiles, leather, gems and jewellery and other labour intensive sectors.

“We will continue to work hard to enhance the capacity of MSMEs and farm sector to raise exports and create jobs,” he added.

New Delhi: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the Upper House has played a pivotal role in strengthening the democracy. “Ever since its inception, the Rajya Sabha has played a crucial role in strengthening the parliamentary democracy,” Naidu, said in tweet, while extending his greetings to the countrymen on the occasion of ‘Rajya Sabha Day’. Taking the opportunity, the Vice President appealed to the members of Upper House to engage in informed and constructive debates, keeping the welfare of people in mind. Last year, Naidu in his address at a programme here, had said the “leaders should be guided by discipline, time sense and ethics”. Meanwhile, BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda also took extended his warm wishes to the present and former members of the Rajya Sabha on the occasion. “The Upper House of Parliament has played an important role in strengthening Indian democracy. I am sure that this House will continue to play such an important role in the times to come,” Nadda tweeted.

New Delhi: Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Sunday launched a new rare chemical called Reference Materials (RM), to strengthen the anti-doping testing in the country. The Union Minister launch RM during the 15th Governing Body meeting of the National Dope Testing Laboratory. NDTL has indigenously developed six new and rare RMs, which is the purest form of chemical required for anti-doping analysis in all WADA-accredited Laboratories across the world. With the creation of RMs, NDTL has earned itself the recognition of being one of the few labs in the world, where such RMs have been developed. Speaking about the achievement, Thakur said, “I applaud the scientists of the three institutions, who have worked tirelessly to create these Reference Materials. RMs are not readily available across the world, but are needed by every WADA-accredited laboratory for their anti-doping analysis. “India itself has been importing RMs from Canada and Australia, however, with this scientific development, India has indeed taken a step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in the field of anti-doping science. Very soon, we will also be exporting these RMs to other countries,” he added. The launch of RMs will ensure improved anti-doping testing, which is in line with the Sports Ministry’s commitment towards promotion and effective implementation of anti-doping programmes in the country with the sole objective of fair play in sports. Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi and other senior officials of the Sports Ministry were present on the occasion.

Jammu : Kashmiri pandits will be able to return to their homes in the valley soon, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday, asserting that work is on to create a conducive atmosphere so that they are never displaced again.

He also praised ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie, saying it has created public awareness across the country and outside about the reality behind the exodus of Kashmiri pandits from the valley in 1990.

Addressing members of the Kashmiri pandit community virtually on the last day of the three-day ‘Navreh’ celebrations, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said that the time has come for fulfilling the pledge of returning to their homes in the Kashmir valley.

“It won’t take many days for the fulfilment of our pledge of returning to the valley. It will come true very soon and we have to continue making attempts in this direction. Our history and our great leaders should serve as the guiding light and inspiration for all of us,” Bhagwat said in his over half-an-hour speech.

Referring to his participation in the Kashmiri pandit festival ‘Herath’ (Shivaratri) in 2011 in Delhi, he said the community had taken a pledge on the occasion that they will return to their homeland.

“Challenges do come in everyone’s life … We are in a situation where we were displaced in our own country three-four decades ago. What is the solution?” he said and added, “We will not succumb and see our pledge fulfilled by returning to our homes.” He referred to Israel and said the Jews struggled for 1800 years for their homeland. “Nothing much was done in 1700 years by them for their pledge, but over the past 100 years, the history of Israel saw it achieving its target and also becoming one of the leading countries in the world.” “We (Kashmiri pandits) have had to live in different parts of globe despite the fact that Kashmir is an integral part of India. We can live anywhere but we cannot forget our homeland,” he said.

Bhagwat said ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie has highlighted the reality of Kashmiri pandits before the world.

He said the removal of Article 370 “opened the way for the return of the pandits to the Kashmir valley”. “The time for your return to the valley as a Hindu and a ‘Bharat Bakt’ is approaching…you have faced displacement in the past but in future, nothing like this should happen with you,” he said.

“Work is in progress to create such an atmosphere where you will feel secure and live peacefully with your neighbours like in the past and nobody will be able to dislodge you again from there.

“Anyone making any such attempt will not escape punishment. There are people (among the Muslim community) with whom you were enjoying good relations. We have to defeat extremism and live peacefully with everyone,” he said.

The RSS chief said it will take some time and “we will enjoy the fruits at the appropriate time which will facilitate you to return to your homeland on your own conditions”. (Agencies)

Islamabad: Pakistan’s former Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Sunday said the Federal Cabinet has been dissolved, but Prime Minister Imran Khan will continue his duties under Article 224 of the Constitution, Dunya News reported.

Hussain however did not give any further details.

Earlier on Sunday, NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri dismissed the much-anticipated no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister saying it was in contradiction of Article 5 of the Constitution.

In a televised address just minutes after the dismissal, Khan announced that he had advised the President Alvi to dissolve all Assemblies, paving the way for snap elections.

The President, heeding to the proposal, dissolved the NA and according to sources, elections will be held within a period of 90 days.