Srinagar: The smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra this year was discussed in detail at a joint security conference which was held at Awantipora- the Army’s counter insurgency headquarter in south Kashmir.

The joint security conference of Army and Police which discussed security related issues in the valley was chaired by the Chinar Corps Commander, Lt Gen D P Pandey.

It was attended by all senior Army including General Officer Commanding of various divisions, Sector Commanders and Commanding Officers as well as senior police officers in Kashmir division including the Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of North, Central and South Kashmir, Senior Superintendents of Police and SPs of all districts, Srinagar based defence spokesman said.

The GOC Chinar Corps complimented all for the good work done and urged all to strive harder.

“The recent militant attacks on civilians and security forces personnel were discussed in detail. The forces also voiced concern on children of young age being manipulated by people with nefarious designs with drugs and false narratives,” the spokesman said.

“It was also pointed out to the alarming trend of the militants taking refuge in Masjids and Madrassas prior or after the act of committing militant activities in an attempt to create communal disturbance. The issue of drug menace in the valley and the negative effects manifesting because of it was deliberated upon,” he added.

The Corps Commander and the IGP urged the parents to “reach out to their children and help arrest this regressive evil.”

Among the myriad of issues discussed in the forum, the aspect of secure and smooth conduct of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra in the forthcoming summer factored prominently. The yatra this year is expected to draw a large number of pilgrims as it is being resumed after a gap of two years due to the COVID restrictions.

“The agencies deliberated on the safety measures to be put in place and synergised efforts at ensuring a smooth flow of traffic of yatris and provision of administrative and medical assistance from available resources,” the spokesman said. The Amarnath yatra this year will start on June 30.

Reiterates call for early cessation of violence

New Delhi: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Friday and apprised him about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Lavrov briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiations.

Modi reiterated his call for an early cessation of violence, and conveyed India’s readiness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts, the statement said.

The meeting lasted for 40 minutes during which Lavrov also informed the Prime Minister about various bilateral initiatives.

He, thereafter, left the Prime Minister Office’s but got stuck slightly in a traffic jam for a few minutes on way to the IGI airport to fly back to Moscow.

Ahead of meeting Prime Minister Modi, Lavrov has said US pressure would not affect the India-Russia relationship and added if India wants to mediate for resolution to the Ukraine problem, such a process can be supported.

Lavrov was on a two-day visit to India where he held deliberations with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar over crude oil offer, rupee-ruble payment, ongoing arms deals, Ukraine crisis, and the situation in Afghanistan and Iran.

About India playing a bigger role in the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov said: “India is an important and serious country. If India plays that role that provides resolution, India as our common partner.. we are for the security guarantee of Ukraine.. West has ignored it’s responsibility…If India is with its position of just and rational approach to international problems.. can support such a process.”

On India’s view on the Ukraine crisis, he said that India’s foreign policy is guided by its independent position.

“I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterised by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners.”

India has stayed neutral on seven Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations.

Lavrov categorically said Russia’s aim in Ukraine is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia.

During interaction with media persons here, Lavrov, talking about the Ukraine crisis said: “You called it a war, which is not true. It is a special operation, military infrastructure is being targeted. The aim is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia.”

In their meeting, Lavrov and Jaishankar assessed the overall state of cooperation and considered the implications of recent developments on trade and economic relations.

The two ministers discussed developments pertaining to Ukraine.

Lavrov briefed the Indian side on Russia’s perspective, including the ongoing talks. Jaishankar emphasised the importance of cessation of violence and ending hostilities. Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and by respect for international law, UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, he added.

The ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Lavrov conveyed his assessment of the recent conference on Afghanistan in China. Jaishankar noted that UNSCR 2593 expressed the concerns of the international community and spoke of humanitarian support for the Afghan people. Iran and the JCPoA issue were also featured in the talks.

On the supply of crude and arms, Lavrov said Russia will be ready to supply to India any goods which India wants to buy from them. “We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations,” he said.

Asked whether the rouble-rupee system for bilateral trade is being worked out, Lavrov said: “We have to find ways to bypass impediments.” (IANS)

Tumakuru:  Former National BJP President and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has adopted Siddaganga Mutt’s reverend Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamiji’s principles of “Trivida Dasoha” to serve the poor.

“This place has been hallowed because of Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swami ji’s penance and relentless service. This place has been in existence for 600 years and it has shaped the lives of the people and reached great heights. Because of this Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swami is called “Modern Basavanna” and some others call him “Living God,” he said at the 115th birth anniversary of Swamiji.

“He made a sincere effort to put into practise Basavanna’s principles. He adopted the Trividha Dasoha – anna, akshar and ashray (free food, education and shelter) – to serve the poor. Anyone who comes to the Mutt never returns hungry. More than 10,000 children are currently studying in the Mutt,” he said.

“This principle was also adopted by Modi ji and served the poor via the central government. During Covid, about 80 crore people were given 5 kgs of food grains free of cost for two years by the BJP government,” Shah said.

“The new education policy hopes to provide technical and medical education in one’s mother tongue. The Modi government also provided housing for three crore people in the last seven years,” he said. (UNI)

JAMMU/DELHI/SRINAGAR: Principal Secretary to Lt Governor, Nitishwar Kumar today assured the people of the Union Territory of uninterrupted power supply during the auspicious days of Navratri and Ramadhan.

After reviewing the power supply scenario with the heads of corporations, senior officials, and engineers, Kumar, who is also Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, reiterated the government’s commitment in taking all possible steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply for devotees during Navratri Pooja and Sahri, Iftaar.

“Directions have been issued to the officials on the ground to make sure there is no unscheduled power curtailment during the hours of Navratri Pooja, and those observing Ramzan must have access to the facility during Sahri and Iftaar. The officials have been told to make all-out efforts to resolve the key issues and strengthen the efforts being made towards accelerated development and reforms of the transmission and distribution sector,” he said.

The auspicious festival of Navratri is set to begin from 2nd April, while Ramzan will be observed from 3rd April 2022.  He also greeted the people ahead of Navratri and Ramzan, and prayed for joy and happiness for all.

 Managing Directors of J&K Power Corporations, besides concerned senior officials and Engineers attended the meeting, in person and through virtual mode.

Srinagar: At least 49 persons, mostly children, were hospitalized on developing stomach-related complications purportedly after consuming ‘Tahaer (turmeric yellow rice)’ and “something more” in Zaigipora area of Charar-e-Sharif in central Kashmir’s Budgam district this evening.

Reports said that panic gripped Zaigipora village in Chrowni block, after people, mainly children, complained of stomach ache. The persons believed to have consumed traditional ‘Tahaer’ were subsequently removed to different hospitals, including three to SMHS Hospital Srinagar.

Confirming it, Chief Medical Officer Budgam, Tajamul Khan said that among them, 24 children were removed to GB Pant Hospital; three to SMHS and the rest have been kept under observation at SDH Charar-e-Sharif. “They are reported to have consumed the (Tahaer). However there is something else which they have consumed which is not forthcoming”, he said.

When asked about the condition of three persons referred to SMHS Hospital, he said that it was done as a sort of precautionary measure as they were not stable at that time.

“We have sent additional staff to the area to avoid any exigency”, he added. (GNS)

Geneva: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the next pandemic could be triggered by insect-borne pathogens including Zika and dengue.

Arthropod-Borne viruses (Arboviruses) such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and zika viruses are all current public health threats in tropical and sub-tropical areas where approximately 3.9 billion people live.

The frequency and magnitude of outbreaks of these arboviruses, particularly those transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, are increasing globally, fuelled by the convergence of ecologic, economic, and social factors.

According to the WHO, dengue fever infects 390 million people in 130 countries annually where it is endemic, while Zika virus that caused an outbreak in 2016 when it was found to cause birth defects such as microencephaly. It has been detected in at least 89 countries.

Yellow fever poses a high risk of outbreaks in 40 countries and causes jaundice and severe haemorrhagic fever and death, as dengue. Chikungunya, though less known, is present in 115 countries and causes severe and joint-disabling arthritis.

The WHO said signs are mounting that the risk these diseases pose “is increasing”, The Telegraph reported.

Experts are scrambling to develop strategies to stop the next outbreak escalating into a catastrophe. Targeting arboviruses is top of the list.

“We have been through two years of Covid-19 pandemic and we have learned the hard way what [it costs] not to be prepared for high impact events,” Dr Sylvie Briand, director of the global infectious hazard preparedness team at the WHO, was quoted as saying.

“We had [a] signal with SARS in 2003 and the experience of the influenza 2009 pandemic – but there were still gaps in our preparedness,” she added. “The next pandemic could, very likely, be due to a new arbovirus. And we also have some signals that the risk is increasing.”

The experts were speaking at the launch of the WHO’s new Global Arbovirus Initiative – an integrated strategic plan to concentrate resources on risk monitoring, pandemic prevention, preparedness, detection and response.

“There is an urgent need to re-evaluate the tools at hand and how these can be used across diseases to ensure efficient response, evidence-based practice, equipped and trained personnel and engagement of communities,” said Dr Mike Ryan, head of the World Health Organisation’s Emergency Programme.

The UN health agency said that international action is essential, given the “frequency and magnitude of outbreaks” of arboviruses. Their reach is growing, too, the WHO warned, fuelled by climate change, population growth and increasing urbanisation.

“As urban populations continue to expand, the threat of these diseases grows more alarming,” Dr Ren Minghui, assistant director-general of the WHO, was quoted as saying.

“As close living arrangements amplify the spread of this virus, we must address these challenges now to prevent catastrophic impact on health systems in the future.” (IANS)

New Delhi: A total of 1,809 child marriage cases were registered in the country between 2018-2020, a data showed.

“The number of cases of child marriage registered under the ‘Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006’, for 2018, 2019 and 2020 are 501, 523 and 785 respectively,” Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani said in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Among the states, Karnataka reported the highest cases 368, followed by Assam 341 and West Bengal 236.

The Minister further informed that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes the data on the number of cases of child marriage registered under the PCMA, 2006 in its publication ‘Crime in India’.

Irani also said that the Government introduced a Bill ‘The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Parliament on December 12 last year for raising the age of marriage of women to 21 years. (UNI)

Srinagar: Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General Raja Babu on Friday visited the forward areas of Gurez sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district to take stock of the situation, officials said.

He was briefed about the deployment of the BSF along with the Army at the forward posts on the Line of Control (LoC) in Gurez sector where troops are keeping a watch on any infiltration attempt by militants from across the border.

The officer motivated the troops for better operational cohesiveness, listened to an operational briefing and reviewed operational preparedness. (UNI)

Riyadh: Ramadan moon was spotted in various parts of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and other Arab States Friday 29th of Shaban 1443 AH corresponding to April 1, 2022.
“The crescent moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan was sighted today in Qatar”, The Crescent Sighting Committee at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Qatar and authorities in UAE announced Friday.
Accordingly, the Holy month of fasting will begin in these countries from Saturday April 02, 2022.

Will check usage in first 2-3 days: Chief Engineer

Srinagar: Ahead of the holy month of Ramadhan, the government has directed the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people at Sehri and Iftari hours in the Valley.

Sources within the department told a local news gathering agency that the directions were given by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir P K Pole, asking KPDCL to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people during the holy month of Ramadan.

Chief Engineer, Javaid Yousef Dar, said that there is no fresh power schedule for the holy month of Ramadhan.

However, he said that the department will try to ensure that the uninterrupted power is supplied during Sehri and Iftari times.

Dar also said that the department would see the power usage in the first two-three days, adding that curtailment will be done if there would be any constraints anywhere during the Sehri and Iftari. (KNO)