Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Oct 2: A man was shot dead and another injured by unknown gunmen, suspected to be militants, at Karan Nagar and Batamaloo areas here this afternoon, officials said.

They said the man identified as Majid Guru son of Abdul Rehman of Chatabal Srinagar was fired from point blank and suffered injuries in chest, face and abdomen. He was immediately rushed to nearly SMHS hospital where he succumbed to the wounds. Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital Dr. Kanwar Jeet Singh confirmed to GNS that the man was brought dead.

Later in a statement issued, police said that at about 1730 hours, Police received information about a firing incident near Madina Complex Karan Nagar. Senior police officers reached at the crime spot, statement reads.

“Officers attending the crime spot learnt that one individual identified as Majid Ahmad Gojri son of Abdul Rehman resident of Chattabal Srinagar was shot at by the (militants). He has received grievous gunshot injuries in this incident,” the statement reads, adding, “Although, the injured was immediately evacuated to nearby hospital, however he succumbed to his injuries.”

Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law.”Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this crime. Area has been cordoned and search in the area is going on.”

Meanwhile, unknown gunmen suspected to be militants fired upon a civilian at SD Colony area of Batamaloo.

“At about 2000 hours Police received information about an incident at SD Colony Batamaloo area of Srinagar where (militants) had fired upon a civilian,” police said, adding, “Preliminary investigation revealed that (militants) had fired upon a civilian identified as Mohammad Shafi Dar son of Abdul Rehman Dar of Batamaloo at SD Colony Batamaloo area of Srinagar.”

In this incident, Dar has received critical gunshot injuries and was immediately shifted to nearby hospital for the treatment of his injuries.

“Police have registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this crime. Area has been cordoned and search in the area is going on.” (GNS)

Srinagar: The annual regular exams of classes 10 and 12 will be held in the first and second week of November in Kashmir, top official of Board of School Education (BOSE) said on Saturday.

The official informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the annual regular exams of 12th standard will be held in the first week of November and 10th standard in its second week.

BOSE officials said that it will issue the date sheet soon. “We are about to finish the examination preparation.”

Pertinently, the government in the second week of August has reduced the syllabi of secondary and higher secondary classes of Jammu and Kashmir by thirty percent following the closure of schools in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

BOSE has said that the question papers will be set from the entire syllabus prescribed for the session. However, the students shall have to attempt questions having weightage of 70 percent marks instead of attempting all the questions.

“The marks obtained by students who attempt less than 70 percent from the question paper shall be raised proportionately while the subjects having no practical course, the question paper shall be of 100 marks and the student has to attempt questions with a total of 70 marks,” BOSE said.

It further said, “The papers having three hours of duration shall be having only 2.30 hours of time, the subjects having 2.30 hours and 2.00 hours duration shall be having only 2.10 hours and 1.40 hrs time period for attempting the questions during examination.”—(KNO)

SRINAGAR, OCT 02: Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said that the increase in deployment by Chinese troops across the border was a matter of concern.

He said that India has made equal deployment in terms of troops and infrastructure in its areas along the LAC and there is no way anyone can behave aggressively again.

General Naravane, who is in Ladakh for his two-day visit, said, “Since the last six months the situation at the friction points is normal. Conversations are going on. We had the 12th round of talks last month and we expect the 13th round of talks to be done by the second week of October.

“When the talks started, people were skeptical whether talks would solve anything, but I firmly believe that we can resolve our differences through talks and this is what has happened in the last few months,” he said.

The army chief said, “China has deployed (its army) in large numbers up to Eastern Ladakh and Eastern Command. There has been an increase in deployment and this is a matter of concern for us. We are also making similar developments in terms of infrastructure and deployment of troops. We are fully prepared to deal with any situation.” (PTK)

Srinagar, Oct 1: The Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Friday said that claims of “development” in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370 as “red herring.”

“The claims of the BJP government that the abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading of a state with special status into two union territories has paved the way for new industries, created new employment opportunities, decreased terror incidents, brought atmosphere of peace and security, nurtured democracy, eradicated corruption, brought new Central laws for betterment of people in this region are nothing but a concocted and fabricated stories while the ground situation belies these claims,” PAGD spokesperson M Y Tarigami said in a statement.

He said the claims in a recently released report by the Union Home ministry titled “The dream of one nation, one law, one symbol fulfilled: After effective removal of the provisions of Article 370, the picture has changed: a new start in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh” are far from the reality. “The reality is that there is a systematic disempowerment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir that is continuing to happen, through bureaucratic rule.”

He said the projects mentioned in the booklet are mostly approved by the earlier governments but shown to have been the outcome of abrogation of Art 370. “Reality is that Nashri Tunnel, Zojilla Tunnel, establishment of 50 degree colleges and various medical colleges are projects approved much before the abrogation of Art 370.”

On 7 November 2015, he said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Srinagar announced a reconstruction programme during the PDP-BJP coalition government of about Rs 80,000 crore known as the Prime Minister’s Development Package, to strengthen the social-economic infrastructure and for the development of Jammu & Kashmir.

“It is claimed that after the re-organisation of the erstwhile state, 53 projects of Rs 58,477 crores in J&K and nine projects of Rs 21,441 crore in Ladakh are under progress which is part of the PM’s 2015 package. How can you attribute this progress to abrogation of Art 370?”

Similarly, he said, the BJP government is boasting of implementation of various laws, like Land Reforms and RTI Act which is claimed to have been effective now. “This is a blatant lie as the State of Jammu and Kashmir was a pioneer in implementing the revolutionary land reforms laws which no other state has done except Kerala to some extent. Similarly the erstwhile state’s own RTI Act was stronger than the Union law. Its repeal when Article 370 was read down has led to chaos and complications. Without knowing the facts of the matter, BJP leaders had maintained that the people of J&K had no access to information under the Right to Information Act until Article 370 was read down.”

On the employment front, he said, “we lag far-behind and have assumed the highest unemployment proportion as compared to the pre-August 2019 period. The filling up of vacancies is a routine exercise which was being done earlier also and now attributing it to the post abrogation era is beyond our comprehension. Whichever way we look at it, the removal of special status and of restrictions on land purchase by outsiders will not add an iota of employment; on the contrary, it will most likely cause a reduction in employment in the region, even as land passes into the hands of rich outsiders from Delhi or Mumbai. Unemployment rate is highest in India in the last 45-years and in J&K it is worse than that.”

Prior to abrogation of Article 370, he said, not only had Jammu and Kashmir kept pace with the other States in improvement in human development indices (HDI), some of the indicators pertaining to literacy rates, marriage and fertility, child sex ratios and school attendance rates for girls over six years of age were relatively better than those for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

“The projects pertaining to strengthening of power infrastructure and flood mitigation were in execution pre-abrogation era as routine developmental activities. Similarly in the industrial sector also the present policy is nothing but a replica of old industrial policy. The credit for conception, approval, execution and completion of Srinagar’s long-awaited Ram Bagh flyover, IIT campus and AIIMS, Jammu goes to the earlier governments. The BJP and the present dispensation cannot claim any credit for construction of Atal Tunnel, Jammu Semi Ring Road and 8.45 km long, new Banihal Tunnel, and World’s tallest 467 meter bridge on river Chenab.”

He said that it is really baffling and misleading to claim high moral ground in implementing the PM Kisan Scheme and PMAY. Jammu and Kashmir is getting benefitted the same way as other states and UTs. claiming to implementation of Jammu & Kashmir under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Scheme in which 4.4 lakh beneficiaries have been verified in this scheme, 1.77 lakh treatments have been authorised in the hospitals of J&K, for which, an amount of Rs 146 crores has been authorised.” Simple question is what relevance it has with the abrogation of Art 370, he said. “This scheme is in vogue in the rest of India as well . So attributing this to abrogation of Art 370 is not correct.”

One of the much-touted success stories of the NDA government has been its achievement in getting bank accounts opened for women under programmes to expand their financial inclusion and gender equality, he said. “However, even before the NDA assumed power, government data reveal that significant progress was made in Jammu and Kashmir in the past one decade. States were ranked on the basis of the extent of financial inclusion for women and household autonomy.”

The NFHS-4 (2015-16), which collected data on women with bank accounts, found that at the all-India level, the percentage of women with bank accounts increased from 15.5 per cent in 2005-06 to 53 per cent in 2015-16, he said. “In Jammu and Kashmir, the percentage of women with bank accounts increased from 22 per cent to 60 per cent, which, if anything, compares well with the all-India average and appears to be better than the increases in Bihar, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and even Karnataka.”

In fact, he said, the figure for Jammu and Kashmir was ahead in social indicators as that of Gujarat in 2015-2016, whose model of development has been held as a beacon by the BJP, worthy of emulation by other States.

“The slogan of “development”, in short, is a red herring. Why then has the central government done what it has? The common answer is that it has been a long-standing demand of the Hindutva elements, with an eye no doubt on altering the demographic composition of the only Muslim-majority state in the country, rather like Israel is doing on Palestinian lands,” he said, adding, “In fact, this government being the product of a Hindutva-corporate alliance, almost everything it does also caters to a pro-corporate agenda, apart from promoting Hindutva. Opening up the Kashmir Valley to its corporate patrons, not so much for expanding the volume of productive economic activities but for land acquisition for real estate development or for sheer speculation on land price, is also an added incentive. Such real estate development adds little to the level of employment; but it subtracts employment if the land was being used for some productive activities before.”

The presence of Article 370 was not an impediment in the overall development of the State as claimed by the government, h esaid. “All government data and surveys indicate a marked improvement in almost all human development indices in the State.”

Srinagar, Oct 01: Following the surge in COVID-19 cases, the government on Friday disallowed congregational prayers in most of the mosques and Shrines in Srinagar city.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that congregational prayer was not allowed in major mosques and shrines at Hazratbal, Makhdoom sahib (RA), Jamia Masjid and other major shrines and masjids in Srinagar.

The devotees who have come from the far flung areas expressed anguish for barring them from offering congregational prayers at Makhdoom Sahab (RA) shrine at Rainawari.

One of the devotees said, “I had come from a far flung area to offer Friday congregational prayers at Makhdoom Sahab (RA) shrine, but I was not allowed to enter.”

She said, “The government is only putting curbs on offering congregational prayers; however they do not keep tabs on other places and events wherein COVID-19 can spread more rapidly.”

In the meantime, another local Farooq Ahmad of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district said, “We were stopped from entering the Makhdoom Sahab (RA) shrine.”

Farooq Said, “From downstairs up to the gate of the shrine, everybody is stopping us with an excuse of COVID-19. I failed to understand why curbs are being put at the major shrines only, however most of the roads and malls across the city are full of people.”

Meanwhile, the locals of other areas of Kashmir region told KNO that congregational prayers were allowed in some small mosques of the periphery area.

Pertinently, Srinagar district in the past one week has witnessed a significant rise in COVID-19 cases. An official said that in the wake of rise in Covid positive cases in Srinagar, prayers are being barred at some major shrines and masjids in Srinagar as a “precautionary measure.”—(KNO)

The minimum night temperature in Srinagar was 18.1 degrees Celsius, 8.8°C above the normal.

Similar conditions were witnessed in other parts of the valley.

Regards: Kashmir Weather

PTI

Ladakh recorded seven fresh COVID-19 cases and 28 recoveries on Thursday, bringing down the count of active cases of the disease in the union territory to 73, officials said.

Six cases were reported in Leh, and one from Kargil, they said, adding that the infection tally now stands at 20,795.

Ladakh has registered 207 Covid-related deaths — 149 in Leh and 58 in Kargil — since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.

The number of recoveries has reached 20,515, the officials said.

At present, Leh has 69 and Kargil four active COVID-19 cases. (PTI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

PTI

Security forces have recovered ammunition during a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, officials said Thursday.

During a search operation launched in Targain-Jalan area of Budhal tehsil, security forces recovered a pocket kept hidden under a boulder on Wednesday evening, they said.

They recovered 25 rounds of Light Machine Gun (LMG) and a rusted magazine, they said. (PTI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

PTI

Border incidents between India and China will continue to occur till a boundary agreement is reached between the two countries, Army Chief General M M Naravane said on Thursday.

Recent developments in Afghanistan “have definitely been the focus” of the Indian Army that continues to evaluate threat perceptions and formulate strategies accordingly, the Army chief added while addressing a gathering at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Discussing China, he said, “… we have an outstanding border issue. We are again well prepared to meet any misadventure that may occur as we have demonstrated in the past.”

“Such kinds of incidents will continue to occur till such time that a long-term solution is reached, and that is to have a boundary agreement. And that should be the thrust of our efforts so that we have lasting peace along the northern (China) border,” he stated during the annual session meeting of the industry body.

Referring to Afghanistan, he said the Indian Army “or the armed forces for that matter continue to carry out periodic evaluation of threat perceptions”.

Based on those evaluations, the Indian Army formulates strategies and doctrines that are needed to meet future threats, he noted.

“This is a continuous process that never stops,”” he added.

Kabul fell to the Taliban on August 15. Expressing its concerns about the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, India had on September 20 had said the country’s territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts.

As far as the terrorist threat is concerned, the Indian Army is ready to meet all challenges, Naravane said.

“We have a very dynamic counterinsurgency and counterterrorist grid in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a dynamic grid and it is based on threat perception and the escalating levels of attempts by our western neighbour (Pakistan) to push in more and more terrorists,” he said.

Based on ups and downs, we also recalibrate our levels of operations, he added.

The current border standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies erupted in May last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

The row escalated after the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 last year. Twenty Indian Army personnel laid down their lives in the clashes that marked the most serious military conflicts between the two sides in decades.

In February 2021, China officially acknowledged that five Chinese military officers and soldiers were killed in the clashes with the Indian Army though it is widely believed that the death toll was higher.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in Gogra area last month.

In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement.

Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) in the sensitive sector.

In 2017, Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam tri-junction which even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. (PTI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar Sep 29: Kashmir administration is on alert as hospitals have been asked to be equipped with oxygen generation plants in view of a possibility of 3rd COVID wave.
Over the last few weeks, there has been a significant increase in positive cases in Srinagar.
In view of the daily rising COVID-19 cases in Srinagar, the authorities on last Friday imposed a 10 day long curfew in the parts of the Srinagar city.
An order issued by District Magistrate Mohammad Aijaz said that a strict curfew shall come into force from Friday itself in areas falling under Zadibal and Lal Bazar municipal wards.
All educational institutions, shopping malls, and other businesses shall remain closed during the 10-day long curfew and only essential services would be allowed.
Experts believe there is a possibility of a 3rd COVID wave which may hit by the third week of October.
Taking note, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir has directed chief medical officers to ensure required oxygen generation plants are put in hospitals which have 50 bed capacity.
“You are requested to convey the concerned private health institutions under your jurisdiction which are having more than 50 beds capacity to establish the oxygen generation plants of appropriate capacity for the facility of patient care under the intimidation of this office,” reads the letter.
A social and preventive medicine expert who is data analysis incharge in divisional control room Dr Rouf Hussain Rather had told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Agency (KINS) that people are not adhering COVID norms.
He said that the impact of the third wave could be avoided if people take several measures.
“The biggest tool at present we have is vaccination. People should not hesitate in taking the vaccination. It does not impact one’s fertility. Then we have to wear face masks, avoid gatherings and frequent hand washing which will be helpful in avoiding the third wave,” he said.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole recently visited several hospitals of district Srinagar to review preparedness of these institutions for containment of Covid and inspect adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) in these health institutions.
He stressed upon the heads of institutions to strictly implement CAB in these institutions to contain the spread of virus.
“As there are resurgence of cases in Kashmir valley, especially Srinagar district, we have to be very vigilant and alert so that we can keep the virus at bay which will eventually help us to delay any effect of possible 3rd wave,” Pole added. (KINS)