United News of India
Madrid, Apr 19: The number of Novel Coronavirus patients in Spain has reached 195,944 and the death toll in the country currently stands at 20,453, the Spanish Health Ministry confirmed on Sunday.

According to the Health ministry, 4,218 new positive cases have been reported in the past 24 hours, while 410 deaths were reported within the same duration of time. Though compared to most other countries, these are very big numbers, yet compared to the Iberian nation’s past statistics these mark a significant improvement.

The previous day’s data from Spain showed 565 deaths in a day and 4500 more COVID-19 positive cases being reported.

The Health ministry also confirmed recovery of 77,357 patients so far, which means that Spain currently has about 98,000 active cases.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday said that he would seek an extension of the nationwide lockdown, up to May 9.

Spain currently ranks third in the world in terms of Coronavirus-related fatalities, after Italy and the United States.

New Delhi, Apr 19: Aviation regulator DGCA has directed the airlines to stop taking ticket bookings for May 4, and said it has not taken a decision regarding when to commence the operation of domestic and international flights.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week extended the lockdown till May 3 to arrest the growth of COVID-19 cases in the country.

“In these circulars, there was no direction/clearance, which allows the airlines to start ticket bookings for the journeys to be undertaken w.e.f the 4th of May 2020. In this respect, it is brought to the notice of all concerned that no decision to commence the operation of domestic/international flights w.e.f the 4th of May 2020 has been taken yet,” a statement from the regulator read.

“In view of this, all airlines are hereby directed to refrain from booking tickets as described above,” it added.

On Saturday, a Group of Ministers (GoM) who attended a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence expressed concern over resuming trains and flights, sources have said, adding that a final call would be taken after the Union Health Ministry gives its inputs.

Air traffic and passenger trains were suspended last month, days before the nationwide shutdown began on March 25.

This afternoon, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said that the central government has not taken any decision on resuming train or airline services. Asked if the government is looking at any timeline, he said, “It has to start one day but which is that one day you don’t know at this moment. Discussion about it is futile because we are examining the situation every day and drawing new lessons.”

On Saturday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had made similar remarks hours after Air India on its website said that it is taking bookings for travel from May 4 on some domestic routes and from June 1 for international routes.

Two days after PM Modi extended the countrywide lockdown, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday asked the airlines to refund tickets booked during the COVID-19 lockdown within three weeks without cancellation fees. The directive applied to all the domestic and international tickets booked during the first phase of the nationwide lockdown (March 25-April 14).

The aviation sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Airlines have either slashed salaries or asked employees to go on a sabbatical without pay.

IndiGo announced a pay cut of up to 25 per cent for its senior employees and Vistara announced compulsory leave without pay for up to three days for its senior employees in March.

SpiceJet said salaries would be cut by 10 to 30 per cent and Air India has announced a 10 per cent cut in allowances for every employee, except cabin crew, for three months.

 ‘Cross-border elements desperate to foment trouble’

Jammu, Apr 19: Lieutenant Governor Girish Chander Murmu on Sunday said that militancy is under control in Jammu and Kashmir but Pakistan has escalated its efforts to disturb peace with a two-fold increase in ceasefire violations by its troops along the border.

“Ceasefire violations have doubled. Cross-border elements are desperate,” Murmu told in an interview at the Raj Bhawan here.

The security situation in the Union Territory “is better” as compared to 2018, he said, adding “half of 2019 was under strict restriction. The militancy is under control. The (militancy-related) incidents have decreased.”

Jammu and Kashmir has been under tight security since August 5 last year when the Central Government announced its decisions to abrogate its special status under the Constitution and divide the erstwhile state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Referring to the rise in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops, the Lieutenant Governor said, “cross-border elements are desperate” to stage infiltration of terrorists into this side.

Noting that militancy-related incidents increase marginally during the summer, he said, “When the winter period ends, little bit activity increases. They are engaged in infiltrations, as we keep getting information…. Ceasefire violations have doubled. Cross-border elements are desperate (to stage infiltration of militants into this side).”

Three persons, including a woman and child, were killed on Saturday in artillery shelling by Pakistan in Chowkibal, Kupwara, near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir on April 12.

“There were a total of 646 incidents of ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) as well as the LoC between January 1 and February 23 this year,” Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said in March.

Over 3,200 ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops were recorded in 2019.

There is 198 km IB and over 510 km of LoC with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.

Murmu pointed towards the growing frustration among cross-border elements due to prevailing peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

“They do not digest or tolerate the peace prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5 last year. They are unable to incite people (to stoke trouble and increase violence in J-K). But the public is cooperating. The public is happy. They have got better services during President’s rule,” he said.

He said that somehow there are no internal disturbances, so forces across the border have increased the pitch in border areas by engaging in firing and shelling.

“In the hinterland, it is peaceful,” he added.

As the winter ended, militants have begun to attack security forces and kill civilians in Kashmir Valley in the past fortnight.

Three CRPF men were killed and another jawan was injured after militants fired at their vehicle at Sopore in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday evening.

Two militants , who had snatched two service rifles and killed a policeman in Kishtwar’s Dachhan on April 13 by using axes, were killed in an encounter in Chenab Valley’s Kishtwar, the police said on Friday.

In another incident, Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian on Friday.

Five militants were killed earlier this month as the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, a defence spokesperson said. Five soldiers also died in the gunbattle with them. (Agencies)

United News of India
Srinagar, Apr 19: Asserting that security forces are working on leads to identify the militant group responsible for the attack that left three jawans dead in Sopore on Saturday, Inspector General of CRPF, Kashmir, Rajesh Yadav said that forces will soon avenge their death.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Sunday paid floral tribute to three of its men killed in a militant attack in the apple township of Sopore in north Kashmir district of Baramulla on Saturday.

“Lockdown is being enforced to curtail the spread of Coronavirus in the Valley. CRPF is deployed across the valley to enforce this lockdown. Yesterday’s attack on our jawans happened when they were enforcing restrictions in Sopore. Three of our jawans were unfortunately slain in the attack,” Yadav, who is IG Operations, told reporters after the wreath laying ceremony held here on Sunday.

He said security agencies are jointly working on leads to identify the militants behind the attack and ‘very soon we will avenge the death of our jawans’. “Those responsible for the attack will be taken to task soon,” he added.

Answering a question whether enforcing the lockdown to fight COVID-19 was affecting the anti-militancy operations in the valley, Yadav said forces are capable to multitask and enforce lockdown and at the same time conduct operations against militants. “Many successful operations have been conducted in the last couple of days,” he said.

Militants on Saturday evening fired at a security force checkpoint near Ahad Bab crossing in Sopore, resulting in injuries to five CRPF jawans. The wounded were immediately taken to a hospital where three of them succumbed.

The deceased were identified as Head Constable Rajeev Sharma, Constable Parmar Satpal and Constable C B Bakhre.

Umaisar Gull Ganie

Anantnag, Apr 19: Suspected militants on Sunday evening shot dead a policeman in Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, KNO reported.

A head constable, identified as Manzoor Ahmad Dar, son of Mohammad Akbar Dar of Hiller Bahai, was at home when gunmen opened fire on him, leaving him critically injured, the news agency said.

A police officer confirmed the incident and said that the constable was immediately rushed to nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injury.

KINS

Srinagar, Apr 19: Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken a strong note of the killing of three CRPF men at Sopore in north Kashmir on Saturday and has directed the security agencies including paramilitary CRPF to maintain highest vigil and not to lower guard while fighting the COVID-19 or enforcing lockdown.

The MHA has asked troops in Kashmir to keep a close watch on suspects in markets and other busy places to foil all attempts by militants to target security forces.

A senior MHA official told a local news agency KINS, that the ministry has paid rich tributes to the slain CRPF men, who were out on roads for the safety of people at a time when COVID-19 is holding a tight grip across globe and killing people at regular intervals. “We paid rich tributes to all the CRPF martyrs who laid their lives at Sopore when they were performing their duties,” he said.

The official said that strict directions have been passed to the all security agencies in J&K which include “not to lower guard, maintain highest vigil while on duty and to ensure militants are strictly dealt with so that they don’t dear to attack security forces”.

“We have asked the security forces including paramilitary CRPF men to maintain extra alertness while performing duties with regard to Covid-19 in Kashmir,” the official said, adding that the forces have been asked to go after the militants wherever there is information about presence of militants.

“There should be no leniency for militants. Despite the fact that Covid-19 has thrown up a major challenge, we have directed security forces not to suspend anti-militancy operations and eliminate militants whenever there is an input,” the official maintained.

Another official in the MHA revealed that the advisory sent to the security agencies entails that a close watch should be maintained in markets, busy places and outside religious places in Kashmir so that “militants who are coming to attack are neutralized before they target forces”.

Sopore, Apr 19:  Lieutenant Governor’s Advisor, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar, Sunday visited the spot of incident in North Kashmir’s Sopore town where militants killed three troopers yesterday.
Official sources told KNT that Bhatnagar was accompanied by ADG, CRPF Zulfkar Hasan and both took the stock of the situation.
Sources added that Bhatnagar and Zulfkar Hasan visited Ahad Bab Crossing-the spot of incident and took stock of the situation. Bhatnagar interacted with the top civil and police officials and gathered information about the attack.
Pertinently, IPS officer Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar, after retiring as the CRPF DG, was appointed as an advisor to the Lt Governor of Jammu-Kashmir in January this year.
Bhatnagar is a 1983-batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He superannuated as the CRPF Director General (DG) on December 31 last year after heading the 3.25 lakh personnel force for over two and a half years.
Bhatnagar takes care of security scenario of Jammu and Kashmir. A police official said that after assessing the situation, Bhatnagar presided a meeting as well in which top civil and police officials participated.

Abid Bashir

Srinagar, Apr 19: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole Sunday said that no relaxation will be given to anybody from April 20 and that those staying in Red Zones won’t be allowed to come out even if they are from essential services department. However, he said that relaxations are for rural areas and those involved in agriculture related activities like someone running fertilizer unit or a juice unit.

In a chat with KNO, Pole said that nobody should remain under an impression that relaxation is being announced from April 20 in Kashmir. “Those in red zones can’t come out neither can anybody go inside these zones. If a government employee is living in a red zone, he or she won’t be allowed to come out,” the Divisional Commissioner said. “People should realize and understand that some relaxations given are for only those who are involved in agriculture related activities.”

He said that a farmer in rural areas can go to his field and carry out agriculture related activities including digging soil etc. “In towns, agriculture related activities can be carried out which include if someone has a cold storage, or someone having juice unit or a fertilizer plant. But nothing beyond this.”

He said that in towns, vegetable vendors, other shop keepers selling essentials need to get proper permission from the concerned Deputy Commissioners. “If any shopkeeper is found involved in violation of social distance, he will be booked as per the law,” he added.

United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 19 : Revisiting it’s April 15 order, the Centre on Sunday said that supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will be banned during the ongoing nationwide lockdown, imposed to curb the spread of Novel Coronavirus.
An order issued on Sunday by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has prohibited the supply of non-essential items by e-companies till May 3
The Government move comes amid reports that many e-commerce firms were gearing up to deliver products like mobile phones and refrigerators to customers in areas that do not fall under COVID-19 hotspots from April 20, as per the guidelines issued by the MHA on April 15.
Many of them had started taking orders for delivery from April 20, the officials said.
Earlier, during the first phase of the lockdown also, the supply of non-essential good were not banned by the Government.
However, in the detailed guidelines issued on April 15, the Centre allowed e-commerce companies to operate from April 20 and following the guidelines by the MHA, many states like Odisha, Maharashtra and Rajasthan had allowed e-commerce operations after April 20 for non-hotpot zones in the country.

The consolidated revised guidelines issued by the MHA on April 15 had exempted the e-commerce companies supplying essential goods from lockdown restrictions and the vehicles used by e-commerce companies, engaged in supply of only essential goods, have been allowed to ply with necessary permissions.

The nationwide lockdown in India, initially meant for a period of 21 days, was extended till May 3, as COVID-19 cases in the country continue to rise.