J-K Governor reviews security scenario, directs administration to remain alert
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday night reviewed the security situation and emphasised the need for constant alertness and preparedness to deal with any eventuality, after the Centre scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution which accorded special status to the state.
According to a Raj Bhawan spokesperson, the government held a meeting with top officials and reviewed the prevailing security and law and order scenario in the state.
The governor's advisors K Vijay Kumar, K K Sharma, K Skandan and Farooq Khan, and chief secretary BVR Subrahmanyam attended the meeting, he added.
Kumar, Skandan and Khan, who returned to Srinagar from Jammu after taking stock of essential services, briefed the governor about the adequacy of essential supplies and delivery of various public services to the people, including electricity, water supply and health care services.
The governor stressed the need for ensuring safety of general public and advised the administration to give due consideration to the genuine needs of people in the current scenario, the spokesman said.
Subrahmanyam informed the governor that there was no dearth of essential commodities in Kashmir Valley and that the stock would last for over three months.
Reviewing the law and order situation and preparedness of the government machinery, Governor Malik emphasised the need for constant alertness, preparedness and synergy among various departments and agencies to enable dealing with emerging situation in a coordinated and effective manner.
The governor reiterated the need to constantly maintain a close watch on the ground situation and underlined the importance of sustained efforts to bring peace and harmony in the society for the overall benefit of people.
Governor Malik has appealed to the public and leaders of various social, religious and political organisations to cooperate with the government machinery in the maintenance of law and order in the state, the spokesperson said.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
