Srinagar: ALL Undergraduate/Professional OFFLINE examinations scheduled in the month of July 2020 are hereby postponed due to the imposition of lockdown in Srinagar district, until further notification, Controller of Examinations, University of Kashmir, Prof Farooq A Mir said.
Fresh dates for the deferred OFFLINE examinations shall be notified separately, later, he said.(GNS)
Srinagar: Paying glowing tributes to the July 13, 1931 martyrs, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said the day shall always be remembered as a turning point in the history of J&K that marked the beginning of a struggle for democracy and social justice in the region.
In a statement issued, Bukhari said the heroes who laid down their lives on July 13 are etched in the memory of our people for their bravery and huge sacrifices given for upholding the human values which forms the core of any civilized society.
“JKAP pays humble tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to pave the way for a struggle against autocracy and oppression. The contribution of the martyrs of July 13 will continue to be a beacon of people’s fight for dignity and social justice,” Bukhari observed.
He said that the historic event in J&K and its significance laid the edifice for restructuring of the whole society on the principles of democracy. “Their contribution will remain for future generations as the day laid down the basis for a new society governed by rule of law.”
Bukhari said the struggle invigorated by the sacrifices of July 13 martyrs was principally not a movement against any particular clan or dynasty but against the autocracy which had become a huge hurdle in building a new society, free from exploitation and repression.
“The great sacrifices of our martyrs should not be allowed to be exploited by vested interests who want to create a wedge between the people on the lines of region, caste and creed,” Bukhari averred.
He said that J&K is passing through a critical stage of history and the only course left for peoples’ advancement remains in a resolve to uphold the banner of democracy and unity in diversity. “On this historic day, JKAP resolves to fight the nefarious designs used under different pretexts to undermine the unity and pluralistic ethos of our State,” the JKAP president pledged.
Srinagar: Another militant has been killed taking toll to 02 in an ongoing operation in Reban area of north Kashmir’s Sopore on Sunday.
Official sources told GNS, that one more militant body has been recovered amid searches taking toll to 02. However, the identity of both the slain militants is yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile the house was razed to ground by using IED earlier.
Pertinently, 127 militants have been killed so far in the Valley this year.
Earlier, according to the reports reaching GNS, a joint team of Police, Army’s 22 RR and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Reban.
As the joint team encircled the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the joint team, triggering off an encounter. (GNS)
Srinagar: Bhartiya Janata Party National General Secretary Ram Madhav Sunday visited slain BJP leader from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district Waseem Bari’s home and offered condolences with the bereaved family.
“We have come here to offer condolences with the bereaved family and provided them some help. All BJP leaders, workers stand with the party workers of Kashmir. Those who did this act (killed Bari and his father and brother) will be tracked soon and neutralized,” Madhav told reporters as per news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS). “We all demand party workers should be given proper security,” he added.
He was accompanied by Union Minister Jitendra Singh and J&K BJP President Ravindar Raina and few other leaders.
Wasim Bari, his father and brother were killed on Wednesday evening outside their home when they were at their shop. Following the incident, 10 of their PSOs were also suspended. (KINS)
Srinagar: With alarming rise in number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in Kashmir valley, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday has urged government to reimpose lockdown to prevent further spread and death in the valley due to the novel virus.
“Lockdown is the only tool to tackle the worrying situation we are in,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.
“Returning to a situation where we will have no control is far worse than a week or two of social measures,” he said.
Dr Nisar said we are witnessing a horrific situation in hospitals which we have never seen before.
“For the last few days people in large numbers are coming to hospitals with severe bilateral pneumonia requiring oxygen and many needing intensive-care setting.
“Our beds are full, oxygen points are occupied and we don’t have space in ICU’s,” he added.
Dr Nisar said patients are coming with bad lungs when it is difficult to salvage them.“Not only the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, but young people are now coming with severe disease and some of them are dying. Even pregnant women are not spared,” he said.
Dr Nisar said the virus has become dangerous and is now behaving aggressively which gives us to understand whether the virus has changed (mutated) which can happen.
“Earlier, most of the Covid cases in the valley were either asymptomatic or with mild disease,” he said.
Dr Nisar said the virus has taken an ugly turn and the situation has deteriorated.
“If we will not act now, we will be in a situation which will be difficult to control,” he said.
Dr Nisar cautioned that there are still a massive number of people in the population who are susceptible to virus and warned if restrictions are not reimposed, we will end up in a worst outbreak.
“It is important for policy makers and public to know that decisions need to be based on what is happening with the disease in our community rather than what other places are doing,” he said. “The decisions need to be driven by data rather than public or economic pressure,” said Dr Nisar.
Kher shared the news of his mother being admitted to Kokilaben Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. His brother, sister-in-law and niece also tested positive. Kher also got tested but the results returned negative
Srinagar: Actor and comedian Shadi Lal Kaul passed away after brief illness on Sunday wee hours. He was 65.
Known for his acting, Kaul was widely respected fellow who is still by the name of his roles he played in Television Serials.
Shadi Lal Kaul, was born in Kani Kadal area of Srinagar city who migrated to Jammu in 1990’s.
“After the most difficult week fighting to survive my loving dad, Mr Shadi Lal Kaul passed away. He breathed his last today morning at 2:45am. Family friends stayed by his side caring for him. We held his hands and walked with him to the end,” wrote Vijay in a moving post for his father.
Born in a middle-class family, Shadi Lal Kaul was a self-taught man.
Together with his friend Ayaash Aarif (actor and director), he founded Kali Dass Theatre in Srinagar. He also joined Abdul Rahim Kuchhay and founded Yasmeen Dramatic Club or his Nukkad Theatre in Kashmir.
He became a house hold name after his scintillating performance in Doordarshan serial ‘Shab Rang’ in which he played the role of Shamsuddin. Hundreds of people know Shadi Lal Koul still by the name of Shamsuddin in Kashmir. He was a talented actor who always gave life to the character he played.
The most of roles, he played in different television serials like Amaar, Adam Zaad, Pazar Yeli Muod, Pagah Sholi Duniya, Anjaam, Ghulam Begam Badshah, Jetti Wanai, Naav Daar Aab, Soada, Treti Buzun , Cherry Truck and Gaash Pholnas Taam and so on were inspired by the years he spend with his neighbours and friends in Kashmir valley.
His work has earned him a huge fan base, appreciation, regard and love. He was widely respected and loved by people in Kashmir. (KNT)
BSF jawan posted along International Border in Jammu arrested by police in drug smuggling case: Officials
Jammu and Kashmir recorded at least nine deaths caused by COVID-19 on Saturday. A 24-year-old woman from Hakura, Anantnag, who recently delivered a baby, was among them.
“Spike in symptomatic COVID-19 positive cases, with increasing number of moderate to severe cases, is an indication of Kashmir moving towards a catastrophic phase of no return, with considerable quantum of severe morbidity,” Dr. Salim Khan, Nodal Officer for COVID-19, and Head of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, said.
Officials said four special wards set up at the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, Srinagar, had become full within days. “Our COVID-19 hospitals’ capacity is getting overwhelmed. The health set-up is going to get compromised due to the limited resources in the government sector to cater to severe cases, with no back-up from the fragile private sector,” Dr. Khan said.
According to the numbers recorded at the Chest Disease (CD) Hospital, the main government-run COVID-19 facility, out of 90 COVID-19 patients admitted, 65 were dependent on high flow oxygen, 10 were in the Intensive Care Unit, and two were on ventilators. At the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, out of 90 admitted patients, the condition of five patients is “severe”.
“The CD Hospital has over 75% cases with moderate and severe conditions, with 5-10% of them in a critical condition. There is an urgent need for strict re-enforcement of lockdown to salvage the situation,” Dr. Khan said.
Srinagar, with around 1,600 COVID-19 cases and 40 deaths, tops the list of districts affected by infections in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by Baramulla with around 1,200 cases. The recovery rate has fallen from 63% a week ago to around 58%, official figures suggest.
J&K has recorded over 9,000 COVID-19 positive cases so far in a population of just 1.3 crore. With 170 deaths reported already, the mortality rate could be higher than many States in the country.
Meanwhile, the district administrations of Rajouri, Kupwara and Baramulla have decided to re-impose lockdown measures again in the wake of the spike in cases.
“The demand for re-imposition of lockdown is coming from various sections of society, including doctors, paramedics, some traders and other sections. The final call will be taken by the competent authority soon. So far, the government has not taken any decision over the issue,” Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, P. K. Pole was quoted by a local news agency.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, on Saturday called for “aggressive testing of co-morbid persons and strict enforcement of restrictions in containment zones to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in J&K”.
With inputs from The Hindu
Sopore: One militant was killed in an ongoing encounter that raged between forces and militants in Gulshan Abad Reban village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said.
Official sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an encounter broke out between militants and government forces after contingents of Army’s 22 RR, SOG Sopore and 179 BN of CRPF, 177 BN, 92 BTN, Baramulla QRT and Police cordoned off the Reban village.
As the forces intensified the searches, the hiding militants in the area opened fire, resulting in a gunfight.
Officials said that one militant has been killed in the gunfight while the operation is going on—(KNO)