Category: Union Territory

12 districts classified as orange zones, 4 as green zones

Srinagar: Government of India on Friday declared four districts in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as Red Zones in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.

According to an order issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, copy of which lies with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), four districts of JK have been classified as Red Zones.

As per the order four districts which have been declared as Red Zones include Srinagar, Bandipora, Anantnag and Shopian. These districts have been classified as hotspots/red zones based on the cumulative cases reported and doubling rate.

As per the order, 12 districts have been classified as orange zones which include Baramulla, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Jammu, Udhampur, Kulgam, Budgam, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Ramban and Reasi while four districts have been classified as Green Zones which include Pulwama, Kishtwar, Doda and Poonch—(KNO)

Handwara: Government Forces have launched a massive search operation in Rajwar, Bhavan Watsar forest area of North Kashmir’s Handwara town.

Sources told KNT that the search operation was started after inputs about the movement of militants in the forest area. Soldiers from 21 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group have cordoned off a massive chunk of the forest.

An official confirmed that a search operation has been launched in Rajwar forest area. He said the forest is very dense but the operation is underway to track down militants.

In past as well, the Rajwar forest area witnessed many encounters between militants and government forces.

In the first week of April, five militants and five soldiers were killed in Keran gunfight in the same district. (KNT)

Centre, clarifies, says, “All service matters of UT employees of J&K and Ladakh will be heard and disposed off in CAT bench in J&K itself”

Srinagar: The central government Friday clarified that neither the petitioner nor the lawyer need to go to Chandigarh for filling petitioner appearing before the tribunal related to service matters of employees.

The statement available with news agency KINS reads, “In the wake of the news reports appeared in a section of media that “GoI shifts all service matters of employees of J&K and Ladakh UTs to Chandigarh CAT, it is clarified that neither the petitioner nor the lawyer need to go to Chandigarh for filling petitioner appearing before the tribunal related to service matters of employees.

The statement further said “the term Chandigarh circuit is being misinterpreted to mean that the petitioner/lawyer would have to go to Chandigarh, which is not so. All service matters of Central Government and UT employees of J&K and Ladakh will be heard and disposed off in CAT bench in J&K itself”.

“It is reiterated that earlier also, the CAT bench used to hold its sittings in Jammu & Kashmir to dispose off service matters related to Central Government employees of J&K. The only difference now is that it will also be disposing off matters related to UT employees and therefore will have more frequent sittings in UT of J&K”.

“The registration of cases can also be done locally either online or in the secretariat office of CAT to be set up locally after the UT Government provides appropriate facility. Disposal of cases through CAT in UT of J&K will ensure fare and objective delivery of justice” it reads.(KINS)

Srinagar: A young girl has died at SMHS Hospital Srinagar. Her samples have been taken to ascertain whether she was a Covid-19 patient or not. The girl is 21 year old and was admitted at SMHS Hospital after she developed acute chest infection.

Sources told KNT that a girl (name withheld) wife of Nadeem Ahmed Dar of Kokarnag developed acute chest infection and she was brought to SMHS Hospital Srinagar.

Hospital sources said that girl died during wee hours and her body was shifted to mortuary at Government Medical College Srinagar.

Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital, Dr Nazir Chowdary told KNT that the samples of the deceased girl have been taken. “We are waiting for the report,” he said while confirming the death of the young girl. He however, said that he doesn’t know the cause of the death.

Nodal Officer for Coronavirus, Dr Saleem said that only the doctor who treated her can say the reason of her death. He said that it is a norm to collect swabs for Covid-19 whosoever dies in the hospital.

Another doctor who wished not to be named said that she had developed complications after delivery and thus was brought in the hospital. (KNT)

The submissions were made in response to a plea filed by Foundation for Media Professionals seeking restoration of 4G internet services in the Union Territory in view of prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

PTI

Terror modules operating within Jammu and Kashmir and their handlers from across the border incite people by transmission of fake news, the UT administration has told the Supreme Court while opposing restoration of 4G services in the Union Territory.

It said there were well-founded apprehensions of misuse of internet for propagation of terror activities and incitement through the circulation of inflammatory material — particularly fake videos and photos as also co-ordination of activities that are inimical to security and public order.

“The terror modules operating within the UTs and handlers from across the border aid and incite people by transmission of fake news and targeted messages through use of internet to propagate terrorism, co-ordinate and plan terror attacks,” an affidavit filed by the UT’s administration said.

The submissions were made in response to a plea filed by Foundation for Media Professionals seeking restoration of 4G internet services in the Union Territory in view of prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pakistan-based terrorism handlers like The Resistance Front (TRF) and Tehreeki-Milat-i-Islami (TMI), instigating youth to join terrorism, are using messaging applications to communicate as also to raise the morale of terrorists; however 2G mobile data services considerably restrict the use of such Applications,” the affidavit said.

Restoration of 4G mobile data services will substantially increase the use of social media and other online platforms in uploading/downloading of videos and other propaganda material and their faster circulation, deteriorating the law and order situation in Kashmir Valley, it said.

The internet is being used to support fallacious proxy wars by raising money, recruiting and spreading propaganda/ideologies and prevalence of the internet provides an easy inroad to young impressionable minds, J&K said.

It said that till April 25, 108 terrorism-related incidents took place with 99 Incidents reported from the Kashmir Province while 9 others from Jammu province. .

“30 civilians lost their lives, while 114 civilians were injured in terrorist-related incidents“.

The affidavit said that even the top court has not been spared of the ill effects of habitual fake news propaganda which took place very recently involving a fake order purporting to be a Record of Proceeding of this court. It had falsely reflected that administration of J&K has been ordered to take a quick review within 24 hours to restore full internet communication in the region.

It said that an FIR under sections 465 (forgery), 466 (forgery of court record) and 471 (using forged document as genuine) of the IPC was filed in this regard at the Cyber Police Station, Kashmir Zone.

It said that umpteen rumours relating to number of positive COVID-19 cases/deaths, creating chaos and panic; health-related fake news of prominent people in Jammu & Kashmir like that of Chairman, All Party Hurriyat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, shutdown call by JKLF on the eve of death anniversary of Mohd. Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru, to observe Republic Day as black day have been doing the rounds.

The J&K administration told the apex court that a very reasonable quantum of restrictions have been imposed by reducing the speed of internet to protect the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.

The dispensation told the top court that even when internet services were restored only with white-listed URLs, it was found that miscreants were using different VPNs but because of low speed mobile data services, were not able to upload files of heavy data containing incriminating and other objectionable videos.

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday gave further extension of two months to chairperson of Board of School Education (BOSE), Prof. Veena Pandita.

As already reported by news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the government has constituted a high-level panel for appointment of BOSE head.

The government had last month given one month extension to Prof. Veena Pandita due to delay in appointing new head of the prestigious body –(KNO)

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a man from Kashmir Valley in connection with the case pertaining to the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Davinder Singh, who was suspended after his arrest by police for driving militants out of the Kashmir Valley earlier this year.

The man, Tariq Ahmed Mir, has been held for providing logistic support to militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mir, a resident of Meldoora Shopian was arrested from Chinad Delina Baramulla from his rented accommodation. Official sources told GNS that he is a Sarpanch of Meldoora village and later joined BJP.

Meanwhile, Mir was sent to six days of NIA custody by a court, sources said. While sources confirmed that Mir had joined BJP, no functionary from the saffron party could be contacted for the comment.

Earlier this year, Davinder Singh was arrested by police along with two militants and an overground worker while he was allegedly driving them out of the Kashmir Valley to outside J&K. He was suspended following his arrest and the case was later taken over by the NIA. (GNS)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday issued a formal order announcing the winding up of Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Commission that was constituted under the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act 2011.

The General Administration department of Jammu and Kashmir issued a formal order for winding up of Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Commission on Thursday evening.

News Agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in it’s media bulletin on April 01 had reported that the Government of India has repealed the laws under which State Vigilance Commission and State Commission for Backward Classes Act were established.

In the fresh order issued by General Administration Department, it has been mentioned that the Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Commission is winded up pursuant to the repeal of Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act, 2011 in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of state laws) order, 2020.

The General Administration Department of JK Government further ordered that the staff of JKs Vigilance Commission drawn from various departments shall report to their concerned Administrative department.

The staff drawn from various corporations, PSUs, organizations and posted in Vigilance Commission have also been asked to report to the department and organisation concerned.

Furthermore, a committee comprising of Financial Advisor / CAO and under-secretary posted in commission shall handover the record, electronic equipment, books and other miscellaneous items to Director Anti-Corruption Bureau of Jammu and Kashmir for safe custody afterwards.

It has also been ordered that building of commission shall be handed over to Director Estates along with the furniture items and Genset facility.

The above mentioned committed shall also handover the vehicles of commission to Director JK Motor Garages—(KNO)

Standard protocols for movement of students/migrant labour to be developed by States/UTs

Jammu: Government of India has asked all the States and Union Territories to delineate the districts as per the laid down criteria and implement the restrictions accordingly in the areas for effective containment of the virus.

This was stated by the Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gaubawho was holding a video conference interaction with the Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs.

Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Health Secretary, Preeti Sudan and other senior officers of concerned Ministries attended the meeting.

Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam, Financial Commissioner, Health, Atal Dulloo and MD NHM, Bhupinder Singh participated in the interaction with the Cabinet Secretary.

While having detailed deliberations on preparations to be made for post May 3 scenario in the country, the Cabinet Secretary asked the States/UTs to follow the categorization of the Districts into Red, Orange and Green Zones based on total active cases, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance feedback. States/UTs could add Red/Orange category districts based on their assessment, the Cabinet Secretary said.

Cabinet Secretary asked for implementing the restrictions in these identified areas as per their status and follow the guidelines strictly being issued by Government of India time to time. While moving forward, we have to treat the Districts/Areas differently as per the local situation and need to do micro planning while dealing with the containment zones.

Cabinet Secretary reiterated that there should be no laxity while implementing the restrictions especially in the containment zones. The Districts which have luckily not reported any positive case so far need to remain extra alert and more cautious, because our relaxed approach can put us in difficult situation. He said that as there are active cases in both Red and Orange Zones, restrictions are to be strict and surveillance along with monitoring should be ensured effectively.

Regarding movement of students and migrant labour stranded in different states, the Cabinet Secretary asked the States/UTs to develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such people. He asked the Chief Secretaries to coordinate with their counterparts in other States so that action plan is worked out for the movement of people. Besides, he asked all to nominate Nodal Officers for the purpose.

While discussing the movement of people with the Chief Secretaries, it was decided that proper health screening of students/migrant labour will be done at the both ends before sending and at the time of reaching their native States. It was asked to plan the whole exercise in a systematic manner so as to avoid any threat of transmission of virus from one place to another.

J&K Crosses 600-Mark As 33 Test Positive

Srinagar: Thirty Three persons on Thursday tested positive for novel coronavirus in Kashmir Valley, pushing the overall tally of COVID-19 patients past 600-mark.

Official sources told Kashmir Today that people who tested positive include 11 from Baramulla, one each from Budgam, Srinagar and Shopian districts, 12 from Anantnag district, 04 from Kulgam.

As per the official data, there are now 614 cases in Jammu and Kashmir and 58 of them are in Jammu division and remaining in Kashmir.