New Delhi, Oct 5: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is fully prepared to deal with two-front war, IAF Chief ACM RKS Bhadauria said on Monday, adding that the country is well positioned to take on China in Ladakh.

Speaking at the annual press conference ahead of the 88th Air Force Day on October 8, he said, “We are very well-positioned. There is no question that in case of any conflict, China can get the better of us.”

Asked if India’s estimation of China was correct, the IAF Chief said the adversary could not be underestimated as it had made huge investment in military technology.

“Their strength lies in surface-to-air systems they have put up in the area. They have long missile systems. We cater to those in our matrix… we can take on that threat,” he said.

In a reply to another question whether the military was surprised by Chinese aggression in Ladakh, the chief said, “We acted swiftly and it will not be correct to say we were surprised… We do hope the talks between the military commanders progress on expected lines. The current progress (by China) is an effort to dig on for the winter… we too are taking actions to step up air assets.”

On being asked about if China could use Pakistan air bases, ACM Bhadauria said it would mean a collusive threat and the force was ready to tackle it.

On the possibility of a two-front threat, the chief said, “We are aware they are cooperating closely. There is significant threat, but so far there is no such indication that they are colluding for a two-front war.”

On Rafale, he said it had provided the IAF a technological edge.  “It gives the ability to strike first and strike deep and hard even in a contested air space,” he said.
About the delivery schedule of Rafale, he said five planes were expected beginning November.
Next year, the first squadron would be ready and by 2023, both the squadrons would be ready and inducted, he said.

A squadron consists of 18 fighter jets.

On the role of drones, he said drones were useful in the build-up to the conflict. On the specifics of armed drones, which India is looking to buy from US firm General Atomics, he said, “Attack drones have been successful, some will succeed and some will fall to enemy action. We have worked to find the right mix of having armed drones within the overall firepower.”

“A war cannot be won through armed drones alone. We will take the final decision keeping in mind all aspects,” he added.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 5: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha condemned the despicable militant attack on Central Reserve Police Force’s personnel in Pampore today and promised that the sacrifice of the security personnel will not go in vain.
In his message, the Lt Governor said, ‘The sacrifices of our CRPF personnel will not go in vain. The government is determined and committed to foil the design of those who want to disrupt peace and derail the development of Jammu and Kashmir through such an attack. I assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir and family members of our brave security personnel that we will punish the perpetrators of such attacks’.
The Lt Governor prayed for peace to the slain personnel and strength to their family members. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of injured CRPF men.

>Announces local recruitment rallies in armed forces

>Says Kupwara-Baramulla Rail Line is Government’s priority

>Issues direction for installation of 5 mobile towers

Kupwara, Oct 5: “I want to create an Ecosystem in J&K, which promotes self-employment, enterprises, manufacturing, industries and also bridges the skill gaps to make rural areas of this Union Territory Atmanirbhar”, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha made these remarks during his visit to the frontier Machil area in Kupwara, where he participated in the ongoing Back to Village-3 programme.

He observed that there is a need to work on the promotion of local crafts and imparting Traditional Skill Training to generate self-employment. In the last 3 months, 246 local youth, including 122 girls, trained for Village Entrepreneurship. “Kupwara figures in the list of best performing aspirational districts; will be turned into a modern industrial hub for walnut production and processing”, he added.

Taking note of the long pending issues of the local population, the Lt Governor announced local recruitment rallies in Armed Forces for unemployed youngsters. He also issued directions for the immediate installation of 5 mobile towers in the area fulfilling a much-needed demand of the people of the area, who had been ruing for mobile connectivity for the past several decades. He also remarked that Kupwara-Baramulla Rail Line is UT Government’s top priority for which the initial survey has already been undertaken.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor inaugurated 33 KV Khumriyal-Machil Line costing Rs 471.80 lakhs which connects the area to the National Grid, BSNL V- Sat for internet, 24 bunkers/alternate secure shelters sheds, Panchayat Assets worth 80.65 lakh created in the last one year. Gram panchayat Action plan 2021-22 of Machil was also unveiled on the occasion.

The Lt Governor also distributed Kisan Credit Cards, Sports Kits, and handed-over financial assistance, various certificates, and sanction letters to beneficiaries under different departmental schemes.

I believe in action, not announcements; will not rest until all villages of J&K are provided with basic amenities. We do not lack funds, but awareness and planned execution. Rs 200 crore have been allotted for development of village industries in J&K; going to secure investment of more than Rs 25 thousand crores very soon” remarked the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor observed that the District has largely unexploited potential of processing around 50 thousand tones of Walnuts and around 3 lakh tonnes Apples every year.

He congratulated the people of Machil and Keran for getting electricity through National Electricity Grid, ending their 70 years long wait only due to the ‘Inclusive Development’ mission of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He assured that the efforts are also underway to connect remaining habitations with the Power Grid as well.

‘I want to make Kupwara a modern industrial hub for walnut production and processing. A single unit set with a cost of Rs 10 lakh could help provides employment to 20-25 people and an annual turnover of 30-35 tonne walnuts’, observed the Lt Governor. He also asked the District Administration and the Panchayats to generate cluster plans for walnut and apple processing in the district.

‘The Government is helping people set up food processing units by giving 50% amount of the total investment. Two educated youth from every Panchayat are provided Rs 5 lakh each to set up business unit during Back to Village 3. More than 8000 youth will be benefitted from this initiative across J&K and a special desk have been set up by J&K bank for assisting young boys and girls in setting up their business’, told the Lt Governor.

“I understand the difficulties faced by Kupwara due to its proximity to the border. I come with a promise that the government is striving to connect Kupwara and other remote areas of J&K with the nation through all-round development”, the Lt Governor said. He said that the government is focusing on promoting key sectors, including food processing, identified for investment which would help generate lots of employment avenues within the district.

Kupwara can achieve phenomenal growth through clear policies, convergence, incentives, skills, and expansion of the market and I’m confident about it. We need to develop and promote new avenues for youngsters from Kupwara. Let us make a promise to ourselves that we will work with dedication and honesty to make our education system robust and professionally competent, the Lt Governor maintained.

The Lt Governor appreciated the district for completing 561 works from earlier phases of the Back to Village programme, and for taking up 1099 works during the ongoing phase.

‘162 works are being completed under the government’s Border Area Development Programme(BADP) in the district. The aim of BADP is to strengthen the border area infrastructure, especially of health sector; development of key sectors like education, agriculture, water resources; financial inclusion, and skill development. 90% of the BADP budget is borne by the Union Government’, he continued.

Identifying the water deficit topography of the district, the Lt Governor called for installing solar-powered water pumps to provide water to water deficit areas of the district.

‘Under the new regime, no more delays in projects shall be tolerated. The government is trying to change the existing ecosystem of delays’, said the Lt Governor.  He stressed on peoples’ cooperation and sector specific policy interventions to mitigate unwarranted delays.

He called upon senior officers of the district for organizing public grievance redressal camps at the block level every week according to need and feasibility.

The Lt Governor called for organizing Rozgar Utsav, as part of next Jan Abhiyaan wherein educated and skilled youth could participate and connect for exchange of ideas. He also asked respective departments to utilize the opportunity to gather relevant data and help implementation of New Education Policy effectively.

The Lt Governor congratulated Nadia Beigh of Punzwa village and Aftab Rasool of Trehgam for cracking the prestigious UPSC exam. He also observed that modern e-Library cum reading rooms being inaugurated during the Back to Village programme would help youngsters prepare for competitive exams.

He directed the Deputy Commissioner and senior officers from the education department to identify the cause of significant secondary school dropout rate and work on it to eliminate the lapses.

Speaking on the promotion of sports activities, the Lt Governor observed that all Panchayats have been provided sports kits according to local preferences. He expressed satisfaction over the construction of 3 indoor stadia in the district and completion of 341 out of 385 projected playgrounds.

The Lt Governor directed officers to ensure availability of drinking water and power supply, ration, medicines, and other basic amenities.

Locals also expressed gratitude for the recent announcement of Lt Governor regarding the use of Raj Bhavan choppers during medical emergencies and evacuation situations, especially during winters and termed it as a sensible effort of the government to mitigate the genuine problems.

Later, the Lt Governor met with various public delegations coming from remote areas of Dudi, Misribehel, Ring Payeen, Chuntimari, Pushwari, Doniwari and took stock of their issues and developmental needs. He assured them that all their genuine issues and demands will be addressed on merit and all efforts shall be made to provide the best rural road connectivity, bunkers, and other necessary infrastructure.

BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Pandurang K. Pole, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Vijay Kumar, IG Kashmir; Anshul Garg, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara; Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar, SSP Kupwara; BDC Chairpersons; PRI Representatives; HoDs; senior officers and a large number of people were present on the occasion.

Death toll at 1255, cases near 80,000 mark
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Oct 5: Ten more people died due COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours, while 632 fresh positive cases were recorded, officials said on Monday.
They said that the fatality count in the union territory has risen to 1255 while number of positive cases across J&K stands at 79738.
Among those who succumbed to the virus include five from Kashmir and as many from Jammu division, officials said.
They said a 60-year-old man from Baramulla died at SMHS hospital, nine days after he was admitted there after being diagnosed with bilateral community acquire pneumonia and hypertension.
They said a 95-year-old man from Rambagh Srinagar, admitted with T2DM, COPD, HTN with bilateral CAP on October 2, also died at SMHS hospital.
An 86-year-old woman from Safapora Gandarbal, who was admitted on September 26 also died at SMHS hospital, they said.
A 72-year-old woman from Habak Srinagar, they said, died a day after she was admitted to SKIMS Soura and tested positive for COVID-19.
They said a 70-year-old woman from Behramgala, presently putting up at Rajouri died in the GMC Rajouri.
Also, a 71-year-old man from Marah Surankote, presently putting up near Radio Station Poonch died at the GMC Jammu, they said.
An 86-year-old man from Kishtwar presently putting up at Janipura Jammu, who was suffering from CAP died at the GMC Jammu where he was admitted for nearly three weeks.
632 more people test positive, tally at 79738
Meanwhile Fifty-four army and paramilitary personnel besides thirty-eight travelers and six minors were among 632 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 79738.

Among the cases, they said, 346 were from Jammu Division and 286 from Kashmir Valley, official sources told GNS.
Giving district-wise details, Srinagar reported 119 cases, Budgam 39, Baramulla 28, Pulwama 15, Kupwara 23, Anantnag 20, Bandipora 15, Ganderbal 19, Kulgam 4, Shopian 4, Jammu 173, Rajouri 35,
Udhampur 33, Doda 26, Kathua 7, Poonch 25, Samba 10, Ramban 2, Kishtwar 31 and Reasi 4.
A number of these cases were confirmed at CD and SKIMS diagnostic laboratories and includes cases from 30 CRPF, 19 from BB Cantt, three from BSF, two from an army’s RR Camp and six minors.
The CD cases include male (06) from Beerwah, two females (13, 15) from Awantipora, three females (48, 23, 18) and male (25) from Narbal Kakapora, male (30) from BSF Baramulla, male (32) from Kanispora Baramulla, male (50) from Uri Baramulla, male (44) from BSF Baramulla, male (50) from Badhmulla Sheeri, male (44) from BSF Baramulla, nineteen males (27, 34, 27, 35, 49, 25, 34, 33, 25, 42, 33, 32, 42, 27, 26, 47, 38, 13, 27) from BB Cantt Srg, male (61) from Chadoora Budgam, three females (22, 11, 44) from Bishember Nagar Srg, female (38) and male (40) from Srinagar, male (30) from Bandipora, male (14) from Hyderpora, male (64) from Bemina, male (45) from HMT, male (40) from Lal Bazar, female (40) from HMT, male (35) from Kishtwar, female (19) from Kak Sarai, male (38) from Nawabazar, male (35) from Botakadal, female (45) from Raj Bagh, male (85) from Khankah, male (52) and two females (18, 23) from Bemina, female (50) from Barzulla, two males (38, 35) from Srinagar, male (65) from Hyderpora, females (28) from Noorbagh, male (55) from Chewakalan, four males (09, 65, 02, 30) and five females (42, 45, 07, 40, 82) from Awantipora, female (45) from Frestbal Pampore, male (07) from Awantipora, male (42) from Chatapora, female (45) from New Colony, female (26) from Zadoora, male (27) from Malikpora Pul, female (30) from Looswani, two males (26, 44) from RR Camp Panzgam, male (60) from Khanyar, female (75) from HMT Srg, male (65) from Khansahib, female (55) from Chanapora, male (70) from Wanibal Pampore, female (62) from Srinagar, male (70) from Khanyar, female (82) from Habak Srg, female (54) from Srg, female (60) from Sopore, male (70) from Gurez.
The Srinagar cases include two females (45, 65) and male (70) from Bemina, male (23) from Buchwara Dalgate, male (21) from Soura, male (28) from HMT, female (55) from Zakura, male (59) from Skims, two males (05, 51) and female (40) from Nowshera, female (65) and male (NA) from Lal Bazar, two males (70, 40) from Rawalpora, male (65) from Nowshera, female (34) from Nigeen, female (25) from Habakadal, male (45) and female (40) from Awantabhawan, female (56) from Sopore, two males (68, 25) from HMT, male (71) from HMT Srinagar.
The Budgam cases include male (40) from Chadoora Town, male (29) from Hushroo Chadoora, male (35) from Chinar Colony Daharmunna, female (45) from Hardu Soresh, female (40) from Magam, male (46) from Waragam, female (34) from Nilnag Nagam, male (52) from Hanjilawpora, male (19) from Beerwah, female (23) from Naik Bagh Nowgam, male (35) from Jhelum Colony Rakh Shalina Budgam, male (32) from Watalpora Budgam.
The Pulwama cases include male (24) from Arigam, male (70) from Awantipora Pulwama.

The Ganderbal cases include male (59) from Pandach, male (63) from Nunar Ganderbal.
The Baramulla cases include male (70) from Rafiabad, male (45) from Dragbal, female (80) from Sopore Baramulla.
The Kupwara cases include female (32) from Kalaroosa Kupwara.
The Kishtwar cases include male (38) from Kishtwar.
The Ramban cases include male (50) from Banihal Ramban.
The Poonch cases include male (28) from Poonch, female (50) from Poonch.
The CRPF cases include male (40) from 115 Bn Crpf Zakura Srg, male (29) from 132 Bn Crpf Sanat Nagar Srg, male (40) from 181 Bn Crpf Charisharief Budgam, six males (52, 28, 54, 51, 51, 55) from 29 Bn Crpf Rawalpora Srg, three males (29, 40, 29) from 181 Bn Crpf Charisharief Budgam, four males (30, 40, 24, 29) from Rtc Iv Humhama Budgam, male (37) male 18 Madras Kalaroos Kupwara, male (26) from 45 RR Kalaroos Kupwara, male (24) from 6 RR Chowkibal Kupwara, male (27) from 2/8 Gr Pk Gali Kupwara, two males (31, 22) from 8 Jat Chowkibal Kupwara, two males (37, 24) from 18 Sikh Chowkibal Kupwara, two males (28, 39) from 2/8 Gr Chowkibal Kupwara, male (25) from 8 Jat Chowkibal Kupwara, two males (35, 23) from 19 Jat Chowkibal Kupwara, male (34) from 268 IBC Chowkibal Kupwara.

Moreover, they said, 1386 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals— 936 from Jammu Division and 450 from Kashmir Valley. (GNS)

New Delhi, Oct 5: The country on Monday recorded 74,442 new cases of Novel Coronavirus, while 903 people succumbed to the contagion in the past 24 hours.

With fresh cases and casualties, the country’s tally reached 66.23 lakh, while the death toll mounted to 1,02,685.

Active cases remained below the 10-lakh mark for the 14th straight day.

In the past 24 hours, 76,737 recoveries have been registered in the country. The new recoveries have exceeded the new cases in the recent days. India’s total recoveries stand at 55,86,703 today.

The higher number of single day recoveries has boosted the national recovery rate, currently pegged at 84.34 per cent.

As much as 75 per cent of new recovered cases were recorded in 10 states and UTs. Maharashtra alone has contributed more than 15,000 to the new recovered cases followed by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with more than 7,000 cases each.

There are 9,34,427 active cases in India as on date, though they contribute only 14.11 per cent to the positive caseload of the country. This is following a progressively downward trend. Ten states/UTs account for 77 per cent of the active cases.

Meanwhile, former Union Minister and eight-time MP Rashid Masood died here on Monday, following prolonged illness. He was 73.

Another politician, Congress MP from Maldaha Dakshin seat in West Bengal, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, who was found Covid-19 positive, is currently “critical”.

The condition of the septuagenarian MP, undergoing treatment at a city-hospital, is “critical” and is currently admitted at the ITU. ” We are keeping a close watch on his health condition,” hospital sources said.

Srinagar, Oct 5: Government of India is likely to restore 4G internet services in some more districts of Jammu and Kashmir from October 15 this month, reports said.

Union Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla who heads the high powered committee on the matter is likely to hold another detailed review of the situation before October 15, reports said.
It’s in place to mention here that the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, had assured that the matter on 4G is being examined very seriously.

The 4G internet services were snapped on August 5, 2019 when Government of India annulled the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Over an year after, 4G services were restored in Ganderbal district from Kashmir and Jammu’s Udhampur district.

If reports are to be believed 4G may be restored in Central Kashmir’s Budgam and Reasi district of Jammu from October 15. Reports said that border districts including Rajouri, Poonch and Sambha in Jammu and Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla in Kashmir, the chances of restoration of 4G is minimal. Srinagar, Anantnag and Shopian as per reports have witnessed maximum violence after the abrogation of Article 370 and in these districts also chances of restoration of 4G internet services are minimal.

Reports said that in some districts of Jammu and Kashmir 4G services will be restored on 15 October. (KNT)

Tourists asked to follow COVID guidelines strictly during rides
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 5: The government of Jammu and Kashmir has resumed the commercial operation of Gulmarg Gondola Section-I (Gulmarg–Kongdoori) from September 27, 2020, World Tourism Day and Section (2) of Jammu Ropeway from Bahu to Mahamaya from 3rd of October 2020.
The operations at both Ropeways are being carried out by observing all preventive protocols regarding Covid-19 like maintaining social distance, sanitization of cabins before and after boarding and de-boarding of passengers, compulsory wearing of masks by all.
For the tourists visiting Gulmarg and Jammu Ropeway, the govt. has informed that no tourist is allowed to board both the Ropeways without wearing of masks and any tourist with temperature exceeding 99° Farenhiet shall not be allowed to enter the premises of the ropeways.
The Tourism department has invited the tourists to come and enjoy the Gondola ride of Gulmarg Ropeway and Jammu Ropeway.