Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Over 30 per cent of the COVID-19 positive cases and 25 per cent deaths in entire union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have been reported in three districts of north Kashmir.

Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that north Kashmir alone has reported 795 positive cases and 9 deaths since the outbreak of pandemic.

As per the official figures, out of 3142 cases in J&K, 795 were reported in, Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla district which is 30.27 percent of the total cases in entire union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

In Kashmir valley, there are 2407 cases reported as on date of which 795 were reported in northern belt only which is 30.27 percent of total cases. In Kupwara district 318 cases have been reported of which 169 are travelers besides 82 have recovered and 1 has died.

Pertinently, Kupwara district was among the last district to report a single positive case on April 12 and in just couple of days it witnessed a spike in cases now stands at 318 with single death.

In Bandipora district there are 176 positive cases with 1 death besides that 136 have recovered thereby becoming one of the district with highest recovery in entire J&K while 21 travelers have also tested positive.

In Baramulla 301 cases were reported of which 104 have recovered and 7 positive patients have died with which it became the area with height fatality rate in Jammu and Kashmir. Fifty three travelers have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Baramulla district.

In entire J&K 34 deaths were reported since the outbreak, of which 9 were reported in north Kashmir districts including, 7 at Baramulla, 1 each in Bandipora and Kupwara.

The total fatality percentage of North Kashmir has gone up to 1.13 with fresh deaths from Khanpora Baramulla and Lolab, Kupwara. According to official figures out of 795 positive cases reported in three north Kashmir districts 243 were travelers—(KNO)

DC Bandipora appeals people stay indoors for their own safety

Bandipora: Ten more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in the north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the district to 165.

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that among the 10 new positive patients four persons are relatives of a mutton seller who was tested positive on Tuesday, including his son and three nephews.

They have been shifted to a hospital dedicated for the treatment of only COVID-19 patients, he said.

He said that four patients are from Nibripora while one each from Sonerwani, Qazipora, Khayar, Gurez, Pethkoot and Naidkhai. “Four among them are relatives of a butcher who was tested positive on Tuesday from Nibripora area of Bandipora.”

He further said that total number of cases in the district now stands at 165 of which 30 are active while 135 patients have recovered so far.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Bandipora, Ravinder Kumar made a fervent appeal to the residents of Bandipora to stay indoors and adopt precautionary measures religiously to avoid getting infected by the virus.

The detection of more cases forced the district administration to put the order under abeyance that allowed shopkeepers to reopen their business establishments in a phased manner in the district.

The markets were soon closed again in the town following detection of positive cases in the town on Tuesday. DC asked the people to stay indoors for their own safety and take all precautionary measures communicated by the health experts including use of masks, maintaining personal hygiene and follow social distancing.

He said the war has not yet ended and people need to be alert and cautious for their well-being—(KNO)

Srinagar, june 4 (GNS): Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday welcomed the release of political leaders like Sartaj Madni, Shah Faesal and Peerzada Mansoor, and demanded that all other political detainees including former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti be also released at an earliest.

In a statement issued here, Bukhari extended gratitude to the union home minister for revocation of PSA against Sartaj Madni, Shah Faesal and Peerzada Mansoor and termed it as a desirable move that will help in making the political situation more favourable in coming days. He demanded that National Conference senior leader Ali Mohammad Sagar, PDP’s Naeem Akhter, NC’s Hilal Lone besides hundreds of political activists currently detained in and outside Jammu and Kashmir jails should be freed especially in view of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“It has been our consistent demand that all the political activists and leaders including former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti should be released to ease up the sufferings of people. Their release has assumed more significance in light of the prevailing pandemic that has incremented the sufferings of people,” Bukhari observed.

He said that hundreds of political activists who are presently detained in outside Jammu Kashmir jails like Ambedkar Nagar, Lukhnow, Allahabad, Agra, Rai Bareli, Agartala and Tihar need to be shifted back to their native places immediately so as to ensure their subsequent release.

He said that there are families who are not in a position to meet their loved ones detained and lodged outside J&K jails after August 5, 2019. “The COVID lockdown which resulted into restriction on interstate travel has further added to the woes of the families of the political detainees. The government should immediately shift their lodgement to J&K without any further delay,” he advocated.

Bukhari said the COVID-19 crisis has adversely affected the basic human rights of political detainees who are held without charge or trial but on a mere suspicion. “The families of such detainees are undergoing mental trauma as they are not able to visit their near and dear ones regularly,” he observed.

20 Pregnant women, 2 butchers among new cases

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases with 285 new patients, taking its tally to 3142. Nearly 1000 cases were added up in the tally in last six days alone.

Sources told GNS that among the fresh cases, 63 were from Jammu and 222 from Kashmir Valley which include 20 pregnant women, two health workers besides as many as butchers.

Sources said that among the cases, Anantnag reported 27, Kulgam 49, Srinagar 25, Kupwara 19,
Baramulla 29, Shopian 35, Bandipora 15, Budgam 5, Pulwama 14, Ganderbal 4, Jammu 11, Kathua3
Udhampur 25, Poonch 4, Samba 3, Rajouri 6, Doda 3, Reasi 3 and Kishtwar 5.

Sources told GNS that among thm, 135 cases were reported at CD hospital laboratory and include the pregnant women from Khanoo Langate, Vilgam, Shartgund, Khumriyal, Hatmulla areas of Kupwara, Drug Teng, Yaangoora and Akhal areas of Kangan ganderbal, Hanfia Colony, Hygam and Hatlangoo areas of Sopore town in Baramulla district.

Besides, the cases include are two health workers—one from District Hospital Gandarbal and another from SDH Sopore—and two butchers from Chee and Sirpora Anantnag, sources said.

Dr. G H Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS, told GNS that out of the 1639 samples processed at the viral diagnostic lab today, 31 returned positive for the virus.
Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, told GNS that among them 19 are from Baramulla, five from Bandipora, three from Anantnag, two from Srinagar and one each from Kulgam and Kupwara.

Dr Riyaz Untoo, Principal SKIMS Bemina, told GNS that out of the 622 samples processed at the hospital’s diagnostic laboratory till afternoon today, 19 came out to be positive. They include two from Budgam—30-year-old from Chiara Magam and 61-year-old man from Warihama Magam.

Seventeen cases were reported from Jammu and include females aged 07,15,35, 65 and 70 years old while remaining include one year old baby besides men aged 15,18,18,25,25,25, 27,30,40,42 and 55 years respectively.
57 cases were confirmed at army’s Udhampur hospital.

Confirming it, Lt Col Inam Danish Khan told GNS that out of them 29 were from Udhampur, 14 from Jammu, three each from Reasi, Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch while one each from Samba and Kishtwar. (GNS)

By: The Quint

Watch Video:

“The Kashmiris have not led down India, India has let down Kashmir. And this is the result of virtually stripping away at the autonomy, which has been constitutionally guaranteed to the Kashmiris under the grand principle of India’s federalism.” That’s what former Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak had to say about the Modi government abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution. Here’s a breakdown of the history of the Kashmir conflict & what’s happening there.

Disclaimer: This video is not a work by Kashmir Today Staff.

No copyright infringement intended.

3 year old baby allegedly raped by neighbour

Srinagar: Rape incidents, particularly involving minors are not now uncommon in Kashmir-once known as ‘Valley of Saints’. A fresh incident of alleged rape of 3 year old baby sent shock waves among locals in a Southern area on Thursday. The accused also a minor has been arrested by police while investigation has been set into motion.

The shocking incident has occurred in Wuyan Khrew area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

A police official told news agency KNT that father (name withheld) of a three year old girl approached police post Khrew and lodged a written complaint that his 3 year old baby (name withheld) has been raped by 13 year old Faisal Reyaz Malik, also a resident of Wuyan Pampore.

Accordingly police arrested the accused and filed an FIR vide number 28/2020 under section 376, 3/4 PASCO ACT.

Locals while demanding stern action against the accused lamented over the degradation of moral values in society. “It is not the same Kashmir where people used to follow and propagate highest degrees of moral values and ethics. Now, parents handover cell phones to children not knowing it’s repercussions. Access to porn sites, YouTube on internet emboldens children while their parents never bother to emphasis on moral values,” said a local Javaid Ahmed.

A couple of days ago, a 14 year old girl was found 8 months pregnant after allegedly being raped by a relative in South Kashmir’s Shangus area. The family members said that the accused, a man living in their neighbourhood, is a relative of the victim’s mother, and would visit their home on one pretext or another. The accused, 35 years old, now in police custody hails from Uttersoo area of Anantnag.

From past decade, Kashmir witnessed a surge in rape incidents, most of them go un-noticed. Rape is a stigmatized crime wherein aspersions are cast on the victim instead of the accused. This emboldens menfolk who bank heavily on a female’s silence to preserve her honour. It is also very easy to put the blame on the woman for bringing out the beast in a man.

In 2012, a 25 year old youth Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, even didn’t spare a 13 year old mentally and physically challenged girl and raped her in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. After the investigation, police had confirmed the rape.

A young man said that local Journalists in Valley don’t usually report rape incidents. “Let them show mirror to the society, that will be a great service,” he said.

“Such incidents are bound to occur in a degraded and morally corrupt society where materialism has crept in so deep that parents forget to imbibe moral values and never bother to impart moral principles to their children,” said an elderly man to KNT.

Srinagar: Locals from the Srinagar area that witnessed the death of father-son duo due to Covid-19 infection Thursday alleged that even after a month, the samples of suspects who had come into the contact of the deceased have not been taken while it took Health Department only a day to collect the samples of a Doctor’s family who was tested positive yesterday in Alamgari Bazaar of Srinagar city.

Pertinently, father-son duo form Kralpora Hawal died last month. The death of the young man was attributed directly to Coronavirus while the father who was suffering from cancer was found positive for this infection after his death.

The twin deaths had created panic in the area while people alleged that concerned department didn’t take the matter seriously.

“We protested number of times but still samples of majority of people have not been taken. All the locals were surprised when the samples of family members, contacts and relatives of an infected Doctor in Alamgari Bazar were collected in no time. We think ‘influence’ and ‘approach’ work even in this Pandemic,” the locals told news agency KNT.

Pertinently, a Dentist was tested positive in Alamgari Bazar after he came into the contact with his Assistant. Both the Doctor and the Assistant have been isolated and lodged in a Guest House.

The locals from Kralpora Hawal once again appealed authorities to collect their samples so that they could live without any trauma. (KNT)

PTI

Four persons were arrested and a huge quantity of explosive substance was seized from their possession in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, police said.

Based on a credible input, police raided the residential house of Adil Maqbool Wani at Nanil in Anantnag and recovered 24 kgs of illegal explosive material, a police spokesman said.

He said during the preliminary investigation, it was learnt that three other persons were also involved in it.

They were identified as Mohammad Shahid Padder, a resident of Hutmarah, Faizan Ahmad, a resident of Nanil and Adnan Ahmad, a resident of Chandpora Bijbehara, the spokesman added.

All the four accused persons were arrested and shifted to a police station in Mattan, he said.

The spokesman said a case has been registered and further investigation is on.

PTI SSB MIJ AQS AQS

Jammu: BJP’s national general secretary Ram Madhav, while speaking to Arun Joshi, has indicated firmly that a new legislature will soon be in place in J&K in months and assertively declared that there would be “no compromise on Indian sovereignty, integrity,” while negotiating a solution to the current Chinese aggression in Ladakh. Excerpts from the interview:

Your reading of situation post August 5, 2019?

We are happy that the people of Jammu & Kashmir have responded very maturely to the change in the constitutional status of their state. They had lived under the shadow of Article 370 for almost seven decades. They have seen certain oligarchs prospering and ruling over them. Not much benefit happened to the lives of the ordinary people. That’s why they seem to have decided to experience life without Article 370 with an open mind. That puts the onus on the UT administration to deliver development at the doorsteps of the citizens. The administration is working hard in that direction.

We have managed the general law and order situation well. The administration is managing the Covid fallout also well. What is important now is the resumption of the normal political activity. Leaders should come out and start representing people’s problems and concerns. Although all the leaders from all parties, except a handful, are out in open, they remain muted. Only the BJP leaders are seen among the people.

What next?

The new status of the J&K under our Constitution is more or less a settled fact. With new domicile laws also in place, the process initiated on August 5, 2019, has reached its logical culmination. Majority of the people are either happy or reconciled to the life without Article 370. May be some regional politicians still dream of the return of pre-53, but they also should understand the ground reality and resume political work. A large section of the Valley population, too, is willing to experience the new status.

Is Delhi experimenting with the Apni Party of Altaf Bukhari?

New political status will naturally give birth to new political arrangements and the rise of new parties. It happened before, when Mufti started the PDP or Sajjad started or reactivated PC. Those were not experiments. Those were evolutions in the political process of J&K. As far as we are concerned, the BJP would like to strengthen its position further even in the Valley and become an anchor for the ordinary Indian citizens of the Valley, who have all along been left at the mercy of the self-centred regional oligarchs.

Interim govt or advisory council?

It is wrong to assume that political process will be stalled by bureaucrats. It is the politicians who have to resume normal political activity in the state. When people face problems from snowfall or Covid-like healthcare challenges, where are the politicians to support them? Who is stopping them? Having said it, our party is keen that the delimitation process is quickly completed, and the UT is prepared for Assembly elections soon. All other discussions are hypothetical.

Delimitation Commission?

Any concerns regarding the delimitation of the constituencies can be discussed within the commission and addressed.

Ladakh situation?

Indo-Tibetan border along Ladakh and Sikkim has come into news because of the aggressive manoeuvres by the Chinese army. Since the Doklam standoff in 2017, India has conveyed to all concerned its new border policy of ‘proactive diplomacy together with strong ground posturing’. We are actively engaged with China both diplomatically and militarily to resolve the standoff. However, India shall not compromise on its sovereignty and integrity.

Resolution of Ladakh situation?

India’s efforts have always been through negotiations and diplomacy. However, peace for any price can’t be our approach. We are making sincere efforts to resolve the standoff by engaging with the Chinese side at military and diplomatic level, without compromising on our ground posturing.

Haven’t separation of Ladakh from J&K hurt the strategic thinking because the strategies are not confined to one particular region?

The creation of a separate UT for Ladakh has been a longstanding demand of the people of the region. The BJP had committed itself to granting it long ago. We fulfilled our promise. Strategy is not a static theory. It is dynamic and changes with the change in situations. Reorganisation of the J&K into two UTs doesn’t affect our strategy. It may call for some realignment, which the experts will undertake.

Restoration of statehood to J&K?

Restoring full statehood to J&K UT is not only a demand that the J&K unit of the BJP has been making; it is a commitment given by the Union Home Minister. At an appropriate time, the UT will again get its full statehood. Pending that, the UT will have an elected legislature soon in the months to come.

With inputs from The Tribune

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)