Category: Union Territory

‘My victory a big slap for power mongers’

Srinagar: Four members including former Deputy Mayor Sheikh Muhammad Imran won the Executive Committee Elections of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday.

Sources said that 11 Corporators had participated in the elections, which was held to fill up 4 vacant seats in the Executive Committee.

Those who were elected include former NC member Danish Bhat, Nazir Gilkar from BJP, Shafat Gafar from Congress and Independent candidate Sheikh Muhammad Imran.

Sheikh Muhamamd Imran’s victory came as a big surprise as he is not being supported by any political party.

“It is the first step towards the eradication of corruption in SMC. I am powerless. Congress betrayed me. BJP and Apni Party are allies while NC didn’t favour me and yet I bagged the seat by the grace of Almighty. My victory is a slap for those who enjoy power,” Sheikh Muhammad Imran told news agency Kashmir News Trust.

He said like-minded people supported him as they like him want to eradicate corruption from the Corporation.

Aasif Beigh who was official candidate from Congress held Chief Whip Basharat Bin Qadir responsible for his debacle. He alleged that Chief Whip of the party back stabbed him.

“BJP had only one member, how it managed to garner the support of 11 members. Congress had 17 members but its candidate got only one vote. How is it possible?,” Beigh questioned and sought action against the Chief Whip who according to Beigh always backstabbed party and its candidates.

Beigh said he will not only raise the matter with Jammu Kashmir Party president but also will approach the All-India Congress Committee where he will question Basharat Bin Qadri’s elevation.

Pertinently, Executive Committee is a powerful body where all the developmental plans and schemes for Srinagar are discussed and implemented. (KNT)

DODA : Working in present times when the entire humanity is fighting against the deadly Coronavirus threat has made my job one of the most noble, responsible, critical and challenging, said Ambulance driver at Associate Hospital Government Medical College, Doda, Parvaz Iqbal Sheikh.

“Amid the fast life of present times, the rate of incidents/accidents has exceeded considerably which requires readiness of medical machinery as well as the frontline workers like me” Parvaz added.

Parvaz says that being in the service as an ambulance driver for more than 8 years now, he has never felt so depressed and stressed as in the last one year, while working amid this deadly Covid-19 pandemic day and night.

Referring to his last year duty schedule, Parvaz says that he had to everyday take the samples collected at the GMC or from elsewhere in the district all the way to designated Centres in Jammu under set protocol so that these are tested, because at that time there was no RT PCR machine available in the GMC Doda.

Adding further, he says that when any patient was gasping for oxygen last year he had to be referred to Jammu or Srinagar for intensive care as there was no manifold or oxygen generation plant available in GMC Doda at that point of time.

“Spinning wheels at a fast speed by risking our own lives while taking the referred patients to the out of district hospitals gives us more happiness than any other worldly pleasure”, Parvaz added.

“Apart from this when nobody is ready to touch the dead bodies of the Covid victims, we would assist the bereaved family in making arrangements for the final journey of the deceased, while putting our own lives at stake,” he added.

He urged the people of the district to follow the instructions with regard to Covid appropriate behaviour seriously as this deadly virus has swallowed the beloved and dear ones of many of us in recent times.(PTK)

A third wave of coronavirus infections is likely to hit India by October, and although it will be better controlled than the latest outbreak, the pandemic will remain a public health threat for at least another year, according to a Reuters poll of medical experts.

The June 3-17 snap survey of 40 healthcare specialists, doctors, scientists, virologists, epidemiologists and professors from around the world showed that a significant pickup in vaccinations will likely provide some cover to a fresh outbreak. Of those who ventured a prediction, over 85% of respondents, or 21 of 24, said the next wave will hit by October, including three who forecast it as early as August, and 12 in September. The remaining three said between November and February.

But over 70% of experts, or 24 of 34, said any new outbreak would be better controlled compared with the current one, which has been far more devastating — with shortage of vaccines, medicines, oxygen and hospital beds — than the smaller first surge in infections last year.

“It will be more controlled, as cases will be much less because more vaccinations would have been rolled out and there would be some degree of natural immunity from the second-wave,” said Dr. Randeep Guleria, director at All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).So far, India has only fully vaccinated about 5% of its estimated 950 million eligible population, leaving many millions vulnerable to infections and deaths.

While a majority of healthcare experts predicted the vaccination drive would pick up significantly this year, they cautioned against an early removal of restrictions, as some States have done.

When asked if children and those under 18 years would be most at risk in a potential third wave, nearly two-thirds of experts, or 26 of 40, said yes.

“The reason being they are a completely virgin population in terms of vaccination because currently there is no vaccine available for them,” said Dr. Pradeep Banandur, head of epidemiology department at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).

Experts warn the situation could become severe.

“If children get infected in large numbers and we are not prepared, there is nothing you can do at the last minute,” said Dr. Devi Shetty, a cardiologist at Narayana Health and an advisor to the Karnataka State government on pandemic response planning.

“It will be a whole different problem as the country has very, very few paediatric intensive care unit beds, and that is going to be a disaster,” he said. But 14 experts said children were not at risk.

Earlier this week, a senior Union Health Ministry official said children were vulnerable and susceptible to infections but that analysis has shown a less severe health impact.

While 25 of 38 respondents said future coronavirus variants would not make existing vaccines ineffective, in response to a separate question, 30 of 41 experts said the coronavirus will remain a public health threat in India for at least a year.

Eleven experts said the threat would remain for under a year, 15 said for under two years, while 13 said over two years and two said the risks will never go away.

“COVID-19 is a solvable problem, as obviously it was easy to get a solvable vaccine. In two years, India likely will develop herd immunity through vaccine and exposure of the disease,” said Robert Gallo, director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland and international scientific advisor, Global Virus Network.

REUTERS

#Encounter has started at Wagoora, Naugam area of #Srinagar. Two #Militants trapped. Security forces on job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice

Budgam, Jun 14: Eleven days after the Ompora incident in which a leopard mauled a 4-year-old girl to death, search operation continues by the wildlife officials at various hotspots of the area to eliminate the man-eater animal.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the leopard was earlier spotted by locals and security forces inside the Deputy Commissioner’s office premises but wildlife officials have not received any information about the presence of the leopard in the area since then.

“Search operation is continuing from the last eleven days and staff has been deployed at every hotspot to eliminate this man-eater leopard,” an official said.

“We deputed teams at hotspots like Rangreth, DC complex, Ichgam, Khanpora, Qazibagh and Gudsathoo to either catch or kill the animal. Infact authorities have started the cleaning process of nursery at DC complex but couldn’t find the leopard again,” an official said.

Officials said teams are placed around 10 kilometres from the place of incident and have placed around 15 cages, cable traps, in Ompora nursery and nearby locality besides have placed at least 20 shooters at vulnerable spots to kill the leopard.

“We have also placed camera traps to record the movement of the leopard, however haven’t located the leopard from the day it was spotted at DC complex late Tuesday evening,” an official said.

Meanwhile, district forest officer Budgam told KNO that the work is going on a war footing basis on the 160 kanal of the nursery and 40 percent of the fallen trees were removed from the nursery while 30 percent of thinning and branch cutting has also been completed.

He said that the forest department is making a DPR which they will complete in two days and sent to the government to release funds for fencing of the nursery.

“The officials are working round the clock. Manpower of forest protest force, wildlife, SDRF and forest department are on jon to eliminate or catch the leopard,” he said.

He said that area is being properly santised by the officials, to prevent any untoward incident in the future.

Earlier on June 3, four-year-old girl was mauled to death by the leopard after she was taken away by the man-eater from her home in Ompora Housing Colony in Budgam—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jun 14: As the door- to- door vaccination drive across Jammu and Kashmir is going on in full -swing, health workers at several places are facing rude behaviour as many people are still hesitant to take the vaccine.

During the last few days, many videos of confrontation between health workers and the public have gone viral on social media, indicating the hesitancy and fear among people to take the jab.

A video which is said to be from North Kashmir went viral on Monday in which health workers are persuading a family to get vaccinated, however, hesitant to take the dose, the family members start misbehaving with them.

The video has got a mixed response from netizens as many believe health care workers shouldn’t compel anybody to take the vaccination as around 15 percent health workers are yet to take the dose, while some commented that vaccination is the only way to beat the deadly pandemic.

“Unable to understand why medical teams are insisting to vaccinate and make videos to defame any one, rather they should follow the protocol to get their written consent for not opting to vaccinate (sic),” Mudasir Ahmad said.

“It is utterly unethical to behave like this with our Medical Nurses who are doing a great job of vaccinations. This women should never forget that the health and the lives of those who are trusted to their care depends on his skill and attention of a doctor, we must respect our medical facilities (sic),” wrote another person on his Facebook handle.

“Medical staff are given targets regarding vaccination. They have to cover up the whole population above 18. If few of them don’t want to get themselves vaccinated, it’s fine… But employees are making them secure by filming, so that if their higher ups will ask them about the shortfall of targets, employees will be having a proof to justify their position (sic),” wrote Dr Ajay on his Facebook page.

Meanwhile, a top health official said that vaccination is the only way to beat Covid-19 and people should shun the hesitancy and get the jab at the earliest—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jun 14: After the Government issued the fresh orders for the re-registration of non-JK registered vehicles, Advocate Zahoor Ahmad Monday said that the new order is in contempt of HC order and that he will challenge the same by filing contempt petition.

Advocate Zahoor, who had earlier challenged the government order, said that he through his lawyer is going to file a contempt petition, as the fresh order issued by the Transport department amounts to contempt of Jammu and Kashmir’s High Court judgment.

Speaking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Advocate Zahoor said that the order amounts to the contempt of the double bench high court judgement, as the fresh circular issued by the transport department is referring to the judgment passed by the Double Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court on 29 April of this year, but the judgment passed have not been mentioned in the fresh order issued by the Transport department, which directly amounts to the contempt of the court orders.

“We have gone through the order issued by the Transport department. Our team is on it, since there are vacations as soon as the court fully resumes, and we are going to file a contempt petition”, he said.

Pertinently, RTO Kashmir had issued the circular on March 27, directing the vehicle owners who had purchased the Non JK number registered vehicles to apply for new registration marks as per the provisions of section 47/50 of motor vehicle act 1988 read with the rule 54 of central motor vehicle act 1989, within a time frame of 15 days.

The sanctity of the order was challenged by the Petitioner Zahoor Ahmad through his council in Jammu and Kashmir High Court, after which the case was referred to the Double Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, and 28 page judgement in the petition was pronounced on April 29—(KNO)

Srinagar, June 13: Body of 23-year-old militant was found in Soura locality here on Sunday evening, officials said.

A police official told GNS that body of Amir Ahmad Malik who was active militant category C of Al-Badr outfit was found from Anchar area of soura.

A resident of Hyder Gund Zainapora Shopian, Amir, was active since 31 October 2020, the official said.

Confirming it, a senior police officer told GNS that a case has been registered and investigations taken up.

“It could be a case of infighting also and police is investigating all angles,” he said. (GNS)

Says People of Jammu and Kashmir are happy with PM Narendra Modi

SRINAGAR, JUNE 13: Bharatiya Janata Party’s national general secretary and party’s in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs Tarun Chugh strongly condemned Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s statement on the withdrawal of Article 370, saying that Congress always daydreams on such issues.

He said that new hopes have arisen with the abrogation of Article 370. Congress is daydreaming and losing one state after another. Congress leaders are dancing on the gestures of Pakistan and such leaders are a threat to the nation.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir are happy with the welfare and positive schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A new chapter of development has been written in Jammu and Kashmir and people are watching with hope.

He said that Congress and other parties have been fooling the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Now a new era has started and people like Digvijay Singh, who support Pakistan in Congress, have gone awry.

On the other hand, State BJP President Ravindra Raina attacked Congress on Digvijay Singh’s statement and said that BJP will not allow the restoration of Article 370 under any circumstances. Article 370 cannot come back even if it is born again a hundred times for this. Congress can never succeed in a conspiracy against India even if Congress leaders are born again hundred times.

Attacking the opposition party, he said that Congress leaders are dancing at the behest of Pakistan, separatists, and terrorists. The directions come from Pakistan. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are happy after the abrogation of Article 370 and this was the root of a Pakistani ideology to take root and strengthen separatism which has been abolished.