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Kashmiri Students Charged Under UAPA For Raising Pro-Pak Slogans During WC

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have filed a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against seven Kashmiri students for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan slogans during the Cricket World Cup final held on November 19 in Gujarat.

The police in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district filed a case under Section 13 (unlawful activity punishable with imprisonment) of the UAPA, and Sections 505 (inciting to commit any offence against any other class or community) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

“Ganderbal Police invoking UAPA charges against 7 students of Kashmir University for allegedly raising anti-India slogans after ICC World Cup final match. As per the content of the complaints, FIR No. 317/2023 stands registered and section 13 UAPA invoked for inciting and abetting unlawful activities. Section 505 and 506 IPC too has been invoked for ‘public mischief’ and ‘criminal intimidation’ respectively,” Ganderbal Police stated in a letter on Tuesday.

All seven students study at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K), in Ganderbal’s Shuhama.

“A number of opinions and comments have been made on the legal cognisance taken of the happenings surrounding anti-India sloganeering and intimidation of others who did not agree with them in a university after the conclusion of the World Cup cricket match. Two relevant aspects are brought to public knowledge,” police said.

“First: it is not merely about raising pro-Pakistan slogans. It is about the full context in which the sloganeering took place. These slogans, as has usually been the case with a select few bullies, were aired to intimidate those who disagreed and also to identify and vilify those who choose to keep a distance. It is also about normalising an abnormal: that everyone hates India (as different from the government of the day and party in power) ‘openly’. This abnormal and false thing is practised mostly on the back of separatist and terrorist networks. In other words, the aim is not airing personal preference of a particular sporting team. It is not about dissent or freedom of expression. It is about terrorising others who may be nourishing pro-India feelings or anti-Pakistan feelings or disagreeing. There were written complaints to evidence this,” Ganderbal Police said.

The letter further stated, “The second: the application of the right law. Section 13 of UAPA is about inciting, advocating and encouraging separatist ideology. It is not about planning, aiding and executing actual terror acts. It classifies such actions as unlawful. In contrast to other provisions of act it is a softer provision of act.”

The police further said that the FIR is lodged on the basis complaint received and relevant sections are invoked as per the contents of the complaint.

Australia defeated India by six wickets in the ICC World Cup final in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on November 19. (ANI)

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2 Metres Drilling Left: NDMA On Uttarkashi Tunnel Ops

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

National Disaster Management Authority Member, Lt General (Rtd) Syed Ata Hasnain on Tuesday said that the rescue workers, who have been tirelessly working day and night to rescue the 41 trapped workers for the last 17 days, were near a breakthrough, “but not quite there”.

Addressing a press briefing in New Delhi, NDMA Member Syed Ata Hasnain said, rat-hole mining experts, who were pressed into manually drilling through the last stretch, had reached the 58-metre point, and there were about two more metres to go.

“We are near a breakthrough but not yet there. Manual work has carried on and we have reached 58 metres. The debris had been cut and the work was going on the entire night. Our rat miners, experts and Army engineers have been able to take it to 58 metres and the pipe has been pushed with the help of the auger machine,” NDMA Member said.

He further said that the trapped workers have conveyed that they are able to hear the noises of the ongoing work.

“We are at 58 metres, we are hoping that after 2 metres, we can say that it has passed through. The trapped workers have told that they are able to hear noises of work being done and an estimate can be made where the tunnel will pass through,” he added.

Meanwhile, a temporary medical facility has been expanded inside the tunnel as part of rescue efforts to bring out 41 trapped workers.

The medical facility has been expanded for workers who will be evacuated. In case of any problem, eight beds have been arranged by the Health Department. A team of doctors and experts has been deployed.

All arrangements have been made to provide requisite medical attention to labourers after they are evacuated.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the ongoing rescue and relief efforts from Uttarakhand Chief Minister.

PM Modi enquired about the well-being of the trapped workers and instructed the Chief Minister to ensure their safety, along with those involved in rescue operations.

A portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel, trapping 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure. (ANI)

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First Of Three US Military Planes To Arrive In Egypt With Humanitarian Aid For Gaza

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

The White House on Tuesday announced that the first humanitarian aid flight facilitated by the US military is set to arrive in Egypt for civilians in Gaza amid the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas.

It is worth mentioning that the temporary truce has been extended by two days on Monday. Since Friday, the pause in the deadly fighting in Gaza has allowed for some hostages held by Hamas to be released and for a surge of humanitarian aid to get into Gaza.

It is notably going to be the “first of three flights” that are facilitated by the US military to bring medical supplies, food, and winter necessities to prepare for the impending winter in Gaza, The Hill reported.

The UN will subsequently distribute these supplies to the civilian population.

According to The Hill, a senior administration official told reporters that this is the first of three relief flights that would be “facilitated by the unique capabilities of the US military that will be arriving into North Sinai in Egypt.

The next two flights with humanitarian aid “will be coming in the coming days,” the official said further.

Since the start of the crisis, the United States has sponsored five commercial aircraft that have delivered products into Egypt; however, they are the first flights that are made possible by the military.

The military aircraft are en route to Egypt in the midst of Israel and Hamas’s two-day extension of their brief ceasefire in Gaza.

The cease-fire in the deadly fighting in Gaza that began on Friday has made it possible for a large amount of humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza as well as the release of several captives held by Hamas. Military aircraft carrying supplies are an addition to the 200 or so trucks that travel into Gaza every day to bring food, water, and gasoline, according to The Hill.

According to the White House, the decision to send military aircraft into the Middle East was made in response to the necessity to backfill supplies due to the increase in the flow of products into Gaza during the halt.

“The movement over the last four or five days of assistance has been so significant in volume that a backfill into El-Arish is now needed. These planes are part of that backfill,” The Hill quoted the official as saying.

El-Arish is a city in North Sinai, Egypt, where the United Nations will transfer humanitarian aid from the United States into civilian areas in Gaza.

The Israel-Hamas truce will be extended by two days, and

Qatar and the US confirmed the extension of the Israel-Hamas truce by two days and there is the likelihood of about 10 more Israeli hostages to be released per day.

As per the initial four-day truce agreement, which will expire today (Tuesday), Israel agreed to halt its military operations in Gaza for four days and emphasized that it would release three Palestinian security prisoners for each of the 50 hostages freed from Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

Since Friday, over 50 hostages have now been released, whereas, 117 Palestinians have been freed.

US President Joe Biden on Monday welcomed the additional two-day truce between Israel and Hamas after Qatar’s successful mediation. Biden issued a statement, welcoming the extended truce, as reported by The Times of Israel.

“I have remained deeply engaged over the last few days to ensure that this deal–brokered and sustained through extensive US mediation and diplomacy–can continue to deliver results,” the US President said. (ANI)

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Udhampur Girl Writes To Modi, Urges Him To Build Better Roads To School

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

Following in the footsteps of little Seerat Naaz, a schoolgirl from the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, who urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift her school from dire straits and ensure better learning ambience and infrastructure for herself and her mates in a viral video, a ‘Divyang’ (disabled) girl from Udhampur district has now come forward with a similar request for the country’s most powerful leader.

Introducing herself only by her first name Kajal, the girl has written to Prime Minister Modi, urging him to build better roads leading to her school in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir.

In her letter, she said she studies in the sixth standard at the Government Middle School in Meldi, which comes within the administrative jurisdiction of Fangyal panchayat of the Udhampur district.

Sharing her everyday ordeal and that of her friends at school, Kajal, in her letter to PM Modi, said such is the prevailing state of the only approach road to the institution that she fell down many times while commuting on it.

“I fell down many times on this road on my way to school. Such is the prevailing state of the road that it has become nothing short of a risk for me and my friends commuting on it. I urge you (PM Modi) to build us better roads leading to the school,” little Kajal said in her letter.

Kajal’s impassioned letter to the country’s most powerful leader has drawn the spotlight on the plight of students studying at this government school.

The school houses a total of 101 students, including many who are differently abled. With the only approach road to the school rendered in a non-motorable state currently, the students have no option but to walk to school, risking falls and accidents.

Ranjeet Singh Kotwal, the assistant district development commissioner in Udhampur, took note of Kajal’s plight and her desperate appeal for better roads to school.

Speaking to ANI, Kotwal said, “I thank her for bringing this matter to our notice through her letter (to PM Modi). I will hold immediate discussions with the deputy commissioner and arrange all amenities either through my department or any other. I will take this matter forward with the officials concerned and ensure that her concerns are addressed at the earliest.” (ANI)

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New Zealand's newly-elected government smoke ban

NZ Ditches Smoking Ban To Fund Tax Cuts

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

New Zealand’s newly-elected government has reversed a ground-breaking smoking ban initially aimed at saving lives and preventing youth from taking up smoking, CNN reported.

The move has sparked outrage among public health officials and anti-tobacco groups, who are dismayed by the decision to abandon the ban to finance tax cuts.

Enacted a year ago, the anti-smoking law prohibited the sale of tobacco to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, with implementation scheduled for July 2024, accompanied by severe penalties, including fines up to NZD 150,000 (NZD 96,000) for violations, as reported by CNN.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon, from the conservative National Party, now leading a coalition with the populist New Zealand First party and the libertarian ACT New Zealand party, justified the reversal, citing disagreement with certain aspects of the policy and expressing concerns about a potential surge in the black market for tobacco. Luxon emphasised that his administration is committed to reducing tobacco use, pointing to declining smoking rates in the country.

In conversation with CNN affiliate Radio New Zealand, Luxon said his government would continue education programmes and “encourage people to take up vapes as a cessation tool.”

The initial smoking ban in New Zealand received global acclaim from public health officials. Despite the recent policy reversal, the British government reaffirmed its commitment to phasing out smoking for new generations.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis disclosed that the measures would be revoked before March 2024, with revenue generated from cigarette sales redirected towards tax cuts. Smoking, a global cause of over eight million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organisation, remains a pervasive issue, with one in four people worldwide using tobacco.

While smoking rates in New Zealand were already among the world’s lowest and declining, the decision to rescind the ban drew sharp criticism from public health officials and anti-tobacco groups.

Former health minister Ayeshea Verrall told CNN affiliate Radio New Zealand that reversing the ban “flew in the face” of the previous government and would set the country back a long way.

“What’s going on here is that we had a set of measures that would have substantially reduced smoking, was modelled to save 80,000 lives and they’ve (the new government) have reversed it – and they’re doing it just to fund tax cuts,” Verrall said.

Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA), an anti-smoking group, expressed disappointment, stating that the repeal favoured the tobacco industry at the expense of Kiwi lives.

“This is a major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi lives,” the group said in a statement, adding, “Turning the tide on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done by individuals or even communities. It takes good – and brave – population level policies,” CNN reported. (ANI)

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Women Wrestlers File Written Submissions Against Brij Bhushan

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

The complainant women wrestlers have filed a written submission on framing of charges against MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the Sexual Harassment case.

The Rouse Avenue court is hearing arguments on charges over a sexual harassment case against former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The matter pertains to complaints filed by six women wrestlers alleging sexual harassment.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal listed the matter on December 6 for filing written submissions by the Prosecution.

The court said that the parties can file additional written submissions in rebuttal.

Accused Singh has already filed his written submissions on the last date.

On October 30, the court pulled up the counsel appearing to repeat the arguments on charges.

ACMM Jaspal had asked the counsels for all the parties to file written submissions.

On a lighter side, the judge had referred to an old English saying, ” When not able to clarify, just confuse.”

“You are confusing me, Mr Counsel,” he pointed out towards the defence counsel.

ACMM Jaspal had said in the order that after hearing the arguments for a while this court encourages the three counsels for parties to file a written compilation of arguments so that the arguments can be concluded in a systematic manner.

The court noted that it was argued by the defence counsel Rajiv Mohan that this court has no jurisdiction to try any offence allegedly committed outside India as the sanction under section 188 CrPc has not been obtained.

It is also argued that no sanction is required when the offence is partly committed in India and partly outside India, the court noted.

The court also noted the defence counsel’s arguments that the alleged offences, as per the prosecution, have happened in Tokyo, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Jakarta, Kazakhstan, Turkey etc can not be tried by this court.

The court asked the question of the Sexual Harassment can be called a continuing offence. Multiple offences separated by date, time and places can be covered?

The court also noted the submissions made by the Additional public prosecutor (APP) that the act of sexual harassment was a continuing offence as it didn’t stop at any particular time.

As per Additional Public Prosecutor, the accused molested the victim whenever he got the opportunity and such harassment can not be looked at as isolated, the court noted.

During the hearing, defence counsel submitted that one of the Complainants alleged that the accused made sexual advances in 2022.

He further submitted that the incident of 2022 is of Bulgaria and WFI office. The incident at the WFI office was not mentioned before the oversight committee.

He also referred to the SC judgement of 1993 which said that the offences committed here can be tried in India. (ANI)

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Uttarkashi: Chinook Helicopter At Chinyalisaur Airstrip To Airlift Workers

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

With the crucial work of laying pipes in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi completed, a temporary medical facility has been expanded inside the tunnel as part of rescue efforts to bring out 41 trapped workers.

All arrangements have been made to provide requisite medical attention to labourers after they are evacuated.

A Chinook helicopter has been kept ready at the Chinyalisaur airstrip to airlift the workers after their rescue from the Silkyara tunnel.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami earlier announced that work of laying pipes in the tunnel has been completed. The task, which faced several hurdles, was completed seventeen days after the workers were trapped in the under-construction tunnel.

“With the blessing of Baba Baukh Nag Ji, prayers of crores of countrymen and the tireless work of the rescue teams engaged in the rescue operation, the work of laying pipes in the tunnel to take out the workers has been completed. Soon all the labourers will be taken out,” CM Dhami said in a post on X.

Akshet Katyaal, MD, Accurate Concrete Solutions, said there are three-four phases of rescue operation.

“The pipe has been pushed inside very cautiously without any hurdle, a breakthrough has been achieved and the pipe has passed through. The work to rescue labourers has started. There are at least 3-4 phases in the rescue operation…Teams of NDRF have entered inside. The labourers will be taken out once the ramp is made,” he said.

Garlands have been brought to the Silkyara tunnel rescue site in anticipation of the rescue of 41 trapped workers.

Preparations have also been made at Community Health Centre Chinyalisaur for the medical treatment of 41 workers.

Family members of the trapped workers said they were happy over the breakthrough.

“We will welcome them in a nice way. We told them that the rescue team would reach them soon,” a family member of a trapped worker said.

The mother of one of the workers said she is looking forward to meet her son.

“It has been 17 days since my son has been trapped. I will be very happy when my son arrives.

Ambulances, NDRF personnel, SDRF and several other agencies have been deployed at the entrance of the tunnel.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the ongoing rescue and relief efforts from Uttarakhand Chief Minister.

PM Modi enquired about the well-being of the trapped workers and instructed the Chief Minister to ensure their safety, along with those involved in rescue operations.

The relatives of the 41 trapped labourers have been asked to be prepared and keep the clothes and bags of the workers ready, sources said.

A portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel, trapping 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure. (ANI)

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U’khand: Pipe Work Completed, Evacuation Soon Says Dhami

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the pipe laying work inside the Silkyara tunnel where the efforts to bring out 41 trapped workers is underway has been completed.

During a press briefing earlier today, the Nodal Officer for the Silkyara rescue operation and Secretary to the Uttarakhand government, Neeraj Khairwal, also said that if there are no more hurdles, the rescuers are anticipating an early evacuation of the trapped labourers.

Meanwhile, ambulances, NDRF personnel, SDRF and several other agencies have been deployed at the entrance of the tunnel. The NDRF team will be going inside the tunnel to bring out the trapped labourers one by one, as per official sources.

Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper said that the vertical drilling works have been stopped and they are focusing on manual drilling which is progressing on a swift pace.

He added that the team is expecting to see some results by evening around 5 pm.

“We are still mining. Everybody is very excited and energetic. Let us see what happens. We have stopped vertical drilling and the focus is on manual drilling,” Chris Cooper said.

“We have got a couple of more metres to go. We are expecting to see some results by 5 pm. 2-3 metres are left,” he added.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the ongoing rescue and relief efforts from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami via call.

PM Modi inquired about the well-being of the trapped workers and instructed the Chief Minister to ensure their safety along with those involved in rescue operations.

The relatives of the 41 trapped labourers have been asked to be prepared and keep the clothes and bags of the workers ready as the ongoing rescue effort raises hopes of an early evacuation, as per official sources.

According to the sources, the workers will be taken to Chinyalisaur Hospital after being rescued and brought out. (ANI)

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Earthquake Of Magnitude 4.1 Strikes Arunachal

Earthquake Swarm Strikes Pakistan, New Guinea, Xizang

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 jolted Pakistan on Tuesday, as reported by the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

According to the NCS, the earthquake occurred at 3:38 am (IST) today.

The epicenter, with a depth of 10 km was determined to be at 34.66 degrees north latitude and 73.51 degrees east longitude.

“Earthquake of Magnitude: 4.2, Occurred on 28-11-2023, 03:38:03 IST, Lat: 34.66 & Long: 73.51, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Pakistan,” the NCS said in a post on X.

No casualties have been reported so far.

Meanwhile, an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 hit Near N. Coast of New Guinea minutes before it struck Pakistan.

According to the National Center for Seismology, the tremors were felt around 3:16 am and struck at a depth of 10km.

Similarly, an earthquake of magnitude 5.0 on the Richter Scale struck Xizang at 3:45 am at a depth of 140 km.

The three earthquakes in different countries occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.

Earlier in September, an earthquake of magnitude 4.4 jolted Pakistan at a depth of 10 km, the NCS stated.

“Earthquake of Magnitude:4.4, Occurred on 26-09-2023, 12:23:28 IST, Lat: 35.05 & Long: 73.86, Depth: 10 Km, Region: Pakistan,” NCS said in a post on social media platform X. (ANI)

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Yogi Appeals To Opposition To Allow Assembly Smooth Conduct Of Proceedings

By LokMarg 28th November 2023

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday welcomed all legislators who came to attend the winter session of the Assembly session and appealed to the opposition to extend support to conduct the proceedings smoothly.

CM Yogi Adityanath said, “This is the winter session. Legislative work will be completed along with the supplementary budget in this session. We are taking forward the discussion under the parliamentary democratic system. In the last 6 years, the proceedings have progressed in a dignified manner. Earlier, an incident of physical assault had also taken place in this house. The responsibility to conduct the proceedings in the house is on everyone so I appeal to everyone especially the opposition to maintain dignity inside the house.”

CM Adityanath further said that the government was ready to discuss all issues.

“The government is willing to discuss on every issue related to the progress of the state and people’s welfare. All the questions of the opposition will be answered. The government is well prepared to answer any question. I appeal to the opposition to contribute so that the proceeding could be conducted fairly,” he added.

CM Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences on the demise of Ashutosh Tandon who was the Minister of Urban Development, Overall Urban Development, Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation in the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

“In 2014 Ashutosh Tandon won from Lucknow East. In 2017, and then again in 2022 he became a member of the assembly for the third term. From 2017 to 2022 he also worked as a cabinet minister. As an able politician he played an important role in Ayodhya Deepotsav, One District One Medical college programme and in the welfare of the cities he played an important role,” the Chief Minister said in his condolence message.

The four-day session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature commenced today.

After 65 years, the conduct of the Assembly session is being governed by new rules. Legislators will not be allowed to carry flags, banners and mobiles in the Assembly House. No tearing of documents will be allowed inside the assembly. Women members will get a special preference to speak. (ANI)

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