Month: July 2021

Five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including a district commander, were killed in an encounter between the terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday, police said.

One army officer was also injured during the encounter and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Based on a tip-off, the security forces, including police, 44RR and 182/183 BN CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Hanjan Village of Rajpora in Kashmir’s Pulwama district on late Thursday, police said.

“The killed terrorists have been identified as Nishaz Hussain Lone (district commander LeT), Danish Manzoor Shiekh, Amir Wagay, Mehran Manzoor and Abu Rehan. Abu Rehan is a foreign terrorist. All the killed terrorists were linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT,” the police informed.

During the search operation, the civilians were evacuated to safer places and as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.

Due to darkness, the operation was suspended however the cordon remained intact throughout the night.

“Today in the morning, repeated announcements were made to the hiding terrorists to surrender, but the terrorists fired on the joint search party and the fire was retaliated. In the initial exchange of fire two Army jawans received gunshot injuries and were evacuated to hospital, however one among the injured succumbed and attained martyrdom,” the police said.

Arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials have been recovered from the site of the encounter.

“Parents of Amir, a terror associate were called to appeal to surrender but failed. All 5 LeT terrorists including a Pakistani terrorist Rehan were killed. Arms, ammunition & some documents recovered. They were planning an attack at Srinagar-Pulwama National Highway,” IGP Kashmir Vijaya Kumar said.

IGP Kashmir congratulated police and security forces for the big success and conducting the successful operations in a professional manner.

In this connection, police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and an investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with the police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared off of all the explosive materials. (ANI)

The counter-drone technology developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) could help Army swiftly detect and destroy drones that pose a security threat to the country.

As per Dr Jillelamudi Manjula, Director General- Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS), DRDO, the D-4 drone system could detect close-range attacks like the one in Jammu on Sunday that injured two Army jawans.

“D-4 drone system would’ve detected attack (in Jammu) as its range is over 4 kilometres. The system’s aim is to detect rogue drones that are likely to attack most vulnerable places. The system has got multiple sensors and two different counterattacks to destroy the rogue drones,” she said.

Dr Manjula further informed that the D-4 drone system is capable of destroying micro-drones by jamming the command and control links and further by damaging the hardware of the drones.

“Prevention can be done by early detection only, so we need to have multiple systems all around our vulnerable areas. We need to detect the drones early,” said the DRDO DG.

The D-4 drone system was used for security during this year’s Republic Day parade at Rajpath.

“It was used during Republic Day security preparation to detect and respond to any suspicious activity or contingency situation. We were continuously monitoring 24X7 those days but fortunately, we didn’t find anything suspicious,” Dr Manjula further said.

On Sunday, two low-intensity explosions were reported in Jammu Air Force station. One of the blasts caused minor damage to the roof of a building while the other exploded in an open area.

After the attack, Chief General MM Naravane said, “Easy availability of drones definitely increases the complexity and challenges that we have to deal with. We have put in place some measures. We’re developing capabilities to deal with the drone threat in both kinetic and non-kinetic realm”. (ANI)

Indian security forces are witnessing a remarkable change in routine affairs in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district after Assam Rifles deployed female security personnel in the region.

Assam Rifles has deployed Riflewomen at Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) for routine checking of female commuters. Speaking to ANI, Colonel R S Karakoti, Co 34 Assam Rifles said that the deployment of female personnel has helped bridge the gap between security forces and the people.

“These Rifle women have been a force multiplier and they have been bridging the gap between security forces and Awaam. We are using them in various operations as we use the Riflemen. Local citizens have been coming and reaching out to these Riflewomen and developing a special relationship with the security forces,” he said.

Rekha Kumari, deployed at MVCP in Ganderbal informed that the primary task assigned to the Riflewomen is to assist their male counterparts in the routine checking of women on the National Highway.

This task was earlier conducted by the female police personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police.

“We are deployed at MVCP. Whenever any vehicle passes through the checkpoint, we stop them to check thoroughly. We Rifelwomen check the women in the vehicle so that they feel comfortable,” she said.

Another Riflewoman Radha said that they feel proud while performing their duties in the Kashmir Valley.

“I feel proud when I wear my uniform. It was my dream to serve in the country. My parents and family feel proud of me for serving the country. We feel pride that we are serving the country in a sensitive zone like Jammu and Kashmir,” said Radha. (ANI)

Actor Preity Zinta loves gardening, and her recent Instagram post is a proof of the same!

On Friday, Preity posted a video of her picking fresh fruits from her organic home garden.

“I cannot explain how excited I am to see fruits and vegetables grow in our backyard. Mom was with me during the lockdown last year and we planted all sorts of herbs, fruit and veggies,” she wrote.

“Now, I have strawberries, oranges, peaches, guavas, tomatoes, green and red peppers, green and red chillies, eggplant, mint, basil and lemon grow around the house. I am so proud of our little organic home garden,” she added.

Preity also asked her fans to try organic gardening at their homes.

“Thank you ma for making this possible . I am loving every bit of this. Try it at home folks – you will be amazed by your own ghar ki kheti t #organicgarden #gharkikheti #strawberries #ting,” she added.

For the unversed, Preity is currently staying with her husband Gene Goodenough in the USA. (ANI)

By Archana Prasad

Disgruntled Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has differences with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, is likely to be “suitably accommodated” as the party looks for an early end to the crisis in the state unit, sources said.
Sidhu had met Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday.

A senior party leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that there is a possibility of a reshuffle in the Punjab cabinet “to reduce the impact of anti-incumbency”.

“Navjot Singh Sidhu is also expected to get some big responsibility,” he said.

The Congress is keen to put its house in order in the state which will face election early next year and series of meetings have been held over the past few weeks to resolve factionalism and other problems.

Sources said the panel formed to resolve problems in the state unit had also suggested accommodating Sidhu, who was a minister in the Congress government in the state.

They said an amicable solution is expected soon.

Harish Rawat, party general secretary and a member of the panel on Punjab, referred to Sidhu’s meetings with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi and said he must have come with positive agenda.

“Navjot Singh Sidhu’s meetings with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are a good sign, and this will help resolve the issue. If Sidhu has come to meet the senior leaders of the party, he would have come with a positive agenda. I think there could be a resolution soon,” Rawat told ANI

“I think it is a good signal that he came and met. Sidhu’s way of talking is as if he is speaking in anger but it’s not like that. He says things from his heart. Sidhu has also said that if these issues are solved then he will totally be seen in the support of the government,” he added.

Asked if Sidhu had sought any post, Rawat said, “When you go to your leaders you ask. But I don’t know.”

The meeting between Sidhu and Rahul Gandhi lasted over 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh held a meeting earlier today with the party’s senior colleagues from urban areas of Punjab in Chandigarh.

“We have begun preparations for 2022 Assembly elections. Captain Sahib and Sidhuji are our big leaders. Captain Sahib is leading us and is capable of it. Today’s meeting was neither lunch diplomacy nor a show of strength, it was a meeting of CM with party leaders,” party leader Gurjeet S Aujla told ANI after meeting in Chandigarh. (ANI)

A day after external affairs minister S Jaishankar said he has taken up with European Union to accept COVID-19 vaccines, such as Covishield and Covaxin, for Indian nationals travelling to Europe, Switzerland, Iceland and seven European Union countries on Thursday allowed the Serum Institute-manufactured Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine.

According to sources, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Estonia and Spain have confirmed accepting Covishield for travel entry. Switzerland has also allowed Covishield for the Schengen state.
Estonia has confirmed that it will recognize all the vaccines authorized by Government of India for travel of Indians to Estonia, said sources.

Union minister Jaishankar had on Tuesday met Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and discussed vaccine production and access. He also took up ‘Covishield’ authorisation for travel to Europe.

Jaishankar, who is in Italy for G20 foreign ministers meeting, said he will be following up on the matter concerning authorisation for made in

India COVID-19 vaccine.According to diplomatic sources, travellers who have been administered with the Covishield vaccine can now get a green pass to enter Switzerland.

A German Embassy spokesperson has said that versions of European Union (EU)-approved vaccines that have been given approval abroad are equivalent to the mentioned EU-approved vaccines for proof of COVID-19 vaccine protection.

India has requested EU member states to individually consider extending exemption to those persons who have taken Covishield and Covaxin and said it will institute a reciprocal policy for recognition of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, according to sources.

“We have requested EU member states to individually consider extending similar exemption to those persons who have taken COVID-19 vaccines in India i.e. Covishield and Covaxin, and accept the vaccination certificate issued through the CoWIN portal. The genuineness of such vaccination certification can be authenticated on the CoWIN portal,” a source said.

The 27-member European bloc is introducing the EU Digital COVID Certificate framework to facilitate safe free movement during the COVID pandemic and it will come into effect from July 1.

Under this framework, persons vaccinated with vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be exempted from travel restrictions within the EU, sources said adding that individual member states have the flexibility to also accept vaccines that have been authorized at the national level or by the World Health Organization.

Earlier, an EU official on Tuesday said that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has not received any request for approval of authorisation for Covishield.

Speaking to ANI, the EU official said: “Concerning a possible EMA authorisation for Covishield, as of yesterday, the European Medicine Agency (EMA) stated that it had not received a request for approval. It will examine any such request when received, as per its procedures.”

“The EMA does not investigate new drugs on its own, unless it is asked by the relevant companies,” he said.

EU Ambassador to India Ugo Astuto has clarified that there is no ban in the European Union on the Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The EU Ambassador said that a new system has been put in place of the digital COVID certificate.

Meanwhile, as relaxed COVID-related restrictions from June 26, the government’s Federal Council of Public Health has informed that persons from countries with a variant of concern like India, who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19, will be permitted entry without the need for a negative test or quarantine.

This means that persons who have been vaccinated or who have recovered do not have to produce a negative test even when travelling from countries where the Delta variant is widespread (such as India or the United Kingdom) and do not have to quarantine on entry. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker on Thursday shared a social media post expressing gratitude after her short film ‘Sheer Qorma’ won Best Short Film Audience Award at the Frameline Fest and also qualified for the BAFTA this year.

Swara took to her Twitter handle and wrote, “WE WON THE BIGGEST QUEER FILM FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD! HUGE!!! #SheerQorma becomes the 1st Indian film to win @framelinefest in the festival’s 37 years!!! #SheerQorma wins @framelinefest– the #BAFTA qualifying, longest running, largest l queer film exhibition in the world!”
In a subsequent tweet, she wrote, “#SheerQorma wins @framelinefest– the #BAFTA qualifying, longest running, largest and most widely recognised queer film exhibition in the world! Best Short Film, Audience Award, #Frameline45 #AllKindsOfQueer Grateful to the entire team at @framelinefest.”

The Faraz Arif Ansari directorial, which also stars Shabana Azmi and Divya Dutta, was screened at the Frameline Fest as part of the Enby Love shorts programme. The film also recently won the Best Short Film, Audience award at the 34th Connecticut LGBT Festival.

‘Sheer Qorma’ is based on an LGBTQ+ theme and it narrates a story of love and acceptance, revolving around its leads. The movie is a love story set at the epicentre of a judgmental society that forms preconceived notions about sexuality and relationships and goes to scrutinise love based on gender. (ANI)

Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said tech companies like Twitter should be accountable to India’s Constitution and laws and that they should not be governed by American laws while operating in Indian territory.

Speaking on “Big Techs and Democracy” at the India Global Forum London 2021, Prasad said: “They are welcome to do business in India, they have empowered the people of the country. They ask questions… India, being a democracy, allows complete freedom to ask questions. Let me categorically say at this platform, that they can criticise Ravi Shankar Prasad, they can criticise my Prime Minister, they can ask questions and these big tech companies are having big business in India.”
‘But there is one issue… the issue was not of use of social media, the issue was one of abuse and misuse of social media,” he added.

Prasad also said if Twitter is going to invoke the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of America then it has to also be cognisant of the copyright rules of India, adding that: “You can’t say my whole stand will be regulated by an ex-parte assessment of US law.”

The minister said journalists were being defamed on a groundless basis and messages on Whatsapp were being circulated to flame passion for riots, terrorism. He stressed that Twitter must appoint a grievance redressal officer and a compliance officer, as per the guidelines.

“Some of them say that we are bound by American laws…You operate in India, you make money in India, you have good ad revenue in India, but if you take the position that I will only be governed by laws of America…This is plainly not acceptable,” he said.

Prasad further said: “You are free to do your business in India but you have to be accountable to India’s Constitution and its laws… You have to have a harmonious relationship with the autonomy of these digital platforms and obligations of an independent, sovereign nation like India.”

The minister further remarked that if democracy is to survive, misinformation, fake news, colluded materials pose as challenges.

Twitter has been locked in a confrontation with the Indian government regarding non-compliance with new IT laws.

Prasad, on June 25, said Twitter denied access to his account for almost an hour over alleged violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of the USA and asserted that its actions were in gross violation of the Information Technology Rules 2021.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police sent a notice to Twitter India regarding content on the microblogging website on child sexual abuse and pornographic material. The police also asked Twitter to remove the pornographic content and to share details of these accounts that had circulated it on the microblogging site.

Twitter had earlier lost its status as an intermediary platform in India as it does not comply with new IT rules.

Now, instead of being considered just a platform hosting content from various users, Twitter will be held directly editorially responsible for posts published on its platform.

The implication of this development is that if there is any charge against Twitter for alleged unlawful content it would be treated as a publisher – not an intermediary – and be liable for punishment under any law, including IT Act, as also the penal laws of the country.

Meanwhile, speaking on six years of the Digital India campaign, Prasad at the India Global Forum said India has made a mark in terms of digital inclusion, which is a shining symbol of the programme. He added that India has become one of the biggest countries to host all the social media platforms.

“India has a population of 1.3 billion, is home to 1.29 billion Aadhaar card (holders), digital identities to supplement the physical identity backed by a law with due regard to privacy. India is home to 1.18 billion phones, out of which 100 million-plus are mobile phones. India is home to 750 million smartphones, moving computers and India is home to 750 million internet connections, That is the profile of India,” he said.

He also highlighted that India has the cheapest internet in the world and has initiated over 50,000 startups, the third biggest in the world. (ANI)

Several political leaders extended greetings on National Doctors’ Day and saluted all members of the medical fraternity for rendering selfless service.

On the occasion, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu wished all doctors and praised them for working round-the-clock to save the lives of others by risking their own
“On this Doctors’ Day, I salute all members of the medical fraternity for rendering selfless service and working round-the-clock to save others’ lives by risking their own. #DoctorsDay,” he tweeted.

The Vice President further appealed to people to follow COVID appropriate behaviour and ease the pressure on the medical fraternity as the pandemic has put tremendous stress on doctors and their families.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah saluted the heroic efforts of doctors who left no stone unturned to serve humanity irrespective of the odds.

In a tweet, he said, “Being a doctor is a pledge to serve mankind. On National Doctor’s Day, we salute the heroic efforts of our courageous doctors who left no stone unturned to serve humanity irrespective of the odds. Time and again, we have witnessed their selfless efforts towards society.”

BJP chief JP Nadda also expressed gratitude to all the doctors for their selfless service in fighting the COVID.

“On #DoctorsDay, I congratulate all doctors for their round the clock efforts. Our gratitude to the doctors for their selfless service in fighting the COVID pandemic. The nation admires and salutes your professionalism and dedication. My tributes to Dr BC Roy, a distinguished doctor,” Nadda tweeted.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi thanked doctors for every single moment they spend saving lives and said — “We are indebted”.

Like every year, the country is celebrating National Doctors’ Day on July 1 to honour the contributions of the doctors. The first National Doctor’s day was celebrated in the country in July 1991. (ANI)