New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind conferred gallantry awards to the personnel of Armed Forces, including Galwan Valley heroes, those who fought off Chinese troops, and Indian Coast Guard during Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kovind conferred a Maha Vir Chakra (posthumous), a Kirti Chakra (posthumous), five Vir Chakras, including four posthumous and six Shaurya Chakras, including one posthumous for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and extreme devotion to duty.

The President also conferred 14 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 23 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals for distinguished service of exceptional order.

Mahavir Chakra (posthumously) was conferred to Colonel Santosh Babu, who made supreme sacrifice in protecting India’s sovereignty during the violent face-off with the Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley on June 15 last year. His wife and mother received the award.

Among the other Galwan heroes who received the gallantry awards posthumously include Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren (16 Bihar), Havildar K. Palani (81 Field), Naik Deepak Singh (16 Bihar) and Sepoy Gurtej Singh (3 Punjab). Havildar Tejinder Singh (3 Medium) received Vir Chakras himself, the hero who resisted the Chinese aggression.

The citation for Col Santosh Babu reads that the 16 Bihar Commanding Officer was deployed in Galwan Valley during Operation Snow Leopard and was tasked with establishing an observation post in the face of the enemy (China).

The citation states that the late Colonel executed the plan successfully after having organised and briefed his soldiers about the situation with a sound plan.

It further states that Col Santosh Babu’s column faced stiff resistance while holding the position. The adversary attacked using lethal and sharp weapons along with heavy stone pelting from adjoining heights.

He resisted the enemy’s attempts to push back Indian troops and was undaunted by the aggressive action by the overwhelming strength of the enemy soldiers.

Apart from that the Indian Army’s 4 Para Special Forces Subedar Sanjiv Kumar’s kin received the Kirti Chakra for his anti-militancy operation in the Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Subedar Sanjiv Kumar was killed while he and his squad eliminated from close quarters five militants who had infiltrated the Line of Control. (IANS)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police recovered a pistol from a vehicle in J&K’s Anantnag district on Tuesday following which the driver fled from the spot.

“During a routine check, police recovered a pistol from a Vitara Brezza car on Arwani Bridge in Anantnag district today. A person trying to board the car has been arrested while the main culprit, the driver, fled along with the vehicle.”

“Efforts are on to trace the driver and the vehicle. The person detained is being questioned,” police said. (IANS)

New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council on Tuesday cleared a proposal for the procurement of GSAT-7C Satellite and Ground Hubs for real-time connectivity of Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for the Indian Air Force.

An Acceptance of Necessity was accorded to the proposal worth Rs 2,236 crore on Tuesday. The complete design, development and launching of satellites will be done in India.

This fulfills the long-pending demand of the IAF to get its own communication satellite.

“The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in its meeting held on November 23 under the Chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for one Capital Acquisition proposal of Indian Air Force for its modernisation and operational needs amounting to Rs 2,236 Cr under the category of ‘Make in India’,” a statement from the Defence Ministry said.

“The procurement proposal of Air Force was for GSAT-7C Satellite and Ground Hubs for realtime connectivity of Software Defined Radios (SDRs). The project envisages complete design, development and launching of satellite in India,” the Defence Ministry said.

The statement added that the satellite will enhance the ability of armed forces to communicate beyond the enemy lines.

“Induction of GSAT-7C Satellite and Ground Hubs for Software Defined Radios (SDRs) will enhance the ability of our Armed Forces to communicate beyond the Line of Sight (LoS) among one another in all circumstances in a secure mode,” said the statement.

At present, GSAT-7 (Rukmini) and GSAT-7A are India’s dedicated military satellites in India. While Rukmini is exclusively for the Navy, the GSAT-7A is used by IAF and Army. (UNI)

Srinagar: Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the coldest night of the season as the mercury in the previous night settled at minus 2.3 degrees Celsius.

According to the details available, officials from Meteorological department said that Pahalgam, a famous tourist resort, was coldest in Kashmir where a temperature of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius was recorded in the last night.

In Qazigund, the mercury settled at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius while Kokernag recorded minus 1.1 degrees Celsius.

Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded minus 3.0, it said, adding that the mercury at Gulmarg, a world famous ski-resort settled at minus 0.6 degrees Celsius. (KNO)

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 179 fresh covid-19 cases while two persons died due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.

Among the fresh cases, 30 were reported from Jammu Division and 149 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 335707.

There was one death each from Kashmir and Jammu division respectively due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said.

So far 4464 persons—2183 in Jammu and 2281 in Kashmir—have died due to the pathogen, they said.

Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials said that Srinagar reported 64 cases, Baramulla 35, Budgam 17, Pulwama 4, Kupwara 8, Anantnag 1, Bandipora 6, Ganderbal 10, Kulgam 4, Shopian 0, Jammu 19, Udhampur 1, Rajouri 3, Doda 1, Kathua 1, Samba 1, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 3, Ramban 0 and Reasi 1.

A number of these cases were confirmed at CD hospital’s diagnostic labouratory and female (28) (NA) from Khansahib budgam, female (45) (NA) from Eidgah sgr, male (12) (NA) from Eidgah sgr, male (56) (NA) from Peerbagh sgr, female (19) (NA) from Ganderbal, male (04) (NA) from Qamarwari, female (21) (NA) from Kulgam, female (56) (NA) from Bemina, male (70) (NA) from Kangan, male (90) (NA) from Kupwara, male (55) (NA) from Sogam lolab, female (60) (NA) from Lalpora lolab, male (52) (NA) from Douroisa lolab, male (26) (NA) from Sogam lolab, male (15) (NA) from Udipora langate, male (50) (NA) from Hajan langate, female (58) (NA) from Peerbagh Sgr, female (16) (NA) from Krusan lolab, female (18) (NA) from Sogam lolab, female (16) (NA) from Lalpora lolab, male (35) (NA) from Devar lolab, female (70) (NA) from Khaniyar, female (57) (NA) from Brain, female (58) (NA) from Ishbar nishat, female (58) (NA) from Tangmarg, female (40) (NA) from Narbal, male (32) (NA) from Lalbazar, female (63) (NA) from Qamarwari, female (27) (NA) from Jawahar nagar sgr, female (64) (NA) from Sheikh bagh, female (56) (NA) from Sheikh bagh, female (14) (NA) from Barzula, female (44) (NA) from Barzula, male (33) (NA) from Maharashtra, male (56) (NA) from Shivpora, male (59) (NA) from Shivpora, female (77) (NA) from Shivpora, male (33) (NA) from Barzula, female (37) (NA) from Wamluna stop Sgr, female (05) (NA) from Buchpora, female (38) (NA) from Syedpora, female (36) (NA) from Syedpora, male (67) (NA) from Syedpora, male (45) (NA) from Sanatnagar and male (70) (NA) from Baramulla.

Moreover, 195 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time, 31 from Jammu Division and 164 from Kashmir, they said.

So far 329596 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 1647—248 in Jammu and 1399 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 49 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said.

The government also informed that 68650 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

By: Sajidah Yousuf

Srinagar: The divisional administration of Kashmir has said that the graph of power curtailment will reduce here in winters following the fully commissioning of various grid stations.

In a meeting, the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) informed the divisional commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole that with the fully commissioning of grid stations of Mirbazar, Lisser, Gopolpora, Delina and Amargarh, the power scenario in the valley will get improved and better.

Pole in the meeting directed the KPDCL that curtailment graph of power supply shall get down with commissioning of these grid stations in the villages as well.

Besides, the department was asked to publish the curtailment schedule within two days.

The divisional commissioner Kashmir directed that in view of heavy snow accumulation into the valley, particularly in snow bound areas machinery shall be used for erection of poles and installation of transformers so that it shall be ensured that supply is restored within shortest time.

“Possibility shall be explored to restore the cut off power supply due to snow in the valley well before the already fixed deadline,” Pole said.

He was further informed that the transformer, poles and conductor has also been dumped at Divisional Level in addition to already dumped material.

Pole directed that possibility shall also be explored to dump the additional transformers, poles and conductor at suitable gross root level so that restoration process can be done early.

“The public grievance receipt and disposal about power shall be redressed and shared with Divisional Commissioner Officer in tabulated format on daily basis,” Pole directed KPDCL. (KNO)

Srinagar: Ahead of winter season, the government on Tuesday said that adequate stock of essential commodities like ration, LPG, Kerosene and other things are available in the Valley.

Director Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Kashmir, Abdul Samad Mir said that there is no shortage of essential commodities.

“Adequate stock of essential commodities like ration, kerosene and LPG has been made available for this and the next month as well,” he said.

He further added that the stock has also been available for border areas almost 20 days back.  “The adequate stock is available till December,” he added.

Notably, Kashmir remains mostly cut-off with rest parts of the country during the winter season due to frequent rainfall and snowfall.

Pertinently, cold conditions prevail in Kashmir while the weatherman here has predicted wet weather conditions till the end of this month. (KNO)