20-member Gujjar-Bakerwal delegation calls on Sinha

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday said that the government has developed a comprehensive strategy to ensure that the basic amenities reach the tribal population.

A 20-member delegation of Gujjar-Bakerwal community today called on Lieutenant Governor here at Raj Bhavan.

The delegation led by Sheikh Muzaffar, President, Jammu & Kashmir Nationalist People’s Front, comprised of members of Gujjar Qaumi Movement Kashmir and community members from various districts projected their issues and grievances and sought Lt Governor’s intervention for the redressal of the same.

The members of the delegation also expressed their gratitude to the Lt Governor-led administration for taking reformative measures for the welfare and empowerment of the tribal communities in J&K.

While interacting with the visiting representatives, the Lt Governor observed that the J&K Government is committed to safeguarding the rights of all the communities and is working in a planned manner for educational & socio-economic upliftment of tribal communities of the UT.

A comprehensive strategy has been developed to ensure that the basic amenities along with the benefits of all UT & Central sponsored welfare schemes and other developmental initiatives reach the tribal population of J&K, added the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor assured the members of the delegation that all their genuine issues would be taken up with the concerned authorities for their redressal on merit.

New Delhi: India and South Korea on Friday emphasised on indigenisation, joint development and joint production in the defence sector as well as partnership in critical and high technologies and supply chain resilience, during the Third Strategic Dialogue between the National Security Council Secretariats of India and the ROK here.

At the invitation of Deputy National Security Adviser Pankaj Saran, the Second Deputy Director of National Security, Kim Hyoung-zhin, visited New Delhi for the Strategic Dialogue.

Within the framework of the close and strategic partnership between India and ROK, the two sides held in-depth discussions to further enhance the Special Strategic Partnership.

Both sides agreed to further strengthen and deepen mutually beneficial strategic cooperation in areas of bilateral, regional and global interest. lndigenisation, joint development and joint production in the defence sector between India and ROK was emphasized upon. Partnership in critical and high technologies and supply chain resilience were also discussed, an official statement said.

The two sides identified areas of cooperation in Cyber Security and Information Technology, Maritime Security and threats and challenges from terrorism, extremism and radicalization.

It was agreed to strengthen synergies between India’s “Act East Policy” and ROK’s “New Southern Policy”.

During his visit, the Second Deputy Director of National Security of ROK called on the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh. (UNI)

Srinagar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday arrested Superintending Engineer;  a Technical Officer and a Junior Engineer, all of PWD (R&B), Circle Udhampur-Reasi, Udhampur (J&K) on the allegations of demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh from the complainant.

According to a statement, a case was registered on complaint against the accused on the allegations of demanding for bribe.

“It was alleged that complainant’s firm was awarded tender for construction of Medical Sub-Centre in District Reasi during 2017-18 and complainant executed some part of project.”

It was further alleged that Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B), Circle Udhampur – Reasi demanded bribe of Rs. 3 lakh from the complainant for processing the file related to technical sanction of the said project, the statement further reads.

“CBI laid a trap and caught the Junior Engineer while demanding & accepting part bribe of Rs. 1.5 lakh from the complainant allegedly on behalf of Superintending Engineer, on the instructions of Technical Officer.  Later, the Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) and Technical Officer were also caught. Searches were conducted at the office & residential premises of the accused at Jammu, Udhampur and Srinagar.”

All the arrested accused is being produced today before the Court of Special Judge, CBI cases, Jammu, it said.

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: 181 fresh covid-19 cases, 33 of them travelers, were reported along with two deaths due to the virus in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours, officials said on Friday.

56 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 125 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 331257.

There were two deaths, both from Kashmir Valley, due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4479 persons—2185 in Jammu and 2294 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.

Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials said that Srinagar reported 56 cases, Baramulla 41, Budgam 11, Pulwama 1, Kupwara 4, Anantnag 1, Bandipora 7, Ganderbal 4, Kulgam 0, Shopian 0, Jammu 16, Udhampur 0, Rajouri 1, Doda 5, Kathua 0, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 1, Ramban 0 and Reasi 31.

Moreover, 168 Covid-19 patients were recovered during the time, 35 from Jammu Division and 133 from Kashmir, they said.

So far 331257 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 1708—403 in Jammu and 1305 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far, government informed parliament recently that 58 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K so far, the officials said.

The officials also informed that 65144 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

Srinagar: District administration Baramulla Friday declared seven areas in the north Kashmir district as micro-containment zones.

“…In continuation of this office order issued under endorsement No: DMB/NO/COVID-19/2021/687 Dated: 22-11-2021 and in pursuance to the powers vested in me under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 and under Section 144 CrPC, I, Bhupinder Kumar, IAS, District Magistrate Baramulla hereby order that the mentioned locations shall be Micro Containment Zones for containment of COVID-19 disease; Katibugh Kunzer, Jabla Uri, Paranpillan Uri, Nambla Uri, Badam Bagh Sopore, Pringal Boniyar and Noorkha Boniyar”, reads an order.

The mentioned areas shall be under strict lock down and tight perimeter control, except for essential needs even as no movement, whatsoever, in and out of the Micro Containment Zone except essential services and medical emergency, by virtue of the order till further directions.

For any medical emergency, individual can contact 24X7 control room at 01952-234343, 7006493646 and necessary facilitation shall be done, the order reads.

There shall be mandatory for the person’s residing in designated Containment Zones to get themselves tested and vaccinated, any refusal in this regard shall invite action including lodging of FIR under relevant provisions of Disaster Management Act, Duty Magistrate, BMO and SHO concerned of the area shall ensure that 100% sampling and testing is done, the order reads.

It is further ordered that SSP Baramulla/Sopore shall deploy necessary manpower for enforcement of restriction and Tehsildar concerned shall be the overall in-charge for enforcing of Micro Containment SOP’s in the notified zones. He shall also be Duty Magistrate, Administrator and Nodal Officer for each containment zone and the BMO concerned shall ensure deployment of sufficient teams for sampling and surveillance of the designated MCZs, the order reads. (GNS)

Srinagar: Kashmir Valley and Ladakh continued to reel under freezing temperatures with Srinagar recording the second night on Friday.

A meteorological department official here said that Srinagar recorded minus 2.4°C against previous night’s minus 1.8°C. It was second coldest night after December 1 when mercury fell to 2.5°C, lowest temperature recorded this season.

Qazigund recorded minimum temperature of minus 1.8°C against minus 1.5°C on the previous night, he said. It was minus 0.8°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir for this time of the year, the official said.

Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.1°C against minus 4.2°C on previous night. The famous resort in south Kashmir was coldest place in entire Valley.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.3°C against minus 1.4°C on previous night and normal of minus 0.6°C, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 2.8°C against minus 3.3°C on the previous night, the official said.

Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 1.0°C against minus 1.5°C on the previous night, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against last night’s minus 4.6°C while Kargil town recorded a low of minus 4.0°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 12.9°C, the official said.

The weatherman has forecast widespread light to moderate snowfall and rains in plains of Jammu and Kashmir during 4-6 December.

“A fresh western disturbance most likely to affect J&K and adjoining areas during 4th (evening) to 6th (Afternoon) December with peak activity on 5th December,” the official said, adding, “”Widespread light to moderate snowfall in middle and higher reaches of Kashmir/Jammu and light snow/rain over plains of Kashmir/Jammu  is expected.”

He said higher reaches of Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Shopian and Ganderbal districts may receive 6-9 inches of Snow during the period.

Regarding the probable impact, he said, there may be temporary disruption of air and surface traffic over passes like Zojila, Sinthan Top, Razdan Top, Mugal Road due to snow and freezing temperatures on December 5.

The MeT official said that there should be proper prunning of orchards and withheld irrigation and fertilizer application in wheat and mustard crops in plains of Jammu during period. (GNS)