Beijing, Jun 21: The Chinese media continues to betray its restraint at the increasing popularity of the “boycott Chinese products” movement in India, with an editorial in the state-run ‘Global Times’ on Sunday warning that boycott of Chinese goods would hamper the bilateral relations between the two countries.

While a section of the Indian media has been critical about China in the wake of the June 15 border clashes between the Indian Army soldiers and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers, with some even calling for a military response to the Chinese aggression, China’s state-controlled media has been very measured in its reporting and taken care not to escalate the situation.

However, several editorial pieces in the ‘Global Times’ have written about the movement calling for boycott of Chinese goods in India. A latest editorial titled ‘India’s boycott of Chinese products, mobile apps to sour relations’ published on June 21, has conceded that the boycott movement is already having a negative impact on Chinese business prospects in India.

The article quoted a Chinese market analyst as saying that boycott of Chinese goods has already become a ‘social phenomenon’ in India, which would hamper the expansion in the market of Chinese products, and also conceded that the data privacy concerns that have been raised about Chinese apps, would hurt the market for apps such as Tik Tok and WeChat.

It also noted that the ‘Remove China Apps’ software has already had a negative impact on Chinese businesses that were planning to enter the Indian market.

The article expressed hope that the negative impact on Chinese products does not last long as the same are providing customer-oriented services to the Indian public at affordable prices.

Quoting an expert from Tsinghua University, the article argued that targeting Chinese products and apps will sour the China-Indian relations further and claimed that the Chinese investment in India is crucial to the latter’s startup ecosystem, which may be jeopardised due to boycott calls.

The article said that 18 of India’s 30 unicorn companies (privately held startup company valued at over one billion dollar) have been funded by China.

Articles critical of the boycott movement have been a regular feature in the Chinese media, with some analysing that India should deepen its economic co-operation with China, so that mutual interdependence mitigates the chances of conflict, while some others take the line that India is gaining from Chinese investment in India and its technology.

15413 cases recorded in one day

New Delhi, June 21: The country’s coronavirus contagion tally on Sunday surged above 4 lakh with a record breaking single day spike of 15,413 fresh cases.
According to the Health Ministry update, the confirmed cases of the pandemic at present stand at 410461 across the nation, while the fatalities mounted to 13,254 after 306 people lost their lives fighting the lethal virus in the past 24 hours.
However, on a brighter side, as many as 2,27,755 patients were cured and discharged cases and it is 58,304 more than the active cases in the country that stands at 1,69,451 across the country.
With the recovered cases count margin increasing as compared to the active cases, indicates improvement of the recovery rate in the country as the recovery rate had improved to 54.12 per cent till Saturday, as per the Union Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, the condition of Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain, who was tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week has been administered plasma therapy and is on oxygen support, the AAP stated on Saturday.

Suhail Khan/Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, June 21: Kashmir on Sunday recorded two more COVID-19 deaths taking the number of fatalities due to virus across J&K to 83.
Medical Superintendent SKIMS Professor Farooq Jan told KINS, a 51-year-old man from Tragpora Rafiabad in north Kashmir who had tested positive for COVID-19 died here this morning. “It was a case of post renal transplant. Sample was taken on 28/5/20 result came positive on 3/6/20. He was planned for AV fistula. Patient was referred from COVID clinic. Cause of death cardiac arrest.
Meanwhile,  a 60-year-old COVID-19 female patient from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district died also at SKIMS here this afternoon.
Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, told GNS that the woman was admitted to the hospital on June 20.
The patient was diagonised of “EHBO – blockage of normal flow of bile from liver to intestinal tract – with septic shock”, Professor Jan said.
“Her sample was taken on June 20 and the result came positive on the same day”, he said.
Srinagar district with 19 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla 13, Shopian (10), Kulgam (10), Jammu (7), six each in Budgam and Kupwara, Anantnag  (5), Pulwama (three) while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri.

 Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, June21: One hundred and twenty two more persons tested positive for COVID-19 across Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, taking the number of positive cases across the Union Territory to 5956.
An official said that 102 cases were reported in Kashmir division and 20 in Jammu. Moreover, 46 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 38 from Jammu Division and 8 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 5956 positive cases, 2492 are Active Positive, 3382 have recovered and 82 have died; 10 in Jammu division and 72 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 307638 test results available, 301682 samples have been tested as negative till June 21, 2020.

Additionally, till date 253942 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance which included 38829 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 30 in Hospital Quarantine, 2492 in hospital isolation and 46651 under home surveillance. Besides, 165858 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Bandipora has 270 positive cases (including 10 cases reported today) with 51 Active Positive, 218 recovered (including 04 cases recovered today) and 01 death; Srinagar has 673 positive cases (including 32 cases reported today) with 428 Active Positive, 226 recovered, 19 deaths; Anantnag district has 606 positive cases (including 15 cases reported today), with 175 Active Positive, 426 recovered (including 01 case recovered today),  05 deaths; Baramulla has 599 positive cases (including 17 cases reported today) with 318 Active Positive, 267 recovered, 14 deaths; Shopian has 614 positive cases with 184 Active Positive, 420 recovered and 10 deaths; Kupwara has 440 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 118 Active Positive, 317 recovered (including 02 cases recovered today) and 05 deaths; Budgam has 326 positive cases (including 15 cases reported today), with 191 Active Positive and 129 recovered cases and 06 deaths; Ganderbal has 68 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 09 active positive cases and 59 recoveries (including 01 case recovered today); Kulgam has 681 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today), with 199 Active Positive and  473 recoveries and 09 deaths and Pulwama reported 313 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 240 active positive cases and 70 recovered and 03 deaths.

Similarly, Jammu has 309 positive cases with 109 active positive cases and 193 recoveries and 07 deaths; Udhampur has 212 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 94 active positive cases, 117 recovered and 01 death; Samba has 127 positive cases with 77 Active Positive and 50 recoveries; Rajouri has 82 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 46 active positive cases and 35 recovered and 01 death; Kathua has 194 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 88 Active positive and 106 recovered (including 04 cases reported today); Kishtwar has 25 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 15 active positive cases and 10 recovered (including 02 cases recovered today); Ramban has 208 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 74 active positive and 134 recoveries (including 18 cases recovered today); Reasi has 32 positive cases with 9 active positive and 23 recovered (including 01 recovery reported today); Poonch has 110 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 42 active positive and 68 recoveries (including 11 cases recovered today) while Doda has 67 positive cases with 25 active positive cases and 41 recoveries (including 02 cases recovered today) and 01 death.
According to the bulletin, of the total 5956 positive cases in J&K 2027 have been reported as travelers while 3929 as others. The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.
The bulletin has informed the people that, the best way to protect themselves from COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 2 metre from others, frequently cleaning hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer or washing them with soap and water and following good respiratory etiquette and hygiene.
As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory. The bulletin again explained that early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us. “Not disclosing symptoms could put life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”.
Advisory has further exhorted upon the people not to step out of home, unless absolutely necessary. “If you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear a mask and practice social distancing, personal hygiene and frequent handwashing with soap and water.”
In case of any emergency people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 at their doorsteps by calling on toll-free number 108 while as pregnant women and sick infants can avail free ambulance services by dialling toll-free number 102.
People can also call on toll-free national helpline number 1075; J&K COVID-19 Helpline Numbers 0191- 2549676 (UT level Cell), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division), 0194-2440283 & 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division) for support, guidance, and response to health-related queries on Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Public is advised to strictly follow the advisories issued by the government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.
People are also advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.

Jehangeer Ganai

Shopian, June 19: Eight militants were killed in two encounters in Southern districts of Pulwama and Shopian in the past 24 hours. The slain include two militants who had taken refuge inside a mosque in Meej area of Pampore in Pulwama district.
On Thursday one unidentified militant was killed in an encounter that broke out in the village Bandpawa in Chitragam Tehsil of Shopian district.
Officials said that with the first light of the day, four more militants were killed taking the total number of slain militants in Bandpawa gunfight to five.
A security official told KNO that as the operation progressed, amid heavy exchange of firing from both sides, four more militants were killed in the gunfight taking the total number of militants killed to five. “The bodies of five slain have been retrieved and their identity and affiliation is being ascertained,” the official said, adding that the arms and ammunition have been recovered from the slain militants.
Defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia, however, confirmed the killing of four militants.
About the Meej encounter in Pampore area of Pulwama, Inspector General of Police Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar said that “patience and professionalism worked.”
“No use of firing and IED. Used tear smoke shells only. Maintained sanctity of the mosque. Both militants hiding inside the mosque neutralized,” he said. With the killing of two more militants, the total number of slain militants in Meej gunfight reached to three as one unidentified militant was killed on Thursday while two others had entered into a local mosque.

‘No pleasure in killing them’

Srinagar, June 19: Reiterating his appeal to Kashmiri youth to shun the path of violence and join mainstream, a senior Army officer on Friday said that of the 49 new militant recruits, 27 have been killed in different encounters with security forces.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army’s 15 Corps Lt General B S Raju said that it doesn’t give security forces pleasure to kill these boys, but if anyone takes up arms and causes harm to others, needs to be dealt accordingly. “The youth of the valley have much brighter future than joining militancy,” he added.
Meanwhile, J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh also reiterated his appeal to the Kashmiri militants to return the mainstream and assured full support in rehabilitating them.
“Of the 49 new recruits who got enrolled into ranks of militant tanzims, 27 have been neutralised. I would like to say that it doesn’t give us any pleasure to neutralise these boys but if anybody takes up arms and causes harm to others, we’ll do what we’re doing,” Lt Gen Raju, flanked by the J&K DGP and IG CRPF, told reporters during a press conference here on Friday.
However, he said to stop this process, a large number of steps are being taken. “Before the operations are actually implemented, we are making fervor appeals to militants to surrender. We have had limited success on this front,” he said.
Lt Gen Raju, however, said that security forces have been very successful in preventing new recruitment in militant ranks as well as to identify those people who are at the cusp of recruitment. “So my appeal to all the people in the environment, please look out for any signs of youth wanting to joint militancy,” he added.
Urging people to come to security forces for help, he said they (SFs) will ensure that these youth are appropriately taken care of and rehabilitate them and no harm comes to them. “The youth of Kashmir have much brighter future then joining militant ranks,” he said.
Meanwhile, the J&K DGP, while appealing to their youth the shun militancy, said that killing these youth doesn’t bring job neither to the forces, nor to his family, friends or civil society. But, he said that the fact that the person with the gun is a threat to everybody and the fact that there have been a very large number of civilian killings, and attack on security forces, we can’t ignore this threat. “We have the take up the required action which we have been taking and we will continue to do that,” he added.
Singh said that he is happy to report that the new recruitment has come down drastically. “It has come down because of a joint effort of by security forces, civil society and parents, besides police officers on the ground who maintain a bond with the people whose wards are likely to drift to away,” he said.
He said police takes preemptive measures, which are not brought to light deliberately just to ensure the security of the youth concerned. “But let me assure you that the number of such youth is quite sizable… who are almost at the brink of joining militancy, but are brought back to the families. That is a great achievement which is hidden from media and general public,” he added.

Srinagar, Jun 19: Asserting that this year has been peaceful in terms of handling law and order in general and around encounter sites, J&K police chief said that 50 militants from Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), 20 each from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad were among over 100 ultras killed in different operations in J&K in less than six months.
”Over 100 militants have been killed in J&K since January. 50 of them are from HM, 20 from LeT, 20 from JeM, rest from smaller outfits,” Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh told reporters during a joint press conference of Army, CRPF and Police, here on Friday.
He said about half-a-dozen successful operations were also conducted in Jammu region. ”In which about a dozen militants have been killed,” he said.
The DGP said that Peer Panjal range is very well under control. ”Doda and Kishtwar range is almost nearing to be militancy free with only one militant remaining in Doda district and three in Kishtwar,” he added.
Answering a question about ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LOC) by Pakistani troops, he said, ”We are conscious that our neighbor and its agencies are perpetuating violence in this region and are making efforts to infiltrate and sending militants from various sectors.
However, the DGP said the security forces were prepared to tackle any eventuality. ”We have been adequately responding to this threat. You are aware of Keran sector, where five militants were killed. Recently, four militants were neutralised in Naushera sector. Another group came from International Border, which was neutralised in Nagrota in Jammu,” he said.
He said ”our highway grid and our border grid are fully alert”. ”We are prepared to take care of any challenge,” he added.
”It gives me immense pleasure to say that complete last year and about five-and-a-half months of this year have been one of the most peaceful months we had in terms of handling law and order in general and around the operation sites. It happened only because people are cooperating,” he added.
Singh said he would also like to compliment Kashmiri youth, who are moving on a peaceful path despite huge provocation by Pakistan and its agencies. ”Perhaps, they (youth) have started seeing through the game plan of these agencies which brought violence and destruction here,” he added.

Suhail Khan

Srinagar, June 19: June has been the bloodiest month in south Kashmir’s Shopian district where 22 militants have been killed in the last 12 days.

The Shopian and Pulwama districts are considered hotbed for militancy.

For the last few weeks, the government forces have intensified anti-militancy operations in Shopian district.

As per figures available with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), 22 militants including some top commanders have been killed  in the current month in Shopian district so far.

On Friday morning, five militants were killed in a gunfight with forces in Shopian. As per the data on June 7, a gunfight broke out in Reban Shopian in which five militants were killed.

Four militants were killed in Pinjor Shopian on June 8.

On June 11, five militants were killed In Sugoo Hendhama area of Shopian.

In the Turkawangam Shopian gunfight which was reported on June 16, three militants including a top Hibz commander were killed.

A police official said the encounters took place in Shopian after security forces received specific inputs about presence of militants in these areas. “Killing of 22 militants in 19 days is a big achievement for security forces,” the official said.

For the past few months, the police are not handing over the bodies of militants to their family members. Instead they are being buried in Sonamarg or in Baramulla.

New Delhi, June 19: Amid the ongoing border stalemate at Ladakh’s Galwan Valley between the troops of India and China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured the nation, saying, ‘Nobody has entered our territory. Neither has anyone captured any of our posts.’
In order to discuss the India-China border row, the Prime Minister had called an all party meeting, wherein chiefs and representatives of 20 political parties attended the virtual meet. Besides, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were also present.
On the killing of Indian soldiers in the violent face-off with China’s PLA, PM Modi said, “20 of our men were martyred, but those who dared to look at Bharat Mata in the eye, they taught them a lesson.”
On ramping of infrastructure along the border areas, he said, “In the past few years, to protect our borders, we have given importance to infrastructure development.”
The Prime Minister further said that the country’s air capability is being enhanced. “The requirement of our armed forces, be it fighter planes, advanced helicopters or missile defence systems, that too is being given importance,” he added.
PM Modi said the Indian troops were also monitoring those areas, which were not really monitored earlier. For deployment, action and counter-action, “Our Army, Navy and Air Force are doing their bit required. We have these capabilities and reason why no one can dare to look at ours’ even one inch of land. Today’s Indian Armed forces can move along in different sectors,’ he added.