Srinagar, June 30: The third round of talks between India and China were held at Indian side of Moldo- Chushul border post.
According to KINS the Commander level Army officers of India and China held discussions to ease the tensions on the border issues of Eastern Ladakh region.
Sources said that talks began at 10:30 Tuesday Morning at Chushul post. “The Indian side Army delegation was led by GoC, Fire and Fury Lt Genl Harinder Singh while the Peoples Liberation Army was represented by South Xinjiang Military Division’s Major General Lin Lui,” sources maintained.
The commanders met for the second time after the Galwan stand-off on 15 June.
On 22nd of June, the two sides arrived at a mutual consensus to disengage from all the friction points along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.
Sources said that both sides deliberated on the implementation of the decisions arrived in their first meeting on 6th of June.
Ladakh Standoff: India, China hold 3rd round of talks
China passes controversial Hong Kong Security Law
Beijing, June 30: Beijing on Tuesday unanimously passed the controversial security law for Hong Kong that will not only criminalise secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces, but also effectively curtail protests and freedom of speech.
The law that could come into effect on Wednesday was approved by 162 members of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) within 15 minutes of the meeting starting at 0900 hrs, a Hong Kong Daily — South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.
The law would make it legitimate to set up mainland security agencies in Hong Kong and for the committee headed by the chief executive to appoint judges to oversee national security cases, RTHK reported. The chief executive will be supervised by the central government, and the new legislation will be adopted into existing Hong Kong law.
Earlier, Hong Kong city leader Carrie Lam said, “All those countries which are pointing their fingers at China have their own national security legislation in place. We can think of no valid reason why China alone should be inhibiting from enacting a national security legislation to protect every corner of its territory and all of its nations,” and added, “I welcome this opportunity to state our position on the enactment of the legislation of national security law for HKSAR.”
The legislation, supported by Hong Kong leadership, caused protests by the pro-democracy groups in the city, whereas the leader of country’s pro-democracy organisation ‘Demosisto’ — Joshua Wong said he was leaving the group, which he had spearheaded.
But some other veteran activists have said they will join a key march on Wednesday, despite the risk of arrest under the new law.
It also drew criticism and sanctions from the United States, despite Beijing repeatedly stating that the matter of Hong Kong is the nation’s internal affair and should not be interfered with. Britain, the European Union and United Nations rights watchdog have also voiced fears the law could be used to stifle criticism of Beijing, which wields similar laws on the authoritarian mainland to crush dissent.
Hong Kong was handed back to China from British control in 1997, but under a special agreement that guaranteed certain rights for 50 years. As a special administrative region, Hong Kong maintains separate governing and economic systems from that of mainland China under a principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’.
‘China prepared to respond to US meddling in Hong Kong affairs’
Beijing, June 30 (Sputnik) China is determined to take appropriate countermeasures to attempts of the United States to undermine the national security law on Hong Kong, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Tuesday.
On Monday, the US government announced a set of measures curtailing Hong Kong’s preferential status under US law, including exceptions on export licenses. As announced by State Secretary Mike Pompeo, the US has suspended export of military equipment and is set to also suspend export of US defense and dual-use technologies to Hong Kong.
“On Hong Kong’s national security legislation, the Chinese side has made clear its solemn position on many occasions. It is China’s internal affair and no foreign country has any right to interfere. The Chinese government is determined in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, in implementing the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, and in opposing external forces’ interference in Hong Kong affairs,” Zhao said.
According to the spokesman, the purpose of Washington’s restrictions is to “obstruct China’s legislation process to safeguard national security in Hong Kong.”
“Such attempts will never succeed. As regards the wrong moves by the US side, China will take necessary retaliatory measures to resolutely safeguard its national interests,” Zhao said.
The law in question was passed by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress earlier in the day following a little more than a month-long review since proposed by the lawmakers. This is expected to adjust security policies in Hong Kong to Beijing’s perception of crime and punishment with regard to separatism, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign agents.
The legislation has triggered a backlash both abroad and in Hong Kong, where residents fear their basic freedoms and rights, enjoyed under the autonomous region’s special status, might get painfully limited by Beijing.
JK Bank stops salaries of 2800 employees
Aatif Qayoom
Srinagar, June 30: Jammu and Kashmir Bank has stopped salary of month of June to about 2800 employees who were recruited in last six years.
Top official sources informed KNS that the salary of those employees has been stopped whose name has figured in the documents related to the investigation being carried by Anti Corruption Bureau( ACB).
” This is not our decision actually. It is related to raid of ACB sleuths at J&K Bank corporate office when they took possession of some files last year. We approached Anti Corruption Court and sought photocopies of those files. The court accepted our prayer and issued an observation that salary of these employees should not be withdrawn,” he said.
Sources informed that they are approaching High Court for release of salary of these employees.
Scores of the employees informed that it has created panic among the employees who fear it as step towards their exit from the Bank.
On June 10 last year, following the allegations of fraudulent appointments in J&K Bank, ACB searched for documents at corporate office related to it.
Then ACB spokesperson had said that the searches of the premises of J&K Bank which started yesterday after registration of FIR.
During search operations, documents, discriminatory material pertaining to the appointments were seized. Further investigation is going on and questioning of accused/suspects will follow,” the spokesman had said.
During the raid, the ACB officials had checked the files and documents related to appointments made by the bank in recent years.
An official of the Bank said, “Presently we are not able to release their salary but there is no worry, we are following it, we have already approached court and are sure the issue will be sorted out within days”.
Vice President J&K Bank Ltd. Farooq Ahmad Law while talking to KNS admitted that the employees have not received their salaries.
He clarified that salaries have been stopped after ACB initiated investigation of some case related to the institution, but we have moved to court and are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon. (KNS)
Fake currency smuggler nabbed by CBI after being deported from Thailand
New Delhi, Jun 29 (UNI) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has nabbed a smuggler who was allegedly dealing in fake currency.
According to the sources, he was deported from Thailand and was intercepted and taken into custody by the probe agency at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
It was after almost eight years that this man , Kuldeep Singh Dua, who belongs to a village in Punjab’s Nawanshahr , was nabbed by the CBI after the agency got intel on him being deported from Thailand.
He was later produced before the court and sent for judicial custody.
Significantly, it was back on the intervening night of September 11 – 12 in 2012 that the customs at IGI airport had seized around six lakh rupees face value FICN from a person Kulwant Rai, who later revealed that it was Dua who had given him that currency to be further circulated in India.
Dua remained absconding since then , while the agency had filed its chargesheet in the matter against Rai.
CBI had also issued Look Out Notice against Dua earlier.
UNI APS JAL 0055
National Level World Environmental Week celebrations conclude at GCE Srinagar
SRINAGAR, JUNE 29: National Level World Environmental Week Celebrations on the theme ‘Celebrate Biodiversity’ today concluded at Government College of Education MA Road here.
The programme was organized by Department of Environmental Education in collaboration with Department of Computer Education.
This year the world environment week was organized through online mode.
The programme had series of events with the aim to connect student community with nature during this COVID-19 pandemic and help them evolve into future guardians of environment.
The series of programmes included National Level Online Quiz Competition, National Level Essay Competition, National Level Painting/ Poster Competition, National Level Photography Competition and National Level Slogan Writing Competition.
397 students were registered for different events. In National Level Online Quiz Competition, Qurat Un Nisa of S.P College Srinagar bagged 1st position, followed by Sruthi S Kumar of St. Aloysius College Thrissur, KKerala while as Sreejith S Kumar of Zoological Survey of Pune got 3rd position.
In National Level Essay Competition Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander of Govt. College of Education (IASE) M.A Road Srinagar bagged 1st position, Sumana A Bag from Medical college Navsari Gujrat got 2nd position and Khursheed Ahmad Malla of Govt. College of Education (IASE) M.A Road Srinagar got 3rd position.
Similarly, in National Level Painting/ Poster Competition Neha Sanjay Bodade of Pundlik Maharaj Mahavidyalaya Maharashtra got 1st position, Tarun singh Bishit of School of Open Learning (University of Delhi) got 2nd Position and Irtiqa Bazaz of Department of Fine Arts, University of Kashmir got 3rd position.
In National Level Photography Competition Urba Ramzan of Govt. College of Education (IASE) M.A Road Srinagar got 1st position, Anam Manzoor of Govt. College of Education (IASE) M.A Road Srinagar got 2nd position and Iqra Gulzar of GDC Pampore got 3rd position.
Likewise, in National Level Slogan competition Arjumand Mushtaq of Govt. College of Education (IASE) M.A Road Srinagar got 1st position, Ms. Sneha B Sakhare of Dr Ambedkar College Deekshabhumi, Nagpur got 2ndposition and Urba Ramzan of Govt. College of Education (IASE) M.A Road Srinagar got 3rd position.
Prof. Gurmeet Kour and Dr. Nousheen Qureshi acted as Judges for National Level Essay Competition and Arshad Sauleh and Muneer Ahmad acted as Judges for National Level Painting/ Poster, Photography and Slogan Competitions.
The week long programme was conducted under the leadership of Principal Government College of Education, Prof. (Dr.) Ruhi Jan Kanth. Dr. Nousheen Qureshi Head, Department of Environmental Education acted as Coordinator and Prof. Abdul Wahid Head, Department of Computer Education acted as Co-coordinator of the programme.
Suicides soar in depressed Kashmir, 8 lives lost in 20 days
Suhail Khan
Srinagar, June 29: Kashmir has witnessed an increase in suicides as eight people lost their lives in 20 days.
These figures are about only the cases that were reported while the unreported ones go undocumented.
In the recent past several people including some girls attempted suicide. The increased incidence of suicide attempts, particularly among the Kashmiri youth, has become a serious concern for the people.
The latest incident came to the fore on Sunday when a 23-year-old girl from New Colony Sopore attempted suicide.A police official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that she attempted to commit suicide by injuring herself with knife.
“She has stabbed herself with a sharp knife.
She was treated at Hospital in Sopore and later discharged. A case has been registered and investigation set in motion,” the official said.The official said it is the responsibility of every one to prevent suicide attempts.
“Anxiety has increased for the last few months. We should not allow depression to take over. Some NGOs are also making an effort by counselling people how to overcome anxiety,” the official added.According to police official they are trying to ascertain the reason behind why she attempted to suicide. “We are making all efforts to prevent people from attempting suicide,” he said.He however said responsibility lies on each and every member of society to help each other to overcome depression.Recently, another girl threatened to commit suicide in Sopore. While taking to micro blogging site twitter she said that she will commit suicide by jumping into river Jehlum in protest against alleged harassment by army and the police.Taking cognizance of the social media post, senior officers of Sopore Police rushed to the house of the girl along with some respectable citizens of the area.
“The family concealed the whereabouts of the girl but acting professionally and putting in hard efforts, our team traced the girl who was hiding in the backyard of the house,”
the police official said.Later, a case was registered by the police.As per data available with KINS, in the last 20 days, eight persons including a soldier ended their lives by taking extreme steps in Kashmir division.As per data, on June 11, a 35-year-old man from South Kashmir’s Anantnag village ended his life. (KINS)
70% students of 8th standard appear in T-1 online assessment in Kashmir
Bhat Imran
Srinagar, June 29 : Only 70 per cent students of 8th standard have participated in the online assessment in the Kashmir valley in recently conducted Term-1 examinations.
An official of the school education department told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that 70.16 percent students appeared in the online assessment.
He said south Kashmir’s Anantnag district recorded the lowest participation of students where only 60.72 per cent students appeared in the examinations.
“In Budgam district 84.27 per cent participation was recorded followed by Shopian with 81.98 per cent, Pulwama with 76.66 per cent, 73.77 per cent in Bandipora, 72.82 per cent from Srinagar, 72.07 per cent from Ganderbal, 71.45 per cent from Kulgam district, 66.96 per cent from frontier district Kupwara, 63.38 per cent from Baramulla and 60.72 percent students appeared in the examinations from Anantnag district,” he told KNO.
Earlier the teachers of various government schools said, “The Google classroom forum link created by the school education department to hold online T-1 exams was not functional for all students.”
“The website link created for the students crashed due to heavy flow of the participants,” he added.
The official also said that the State Institute of Education (SIE) is holding the exams of only 9th standard, however, the exams of 8th standard is being conducted by the respective District Institute of Education and Training (DIET)
The online assessment of 8th standard commenced from June-15 and culminated on June-22
Pertinently, the State Institute of Education (SIE) Kashmir is lying headless since the retirement of its joint director, Mehboob Hussain.
Examination in-charge SIE, Dr. Nazneen told KNO this was not an examination but an assessment of what students have obtained and achieved from online classes during Covid-19 lockdown.
She said that there was a huge flow of participants in the assessment and almost 70 per cent students participated in it—(KNO)
Water shortage across Kashmir as taps run dry
No shortage at all, Rangil open canal breach has led to reduction in quantity supply: CE PHE
Owais Gul
Srinagar, June 29: Amid scorching heat, many residential areas of Srinagar and other districts of the Valley have been complaining of acute water scarcity while as the government on Monday stated that breaches at Ranguil open canal and COVID outbreak are among the main reasons behind reduction in water supply to the residents.
Inhabitants of several areas especially those hailing from Srinagar City areas including Chattabal, Habba Kadal, Fateh Kadal, Lal Chowk, Batamaloo, Khanyar and others told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have been facing acute water scarcity from two weeks.
They said amid scorching heat, the concerned department is depriving them of basic facility, thus leaving them to lurch at large. The residents added that the department is forcing them to hit the streets to press for their demands.
“It is not for the first time that the Srinagar residents are facing acute water scarcity during the summer season, but such a situation has been witnessed in the past as well,” Nazir Ahmad, a local resident from Chattabal said.
Meanwhile, Chief Engineer of Jal Shakti Department (Public Health Engineering PHE), Abdul Wahid told KNO that there is no shortage of water in the plants, adding that the department has stocked adequate water in the plants.
However, he said that the main reasons behind the shortage in water supply to the people are the breach in Ranguil open canal and COVID. “Due to the breach in Ranguil open canal, we (department) are supplying our stocked water to the irrigation as well,” he said, adding that this is one among the main reasons that people are complaining of shortage of water.
“Although there is no shortage in supply, but the quantity has got reduced,” he said, adding that the PHE department is doing its best to ensure the people will not suffer—(KNO)
Cyber Attack On PDD
Last week, the Power Development Department came under ‘cyber attack. The department is facing the risk of losing data of lakhs of consumers as a consequence of it. The attack has already left ‘Bijli Sahuliyat’ Application and other online services defunct for an unspecified period.
One of the saving factors for the consumers and department is that bills for the last month were already generated and dispatched to the consumers. It avoided confusion and made possible payment through the concerned Bank. However, thousands of consumers have been forced to submit the bill at bank branches which is taxing to a number of people for varied reasons especially amid present novel coronovirus pandemic. While cyber attacks is a reality in fast changing technological driven world, the power development department has rightly decided not to haste towards the resumption as operating the same till proper screening was conducted by the cyber experts would be unsafe. In other words, it would amount to compromising valuable data.
By acknowledging the attack, the power development department has done better to address the vulnerabilities found and it needs to improve processes and build capacity to respond faster.
The cyber attacks are nothing new. In fact, as a reality, they needed to be effectively dealt with. Like that of other parts of the country, there are many online services which are presently provided in Jammu and Kashmir. The online services including the commerce and the governance are also prone to cybersecurity breaches and it was confirmed by Internal Security Threat Report by one of the leading providers of security, storage and systems management solutions in India.
There have been many data breach-related issues reported in India from last several years.
The experts in the field would say that there is no such thing as a perfectly secure system. Those looking to attack critical infrastructure can wait for years for a single mistake to be made.
Given the huge number of online users and continued efforts on affordable access, cybersecurity needs to be integrated into every aspect of policy and planning. The administration needs to quickly frame an appropriate and updated cyber security policy, create an adequate infrastructure to deal quickly with such attacks.
