Jammu, Jan 10: A major tragedy was averted with the timely detection of a 2.4 kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED) fitted on a motorcycle in Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, a police officer said on Sunday.
The IED was found planted on the roadside along Gohlad Reelan-Mendhar Road by a police party around 10 pm on Saturday and was destroyed in a controlled explosion by the bomb disposal squad around 1 pm on Sunday, Poonch Senior Superintendent of Police Ramesh Angral said.
Quoting preliminary investigation, the officer said the IED along with a motorcycle was left behind by a suspected militant, who is believed to have moved into the nearby forest area.
A joint search operation by police and Rashtriya Rifles of the Army is underway after the whole area was cordoned off to nab him, the SSP said.
The SSP said the bomb disposal squad destroyed the IED in a controlled explosion, without causing any damage.
A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is on to bring the culprits to book, he said.
IED-fitted motorcycle detected in Poonch
Lashkar hideout busted in Awantipora: Police
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 10: The troops busted hide-out of militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba in village Chandhara Awantipora, a police spokesman said.
He said on a specific information, police along with 50 RR and 110 Bn CRPF carried out search of a house today morning and during search one large hideout was found in the cow shed of the house.
“The size of the hideout is approximately 10ft x5ft x5ft with small opening coved by a lid and a tunnel of about 6ft leading to the hideout,” he said.
The spokesman said incriminating material of Lashker-e-Taiba and 26 round of AK-47 were recovered from the said hideout.
“Case FIR No. 04/2021 stands registered at Police Station Pampore under relevant sections of Unlawful Activity Act and one militant associate Adil Ahmad Shah S/o Mohammad Azad Shah R/o Chandhara Pampore has been arrested in the instant case,” added the spokesman.
The hideout was destroyed by the troops.
JKCSF demands rollback of SRO 103
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 10: Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) Sunday demanded rollback of SRO 103 that reduces the chances of careers for educated youth of J and K as the SRO implies to reduce the age from 37 years to 32 years for the prestigious KAS exam.
In a statement, JKCSF Chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani termed the enforcement of SRO-103 as “sheer injustice” to the educated youth of Jammu and Kashmir and a slap on the aspiration of common people as it reduces the qualifying age for appearing in the KAS examination to 32 years from the existing 37.
He lambasted J&K government’s decision to reduce the age of eligibility for civil service aspirants by five years terming the step an onslaught on the career opportunities of Kashmiri youth.
He said situation had already scaled down the career opportunities of the youth in J&K given the prevailing scenario and to help the aspirants who had not been able to pursue their careers due to circumstances, the previous governments had increased the age of eligibility.
“The implementation of SRO-103 has put the future of our unemployed youth in lurch. The age bar for civil services in other states of the country was even upto 40 years. SRO-103 would badly affect the participation of qualified youth of Jammu and Kashmir in civil services examinations particularly the KAS,” Wani said.
He demanded the rollback of this SRO 103 in the larger interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to safeguard the career opportunities of its youth. (KNS)
Labour Ministry likely to give shape to National Employment Policy
Agencies
New Delhi, Jan 10: The Ministry of Labour and Employment is likely to give a shape to the National Employment Policy (NEP) by December this year following the implementation of four labour codes and completion of four major surveys, including one one migrant workers.
The NEP will draw a broad road map for improving job opportunities in the country, mainly by various initiatives like skill development, bringing investment in employment intensive segments and other policy interventions.
Last year, Parliament passed three labour codes on Industrial Relations, Social Security and Occupational Health Safety & Working Conditions (OSH).
The Code on Wages was approved by Parliament last year and its rules have been firmed up. But the implementation of the rules for Code on Wages was held back because the government wanted to implement all four labour codes in one go. These four codes are likely to be implemented from April 1 this year.
The implementation of these four labour codes would provide a conducive legal framework for universalisation of social security and other safeguards for the entire workforce of over 50 crore in the country.
But for job creation, a broad NEP would be required to exploit the potential of each segment of different sectors of the economy. This would require up-to-date data on employment across the sectors in the country. This gap would be bridged by the four employment surveys to be conducted by the Labour Bureau, a wing of the ministry.
Director General, Labour Bureau, D S Negi said that the bureau has begun spadework on the four surveys and field work would begin by March and the results would be out by October-end this year only.
He said the NEP would take a shape based on the data inputs of these four surveys by December this year only.
Thereafter, the NEP would be sent for the approval of the Union Cabinet.
The document is expected to aid employment generation in the country to a great extent, especially when the government is grappling with the issue of job loss especially due to the pandemic.
Earlier last month, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar had also said that the four all India surveys on migrant workers, domestic workers, employment generated by professionals and transport sector which will be launched by early March, 2020 and the results of these will be available by October 2021.
Kashmir receives fresh snowfall
Srinagar-Jammu highway closed again
Weather likely to remain dry till Jan 17: MeT
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 9: Fresh snowfall was experienced on Saturday in Kashmir including Srinagar and its adjoining areas, leading to suspension of vehicular movement on Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Officials said Srinagar recorded 7 cm of snow, Kokernag 6 cms of snow and Qazigund recorded 9 cm of snow today.
At some places in the civil lines, including historic Lal Chowk, roads became slippery due to frozen snow disrupting traffic movement. The authorities were seen using salt to defreeze the frozen snow to make roads safe for drive.
Roof and tree tops, already under about 10 inches of white blanket, received about five inches of fresh snowfall since early this morning. Snow on the roof top had frozen and in some areas icicles could be seen hanging due to minus 4 degree minimum temperature before fresh snowfall this morning in Srinagar.
The Mechanical department had put into service machines to clear the snow on the main roads. However, interior roads and lanes and bylanes remained under snow.
People alleged that interior roads and lanes and bylanes leading to the residence of bureaucrats, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) corporate, and other VIPs have been cleared. However, hundreds of roads remained under frozen snow disruption normal life.
Very less number of passenger and private vehicles were seen on the roads due to slippery road condition. Our vehicles remained parked in the interior parts of the city because the roads remained under snow.
All mainstream political parties, including Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the administration for failing to clear the snow on the roads.
Reports received said that in some areas people contributed and hired tractors and other vehicles to clear snow on their roads. At Sumarbugh colony, people said they contributed Rs 50 each household and paid to a tractor driver to clear the snow on the road.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-Jammu Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic in view of heavy snowfall and slippery road conditions.
Earlier, after remaining closed for five days, authorities had allowed stranded essential supply vehicles including petroleum and gas products from Jammu to Srinagar.
“We have only allowed the essential supplies vehicles towards valley which were stranded at Udhampur sector, which includes petroleum products towards valley,” an official of the traffic control room said.
However no other commercial or passenger vehicle was allowed to ply on Srinagar Jammu National Highway, he said
ADGP Traffic T.Namgyal said no general traffic movement was allowed on Srinagar-Jammu highway. “Only stranded vehicles which included essential supplies were allowed to move towards the valley.”
He said during last two days, over 4500 essential supply vehicles have been allowed to move towards valley.
A traffic police official said subject to fair weather and better road condition, Light Motor Vehicles (passenger) shall be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar on Jammu-Srinagar road.
The Mughal Road, the alternative road which connects the Valley to Jammu division through Shopian and Rajouri, continued to remain closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director MeT Srinagar Mukthar Ahmad said there is no forecast of any major snowfall and weather is likely to remain mainly dry till January 17. (Additional inputs from KNO, UNI)
Air traffic again disrupted
Srinagar, Jan 9: The fresh snowfall on Saturday coupled with poor visibility again disrupted Air-traffic at Srinagar International Airport, officials said.
This is the second time air traffic at Srinagar airport was disrupted in January this year. On Thursday air traffic was resumed after remaining suspended for four days due to snow and poor visibility.
However, there was no response from the authorities of Airport Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar office causing chaos and confusion among the passengers who were scheduled to travel to different parts of the country, including Jammu today. We dialed the telephone number of AAI, Srinagar but there was no response, passengers alleged.
Later, we checked the website of the Srinagar International Airport which shows all incoming and outgoing flights to Jammu, Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Mumbai cancelled. This however, could not be confirmed from AAI office as there was no response to phone calls.
There was fresh snowfall early this morning in the Kashmir valley, including Srinagar resulting in slippery road conditions.
The runway was under snow and there was poor visibility disrupting flight operation at Srinagar airport, they said.
Covid vaccination drive in India to begin on Jan 16: PM Modi
‘India ready to save humanity with two Covid vaccines’
Agencies
New Delhi, Jan 9: India’s coronavirus vaccination drive will begin January 16, the government said Saturday evening, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials to review the Covid situation in the country and finalise vaccine roll-out details.
The Prime Minister called the news a “landmark step forward in fighting COVID-19”.
Priority will be given to around one crore healthcare workers and two crore frontline staff, like doctors, community health workers and police, who are directly involved in fighting the pandemic. The vaccine will be free of cost for this group, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said last week.
The next group will be people over 50, followed by those under 50 but with co-morbidities. Around 30 crore people will be vaccinated in the first phase.
Minutes after the announcement, Prime Minister Modi tweeted: “On 16th January, India takes a landmark step forward in fighting COVID-19. Starting that day, India’s nationwide vaccination drive begins. Priority will be given to our brave doctors, healthcare workers, frontline workers including safai karamcharis.”
On Tuesday the government said its CoWIN app (short for Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network) and ecosystem would be used to manage the massive vaccination drive.
The CoWIN digital platform will provide real-time information of vaccine stocks and storage temperatures, as well as provide individualised tracking of vaccine beneficiaries. Over 79 lakh beneficiaries have already been registered on the platform, the government has said.
The app has yet to be launched but will use Aadhaar numbers to authenticate vaccine beneficiaries and send text messages – in at least 12 languages – with details of vaccination date and time.
Initially it will auto-populate data for citizens over 50 from electoral rolls. Individuals can approach the district or block officer to resolve issues, Dr Suneela Garg, a Delhi COVID-19 task force member, said.
Those below 50 can upload medical certificates to establish co-morbidities and secure an appointment.
Once the app is launched there will be three registration options – self, individual (an official will help in uploading data) and bulk upload.
The exact logistics are yet to be announced but the government may organise camps to help people get registered on the app and receive a Covid vaccine.
Meanwhile, PM Modi today said that India is ready to save humanity with two “Made in India’’ COVID-19 vaccines.
While inaugurating the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention through virtual mode, Modi said that India used to import PPE kits, masks, ventilators and testing kits from outside but “today our nation is self-reliant.’’
Prime Minister Modi’s remarks gain significance as the world battles with the raging Corona pandemic and the global efforts are focussed on vaccination to curb the spread of the viral disease.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention is the flagship even of the Ministry of External Affairs and provides an important platform to engage and connect with overseas India, according to an official release. Speaking about ongoing efforts and campaign in India to empower the poor in the country, the Prime Minister said that it was being talked about globally now.
“We have shown that in the sector of renewable energy, a developing country too can take lead,’’ he told the convention.
With an obvious reference to the violence in the US where the process of transition of power is underway after the defeat of President Donald Trump, Modi said that people had said that India will break and democracy is impossible in the country.
Major reshuffle of top bureaucrats on cards in JK
Several IAS, IPS officers on central deputation may return to home cadre
Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Jan 09: After merging J&K cadre officers with Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT), a major reshuffle of top bureaucrats is on the cards with many officers who are on central deputation may be repatriated to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Centre on Thursday merged Jammu and Kashmir cadre IAS, IPS and IFS officers with that of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT), also called the Union Territory cadre, through an ordinance.
The move will allow officers posted in these states and UTs to work in J&K and vice versa.
Top sources in the administration said the government is set to make a major reshuffle in the bureaucracy at the top level in J&K.
“Many senior IAS and IPS officers are likely to be transferred. Top officers, who are holding major departments in the administration, may also be transferred,” they said.
Sources said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh recently also discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the reshuffle in J&K.
They said many IAS and IPS officers who are on central deputation will be repatriated to J&K.
According to sources, the central and J&K government is likely to rollout key development projects in the UT, which may require additional administrative support.
Among the key proposals under government’s consideration to fill vacant administrative posts in J&K also include bringing back officers on deputation to the Centre.
Sources said the Union government has agreed to direct the senior bureaucrats who have completed their deputation at the Centre to return to cadre instead of seeking an extension which requires the state’s no objection certificate.
They said that several top bureaucrats who are holding principal secretary posts will be transferred.
“Some IAS and IPS will also be brought from states of AGMUT,” they said. (KINS)
Coronavirus Pandemic: 2 UK returnees test positive for Covid, samples sent to Delhi
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 9: Two people who recently returned to Kashmir from the UK tested positive for Covid-19, following which their samples were sent to Delhi for genome sequencing to check if they have contracted the new variant of the virus, officials said here on Saturday.
Nodal Officer for Covid-19 at JLNM hospital Dr Bilquees Shah said the samples of two UK returnee travellers, from Habak and Soura localities, were found positive for Covid-19 virus at SKIMS Soura and both of them are currently admitted at JLNM Hospital.
The travellers had returned to the Valley on Friday and their samples tested positive for Covid-19, officials said.
They said their samples have been sent to Delhi for genome sequencing to determine whether they are carrying the new strain of the virus.
“It will only be known whether they are carrying the new strain or not after the results from Delhi come,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Manhas, ADS State surveillance Officer IDSP Jammu said samples of two persons in Jammu, one of which was a traveller from UK and another his contact, were found negative for the newly-discovered strain.
“We have ten more people admitted at a Jammu hospital whose tests have been sent to Delhi for Genome Sequencing”, the official said adding “All these tests are being conducted as per the guidelines of central government to avert any exigency.” (Additional inputs from GNS)
JK records 122 fresh cases, two more deaths
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Jan 9: Six travelers were among 122 fresh Covid-19 cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir in past 24, officials said on Saturday. Two more deaths were reported today, taking the death toll to 1,909 in J&K.
Officials said two persons died of Covid-19 in J&K today.
“Both were from Jammu division—a man from Ploura area of Jammu and woman from Gandya area of Kathua,” they said.
Among the fresh cases, officials said 64 were from Jammu division and 58 from Kashmir Division.
They said that Srinagar reported 25 cases, Baramulla 8, Budgam 5, Kupwara 7, Pulwama 6, Anantnag 0, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 2, Kulgam 3, Shopian 0, Jammu 47, Udhampur 5, Rajouri 0, Doda 5, Kathua 4, Kishtwar 2, Samba 0, Poonch 0, Ramban 0 and Reasi 1.
Moreover, they said, 267 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—116 from Jammu Division and 151 from Kashmir Valley.
They said out of 122425 positive cases, 2094 are active positive, 118422 have recovered and 1909 have died—711 in Jammu and 1198 in Kashmir.
Out of 4059790 test results available, they said, 3937365 samples have been tested as negative till date.
The number of active cases dropped to 2,094 in the UT, while 1,18,422 patients have recovered from the infection so far, the officials said.
Meanwhile, the UT reported two COVID-19 deaths — both from Jammu division — in past 24 hours. (GNS)
