Category: Union Territory

Jammu: BJP president Ravinder Raina on Monday alleged that a lobby is working to defame his party as he tried to pacify angry workers protesting the re-advertising of posts under three schemes where these people were employed.
The government had on Friday re-advertised ‘Rehbar-e-Janglat’, Rehbar-e-Zirat’ and Rehbar-e-Khel’ posts through the Service Selection Board and had said additional weightage and age relaxation will be given to those already working on these posts.
Hundreds of people employed under these schemes on Monday assembled outside BJP headquarters and staged a demonstration demanding revocation of the order under apprehension of end of their services.
“I talked to Lt Governor (Manoj Sinha) and Chief Secretary A K Mehta on the issue and was told that there is no such order and the news is fake. Whenever there is a talk of elections, some people in the administration deliberately come out with such types of controversies to defame the BJP which is all set to form the government after the next assembly elections,” Raina said, addressing the protesters.
He said those found responsible for such rumours should be dismissed from the service, and sought an enquiry into the matter.
“There is no government order about your termination. I am saying this with full responsibility,” he said.
He also referred to an order issued by the higher education department in January directing active participation of teachers and students to perform Surya Namaskar’.
This was also a deliberate attempt to create a controversy, he said.
Raina said a committee formed by the government in 2020 had made some recommendations but the final decision will be taken by the administrative council headed by Lt Governor.
“It was our government which engaged you through proper channels. There are no backdoor appointments and we will not allow any injustice with you,” he said.
He asked the protesters to form a delegation of at least 10 members, and promised them he will arrange a meet between them and the Lt Governor.
Raina, who was accompanied by a strong posse of policemen, was greeted with slogans like we want justice by the angry protesters.
They said they were not satisfied with Raina’s arguments and said they will continue their protest till the government issues a written clarification.
“We want revocation of the order forthwith to safeguard our future. We have served our departments over the past four years and were gifted with this order at a time when we were hoping to get regularised on the completion of our probationary period,” a protester said.
He said it was the previous PDP-BJP government that came out with these schemes to provide employment to over 3,000 well-qualified people, and the selection process was done in a fair manner by the concerned deputy commissioners.
Meanwhile, several opposition parties including National Conference and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extended their support to the protesting workers and demanded revocation of the government order.
National Conference provincial president, Jammu, Rattan Lal Gupta decried the supposed move to disengage the employees.
He said, The motive behind this unprincipled step is clear that the LG’s administration is paving way for outsiders at the cost of local youth.
Former Minister and senior AAP leader Harsh Dev Singh also condemned the supposed decision, and said educated were not disposable .
“This use-and-throw policy is highly unjustifiable and shall be fought tooth and nail,” he said.
Lamenting that the unemployment rate in J&K had become the highest in the country, Singh urged the Lt Governor to personally intervene in the matter. PTI

Srinagar, May 23: The J&K administration on Monday ordered replacing Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah embossed on one side of the police medal for Gallantry and Meritorious Service with ‘The National Emblem of Government of India’.

“It is hereby ordered that in modification to the Para 4 of the Jammu & Kashmir Police Medal Scheme, the Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah embossed on one side of the medal shall be replaced with “The National Emblem of Government of India” and the other side inscribed with the J&K State Emblem shall be inscribed as “Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry” and “Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Service’ in case of Gallantry/Meritorious Medal, as the case may be,” reads an order by Principal Secretary, Home Department R K Goyal, a copy of which lies with GNS.

In January 2020, the administration changed nomenclature of police medal for gallantry and police medal for meritorious service by removing the word ‘Sher-i-Kashmir’, a reference to former Prime Minister of J&K and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

“It is hereby ordered that the words ‘Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry and Sher-i-Kashmir police medal for meritorious service’ wherever appearing in the government order No.332(P) of 2001 dated 01.08.2001, as amended from time to time, shall henceforth be read as ‘Jammu and Kashmir police medal for gallantry and Jammu and Kashmir police medal for meritorious service,” the Principal Secretary, home department, had said in an order issued in the third week of the January 2020. (GNS)

Srinagar, May 23: A newly-wed policemen died after hit by an oil tanker in Shadipora Payeen area in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district early this morning.

Reports reaching GNS said the Farhad Ali, posted in District Police Lines Bandipora, son of Ghulam Hyder Wani of Shadipora Payeen was hit and grievously injured by an unknown oil tanker at around 4:00 AM at his native village.

Farhad was subsequently shifted to SKIMS Bemina where he succumbed to injuries, they said. Farhad, married only four days ago, was heading towards a Masjid (mosque) to offer Fajr (morning) prayers, they said.

Confirming it, a police official told GNS that cognizance of the incident has been taken and investigations have been initiated. (GNS)

New Delhi: Abdul Rashid was so overwhelmed that he was having difficulty in expressing his thoughts eloquently. It was a different Sunday evening after all. Very different from what he has known in his more than five decades of existence. His 21-year-old son Umran Malik has been selected in the Indian team for the South Africa series.

It wasn’t a surprise as Umran, after his 21 wickets and propensity to make a mockery of the speed gun radar, was always in contention. But Rashid still found it difficult to express his feelings of that moment which is a bit of a blur.

“People were just coming in hoards to congratulate me. I am now going home and would join the celebrations. Just saw the news on internet. What could be a bigger achievement than to wear the national colours,” Rashid told PTI over phone as he was rushing to his Gujjar Nagar residence in Jammu.

“He has made all of us proud with his performances in the IPL and the way the whole country rallied behind him, we as a family can only be thankful. Pura desh ke support mila mere Umran ko,” he said in a voice from which one could gauge the emotions.

Rashid and his wife have had their share of sacrifices in pushing Umran to break the barriers but the father wants no credit.

“Umran had self-belief that one day he will achieve success. He had faith in his skill and talent and worked hard for it. It is completely his success and also Almighty’s blessings. He worked hard and God supported him. I don’t deserve credit for his hard work,” Rashid said.

Umran is the second cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to play for India after Parvez Rasool. While Rasool hailed from the valley, Umran is a Jammu lad, coached by Randhir Singh Manhas and mentored by senior state team pacer Ram Dayal, who also gave him his first spikes.

Manhas recalled how a 17-year-old Umran had casually walked up to him and requested to allow him to bowl at his nets and the rest is history.

Despite not being a big player like some of the fast bowlers, Umran possesses a strong lower body, having honed his skills on sandy fields near river Tawi.

“His house is near river Tawi and the adjoining area of the river bank is primarily sandy. Umran grew up running on sandy fields and playing cricket all his formative years. That has led to a very strong lower body,” Manhas had recently told PTI.

“You won’t find many guys who at 17 had such fabulous body structure and in-built strength without any gym training.” In fact, his father also spoke about Umran’s stamina.

“Humein apne zubaan se nahi bolna chahiye lekin iska stamina dekhne layak hain ji. Bachpan se, pura din subaah se leke shaam tak khelta rahta thaa. (I don’t want to brag but my son has unbelievable stamina. He would play cricket from dawn to dusk).” For Rashid, Umran’s journey starts now.

“Now, I want him to work even harder and perform well for the country. He needs to focus on playing for India for a long time.” He has a well-to-do fruit shop at city’s Shaheedi Nagar area and may be that’s reason Rashid never felt that Umran’s love for cricket was an impediment towards his studies as there are no guarantees.

“He is our only son (apart from two daughters), so we (me and my wife) always gave him lot of love and indulgence. We never had any apprehensions that playing cricket could be risky.

“We have always kept Umran happy and we never made him realise that there are hardships. Whatever he wished for, he got it. More than me, my wife is his biggest supporter,” Rashid said.

For Rashid, wearing the India Blue jersey is a cherished dream and he is not bothered how IPL riches and India call-up could materialistically change their lives. Their colony in Gujjar Nagar had erupted in joy with enthusiastic youths carrying the player’s posters and dancing to the drum beats.

“We just want him to make the country proud with his performances. Nothing else matters for us.” There are matches in Delhi, Cuttack, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot and Bengaluru. Would Rashid be coming to watch his son play?

“The day he makes his debut, me and his mom will be in the stands to cheer him. But please excuse me for now. Umran had told me not to give interviews to media,” the cautious father signed off.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulations to Umran Malik for selection in Team India for T20 Series against South Africa “Heartiest congratulations to Umran Malik for selection in Team India for T20 Series against South Africa. It is a proud moment for Jammu Kashmir. Well done & best wishes.,” Sinha said in a tweet.

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah also extended greetings to him. “Well done Umran Malik. We will be watching the forthcoming T20 series against the Proteas very keenly,” Omar tweeted.

National Conference spokesman congratulated Umran on being selected for the Indian Cricket team in the upcoming T20 Series against SA. “This is not only a big achievement for him. He has also become an role model for budding talent in J&K. I wish him luck and more success representing India.”

SRINAGAR: A man was arrested in central Kashmir’s Budgam district for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl, police said.

Rape accused arrested in Budgam
A police spokesman in a statement said that today Police Station Khansahib received a written complaint from one Ghulam Rasool Sheikh stating therein that his daughter (name with held) age about 19 years has been forcefully raped by one Mudasir Ahmed Wani resident of Zagoo Kharein.

The spokesman said that in this regard, a case FIR Number 67/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Khansahib and investigation taken up.

He said that acting promptly  police team of PS Khansahib swung into action and arrested the accused from Zagoo Khansahib within 05 hours.

“Medical examination of the victim was conducted by a board of doctors at SDH Khansahib.On the basis of statement of the victim, offences under section 376 of the IPC (rape) and relevant sections has been implied upon the accused,” said a police spokesman in a statement.

Kupwara May 22: A 38-year-old PDD daily-wager was electrocuted to death during repairing an electric transformer in Jada village of Karnah in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said.

Identifying the deceased as Raja Khalid son of Raja Mohammad Naseem , a resident of Kandi Payeen Karnah, the officials told, that the person received a major electric shock.

The dead body of the deceased was brought to SDH Tanghdar for legal medical formalities following which body was handed over to family.

Meanwhile a police official confirming the incident said that cognisance of the incident has been taken for further investigations.

Srinagar, May 22: With the cases of Monkeypox confirmed in Europe, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have issued advisory and directed concerned officials to isolate suspected cases immediately.

“As you are aware, there is recent outbreak of Monkeypox cases in Europe as well as United States and Australia. This is Zoonotic disease, first identified in monkeys and it is also spread by rodents. The clinical presentation of Monkeypox resembles that of Smallpox,” reads the letter issued to Chief Medical Officers of Jammu division by Dr. Harjeet Rai Epidemiologist/SSO IDSP Jammu Division, a copy of which lies with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

“On 20” of May, 2022, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) Gol issued interim Health Advisory regarding the Monkeypox. This office has prepared a Power point presentation in detail on the subject. You are requested to kindly disseminate the advisory among all health care workers of your district for their sensitisation and further necessary action,”it adds.

As per the advisory, the key points about the disease include that Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.

“Monkeypox typically presents clinically with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications and it is usually a self-limited disease with the symptoms lasting from 2 to 4 weeks. Severe cases can occur. Case fatality rate may vary from 1-10%.

Monkeypox can be transmitted from Animal to Humans as well as human to human. The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch, bush meat preparation, direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, or indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated bedding, it reads.

“Human-to-human transmission is thought to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets generally requiring a prolonged close contact and it can also be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens of an infected person.”

Similarly, the advisory said the clinical presentation of monkeypox resembles that of smallpox, a related orthopoxvirus infection which was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980.

“Incubation period is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days and the person is usually not contagious during this period and an infected person may transmit the disease from 1-2 days before appearance of the rash and remain contagious till all the scabs fall off,” it adds.

As per the advisory the recommended public health actions include that health facilities to keep heightened suspicion in people who present with an otherwise unexplained rash and who have travelled, in the last 21 days, to a country that has recently had confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox or report contact with a person or people with confirmed or suspected monkey pox.

“All suspected cases to be isolated at designated healthcare facilities until all lesions have resolved and a fresh layer of skin has formed OR until the treating physician decides to end isolation and all such patients to be reported to the District Surveillance Officer of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.”

“All infection control practices to be followed while treating such patient, laboratory samples consisting of fluid from vesicles, blood, sputum etc to be sent to NIV Pune for Monkey pox testing in case of suspicion and in case a positive case is detected, contact tracing has to be initiated immediately to identify the contacts of the patient in the last 21 days,” reads the advisory—(KNO)

Srinagar: Not feeling safe in Kashmir, scores of Kashmiri Pandits today staged a protest in the historic clock tower area of Lal Chowk, demanding their relocation outside the Valley.

The protesters, including women, assembled along the banks of the Jhelum river in Lal Mandi locality of Srinagar and held prayers for the slain migrant employee, Rahul Bhat, who was shot by ultras in Budgam on May 12.

The protesters later marched to Lal Chowk, where they held a sit-in, demanding justice for Bhat.

“Our clear demand is that the J&K administration should relocate us outside the Valley. We don’t feel safe anywhere in Kashmir. When Rahul Bhat was not safe inside his office, how come we will be safe,” said a protester.

The government has transferred many migrant pandits to towns and district headquarters, but that has not impressed the protesters.

The killing of Bhat has triggered fear psychosis among the 6,000 migrant pandits employed in different government offices and schools under PM’s special scheme for pandits since 2010.

Later, the protesters marched to the BJP’s state office in the Jawahar Nagar locality and held a sit-in.

The Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti said Rahul Bhat’s family had “refused” Rs 5 lakh compensation and Class IV job to its post-graduate daughter-in-law on compassionate grounds.

Jammu: Former J&K chief minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the boom in the tourism sector in the UT was due to the rising temperature in the plains and not due to any improvement in the J&K situation.

“The government should not be happy that the number of tourists coming to J&K has increased manifold. The boom in tourism should not be linked to the improved situation in the UT. It is only because of the high temperatures in plain areas of the country that tourists are flocking Kashmir,” Azad said in Jammu.

Azad is on a two-day visit to J&K. He presided over an event at the party headquarters here to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary. The veteran Congress leader reiterated his stand on the Delimitation Commission’s report, saying that “the tailor-made report is in contradiction with the ground realities”.

Calling for a united push to eliminate militancy, Azad urged the government to accept the genuine demands of vulnerable sections of the society to ensure that they are not put in harm’s way.