Jammu and Kashmir: Cattle trader killed, another injured in Army firing, police file FIR
Jammu and Kashmir, Aug 05: A cattle trader was killed and another injured in firing by Army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Sunday, the police said. Police have filed a First Information Report against the Army personnel involved at Dharamkund police station, Senior Superintendent of Police Mohan Lal told PTI.
Mohammad Rafiq Gujjar, 28, and 30-year-old Shakeel Ahmad, both residents of Gool, were fired upon by soldiers of the 58 Rashtriya Rifles when they were leaving Kohli village around 4 am, PTI reported. While Gujjar died on the spot, Ahmad was injured and was shifted to a hospital.
The Army, however, claimed it had retaliated after coming under fire, Greater Kashmir reported. “On August 5, an operation was launched by Army based on specific intelligence inputs in Kohli area of Gool, Ramban,” said Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand. “At 3.45 am, the Army patrol saw some suspicious activity. The suspected individuals were challenged by the Army as per standard operating procedure. On being challenged, the suspected individuals opened fire upon the Army patrol. The Army patrol retaliated effectively.”
The Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, which represents Gujjars in the state, demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. The organisation has also written to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. “The community demanded that a strong directive must be issued to security forces so that more such incidents do not occur in tribal areas any more,” the foundation said in a statement.
Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the incident. “Is it part of the Muslim killing under the garb of ‘cow protection’ or Kashmiri killing under the garb of ‘anti-national’ we wonder?” he asked.
Courtesy: scroll.in
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
