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Deadliest attack on Army in 33 yrs, 20 jawans die

June 5, 2015

Guwahati, Jun 5: In one of the most deadly attacks on the Army, at least 20 soldiers were killed and a dozen injured when militants laid an ambush on Thursday morning in Manipur.ambush

The attack comes close on the heels of a renewed demand in the state to repeal the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Sources said the attack took place when soldiers from 6 Dogra Regiment were being de-inducted from Moltuk valley in the insurgency-infested Chandel district.

Around 8 am, the soldiers left their base for Imphal in three trucks with camp equipment and fuel. Twenty minutes later, the convoy reached Tengnoupal around 120 km south-west of capital Imphal, where it was ambushed.

Sources said 50 militants laid the ambush and fired upon the convoy with Rocket Propelled Grenades and other automatic weapons.

The convoy came under heavy fire from both sides of the road, sources added.

The Army contingent had very little time to react and could not retaliate. Sources in the Manipur Police said the militants might have used Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to inflict maximum casualty. The Manipur Police, however, said that one militant was killed in the retaliatory fire and several others were injured.

A joint platform of militant groups from the North-East has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, the rebel groups claimed that a combined team of Elite Strike Unit of Naga Army, KYKL and KCP ambushed a five-vehicle Army convoy. The attack started around 6 am and lasted till 10 am.

The outfits claimed that the joint offensive was launched to assert their right for self-determination and sovereignty.

Sources told Deccan Herald that the attack was planned at a recent meeting of top militant leaders of the North-East in Taka area of Sagaing division of Myanmar.

United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) chief Paresh Barua on Thursday evening called up a TV channel in Guwahati and claimed that this is the beginning of unified attacks by all the banned militant groups of the North-East.

Indian intelligence sources have added that several banned militants groups from the North-East, including the United Liberation Font of Assam (ULFA-Independent), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA), the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) have their bases there and is guided by the NSCN-K.

“By plan of the attack it seems it can be the handiwork of a combined team of UNLF, PLA and NSCN-K. The aim is to create fear and send across a message that they are not down and out. Ever since NSCN-K broke out of ceasefire, the porous Indo-Myanmar border has been tense,” said a senior Military Intelligence officer.

In New Delhi, an Army spokesperson said 20 personnel were killed and at least 11 injured. Initially, the injured jawans were airlifted from the ambush site to Leimakhong Army Hospital located at GOC 57 Mountain Division, where five jawans succumbed to their injuries. Later, other injured jawans were airlifted to the Army Base hospital in Jorhat and Guwahati. The dead includes a Junior Commissioned Officer.

Meanwhile, the Manipur Police said that one militant was killed in the retaliatory fire and several others were injured.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New Delhi, Aug 4: Over 50 per cent of COVID-19 deaths in India have taken place among people aged 60 years and above and 37 per cent deaths have been reported among patients in the age group of 45 to 60 years, Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Health Ministry said that 11 per cent COVID-19 deaths took place in the age group of 26 to 44.

The 18 to 25 age group and those below 18 years reported one per cent deaths each.
"Currently, 5,86,298 active COVID-19 cases are in India and over 12 lakh people have recovered.

50 per cent deaths due to COVID19 have taken place among the age group of 60 years or above and 37 per cent deaths took place in the age group between 45 to 60 years," Bhushan said.

"A total of 11 per cent COVID-19 deaths took place in the age group of 26 to 44. Only 1 per cent in 18 to 25 age group and 1 per cent in below the age of 18 years," he added.

Bhushan said that 68 per cent of COVID-19 deaths have been reported among male patients and 32 per cent among female patients which is broadly in line with the global scenario.

The number of recovered COVID-19 patients in India is increasing daily and is now over double the number of active cases.

Bhushan said that the case fatality rate (CFR) is lowest since the first lockdown.

"More than 2 crore COVID-19 tests have been conducted, including more than 6.6 lakh tests in the last 24 hours. Recovered cases are now double of the active cases. 

The case fatality rate (CFR) is lowest since the first lockdown," he said
"This is the first time after the first lockdown that the fatality rate is at the lowest, at 2.10 per cent. The fatality rate has seen a progressive decline and it is continuing, which is a good sign," he added.

According to the World Health Organisation, CFR is a measure of the severity of a disease and is defined as the proportion of reported cases of a specified disease or condition which are fatal within a specified time.

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Agencies
June 7,2020

New Delhi, Jun 7: The Islamic Centre of India on Saturday issued an advisory for those visiting mosques in view of the Centre’s decision to allow reopening of religious places from June 8.

Islamic Centre of India chairman Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali advised people above 65 years and under 10 years of age not to visit mosques and instead offer prayers at home.

He also advised against crowding in mosques, stressing that not more than five people should be present at a time and social distancing be maintained, with the ‘namazis’ using masks and keeping a distance of six feet among themselves while offering prayers.

He added that the situation would be reviewed after 15 days and if required, another advisory would be issued.

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May 31,2020

New Delhi, May 31: Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Sunday questioned the Prime Minister on how much money has been given to labourers from the PM-CARES Fund.

"I would like to ask Prime Minister Modi, 'Can you tell us how much money did you give to labourers from your PM-CARES Fund?' I request him to answer this question. Many people died during this period, some died while walking, some died in the train, some died of hunger," Sibal said while addressing a virtual press conference.

The senior Congress leader further asked how much ex gratia did the Prime Minister give to the labourers who died in the corona crisis while negotiating the lockdown.

"I refer you to Section 12 of the Disaster Management Act. It says that ex gratia assistance on account of the loss of life and also assistance for the restoration of livelihood should be provided by the government. Did the government give ex gratia assistance to people who died in the crisis? The act also mentions special provisions for widows and orphans. The government should clarify how much assistance they gave to such people," he said.

Sibal said that the government should keep aside its agenda for the last six years and concentrate on making pro-poor policies.

"In the coming days, our economy is going to go into the negative territory as also confirmed by RBI. There are 45 crore labourers in our country. What will be their state? We have to look at our future. That is why we want to request the government that the agenda that they have run over the last six years should be kept aside and that government should care about the poor and draft policies for them," the Congress leader said.

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