Category: Union Territory

ANI

Encounter has started at Waghama area of Anantnag.

Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces are on the job.

Further details shall follow: Kashmir Zone Police

PTI

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress on Monday staged a protest here against the rise in petrol and diesel prices and demanded that the government roll back the hikes immediately to relieve the people of the “extra burden”.

Led by former minister and Pradesh Congress Committee vice president Raman Bhalla, scores of party activists and leaders assembled outside the party headquarters at Shaheedi Chowk and later took out a march.

The protesters headed to the office of the Jammu Deputy Commissioner at Wazarat Road and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India, party spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said.

The protest was organised as part of a nationwide call given by the Congress to express the anger of the people against the rising prices of essential commodities.

“Similar protests were also organised at district headquarters across Jammu region, he said.

In a symbolic protest, the party workers rode two horse carts and raised slogans against the central government.

Prominent among others who participated in the rally included former minister and district president Jammu urban Yogesh Sawhney, vice president Kanta Bhan, General secretary Manmohan Singh, Congress Corporators of Jammu and leaders of Mahila Congress, youth Congress , NSUI and Seva Dal activists, Sharma said.

Sharma accused the central government of putting extra burden on the people by raising fuel prices amid the coronavirus crisis.

“The unprecedented hike is unjustified at a time when the prices of crude oil are at their lowest,” he said.

PTI

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation on Monday imposed a total penalty of over Rs 1.7 lakh on its two conductors and suspended the services of a driver for negligence of duty, an official statement said.

Managing Director, JKRTC, Angrez Singh Rana issued these orders on the recommendations and reports submitted by general managers (operation) of Jammu and Kashmir, it said.

In view of magnanimity of offence, a total of Rs 1,70,553 penalty has been imposed on two conductors of the corporation, including the calculated penalty of an amount of Rs 1,61,035 imposed on Mohammad Salim and Rs 9,518 imposed on Tara Chand, the statement said.

The penalty shall be recoverable from the salaries of the two conductors, it said.

They will also furnish an undertaking to the effect that they will not repeat similar practice in future, the statement said.

Besides, the JKRTC also suspended the consolidated services of driver Ghulam Moh Ud Din, it said.

PTI

Jammu: Stepping up COVID-19 testing in the Union territory, the microbiology department of Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu achieved yet another milestone by carrying out more than 2,100 tests in a day through introduction of partial automation, an official spokesman said on Monday.

The 2,143 samples are more than the daily average of 1,300 samples per day during the past two months, thus, accounting for an increase of about 39.33 per cent, the spokesman said.

He said the testing of a substantial figure of 70,840 samples till date in the VRDL GMC Jammu has become possible only due to the strenuous efforts of clinical microbiologists, research scientists, laboratory technicians, para-medical staff, and connected staff, who have been working up to 18 hours a day since the outbreak of the pandemic in March.

Besides, more than 1.2 lakh tests, including screening and confirmatory runs, have also been carried out by the same dedicated, limited task force, as the test is technically very demanding and needs expertise and all these endeavours by the team have been carried out with a missionary zeal, the spokesman said.

He said the microbiology department is in the process of training and building human resources for new medical colleges to decentralise the enormous workload on account of the COVID-19 testing, besides routine testing of dengue, swine flu, hepatitis and other such contagious and other emerging novel agents.

“VRDL GMC Jammu is next only to SKIMS, Soura in testing, in the Union Territory. SKIMS is our referral VRDL lab with enormous state of the art infrastructure and resources, Head of Microbiology Department, GMC, Jammu, Shashi S Sharma, said.

He said VRDL GMC Jammu has been successful in overcoming many of the initial infrastructure deficiencies, startup hiccups and related miscellaneous hardships in a very professional manner with collective approach of all stakeholders.

With the ongoing upgradation of infrastructure and creation of an academic vibe and work culture, the department of microbiology is now fully geared to meet the challenge posed by COVID 19 pandemic, Sharma said.

Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir High Court on Monday permitted the J&K Bank to open online registration of candidature by the prospective candidates for the posts of probationary officers and banking associates.

A single bench headed by Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey said that court is of the view that it would be appropriate to open the link and proceed with selection process.

“However, the final selection list of candidates shall not be drawn , issued or published by the Bank / respondents unless orders in this regard are sought from the Court if the matter is not finally decided till then and remains sub judice before the Court,” the Court ordered.

The Court, however, reserved the order on whether it has jurisdiction to entertain the writ petition.

“ So far as the second issue raised by the learned Advocate General on the previous date of hearing  that since CAT Act is applicable to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Bank having been declared as a public authority, this court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain this writ petition, this court heard the arguments in this regard in some detail.  The orders in that regard are reserved,” the Court said.

However, the Court observed that prima facie the argument raised on behalf of the Advocate General does not seem to be supported by Section 14 of the CAT Act—(KNO)

All samples taken from area negative; Rumour mongers to be booked as per law, say officials

Srinagar: The officials on Monday said that no Baker has tested positive in Zafran Colony Pantha Chowk Srinagar and termed the rumours as baseless stating that all the samples collected from the area have tested negative.

Earlier, on Friday, one person from Bilal Lane of Zafran Colony had tested positive for the Covid-19 after which rumours gripped entire area that a Baker was also tested positive for the virus. “The report of Baker that came today has come as negative. There have rumours everywhere that a Baker is positive. We have decided to identity the rumour mongers and they will be booked under law,” an official in the district administration told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

Panic had gripped Achanambal, Zafran Colony area after strong rumours about Baker testing positive. Family members of the Baker have also urged police and the administration to take strong action against the people involved in spreading rumours in the area which result in panic—(KNO)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Monday reported 144 new covid-19 infections and includes 53 travelers, officials said. The cases take the overall tally of the covid-19 patients in J&K to 7237.

Giving district-wise break up, sources said that 29 were reported from Pulwama followed by Shopian (18), Srinagar (17),Anantnag (15), Kathua (13), Baramulla (10), Samba (8), Rajouri (7), Reasi (5), Budgam (4), three each in Jammu, Udhampur, Doda, two each in Kupwara, Bandipora and Poonch besides one each from Kulgam, Ganderbal and Ramban.

Among the cases, 45 are from Jammu Division and 99 from Kashmir valley.
Moreover, 269 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, officials said. They include 55 from Jammu Division and 214 from the Valley.

Dr. G H Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS Soura told GNS that out of the total samples were processed at the viral diagnostic laboratory and 67 returned positive for the virus.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, told GNS that among the positive cases, 29 are from Pulwama, 16 from Shopian, 13 from Anantnag, three from CRPF Battalions, two from Srinagar and one each from Baramulla, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Kulgam.

Dr Riyaz Untoo, Principal SKIMS Bemina, told GNS that out of 572 samples processed at the hospital’s lab, eight tested positive for COVID-19, all from Srinagar. They include male (30) from Bunpora Batmaloo, male (82) from Batamalo, male (37) from Chattabal, male (45) from Khankha Moulla, male (50) from Wantpora, male (50) from Baba Demb, Fmeale (53) from Natipora and male (38) from Pattan. 22 cases were confirmed at CD hospital laboratory. (GNS)

Dr Naveed Nazir Shah Head of Department, Chest Disease Hospital, Sonwar, Srinagar, Kashmir resumes office after turning negative for COVID-19.

The order asking oil marketing companies to stock up LPG for two months had sparked speculations on social media about the possible reason for it.

PTI

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday said an order regarding increasing the stock of LPG in the valley was issued in view of frequent closures of highway due to rainfall during this time of the year, dispelling speculations over it.

“We all know that the NH-44, between Ramban-Jawahar Tunnel stretch, behaves in an unpredictable manner during the rains. Currently, we maintain stock of nearly a month in Kashmir,” an official spokesman said.

“We have requested the LPG companies to explore the feasibility of maintaining the stock for nearly two months to prevent any panic situations that may arise in the event of highway closure for longer duration or on multiple occasions during the next three months,” he said.

The spokesman said some people are spreading rumours by referring to the letter for “ensuring adequate stocking of LPG in Kashmir”, written by the director of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department in Kashmir to nodal coordinators for oil companies.

“The same (letter) has been written…to prevent any shortfall of essential commodities (particularly LPG) during the ensuing monsoon season,” he added.

The order issued by the department of Food and Civil Supplies in Kashmir asking oil marketing companies to stock up LPG cylinders for two months in the valley had sparked speculations on social media about the possible reason for it.

Describing the order as a matter most urgent , the director asked the oil marketing companies to make adequate stocks of LPG which can last up to two months both at bottling plants as well as godowns.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah also cited another communique by the Ganderbal district police for making provisions for lodging of central forces and said such orders create panic in Kashmir and sought an explanation from the government.

“Government orders are creating panic in Kashmir & unfortunately after all the lies & false assurances last year even if/when the government explains these orders hardly any of us will take the assurances at face value. That said they still need to explain these orders,” Omar tweeted, referring to the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 provisions in August last year.

In his communique, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Ganderbal has requested the district administration to make available 16 educational institutes, including ITI buildings, middle and higher secondary schools, in the central Kashmir district.

The SSP said the buildings were needed to accommodate central armed paramilitary forces (CAPFs).

“In view of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2020, and due to the dearth of accommodation facilities in district Ganderbal for incoming CAPF companies, it is requested that these accommodation centres/ education institutes may kindly be made available for accommodation of the CAPF companies during the period of the yatra, the SSP said.

National Conference leader Tanvir Sadiq also demanded an explanation from the government, saying the people of Kashmir cannot afford to live another year in “fear and uneasiness”.

“It’s summer so not many landslides. Stock for two months. Matter most urgent. These three points need clarity at the highest level. People of Kashmir can’t afford to live in yet another year of fear and uneasiness, he posted on Twitter.

With inputs from ThePrint

Srinagar: With the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Militant Masood in an encounter in South Kashmir, the Doda district has become militancy free, police said on Monday.

In a joint operation in the Khulchohar area of Anantnag district by the police and the Army on Monday, a total of three militant was killed. These included two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including one district commander, and one Hizbul Mujahideen commander Masood.

“Doda district in Jammu Zone becomes totally militancy free once again as Masood was a last surviving militant of the Doda District,” Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh said.

Arms and ammunition, including an AK 47 rifle and two pistols were recovered from the slain militants. (KNS)