Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, July 12: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday directed the administration to take all necessary measures and precautions to curb the spike and spread of Covid-19 in Kashmir division.
Dr Singh, who is Union Minister of State, PMO, said this while chairing a meeting here today convened to review, monitor and evaluate the situation evolved due to spike in Covid-19 cases in Kashmir division.
Dr Singh asked the authorities to ensure strict implementation of the lockdown guidelines for the safety of people. He also directed the officials to advise people to follow all the precautions and guidelines laid by the Centre to successfully fight the Corona virus. He stressed for devising an effective strategy to overcome the spread of disease.
Appreciating the efforts made by the administration and health professionals regarding Covid-19 management, Dr Singh advised the Health professionals to put in their best efforts in this time of crisis with added zeal and dedication.
He asked the Divisional administration to prepare some fresh guidelines in consultation with health professionals so that same are publicized for the safety of people to avoid further spread of disease.

Dr Singh also interacted with Deputy Commissioners of Baramulla, Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam through video conferencing and sought their suggestions and opinion with regard to Covid-19 containment.
Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Atal Duloo apprised the Minister about the present situation and the measures undertaken for containment and management of Covid-19 pandemic.

Tourists asked to arrive by air, have advance bookings in hotels, to undergo COVID test at  Srinagar Airport

Bashir Bhat

Srinagar, July 12: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Sunday decided to reopen Jammu and Kashmir for tourism activities in phased manner from Tuesday onwards but issued strict guidelines to be followed by the tourists and people associated with the hospitality sector.

A government order no.67-JK (DMRRR) dated July 12, 2020, stated: “Whereas, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to open the tourism sector in a phased manner w.e.f 14.072020. In view of the COVID related measures, it is felt imperative to put in place a protocol to be followed by the tourists as well as the persons/authorities engaged in the hospitality sector. As such, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the guidelines are hereby issued by the State Executive Committee for regulating the entry of tourists in the UT of J& K. Any deviation from this order shall attract penal action under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.”
The guidelines issued by the government are:

General

These guidelines apply to entry of tourists to the Union Territory of J&K in Phase-I. In this phase, there will be a partial opening of the tourism sector for external visitors from outside J&K, limited to tourists arriving by air only.  All in-coming tourists must have confirmed hotel bookings for the duration of their stay. All in-coming tourists must have confirmed return air tickets to any place outside J&K, either to their departure point or any other destination. There shall be compulsory RTPCR testing, of all tourists on arrival. Taxis /transport facility have to be pre-booked through hotel / travel agency, for which procedures will be put in place by Tourism department (to be mentioned on the website of J&K Tourism). Tourists above the age of 65 should avoid coming on a tourism holiday. The Tourism department will make arrangements to ensure that the guidelines are followed in all respects.

Arrival, Testing and Accommodations _

Tourists have to mandatorily pre-book their accommodation online in hotels, houseboats or guesthouses etc. The proof of the same shall be checked on arrival. Taxis that transport tourists to the hotel shall also be pre-booked by the hotels / travel agencies. The list of such hotels and travel agencies will be available on the website of J&K Tourism. Only tourists coming by air shall be permitted. On arrival there shall be compulsory RTPCR testing of all the tourists at the airport of arrival. Till the test result shows a negative result for COVID 19 a tourist will remain in the hotel where booking has been made and shall not be permitted to move out. A form to this effect shall have to be signed at the airport. Test results will normally arrive within 24 hours except in special circumstances. The hotel management shall be required to ensure compliance with this protocol.

Those tourists arriving with COVID negative reports from their departure points will not be required to remain isolated in hotels. They shall, however, be also required to give their sample for RTPCR testing on arrival at the airport. Tourists testing positive will be sent for treatment to a medical facility as per protocol.

Pick-up facility

Travel agents, hotels, houseboats and guesthouses shall provide pick-up facility from the airport for their tourist guests. Prescribed social distancing norms shall be followed everywhere during transportation.

Aaroqva Setu

All tourists should have the Arogya Setu app installed on their phones and shall be checked for ‘safe’ status on the Aarogya Setu app at the time of arrival before entering the premises.

Departure 

The hotels, houseboats and guest houses or the travel agents will arrange for transport of the tourists to the airport for their departure from J&K.

Baramullla, July 12: A top Lashkar-e-Taiba militant was among three militants killed in an encounter which ensued after security forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the apple township of Sopore in this north Kashmir district on Sunday.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said, “A  Pakistani LeT militant, identified as Usman — who was involved in killing of a CRPF personnel and a civilian in Sopore — was gunned down in the encounter.”
He said,  “It is a big success for security forces.”

Meanwhile, mobile internet service has been suspended in Sopore as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint CASO was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir, CRPF and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) at Rebban, about 2 km from main Sopore town, in the wee hours of Sunday.

However, he said when the security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants there, opened indiscriminate fire with automatic weapons. “The security forces retaliated  triggering an encounter,” he said, adding a militant was killed in the exchange of fire in the morning.

He said two more militant was killed later in the afternoon. “One of the slain militant has been identified as Usman,” IGP Kumar said.

A CRPF head constable Deep Chand and a civilian, identified as Bashir Ahmad Khan, were killed while three other personnel were injured in a militant attack on security force patrolling party in the apple township of Sopore in north Kashmir district of Baramulla on July 1.

The IGP Kumar said, “LeT militant Usman bhai was involved in the attack on security forces.”

2 militants responsible for attack arrested: Police

Srinagar, July 12: Militants on Sunday hurled two grenades on security forces in south Kashmir district of Pulwama, but they failed to explode, an Army official said.

He said the militants attempted an attack on the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) at 1645 hrs on Sunday at Chersoo, Awantipora in Pulwama.

”Suspects moving on a bike threw two grenades on the CAPF deployment, without taking out the pin,” said the official, adding that the grenades did not explode.

Official sources said that the militants managed to escape from the spot.

”Security forces have been rushed to the area and a search operation has been launched to nab the attackers,” they added.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement said that the militants who had lobbed the grenades were arrested hours after the act. “In this regard case FIR number 90/2020 U/S 307 IPC, 16,18,20 ULAP Act &  Section 3 of Explosive Substance Act  was registered at police station Awantipora . During the course of investigation it came to fore that two persons were riding a white colour Apache bike that actually had lobbed grenades and were driving very fast. The area was cordoned immediately and during the search of the village Sail, the suspected white colour Apache bike was traced at about 100 meters away from the place of incident. During further search of the area, both the militants, who had lobbed the grenades, were arrested from village Sail Awantipora. They have been identified as Umer  and  Zahid Yusuf Pala both resident of  Aloora Shopian,” the spokesman added.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, July 12: Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Girish Chandra Murmu, on Sunday highlighted the strengths and initiatives taken up by the UT government to transform the region into a major investment destination through prioritisation of 14 focus sectors.

The LG said this while addressing a special session titled “Jammu & Kashmir: Development and Business Forum” during India Global Week 2020.

An official spokesperson said that the Jammu and Kashmir Government participated in the 3-day virtual conference, India Global Week 2020, themed “Be The Revival: India and a Better New World” organised by India Inc Group.

“Over 10,000 global members from 67 countries participated in the event which was aimed at  re-energising and igniting optimism at global level besides bringing about an action-oriented focus by giving a forum to global deliberations from all fields of life,” he said.

He said notable speakers of the event included Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of Railways, Piyush Goyal, British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab,  British Home Secretary, Priti Patel and US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster.

Addressing the special session titled “Jammu & Kashmir: Development and Business Forum”, the LG informed that the investment climate is being nurtured by the Government through development of state-of-the-art infrastructure including 2 IT parks, 2 Inland Container Depots and an industrial land bank of over 6000 Acre across 19 districts. “We have removed all regulatory and institutional barriers between J&K and rest of India ushering in one nation one framework in the truest sense,” he maintained.

Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, shared his views during the panel discussion on ‘J&K- Land of opportunities’.

Dwivedi highlighted the initiatives being taken up by the J&K Government to make the Union Territory attractive for investors particularly in the potential areas of IT, tourism and hospitality, organic farming, agro-industries and food processing besides film and advertising industry.

“Global business leaders participating in the Global India Week appreciated the new progressive economic eco system emerging in J&K. Leading Entrepreneurs from Jammu and Kashmir also participated in the programmes that deliberated on investment opportunities and current challenges,” the spokesperson said.

He said Jammu Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO) was the key organizer for participation of J&K in the Global India week. “Under JK Invest, JKTPO is also working on the follow up for the road shows organised in the month of February this year and is working on grounding the investment MOUs signed during these road shows,” he said.

“A total of 75 sessions, with 250 speakers, were conducted during the conference,” he added.

Owais Ahmed is DC Bandipora, Dr Lone posted as Vice-Chairman SDA

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, July 12: Jammu and Kashmir government today ordered the postings and transfers in administration.

An order issued here by the General Administration Department said that in the interest of administration, the following transfers and postings are hereby ordered with immediate effect:-

Vikas Kundal, IAS (JK:2013), Additional Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Regulatory Authority, Srinagar, holding additional charge of Vice-Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, MD/CEO, Jammu Mass Rapid Transit Corporation and MD/CEO, Srinagar Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, is transferred and posted as Managing Director, J&K Project Construction Corporation, relieving Mr. M.Raju, IAS, Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring Department of the additional charge of the post.

The order said that he shall continue to hold the charge of MD/CEO, Jammu Mass Rapid Transit Corporation and MD/CEO, Srinagar Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.

Owais Ahmed, IAS (JK:2014), awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, is posted as Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, relieving Zahoor Ahmad Mir, KAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bandipore of the additional charge of the post.

Dr. Bashir Ahmad Lone, KAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Home Department, is transferred and posted as Vice-Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority. He shall also hold the charge of Additional Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Regulatory Authority, Srinagar, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.

Dr. Arvind Karwani, KAS, Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes, Enforcement (Kathua) headquartered at Lakhanpur, is transferred and posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Home Department.

Sanjay Gupta, KAS, Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes, Enforcement (Samba), shall hold the charge of Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes, Enforcement (Kathua) headquartered at Lakhanpur, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.

Bandipora, July 12: Bhartiya Janata Party top leadership Sunday morning visited the residence of slain BJP leader Sheikh Waseem Bari here in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Bari along with his brother Sheikh Umar (BJP Coordinator), father Sheikh Bashir (BJP senior leader) were gunned down by militants outside their home in Muslimabad area of Bandipora. Police have already suspended 10 of their security guards.

Police sources told news agency KNT that BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav, Union Minister MoS PMO office Dr Jatinder Singh, National Vice- President Avinash Rai Khanna and Jammu Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina accompanied by Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar visited the house of slain party leaders.

These leaders expressed grief over the killing of trio and interacted with the family members and relatives of the slain men.

Bandipora, July 12: Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Ram Madhav, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and other leaders on Sunday visited north Kashmir district of Bandipora to meet the family of BJP leader Sheikh Waseem Bari, who alongwith his father and brother were killed by militants last week.

Madhav demanded increased security for party workers and a swift action against those responsible for the killing of the BJP leader and his family members. “All BJP leaders stand with all over party leaders and workers at these difficult times in the valley. We have come here to offer condolences to the bereaved family,” Madhav told reporters here on Sunday.

The BJP General Secretary said that the killing of Bari has been painful for the party. “We appeal that the attackers must be tracked and killed,” he said.

Madhav said that they also demand increased and proper security to the party workers in J&K.

Later, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to the family members of Bari.

Bari, his father Bashir Ahmad and brother Umer Bashir were shot dead by militants  at their shop on Wednesday. Following the incident, 10 SPOs were dismissed and arrested by police for ‘negligence’.

Accepting that there was a security laps, the IGP on Thursday said all the 10 Personal Security Officers (PSOs), who were guarding BJP leader, have been dismissed and taken into custody.

Kumar, who on Thursday visited the site where the attack took place in Bandipora, told reporters that it was a pre-planned attack and could have been averted if security personnel would have been alert.

Kumar said that two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including a Pakistani national, involved in the killing of BJP leader, his father and brother late last night in north Kashmir district of Bandipora have been identified. “Two LeT militants, including a foreigner and a local identified as Abid, carried out the attack. The militant fired shot at the BJP leader and his brother and father from close range,” he said.

Answering a question if the security of leaders has to be revised, the IGP had said all leaders who have a threat have been provided with security.

However, he said, “The number of security force personnel assigned for security is not important. The important thing is how alert and brave a security personnel is.”

Srinagar, July 12: Police arrested chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai from his Barzulla Bagat residence here on Sunday.

A family member told KNS that a police party from Saddar Police Station arrived at the Sehrai’s residence at around 6 AM and took him along.

Gurugram, July 12: Amid the reports of further disengagement of the Chinese and Indian troops in Galwan valley in the eastern after a stiff faceoff, the Indo- Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) Chief SS Deswal on Sunday said that all the country’s land is under “full possession” of our security and defence forces.

ITBP DG Deswal who is also holding the additional charge of the Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a plantation drive held at a BSF camp in Bhondsi here.

“All the country’s land is with us. Our land is in full possession of our security forces,” Deswal told reporters here when he was asked to comment on the current military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

“All our borders are safe, be it the eastern, western or northern. The security forces of the country are very active, capable and dedicated.

They are capable to protect the borders against any kind of enemy with all their might and efficiency,” he further said.

When asked if the ITBP had moved more troops to its eastern part of LAC posts along the LAC, Mr Deswal said the forces are moved across the country as per requirement.

“The morale of the army and border guarding forces is very high. Since independence, the security forces have made numerous sacrifices to protect the country’s borders and for security of the country whether it is external threat or internal security,” he said.

He also said that the ITBP is old an experienced force which was created way back in 1962 to protect Himalayan border with China and has best experience of mountain warfare.

The Himalayan border guarding force ITBP is mandated to guard 3,488 Km long LAC with China