No signs of Indian, Chinese troops backing off as standoff persists in eastern Ladakh

25/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 24: Indian and Chinese troops appeared heading for a long haul as their tense standoff in the disputed areas of Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh showed no signs of abating even as efforts to de-escalate the tension through talks continued. In the midst of the flare-ups, the Indian Army on Sunday categorically rejected reports that Indian patrol teams were detained by Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh in the last few days, but did no...

There will be no delay in supply of Rafale jets to India: France

25/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 24: There will be no delay in delivery of 36 Rafale jets to India as the timeline finalised for the supply of the fighter jets will be strictly respected, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said. France is reeling under swelling cases of coronavirus infection and there were apprehensions that the delivery of Rafale jets could be delayed due to the pandemic. Over 1,45,000 people were infected by the virus there, while the death toll stood at 28,330. However, Lenain asserted t...

Top LeT terror associate, 3 over ground workers held

25/05/2020
SRINAGAR, May 24: A top Lashkar-e-Toiba terror associate was arrested by the security forces in Budgam on Sunday, informed the Jammu and Kashmir Police. "Budgam Police and Indian Army's 53RR has arrested a top LeT terror associate Wasim Ganie of Beerwah along with three over ground workers," it said. This group was involved in providing shelter and logistic support to terrorists in the area, it added. A few days back, four terrorist associates of the LeT were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's B...

MHA issues SOP for stranded Indians who wish to return from abroad

25/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 24: The government on Sunday issued a fresh Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for the return of Indians stranded abroad due to the coronavirus lockdown, saying it will be a paid service and preference will be given to people in distress including those who have lost their jobs and pregnant women. A similar SOP was also issued by the government for those who are stranded in India and desire to travel abroad. As per the latest SOP, all travellers will have to give an undertaking ...

52 new COVID-19 cases in J&K

25/05/2020
JAMMU, May 24: The number of novel coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 1,621 on Sunday after 52 more people tested positive for the infection, officials said. There are 791 active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Union territory -- 607 in Kashmir and 184 in Jammu -- and 809 patients have recovered, according to officials. Fifty-two new COVID-19 cases were detected in the Union territory. While 22 of them are from Jammu, 30 are from Kashmir, the officials said....

Lockdown casts shadow on Eid celebrations in J&K

25/05/2020
JAMMU, May 24: Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday were a low-key affair as most of the faithful marked the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan by offering thanksgiving prayers at home in view of the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The festival is being celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala on Sunday, while the rest of the country will celebrate Eid on Monday. No Eid prayers were offered for the second consecutive time in major mosques and shrines of Kash...

Plea in SC seeks to preserve fundamental rights of press

25/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 24: A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Centre to preserve and protect the fundamental rights of the press, electronic and print media guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. The petition states that at present some news channels who expose the reasons and involvement of anti-social and anti-national persons behind the incident are being targetted. A number of FIRs are being lodged in different states to snub their voice, in...

Lanka seeks USD 1.1 bn currency swap facility from India amidst depleting forex reserves

25/05/2020
COLOMBO, May 24: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has requested India to provide a special USD 1.1 billion currency swap facility to boost the country's draining foreign exchange reserves in view of the economic slowdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rajapaksa's office said that the new request is in addition to the USD 400 million amount Sri Lanka has sought from the Indian government under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) framework. The Sri Lankan Presi...

Record 6,767 new COVID-19 cases in India in last 24 hours; death toll climbs to 3,867

25/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 24: India saw the biggest spike in COVID-19 cases for the third consecutive day on Sunday with 6,767 new infections reported in the last 24 hours taking the nationwide tally to 1,31,868, while the death toll due to the disease rose to 3,867 with 147 more fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, after visiting the dedicated COVID-19 health centre (DCHC) at Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan (CBPACS) in Najafgarh, said the cou...

Domestic passenger flights to resume today amid confusion over quarantine rules; opening of some airports delayed

25/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 24: Indian skies will open up for domestic passenger flights from Monday after a gap of two months amid confusion over what quarantine rules may apply to the travellers but there will be minimum air services and delay in resumption in some states. Government officials said on Sunday night that the airports in Kolkata and Bagdogra in cyclone-hit West Bengal will not operate any domestic flights between May 25 and 27 but will handle 20 flights each per day from May 28. The airpor...

80 more test positive in J&K

24/05/2020
JAMMU, May 23: A woman from Anantnag district who had tested positive for COVID-19 died at a hospital here on Saturday, taking the union territory's death toll to 21, an official said. The woman, 55, from Botengo area of south Kashmir's Anantnag died at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here, hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Farooq Jan said. He said the woman was suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with sepsis. She died of multiple organ failure...

Tension mounts in Ladakh as China brings in more troops; India maintains aggressive posturing

24/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 23: Chinese military is fast increasing its troops in areas around Pangong Tso lake and Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, sending a clear signal that it was not ready to end its confrontation with the Indian Army anytime soon, people familiar with the situation in the disputed region said. The Chinese side has particularly bolstered its presence in the Galwan Valley, erecting around 100 tents in the last two weeks and bringing in machinery for possible co...

India’s COVID-19 tally nears 1.3 lakh; Nearly 94k new cases, 2,600-plus deaths since May 1

24/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 23: The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases neared 1.3 lakh on Saturday with over 6,000 new cases getting detected. More than one lakh people have tested positive for the deadly virus infection and over 3,000 have lost their lives in the past one month itself. The spike in the numbers has been sharp this week with nearly 5,500 new cases and 160 deaths getting reported on an average every day, according to data of different states and union territories, many of whom have found a l...

After lockdown relaxed, LG visits railway station, Jammu city areas

24/05/2020
JAMMU, May 23: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu, today visited the railway station and then toured prominent places & markets across the Jammu city to get a first-hand appraisal of the situation on ground post relaxation of lockdown restrictions. At the railway station, the Lt Governor took stock of the facilities being provided to the people of J&K who were stranded outside and are being brought back through special trains. Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Ms. Sushma Chauhan, briefed t...

Omar, Mufti boycotted Panchayat polls under Pakistan’s pressure: Malik

24/05/2020
PANAJI, May 23: Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik on Saturday said that during his tenure in Jammu and Kashmir he had succeeded in holding panchayat elections, devoid of violence, despite the top leaders of the union territory not cooperating under pressure from Pakistan. Malik served as the Governor of J-K till October 2019, following which he has taken over the same role in Goa. "The Prime Minister had said that we will conduct panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir. I broke protocol and went t...

Prisoners aged above 60 to be released on emergency parole to decongest jail in Delhi

24/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 23: Jail inmates who are above 60 years of age will be granted emergency parole in view of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Delhi Prisons department. A circular issued earlier this week stated that the convicts in this age group are more susceptible to COVID-19 and the emergency parole will be given to decongest the jails, officials said on Saturday. If an inmate has been convicted for less than five years and has already completed three months in jail, he or she is eligi...

Chairman of PSC calls on Dr Jitendra Singh

24/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 23: Newly appointed Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir PSC (Public Service Commission) B R Sharma called on Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pesions, Dr Jitendra Singh here today. A 1984 batch IAS officer, Shri B R Sharma belongs to J&K Cadre and was Chief Secretary in the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir before proceeding on deputation to the Central Government. He was later appointed Chairman SSC (Staff Selection Commission) and was re-employed for 2...

Mortar shell defused near LoC in Rajouri

24/05/2020
JAMMU, May 23: A mortar shell, which had remained unexploded during Pakistani shelling, was detected in a farm near the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district on Saturday, officials said. The rusted shell was unearthed when a farmer was busy ploughing his field with a tractor at Darshan Nagar locality of Nowshera sector, the officials said. They said the Army's bomb disposal squad rushed to the spot and safely defused the mortar shell, averting a major tragedy.

High Court adopts full year working time calendar

24/05/2020
JAMMU, May 23: The High court of Jammu and Kashmir will continue same working time round the year, thus halting the past practice of change of timings in winter and summers. An official handout stated that the Chief Justice has issued a calendar which will be followed for the rest part of the whole year. For the High Court Jammu Wing, the Registry/office timing for the first session will be from 9.30 AM to 1.00PM and 2nd session from 2PM to 4.30 PM- with one hour lunch break, while the ...

Modi discusses coronavirus situation with Lankan Prez, Mauritius PM

24/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday discussed the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth. Sri Lanka is fighting COVID-19 effectively under Rajapaksa's leadership, Modi wrote on Twitter. "India will continue to support our close maritime neighbour in dealing with the pandemic and its economic impact," he said. The two, the prime minister said, agreed to accelerate Indian-...

4 crore migrant workers in India; 75 lakh return home so far: MHA

24/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 23: The Centre on Saturday said around four crore migrant labourers are engaged in various works in different parts of the country and so far 75 lakh of them have returned home in trains and buses since the nationwide lockdown was imposed. Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, Punya Salila Srivastava, said the railways have engaged over 2,600 'Shramik' special trains since May 1 for transportation of the migrant workers from different parts of the country to their destinat...

Govt to notify over 10,000 posts for Accelerated Recruitment for Domiciles

23/05/2020
JAMMU, May 22: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today emphasized on simplification of recruitment procedures and maintaining transparency to ensure faster and flawless recruitments. He was chairing a high level meeting held at the Raj Bhavan here today to review the progress made for accelerated recruitments at various levels in the Government with particular focus on Class-IV and Class-III vacancies. BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Fi...

BOPEE advised to call for Domicile Certificates at the time of Counseling

23/05/2020
JAMMU, May 22: The Government today advised BOPEE to call for domicile certificates only from the candidates shortlisted for the counseling and not insist upon their production from the candidates at the time of submission of online forms. According to a Government advisory, the Board has been advised to modify its notification to provide for self declaration of domiciliary status at the time of submission of online forms as per the new Domicile Rules while further stating that only shortlis...

Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch, Nowshera sectors

23/05/2020
POONCH, May 22: Pakistan initiated ceasefire violations in Krishna Ghati and Nowshera sectors in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. At around 3:30 am, Pakistan started an unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small Arms, and shelling with mortars along the Line of Control (LOC) in Poonch district of Krishna Ghati Sector, to which Indian Army retaliated befittingly. In another incident, around 7:20 am, Pakistan again started another unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector.

Samoon given charge of Technical Education, Hirdesh Transport Department

23/05/2020
JAMMU, May 22: As per government order issued here today, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, IAS (JK:1993), Principal Secretary, School Education Department, holding additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Transport Department, shall hold the charge of Principal Secretary, Technical Education Department, relieving Navin Kumar Choudhary, IAS, Principal Secretary Government, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department of the additional charge of the post. Hirdesh Kumar, IAS (JK:1997), Chief Electoral Of...

RBI’s 2nd booster shot to economy: Key interest rates slashed to lowest levels since 2000

23/05/2020
MUMBAI, May 22: The Reserve Bank on Friday unexpectedly slashed benchmark interest rates to their lowest levels since 2000 and extended the moratorium on repayment of loans for three months to ramp up support for the economy which is likely to contract for the first time in over four decades. The central bank, which advanced the monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting for the second time since March, extended the three-month moratorium of loan repayments, from June 1 to August 31 and raised th...

7 fresh cases from Jammu; 33 from Kashmir

23/05/2020
JAMMU, May 22: The Government Friday informed that 40 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), 07 from Jammu division and 33 from Kashmir division, have been reported today thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 1489. According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), out of 1489 positive cases, 749 are Active Positive, 720 have recovered and 20 have died; 02 in Jammu division and 18 in Kashmir division. Moreover, 36 more COVI...

Over 66 lakh Indians made intra-state travels from April 30-May 12

23/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 22: Over 66 lakh Indians made intra-state travels from April 30 to May 12, reflecting the large number of people reaching their homes during the period, government sources said on Friday. The details emerged in the midst of heart-rending stories of thousands of migrant labourers struggling to return home from their places of work due to the coronavirus lockdown. The sources said a total of 27.15 lakh Indians moved from one state to another between April 30 and May 6, while the ...

2 terrorist associates arrested; incriminating material recovered

23/05/2020
SRINAGAR, May 22: Police in Awantipora have arrested two terrorist associates linked to proscribed terror outfit HM. They have been identified as Sayar Ahmad Shah resident of Tral and Tanseem @ Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh resident of Awantipora. As per police records they are involved in assisting active terrorists of proscribed terror outfit HM operating in the areas of Tral and Awantipora. As per the investigations, they were providing logistic support and shelter to the active terrorists of HM. I...

Modi announces Rs 500 cr advance relief for cyclone-hit Odisha, 1,000 cr for West Bengal

23/05/2020
BHUBANESWAR/KOLKATA, May 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced an advance financial assistance of Rs 500 crore for cyclone-battered Odisha, where around 45 lakh people have been affected and scores of houses damaged by Amphan. Assuring that the Centre will work "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the state, Modi said Odisha will be provided all assistance for restoration and rebuilding of infrastructure in areas such as housing, agriculture, power and communication. Soon after his arri...

At least 66 dead as Pak plane crashes in residential area in Karachi

23/05/2020
KARACHI, May 22: At least 66 people were killed when a Pakistan International Airlines plane with 99 people on board crashed into a densely populated residential area near the Jinnah International Airport here on Friday, officials said, nearly a week after the COVID-19-induced air travel restrictions were lifted by the government. Flight PK-8303 from Lahore was about to land in Karachi when it crashed at the Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir, minutes before its landing, they said. ...

SC issues Notice to Centre on PIL seeking establishment of permanent Bench of CAT in J&K

23/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 22: The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Union of India, High Court of J&K, and Central Administrative Tribunal, bench at Chandigarh in a Writ Petition inter alia seeking establishment of permanent bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal and J&K. After the change of status of J&K from a State to a Union Territory, all the State employees have now become Central Government employees and their service matters are required to be heard by the Central Administrative Tri...

Lockdown restrictions eased in Srinagar ahead of Eid

23/05/2020
SRINAGAR, May 22: Amid the coronavirus spread, lockdown restrictions have been eased out at Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Friday ahead of Eid al-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast. The locals were allowed to buy essential commodities from the shops situated in the Lal Chowk market. Some of them also went to banks for withdrawing money. Several people stepped out of their houses to buy food items but were seen abiding by the social distancing norm as a precautionary measure to halt the spread of...

Parliament functioning and oversight should be restored with immediate effect: Oppn parties

23/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 22: Leaders of 22 opposition parties on Friday accused the Centre of unabashedly usurping powers of states and demanded restoration of Parliament functioning and oversight with immediate effect. The opposition parties also demanded immediate reversal of all unilateral policy decisions, especially on the changes in labour laws. The leaders, who attended a meeting of opposition parties convened by the Congress through video conferencing, discussed the current situation arising ou...

J&K reports 59 fresh Covid-19 positive cases; fatalities rise to 20 with two deaths

22/05/2020
JAMMU, May 21: A 70-year-old woman, who had tested COVID-19 positive, died at a hospital here on Thursday, while another woman, who passed away on Wednesday, also tested positive for the infection, taking the novel coronavirus-related death toll to 20 in the Union Territory, officials said. The 70-year-old from Parisabad area of central Kashmir's Budgam district died around noon at the Chest Diseases Hospital here, they said. The officials said the woman was initially admitted to the SMHS hos...

Violation of lockdown in various places, ensure strict implementation: MHA to states

22/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 21: The Centre on Thursday asked states to ensure strict implementation of lockdown and night curfew protocols, saying it has noticed violation of the restrictions at several places. In a communication to all states and union territories, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked them to strictly ensure prohibition of all non-essential activities between 7pm and 7am, saying the night curfew imposed to contain the coronavirus spread is an "important element of the Home Ministry guidelines...

One check-in bag to fare control: Govt issues guidelines for domestic flight operations from May 25

22/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 21: A day after announcing resumption of domestic commercial passenger flights from May 25, the Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday issued detailed guidelines for airlines, airports, passengers and other stakeholders. The ministry said it will prescribe lower and upper limit on air fares and airlines will have to adhere to it "during the period of COVID-19 pandemic". "On the day of commencement (May 25), limited operations (about one-third) would be permitted," it said. It sai...

Pak has launched new terror outfits with local names but Let, JeM cadres to fool the world: DGP

22/05/2020
Jammu, May 21: Pakistan has launched new terror outfits staffed by cadres of the dreaded Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed under "local names" to mislead the world that it has nothing to do with the terrorism prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP) of the union territory Dilbag Singh said. The DGP also hit out at the neighbouring country and its agencies for creating social media platforms to flare up "street trouble" in the Kashmir valley. Pakistan recently launche...

People queue outside liquor shop in Jammu

22/05/2020
JAMMU, May 21: People queued up outside a liquor shop in Jammu on Wednesday, following relaxations in the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. They were seen adhering to social distancing norms. The Jammu and Kashmir administration permitted the opening of liquor shops in the Union Territory on Wednesday. "The shops were closed for two months. Although people have been waiting for two hours in the queue, they are still adhering to the social distancing norms," one of the people standing in the queue...

Cyclone Amphan kills 72 in WB; no stone will be left unturned to help affected: PM

22/05/2020
Kolkata/Bhubaneswar, May 21: Cyclone Amphan weakened Thursday, a day after tearing through West Bengal where 72 people were killed and two districts were completely devastated with thousands of people left homeless, bridges washed away and low-lying areas in waist deep water. The fiercest cyclone to hit West Bengal in 100 years destroyed mud houses and crops, and uprooted trees and electric poles. It also wreaked havoc in Odisha damaging power and telecom infrastructure in several coastal di...

Policeman martyred, another injured in militant attack in Pulwama

22/05/2020
SRINAGAR, May 21: A policeman was killed and another injured when terrorists opened fire at a security forces' patrol party in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Thursday, officials said. The incident took place in the afternoon near Perchoo bridge where a joint patrol of the CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir police was ensuring law and order situation, they said. In the attack by the terrorists, Anuj Singh and Mohammed Ibrahim, both belonging to the 10 battalion of the India Reserve Police, we...

3 newly recruited terrorists arrested from Kupwara

22/05/2020
Kupwara, May 21: Three newly recruited terrorists have been arrested by joint forces from Sogam area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, the police said. Further investigation is underway. This comes after Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Junaid Ashraf Khan, son of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Mohammed Ashraf Khan, was killed in an encounter with security forces at Nawakadal area of Srinagar on Tuesday. A police spokesperson said, On Thursday, a picture went viral on social media with three yo...

B R Sharma appointed as PSC Chairman

22/05/2020
JAMMU, May 21: Government of Jammu and Kashmir has appointed B R Sharma, former IAS Officer, as Chairman Public Service Commission for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. As per an order issued here today in this regard, Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has appointed Sharma as PSC Chairman who shall hold the position of the Chairman, Public Service Commission till he attains the age of sixty two years. LG has made the appointment in exercise of powers conferre...

36 fresh cases are from Jammu, 37 from Kashmir

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday recorded 73 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections to 1,390, officials said. Of the fresh cases, 36 cases are from Jammu and 37 from Kashmir, they said. The officials said the total number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir has now reached 1,390. Of these, 1,188 are in Kashmir and 202 in Jammu, they added. While there were 694 active cases in the union territory 560 in Kashmir and 134 in Jammu, 678 patients have recovered, th...

HC restrains High Court registry from entertaining Service Writ Petitions

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: In a significant judgment having far reaching consequences, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey today directed High Court Registry not to entertain the writ petitions relating to service disputes of the employees of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh and those Central Government Employees who are posted and stationed in these two Union Territories, for which the remedy is with CAT Bench Chandigarh subject to further availability of a Bench at Union...

Travel agency owner, bus driver arrested for illegally transporting migrant labourers

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: Police on Wednesday arrested a travel agency owner and a driver in Samba district for allegedly illegally transporting 128 migrant labourers from Jammu to UP's Kanpur, an official spokesperson said. All the 128 migrant labourers have been sent to a quarantine centre in Samba district where they have been provided with food, water and shelter, the spokesperson said. Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Rohit Khajuria during the inspection found that two buses carrying 128 labourers were ...

DC Udhampur issues lockdown relaxations as per Govt directives

21/05/2020
UDHAMPUR, May 20: To implement the directions of Jammu and Kashmir Government regarding the lockdown relaxations, Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur Dr. Piyush Singla said that Udhampur District is categorized as orange zone and following relaxations with all COVID-19 Containment measures are given. Singla Said that all hospitals/private clinic/nursing homes will resume functions, Hotels can operate kitchen for home delivery purpose only. In a marriage function less than 50 people are allowed and...

LG sanctions Rs 5.70 cr to provide dietary items for residential institutions

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir, G C Murmu, has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 5.70 crore, out of J&K Relief Fund, for providing two months free ration and dietary items to inmates of residential institutions run by Government, residential institutions run by NGOs (provided Grant-in-Aid) and residential institutions run by NGOs where inmates exist. With this financial assistance, a total of over 21000 inmates of these institutions including children, old age persons besides ...

Maintain high alert to keep spread of coronavirus under check: CS

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam on Wednesday said though restrictions under the fourth phase of the lockdown have been eased, officials cannot let their guard down and have to be alert to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. He also said lockdown measures, which are in place since March 24, have helped in containing the spread of COVID-19. Subrahmanyam made the remarks in a video conference with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police. Though restrictions...

2 BSF personnel martyred in militant attack

21/05/2020
SRINAGAR, May 20: Two BSF personnel were killed when militants fired upon them in Ganderbal district on Wednesday, officials said. Motorcycle-borne militants fired upon the BSF jawans at a picket in Pandach area, 17 km from here in the outskirts of the city, the officials said. They said two BSF personnel were injured in the attack and were shifted to SKIMS hospital at Soura here. While one of the jawans was declared brought dead by the doctors at the hospital, another succumbed to injuries,...

Hizb terrorist involved in killing of JK BJP secretary arrested by NIA

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: In a breakthrough in the probe into the killing of a senior BJP leader and his brother by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an accused in Kishtwar district, the agency said on Wednesday. Rustam Ali (56) was arrested from the outskirts of Kishtwar town based on specific information, an NIA spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday. He said a special NIA court in Jammu has sent the accused to seven-day custody of the agency. "Ali...

Pak terror camps hit by coronavirus, Kashmiri trainees may die of COVID-19: DGP

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: The terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have been hit by the coronavirus and some Kashmiris undergoing training in those camps could die of COVID-19 as "nobody bothers about them", J&K Director General of Police Dilbag Singh has said. Citing an intercepted phone-call made by a trainee from his PoK camp to his family in Kashmir, Singh said there are fears that the desperate terrorists would try to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir and spread the deadly virus in the Valle...

Life starts limping back to normal in parts of Jammu division amid 4.0 lockdown

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: Life has started limping back to normal in various green and orange zones of Jammu division as most of the shops and business establishments reopened amid certain restrictions on Wednesday after nearly two months of the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The Jammu and Kashmir administration had permitted resumption of many activities, including opening of markets, private offices and limited vehicular movement, in green and orange zones besides banks, private hospitals, liquor sh...

Cabinet gives ex post facto nod to law for specified domicile criterion for employment in J&K

21/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 20: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday gave ex post facto approval to a law on specified domicile criterion for employment in the public sector in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. "The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its ex post facto approval for the Jammu & Kashmir (Adaptation of State Laws) Second Order, 2020 issued under section 96 of Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, an official statement said. This order has further modified th...

Domicile Status made eligibility for admission to Educational Institutions

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: With the issuance of Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020, the UT government has made Domicile Status Certificate as an eligibility condition for admission to Educational Institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. A circular issued by GAD stated, "The Government has notified the Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020, vide 5.0 166 dated 18th of May, 2020. Consequent upon the above, it has been decided that the requir...

HC closed till May 31

21/05/2020
JAMMU, May 20: High Court of J&K today extended the closure of access to all court complexes in J&K UT and Ladakh including both wings of High Court till May 31 as preventive measure to contain spread of COVID-19. In this connection a Full Court meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice and an order was issued by the Registrar General of J&K High Court. The courts were closed till May 20 which has ended yesterday. Full Court has decided that the Circular Nos 10/GS, 11/GS, 13/GS...

Pregnant employees exempted from attending office: Jitendra

21/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 20: Pregnant women employees will be exempted from attending office, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday. He said a circular to this effect has been issued and is expected to be followed by different ministries and departments as well as the states and Union territories. "Pregnant women employees who are not already on maternity leave will also be exempted from attending office. Persons with disabilities are also to be given a similar exemption from attending office...

India, China enhance military presence in Ladakh as tension mounts

21/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 20: Indian and Chinese armies rushed in additional troops in areas around Pangong Tso lake and Galwan Valley in Ladakh, signalling hardening of their aggressive posturing two weeks after the they were engaged in a fierce face-off, military sources said on Wednesday. It is learnt that the India's top military brass is constantly monitoring the evolving situation even as the US said the aggressive behaviour by Chinese troops was a reminder of the threat posed by China. "The flare...

Oppn can use any words they want, govt has provided relief to poor, migrants: Sitharaman

21/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 20: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said that opposition parties can choose their words to target the government but it has made sincere efforts to provide relief to people in the lockdown induced by coronavirus crisis and asked about the performance of the state governments headed by opposition parties in dealing with the issues relating to migrant workers. In an interview with ANI Editor Smita Prakash, Sitharaman said she did not initially react to Congress ca...

Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman’s son among two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists killed in Srinagar encounter

20/05/2020
SRINAGAR, May 19: Two terrorists of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen including Junaid Ashraf Khan 'Sehrai', whose father is chairman of the separatist conglomerate Tehrek-e-Hurriyat, were killed on Tuesday after a 15-hour-long gunbattle with security forces in a densely populated area in downtown Srinagar, officials said. The encounter, which began just after midnight and continued well past Tuesday afternoon, saw damage to around 12 houses in the vicinity of Nawakadal downtown city, leaving m...

Over 300 terrorists in launch pads across LoC, 240 active in hinterland: DGP

20/05/2020
JAMMU, May 19: Over 300 terrorists are present in launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), waiting to infiltrate into the Indian side, Jammu and Kashmir's director general of police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said on Tuesday. He said that there was a high degree of vigilance by the security grid to foil Pakistan's design of pushing terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir. "We have a fairly big number of terrorists who are waiting across that side to be pushed into Jammu and Kashmir. T...

Govt issues fresh guidelines: All shops in Jammu to open from today

20/05/2020
JAMMU, May 19: Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday categorised the districts of the UT into Red, Orange and Green Zones in view of phase four of lockdown. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam issued an order in this regard under section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Red Zone districts -- All districts of Kashmir province, except Ganderbal and Bandipora. Kathua, Samba and Ramban districts of Jammu Province. Orange Zone districts -- Bandipora, Ganderbal, Rea...

Guidelines for Lockdown 4.0

20/05/2020
Private Hospitals, nursing homes are allowed to function E-commerce and courier services are allowed to function Agriculture, Horticulture activities are allowed Canteen, Bus stand, Airport, railway station can function with passes in Red zone All restaurants, hotels to open kitchens for home delivery only Bank and financial services are allowed to run Liqour shops are allowed to open Barbershops, salons except in Municipal corporation limits in Red /orange zone Self-employed plumber, t...

28 persons test +ve

20/05/2020
JAMMU, May 19: Twenty-eight more people, including three pregnant women, tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, taking the number of cases in the Union territory to 1,317, officials said. While six of the fresh cases are in Jammu, 22 are from Kashmir, they added. "Twenty-eight new positive cases of coronavirus were detected in the Union territory on Tuesday," an official said here. He said the number of confirmed cases stood at 1,317. Of these, 1,151 are in Kashmir, w...

First train with 1184 outbound migrant workers leaves from Katra

20/05/2020
JAMMU, MAY 19: First Train of outbound migrant workers departed from Katra for Chhatrapur (MP) today at 05:00 pm carrying 1184 persons. As per the Nodal Officer J&K, more Trains are being organised and the migrant workers desirous to leave are advised to wait. They will be notified in due course of time. "The workers should not walk or move unauthorisedly but wait for administration to notify them to board the train going to their home," the Nodal officer appealed the outbound migrant workers...

J&K High Court contributes 50 lakh towards PM CARES Fund

20/05/2020
JAMMU, May 19: In a full Court resolution dated 16th May 2020, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir had decided to contribute Rs. 50 Lac to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES FUND) raised for combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It was also resolved that High Court shall contribute the remaining collected amount to the JK Relief Fund. It is worthwhile to mention that earlier in a full Court meeting held on 23th of March, the High Cou...

Lt Gov takes stock of facilities being provided to returnees at Udhampur Railway station

20/05/2020
UDHAMPUR, May 19: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu along with First Lady of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Smita Murmu, today visited Railway Station Udhampur and took stock of the facilities being provided to the people of J&K who were stranded outside and are being brought back through special trains. Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner Secretary to the Government Industries and Commerce Department, who is also the Nodal Officer for management of return of stranded ...

UTs of J&K & Ladakh to have permanent Bench of CAT: Union of India to HC

20/05/2020
JAMMU, May 19: The PIL for constitution of permanent bench of Central Administrative Tribunal in J&K was heard today by the DB of the High Court consisting of Justice Rajesh Bindal & Justice Justice Sanjay Dhar. During the Courtse of hearing, Vishal Sharma ASGI submitted a 5 point note of the UOI/Central Govt. and informed the Court that the Central Govt has decided to establish a permanent Bench of CAT for UT of of J&K and UT of Ladakh and has already requested the UT Govt. Of J&K to provid...

Pak Army shells areas along LoC in Rajouri, Balakote sector

20/05/2020
JAMMU, May 19: The Pakistan Army on Tuesday shelled forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army, a defence spokesperson said. This is second ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army in the last 12 hours along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts. "At about 0730 hours today, Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by small arm firing and mortar shelling along LoC in Sunderbani sector", the spokesperson said, addi...

Serious miscarriage of history undone by changing J&K Domicile Rules: Jitendra

20/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 19: A serious miscarriage of history has been undone after 70 years with the notification of the new domicile rules by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday. Terming the new rules as dawn of a new era for the Union Territory, he said history will vindicate us and prove that this course correction was in keeping with the principle of equality and the norms of a healthy democracy. "A serious miscarriage of history has been undone afte...

Railways to operate 200 non-ac, second class passenger trains daily from June 1

20/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 19: Providing huge relief to people, specially in the country's small towns and cities, the railways will run 200 special passenger trains from June 1, the national transporter said on Tuesday. These trains will have non-air conditioned second class coaches and will run daily. They will be plied in addition to the Shramik Special and the air-conditioned special trains which are currently being operated on the Rajdhani routes connecting 15 major cities to Delhi. All categories ...

Govt notifies Domicile Rules

19/05/2020
JAMMU, May 18: The Government today notified Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020. These Rules prescribe the procedure for issuance of Domicile Certificate which has been made the basic eligibility condition for appointment to any post under the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir following amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization and Recruitment) Act, 2010. Under the Domicile Rules all those persons and their children who hav...

J&K records 106 new positive cases, 2 deaths

19/05/2020
JAMMU, May 18: Jammu and Kashmir on Monday recorded 106 fresh COVID-19 cases, including 55 police personnel and five doctors, taking the total number of infected to 1,289, officials said. The union territory has reported a total of 16 fatalities, including two on Monday. Among the latest cases are five doctors and 55 police personnel from district police lines Anantnag, they said. Four of these doctors had treated a COVID-19 positive woman who died of comorbidities on Sunday. The 29-yea...

J&K to get Ola, Uber type Radio Taxi service soon

19/05/2020
SRINAGAR, May 18: In order to strengthen public transport system, Principal Secretary Transport, Asgar Samoon, today, has said that radio taxi service on patterns of (Ola & Uber) will be started soon across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This was stated by the Principal Secretary while chairing an officers' meeting here convened to review establishment of IDTR( Institute of Driving Training and Research) at Kot Balwal and Budgam and ICC(Inspection and Certification Centre) at Ha...

Congress politicising hardships of migrant workers: Jitendra

19/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 18: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Monday asked the Congress to refrain from politicising the hardships of migrant workers, especially at a time when the nation is facing the coronavirus pandemic. He said the central government is sensitive to the issue of migrant labourers and doing all in its means to mitigate their hardships. “The Congress is politicising hardships of migrant workers in its failing bid to gain political mileage. They must stop playing politics. This is not...

India’s COVID-19 tally crosses 1-lakh mark; Lockdown 4.0 kicks in with several relaxations

19/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 18: The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases crossed one lakh on Monday with more people testing positive for the deadly virus in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and other states, even as a much-relaxed fourth phase of the lockdown began with restarting of market complexes, autos, taxis and inter-state buses in various parts of the country. The death toll due to COVID-19 crossed the 3,000-mark too. With an aim to reboot numerous locked down economic activities, authorities acros...

4 Hydel Power Projects worth Rs. 189.85 Crore cleared by DLSWCC of I&C

19/05/2020
SRINAGAR, May 18: To boost hydro-electricity in Kashmir valley, the Divisional Level Single Window Clearance Committee (DLSWCC) today cleared two hydro-electric power projects of 05 MW capacity each at total project cost of Rs. 83.09 Crore. The meeting was chaired by Director, Industries & Commerce Kashmir and it was attended by General Manager, District Industries Centre, Anantnag, Joint Director, Fisheries, Joint Director, JKEDA, Assistant Director, Planning (Industries & Commerce), Range Of...

Jhelum Cooperative House Building Society Chairman held in land scam worth crores

19/05/2020
SRINAGAR, May 18: Hilal Mir, Chairman, Jhelum Cooperative House Building Society was arrested and Rs 187 crore was recovered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Rs 223-crore land scam of Jammu and Kashmir State Co-operative Bank, an official release said. "A preliminary enquiry was conducted by the ACB, Jammu on the allegations that the Chairman of J&K Co-operative Bank Ltd. in connivance with the officials/beneficiary of a non-existent Co-operative House Building Society had sanctioned ...

Chinese military bolsters troops in Aksai Chin region in Sino-India border

19/05/2020
BEIJING, May 18: Chinese troops have bolstered their border control measures in the Galwan Valley in the Aksai Chin region of the Sino-India border, official media here reported on Monday. The Chinese action followed "India's recent, illegal construction of defence facilities across the border into Chinese territory in the Galwan Valley region," a write-up in the state-run Global Times tabloid said, quoting unnamed military sources. "Since early May, India has been crossing the boundary line ...

Court extends DySP Davinder Singh’s custody till June 16

19/05/2020
NEW DELHI, May 18: A Delhi court on Monday extended till June 16 the judicial custody of Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Davinder Singh, who was arrested earlier this year while ferrying two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists in a vehicle on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway. Singh was produced before the court via video conferencing which extended his custody for a month, his advocate Prashant Prakash said. Special judge M K Nagpal had earlier directed the jail authorities of Hira Nagar Jail in Jammu a...