New Delhi:  India’s COVID-19 cases surged to 1,11,24,527 after 12,286 new infections were reported in a day with the overall death toll increasing to 1,57,248 with 91 new fatalities, Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,07,98,921 which translates into a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.07 per cent, while the case fatality rate has dropped 1.41 per cent. The recoveries have surged to 1,07,98,921.

The Health Ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to co-morbidities.

The active caseload was recorded at 1,68,358 which accounts for 1.51 per cent of the total infections, the data stated.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 21,76,18,057 samples have been tested up to March 1, of which 7,59,283 were done on Monday.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,48,54,136 people have been administered COVID-19 vaccination.

A total of 1,57,248 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 52,184 from Maharashtra, followed by 12,501 from Tamil Nadu, 12,336 from Karnataka, 10,911 from Delhi, 10,268 from West Bengal, 8,727 from Uttar Pradesh and 7,169 from Andhra Pradesh.

Chandigarh:  The Haryana Governor has approved a bill that reserves 75 percent of the private sector jobs with gross salary upto ₹ 50,000 per month for the people of the state, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala informed on Tuesday. The legislation was passed by the state assembly last year.

Sharing this information here, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, who thanked the Governor for the approval, said that now the doors of employment opportunities for the local youths in the private sector have been opened with the assent given by the Governor.

He said that now 75 per cent jobs would be reserved for the local youths of the state.

He said that the BJP-JJP government in the state is committed to provide the job opportunities to the youths of the state and it would leave no stone unturned to ensure job to every youth of Haryana.

JJP state president Nishan Singh also expressed happiness and said during assembly elections-2019, senior JJP leader Dushyant Chautala and the party, had prominently promised to give 75 per cent jobs in the private sector to the youth of the state when the JJP government will come to power.

He said that Dushyant Chautala was regularly trying to get the bill passed for providing jobs to the local youths. He added that earlier the Deputy Chief Minister had got the bill passed in the state assembly and now it has been given sanction by the State Governor.

The bill, tabled by Chautala last year, makes it mandatory for the private sector companies to reserve 75 percent of jobs with salary upto ₹ 50,000 per month for natives of Haryana. It also contains a clause companies can invoke if suitable local candidates cannot be found. In such cases they may hire from outside so long as they inform the government of such a step.

Companies must register details of all employees getting upto ₹ 50,000 per month, the government had said, adding failure to do so within three months of it becoming a law will attract penalties.

By: Sheikh Danish

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is likely to be released from 20-month long house detention this week, official sources said Tuesday.

Official sources said Mirwaiz, who will complete 20 months under house detention at his Nigeen residence in Srinagar is likely to walk free this week and more like ahead of Friday.

“There is every possibility that Mirwaiz may be released from his house detention ahead of coming Friday,” said an official source, adding that he may be allowed to address a religious gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid on the occasion of auspicious occasion of Mehraj-e-Aalam.

Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on August 4, 2019 a day before the GoI announced scrapping of Article 370 and sliced the erstwhile state of J&K into two Union Territories—J&K and Ladakh. (KNO)

Srinagar: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole Tuesday called for district wise expansion and active engagement of Red Cross, NCC, NSS and other volunteers for better utilization of their services for IEC programmes besides for relief and rescue operations in Kashmir.

The Div Com said this while chairing a meeting to review the utilization of services of volunteers. The meeting among others was attended by Director Education, Director ULB, Joint Director I&C, Principal SP College, Honorary Secretary Red Cross, Controller Civil Defence Srinagar, AC 13NDRF and other concerned.

During the meeting, the Div Com stressed on maintaining the tehsil and district wise data base of all volunteers available in all districts, for easy access to them for utilization of their services whenever and wherever needed.

He emphasized on conducting regular volunteer engagement programmes for their active involvement and readiness to work.

The Div Com directed concerned to ensure holding of volunteer engagement programmes regularly from April-1 and  suggested utilization of volunteers’ services in SBM, traffic management, drug de-addiction, awareness generation about flagship programmes, cleanliness and environmental related and for IEC of various outreach programmes also besides their active involvement in relief and rescue operations during disasters.

He called for incorporation of NCC and NSS college level volunteers into Red Cross for continuing their utilization of their services for the society.

Div Com further emphasized on providing ID cards to all volunteers and holding training camps and mock drills for them in each district.

He said that a tracing camp for volunteers shall be conducted in Srinagar from March -10 at SKICC.

Srinagar: The Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK) on Tuesday claimed to have arrested three non-locals for their alleged involvement in lottery scam.

In a statement ,the CBK said that it arrested three persons from Kishangarh Delhi in connection with a case under FIR number 37/2019 under section 420 RPC and 66-D IT Act.

The Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House New Delhi granted transit remand for shifting of the arrested people, the statement said and identified the trio as Santosh Kumar Bhagat, son of Sukhdev Bhagat of House number 49 A/9 Gaushala Kishangarh Vasant Kunj Delhi, Lakhan Lal Ahirvar, son of Ram Swaroop of House number 80/9 Kishangarh Vasant Kunj, Delhi and Benadict Silvester @ Manav Tyagi, son of Lawarance Desousa of Flat No. D-2, B-48 Chatterpur Extension New Delhi.

“The three persons were arrested after strenuous efforts by the Investigation Team in Lottery Scam case,” it said.

“Pertinently, consequent upon the reception of a written complaint received by Crime Branch Kashmir, which inter alia revealed that the complainant received a phone call from an unknown number, informing him about a prize of seven Lakh rupees that he had won in a contest; in order to claim the prize money he was asked to deposit some money,” the statement said.

“The complainant deposited an amount of 138,000/= in the Bank account maintained in the name of Non Stop Deal, operated by one Santosh Kumar Bhagat. Further investigation is going on,” it added. (KNT)

Srinagar: The Met Department Tuesday said mainly dry weather is likely to continue in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh till the weekend.

“Mainly dry weather is likely to continue in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh till March 6 and during this period the maximum temperatures are expected to rise further,” a MeT department official said.

Srinagar recorded 1.6, Pahalgam minus 3.3 and Gulmarg minus 4.5 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperatures on Tuesday.

Leh town registered minus 9.0, Kargil minus 13.7 and Drass minus 19.4 as the night’s lowest temperatures.

Jammu city recorded 10.3, Katra 11.5, Batote 6.6, Banihal 8.0 and Bhaderwah 2.8 as the minimum temperatures.

Jammu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday took over a case related to conspiracy by militant outfit Lashker-e-Mustafa (LeM), a front of Jaish-e-Mohammad, nearly a month after the arrest of its chief.

LeM chief Hidayat-ullah Malik was arrested by Anantnag police from Kunjwani area of Jammu on February 6 as he was planning to set up a base in the winter capital and also plan terror attacks.

“The NIA registered a case relating to conspiracy by frontal running militant organization LeM, working at the behest of proscribed militant organization JeM, to carry out militant activities in Jammu area with the aim of threatening the sovereignty, integrity and security of India,” an NIA  spokesperson said.

He said the case was initially registered at Gangyal Police station on February 6 under various sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

“The NIA has re-registered this case on Tuesday and taken over the investigation,” the spokesman said.

He said one hand grenade, three magazines and 28 rounds with other incriminating material were recovered from the possession of the arrested militant.

“Malik had done reconnaissance of many security installations in Jammu and Delhi in 2018 and 2019 for carrying out militant attacks. He had been associated with other militant groups in past and has furthered subversive and terror activities in Kashmir valley,” the spokesperson said.

He said the militant group had also committed a daylight bank robbery in which Rs 60 lakh were looted from J&K Bank, Main Branch Shopian in November 2020.

“Investigation in the case continues,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier on February 14, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh had said Malik was leading LeM after it was floated in August last year although he was active for a long time in militancy.

Srinagar: The  Ladakh administration on Tuesday barred all the officials from making unauthorized communication and sharing of any official confidential document while it directed the officers to prepare stamps along with names and designations.

Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Commissioner / Secretary-General Administration Department Ladakh, in an order said employees should recognize that they have responsibilities under the applicable rules of professional conduct and are not limited to conduct in office only but also includes internet or electronic communication, but rather apply to any Public Communication whether written or oral.

It said that any violation of conduct rules may lead to departmental action and penalties provided in rule 30 of J&K CCA rules 1956, May for good and sufficient reasons be imposed upon government employees of a service ranging from censure to dismissal from service.

The order stated that instances have come to the notice of the administration that there has been an increasing trend among government functionaries regarding dissemination of official information without due approval and unauthorized access to being provided to non-government functionaries.”

“All officers both in the civil secretariat and line department shall necessarily prepare their own officials stamps mentioning their names and designations while encouraging note/ proposals/ official communication and important dark,” it said.

“Employees must avoid stating, implying, or creating the impression that they are communicating in an official capacity on behalf of the department in their personal social media activities thereby avoid creating unwanted issues for the administration,” reads the order.

It states that “Employees directly or indirectly with not publish or release any information or may platform of media that is confidential, not public, or any official document or may part thereof or information to any government employees or any other person to whom he is not authorized to communicate such document or information.”

Srinagar: To encourage the introduction of eco-friendly fuel-efficient buses in the valley Regional Transport officer Kashmir, Iqramullah Tak on Tuesday said that all those transporters having fifteen year old buses and want to condemn them can avail subsidy of 5 Lakh for new buses.

Tak said that government has already accorded sanction to a scheme to provide Rs 5 lakh subsidy to transporters for replacing 15-year old buses. “Whosoever wants to condemn their old buses can visit the office and after finishing required formalities, case will be forwarded to regional office to avail subsidy amount.”

He said the scheme is applicable for buses only while decision regarding other vehicles can be taken later on.

It is pertinent to mention here that an order was issued by the Commissioner Secretary, Transport Department Hridesh Kumar for the payment of subsidy for replacement of old fleet of buses which reads “Sanction is hereby accorded for one-time authorization to the transport commissioner to draw the funds in official account and further transfer the entitled amount of subsidy to the beneficiary through DBT mode by issuing advice to the J&K”.
The order further reads, “The DBT unit of NIC shall register the J&K Transport Subsidy Scheme on DBT portal immediately as per the request of Transport Commissioner. The scheme is intended to provide impetus to public transport by providing subsidy to transporters for introducing new eco-friendly fuel-efficient buses compliant to BS-IV and above norms.” (KNS)

Srinagar: A mason died due to heart attack when he was working in north Kashmir district of Bandipora on Tuesday, official sources said.

They said a mason identified as Abdul Rashid suddenly collapsed when he was working at village Quil in Bandipora this morning.

However, he was immediately rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead, officials said adding he has suffered heart attack while he was working.

Over 50 people, mostly youth suffered, died due heart attack during this winter. Recently a 48-year-old Block Development Officer (BDO) Gurez died due to heart attack.