Category: Union Territory

PTI

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday recorded 532 new cases of coronavirus, taking the tally to 28,021, while seven people died due to the disease in the last 24 hours in the union territory, officials said.

“Seven COVID-19 patients have died over the past 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir,” the officials said.

They said two deaths were reported from Jammu region, while five were from Kashmir valley.

With the fresh deaths, the toll of coronavirus patients in the union territory has risen to 527 of which 486 are from the valley and 41 are from the Jammu region, they said.

Meanwhile, the union territory recorded 532 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infected people to 28,021, the officials said.

While 108 of these new cases were from Jammu region, 424 were from the valley, they said.

There are now 6,818 active cases in the union territory, while 20,676 patients have recovered from the infection, they added.

The cases detected on Saturday included 66 people who had returned to the union territory recently.

The officials said Srinagar district in central Kashmir recorded the highest of 108 new positive cases followed by 64 in Jammu district.

PTI

Srinagar: Internet services on mobile devices were restored in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday after remaining suspended for several hours as a precautionary measure on the occasion of Independence Day.

Mobile internet services were cut in the early hours of the morning as stringent security arrangements were put in place for Independence Day celebrations across the Valley, a police official said.

Though the services were snapped as a precautionary measure, mobile phone services, which used to be suspended for the duration of the Independence Day ceremony, functioned as usual, he added.

The internet services were restored later in the day as the official function was over at Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium here, the official said.

Suspension of mobile phone services and internet on mobile devices as part of the security drill have become routine since 2005, apart from a few occasions. Security agencies added this step to the security drill after militants triggered a blast outside the Bakshi Stadium during the Independence Day parade in 2005.

Services are also snapped in a district if there is an encounter going on there to prevent miscreants from assembling crowds near the gun battle scene.

The government had imposed a ban on SMS services in the state following the 2008 Amarnath Land Row agitation, the 2010 summer agitation and after the hanging of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.

Srinagar: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday clarified that neither Statehood will be given nor high-internet speed will be restored till militancy is breathing in Kashmir.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), BJP General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Koul said that no statehood will be restored till peace completely prevails in Kashmir. He added the restoration of high-speed internet facility is also subjected to the situation.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have made it clear in the Parliament that J&K won’t be given statehood back till militancy is over in Valley”, Koul said.
He added that statehood will be restored and 4G internet services will also be made available when militancy will be overpowered completely and there will be peace all across the Valley.

Citing an example, Koul said when BJP leaders and workers will be able to roam freely in every part of Valley, statehood will be given back.
In response to a question, BJP leader said that regional parties in J&K will come out like frogs soon dates for LA elections will be announced.

“These political parties boycotted ULB and Panchayat plls but took part in Parliament elections. Let date for Assembly polls are declared, these parties will come out from their bills like frogs”, Koul said.

Earlier Koul hoisted tri-color on party headquarter of Srinagar and greeted countrymen including people of Jammu and Kashmir on eve of Independence Day. He said people should celebrate this day with great zeal. (KNS)

Srinagar: In a major concern, the contact tracing has been just one to four persons in different districts of Kashmir.

This has been revealed in a recent communication to officers of the health department by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole.

“Target for contact tracing should be 8 to 10 persons per case, but it is only 1 to 4 in different districts. The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir directed that all the district contact teams shall act more pro-actively and trace at least 7 contacts for each positive person,” a government document reads, a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

A senior official said the government was concerned that the rate of contact tracing was less in Kashmir. “If any person is positive, we are able to find only one or two persons whom he or she has contacted. The failure to found the contacts has become a cause of concern for the administration,” the official said.
Jammu and Kashmir has recorded over 28,000 positive cases and majority have been reported from the valley.

Till August 14, the government said 409414 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for observation which included 41737 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 7027 in isolation and 47531 under home surveillance. Besides, 312599 persons have completed their surveillance period.

A government advisory says that the best way to protect themselves from COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 2 meter from others, frequently cleaning hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer or washing them with soap and water and following good respiratory etiquette and hygiene.

As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory.

The advisory explained that early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us. “Not disclosing symptoms could put the life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”.
Advisory has further exhorted upon the people not to step out of home, unless absolutely necessary. “If you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear a mask and practice social distancing, personal hygiene and frequent hand washing with soap and water.”(KINS)

Baramulla: Body of a soldier was recovered in Gulmarg on Saturday, more than eight months after he was swept away by a snow avalanche along the Line of Control in the area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Official sources told GNS that the body of the soldier Rajinder Singh of Army 11 Gadwal was recovered at Roshni 1st post Gumarg along the LoC today. The soldier, they said, was missing since January 8 this year after coming under snow avalanche.

“The body is being brought to police station Gulmarg for further necessary action,” the officials added. (GNS)

Happy Independence Day to all. Hope we stop customising independence. There cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ concept of independence. Independence is defined by it vastness. By differentness not sameness. @sajadlone

Happy Independence Day to all. Hope we stop customising independence. There cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ concept of independence. Independence is defined by it vastness. By differentness not sameness.

— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) August 15, 2020

ANI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the ‘delimitation process’ is underway in Jammu and Kashmir and added that polls will be conducted soon in the Union Territory.

“Delimitation process is underway in Jammu and Kashmir. Once it is completed, an election will be held in the Union Territory. Jammu and Kashmir will have its own chief minister and ministers. We are committed to this,” he said while delivering his seventh consecutive Independence Day speech from the iconic Red Fort.

“This one year is a year of the new journey of development for Jammu and Kashmir. This one year is the year of the rights received by the women and the Dalits in Jammu and Kashmir. This one year is also the year of a life of dignity for the refugees in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Prime Minister said.

Referring to the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers, Prime Minister Modi has said that “our troops gave a befitting reply to the enemies”.

“India is united in protecting its sovereignty,” he added.

GEO TV

President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan Award upon former chairman of Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on its Independence Day.

The prestigious award was received by Hurriyat leaders at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on behalf of Geelani. In his message, President Alvi stated that the country was observing it as the “Kashmir Solidarity Day”. Public and private buildings as well as streets bazaars and markets have been profusely illuminated. National flags, buntings, portraits of founding fathers, posters and banners are also seen everywhere as part of the celebration of Independence Day.

India’s Ambassador to China Vikram Misri meets PLA Major General Ci Guowei in Beijing and brief him on “India’s stance vis-à-vis the situation on the borders in eastern Ladakh”.

India’s Ambassador to China Vikram Misri held talks with China’s top military body, the Central Military Commission (CMC), in Beijing on Friday, amid an acknowledgement from Delhi that completing the stalled disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) would require “reciprocal actions” from both sides.

While it is unclear what “actions” the PLA has demanded from India, the Chinese side has so far rebuffed India’s demand for a return to the status quo ante prior to this summer’s tensions that saw multiple transgressions and the Chinese military establishing positions on India’s side of the LAC.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remains present on India’s side of the LAC on the north bank of Pangong Lake, has continued to obstruct India’s patrols in the Depsang plains, and has not diluted its build-up in several other areas, according to officials.

Five rounds of Corps Commander-level talks have been held so far, while the situation in Depsang was discussed at Major General-level talks on August 8.

On Friday, Mr. Misri met with PLA Major General Ci Guowei, who is director of the CMC’s Office of International Military Cooperation, and “briefed him on India’s stance vis-à-vis the situation on the borders in eastern Ladakh”, according to the Indian Embassy in Beijing. The CMC is responsible for the overall administration of the armed forces, and the Office of International Military Cooperation, one of 15 departments, is responsible for external engagement. The CMC is headed by President Xi Jinping.

This followed Mr. Misri’s meeting on Wednesday with a Communist Party official, Liu Jianchao, who is Deputy Director of the Party’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission. The Embassy similarly said the ambassador had “briefed him on India’s stance vis-à-vis the situation on the borders in eastern Ladakh”.

The outreach to the CMC and the Party’s foreign affairs commission — the Foreign Ministry in Beijing is the usual interlocutor for foreign diplomats — came against the backdrop of the five rounds of Corps Commander-level talks failing to break the stalemate, with the MEA saying on Friday further meetings were likely in the near future to take forward a “complex” process.

MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said both sides “have agreement on broad principles of disengagement and based on it, some progress had been earlier made.”

“I must add that translating these principles on ground is a complex process that requires re-deployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC,” he said. “It is natural that this can be done only through mutually agreed reciprocal actions. While we would like the ongoing disengagement process to be completed at the earliest, it is important to bear in mind that achieving this requires agreed actions by both sides. We therefore expect that the Chinese side to sincerely work with us towards the objective of complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas as agreed by the Special Representatives.”

“This is also necessary and essential,” Mr. Srivastava said, “in the context of overall development of our bilateral relationship.”

Srinagar: The frontline Covid-19 warriors have also transmitted the deadly virus as figures reveal at least 125 doctors and 89 paramedics from Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar and its associated hospitals have tested positive for novel disease so far since March this year.

A senior official at GMC Srinagar told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that till date, 129 doctors and 89 paramedics have been tested positive for Covid-19. “People should understand that not even frontline Covid warriors and doctors are safe from the virus. We request people to take precautions by wearing masks and maintaining hygiene etc,” he said, wishing not to be named.

He said that if more doctors and paramedics test positive, there will be no one to treat patients which ultimately would lead to a disaster. Pertinently, health workers have been continuously blaming the government for exposing them to the coronavirus by not providing them with the adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) kits.

A doctor at SMHS told KNO that the government must take each and every step in order to keep medical staff safe. “If health workers collapse, the health system can’t function and patients will suffer,” he said. As already reported by the KNO, a total of 600 health workers have tested positive for the virus so far across Kashmir.

Two doctors, one each from Gurez, Bandipora and Pampore, Pulwama lost their lives due to Covid-19. Notably, there are over 27000 positive cases of Covid-19 in J&K and over 520 persons have died who were tested positive for the deadly virus—(KNO)