New Delhi: India wants an immediate cessation of violence and hostilities in Ukraine and believes the only way forward is to return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

The Minister also told the Rajya Sabha in comments that could be deemed to be critical of Moscow that India recognizes that “the global order is anchored on international law, UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states”.

The Minister said this after stating that India’s position on Ukraine was very clear and based on six principles. India, he said, wanted humanitarian access in a conflict situation.

“We ourselves give humanitarian assistance. We have given 90 tonnes of humanitarian assistance so far and are looking at providing more specially medicines. We are in touch with the leadership of both Russia and Ukraine. The Prime Minister himself has spoken to both the Presidents,” Jaishankar added.

The government also said that “realignment in the immediate neighbourhood” in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict was “foremost in its attention”. “A lot of developments are taking place and we are monitoring them very, very carefully,” he said. The Minister was responding to a question by RJD’s Manoj Jha who wanted to know if the government was aware of a realignment in India’s neighbourhood.

Responding to another question on growing proximity between Russia and China, he said: “We are aware of a lot of changes in international relations including Russia and China and a lot of other countries. We monitor and assess it from our national perspective and fashion our strategies in accordance with those developments.”

Asked a question by Kerala Congress (Mani) member Jose K Mani, Jaishankar said: “Indian foreign policy decisions are made in Indian national interests. We are guided by our thinking, our views and interests, so there is no question of linking the Ukraine situation to issues of trade.”

On India willing to purchase crude oil from Russia, Akali Dal member Naresh Gujral said the West buys oil from Moscow and gives New Delhi a lecture. Responding to Gujral, Jaishankar said: “I share the observations of the member.”

He said that because of the problems in dealing with Russia following Western sanctions, “the government is examining various aspects including the payment aspect”.

“In fact we import very little oil from Russia, less than 1 per cent of our imports. And many other countries import 10-20 times amount of oil that we do from Russia.” Responding to a question by Swapan Dasgupta, Jaishankar clarified that India’s position on Russia-Ukraine war was never as if it was not New Delhi’s problem.

“Our position is that we are for peace. When the PM talked to (Presidents Vladimir) Putin thrice and (Volodymyr) Zelensky twice, the evacuation of students was a very big issue, but there was also a larger conversation on what we could do to encourage a cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy,” he said. “Today, that sentiment is widely shared by many countries and I think we articulated it very strongly.” (UNI)

LG grieved over loss of lives, prays for speedy recovery to injured

By: Sheikh Junaid/M S Nazki

Ganderbal/Jammu: Two non-local tourists were among seven persons killed while 27 persons were injured in two separate accidents in Ganderbal and Udhampur districts on Thursday.

Reports said two non-local tourists were killed and 25 others were injured when a vehicle they were travelling in met with an accident in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Thursday afternoon.

A police officer said that the vehicle— minibus (JK01N-9382) skidded off the road and turned turtle near Hari Ganiwan area of Kangan in the district. Two women tourists died on the spot while 25 other tourists were injured who have been shifted to SKIMS Soura and district hospital Ganderbal.

The injured have been identified as Taparvi Dev, Seep Shankar Dey, Samir Kumar Das, Banashree Kumar, Rupali Koul, Shifali Basu, Alok Mukhrjee, Jarna Das, Modan Mondal, Shamali Gosh, Gyan Mayali Som, Yonobiajri Hazra, Monika Karmokar, Shanol Karmokar, Piru Bora, Subroto Karmokar , Banku Koul, Rekha Pal and Rono Jeet, all residents of west Bengal besides Bashir Ahmad of Dargah Hazratbal and Shahid Ahmad of Rainawari Srinagar.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic and unfortunate road accident in Ganderbal in which two tourists have lost their lives,” Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said, “My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families, prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. Directed district admin to provide all necessary assistance to injured.”

Meanwhile, five persons including husband-wife duo along with their minor daughter were killed in when a Eeco vehicle (JK14H-0952 ) they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into 150-ft deep gorge at Santhal at  around 1630 hours.

The vehicle was on way from Ramnagar towards Santhal and driver namely Praveen Kumar (27) son of Sant Ram of Kela Tehsil Ramnagar lost control over the vehicle and fell down into gorge about 150-200 ft down. Besides driver Praveen Kumar, his 16-month daughter Preeti Devi, Lakshmi Devi (7 months) daughter of Sanjay Kumar and Bishan Dass (52) son of Tej Ram of Kela Ramnagar died on spot. Rita Devi (24) wife of Praveen Kumar, their daughter Shivani Devi (4), Anjali Devi (23) wife of Sanjay Kumar were injured. Later Rita Devi also succumbed to injurious at SDH Ramnagar, the officer said.

“In this connection, case FIR no. 45/2022 U/S 279/337/304-A IPC has been registered and investigation started,” the police officer said.

The other two injured have been shifted from SDH Ramnagar to DH Udhampur for further treatment. The postmortem of all the deceased has been conducted at SDH Ramnagar and after postmortem the dead bodies have been handed over to the legal heirs for last rites. Further investigation of the case is going on. (GNS)

By: Nasir Azam

Srinagar: The President of India on Thursday appointed senior lawyers Rahul Bharati and Moksha Khajuria Kazmi as additional judges of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

The Union Ministry of Law & Justice today issued a notification for appointment of Rahul Bharati and Moksha Khajuria Kazmi as judges of the High Court. “In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Rahul Bharti, and Ms. Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, to be additional judges of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, for a period of two years, with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices,” reads the notification, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

In March 2019, the J&K High Court collegium had initiated the process of appointment of Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, Rajnesh Oswal, Javed Iqbal Wani and Rahul Bharti as Judges of the High Court.

While Rajnesh Oswal and Javed Iqbal Wani were appointed as judges, Kazmi and Bharati’s names were sent back by the Government of India to SC collegium last year for reconsideration.

But the SC collegium in its meeting held later reiterated its recommendation for elevation of Rahul Bharti and Moksha Kazmi as Judges of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

“On reconsideration, the Supreme Court collegium has resolved to reiterate its earlier recommendation for elevation of Advocates Rahul Bharti and Moksha Kazmi (Khajuria) as Judges of the J&K and Ladakh High Court”, read the statement issued by the Supreme Court after the collegium meeting.

With these appointments, the number of judges in J&K’s top court has reached 15. The total sanctioned strength of judges in J&K HC is 17. (KNO)

Srinagar: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Thursday planted Chinar tree saplings in the lawns of Civil Secretariat, Srinagar.

Additional Chief Secretary, Home, R K Goyal, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, Director General Horticulture, Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat along with other officers was also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary lauded the devotion and hard work of the gardeners towards making the parks here beautiful besides keeping them well maintained.

He said that they should be proud for plantation of numerous plants and trees in the Secretariat. ‘Plantations must be carried out vigorously whether it would be home or office or other public places which besides soothing the eyes of visitors also play a vital role towards making the environment clean and safe.

He exhorted upon the gardeners to ensure plantation of more varieties of attractive flower plants to give an aesthetic outlook to Civil Secretariat.

Srinagar: In a major development, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday started the process of attaching immovable properties used to provide shelter to militants or where conspiracies were hatched to attack security forces and civilians.

“Process has started for attachment of some immovable properties which have been used for purpose of militancy as per section 2(g) & 25 of ULP Act. Don’t give shelter or harbour militants/associates. Legal action will be supplemented by property attachments as per law,” Srinagar police posted on its official Twitter handle.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal told reporters that the houses where encounters took place and houses where militants took shelter and planned attacks on the security forces and the civilians will be attached.

“So far, during 2020-2021, over one dozen such houses have been identified in downtown, Soura, Pantha Chowk, Batmaloo, Nowgam, Harwan etc,” he said.

The process of attachment of such properties is being started from Srinagar district in the Valley. (IANS)

Srinagar: Rains lashed Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu division while weatherman on Thursday forecast mainly dry weather for now till March 30.

“Today, a brief spell of light rain/snow (over higher reaches) is likely at scattered places of Kashmir whereas weather will be partly to generally cloudy in both Jammu and Kashmir (divisions),” A meteorological department official here said, adding, “From tomorrow (Friday), weather is most likely to remain mainly dry till March 30th. There is no forecast of any major rain/snow.”

The meteorological department official said that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K had 4.4mm of rainfall and recorded a low of 8.6°C against last night’s 7.2°C. The temperature was 3.6°C above normal for Srinagar during this time of the year.

Qazigund received 1.2mm of rain and recorded a low of 7.1°C against 5.4°C on the previous night. The temperature was above normal by 3.4°C for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 7.1°C against 7.2°C the previous night. It was 3.8°C more than normal during this time of the season, the official said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 3.3°C against 1.9°C last night. The temperature was 2.9°C above normal for the place, he said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1.°C against 2.5°C on the previous night, the official said. While minus 1.6°C is normal for the world famous skiing resort during this time of the season, the official said that the temperature was 0.6°C above normal for the place in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of 6.8°C against 5.1°C on the previous night. The temperature was 3.6°C more than the normal, the official told Global News Service.

Jammu recorded a low of 18.6°C against 17.6°C on the previous night, the official said. The temperature was 3.1°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Banihal had 0.3mm of rainfall and recorded a low of 10.0°C, Batote received 2.4mm of rainfall and had a minimum of 9.3°C while Bhaderwah with traces of rain recorded a low of 9.7°C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a minimum of 2.0°C against 0.4°C previous night while automatic Kargil station recorded a low of 0.8°C. (GNS)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday said to have booked four persons under stringent Public Safety Act in Awantipora of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

“Acting tough against the drug dealings and to eradicate the menace of drugs from the society, Police in Awantipora booked four notorious drug peddlers under PSA”, said a police spokesperson.

“Earlier Police in Awantipora in a series of actions have seized huge quantity of contraband substances from the possession of four notorious drug peddlers identified as Mohammad Ayoub Akhoon son of Bashir Ahmed, Tariq Ahmad Mir alias Tariq Tiger son of Ab Salam Mir, both residents of Tulbagh, Lateef Ahmad Wani alias Lateef Kala son of GH Mohammad and Yawar Yousf Sofi alias Yawer Kandru son of Mohammad Yousuf, both residents of Kadlabal Pampore”, the spokesperson as per the statement said.

“Accordingly, cases were registered at various police stations of Police District Awantipora and the accused were arrested. Subsequently, the cases were duly processed and after obtaining sanctions from the concerned authorities, the arrested drug peddlers were detained under Public Safety Act”, the statement further read.