Category: Union Territory

“Kill fake news, empower public with factual information”

Srinagar: Director Department of Information & Public Relations Dr. Sehrish Asgar on Saturday advised social media users to play thier role in circulation of authentic news which would cement efforts of administration to battle COVID-19 in J&K.

She appealed people to come out of their homes only in case of exigency.

Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Dr. Sehrish said some elements using social media to spread unverified information among masses are not only creating hurdles in the efforts of administration to deal with COVID-19 but are harming the interests of community as well.

“ All such users are under surveillance and anyone found spreading fake news would be dealt by security apparatus according to law”, Director DIPR added.
Saying that rumour mongers are making things complicated for the Government to spread messages related to COVID-19, Dr Sehrish asked the people to play their role in circulating guidelines issued by Government from time to time to contain spread of the disease.

“I advise such elements don’t spread misinformation. Supreme Court (SC) has clearly issued guidelines how to deal with rumour mongers, ”she said.

She appealed people to stay indoors and follow medical protocol properly if there is an unavoidable need to come outside.

“I appeal people to stay inside their homes and come out only in case of exigencies. Also to follow medical advisories, wash hands after every two hours and cover face and mouth with masks”, Dr Sehrish said.

When asked lockdown violation cases are repeatedly reported from some areas across Kashmir, she said administration in on job to deal with such elements.

” I appeal people to voluntarily desist from coming out of their homes unnecessarily. They are putting themselves to danger besides their families and society”, She said.

She told KNS that people shouldn’t go panic. “Get updated from DIPR’s official website and twitter handler as we are uploading verified updates for our people”, She added.
Dr. Sehrish also said Department of DIPR recently launched a website to counter fake news and misinformation and to generate awareness among the people in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our initiative is to help people to counter fake news. DIPRJK in its endeavour to help you with true information launched the website diprjkfactcheck.in. Check what’s fact & what’s fiction. Our effort to kill fake news and empower the public with information”, she said. (KNS)

SRINAGAR: Amid COVID-19 scare, students in Kashmir are unable to attend online classes due to low internet speed.

There is complete lockdown to contain coronavirus. At the same time educational institutions have been putting study material and started online classes for the students.
However, students are unable to attend online classes due to low internet speed.

Mehraj Ahmad, a resident of Bemina, whose son has to appear in class 10th this year. However, he is worried as his son has lost interest in studies.
“School authorities have put study material and lectures of teachers on their websites but my son is not able to access them due to low internet speed,” he told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), with a distraught face.
He said during 2019 unrest after abrogation of Article 370, his son was taking tuition’s at a community school which was started by a local youth.
“In this lockdown children can neither take online classes, nor go to Jammu or Delhi for tuitions neither community schools have been set up,” he told KINS.

A Class 5 student in Kashmir has also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging restoration of high-speed Internet. “I feel sad, frustrated, and angry, stressed because I could not attend the online classes organized by my school due to 2G connection. Online classes do not work on 2G,” Hiba Arjimand Wani, a Class 5 student wrote.

Suhail Ahmad, a class 8th student of Baramulla is confined inside four walls for last three weeks.

The ongoing situation has started weakening his memory who feels frustrated of staying inside four walls. “Due to fear of coronavirus we don’t allow him to step out of house. He is not able to attend online classes due to low internet speed,” his father said.
Secretary, School Education Department Asgar Samoon has said the students cannot download the text books due to the slow internet speed.
“Kids have no ipads/no access to desktops; cant download text books as internet is slow; Rs 2030.87 lac released for 1st-8th classes; DSEJ Rs 1105.44 lac & DSEK Rs. 925.43 lac; Kashmir division has distributed the books; remaining Jammu districts-DSEJ, CEOS, ZEOS to expedite in 2 weeks,” Samoon tweeted.
However, J&K’s Home Department has said in an order, “The internet speed restrictions have while enabling access to essential services and sites, not posed any hindrance to COVID-19 control measures or to access online educational content but checked the unfettered misuse of social media for incitement and propagating/ coordinating terror activities.”(KINS)

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases can infect others: DAK

Srinagar Apr 11: With more than 70 percent COVID-19 cases in Kashmir valley showing no symptoms, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday said asymptomatic cases of the novel (new) coronavirus can infect other people and spread the disease.
“Asymptomatic cases are silent spreaders of the disease,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.
“Feeling good or having absence of symptoms doesn’t mean you can’t infect someone else,” he said.
Dr Nisar said while people displaying symptoms spread the virus through droplets when they cough or sneeze, someone who is not showing the symptoms, but still has the virus can transmit the disease in the same way.
“The first confirmation that the novel coronavirus could be transmitted by asymptomatic people came in February, when a case study described a 20 year old woman from Wuhan China who passed the virus to five family members but never got physically sick herself ,” he said.
“Emerging body of data suggests that asymptomatic carriers are more likely contributing to the rapid spread of the disease making it challenging for experts to assess the true extend of the pandemic,” he added.
While early data showed that asymptomatic transmission was a rarity, Dr Nisar said a recent study published in the British Medical Journal suggested that 78 percent people with COVID-19 had no symptoms. The new paper is based on the data that Chinese authorities began publishing daily from April 01 on the number of new cases in the country that are asymptomatic.
“More than 70 percent confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in Kashmir valley are asymptomatic. That is a huge number. These are the contacts. We just don’t know how many more may be out there,” he said.
“The high percentage of asymptomatic individuals should motivate us for mass screening of the population.
Understanding exactly how coronavirus is spreading is important in containing the illness and keeping people healthy,” said Dr Nisar.

Srinagar: The Covid-19 positive cases continues to show a spurt in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) as 17 new cases tested positive for the pandemic taking the tally to 224.

As per wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Government Spokesman Rohit Kansal tweeted: “17 new cases reported in J&K. 5 from Jammu division and 12 from Kashmir. Total positive cases now 224.

Detailed bulletin follows.” In Srinagar, 14 areas have been declared as red zones where all entry/exit points have been sealed—(KNO)

Srinagar: Srinagar Administration which is working tirelessly to fight COVID 19 by all means sets example for others to deal with the Pandemic by diversifying efforts.

One of the major initiatives is being carried out by the administration by engaging various locals for manufacturing of face masks by local entrepreneurs to help them earn livelihood in such crucial circumstances.

ACD Srinagar Bilal Mukhtar told KNT that the Government’s initiative of universalization of masks is carried out in the District which involves involvement of KVIB/KVIC, WBC Srinagar, SHGs from various areas of District Srinagar including, Harwan, Theed, Boat Colony Habbak, Khonmoh etc .

Material was procured and distributed to these SHGs which will serve the twin purpose viz universalization of nasks at the doorsteps and providing livelihood to the unemployed sector under such hard times and getting appreciation from every corner of the society. He further informed that every effort is being made by the administration in its outreach programs and advised the people to stay indoor during the Lockdown period. (KNT)

The annual shifting of capital from Jammu to Srinagar won’t happen this year due to the pandemic

PTI

First time in 144 years, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to halt the annual shifting of capital, called ‘Darbar Move’, from Jammu to Srinagar due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, as 23 fresh positive cases pushed the total in the Union Territory to 207.

“In view of the extraordinary circumstances due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Civil Secretariat at Jammu shall continue to remain functional and the ‘Darbar Move’ employees shall work on ‘as is where is’ basis. It will allow Kashmir-based staff to work from Srinagar and Jammu-based staff shall work from Jammu,” said an order issued by the General Administration Department in Jammu.

Introduced by Dogra monarch Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872, the Darbar Move would see shifting of the Civil Secretariat in summers from Jammu to Srinagar and in winters from Srinagar to Jammu. In January 1987, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had asked the then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to stop the practice. However, the Darbar Move was continued to allow it to act as a bridge between two diverse cultures of the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region.

However, the COVID-19 has halted this practice and the shifting of the capital may not take place in May this year. “Employees of the Kashmir Division, who are required to move to Srinagar on account of Darbar Move on April 25-26 will be provided transport facility,” said the order. However, no Jammu-based employees will travel to Kashmir this summer.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation has been directed to carry out extensive sanitation and fumigation drives in the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, where the offices will open after six month break on May 4.

23 test positive

The administration’s decision to halt the Darbar Move comes as COVID-19 cases showed an upward trend. J&K on Friday crossed the 200 mark, with 23 more samples testing positive.

“The total positive cases in J&K is 207, as 23 more cases were reported. Jammu has 39 and Kashmir 168 such cases,” said government spokesperson Rohit Kansal.

Among the fresh cases are seven non-local members of the Tabligi Jamaat, who were in touch with a Chattabal man who has already tested positive for COVID-19.

Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, said detection of eight more positive cases in Srinagar should not panic locals. “This is a classic tracing success story,” he said.

At this moment in time in these very difficult time, you and I, we should only be focusing on one thing and that is returning to Allah, begging Allah for our shortcomings, begging Allah for his mercy, begging Allah to forgive us for our sins and purify us, so that we can become just like the day our mothers gave birth to us; free and pure from sin.

Lecturer: Shaykh Ahmad Ali

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Security forces launch a cordon and search operation in the Damhal Hanjipora area

PTI

An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, April 11, 2020, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Damhal Hanjipora area of the south Kashmir district during the night after receiving specific information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

He said as the forces were conducting the searches in the area, militants fired upon them. The security forces retaliated, ensuing an encounter.

The gunfight is going on and further details are awaited, the official said.

Srinagar: A senor bureaucrat in J&K government on Friday tweeted that kids cannot download textbooks as speed of internet is slow

As per wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), taking to twitter, Asgar Hassan Samoon, one of the senior most bureaucrats in J&K government, wrote that kids cannot download textbooks as speed of internet is slow.

“ Kids have no i-pads/ no acess to desktops. Can’t download textbooks as internet is slow; Rs 2030.87 lac released for Ist-8th class;DSEJ Rs 1105.44 lac &DSEK Rs. 925.43 lac;kmr div/distributed books; remaining Jammu districts-dsej/ceos/zeos to expedite work in 2 wks,” Samoon tweeted.

Samoon is Principal Secretary of School Education Department. In an order issued on April 03 on imposing restrictions on 4G, J&K’s Home department stated that internet restrictions don’t pose any hindrance to access educational online states.

The high-speed internet services remain suspended in J&K from August 5 when the Centre abrogated J&K’s special status provided under Article 370.

The 2G internet facility on mobile phones was restored on January 25 after remaining suspended for early five months. Last month, National Conference President and MP from Srinagar Lok Sabha seat Farooq Abdullah  wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate restoration of high-speed 4G internet services in J&K in the wake of outbreak of COVID-19—(KNO)