Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 25

The government on Wednesday sent an advisory to all private security agency companies asking them to consider their staff “on duty”, as a humane gesture for the next 21days of countrywide lockdown and do not cut their salaries for the period.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which will be monitoring the lockdown on a daily basis, said India is facing an “unprecedented situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic” and the agencies are likely to be impacted in the coming days due to closure of shops, malls, and establishments.

Accepting that the pandemic has affected economic activity, MHA urged the agencies to exercise empathy with its workforce.

“This is the time for the private security industry to adopt a humane approach and protect its workers and staff members from lay-offs and consequent decrease in earnings. I would, therefore, urge the industry for empathy with its workforce, vital to its functioning and ensure that these workers continue to be treated on duty and paid accordingly,” the MHA said in the advisory.

The advisory has also been communicated to the industry bodies like CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM and others.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown in the country to combat the outbreak.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 25

Former Home Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram today urged everyone to back Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stay-at-home call, saying the PM was the commander and people foot soldiers in the fight against Covid.

“PM’s announcement for a nationwide 21-day lockdown is a watershed moment in the battle against Covid-19. We should put behind us the debates that took place before March 24 and look upon the nationwide lockdown as the beginning of a new battle in which the people are the foot soldiers and the Prime Minister is the Commander. We owe a duty to extend our total support to the Prime Minister, the Central and state governments,” Chidambaram said.

He suggested a 10-point plan to ease stress on the marginalised who would be the worst hit in the lock down period. The plan, he said, was intended to put cash and food in the hands of the poor and vulnerable.

The ex-minister suggested that farmers’ income be doubled under PM-KISAN to Rs 12,000 and transferred to bank accounts. “Bring tenant farmers under PM-KISAN. Give registered MGNREGA workers Rs 3,000,” he said.

For the urban poor, Chidambaram said Jan Dhan accounts with urban branches of banks must be transferred with Rs 6,000 each. “Offer to every ration card holder 10 kg of rice or wheat for free as a one-time measure for the next 21 days. Arrange for home delivery,” he said.

The Congress leader also asked the government to guarantee reimbursement to employers who ensure wages to people amid lockdown.

Further, the former minister sought instructions to banks to extend the date for EMI payment until June 30 and cut GST rates by 5 per cent on all wage goods, essential goods and services, and all goods of mass consumption also until June 30.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said NYAY scheme was the need of the hour.

New Delhi, March 25

The home ministry on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines covering additional people and services who will be exempted from the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the new guidelines, the ministry said Reserve Bank of India and RBI-regulated financial markets, pay and accounts officers and field officers of the CAG, petroleum products and supply chain and forest staff are exempted from the purview of the lockdown.

Read: Curfew: Punjab issues fresh guidelines on supplies, movement control

Those people handling cargo operations in airports and railway stations, coal mining activities, officers and staff of resident commissioners based in Delhi and customs clearance at ports, airports and land borders are also exempted.

Forest offices staff and workers required to operate and maintain zoo, nurseries, wildlife, fire fighting in forests, watering plantations, patrolling and their necessary transport movement, social welfare department staff for operations of homes for children, disabled, senior citizens, destitute women, widows, observation homes and pensions service are also exempted, the guidelines said.

The lockdown was announced by the prime minister on Tuesday in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

After Modi’s announcement, the home ministry on Tuesday night issued some guidelines for enforcement of the nationwide lockdown.

The guidelines listed several services, including government and private offices, that will be out of bounds during the period, while exempting establishments such as hospitals, ration shops, dairies, banks, insurance offices, and print and electronic media.

Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through e-commerce has also been exempted from the purview of the lockdown.

“All enforcing authorities to note that these strict restrictions fundamentally relate to movement of people, but not to that of essential goods,” the guidelines issued on Tuesday said.

In Wednesday’s guidelines, veterinary hospitals, pharmacies (including Jan Aushadhi Kendra) and pharmaceutical research laboratories, IT vendor for banking operations, banking correspondent and ATM operations and cash management agencies were exempted.

Shops for seeds and pesticides data and call centre for government, manufacturing units of essential goods, including drugs, pharmaceutical, medical devices, their raw material and intermediates, coal and mineral production, transportation, supply of explosives and activities incidental to mining operations were exempted from the 21-day lockdown.

Manufacturing units of packaging material for food items, drugs, pharmaceutical and medical devices, inter-state movement of goods/cargo for inland and exports, cross land border movement of essential goods including petroleum products and LPG, food products, medical supplies were also exempted.

The guidelines on Tuesday said all educational, training, research, coaching institutions etc., shall remain closed, places of worship shall remain closed. No religious congregations will be permitted, without any exception.

“All social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions gatherings shall be barred,” they said. — PTI

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Kabul, March 25

At least 25 worshippers were killed and eight others injured when a heavily armed suicide bomber stormed his way into a prominent gurdwara today in the heart of Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul, in one of the deadliest attacks on the minority Sikh community in the strife-torn country.

• Editorial: Attack on Afghan Sikhs
• Also read: Akal Takht flays attack

The Islamic State (IS), which has targeted Sikhs before in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the attack on the gurdwara in Shor Bazar area around 7.45 am (local time) as 150 worshippers were inside the building.

“Unfortunately, 25 civilians were killed and eight others injured,” the Ministry of Interior said on the attack carried out by a gunman, who was killed by Afghan special forces. It said 80 persons, including women and children, stranded inside the gurdwara were rescued by the security forces.

The IS issued a statement confirming its members carried out the attack on Sikhs in Kabul city, Khaama Press News Agency reported.

Earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement the militant group had no link with the attack in Shor Bazar area of Kabul. Police in Kabul said at least 11 children were rescued from the gurdwara.

Also read: India condemns terrorist attack on Kabul gurdwara

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack. “The attack on the religious sites shows the extreme weakness of the enemy, religious sites should not be vulnerable to attacks and violence,” he said. In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the attack. – PTI

Reflects diabolical mindset, say MEA

New Delhi, March 25

The government as well as ruling BJP emphasised on the minority community aspect while condemning the terrorist attack on Gurdwara Guru Har Rai in Kabul.

The BJP questioned Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and others “opposing” the CAA — the controversy issue occupying political mind space before Covid-19 took over the centre stage. Making pointed reference to targeting of a minority place of worship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) suggested there was a pattern behind it. It also offered to extend all possible assistance to the affected families of the Hindu and Sikh community of Afghanistan.

“Such cowardly attacks on the places of worship of the minority community, especially at this time of Covid-19 pandemic, is reflective of the diabolical mindset of the perpetrators and their backers,” said an MEA statement while conveying the government’s sincerest condolences to the victims’ kin.

Union Minister Hardeep Puri said, “Suicide attack on the Kabul gurdwara needs to be strongly condemned. “

BJP’s Delhi leader RP Singh said he hoped, “Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh and others who are opposing CAA will have answer for attack.”

The Rashtriya Sikh Sangat has sought PM’s intervention to ensure safety and security of Sikhs and Hindus trapped in the shrine and their properties. Sangat president GS Gill condemned the attack. — PTI/TNS

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25

To streamline the supply of essentials in the curfew-bound Punjab, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday issued fresh directives, including instructions for issuance of passes to maintain critical services.

A press statement issued by the government said the CM constituted a committee under the chairmanship of ACS (Industry & Commerce) to oversee the procurement processes for all CoViD-19 related items. To ensure supply of materials and equipment to government medical facilities, the DCs have been asked to contact PSHFW and MD, PHSC, with the facility of sending advance indents.

He directed the police and administrative officials to ensure that door-to-door delivery of essential services was maintained, and it may be further streamlined with the assistance of e-commerce companies/service providers. Volunteers may also be engaged, if necessary.

The providers of essential services (hawkers/delivery boys) or institutions should be allowed to operate for fixed duration, but on specific permissions.

For special goods trains, which have been arranged to move food grains out of the state to ensure adequate storage space for the coming wheat crop, the Department of Food has issued complete protocol.

Secretary Arun Sekhri on Wednesday issued revised curfew management guidelines to all Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of Police/SSPs, and others.

DGP Dinkar Gupta also issued instructions to officers to ensure that functioning of delivery boys, rehris, small motorised vehicles, etc, was facilitated to ensure smooth supplies.

Offices that have been designated in the Government of India’s order will be allowed to remain open with skeletal staff. Specific state government offices may also be required to remain open with minimal functional staff. Employees of such offices will be allowed to travel from home to office on their institutional identity card, and specific curfew passes would not be necessary.

For employees of governments, including PSUs and SPUs, of Haryana, Punjab and UT of Chandigarh, who are residing in Mohali district (especially Mohali and Zirakpur), it has been decided that they may be allowed to commute to their offices for official duty (not with their families or in groups) by showing their official or institutional photo ID cards, and they would not be required to obtain curfew passes.

All other government employees will be directed to work from home.

Permissions may be given in the following manner:

a) Permits may be issued for fixed period to all those exempted by GoI/GoP. Such permits can even be in the form of authorisation letters.

b) Institutional permits to the exempted institutions such as media houses, IOC/HPCL, post offices, banks, Railways, petrol pumps, LPG suppliers, etc., should be given through specific letters, attaching therewith the list of employees of each of such institutions. These employees should then be allowed to go to office in duty hours on their institutional identity cards, but they may not be allowed elsewhere such as markets, etc, for their personal work.

c) Those institutional permissions, which are issued for maintaining essential supplies, in the form of authorization letters, should clearly mention so and would be valid across the state.

d) Individual passes may be given only in an emergency and if so required, such an individual may be permitted to use vehicle but for a given purpose only.

e) Healthcare establishments (hospitals, nursing homes, PHCs, CHCs), both private and government, and their employees, should be given a general permission to operate and their employees may be allowed to commute for duty/work on their institutional identity card.

To simplify the process, the issuance of passes has been tasked to various officers as follows:

• DFSC: Food, ration and grocery shops, transportation of food grains, mandi labour and procurement related works.
• Dy. Director, Horticulture: Fruits and vegetables.
• Dy Director, Animal Husbandry: Milk vendors and suppliers and related movements.
• GM DIC: Industries/industrialists/industrial labour.
• DMO: Hawkers of any kind; Mandis and Purchase Centers, Arhtiyas;
• CAO: Farmers and harvesting related movements.
• General passes for individuals and others: Asst Commissioner (Gen), SDM, Tehsildar, or any other person specifically authorised by DC.

For point-to-point movement of individuals or providers of essential goods and services, the passes can be issued by the authorised signatories at origin, clearly giving address of destination and purpose of traveling. Such passes should be honoured both during transit and at destination, but such pass holders should not be allowed to stop or go anywhere other than the specified destination.

The Government of India in its order has also emphasised maintaining supply chains of essential goods and commodities. Vehicle number and mode of transportation should also be specified. However, movement of people in groups should be avoided.

For individual emergencies, DCs should continue to follow up and facilitate the common man through helplines already established in the districts. The number of helplines and persons attending such lines may be increased and properly publicised, the guidelines state.

For procurement of wheat, ACS (Dev.) and PSFS would issue a comprehensive mandi-wise plan in due course. Likewise, for harvesting of the potato crop, ACS (Dev.) would issue necessary guidelines by March 27.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25

With two more cases reported on Wednesday, the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases has reached 31 in Punjab. One of the fresh cases is from Moranwali village in Hoshiarpur and the other from Ludhiana.

This Hoshiarpur case is also linked to 70-year-old Baldev Singh of SBS Nagar district, who succumbed to the deadly virus last week.

With the new case, the total number of cases getting infected from Baldev alone has reached 22; those affected include 18 of his family members from Banga and Phillaur towns. He had returned from Germany after which his condition deteriorated last week. He was found positive after death.

The latest to be affected by the deadly virus is a resident of Moranwali village in Garhshankar. He is the son of a priest, who was serving at Pathlawa dera of Banga where deceased Baldev Singh was serving too. The priest, Harbhajan Singh, has already been confirmed positive last week and Moranwali village has been sealed since then. The family members of Harbhajan Singh had been quarantined a few days ago. His son showed symptoms of fever and cough a few days back after which he, too, tested positive today.

According to health department, close contacts of the fresh case have been put under quarantine and surveillance. Samples of close contacts of these cases have also been taken and sent to the designated labs for testing.

As per the state health department, at present besides 130 suspected cases, around 1,150 people have been quarantined and one has succumbed to the deadly virus.  The results of 229 cases are awaited.

At present, confirmed 31 cases have been reported from five districts. This includes 18 from SBS Nagar, five cases from Mohali, three each from Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur and one each from Amritsar and from Ludhiana. Interestingly, the reported from Ludhiana doesn’t have any travel history. So the health officials are trying to locate his source of infection.

No confirmed case has been reported from rest of the 17 districts.

The health department has ordered to set up 2,500 isolation beds at 20 treatment-cum-isolation facilities for Covid-19 in the state’s various district hospitals and medical colleges.

These facilities will offer services free of cost. According to orders issued by Secretary (Health), all the 20 facilities have been made operational today.

District-wise cases

SBS Nagar           18

SAS Nagar           5

Jalandhar             3

Hoshiarpur          3

Amritsar               1

Ludhiana              1

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 26

Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the first coronavirus death on Thursday as the 65-year-old man with a long travel history within India died on Thursday.

The deceased of Shah Anwar colony of Hyderpora locality in Srinagar died on Thursday morning at Chest Disease (CD) hospital, Srinagar, where he was admitted for the past four days.

“Unfortunately, we lost him this morning,” said Dr Samia Rashid, Principal, Government Medical College Srinagar under which CD hospital works.

Doctors say the man had a medical history of illness with diabetes, hypertension and obesity. He was admitted to CD Hospital on March 22 and declared positive on March 24.

Four of his close aides were found positive on Wednesday after they met him at a mosque in Samba district where hundreds of followers of Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh had assembled between March 12 to 16 for a religious congregation.

The Deoband leadership has come under sharp criticism from the locals for not avoiding religious gatherings.

Many people compared the deceased preacher with south Korea’s ‘Patient 31’, who is a member of a fringe church called Shincheonji, and was called “super spreader” for infecting several thousand people.

Soon after the preacher was declared positive for CoVID-19, hundreds of followers of Deoband lined up outside hospitals in Kashmir for screening.

Even two doctors, who treated him at Sopore sub-district hospital on March 16, were admitted on Wednesday to Government Medical College Baramulla for CoVID-19 testing.

The long travel history of the Deobandi preacher in India has perplexed the doctors.

He had travelled half of India from Andaman Nicobar to New Delhi to Uttar Pradesh before returning to Kashmir on March 16. He met thousands of people including foreigners at various religious congregations in India during his nearly three-month long travel.

Eleven persons had tested positive for the COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir.

With his death, the total number of such patients in the entire J&K is 10 including a woman who has recovered but is under observation.