Category: Union Territory

Is Coronavirus a punishment from Allah?

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

GK News Network

A Delhi court on Tuesday extended by seven days the police custody of a Kashmiri couple and another accused who were arrested for having alleged links with an ISIS module.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana sent the trio to the custody of police.

Jahanjeb Sami and his wife Hina Bashir Beg were arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly promoting the Islamic State’s ideology of hatred and inciting Muslims to take up the violent struggle against the state.

Special Cell Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pramod Kushwaha claimed that the couple had ties with the Islamic State of Khorasan Province.

Delhi Police’s Special Cell had also claimed that the couple was also involved in instigating protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The couple was allegedly running a social media handle — Indian Muslims Unite — to increase participation in the anti-CAA and NRC demonstrations.

The police had seized four mobile phones, one laptop, one external hard disc and incriminating material from their house and a case was registered against them.

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

“The Governor has no work to do. A person who is the Governor of Kashmir usually drinks wine and plays golf. Governors of other states stay away from getting involved in any tussle,” he said in Baghpat.

Baghpat, UP: Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday said the governors in the country “do not have much work to do”. In Jammu and Kashmir, the governor “drinks wine and plays golf.”
Mr Malik, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, made the remarks at an event in Uttar Pradesh.

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#WATCH Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik in Baghpat: Governor ka koi kaam nahi hota. Kashmir me jo Governor hota hai aksar wo daru peeta hai aur golf khelta hai. Baki jagah jo Governor hote hain wo aaram se rehte hain, kisi jhagde me padte nahi hain.

“The Governor has no work to do. A person who is the Governor of Kashmir usually drinks wine and plays golf. Governors of other states stay away from getting involved in any tussle,” he said in Baghpat.

‘Those refusing to follow coronavirus prevention, treatment orders will be penalised’

JAMMU – The Jammu and Kashmir administration has declared the coronavirus infection an epidemic and said any person who refuses to follow orders on prevention or treatment of the disease would be dealt under the law.

This was declared in a four-page notification issued by the Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo, following an order of Lt Governor Girish Chander Murmu.

So far, three patients have tested positive for coronavirus in the Union Territory, where normal life virtually came to a standstill with the government imposing prohibitory orders banning assembly of more than four persons in almost all districts to counter the disease’s threat.

The government has already closed down all educational institutions, multiplexes, cinema halls, shopping malls, food courts, parks and gardens, clubs and road side eateries till March 31.

Announcing the regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the notification said the Jammu and Kashmir Epidemic Diseases (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, would come into force with immediate effect and will have jurisdiction over the entire Union Territory.

“Surveillance personnel have been empowered to enter any such premises after giving reasonable opportunity to the owner or occupier for the purpose of surveillance of instances of fever or cough or respiratory difficulty, enquire into or undertake physical examination as they think fit, the notification read.

“Such persons shall be bound to cooperate and render all possible assistance to facilitate such surveillance, inspection, enquiry and examinations, it read.

Surveillance personnel, who will be designated by districts magistrates, have been empowered to direct, arrange or put suspected persons under home quarantine or escort them to an institutional quarantine facility or isolation facility, the notification read.

However, it said if the owner or occupier(s) of any premises or any individual suspected or confirmed with COVID-19, refuses to take measures for prevention or treatment including home quarantine, institutional quarantine or isolation, or refuses to cooperate” with surveillance personnel and authorities, they will invite the “provisions of Section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) , it read.

The magistrates can also pass any other coercive action as they deem necessary and expedient for enforcing the cooperation and assistance.

However, in the case of a minor, such order will be directed to the guardian or any other adult member of the family, the notification read.

“Anyone who contravene any of the provisions of these regulations or disobeys an order and obstructs performance of functions, duties and responsibilities entrusted upon any authority under these regulations, shall be deemed to have committed an offence under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860), it read

GK News Network

Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti continue to be in detention since August 5 when the central government announced the abrogation of Article 370.

A total of 450 people, including stone pelters, miscreants, over ground workers (OGWs) and separatists of Jammu and Kashmir are presently under preventive detention in various jails, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said regular review is being undertaken on case to case basis and accordingly, extension in detention or revocation is made based on reports of field agencies and ground situation.

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has reported that in order to prevent commission of offences involving breach of peace and tranquility, activities prejudicial to the security of the state and maintenance of public order, nearly 450 people including stone pelters, miscreants, over ground workers (OGWs), separatists, etc., are presently under preventive detention and are lodged in various jails and subsidiary jails, he said in a written reply to a question.

Even though DMK member A Ganeshamurthi asked the government to reply on the total number of political leaders who are under house arrest along with the reasons for their arrest, the union minister did not give any details.

Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti continue to be in detention since August 5 when the central government announced the abrogation of Article 370.

Another former chief minister Farooq Abdullah was released last week after seven months in detention.

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

Srinagar, Mar 17: The government on Tuesday appointed Pandurang Kondbarao Pole, Secretary to the Government, Department of Food, Civil, Supplies and Consumer Affairs, as Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. A 2001-batch IAS officer will replace Baseer Ahmad Khan who has been appointed as 4th advisor to lieutenant governor irish Chandra Murmu.
Beside appointment of the Pole as Divisional commissioner, the government has ordered transfer of five other top officers.
According to an order issued here, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, IAS(JK:1993), Principal Secretary to the Government, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department, holding additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Transport Department, has transferred and posted as Principal Secretary to the Government, School Education Departrnent. He has been asked to continue to hold the charge of Administrative Secretary, Transport Department, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.
Navin Kumar Choudhary, IAS(JK:1994), Principal Secretary to the Government, Education Department, holding additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Technical Education Department, has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary to the Government, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department. He has also been asked to hold the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, upon the retirement on superannuation of Manzoor Ahmad Lone, IAS on 31.03.2020. “He shall also continue to hold the charge of Administrative Secretary, Technical Education Department, in addition to his own till further orders,” reads the order issued by General Administrative Department.
Shailendra Kumar, IAS(JK:1995), Chief Electoral Officer, J&K and Principal Secretary to the Government, Election Department, has transferred and posted as Principal Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department. The officer has been also asked to be Officer on Special Duty in the Public Works (R&B) Department. “He shall hold the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, upon the retirement on superannuation of Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Shah, IAS on 30.4.2020.”
Simrandeep Singh, IAS(JK:2008), Administrative Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, has been asked to hold the charge of Administrative Secretary, Department of Food, Civil, Supplies and Consumer Affairs, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.
Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, IAS(JK:2012), Additional Secretary to the Government, Finance Department, holding additional charge of CEO, Mission Youth, has been asked to also hold the additional charge of Chief Executive Oficer, J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency, till further orders, relieving Principal Secretary to the Government, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department of the additional charge of the post.
Babila Rakwal, KAS, Director, Handlooms, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Vice-Chairman, Jammu Development Authority, relieving Ms. Avny Lavasa, IAS, Commissioner, lammu Municipal Corporation of the additional charge of the post. “She shall also hold the charge of Additional Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Region Development Authority, Jammu, in addition to her own duties, till further orders,” reads the order. Mussarat-ul-Islam, Director, Handicrafts, J&K, has been asked to hold the charge of the post of Director, Handlooms, J&K, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.

Televised coaching classes to be financed by Administration: DC Srinagar

Srinagar, Mar 17: At a time when Coronavirus is creating ripples and panic among people, authorities have decided to take foolproof measures in containing this lethal infection and for this purpose District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) have issued certain guidelines and orders.

District Development Commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdary told Kashmir News Trust that scores of decisions rather measures have been taken to check Coronavirus infection.

He said certain directions have been given to certain departments and agencies. Chowdary said that the public transport shall, for now, remain under constant vigil by Traffic Police and Transport Department. “Any vehicle found overloaded shall be seized and not released till further orders.”

He said Srinagar Municipal Corporation has already started the process of sanitization and fumigation of bus stops, fruit markets and other important places.

“Department of Legal Metrology, Drug Controller Organization with active support of Executive Magistrates and Police, shall continue to conduct daily checks in markets and ensure that there is no violation of Essential Commodities Act 1955.”

“Commissioner SMC has been asked to depute 5 Nodal Officers for Zones of Srinagar, anchoring coordination from all departments and sister agencies for ensuring that all public places including bus stops, fruit markets etc are sanitized with notified disinfectants.”

District Development Commissioner Srinagar said that the team of Health Department deputed at Airport has been further strengthened in terms of manpower and logistics for effective screening of travelers in coordination with the Director Airport and Commandant CISF shall also obtain services from SMC for sanitization measures.

He said in order to keep those in isolation whose samples are taken for testing; separate wards have been created in hospitals as well. “Essential Services Departments have put in place the mechanism for 24×7 responses to public needs and issues. Any lapse in this regard will invite suspension of concerned authorities.”

Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdary said that to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, the trade and business organizations shall initiate steps required to avoid over-crowding at such locations.

He said that police have been asked to initiate steps to put in place required measures for avoiding public gathering except bus stop and railway stations.

He added that an amount of Rs one crore has been release to GMC, SMC, SKIMS, CMO and other for such measures as may be required for an effective response to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus. He said that all schools, colleges, universities, caocing centres and other educational institutions, government and private shall continue to remain closed till further orders. The Heads of Departments and Institutions shall devise and submit proposal for televised coaching classes by March 20 this month which shall be supported and financed by District Administration Srinagar. (KNT)

GK News Network

Agra mayor Navin Jain had asked for closure of the monuments, in a letter to the union tourism minister, a fortnight ago.

The annual three day Urs of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the iconic Taj Mahal, will not be held, as scheduled from March 21, as the historic monuments including the Taj in the city have been shut down till March 31, in the wake of COVID-19.

This will be the first time in the history of the Taj, that the annual Urs will not be held.

During the three day Urs, entry remains free and a series of functions are organised. Work on the 365 metre long chadar, to be offered, had begun.

A member of the organising committee said, the convention would indeed be disrupted, but the safety of the country was more important.

The whole area around the Taj Mahal wears a deserted look. The Taj is visited by around 30,000 people daily. For the past one month there had been a steep decline.

Agra mayor Navin Jain had asked for closure of the monuments, in a letter to the union tourism minister, a fortnight ago.

The Agra Development Authority used to earn around Rs 14 crore daily from ticket sales.

On Tuesday, a pall of gloom descended on the tourism sector, as guides, photographers, taxi drivers, hoteliers were left with no work.

The once crowded parking areas were vehicle free. The eleven five star hotels and around 25 three star hotels, plus countless guest houses, dharamshalas and smaller hotels are waiting for customers. How long this wait will be, uncertainty continues.

Only during the 1971 war with Pakistan, the Taj Mahal was closed for more than a week. During the flood in 1978, it was again closed for a couple of days.

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

The Kashmir Monitor

New Delhi/Tehran: A large number of Indian pilgrims in Iran have tested positive for coronavirus and will stay back for medical treatment in the country till they recover.

The overall death toll crossed 700 and infections rose to around 25,000 across Iran on Sunday. Iran is one among the worst affected countries with most cases and fatalities from coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan city of China.

Top official sources, without specifying any numbers, said that a considerable number of Indian pilgrims have tested positive in Iran.

“The pilgrims are mostly in senior citizen age group and therefore vulnerable. Since they have tested positive, they will stay back, go through the medical treatment and quarantine as per the international standard protocol for coronavirus patients,” an official told IANS.

There are over 6,000 Indian nationals in various provinces of Iran. Of them, there are about 1,100 pilgrims mainly from the union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and the state of Maharashtra and nearly 300 students primarily from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Around 1,000 fishermen from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat and others stay in Iran earning their livelihood and for religious studies.

As per a video recording accessed by IANS, Indian representatives are constantly meeting Indian nationals stranded in Iran. In one such meeting between Indian representatives and Kashmiri pilgrims in Iran, it was revealed that hotels are evicting pilgrims for overstaying and for not being able to pay their dues.

The government said it is making arrangements for further evacuations as the test reports come. “Those who are testing negative are being evacuated by the government,” the official said. India has also sent trained medical teams have to Iran to help and treat Indian nationals.

So far, the government has evacuated around 400 Indians including 53 who returned on Monday, from the Iranian cities of Tehran and Shiraz. Upon their arrival, they went through a preliminary screening at the airport in New Delhi and were then sent to the Army Wellness Centre in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer.

The news of their return to India was tweeted by external affairs minister S. Jaishankar on early Monday. “Fourth batch of 53 Indians — 52 students and a teacher — has arrived from Tehran and Shiraz, Iran. With this, a total of 389 Indians have returned to India from Iran,” Jaishankar tweeted.

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