Category: Union Territory

Two militants including an alleged IED expert were killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s southern Pulwama district early Wednesday. The duo, the police said, were associated with proscribed Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) group.

Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said that the fighting broke out soon after the security forces laid siege to Qasbayar village of Pulwama’s Rajpora area to flush out militants dead or alive.

He said that among the slain is JeM commander Yasir Parray who was an IED expert. The other slain militant is believed to be a Pakistani national Furqan. He claimed that both of them were involved in several terror incidents and that their killing is “big success” of the security forces.

J&K police in a tweet on behalf of the IGP said, “Pulwama encounter update: #Militant commander of proscribed outfit JeM Yasir Parray, an IED Expert & foreign militant Furqan #neutralised. Both were involved in several terror #crime cases. A big #success.” ( KINS)

Winter Vacation | Upto Class 8th from December 6 and Upto Class 12 from December 13.

All government and private recognised schools of Kashmir and winter zones of Jammu up to class 8th will observe winter vacation from December 6 to February 28 while the classes from 9th to 12th will observe the vacation from December 13 to February 28

Srinagar Nov 29 : Administration has failed to regulate rates in hospitals with proprietors charging patients as per their will.
The committee headed by Director Health Services Kashmir submitted its report in September 2018 for regulation of rates.
“However, the government has so far failed to execute due to opposition by private hospitals,” a senior official of the Health Department said.
The official said that rates of private hospitals outside are being monitored at most of the places.
“But there is no check on private hospitals in the Valley,” the official told news agency KINS.
In absence of regulations, there have been complaints coming frequently from patients about being fleeced by private hospitals, he said.
Mohammad Sidiq, whose brother underwent surgery for removal of gall bladder last month, said, “We were charged Rs 50,000 by a private hospital in Srinagar. One of our relatives for the same surgery was charged only Rs 35,000.”
It has also been seen that patient load in government hospitals force people to turn to private hospitals for treatment.
Sidiq, a resident of Bemina said there is huge variation in rates. “The proprietors of hospitals charge as per their will for surgeries and tests. The government should fix reasonable rates so that patients are not charged with hefty sums for surgeries and consultations,” he added.
The failure of the government to regulate rates is taking a toll on patients, who are being charged as per the will of hospitals.
Several states in India have also regulated CT-Scan charges but nothing such has been done in the valley.
There are over 40 private hospitals and nursing homes registered with the DHSK.
In 2012, the Health Department had issued an order making it mandatory for nursing homes to display costs against services provided by them for the purpose of transparency.
A government of India’s survey in 2016 has revealed that childbirth at a private hospital in J&K would cost more than it would cost in most states of India.
The survey has said that for a single childbirth at a private hospital in Kashmir’s rural private nursing home is Rs. 23,750 on an average, higher than national average.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole said he will raise this issue with DHSK to ensure there are no inconveniences to people. (KINS)

Srinagar Nov 27: The Uttrakhand tragedy which occurred in February this year has raised a fear among people with experts predicting the possibility of bursting of dams in Jammu and Kashmir. The February 2021 flash floods in Uttrakhand left over 70 people dead. Like Uttrakhand, there are a large number of dams in Jammu and Kashmir where electricity is generated and being supplied to various parts of the country.
Muneer Ahmad, who teaches Earth Sciences said snow avalanches are a common feature in higher Himalayas including in Uttrakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.
He said climatologists have always opposed construction of dams on higher reaches. “When we construct any dam, we dump steel, iron, and these things retain heat resulting in an increase in temperature and disturb the environment leading to Uttrakhand like incidents. The Chenab valley in Jammu and Kashmir is vulnerable for Uttrakhand-like incidents as rocks have developed cracks there due to frequent earthquakes and blasting,” he said.
He said there is also the possibility of floods like 2014 in Kashmir due to less carrying capacity in water bodies as Kashmir receives continuous rain for many days now due to climate change.
According to Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, an earth sciences professor, the Indian Himalayas contain 12,000 glaciers forming 2,000 glacial lakes, of which at least 200 are vulnerable to breaching. Glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF) is the term scientists use to describe when the water level of these lakes breach their boundaries, which can cause large amounts of water to flow into nearby stream and rivers, creating flash floods.
“There is a potential threat of glacier lake outburst in Chenab valley of Jammu region and Zanskar area of Ladakh,” Romshoo had said.
In May 2015, a flash flood triggered by the breaching of a glacial lake in Zanskar damaged several bridges and buildings — and displaced more than 3,000 people. Kashmir, too, was hit by a similar flood in 2014 that killed around 300 people and damaged hundreds of houses.
In North Kashmir’s Bandipora, people living near 330 megawatts Kishenganga hydroelectric project, fear that flash floods could occur in the area any time.
“The dam is spread around 4 kilometres and is on the upper reaches. But there are at least four villages including Kanzalwan, Zalinpora, Chuntipora, Gulshanpora which lie in the plains. If the dam gets breached any time due to frequent earthquakes, flash water will wash away all these villages. Government should relocate people from these areas,” said Shahid Ahmad, a local of Bandipora told news agency KINS
Similarly in Chenab belt of Jammu region, experts said there is an imminent threat of bursting of water bodies due to frequent earthquakes as rocks have loosened. (KINS)

Says instead of abusing one another all political parties should work together to bring back confidence of people in popular government

Kulgam, Nov 27 : Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday said that militancy has been on peak in Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts of the Valley for the past few years as people especillay youth have lost trust in the government. 

Talking to reporters in Kulgam, Azad, as per Kashmir News Service (KNS), said that the people especially the youth have lost confidence in the government as their aspirations have been neglected. 

He said that militancy in the Valley is rising but south Kashmir has witnessed more militancy in the past three years and the reason behind this step of the people needs to be known.

“It is important that leaders should visit those areas where militancy has been surging. Keeping aside the politics, all the political parties instead of abusing each other should work to create a situation in J&K, where the people can again trust the government,” he added.

Azad said that the confidence of people needs to be restored. “I appeal to all the political leaders including my party leaders to refrain from abusing other leaders just for the sake of politics. To create a peaceful situation in J&K especially where militancy is on peak is the need of the hour. The people of J&K are in pain, they are confused and that needs to be changed in order to bring back their confidence in popular government,” he said.

Azad said that in the all party meeting they have already conveyed their stand to the government that first statehood should be restored to J&K and after that delimitation should happen. “But the government didn’t agree so we appeal to the government to finish demilitation process till February 2022 so that in the March-April election process can be started,” he said.

He said that it is not only the Kashmiri Muslims who are demanding restoration of statehood, but every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir wants it. “The Pandits, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir are unified in the demand of restoration of statehood,” he said.

“Our priority at this hour is not to be chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir but to restore pre-August, 2019 position to J&K,” he said. (KNS)

Srinagar, Nov 27: With the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant carrying worrisome mutations, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday called for enhanced genome sequencing of Covid-19 positive samples to look for the variant in the valley.

“We need to expedite the genome sequencing to identify the variant early and protect the community from another wave of Covid-19,” said DAK President and Influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Picking up the variant early is key to formulate appropriate and effective health policy that would help prevent and control its spread in the community,” he said.

The DAK President said genome sequencing is a laboratory method that is used to identify changes (mutations) in the genetic structure of the virus.

“A new variant of Covid-19 B.1.1.529 has surfaced in South Africa and has also been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel,” he said.

Dr Hassan said the variant has 32 mutations in the region of the genome that controls production of the viral spike protein.

“The spike protein of the virus is critical for viral binding and entry to human cells. It is also the chief target of antibodies that the immune system produces to fight Covid-19 infection.” he added.

“Dubbed as Omicron, WHO has designated the new variant as variant of Concern,” said Dr Nisar.

He said a variant is labeled as variant of concern when the evidence shows the virus is more infectious, is causing more severe disease and is less responsive to existing control measures such as diagnostics, vaccine or treatment or a combination of these factors.

“South Africa has reported a fourfold increase in the number of new cases coinciding with the emergence of the new variant.

Many countries including Europe, US and Canada has imposed travel restrictions from South Africa and several other African countries,” he added.

Spokesperson DAK Dr Riyaz Amad Dagga said in today’s connected world, an outbreak anywhere is a risk everywhere.

Kashmir being the most favorite tourist destination, the mutant can come to us anytime. We have to be prepared and alert.

“We have to prepare in advance,” he said adding advance planning and preparedness is critical to help mitigate the impact of any eventuality.

General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said the best way to prevent the variant is to stop it from coming in as once the virus enters the community it is difficult to control it.

“Passengers at Srinagar international airport especially coming from affected countries should be rigorously screened to prevent the entry and spread of the variant in the valley,” he said.

Late marriage, less knowledge about contraception, obesity, change in life style among main reasons behind infertility: Experts

Srinagar, Nov 26: The National Family Health Survey for 2019-21 has revealed that J&K has lowest fertility in whole India and there has been a decline of 0.6 percent fertility rate in J&K since 2015-16 when the last survey was conducted by NFHS.

Experts in Jammu and Kashmir believe that there are many reasons for infertility but the most common reasons are late marriage, knowledge of contraception, obesity, change of lifestyle and use of junk food.

Dr Farhat Jabeen head of department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at GMC Srinagar while talking exclusively with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that there are multiple reasons behind increase in infertility in J&K and most common is late marriages as when the age advances the problem associated with fertility escalates.

“Poverty, unemployment, dowry, the tradition of extravagant weddings, roadblocks to higher education, and wait for government jobs are some of the key reasons for the disturbing late marriage trend,” she said, adding that the peak fertility of girls is between 18 years and 25 years, and it is not unusual for girls to get married nowadays in their late 20s or 30s, by when there is already a significant decline in their fertility.

The problem of infertility is perceived more of a female problem, but experts say that men are responsible for this problem, either solely or partly in almost half of the cases.

She said polycystic ovary (ovarian) syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age which is increasing, obesity, lifestyle modifications, change in food habits and diabetes are also contributing to infertility.

Jabeen said there is a need to have a system in place in society, avoid late marriages, change food habits, control weight in order to avoid decline in fertility.

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs. It is a complication often caused by some STDs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea. Other infections that are not sexually transmitted can also cause PID.

Experts said that PID is common now and it is because when you have more than one sex partner and use an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control.

Jabeen said that abortion cases have increased and septic abortion conducted by an untrained person and often leads to infection in genital tract and leads to infertility.

Dr Jyoti Haq HOD of Obstetrics and Gynecology at GMC Jammu while talking with KNO said that contraception that is the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse is main reason for the increase in infertility.

“Besides that lack of knowledge about contraception and less awareness is also one of the reasons for infertility in J&K,” Haq said.

She said that obesity, late marriage, chronic sitting, fast food, waiting for jobs and delaying child births are also reasons for infertility.

“Marriage at an appropriate time, awareness among the well read ladies that what is the right age of marriage, change in lifestyle, exercise are must to avoid further decline in it,” Jabeen said.

Experts believe that other causes of infertility among women include disturbance of oocyte maturation, tubal factor infertility, endometriosis, abnormalities of ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the uterus and antibodies against oocytes or sperm.

“The reasons for infertility in men include disturbances of sperm maturation and sperm transport disorders. Around 15 to 30 percent of the affected couples the causes for infertility can be found in both partners. In 5 to 10 percent cases no organic cause can be found neither in the men nor in the women. In this situation stress may be the cause,” experts said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 26: Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar has strongly reacted to the imposition of restrictions on the largest place of worship and spiritual centre of Jammu and Kashmir, Jama Masjid Srinagar, thereby preventing the Muslims to perform important duties as Friday prayers, terming the move by authorities as deplorable and reprehensible.

The Anjuman in a statement said: Today, once again in the morning, the authorities and the police locked the main gate of the Central Jama Masjid and prevented the locals and the people having come from various parts of the Valley to perform their Friday prayers at their beloved mosque.

Expressing concern over the policies pursued by the authorities towards the Central Jama Masjid, the Anjuman said that all records of forcible closure of the grand mosque have been broken. It said the people are being deprived of all the rights including religious rights by force which is a cause of great uneasiness and anxiety for the Muslims of Kashmir.

In the statement, the Anjuman expressed strong resentment against the continuous illegal detention of its head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been under house arrest since 5 August 2019, and said the topmost religious leader of Kashmir should be released so that he resumes his official responsibilities and peaceful activities.

The continued imprisonment of the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir is unacceptable to all sections of the people, the Anjuman said, adding that this dire situation is an eye-opener and a moment of introspection for all those who believe in human rights and democratic values

The Anjuman demanded immediate reopening of Jama Masjid Srinagar for Friday prayers and an end to the detention of the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir without any further delay.

Pulwama, Nov 25 : A youth from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district who has been writing on different issues since the last several years has published his first book recently.

Sheikh Mursaleen (20) a resident of Lajurah area of Pulwama district who is also preparing for JEE exams has recently published his first book titled “The Life of Last Prophet PBUH”.

Mursaleen while talking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that since his childhood he was more inclined towards religion, and was reading religious books written by different people.

He said that when he was in 9th class he wrote his first article and then slowly started writing on different aspects of life of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) and later these all aspects were compiled together and given the shape of a book.

“In my book, I have compared the people living with our Prophet (PBUH) and today’s people and how their faith was strong enough as compared to we people,” he said.

He said that he writes poetry in which he mainly compares Ishq-e Majazi (metaphorical) love with Ishq-e-Haqeeqi (the real love).

Mursaleen said that he is currently preparing for JEE exams but writing is his passion and he spends some time daily writing.

“The main message of my writing remains that don’t claim but prove that we have strong faith and true love with Allah and his prophets and Awaliya,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 25: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Thursday said people who are fully vaccinated need booster shots of Covid-19 vaccine to prevent breakthrough infections.

“Booster shots would extend the immune protection provided by Covid-19 vaccines,” said DAK President and Influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

Dr Hassan said though Covid-19 vaccine provides high level of protection against serious illness, but immunity wanes over time

“Various studies have confirmed that Covid-19 vaccine becomes less effective over time,” he said.

Dr Hassan said analysis from a UK study found that the protection provided by the two doses of Pfizer and Oxford vaccine wanes within six months.

“The study revealed that protection after two doses of the Pfizer vaccine decreased from 88% at one month to 74% at five to six months and protection for Oxford decreased from 77% at one month to 67% at four to five months,” he said.

 The DAK President said Jammu and Kashmir is seeing a rise in the number of breakthrough infections because of waning vaccine immunity.

As per the data, there were around 9400 positive cases of Coronavirus in the last 3 months, out of which 31.7 percent cases were breakthrough infections who had received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

“An infection of a fully vaccinated person is referred to as a vaccine breakthrough infection,” he said adding though fully vaccinated people with a vaccine breakthrough infection are less likely to develop severe illness, but they can spread Covid-19 to others.

Dr Nisar said the increase in breakthrough infections over time reinforces the need for booster doses.

“A booster shot is an additional dose of Covid-19 vaccine that can help maintain your immunity for longer if protection of your initial vaccine has begun to decline over time,” he said.

General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said CDC and FDA have approved booster shots for all adults to be given at least six months after the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

“Many countries including US and UK have started administering booster shots,” he said.

“India’s National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization is likely to take the key issue of administering booster doses in its next meeting scheduled towards the end of this month,” he added.