‘Stone pelting almost ended in Kashmir’

Jammu: Stating that countermeasures are in place and would be further strengthened to defeat any conspiracy against peace, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh on Monday said that militant outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad are dropping arms, IEDs and narcotics by drones in parts of the Union Territory.

“Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfits are behind the dropping of arms, IEDs and narcotics by drones in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Police Chief said while chairing officers’ meeting to review the security, law and order and crime during his visit to Kishtwar district.

The Police Chief said that stone pelting in Kashmir has almost ended and added that this was not only by the efforts of law enforcement agencies but largely because the youth of Kashmir have understood the evil intentions behind it.

Singh visited Kishtwar, Delta Force Headquarters and also conducted an aerial survey of flash flood-hit areas in Kishtwar. He directed the officers to strengthen the anti-militancy measures to finish the militancy and curb heinous activities of militants.

Stressing for enhanced cooperation between police and other security forces on the ground to foil the ill intentions of militants and their masters, the DGP directed for setting up surveillance teams equipped with the latest technology to monitor and smash the supply of money and arms to the militant groups.

He also emphasised adopting the latest techniques and standard practices to expedite the probe into terror crime cases.

Singh impressed upon the officers to ensure the expeditious disposal of all pending terror crime cases and directed them to conduct investigations efficiently so that culprits do not go scot-free.

Addressing the meeting the DGP stressed on intensifying the rescue operation to trace the missing persons.

He directed the officers to provide all necessary support and help to the affected people of the village. While seeking reports regarding the loss and damage in the village, the DGP emphasised upon the officers that besides, the efforts of the administration, involve the local community members for rehabilitation of the affected families.

The DGP directed the officers to intensify the war against drug peddlers and root out the menace from the society saying that it is a matter of concern as youth are getting involved in the menace.

“Take all the necessary and required measures to check drug abuse in society and call for stern action against those involved in drug trafficking,” he said and advocated for increased patrolling, and all the suspicious elements should be kept under check to foil their evil attempts.

Jammu: Four flying objects suspected to be drones were spotted in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, said police.

The objects were noticed in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

Police sources said the four flying objects were spotted in the Bari Brahmana area of Samba district.

“Police personnel did not fire at these as they were out of range, but the army was immediately alerted”, sources said.

After confirmation from police about spotting these objects, security forces have been out on high alert in and around the area. (IANS)

Jammu: In the wake of rising drone threats and no let down in activity of flying objects, India has planned installation of an ‘anti-drone’ system along the International Border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

As per intelligence inputs, the militant outfits have established a full-fledged control room across the international border in Shakargarh area.

Shakkargarh in Pakistan falls across the international border opposite Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts of the Union Territory.

“The Pakistan based banned militant outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad in connivance with Pakistan’s ISI have set up a drone control room in Shakargarh area across the international border to carry out their activities,” intelligence sources said.

Pertinent to mention that drone sightings over Jammu and nearby areas have become almost a regular feature since June 27 drone attacks at the Jammu Indian Air Force Station Jammu.

They said that the Brigade named as ‘Shakargarh’, has engaged the trained engineers assisted by technicians, assemble drones.

“The drones are being flown from the Shakkargarh Brigade based control room to Jammu Division,” sources added.

To counter the drone strategy allegedly being “executed” from the Pakistan side, India set to install ‘anti-drone’ gadgets along the International Border and the Line of Control.

“The anti-drone system will soon be installed all along the International Border to deal with the ever-increasing threat of drone attacks,” sources said.

They said that according to reports, the hi-tech system is being introduced by one of the top organisations that deal in augmenting India’s defence mechanism.

“The BSF will take a final call on setting up the system on the basis of trials to be conducted soon,” sources expressed.

A senior BSF official, wishing not to be quoted, has confirmed on setting up ‘anti-drone’ gadgets along the border.

“The ‘anti-drone’ mechanism system will be tested before its installation at some identified locations along the border for which the border guards have already addressed to the concerned organization,” they revealed.

The Army has already installed the electro-optic drone systems at a few places along the LoC in Poonch and this system is capable of detecting enemy drones at a range of one and a half kilometers, intercepting its communication system, and shooting it in the air with laser technology.

As per sources, the existing ‘anti-drone’ system is capable of detecting drones flying within a radius of 4 km, jamming within a radius of 2-km and shooting it down within a range of 1 to 2 km.

The new technology loaded ‘anti-drone’ system will undergo real-time on-ground testing as per the geographical conditions of Jammu and Kashmir and as per the requirement of BSF and other security agencies.

“If fit for installation, then only the technology will be fixed; otherwise only after rectification of any technical snag if found,” sources asserted.

“The new system will be capable of real time scan, detection, chase and shoot down the unwanted and suspicious UAVs under any weather conditions and will also be issuing signals to completely block its radio system and GPS, forcing it to land,” they revealed.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has already banned possession of drones by civilians, its use in marriage functions and to shoot other promotional events without any permission.

In the recent past, arms and ammunition, air dropped by drones was seized in parts of Jammu region.

In one of such examples, Jammu and Kashmir Police had shot a drone carrying a 5 kg IED in Gurah Pattan area near Akhnoor, Jammu.

It was the second drone shot down by security agencies in the Jammu division as it had brought down one in Kathua district in September last.

Last month, the army had fired on a flying object seen hovering over the Kaluchak, Ratnuchak military stations.

Drones were also spotted trying to enter the Indian side from across the international border in the Arnia sector on many occasions.

“The drone can cover a distance upto 20 kms from the border and its range decreases with the increase in the weight of its payloads,” said an expert.

During the last one and a half years, police have seized a large number of arms, ammunition and explosives that have been air dropped through drone sorties.

On July 24, the Border Security Force had lodged a “very strong protest’’ with Pakistani Rangers over drone activity in the Jammu division during a Sector Commander level meeting held along the International Border in Suchetgarh sector of Jammu. (UNI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched digital payment solution e-RUPI, a cashless and contactless instrument for digital payment.

e-RUPI is a QR code or SMS string-based eVoucher, which is delivered to the mobile of the beneficiaries.

The users of this seamless one-time payment mechanism will be able to redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access, at the service provider.

e-RUPI connects the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers in a digital manner without any physical interface. It also ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed.

Being pre-paid in nature, it assures timely payment to the service provider without involvement of any intermediary.

Speaking at the launch event, the Prime Minister said that the e-RUPI voucher is going to play a huge role in making DBT more effective in digital transactions in the country and will give a new dimension to digital governance.

“This will help everyone in targeted, transparent and leakage free delivery,” PM Modi said.

He further said that e-RUPI is a symbol of how India is progressing by connecting people’s lives with technology. e-RUPI has been developed by National Payments Corporation of India on its UPI platform, in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and National Health Authority.

The Prime Minister said that in addition to the government, if any organization wants to help someone in their treatment, education or for any other work, then they will be able to give an eRUPI voucher instead of cash.

“This will ensure that the money given by him is used for the work for which the amount was given,” he noted.

The Prime Minister said that e-RUPI is person as well as purpose specific. e-RUPI will ensure that the money is being used for the purpose for which any help or any benefit is being provided, he added.

Modi recalled that there was a time when technology was considered a domain of the rich people and there was no scope for technology in a poor country like India.

Sharing his experience, the Prime Minister said that when his government took technology as a mission, it was questioned by the political leaders and certain types of experts.

He added that today the country has also denied the thinking of those people, and has proved them wrong.

“Today the thinking of the country is different, it is new. Today we are seeing technology as a tool to help the poor, a tool for their progress,” he said. (UNI)

Reviews public health response to COVID

Srinagar: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta on Monday chaired a meeting to review public health response to COVID-19 and directed the rollout of a dedicated IEC campaign for awareness generation towards prevention of subsequent COVID waves in Jammu and Kashmir.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Director SKIMS, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Principal Government Medical College Srinagar/Jammu, and Director Health Services Kashmir/Jammu participated in the meeting.

The Chief Secretary observed that the number of COVID cases in the Union territory has stagnated around 130 per day over a fortnight, despite ongoing efforts of the Health & Medical Education Department to further lower it. He attributed absence of COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) as the primary cause for such stagnation.

It was informed that Jammu and Kashmir continues to conduct around 50,000 COVID tests on a daily basis. However, the positivity in Jammu province has increased in the last two days due to a surge in cases being reported from a few districts, which is a cause of concern. Further, the genome sequencing of samples taken from COVID patients revealed that about 80% of infections in Jammu and Kashmir are primarily due to the delta variant of the virus which is highly contagious and can lead to development of severe symptoms in patients.

The Chief Secretary impressed upon the Department to enforce location-specific restrictions in districts reporting higher cases and positivity. It was directed that COVID SOPs and protocols must be strictly enforced in micro-containment zones through manpower reinforcement at all critical junctures by deputing additional government employees on COVID duty.

Dr. Mehta further directed the enforcement agencies to adopt a graded penalty mechanism to penalize repetitive defaulters and offenders. It was directed that the Department in collaboration with various market associations, trade associations, and employee associations implement the graded-penalty mechanism by taking collective action against the delinquents.

The Chief Secretary also appealed to the general public to observe strict discipline and COVID appropriate behavior while visiting public spaces to keep themselves safe from infection, besides, advising the Department to fix the responsibility of non-compliance of CAB and SOPs on HODs of departments and owners/managers of commercial facilities. The Department was further advised to impose greater restrictions at a specific area in case of continued defiance of COVID protocols, by declaring it a micro-containment zone.

Additionally, the National Health Mission was asked to formulate an extensive IEC campaign to generate mass awareness on good practices, COVID appropriate behavior, and Dos & Don’ts in public spaces by involving doctors and domain experts.