Category: Union Territory

Under the PSA, a person can be detained for a period of 3 to 6 months without trial.

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has detained a journalist, Sajad Gul, under the Public Safety Act, a day after a court granted him bail in connection with a police case that accused him of criminal conspiracy.

Under the PSA, a person can be detained for a period of 3 to 6 months without trial. In most of the cases, the PSA is repeatedly used against a detainee to put him in jail for extended period.

Officials say the journalist has been shifted to Kot Balwal Jail in Jammu.

Sajad Gul was working with a news portal and arrested by police for allegedly “spreading disinformation through fake tweets regarding the recent anti-terrorist operation”.

The police have accused him of uploading objectionable videos with anti-national slogans.

“His overall activities are prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and unity of India,” said the police.

Yesterday, a magistrate granted him bail, but the police refused to release him and he was subsequently detained under the PSA.

According to the lawyer of detained journalist, police filed a case under attempt to murder charges against the journalist after he was given bail in another case.

Suspected militants hurled a grenade on security forces in Safa Kadal area of Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district in which according to officials one cop and a civilian were reported injured.

Further details awaited.

Srinagar, Jan 16: Covid-19 cases continued to skyrocket in Jammu and Kashmir as 3499 new cases have been reported while six persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.

They said that 1210 of the cases were reported from Jammu Division and 2289 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally to 359373.

There were also six deaths in the last 24 hours, three each from Jammu division and Kashmir Valley. So far 4567 people have succumbed to the virus and include 2221 in Jammu and 2346 in Kashmir.

Giving the district wise details of the fresh cases confirmed in J&K, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 614, Baramulla 463, Budgam 404, Pulwama 94, Kupwara 157, Anantnag 230, Bandipora 166,
Ganderbal 27, Kulgam 127, Shopian 7, Jammu 556, Udhampur 126, Rajouri 39, Doda 20, Kathua 163, Samba 112, Kishtwar 20, Poonch 67, Ramban 18 and Reasi 89.

A number these cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratory of GMC Srinagar and GMC Anantnag.

Female (30) (NA) from Kalamabad mawar, male (45) (NA) from Tutigund, male (30) (NA) from Rajwar, male (32) (NA) from Handwara, female (18) (NA) from Zachaldara, male (32) (NA) from Zachaldara, female (27) (NA) from Wudipora, male (65) (NA) from Dingree, male (55) (NA) from Dohama, male (23) (NA) from Punzwa, male (55) (NA) from Vilgam, male (75) (NA) from Pazipora, male (47) (NA) from Rajpora pulwama, male (30) (NA) from Bamnoo pulwama, male (42) (NA) from Bellow pulwama, male (31) (NA) from Bellow pulwama, male (40) (NA) from Ratsuna, male (32) (NA) from Tral, female (21) (NA) from Saimoh, female (25) (NA) from Dadsara, male (38) (NA) from Tral, female (28) (NA) from Tral, female (23) (NA) from Tral, male (30) (NA) from Panzoo, male (35) (NA) from Tral, female (35) (NA) from Marsari, male (35) (NA) from Sontipora, female (40) (NA) from Warsun, male (24) (NA) from Warsun, female (24) (NA) from Shamnag, male (20) (NA) from Aloosa, female (38) (NA) from Dardpora, male (50) (NA) from Aloosa, female (19) (NA) from Dardsun, female (50) (NA) from Dardpora, male (62) (NA) from Batergam, female (67) (NA) from Kalaroos, male (30) (NA) from Herril mawar, female (55) (NA) from Lalpora, female (63) (NA) from Ganipora Handwara, male (25) (NA) from Langate, male (14) (NA) from Braripora, male (38) (NA) from Batagund mawar, male (44) (NA) from Kalamabad mawar, male (25) (NA) from Pungroo mawar, female (70) (NA) from Tarkpora Handwara, female (35) (NA) from Vilgam, male (37) (NA) from Trehgam, male (57) (NA) from 184Bn BSF Trehgam, male (55) (NA) from 184Bn BSF Trehgam, female (70) (NA) from Gushi kupwara, male (35) (NA) from Tral, female (28) (NA) from Chattabal, male (24) (NA) from Athwajan, female (33) (NA) from Haft chinar, male (36) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (24) (NA) from Budgam, male (28) (NA) from Kulgam, male (25) (NA) from Chattabal, male (21) (NA) from Natipora, male (25) (NA) from Kargil, male (45) (NA) from Qazigund, female (25) (NA) from Qazigund, female (25) (NA) from Batamaloo, female (27) (NA) from Rawalpora, male (24) (NA) from Bagi mehtab, male (43) (NA) from Sgr, female (50) (NA) from Nowpora, male (65) (NA) from Rainawari, male (18) (NA) from Sanatnagar, male (55) (NA) from Nishat, female (45) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (47) (NA) from Hyderpora, male (31) (NA) from Lalbazar, male (70) (NA) from Alochibagh, male (23) (NA) from Kulgam, male (75) (NA) from Brain, female (29) (NA) from Mehjoornagar, female (35) (NA) from Shopian, female (21) (NA) from Brain, female (38) (NA) from Elahibagh, male (26) (NA) from Indranagar, female (57) (NA) from Safakadal, male (51) (NA) from Sgr and male (33) (NA) from Tral.

The GMC Anantnag cases include male (42) from Bamboo Pul, male (39) from Awneera, male (25) from Dachu, male (30) from Kujjar, four females (26, 21, 28, 21) and male (35) from New Colony, two males (26, 29) from Janglat Mandi, male (30) from Tahjiwara, male (28) from Tailwani, female (32) from Hardpora, male (35) from H Pora, male (58) from Achabal, female (28) from Wardan, male (62) from Tailwani, female (60) from H Tooru, male (38) from Deethu, two males (70, 35) and four females (66, 34, 31, 37) from Moominabad, male (63) from Kokernag, male (50) from Dupatyar Bij, male (45) from Adlash Bij, male (42) from Uranhall 90BN CRPF, male (30) from PS Kokernag, male (30) from Adigam Kokernag, male (40) from Irkumoo Kokernag, four males (33, 38, 45, 42) from PHC Mattan, female (30) from Veersiram Anantnag, female (50) and male (50) from Pahalgam Ang, male (55) from Salia Ang, female (50) from Bumri Ang, male (50) from Aino Ang, male (20) from Pahalgam Ang, male (40) from Hangalpora Ang, male (55) from Aamad Ang, male (45) from Vail Nagbal Ang, female (50) from Salia Ang, male (60) from Lehend Ang, female (30) from Pahalgam Ang, female (26) from Aishmuqam ang, male (40) from Wahden Ang, male (50) from Malikgund Ang, female (7) from Aino Ang, male (30) from Manigam Ang, female (50) from Ledru Ang, female (50) from Akad Ang, male (59) from Vail Nagbal Ang, two males (4, 50) from Seer Ang, male (9) from Nagbal Ang, female (30) from Khanyar Ang, male (59) from Chandrigam Ang, male (39) from RC Pora Ang, male (40) from Gopripora Ang, male (65) and two females (30, 60) from Pehru Ang, male (50) and two females (42, 60) from Mattan Ang, male (34) from Sarnal Ang, male (23) from Rakhy Brah Ang, three females (21, 42, 14) from Iqbalabad Sarnal, female (40) from Tulhaad Aishmuqam, male (10) from Aishmuqam PGM, male (65) from Jajbal PGM, female (22) from Ainoo Aishmuqam, male (25) from Aamad Aishmuqam, male (60) from Aishmuqam PGM, female (19) from Kullar Pahalgam, male (23) from Bij Ang, male (30) from Mumbai India, male (38) from Gujrat India, male (49) from Srg, male (30) and female (14) from Pune, male (25) from Uttar Pradesh, two females (26, 26) from Bangalore, female (32) from Lucknow, male (25) from Bangalore, male (30) from Chennai, female (75) from Utreso, female (24) from Seer, male (50) from Sarnal Bala, male (32) from Krangsoo and male (40) from Damhall.

Besides, they said, 470 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time—308 from Jammu Division and 162 from Kashmir. So far 338923 people have recovered, leaving active case tally at 15883 —6589 in Jammu and 9294 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 51 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said.

They also informed that 33419 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jan 15 (PTI) The BJP’s Kashmir unit on Saturday urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene in the issue of a factional feud between two groups for the management of Kashmir Press Club (KPC).

In a statement, the party’s media in-charge and youth leader Manzoor Bhat also termed the politicising of the issue by some political parties a matter of grave concern.

“It is unfortunate that our so-called political parties are adding fuel to fire by issuing misleading statements rather than finding a solution to the issue of journalists,” he said.

Bhat said there has been an issue between the two bodies of journalists at KPC and there are allegations and counter-allegations between the two groups.

“To verify the same, an independent body should probe the issue and get it resolved,” he said.

He appealed to the lieutenant governor’s administration to take cognizance of the issue and find out the reality.

“BJP is not in support of politicising the issue of fourth pillar of democracy that has more responsibilities and get issues resolved on priority basis,” he said.

The Kashmir Press Club (KPC) was witness to unfamiliar activities on Saturday when a few journalists accompanied by policemen reached there and claimed to be its “new management”, a move that came hours after the Jammu and Kashmir administration had put on hold its registration.

The policemen claimed to be Personal Security Officers of one of the journalists who released a statement to the media stating that “some journalist forums” had chosen them to be new office-bearers.

The claims of the interim body were countered soon by a statement issued by around nine journalist bodies in Kashmir who denounced the forcible takeover of the KPC office with “open support from administration” and termed it “a wrong and dangerous precedent”. PTI SSB SMN SMN

This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. The Kashmir Today holds no responsibility for its content.

Budgam, Jan 15: Body of a Kashmiri MBBS student, who died in a Bangladesh College on Wednesday, reached her native village in Budgam on Saturday, officials said.

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the body of Seema Zehra, a resident of Zabar Mohalla in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, reached her home on late Saturday evening where her last rites were performed.

Seema was a 2nd year student at Addin Sakina Medical College Jessore , Bangladesh and died on January 12 at her College campus.

Arrangements were made to airlift the body from Bangladesh to Srinagar after Jammu Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha assured the family of all possible help to bring back the student’s mortal remains, the officials said—(KNO)

95% can be treated at home; deaths of unvaccinated, co-morbidities mostly reported

Srinagar, Jan 15: Amid the steep surge in Covid-19 cases in the past few days, doctors working at different hospitals of Jammu and Kashmir said that though cases have increased in the last 10 days, cases haven’t increased proportionally.

Professor and HoD Community Medicine GMC Srinagar Dr Muhammad Salim Khan told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that though cases have increased but hospitalization rates haven’t increased too much what were witnessed in second wave.

Khan said there are very mild symptoms and chest involvement is very minimal besides that severity is very low as of now.

A senior doctor from GMC Jammu said around 90 per cent of the patients are “asymptotic” and the rest are showing mild symptoms like “sore throat, low-grade fever and bodyache”.

He said that it took 25 days for daily cases to rise from 100 to 1000, during the second wave of Covid-19, the numbers were more than doubled in just 13 weeks in the third wave.

“Roughly double the number of cases is being recorded in half the time in the present Omicron wave,” he said. “The high infectivity rate of Coronavirus during the present wave should not be taken lightly and people must continue following Covid appropriate behaviour.”

Dr Naveed Nazir HOD at Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar told KNO that hospitalization hasn’t increased that much what we witnessed in the second wave and there is less severity as compared to the second wave.

Doctors from other hospitals also said that most patients have either no symptoms or mild symptoms, and are being discharged and recommended to remain in home isolation.

The official further said, “Though the cases have increased suddenly in Jammu and Kashmir but majority of them have mild symptoms and they can be treated in home isolation.”

He said that doctors are identifying patients with mild, moderate and serious symptoms and patients with mild symptoms with no co-morbidities and are advised to remain in home isolation so that proper care of patients with moderate and severity and patients with co-morbidities is admitted.

“We want to reduce bed occupancy so that the serious and moderate patients get better and timely treatment to decrease loss of life,” he added.

Meanwhile officials also said that most deaths which are being reported so far are of unvaccinated people or vaccinated people who have underlying problems.

“Vaccination is not going to protect you from getting the infection or transmitting it, but it will protect people from serious illness or death due to COVID-19. So everyone should get vaccinated,” officials said.

“Unlike the second wave, the hospitals are not seeing deaths of those without any pre-existing health conditions. Most of the patients dying now are people with comorbidities,” they said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 15: The upsurge in Covid-19 infection continued unabated in Jammu and Kashmir as 3251 new cases have been reported while four persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Saturday.

They said that 1129 of the cases were reported from Jammu Division and 2122 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally to 355874.

There were also four deaths in the last 24 hours, two each from Jammu division and Kashmir Valley. So far 4561 people have succumbed to the virus and include 2218 in Jammu and 2343 in Kashmir.

Giving the district wise details of the fresh cases confirmed in J&K, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 624 , Baramulla 471, Budgam 416, Pulwama 67, Kupwara 137, Anantnag 228, Bandipora 117, Ganderbal 21, Kulgam 37, Shopian 4, Jammu 685, Udhampur 125, Rajouri 34, Doda 24, Kathua 59, Samba 93, Kishtwar 29, Poonch 35, Ramban 3 and Reasi 42.

A number of cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratory of CD hospital here and include male (32) (NA) from Rawalpora, female (52) (NA) from Chewa bandipora, male (45) (NA) from Brain nishat, female (30) (NA) from Indranagar, male (24) (NA) from Baramulla, female (45) (NA) from Baramulla, male (50) (NA) from Balgarden, male (36) (NA) from Rainawari Sgr, female (33) (NA) from Peerbagh, female (20) (NA) from Sikkim, male (30) (NA) from Kulgam, female (35) (NA) from Tangmarg, male (45) (NA) from Sgr, female (57) (NA) from Sgr, male (58) (NA) from Sgr, female (41) (NA) from Sgr, female (26) (NA) from Sgr, male (62) (NA) from Sgr, female (33) (NA) from Batamaloo, female (32) (NA) from Sgr, female (28) (NA) from Karanagar, male (36) (NA) from Soura, male (36) (NA) from Qamarwari, male (53) (NA) from Lalbazar, female (47) (NA) from Lalbazar, female (30) (NA) from Lalbazar, male (38) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (38) (NA) from Batapora budgam, male (32) (NA) from Pathar masjid, female (51) (NA) from Bemina Sgr, male (56) (NA) from Shah mohalla Sgr, male (45) (NA) from Kulgam, male (35) (NA) from Lawaypora, male (70) (NA) from Budgam, female (13) (NA) from Handwara, female (18) (NA) from Vilgam, female (45) (NA) from Magam, female (36) (NA) from Sirajpora magam, male (15) (NA) from Ahgam rajwar, female (40) (NA) from Nutnusa, male (30) (NA) from Nishat, male (40) (NA) from Rainawari, female (36) (NA) from Lalbazar, male (34) (NA) from Khaniyar, female (55) (NA) from Jawaharnagar, female (29) (NA) from Baghat, male (64) (NA) from Baghat, male (25) (NA) from Nawakadal, female (36) (NA) from Habakadal, male (26) (NA) from Chattabal, female (30) (NA) from Sgr, male (35) (NA) from Sonwar, male (52) (NA) from Rajbagh, male (38) (NA) from Hawal, female (52) (NA) from Dalgate, male (34) (NA) from Baghat, male (42) (NA) from Lalbazar, female (27) (NA) from Rawalpora, female (46) (NA) from Rawalpora, male (54) (NA) from Sonwar, female (42) (NA) from Chadoora, male (42) (NA) from Bemina, male (25) (NA) from Sogam kupwara, male (60) (NA) from Pulwama, male (70) (NA) from Shangus anantnag, male (26) (NA) from Rawalpora, female (33) (NA) from Khrew, female (21) (NA) from Nowgam, male (56) (NA) from Shivpora, female (27) (NA) from Safakadal, male (40) (NA) from Bandipora, female (30) (NA) from Haft chinar, female (65) (NA) from Sgr, female (31) (NA) from Goggi bagh, female (25) (NA) from Sogam kupwara.

A number of cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratory of District Hospital Pulwama and include female (24) from Heff shirmal, female (25) from Nowgam, female (30) from Wahipora pulwama, female (30) from Tikken pulwama, female (30) from Gongoo pulwama, female (30) from Khandaypora pulwama, female (35) from Tikken pulwama, female (43) from Karimabad, female (60) from Imamsahib shopian, male (55) from Poshwani pulwama, male (62) from Karimabad, male (40) from Karimabad, female (45) from Hyderpora Sgr, female (16) from Narbal pulwama, female (40) from Narbal Pulwama.

Besides, they said, 390 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time—239 from Jammu Division and 151 from Kashmir. So far 338453 people have recovered, leaving active case tally at 12860 —5690 in Jammu and 7170 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 51 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said.

They also informed that 62407 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jan 15: Amid Covid-19 related lockdown, a heavy rush was witnessed today at railway station Nowgam here in Srinagar.

Eyewitnesses told news agency Kashmir News Trust that crowd of people were seen boarding and deboarding from the rail without following Covid related SOPs.

Government has already imposed lockdown on weekends. However, today, amid lockdown passengers flouted all the norms.

“There was huge rush. Some passengers were even not wearing masks at the railway station,” said an eyewitness adding that social distancing norms were forgotten with people crowding and jostling against each other to get in or down from the rail. (KNT)

Omicron infections are associated with a 91% reduction in risk of death compared to the Delta variant, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Wednesday (Jan. 12), citing a new Kaiser Permanente Southern California study that looked at 52,297 Omicron cases and 16,982 Delta cases in California between November 30 and January 1.

The study, which is yet to be peer reviewed, also showed that Omicron infections were also associated with a 74% reduction in risk of going to the ICU, as well as a 53% reduction in risk of being hospitalized, Walensky said. No patients with Omicron required mechanical ventilation.

Additionally, those with Omicron had a shorter duration in hospital stay compared to Delta patients: “The duration of hospital stays was approximately 70% shorter, with the median of stays being 1.5 days for Omicron, compared to about five days for Delta,” Walensky said.

“Looking at all hospital admissions for Omicron, 90% of patients were expected to be discharged from the hospital in three days or less,” she added.

⬇️53% less risk of symptomatic hospitalization
⬇️74% less risk of ICU admission
⬇️91% less risk of death
0️⃣Omicron patients required mechanical ventilation

The study was done with CDC collaboration and funding.

Weekend lockdown returns; Night curfew to remain in force

Srinagar: Amid increase in COVID-19 cases, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday announced that there will be complete restrictions on non—essential movements during weekends in the entire Union Territory.

In an order, the state executive committee, has announced that there will be complete restrictions on non—essential movements during weekends in entire J&K.

“Night curfew shall continue to remain in force in all districts from 9 pm to 6 am with complete restriction on non—essential movement,” reads the order, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)