Sunday, 31 May 2020

Massive CASO underway in Mendhar area of Poonch district

SRINAGAR: A joint team of army and police have launched a massive cordon and search operation (CASO)  in four to five villages of Mendhar ara of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

Quoting officials, news agency KNO reported that teams of army and police have cordoned four to five villages of Mendhar and have launched searches.

“Searches of extensive nature are going on in the area,” they said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Poonch, Ramesh Angral said that operation has been launched on the basis of information about the presence of militants.

“Operation have been launched and if any development takes place that will be shall share accordingly,” SSP said.



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Infiltration bid foiled, three militants killed: Army

SRINAGAR: Army on Monday claimed to have to killed three militants after foiling an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Naushera sector of Rajouri district.

News agency GNS quoted an army official as saying that in an ongoing counter-infiltration operation which started on 28th May, alert troops of Indian Army eliminated an infiltration bid along the LoC in Naushera Sector.

Three heavily-armed Pakistan trained militants have been killed. A search of the area is in progress, the officer added.



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JeM module busted in Budgam, six arrested: Police

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday claimed to have busted a militant module in Chadoora of Central Kashmiri’s Budgam district.

Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered. Pic: PoliceKashmir mili

A police spokesman in a statement said, “On a credible input, Budgam police along with 50RR and 29 BN CRPF have arrested six militant associates identified as Mudassir Fayaz resident of Kralpora, Shabir Ganaie resident of Wathoora, Sageer Ahmad Poswal resident of Kupwara, Issaq Bhat, Arshid Thoker both residents of Shopian and a minor from Chadoora area of Budgam.”

“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01Chinese pistol, 01Pistol Magazine, 04 Pistol rounds, 01Hand grenade,  Cash Rs.1,55,000/- and narcotic substance Heroine 01kg were recovered from their possession,” said the spokesman.

“As per police records they were in close connection with Pakistan based militant handlers and were involved in the drug trade, the supply of weapons besides assisting financially to active militants of proscribed outfit JeM. The recoveries also exposed the interconnection between drug dealers and militants,” he said.

“A Case under the relevant section of law has been registered at Police Station Chadoora and further investigation in the matter is in progress,” said a police spokesman in a statement.



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Coronavirus: With over 1.90 lakh cases, India now 7th worst-hit country

SRINAGAR: India witnessed 8,390 cases in 24 hours on the second consecutive day. With this, the total case count of coronavirus disease mounted to 1,90,535 on Monday. India emerged as the 7th worst COVID-hit country globally, leaving behind France and Germany. At least 230 new fatalities were also recorded in 24 hours time, taking the toll to 5,394.

According to the Health Ministry, of the total number, at least 93,322 cases are active while 91,819 people have been cured. Recovery rate in the country is 48.19 per cent now, while the death rate docked at 2.83 per cent.

Maharashtra reported a total of 67,655 cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 22,333 and Delhi with 19,844 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of casualties — 2,286, followed by Gujarat (1,038), Delhi (473) and Madhya Pradesh (350).

States that reported more than 5,000 cases are Madhya Pradesh (8,089), Rajasthan (8,831), Uttar Pradesh (7,823) and West Bengal (5,501).

Meanwhile, the total number of global coronavirus cases increased to over 6.1 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3,71,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.

With 17,89,364 confirmed cases and 1,04,358 deaths, the US accounts for the highest number of infections and fatalities in the world, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE). This is followed by Brazil with 5,14,849 cases.

Other countries in terms of highest number of cases are: Russia (4,05,843), the UK (2,76,156), Spain (2,39,479), Italy (2,32,997), France (1,89,009), Germany (1,83,410), Peru (1,64,476), Turkey (1,63,942), and Iran (1,51,466), the CSSE figures showed. Regarding fatalities, the UK continues in the second position after the US with 38,571 COVID-19 deaths, which also accounts for the highest fatalities in Europe. The other countries with over 10,000 deaths are Italy (33,415), Brazil (29,314), France (28,805) and Spain (27,127). (IANS)



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A Barber Deficit

As lockdown restricted people to their homes, hairy individuals are desperate to unburden their skulls. The added tensions are that the hair-styling sector has already been taken over by the skilled non-locals, most of whom are home in the plains, reports Masood Hussain

During the peak of lockdown, it was a blessing if somebody could trace a barber. In this photograph recorded early May 2020, this barber had a long queue, only two are seen waiting. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

In Drass, at the peak of 1999 war, when the population had deserted Drass, the main war-front, those staying back were some vegetable sellers, two dhabas and barbers. Last month, when France opened after six weeks, it was not food joints but the salons that witnessed unprecedented crowds. Both men and women swarmed the salons because the lockdown had de-shaped their styles. Hair croppers, one of the oldest human professionals, provide the key basic facility.

In Kashmir, where mostly men require hair-styling, the situation is pretty precarious. Primarily, people are scared of barbers and hair-stylists. If they wish to move out to find hair-styling joints, they would not find many actually in business, right now.

Early May, it triggered panic in Handwara’s Gonipora belt when a barber tested positive for Covid-19. The particular barber had been routinely visiting his customers and even inviting some to his place. It was a painful exercise for the concerned officials to trace his contacts so that the necessary precautions are taken. Thankfully, not many of them were found infected.

In neighbouring Baramulla, another barber came on the radar for having cut the hair of a person who tested positive for the viral disease. He, along with many of his contacts, was sent on home quarantine. Thankfully, one youngster who also was on the radar said, the barber tested negative, so did many of his contacts. In fact, the Covid-19 patient also tested negative twice and is apparently out of danger.

These incidents have prevented people from seeking the services of these professionals. In most of the cases, people used the tools available at home or in the locality to stay in better shape. All of a sudden there was a huge demand in trimmers. In most of the cases, it was either self-help or the families chipping in.

A traditional Kashmir barber operating in the periphery, busy in a hair cut on the roof of a single story dwelling. The photograph is undated and was accessed from open sources.

But it has not altered the demand side much. As one person wrote on Twitter that the government should add barbers in essential services list, otherwise “har ghar say Omar Abdullah niklay ga”.

When Omar Abdullah eventually moved out of the Hari Niwas Palace converted into a sub-jail for him, he wore a flowing salt and pepper beard. In a quick follow-up, his Twitter fans got into a snap poll over his beard as a division emerged on whether Omar should restore his facial status quo ante or not. The poll suggested he must wear his beard and he obliged them.

But nobody knew that the Covid-19 lockdown will be so widespread and protracted that the hair-setters will shut their shops and the authorities will enforce a strict curfew – to the extent of arresting and registering cases for violators, resulting in people getting too much hairy.

Over the years, hair cutting has evolved into fine art. For most of Kashmir history, the barbers were professionals who usually did not own lands and would move from door to door for offering their services. Unlike the urban spaces, they would offer their services to a belt and collect their numerations at the time of the harvest. It was sort of barter, they provided the services and were paid in paddy to feed their kitchens.

They would usually remain in the lower rung of the society’s socio-economic stratification even though they would offer a lot of services from managing certain ailments to preparing the grooms. Their low income was the key factor in forcing most of them to switch over to other professions, gradually acquiring small pieces of lands, getting into the government services and opening their salons as per the local requirements.

In the last thirty years, this sector exhibited a massive shift. Part of the contributing factors was the mass conversion of the paddy fields into the apple orchards in most of Kashmir. With the landowners themselves purchasing the rice from the open market or the government-run ration depots, the barbers – like iron-smiths, and even the faith-healers, quitted their age-old style of operations. They would only go to the elite and the commoners would have to travel to their shops.

As the connectivity improved, hundreds of barbers came from mainland locations and took the sector to a new level. In this competition, the traditional barbers lost the market. Already facing a crisis in the social order, some of them quit the professions and moved to other sources of income. Gradually Kashmir started depending hugely on the non-local barbers especially in the urban and suburban spaces.

An undated photograph sourced from the social media shows a traditional barber busy in hair styling of a boy on the banks of Dal lake.

These migrant skilled persons, mostly Muslims from India’s marginal minority, found Kashmir suited for them given a cultural affinity. They, however, had their own problems in managing their operations in a hugely fragile society. Though they managed their operations well for most of the turmoil, they had upsetting times during the mass unrests in 2010 and 2016. But the worst situation came in August 2018 when in anticipation of the August 5 decision making – the Government of India rolled back the special status. The government ordered all of them to move out. Some of them tried to stay put but the society saw them with suspicion because the new law promulgated by the Parliament indicated the rollback of the protection to the demographic composition of the state. Most of these professionals moved home.

A month after the state government-sponsored flight of the non-locals from Kashmir, the Indian Express visited Kirtapur towns in Bijnor and talked to the people who were running Kashmir’s hair-styling show. Nobody gave them their names but they talked in detail. A 32-year old said he has been working in Kupwara for 15 years and makes a monthly earning of Rs 15 to Rs 20,000. From Bijnor district, the number of families working and living in Kashmir is 2000. Of them, the newspaper said 100 families were from Kirtapur alone.

The newspaper tracked Bijnor’s Kashmir’s connection to 1960s when two men, Ghulam Mustafa and Rashid, landed in Bhopal, wherefrom they were hired to work in ‘the city to Kashmir. “Later, they returned to Bijnor and took youngsters with them there,” the newspaper reported.

In anticipation of August 5, 2019, when the migrant barbers left, the market suddenly felt the appetite for the service in the protracted shutdown. They are running an estimated 20,000 salons and shops across Kashmir, according to Kashmir Hairdressers Association. The gap was filled by the local barbers, some of whom had actually switched over to other professions.

Shaban had quit as hair-cropper to become a labourer almost 12 years back. As the migrant barbers fled, he told The Telegraph that he was “flooded with requests to reopen my shop”. Locals helped him dust and reorder his abandoned salon. “I’m making good money, more than what I earned as a mason,” Shaban said.

However, it was a temporary phase as most of the barbers could not stay home for a long time because they could not find many opportunities around in UP. Most of them returned and restarted their businesses. But that phase was also temporary. As the Covid-19 arrived, most of them had to rush home. Some of them are still staying put. But the situation is not conducive for them to operate normally as the lock-down, now in the third month, is being strictly implemented.

“Barbers who are settled here and here,” Fayaz Ahmad, who lives in the old Srinagar city, said. These people who have been working here for the last 20 years or more have their kids enrolled in local schools. Some of them have hugely invested in their salons. “They are going from door to door to trim the hair of the people.”

At individual levels, people are also using scissors, clippers and trimmers to keep their hair in check. On social media, there were a lot of photographs showing the people cutting each other’s unkempt hairs to stay in order. The families faced tensions because of the children. Traditionally, the kids go for hair-dressing in anticipation of the Eid. This time, however, they had only two options – to either undergo a hair-cut by their parents or simply wait. The wait is only getting longer.



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Kashmir: Home Ministry Sanctions Over 40,000 Bullet Proof Jackets, 170 Armoured Vehicles For CRPF

SRINAGAR: The union home ministry has sanctioned over 40,000 bulletproof jackets and 170 armoured vehicles for the use of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir valley and anti-Naxal offensives in various states, reports reveal.

According to the sources in the ministry, a total of 176 medium bullet-proof vehicles have been sanctioned and each of them can seat about 5-6 armed troops. Besides, the CRPF has “re-fabricated” about 80 Maruti Gypsy vehicles as part of enhancing the protection to its personnel against bullet shots, grenade attacks and stone-pelting in Kashmir.

The sources said these vehicles can withstand grenade attacks, gunshots aimed from a distance and other fatal attacks.

As part of its modernization plan, the government has also sanctioned about 42,000 “light bulletproof jackets” to provide enhanced protection to troops’ vital body parts like neck and the groin area as the overall surface area of each such vest is larger than the older ones. The new jackets, reports said, “weigh 40 per cent lesser than the bullet-proof jackets in use at present.” The older ones weigh around 7-8 kgs.

Reportedly, there are about 3.25 lakh personnel of CRPF deployed about 70 battalions in Kashmir while about 90 such units are based in various LWE violence-hit states.

Each CRPF battalion has an operational strength of around 1,000 troops.



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Youth Found Dead At His Home In Pattan

SRINAGAR: A 22-year-old youth was found dead mysteriously at his home in Mattipora village of Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

According to the reports, youth, professionally a labourer and identified as Showkat Ahmad Hajam son of Abdul Rehman Hajam, resident of Mattipora village of Pattan was found dead inside his home under mysterious condition.

A case 172 CRPC has been registered at police post-Mirgund and investigation is going on.

As per the police sources, the body of the deceased person has been taken into custody in presence of police officials for post mortem to determine the cause of death, and to complete other legal formalities in the case.

After completing the post mortem and other legal formalities, the body has been handed over to legal heirs.



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Coronavirus: 16 Pregnant Women Among 105 Test Positive, Tally Reaches 2446

SRINAGAR: The Government on Sunday informed that 105 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), 15 from Jammu division and 90 from Kashmir division, have been reported today thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 2446.

According to officials 24 were reported from Anantnag, 17 from Kulgam, 15 from Baramulla, 11 from Budgam, 10 from Kupwara, 8 from Srinagar, six from Jammu, three each from Kathua and Rajouri, two each from Shopian and Ramban and one from Samba.

Dr Salim Khan, nodal officer for COVID-19 at the Government Medical College Srinagar said that 50 persons including 16 pregnant women have been tested positive at CD hospital Srinagar.

“Of the 50 new cases, 15 including ten pregnant women from Baramulla,  17 including five pregnant women from Kulgam, 12  including one pregnant woman from Anantnag, three from Tral and one each from Srinagar, Shopian and Budgam districts,” Dr Khan said.50 came out to be positive—17 from Kulgam, 15 from Baramulla, 12 from Anantnag, three from Tral Pulwama, one each from Srinagar, Shopian and Budgam.

He said one employee, nursing orderly in Microbiology, at CD hospital also tested positive for the virus.

Dr Ghulam Hassan Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS said that out of 723 samples processed at the viral diagnostic lab, 21 returned positive.

He said among these cases 10 are from Kupwara, seven from Srinagar including one sample received from CMO Srinagar, three from Anantnag and one from Shopian.

He added that the cases include 39-year-old male, 35-year-old, 4-year-old girl from Naseem Bagh and Habak Hazratbal, 25-year-old from Malik Mohalla Shopian, a 32-year-old man from Rawalpora Kerewa Annatnag, Seepan Khanabal Anantnag, 30-year-old woman from Bemina Srinagar, a 24-year-old man from Ganipora Langate, 70-year-old man from Verinag Anantnag, a male and a 6-year-old girl from Natipora Srinagar, a 26-year-old man from Awoora Kupwara, 24-year-old and 29-year-old men from Gulgam Kupwara, 25-year-old and 22-year-old men from Zurhama Kupwara, 32-year-old from Taratpora Kupwara, a 55-year-old man from Dardpora Kralpora Kupwara, a 48-year-old man from Manzgam Kupwara and a 28-year-old man from Baghi Mehtab Srinagar.

An official said that out 125 samples processed at the SKIMS Bemina diagnostic laboratory today, two came out to be positive.

They include 36-year-old man from Ohangam Budgam and  27-year-old from Hyderpora Srinagar.

Moreover, 19 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals, 03 from Jammu Division and 16 from Kashmir Division.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), out of 2446 positive cases, 1491 are Active Positive, 927 have recovered and 28 have died; 03 in Jammu division and 25 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 171045 test results available, 168599 samples have been tested as negative till May 31, 2020.

Additionally, till date 172844 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance which included 38572 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 45 in Hospital Quarantine, 1491 in hospital isolation and 46419 under home surveillance. Besides, 86289 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Bandipora has 146 positive cases with 11 Active Positive, 134 recovered, 01 death; Srinagar has 280 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 132 Active Positive, 141 recovered (including 10 cases recovered today), 07 deaths; Anantnag district has 338 positive cases (including 24 cases reported today), with 211 Active Positive, 122 recovered,  05 deaths; Baramulla has 232 positive cases (including 15 cases reported today) with 124 Active Positive, 103 recovered (including 01 case recovered today), 05 deaths; Shopian has 170 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 61 Active Positive, 108 recovered and 01 death; Kupwara has 268 positive cases (including 10 cases reported today) with 193 Active Positive, 75 recovered (including 01 case recovered today); Budgam has 110 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today), with 47 Active Positive and 61 recovered cases and 02 deaths; Ganderbal has 32 positive cases with 08 Active cases and 24 recoveries; Kulgam has 294 positive cases (including 17 cases reported today), with 264 Active Positive and  26 recoveries (including 03 cases recovered today) and 04 deaths and Pulwama reported 73 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 60 active positive and 13 recovered (including 01 case recovered today).

Similarly, Jammu has 136 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today) with 95 active positive cases and 39 recoveries (including 02 cases recovered today) and 02 deaths; Udhampur has 65 positive cases with 39 active positive cases, 25 recovered and 01 death; Samba has 43 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 32 Active Positive and 11 recoveries; Rajouri has 30 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 25 active positive cases and 05 recovered; Kathua has 73 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 53 Active positive and 20 recovered (including 01 case recovered today); Kishtwar has 08 positive case with 07 active positive cases and 01 recovered; Ramban has 91 positive cases (including 2 cases reported today) with 76 active positive and 15 recoveries; Reasi has 14 positive cases with 11 active positive and 03 recovered, Poonch has 38 active positive cases while Doda has 05 positive cases with 04 active positive case and 01 recovered.

According to the bulletin, of the total 2446 positive cases in the UT of J&K 1090 have been reported as travelers.

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 a 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 etiquettes 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.



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A ‘deserter’ has no right to lecture us: NC

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference political secretary to party president and provincial secretary Showkat Mir on Sunday censured the uncouth assertions of Apni party functionary as a sinister attempt to create chaos, confusion and lend credence to the rhetoric of anti-J&K forces.

In a statement, he said, “Sermons emanating from Ghulam Hassan Mir are hilarious as well as disgusting. Here we have a person who is preaching political probity to us, whose personal credentials are questionable and whose whole politics revolves around opportunism. A known deserter, it is no less than irony to see him give sermons on democracy since he all his life has been known to destabilize duly elected governments in J&K. A value analysis of his political career will only reveal how deeply involved he is in serving the undercover assignments of  various forces to topple representative governments of J&k from time to time; 1984 is the watermark year of his past achievements in that direction.”

“People of J&K aren’t gullible. His real deposition is known to each and every person of J&K who knows him inside out.  He has asserted that he won’t shy away from representing people.  Would he care to explain who does he represent? We don’t solicit certificates from a person who draws his political sustenance from forces as are inimical to J&K’s political dignity and rights. We draw our sustenance from people,” he said.

“Before he preaches others, let him come clean on former Army Chiefs revelation on his dubious role in J&K. A self-seeker he has been part of all classified missions aimed to obliterate the identity of J&K,” Mir said in a statement.



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Hideout busted in south Kashmir: Police

SRINAGAR: A militant hideout was busted by army and Police in Akhal- Malwan forest area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police said

Hideout busted in south Kashmir’s Kulgam.Pic: Police

A police spokesman in a statement said, “Based on a credible input, regarding the presence of militants in Akhal- Malwan forest belt a Cordon and search operation was launched by Kulgam Police along with 09 RR , 10 Para and 18Bn CRPF.”

He said that during the search a hideout was busted in Akhal Malwan forest area of Kulgam.

“Police have recovered incriminating materials including one magazine of AK series,  30 rounds 7.62*39 mm, one Gas cylinder with Stove, 06 Steel Plates, 03 Steel Pots, 02 Frying Pan, 01 Roti maker wooden, 01 Edible oil bottle, Medicines, 5 Steel Glasses, 1 Plastic Mug, 4 Sleeping Bags, 3 Rucksack Bags, 5 Wollen Thermocots, 1 Track Suit, 3 Uppers, 1 Pent Shirt,” said the spokesman.

“A case FIR No. 54/2020 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Devsar in this regard and investigations initiated to establish the full circumstances pertaining to this hideout,” he said.

“The incriminating materials recovered have been seized by the police and taken into case records for the purpose of the investigation,” said a police spokesman in a statement.



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Coronavirus: 14 Arrested For Defying Lockdown Orders, 10  Vehicles Seized

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday said it arrested 14 persons for defying government lockdown orders to contain the spread of coronavirus.

A police spokesman in a statement said, “Acting tough against the violators of Government prohibitory orders, Srinagar Police have arrested 14 persons besides, sealed 4 shops and seized 10 vehicles for defying the restriction orders imposed by Government in view of Covid-19.”

“Officers in the jurisdiction of Police Station Nigeen along with concerned magistrate have arrested four persons and sealed four shops for violating lockdown orders. Cases FIR No 96/2020 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Nigeen and further investigation into the case has been initiated,” said the spokesman.

“Similarly, in another action, 10 persons have been arrested and 10 vehicles were also seized for violating the prohibitory orders imposed by Government. Case FIR No. 97/2020 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Nigeen and further investigation into the case has been initiated,” he said.

“Srinagar Police have once again requested the general public to follow the restrictions imposed by Government in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and those who are violating the restrictions will be dealt strictly,” said the spokesman in a statement.



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Shopian: Out Of 151 Confirmed Covid Cases, 107 Patients Recovered

SRINAGAR

In South Kashmir’s Shopian district where 151 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed, 107 patients are said to have been cured and discharged.

The details were revealed on Sunday when the district magistrate Choudhary Mohammad Yasin took stock of the arrangements.

According to the official presser, Yasin visited the new Covid wellness centre established in the Tourist Reception Centre Padpawan and informed that the team of doctors and paramedics shall operate the wellness centre as per strict medical protocol for COVID-19 positive cases. He also disclosed that district administration has already identified several locations in the district to accommodate 800 such cases if the need arises. “The wellness centre has been established for keeping COVID-19 positive persons in isolation under the supervision of specialized medical care team,” he said.

During his visit, Yasin launched a door to door screening for the detection of persons with symptoms of COVID-19 in Vehil and urged to create an awareness campaign to sanitize and motivate people for testing. “The initiative to screen people for Covid-19 has been taken wherein special focus will be given to areas where the people infected with the disease have been found,” read the statement.

He has also said the focus is treating the locations where the infected people have been found as the epicenter, door to door screening is to be conducted there with a special focus on senior citizens.

He appealed to the people to help the frontline workers and boost their morale.

The district magistrate was accompanied by senior officials of the area.



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Core Group Meets In Srinagar To Review The Security Situation

SRINAGAR 

The top brass of civil administration, intelligence agencies and security forces met in Srinagar to discuss the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting as per the sources was called to review the security situation in the Union Territory and to ensure readiness to meet the anticipated security challenges.

As per the reports, the meeting of the core group was co-chaired by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Chinar Corps, Lt Gen B.S. Raju, and Director General Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Dilbag Singh.

According to an army statement, the core group focused on the need for high-level synergy among all the agencies in addressing the security concerns in Kashmir.

“Intelligence inputs indicate that Pakistan had intensified its efforts at increasing infiltration and ceasefire violations across the Line of Control. There is also an effort to calibrate the increase in terrorist actions in the hinterland. Pakistan and its proxies are also active on social media to launch a disinformation campaign in J&K,” the statement said.

The core group as per the reports discussed the plans to ensure a robust counter infiltration grid along the Line of Control and counter insurgency grid in the hinterland. It also discussed the recent successes in anti-terror operations.

“Intelligence inputs indicate efforts by anti-nationals and Pakistan proxies to calibrate the increase in violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Recent successes, including killing of terror outfit leaders and prevention of large scale IED attacks, have blunted such efforts,” the statement said.

“The support of the Kashmiri people has been critical in the success of the security forces,” it added.

“The core group discussed the need for continued intelligence based anti-terror operations with a humane touch. In order to address the complete eco-system of terror organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, the anti-terror operations are being supported by efforts to identify and arrest over ground workers who sustain the terror organisations,” the statement said.

 



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Coronavirus: 21 More Test Positive In Kashmir

Srinagar

As many as 21 samples that were diagnosed for Covid-19 at the SKIMS laboratory have turned positive, officials said.

At SKIMS Viral Research and Diagnostic Lab (VRDL), 21 samples were tested positive, Dr Farooq Jan, medical superintendent SKIMS said.

“Of the 21 new cases, 7 are from Srinagar, ten from Kupwara, three from Anantnag and one from Shopian district,” he said. “We are in the process of getting the details of the individuals.”

As of now, J&K has reported 2412 cases, out of which 1475 are Active Positive and 28 have died.

 



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102,972 lakh stranded J&K residents evacuated: Govt

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has evacuated about 102,972 JK residents, stranded in other parts of the country due to COVID lockdown, via Lakhanpur and through special trains and buses till date amid strict observance of all necessary guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures.

As per the official data received in this regard, the administrations of Jammu and Kashmir districts have received 38 COVID special trains at Jammu and Udhampur railway stations from different states and UTs, so far, with about 30,383 stranded passengers while about 72,589 persons have been evacuated by the government through Lakhanpur till date.

Therefore, a total of about 102,972 J&K residents stranded outside UT have been brought back to the UT by the Jammu and Kashmir government by 38 COVID special trains and a fleet of buses through Lakhanpur after strictly observing all necessary preventive measures regarding the Virus.

As per the detailed break up about the figures, about 1004 stranded passengers have entered through Lakhanpur from May 30 to May 31 morning while 798 passengers have reached today in the 18th Delhi COVID special train at Jammu. So far, 18 trains have reached Jammu with a total of 14,743 stranded passengers belonging to different districts while 15,640 passengers have reached Udhampur in 20 special trains, so far.

As per the official communiqué, of 72,589 returnees evacuated through Lakhanpur till May 31, 2020 (morning) included 18144 from Punjab; 21897 from Himachal Pardesh, 21 from Andhra Pardesh, 6835 from Delhi, 1386 from Gujrat, 3176 from Rajasthan, 4168 from Haryana, 162 from Chattisgarh, 3549 from Uttarakhand, 1076 from Maharashtra, 4613 from Uttar Pradesh, 64 from Odisha, 267 from Assam and 1036 from Madhya Pradesh, 88 from Dehradun, 1353 from Chandigarh, 693 from Telengana, 119 from Karnataka, 21 from Tamilnadu, 52 from Chennai, 324 from Bihar, 164 from West Bengal, 107 from Jharkhand, 3 from Nepal and 3271 from other states and UTs.



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Lockdown extended in J&K till June 8: Govt

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday extended the coronavirus lockdown until June 8 and said the Centre’s new guidelines on some relaxations require a fresh assessment of the spread of COVID-19 in the Union Territory.

According to Government Order No. 57 – JK (DMRRR) of 2020,  “Whereas, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) vide its Order No. 1-29/2020-PP dated 17.05.2020 had extended lockdown measures up to 315′ May 2020.”

“Whereas in pursuance thereof, the NDMA had directed the National Executive Committee (NEC) to issue necessary guidelines for regulating the implementation of the extended lockdown,” said the order.

“Whereas, the Union Home Secretary in his capacity as Chairperson, NEC, had issued detailed guidelines for implementation of the extended lockdown till 315t May 2020,” reads the order.

“Whereas, the Union Home Secretary in his capacity as Chairperson, NEC, vide Order No. 40-3/2020-0M-I(A) dated 30.5.2020, has issued fresh guidelines for implementation of the extended lockdown in Containment Zones (Red Zones) till 30th June 2020 and reopening certain activities in a phased manner in areas outside Containment Zones (Red Zones),” it reads

The order said, “Whereas these guidelines require State and UT Governments to assess the current spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and based on this assessment, prohibit certain activities outside the Containment Zones or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary, which will require a detailed assessment and consultations on the spread of COVID-19 in Jammu & Kashmir;”

“Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the undersigned in his capacity as Chairman of the State Executive Committee, hereby orders that the guidelines/ instructions issued vide Order No. 54, 55 and 56 JK-(DMRRR) of 2020 dated 19.05.2020 and 24.05.2020 shall continue to remain valid till 08.06.2020,” the order states.



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Coronavirus: 17 Pregnant Women, Health Worker Among 50 Test Positive In Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The number of Covid-19 patients in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 2391 on Sunday, after 50 more patients tested positive for the dreaded virus.

Dr S Saleem Khan, nodal officer COVID19 at GMC Srinagar said 50 more persons including 17 pregnant women have been tested positive at CD hospital Srinagar.

“Of the 50 new cases, 16 including ten pregnant women from Baramulla,  17 including five pregnant women from Kulgam, 10  including one pregnant woman from Anantnag, three from Tral, two including a pregnant woman from Srinagar and one each from Shopian and Budgam districts,” Dr Khan said.

He said that one employee (Nursing Orderly in Microbiology) at CD Hospital also tested positive.

As of now, J&K has reported 2391 cases, out of which 1455 are Active Positive, 908 have recovered and 28 have died; 03 in Jammu division and 25 in Kashmir division.



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15-year-old crushed to death by speeding car

SRINAGAR: A 15-year-old boy was on Sunday crushed to death by a speedy Santro car near Taigan Bypass area of Nowgam in Srinagar outskirts.

Quoting officials news agency KNO reported that a speedy Santro Car bearing registration number (JK01G-8603) hit a pedestrian near Taigan Bypass area of Nowgam in Srinagar outskirts, leaving him critically injured.

The boy identified as Muhammed Rubani Bajard,15, son of Muhammed Hanief of Kalakot district Rajouri was rushed to the hospital, but, he succumbed to his injuries on way to the hospital, officials said.

The driver of the car, who is a resident of Pinjoora Shopian has been arrested while a case under FIR number 82/2020 has been registered at Police Station Nowgam.



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Seven Stranded Specially Abled Kashmiri Youth Back Home Finally

SRINAGAR:  Khalid Lone is back home in the Valley so are his six friends, all speech and hearing impaired. As the boys look back at the past two months of the lockdown spent at Gurugram where they worked and struggled, all they feel is gratitude, so do their families, reported The Tribune.

Stuck in Gurugram, 7 hearing impaired Kashmiri youths back home finally

“We can’t believe that the government, CRPF and activists came together to accomplish the impossible. Transporting seven boys who can’t communicate in the language of the world, arranging their permissions to travel from Gurugram to Srinagar, addressing their special needs along the way, feels like a dream,” says Baramulla-based Sajjad Lone, Khalid’s brother, who had lost all hopes that his disabled kin, who worked with Flipkart in Gurugram, would escape the lockdown.

But a rescue mission mounted by Kashmir-based initiative Yakjah, the governments of Jammu Kashmir, Haryana and Delhi, a sign language interpreter from Indore and CRPF’s Madadgaar helpline ensured the boys were found, understood and sent home safely, said the report.

“Disabled persons are the worst hit in pandemics. So when the first COVID lockdown was imposed, we formed a pandemic response group. Within days we heard of seven Kashmiri youth, all speech and hearing challenged, stranded in Gurugram with no money and support. Most worked at local MNCs that had shut businesses. So we decided to rescue them and a chain was formed which included government officers, CRPF personnel and NGO partners,” The Tribune quoted Ashima Kaul, Yakjah founder as saying.

Nothing was possible without first understanding what the boys were saying. So Monica Purohit, the sign interpreter from MP, became the most vital link in the chain. “The boys would record videos and share them with Monica. She would convert them into voice notes. This back and forth went on for days,” Kaul says.

The evacuation was fast-tracked at every level starting mid-May when Yakjah learnt of the challenge. It was a coincidence that women led the mission with Kaul saying, “women handle emergencies better”.

Among those involved in this evacuation were Additional Commissioner J-K House, New Delhi, Rimpy Ohri, Disability in charge of J-K Shabnam Kamli and CRPF DIG Nitu Bhattacharya.

Throughout the road journey from Gurugram to Srinagar, CRPF Madadgaar helped the boys – Jehangir, Peer Mohammad, Imran Khan, Asif Aziz, Irfan, Khalid and Arif – with food and night stays. Back in Srinagar, the group was quarantined at a hotel before being sent home this week. All the boys have tested negative for COVID, reported The Tribune.



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Most Of The New Recruitment’s Will Go To Non Locals, Congress Leader Says

SRINAGAR: Stating that new Domicile Law has opened jobs in government sector for outsiders, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Vice-President and former MLC G N Monga on Sunday said that majority of over 10,000 vacancies that the J&K administration has identified for fast track recruitment in the first phase, are expected to be taken by the non-locals.

In a statement issued to press from here, he termed the new domicile rule hollow in terms of the protection of the rights of people of J&K. “The only aim of the government to go for fast track recruitment at this stage is to ensure the maximum of these jobs go to outsiders. The new domicile order is a cosmetic exercise aimed to hoodwink people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“At a time when the J&K and the country is battling with Covid19 pandemic and people are caged inside their homes, the government is deliberately issuing such orders. It is deeply perturbing that BJP government is playing mind games with the perturbed people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Monga said.

The Congress leader said that since last year August the economy of Kashmir has been virtually shattered and a few lakh people have already lost the means of livelihood. “There is no sector of the economy in Kashmir which has not been badly affected due to the wrong policies of the BJP government. The unemployment rate was already high in Kashmir and the government sector was the only hope for unemployed educated youth. But how that right too has been snatched from them,” he rued.

Monga also ridiculed the government’s decision to give daily wagers/ contractual labourers etc working in various departments will “some weightage” in the new recruitment policy. “These poor people have been serving selflessly for years together and several times the previous government had promised them of regularization. Now instead they are being told to reapply fresh and what will happen if they don’t qualify the exam?” he asked.

“It is sure that most of them will not figure in the new recruitment and then they will be shown the door despite giving the best years of their lives to the government. It is a huge injustice with them. These daily wagers and casual workers are the lone breadwinners of their families. Instead of disengaging them and snatching their livelihood, which is a wrong decision by the administration, these workers should be regularized,” Monga demanded.

The Congress leader said that youth of Kashmir was bearing the brunt of the lack of employment and struggle to find jobs – thus pushing them and their families’ backs to the wall. “In Kashmir, already facing turmoil over the decades, unemployment has become a serious concern and the percentage of unemployed youth is increasing with the poor absorption rate. Now with the new policy, the youth of Kashmir will have no way to go,” he added.



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COVID-19 vaccine could be ready by October: Pfizer

SRINAGAR: Global pharmaceutical major Pfizer believes that a vaccine to prevent Covid-19 could be ready by the end of October, the company’s CEO Albert Bourla said.

Pfizer is conducting clinical trials in the US and Europe for the BNT162 vaccine programme to prevent Covid-19 in collaboration with German mRNA company BioNTech.

Bourla made the comments while participating at a virtual event organised by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) this week.

“If things go well and the stars are aligned, we will have enough evidence of safety and efficacy for us to feel comfortable, for the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) to feel comfortable, and for the EMA (European Medicines Agency) to feel comfortable, to have a vaccine around the end of October,” Bourla was quoted as saying at the event by FierceBiotech.

Speakers at the event also included AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, GlaxoSmithKline chief Emma Walmsley, Johnson & Johnson Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stoffels.

Each of these companies are working with their partners to develop a vaccine to prevent the disease. While GSK has joined forces with Sanofi, AstraZeneca is backing the vaccine being developed at the University of Oxford.

J&J is collaborating with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to develop its vaccine.

So far over 120 vaccines have been proposed across the world. Currently, there are at least 10 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation and 115 candidate vaccines in pre-clinical evaluation.

According to the WHO, it is important to evaluate as many vaccines as possible as we cannot predict how many will turn out to be viable.

To increase the chances of success, it is critical to test all candidate vaccines until they fail, the WHO said.

Pfizer and BioNTech’s development programme includes four vaccine candidates, each representing a different combination of mRNA format and target antigen.

The novel design of the trial allows for the evaluation of the various mRNA candidates simultaneously in order to identify the safest and potentially most efficacious candidate in a greater number of volunteers, in a manner that will facilitate the sharing of data with regulatory authorities in real-time.

“With our unique and robust clinical study program underway, starting in Europe and now the U.S., we look forward to advancing quickly and collaboratively with our partners at BioNTech and regulatory authorities to bring a safe and efficacious vaccine to the patients who need it most,” Bourla said in a statement earlier this month.

“The short, less than four-month timeframe in which we’ve been able to move from pre-clinical studies to human testing is extraordinary and further demonstrates our commitment to dedicating our best-in-class resources, from the lab to manufacturing and beyond, in the battle against COVID-19,” he added.

In anticipation of a successful clinical development programme, Pfizer and BioNTech are working to scale up production for global supply.

The breadth of this programme should allow the production of millions of vaccine doses in 2020, increasing to hundreds of millions in 2021, Pfizer said. (IANS)



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Anantnag Gunfight: Militants give slip to forces, internet restored

SRINAGAR: The militants on Sunday managed to escape after engaging forces in a brief gunfight in PoshKreeri area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Quoting officials as saying news agency KNO reported that after the initial exchange of fire at around 2 am, the search operation was launched by the forces to locate the militants in the area.

However, they said no contact was established with the militants thereafter.

Earlier, an encounter broke out between government forces and militants after a joint team of forces including 3 RR, CRPF and Anantnag Police launched a search operation in the area.

Officials said that as forces intensified search operation towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon forces, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter.

Nonetheless, the militants have managed to escape by taking advantage of the darkness, they said.

Meanwhile, mobile internet services that were snapped in the district as a precautionary measure have been restored while the operation has been called off.



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Civilian injured in cross LoC firing in Poonch

SRINAGAR: A 25-year-old man was injured after India and Pakistan armies exchange fire along the LoC in Poonch district on Sunday.

Reports said that a civilian identified as Mohammad Yasir (25) son of Abdul Rashid resident of Gohlad Mohalla Navni sustained splinter injury in the shelling.

He was immediately shifted to a hospital in Poonch for treatment, they said.

They said several houses were also damaged in the shelling.

“On Saturday late night Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms & intense shelling with Mortars along LoC in Balakote and Mendhar sectors district Poonch,” a defence spokesman said.

Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, the spokesman said.



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Saturday, 30 May 2020

Now, The Virus Found In Elite SSG Also

SRINAGAR: Two Special Security Group (SSG) commandos have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Kashmir Valley, officials told news agency GNS on Sunday.

They said samples of eight SSG commandos were taken on May 27 and their results returned on May 29.

“Two among them, one a resident of Srinagar and another from Bandipora district, returned positive for the disease on May 29,” they said.

Confirming it, Dr  S. D. Singh Jamwal (IPS), Director SSG said that these people belong to areas declared as Red Zones.

“One is from the area near Soura Srinagar and other Bandipora. After the declaration of the areas as red zones, they could not join duties and remained there,” he said, adding, “After they joined duties back, we quarantined them as per the protocol. During the process, while followings SOPs samples were collected and sent for test. Out of those tested, two came out to be positive. They have been shifted to hospital.”

This is for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic that any member of the elite force tested positive for the disease in Jammu and Kashmir.

SSG, which was set up in 1996 after the National Conference president Farooq Abdullah came to power, is associated in security to the categorized protected persons including former chief ministers and their immediate family members. Besides, they are deployed at vital installations and to secure venues during sensitive events.



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Highest 1-day jump of 8,380 takes India corona tally to 1.82 Lakh

SRINAGAR:  With the sharpest spike of 8,380 cases in a single day, India’s total case count of novel coronavirus mounted to 1,82,143, Health Ministry data revealed on Sunday.

Of the total cases 89,995 are active cases, while 86,984 people have been cured and discharged from the hospital. The death toll crossed the 5,000 mark and reached 5,164 with 193 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.

The recovery rate in the country is recorded at 47.75 per cent, while the death rate is 2.83 per cent.

Maharashtra reported a total of 65,168 cases which is the 35.77 per cent of the caseload in the entire country. After Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu has reported most number of cases at least 21,184 so far, followed by Delhi with 18,549 and Gujarat with 16,343.

States and Union Territories that have reported over 5,000 cases are Rajasthan (8,617), Madhya Pradesh (7,891), Uttar Pradesh (7,445) and West Bengal (5,130).

India stood at ninth among the world’s worst pandemic hit countries. On the world front, there are over six million cases and more than three lakh deaths have occurred due to COVID-19 disease. IANS



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Why The Pandemic Tests Our Federal Credentials?

by Basir Amin Mukhdoomi

The advent of Covid-19 has not only put to test the health apparatus of our country but has also inflicted a gruelling examination on our economy, polity and social well being as a nation. The two and a half month-long national lockdown has exposed fault lines in a system under stress from competing for alternate visions of what India should be. It has also brought to fore the strain that the federal setup has had to bear in handling this life-threatening pandemic.

Narendra Modi

Federalism has always been considered to be an essential principle of our constitution. Our Supreme Court has in a catena of decisions, including the landmark case of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala held it to be part of the sacred “basic structure” of our constitution which in turn makes it imperative to be followed in letter and spirit for coordinated functioning of centre and states.

However, 2020 and Covid19 have brought along challenges that have exposed a tussle possibly sharpened between the BJP’s push for a unitary structure at the Centre and the demand from regional parties for greater autonomy to the states to strengthen the spirit of federalism envisaged in the Constitution.

Deviations from Federal Principles

In our fight against this pandemic, the strategy adopted from the day one has been top-down centric in nature with instructions being passed from the centre under the Disaster Management Act 2005 and the states have had a minimal or extraneous role. The states were directed or mandated only to increase the restrictions but powers for making dilutions wherever necessary were easily trampled upon by the centre.

From the very first lockdown announced by the Prime Minister, there is not ample evidence to suggest how far the states were drawn into consultation before announcing this first of its kind lockdown across the length and breadth of our country. The first straw of bad blood between the centre and the states came when Kerala tried to announce its own set of relaxations in Covid-19-free zones, hoping to sow the first seeds of economic revival. This was done keeping in view its best performance in terms of Covid-19 response and its achievement with almost near perfect recovery rate. This didn’t go down well with the centre and the Union home ministry reaction was immediate and sharp, forcing a chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to beat a hasty retreat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing Chief Ministers on a video link. The subject matter was the containment of the pandemic.

A similar situation was noticed during a consistent conflict of opinion between the Centre and West Bengal government in their respective strategies of tackling this virulent disease. This disagreement on managing things between the two has negatively impacted the effort of halting this disease effectively thereby leading to colossal loss of lives.  Another instance of conflict arose when Centre without proper consultation with the states banned alcohol sales during the country’s national lockdown to contain the virus thereby blocking a crucial source of direct tax income for states struggling to bolster their health infrastructure and provide food to millions left jobless. The loss of liquor tax revenues – an estimated 7 billion rupees (US $92 million) a day prompted states like Punjab and Maharashtra to revoke the ban on liquor in order to meet its emergent needs.

Several states have also criticised the centre for its plans to centralize the purchase of Coronavirus medical and protective kits, as well as a special virus relief fund PMCARES that falls outside the remit of the federal auditor. Unilaterally zoning of the districts into red, orange and green during Lockdown 1 and 2 by the centre also didn’t logic out for states and they were aggrieved of not being taken into the loop on this. The issue of transportation of migrant workers also generated tussle with regards to the varied opinions on the modes and means of such transport. This all has enormously lead to even more bitterness between the centre and states which had been already flared up with the passage of citizenship Amendment Act and there divergent opinions on it.

Federal Scheme and Disaster Management

The seventh schedule of the constitution has clearly demarked the areas for which the centre and state have an exclusive domain to legislate, and then there are certain areas which have been placed in the concurrent list thereby empowering both centre and states to legislate upon. Areas which do not find a mention in any of the three aforementioned areas are considered to be residuary in nature and constitution bestows this residuary power upon the centre.

Even though this specific demarcation of subjects has led to an almost crystal clarity for legislating power centres but certain grey areas have always had a tendency to pit one legislative centre against the other thereby breeding bitterness and confusion. The term “Disaster Management” as a field of legislation does not find its place in any of the three lists and therefore bare reading of Article 248 read with Entry 97 of List I makes it residuary in nature, conferring mastery of centre over it.

The centre is therefore of the considerate view that since Disaster Management includes a pandemic, they are exclusive masters of devising rules and guidelines on it and states don’t have much discretion in questioning their strategies.

A different view of the same subject indicates that since subjects of “Public health & sanitation” are prescribed under the Entry 6 of List II makes management and legislation on this issue and exclusive domain of the respective states. The states feel Covid-19 is a public health emergency and this entitles states their autonomy to legislate and strategise according to their respective needs. These two views/interpretations of this pandemic have many a time brought centre and states at loggerheads with each other with common masses bearing the brunt.

Practising Cooperative Federalism

The federal scheme of things laid down by the constitution leaves no doubt that although the union has more powers in certain areas that does not entitle them to demean the existence of states in our polity. It needs to be appreciated that it is this autonomy of powers conferred upon the states which differentiate them from the centrally administered territories which are relegated to the status of a pawn in this federal set up enjoying no autonomy in their functioning.

Modi Cabinet 2.0

A perusal of Entry 29 of List III reveals that the centre and states have a concurrent jurisdiction to legislate on matters of the inter-state spread of contagious diseases, thereby clearly spelling the technicalities to be adopted leaving no room for conflicts. A provision like these had been envisioned to keep a tab on the difference of opinions that might arise in testing times like these.

Similarly preamble to the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 prescribes its objective is to provide for better prevention of the spread of dangerous epidemic diseases. The Epidemic Diseases Act equally empowers the state governments and the central government to take measures as may be warranted or necessary to control the further spread of disease.  Thus, any state government, when satisfied that any part of its territory is threatened with an outbreak of a dangerous disease, may adopt or authorize all measures, including quarantine, to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

Similarly, the central government, when satisfied that there is an imminent threat of an outbreak of epidemic disease and that the provisions of the law at that time are insufficient to prevent such an outbreak, may take measures and prescribe regulations allowing for the inspection of any ship or vessel leaving or arriving at any port and for the detention of any person arriving or intending to sail. This all leaves no legroom for showcasing domination by the centre or the states.

It needs to be acknowledged that in changing times the traditional federal conundrum of choosing between a dominant centre or enhanced state autonomy has undergone a shift with the emergence of the doctrine of “cooperative federalism”. This doctrine requires the union and the states to work in harmony towards achieving larger goals of good governance and overall development. The Supreme Court recently in the case of Government of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India has unequivocally held that the union and the states need to embrace a collaborative/cooperative federal architecture for achieving coordination. In collaborative federalism, the union and the state governments should express their readiness to achieve a common objective and work together to achieve it. Both the Centre and the states must work within their spheres and not think of any encroachment.

Basir Amin Mukhdoomi

The federal system of governance was adopted by the forefathers of this nation to unite separate states into a Union without sacrificing their own fundamental political integrity. Separate states, therefore, united with an expectation to share equally in the formulation of the basic policies applicable to all and participate in the execution of decisions made in pursuance of such basic policies. The approach of the Centre and the States on tackling certain issues may be different at times but this should not distract them from their ultimate goal and objective. This constitutional objective as enshrined in the Constitution should be the guiding star to them to move on the path of harmonious co­existence and interdependence. Treading this path of collaborative federalism will in a long way help us sustain the strength of constitutional functionalism in our welfare state.

(Author is a lawyer at the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. He tweets @BasitMakhdoomi. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Kashmir Life.)



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Senior IAS Officer Tests Positive, Officials In Contact Go into Self Quarantine

Srinagar

A senior IAS officer has tested positive for novel Coronavirus last night in Jammu and Kashmir, and as a result, many senior officials are self-quarantining.

Official sources told newsagency GNS that the IAS officer’s test returned positive late last night, only a few hours after he participated in a high-level meeting attended among others by a Financial Commissioner, a Principal Secretary, a senior officer in the Disaster Management Authority and officials in the Health and Medical Education Department.

Besides them, the meeting was attended by Principal GMC, Managing Director of a concerned organization, a Director, a Microbiologist, an Epidemiologist besides others.

The swap sample of the Commissioner Secretary rank officer was taken at the airport and the reports returned after the meeting was over, they said. In fact, sources said, most of the officers who participated in the meeting had reached home.

“I had just finished my dinner when I received the call that I need to be in quarantine after the development,” one of the officers who had attended the meeting told GNS. He, however, said that all those who are attending any official meeting are taking due precautions such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

Sources said that if anyone among them shows immediate symptoms, they would be tested immediately.

Meanwhile, sources said that besides the officer’s, test reports of four other persons, taken on the same date at the airport, have returned the positive for the virus, taking the number of covid-19 patients in J&K to 2351 for now. “The number is bound to increase as many samples have already tested positive in the last 12 hours and many reports are under process at several laboratories,” the sources added.

 



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Gunfight breaks out in south Kashmir’s Anantnag

Srinagar

A gunfight broke out between militants and the counter-insurgent forces in Poshkreeri area of  south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Sunday, police said.

Reports said the gunfight broke out after a joint team of army, Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Poshkreeri. 

They said the hiding militants, opened fire on the forces when they were challenged, triggering a heavy exchange of fire. 

More details are awaited.

 



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Srinagar Gurdwara Burglary: Police Statement

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday issued the following statement regarding Jawahar Nagar gurdwara burglary saying that in the intervening night of 29/30 -05-20, burglars have broken into Gurdwara Jawahar Nagar and decamped with some cash after making their way into Gurudwara through a window.

A police spokesman said that they have broken open a wooden safe in the Gurdwara and looted some cash.

“The main Currency Vault (Iron Safe) could not be opened by the burglars and is intact. One mahant and a watcher were stationed at the gurdwara during the night,” he said.

“SP South Sajad Ahmad-JKPS along with SDPO Sadder Dr Azhar Rashid-JKPS and SHO Rajbagh Inspector Sameer Ahmad visited the spot immediately along with FSL Team and dog Squad,” he added.

He said that FSL has been called and evidences like fingerprints and footprints have been obtained. “Further all entry and exit routes to the Gurdwara are being searched for evidences,” said the spokesman.

“CCTV footage has been obtained and other corroborating CCTV footages are being obtained around the area. Suspects in the case are being tracked down by the investigating team in a very professional manner,” he said.

“In this regard, a case FIR No 42 of 2020 stands registered in PS Rajbagh,” said the spokesman.



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Poor patients to get financial succour: DM Anantnag

SRINAGAR: Medical isolation facility for symptomatic COVID +ve patients has been augmented to 64 from existing 14 at Govt. Medical College hospital Anantnag.

K.K Sidha

The decision to this effect was taken by District Magistrate, K.K Sidha during his inspection of the hospital.

The DM said that it was imperative to augment hospital isolation facility in view of a spike in COVID-19 +ve cases in the district. The augmented bed strength, he said will be equipped fully as per the protocol so that the critical or severely ill COVID +ve patients are provided all the requisite medical facilities.

The DM said that the district administration will leave no stone unturned in making the best medical facilities available to the COVID +ve patients to avoid deaths on account of infection.

Earlier, Sidha interacted with the patients and enquired about the health care facilities.

He asked the Superintendent GMC to furnish a list of poor patients for extending them financial succour during the present crisis.

The DM sanctioned Rs. 10,000/- out of district red cross fund to a poor patient admitted in the hospital.



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MHA Extends Lockdown In Containment Zones Till June 30, Issues Guidelines

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued new guidelines for the fifth phase of lockdown which is slated to begin from Monday, June 1.

According to the new guidelines, all activities outside containment zones have been allowed to resume in a phased manner.

The guidelines will come into effect from June 1 and will be effective till June 30.

New MHA guidelines

  • Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines today, for phased re-opening of areas outside the Containment Zones.
  • The guidelines will come into effect from June 1, 2020, and will be effective till June 30, 2020. The current phase of re-opening, Unlock 1, will have an economic focus.
  • MHA order of March 24, 2020, imposed a strict lockdown throughout the country. Only essential activities were permitted. All other activities were prohibited.
  • Subsequently, in a graded manner and keeping the overarching objective of containing the spread of COVID-19 in view, the lockdown measures have been relaxed.
  • New guidelines have been issued today based on extensive consultations held with States and UTs.

Salient features of the new guidelines

  • All activities that were prohibited earlier will be opened up in areas outside Containment Zones in a phased manner, with the stipulation of following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to be prescribed by the Health Ministry:

In Phase, I, religious places and places of worship for the public; hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services; and shopping malls; will be permitted to open from June 8, 2020. Health Ministry will issue SOPs for the above activities, in consultation with the Central Ministries/ Departments concerned and other stakeholders, for ensuring social distancing and to contain the spread of COVID-19.

In Phase II, schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions etc., will be opened after consultations with States and UTs. State Governments/ UT administrations are being advised to hold consultations at the institution level with parents and other stakeholders. Based on the feedback, a decision on the re-opening of these institutions will be taken in the month of July 2020. MoHFW will prepare SOP for these institutions.

Only a limited number of activities will remain prohibited throughout the country. These activities are International air travel of passengers; operation of Metro Rail; cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places; and, social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ and other large congregations.

In Phase III, dates for their opening will be decided based on an assessment of the situation.

  • Lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones. These will be demarcated by the State/ UT Governments, after taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry.

Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed.

Unrestricted movement of persons and goods

  • There shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods. No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements.
  • However, if a State/ UT, based on reasons of public health and its assessment of the situation, proposes to regulate the movement of persons, it will give wide publicity in advance regarding the restrictions to be placed on such movement, and the related procedures to be followed.

Night curfew

  • Night Curfew shall continue to remain in force, on the movement of individuals, for all non-essential activities. However, the revised timings of the curfew will be from 9 pm to 5 am.

National Directives for COVID-19 management

  • National Directives for COVID-19 management shall continue to be followed throughout the country, with a view to ensure social distancing.

States to decide on activities outside Containment Zones

  • States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain activities outside the Containment zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.

Protection for vulnerable persons

  • Vulnerable persons, i.e., persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, are advised to stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes.

Use of Aarogya Setu

  • The Aarogya Setu mobile application is a powerful tool built by Government of India to facilitate quick identification of persons infected by COVID-19, or at risk of being infected, thus acting as a shield for individuals and the community. With a view to ensure safety, various authorities are advised to encourage the use of the application.


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Coronavirus: Govt evacuates 101,170 stranded JK residents

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has evacuated about 101,170 JK residents, stranded in other parts of the country due to COVID lockdown, via Lakhanpur and through special trains and buses till date amid strict observance of all necessary guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures.

As per the official data received in this regard, the administrations of Jammu and Kashmir districts have received 37 COVID special trains at Jammu and Udhampur railway stations from different states and UTs, so far, with about 29,585 stranded passengers while about 71,585 persons have been evacuated by the government through Lakhanpur till date.

Therefore, a total of about 101,170 J&K residents stranded outside UT have been brought back to the UT by the Jammu and Kashmir government by 37 COVID special trains and a fleet of buses through Lakhanpur after strictly observing all necessary preventive measures regarding the Virus.

As per the detailed break up about the figures, about 879 stranded passengers have entered through Lakhanpur from May 28 to May 29 morning while 674 passengers have reached today in the 17th Delhi COVID special train at Jammu. So far, 17 trains have reached Jammu with a total of 13,945 stranded passengers belonging to different districts while 15,640 passengers have reached Udhampur in 20 special trains, so far.

As per the official communiqué, of 71585 returnees evacuated through Lakhanpur till May 30, 2020 (morning) included 17609 from Punjab; 21786 from Himachal Pardesh, 21 from Andhra Pardesh, 6766 from Delhi, 1383 from Gujrat, 3137 from Rajasthan, 4089 from Haryana, 159 from Chattisgarh, 3517 from Uttarakhand, 1068 from Maharashtra, 4545 from Uttar Pradesh, 64 from Odisha, 267 from Assam and 1007 from Madhya Pradesh, 88 from Dehradun, 1328 from Chandigarh, 693 from Telengana, 116 from Karnataka, 21 from Tamilnadu, 52 from Chennai, 324 from Bihar, 164 from West Bengal, 107 from Jharkhand, 3 from Nepal and 3271 from other states and UTs.



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How Does Media See The Sino-Indian Tensions In Ladakh?

SRINAGAR: With the tensions between Delhi and Beijing over the alleged incursions of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in Ladakh going on for almost a month now, a lot of opinions were published by the media within and outside India.

In this column, we are republishing the editorials of the main newspapers published in India.

Chinese premier handing over a handmade portrait to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 during his India visit.

Awful Silence: On India-China Standoff
India must publicly clarify the seriousness of the situation with China along the LAC

The Hindu, Chennai
May 30, 2020

Nearly a month after the first skirmishes on the LAC between Indian and Chinese soldiers were reported, the situation on the ground still appears to be tense. While there has been no official explanation of what has happened there since May 5, the day the first clash at Pangong Tso (lake) was reported, there is enough information to conclude that this is the most serious such standoff India and China have seen in years. As reported by The Hindu, sources say that the number of Chinese soldiers, the aggression with which they have dealt with Indian soldiers, as well as the number of points of conflict, indicate strategised action by Chinese commanders.

While both governments have been careful to keep the tone of their comments sober, the fact that both sides have repeatedly mentioned that talks are on is also proof of an ongoing situation. A full de-escalation will entail soldiers being able to return to their normal LAC patrols, something military officers say will probably need a high-level political intervention and for the Indian side, an insistence that Chinese soldiers, who appear to have been the aggressors, returning to positions they previously held.

In the midst of these sensitive negotiations, the interventions by the U.S. come as inopportune distractions. The first comment, last week, by a then senior State Department official, accusing China of being an aggressor on several fronts and posing a “threat” to its neighbours, was followed by President Donald Trump’s offer, this week, to mediate between Delhi and Beijing. Neither comment appears to have been made in consultation with India. India has made it clear that it will not accept Mr Trump’s offer and has denied his claim that he spoke to Prime Minister Modi on the issue. The government’s first priority now must be to end the current standoff, and then for its senior officials to enter serious talks on LAC demarcation.

Given all the new infrastructure being built by India, it may also be necessary to negotiate new border management protocols that were last updated in 2013. The government must also investigate how a big build-up of Chinese soldiers was not acted upon earlier. Beyond this, it must make a full assessment of just what China’s final aims are: is the summer conflagration meant to deflect attention from Beijing’s current problems over the Coronavirus pandemic, to deter India from its infrastructural push for roads and bridges to connect its northern frontiers all the way to the Karakoram pass, or to “remind” New Delhi of its geographical vulnerabilities as it contemplates a closer maritime relationship in the Indo-Pacific with the U.S.? In all three scenarios, the first steps for the government would be to publicly clarify the seriousness of the situation at the LAC, and to build consensus around its plans for a firm pushback and an assertion of its position along the disputed line.

Standing Its Ground
Even as it repels Beijing’s incursions in Ladakh, Delhi must guard against being overtaken in the war of narratives.

The Indian Express, Delhi
May 29, 2020 12:13:35 am

The interesting thing about US President Donald Trump’s offer of mediation between Delhi and Beijing is that it was made at all. It is less about Trump knocking together the heads of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping than about signalling American concerns about Sino-Indian military tensions that have become frequent and intense. It comes amid the expanding arc of conflict between the US and China — from trade disputes to Coronavirus and from Huawei to Hong Kong. Despite the massive and unprecedented polarisation in the US, the US political class has come together to project the China threat and agree on the need for a vigorous push-back. Trump’s statement merely extends the argument articulated a few days ago by Alice Wells, a senior official in the State Department. Wells was locating Chinese muscle-flexing on the disputed border in the trend of Beijing’s aggression in many areas, including in the South China Sea.

US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive to attend ‘Namaste Trump’ rally at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, on February 24, 2020. Pic: Internet

Trump’s offer is bound to irritate China. Beijing sees itself as Washington’s equal but has convinced itself that China is poised to overtake the US as the predominant power in the Asian theatre. It is especially galling for Beijing, since, not so long ago, China was offering to work with the US to manage the conflicts between Delhi and Islamabad. India and China might have been equals way back in the 1990s; Beijing no longer sees Delhi in the same weight class. Clubbing China with India will be seen as a big put-down in Beijing; and that, probably, was Trump’s intent.

There was a time when Delhi used to jump at any one talking about “mediation”, especially on Kashmir. But now it has learnt the art of fending off these busy-bodies with a smile. And then, Delhi discovered that it could, in fact, leverage international interest in its relations with Islamabad to India’s advantage. In the last few years, it managed to redirect the international concerns on Kashmir towards the sources of cross-border terrorism in Pakistan. In fact, Delhi is actively “internationalising” the question of Pakistan’s sanctuary and support to those fomenting violent extremism in Kashmir. Similarly, Delhi can use the global concerns on a Sino-Indian conflict to counter the PLA’s forward policy. In the name of handling the boundary dispute with Beijing in a purely bilateral framework, Delhi has turned its China strategy into an opaque process that neither the domestic or international public opinion understands. This is a good moment for India to publicise its case for a reasonable boundary settlement with China and contrast it with Beijing’s insatiable territorial greed. If winning the war of narratives is important in today’s world, standing one’s ground in a military standoff is absolutely critical. In a paradox, a Delhi that can repel Beijing’s military incursions on its own will gain ever-larger international political and diplomatic support for India’s contestation with China.

Daring the Dragon
India must tone down the rhetoric, build its capabilities silently

The Tribune, Chandigarh
May 28, 2020

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call to the People’s Liberation Army on Tuesday to think about worst-case scenarios and to scale up battle preparedness has come at an inopportune moment during a face-off between China and India in Ladakh. Coming as it does from the highest Chinese authority, the message is a riddle, as is often the case with Chinese military-diplomatic signals. It appears more as provocative muscle-flexing rather than a subtle attempt to make its neighbour strike a balance between its priorities, possibilities and vulnerabilities. The Chinese are clearly anxious about a new Cold War in the post-pandemic world and their foreign minister Wang Yi stated it in no uncertain terms, warning the US. In this context, any overture by India towards the US for a quasi-military alliance through the Quad will surely tilt the balance against China, militarily and economically.

Diwali: Ceremonial border personnel meet held between Indian Army, Chinese PLA in Ladakh

But instead of offering India reasons to remain equipoised, the Chinese are merely offending India by focusing on its vulnerabilities. Every small border skirmish gets magnified and overstated in Indian media, particularly in the toxic electronic media with its hyperventilating, super-nationalist anchors. So, even if China is attempting to thwart India’s border infrastructure construction in a benign stand-off, or it has grand plans to throttle India’s new economic aspirations, it has done it the wrong way. A public opinion is getting created, which will force the government to strike a strong, muscular pose.

India, unfortunately, has not learnt from its own past follies or the history of its neighbour. The Chinese grew keeping their head low, turning the rhetoric down, avoiding bravado and working hard to get cats from all over to catch their mice, to quote Deng Xiaoping. So, instead of poking a creeping dragon with announcements that could be read as a statement of intent against Chinese imports, India ought to focus on building its economy. The government has so far done well to create capabilities on the LAC and to stand firm against Chinese incursions. India survived the last Cold War, despite being on the losing side; it should thrive during the next one with elastic diplomacy.

India Is Right To Be Firm On China
Tell Beijing its escalation will impact the overall relationship

The Hindustan Times, Delhi
May 27, 2020

India has signalled it will not back down at any of the border confrontations it has with China. Presumably, this means that the Narendra Modi government will settle for nothing less than Chinese troops moving back to their original positions and the status quo ante being restored along the Line of Actual Control. There can be no question of this being the correct stance: The experience of all China’s neighbours has been that concessions are treated as weakness, not friendship. Beijing may have hoped that its surprise mobilisation at three points in Ladakh and Sikkim will result in a quick round of the misnamed Chinese checkers. Instead, both sides are settling for something more akin to the ancient Middle Kingdom game of go, a grinding battle of manoeuvre that will go on through the summer.

The Galwan Valley confrontation is the latest in a series of confrontations triggered by Chinese attempts to hinder, if not block, India’s infrastructure construction along the border. India has fast-tracked road construction to the Daulat Beg Oldie area of northern Ladakh since repeated standoffs in that region. The construction of a connecting road into the Galwan Valley was seemingly the trigger for China to send in thousands of soldiers. While China has sought to hinder construction before, the size of its intervention is unusual and indicates there may be greater ambitions involved. China’s description of the situation as “stable and controllable” is mildly reassuring. But the motives hardly matter. The Indian stance must be the same regardless. The difficult part will be calibrating India’s response to apply pressure on China and establish the credibility of India’s response. New Delhi must be prepared to show that if events along the border get out of hand, they will have a serious impact on other parts of the bilateral ties.

The blue water Pangong lake in Ladakh. The high altitude lake falls in the territories controlled by India and China. KL Image: Umer Asif

China has long sought stability on its southern border as well as the dominance of the terrain. As India has ramped up its infrastructure, a process that has also included the deployment of fighters, new artillery, cruise missiles and, most recently, American helicopters and airlift, its dominance is coming under threat. India’s bold moves regarding Kashmir and China’s deteriorating geopolitical environment may be leading Beijing to up the ante. If so, it is all the more reason for India to stand firm.

Don’t Succumb
New Delhi must show it can stand up to Beijing’s wolf warrior tactics

The Times of India, Delhi
May 25, 2020

Beijing is bringing in a national security law in Hong Kong that effectively spells the end of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ approach granting autonomy to the economic hub. Its move to integrate Hong Kong could lead to the US revoking the city’s trade privileges; and possibly offering asylum to Hong Kong’s dual passport holders thereby stripping the city of its best and brightest. That Beijing still decided to go ahead despite the risks involved – besides unilaterally declaring new administrative districts to incorporate disputed islands in South China Sea – indicates that it is willing to up the ante as a major revisionist power in the world system.

Alongside, Beijing is also stepping up the ante along the LAC. The confrontation began earlier this month in Sikkim and eastern Ladakh and has seen both sides send in additional troops to the forward areas. The situation is particularly tense at Galwan Valley with an estimated 1,200 Chinese soldiers pitching 80-100 tents and setting up bunkers much ahead of China’s claim lines in the region.

Meeting between Indian and Chinese army officers somewhere in Ladakh in 2015 winter.

Indian diplomats have rightly seen a connection between Chinese aggressiveness along the LAC and the broader trend of “wolf warrior” diplomacy that Beijing is currently showcasing. It is willing to hit countries like Australia with import bans, for example, when the latter legitimately broached the question of probing the Covid pandemic’s origins. Since Beijing permits few imports from India in any case, pressure along the LAC may be its instrument of choice in coercing India to back its international positions, now facing flak from Western countries, and to accede to a China dominated order.

Thus, Beijing has been vehemently opposing Taiwan’s participation at WHO – despite Taiwan’s demonstrated success in containing Covid – and wants New Delhi to take its side. It may also want New Delhi to reverse its recent move closing the automatic route for Chinese investments. But New Delhi must firmly stand up to Chinese pressure. This is especially so since Beijing rarely gives any diplomatic quarter to New Delhi on issues important to India, such as Kashmir or terror. On the economic front too, China rarely adheres to reciprocity and has done little to mitigate the huge bilateral trade deficit by giving Indian investments or imports more access. A China dominated Asian order would be disastrous. India should join cause with like-minded nations and entities, including Taiwan, and push for a rules based, multilateral order.

Keeping The Peace: On India-China Border Tension
India and China must end tensions on the border by clarifying the LAC

The Hindu, Chennai
May 22, 2020

With four incidents along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in recent weeks, the India-China border is witnessing the highest tensions since the Doklam stand-off in 2017. In the three years since, both sides have done remarkably well to keep the peace. Prime Minister Modi and President Xi both agreed differences should not be allowed to escalate into disputes.

Also, a clear message was sent to the two militaries to abide by the detailed protocols already in place, such as those agreed to in 2005 and 2013. These regulate the activities of troops in the contested zones that lie in between both sides’ overlapping claim lines of the undefined LAC. If Army Chief General Manoj Naravane wisely sought to cool the temperatures with his May 14 statement, China has unhelpfully raised them. On May 19, its Foreign Ministry accused the Indian Army of “attempting to unilaterally change the status” of the LAC. The stand-off in Ladakh appears to have been triggered by China moving in troops to obstruct road construction activity by India.

Last year, India completed the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulet Beg Oldi (DBO) road which connects Leh to the Karakoram Pass. India also maintains a key landing strip at DBO at 16,000 feet. The broader context for the tensions is the changing dynamic along the LAC. India has been upgrading its roads as it plays catch-up, with China already enjoying an advantage in both terrain and infrastructure. China now seems to be telling India it has no right to carry out the kind of activity that Beijing has already done. India is well within its right to carry out construction work. Delhi needs to remind Beijing that a fundamental principle that underpins all previous agreements is recognising the right to mutual and equal security of the two sides.

Army choppers flying over the Pangong lake in Ladakh. This waterbody is controlled by the two countries is the source of dispute. This KL Image captured by Umer Asif belongs to 2017.

The immediate priority is for both sides to use existing channels and step back. Flag meetings between brigade commanders have so far been unable to break the stalemate. The incidents have underlined how the new LAC situation is placing existing mechanisms under renewed stress. India and China should grasp the current situation as an opportunity to revive the stalled process of clarifying the LAC. China has resisted this as a distraction to the boundary negotiations. But rather than agree on a line, both can instead simply seek to better understand the claims of the other and reach a common understanding to regulate activity in these areas.

Clarifying the LAC may even provide a fresh impetus to the stalled boundary talks between the Special Representatives. Beyond the posturing, both sides know a final settlement will ultimately have to use the LAC as a basis, with only minor adjustments. Only a settlement will end the shadow boxing on the LAC. With both countries in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic, the time to push for a settlement to a distracting, protracted dispute is now.



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