Category: Union Territory

Srinagar Admin mulls for localised Lockdown in some specific areas of City, if positivity rate doesn’t decline

Srinagar, Nov 05: In view of rapidly increasing Covid-19 positive case in Srinagar district, the District Administration has declared 8 more areas as Micro Containment Zones under Medical Zones of Batamaloo, Zadibal, S.R Gunj and Khanyar to prevent spread of infection in the District.

The areas include Milat Abad, Peerbagh, near Islamic Public School and Noorani Colony Peerbagh in Medical Zone Batamaloo, Upper Soura, near Petrol Pump, Bilal Colony Soura, near Bilal Masjid and Bota Kadal, near Dara ul Aloom Bilaliya in Medical Zadibal Zone, Zaina Kadal near Gagar Masjid in Medical Zone S R Gunj and Buchwara and Batwara areas in Khanyar Medical Zone in the District.

In this regard, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad who is also the Chairman District Disaster Management Authority(DDMA) has said the recent spike in Covid-19 positive cases has prompted the District Administration to take the step for protection of precious lives.

The DC said Srinagar Administration is mulling for localised Lock-down in some specific areas of City, if number of positive cases do not decrease.

The DC further said Srinagar has witnessed a spike in Covid cases in the past one week, prompting the administration to declare some areas in the city as containment zones.

Giving details, the DC said out of total active Covid-19 positive cases in the J&K, about half of them come from Srinagar district only. While other than Srinagar District, cases reported from 19 other districts are either in single digit or no case at all.

“There are 476 active Covid-19 positive cases in only Srinagar District out of total 981cases in J&K”, the DC added. He further said currently, there are 82 containment zones in Srinagar, 8 of which wereR added today.

The DC further said If people don’t follow safety protocols, then Srinagar could be the reason behind the start of third wave in J&K.

The DC appealed the people to follow Covid SOPs in letter and spirit and avoid large gatherings. (KNS)

Srinagar, Nov 4: A newlywed bride has gone missing after allegedly running away with cash and gold from her in-laws house in Anantnag on October 31.

The husband has filed a police complaint against his newly-married wife (name withheld) at a nearest police station in the district.

The husband, identifying himself as Ashiq Hussain, a resident of Iqbal Pora Khriti in Larnoo, told GNS that he got married on August 17, 18 this year. He maintained that his wife, who is a resident of Batote in Ramban district, went missing on October 31, while he was out for work.

“Skeptical of her going away stealthily, I at once checked the luggages’, where I was shocked to found forty thousand rupees besides gold jewellery worth two lac fifty thousand missing”, Ashiq maintained adding he lodged a complaint on the very same day and was asked to record my statement the following day.

“Though the police have assured me that they are collecting the details to trace the woman, I would urge them to expedite measures to locate her”, he further said. (GNS)

Pakistan are the first team to confirm a place in the ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup semi-finals 🇵🇰

Who will be joining them? 🤔

Jammu, Nov 2: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has served a show cause notice to its former legislator Vikram Randhawa for making a hate speech while the J&K Police has lodged an FIR against him.

The notice issued by the BJP disciplinary committee on Monday evening said that Randhawa made this irresponsible and uncalled for speech while proceedings of a former show cause notice issued for similar reasons are still pending against him.

Meanwhile, the FIR lodged by the J&K Police said the speech made by Randhawa had the potential of inciting violence and spreading hatred among different communities.

The highly inflammatory speech made by Randhawa, which went viral on the social media, had targeted a particular community and sought revenge for reasons those were essentially a depiction of the former legislator’s personal mindset.—(IANS)

Pakistan was once again retained on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) increased monitoring list earlier this month as it has failed to curb terror financing of UN proscribed terrorists on its soil, ANI reported.

Speaking at a press conference, FATF President Dr Marcus Pleyer had said the decision to include Pakistan in the grey list was taken by consensus and not by just one country. While announcing the decision, he had dismissed reports of any possible political connotation regarding the global financial watchdog’s decision, as per ANI.

“FATF is a technical body and we take our decision by consensus, so not only one country that makes the decision, the FATF contains 39 jurisdictions and also the decision on Pakistan was taken by consensus,” Pleyer had said at the Paris based watchdog.

The Imran Khan government might well have anticipated the snub from France, the country it has been attacking for banning the wearing of the burqa in public places, according to Islam Khabar.

Along with Islamabad, Turkey was too placed on the FATF’s ‘grey list’ for failing to check terror financing. Turkey will now give company to its ‘brother’ Pakistan, along with over two dozen countries on the FATF grey list.

The publication stated that a case for shifting Pakistan to the black list has always looked strong but Turkey’s slide into the grey list deprives Pakistan of vital support.

“The only other steadfast supporters of Pakistan left in FATF are China and Mongolia. And unless Pakistan is able to get the support of a third member, it will find it difficult to avoid black listing, should FATF conclude at its preliminary in March-April next year that Pakistan deserves the worst,” the report added.

The news publication further argued that a FATF black list will be a more stringent form of punishment for economically wobbly and cash-strapped Pakistan.

The black listing will choke whatever financial aid Pakistan has been receiving from the outside world, including international financial institutions, Islam Khabar reported.

“The ball is truly in the court of Imran Khan who has pledged to turn Pakistan into ‘Riyasat-e-Madina’ – an Islamic welfare state like the state of Madina,” ANI report added.

New Delhi, Oct 29: A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to Kashmiri separatist leader Shabbir Shah’s wife Dr Bilquis Shah in a money laundering case related to terror financing.
Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its supplementary chargesheet filed last year, named her as a new accused in the case. Shabbir Shah is presently in judicial custody in the case.
Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana on Friday granted bail to Dr Bilquis Shah after she physically appeared before the court.
Court also directed to furnish a bail bond with two surety of 50,000 Rs each.
The Court had issued summons against Dr Bilquis Shah while taking cognisance on a chargesheet in a money laundering case related to terror financing.
Advocates MS Khan along with Qausar Khan and Ankit Karn appeared in the matter for Bilquis and Shabbir Shah in the matter.
Advocate Naveen Kumar Matta, representing ED has opposed the bail plea.
ED in its supplementary chargesheet stated that Dr Bilquies Shah along with Shabir Ahmad Shah had received an amount of Rs 2.08 crore from Mohd Aslam Wani (co-accused, currently on bail).
Further, ED stated that Mohd Aslam Wani, in his statements recorded under Section 50 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, had admitted that all the amounts were in cash and were handed over to Shabir Ahmad Shah and on three occasions to Dr Bilquies Shah.
“She received the said amount knowing fully well that her husband had no known sources of income and this money could not have been obtained through licit means,” stated ED.
According to the chargesheet, Dr Bilquies Shah was an active accomplice of Shabir Ahmad Shah in his illicit criminal activities.
She did not file Income Tax Returns during the period preceding the year 2013 as she had no other income except meagre income from private practice, besides her salary to declare.
ED stated that Shabir Ahmad Shah is the main accused and is the conspirator who had devised the whole scheme of money laundering so as to obtain illicit funds from outside India to further the nefarious designs of causing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shabir Ahmad Shah was in regular touch with Hafeez Sayeed, a global terrorist, head of Jamat-ud-Dawa, an organisation banned under UNSC resolution number 1267.
He was also in touch with Mohd Shafi Shayar, based in Pakistan, whose Pakistani phone number was provided by him to Mohd Aslam Wani for collecting the crime money in Delhi on his behalf.
Shabbir Shah is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody. In his defence, it was stated that there is no evidence of any nature connecting with Aslam Wani.
“He is a respectable person and is a known political leader. He is a chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and alligations levelled against are motivated and based on falsehood,” read the statement in his defence. (KINS)

Srinagar, October 27: Stories of people like National Conference (NC) worker Maqbool Sherwani, who fought Pakistani attackers in 1947, would be made part of the school syllabus from next year, J&K Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha announced on Wednesday.

The decision has been taken to educate the new generation about the fighters’ valour and sacrifice, he said. Addressing a function here to commemorate the 75th year of Army’s eviction of the Pakistani raiders from Kashmir, Sinha said it surprised him that stories of Pakistan’s barbarism had remained untold in Kashmir. “Why were people not told about the evil deeds of Pakistan? Why are stories of Maqbool Sherwani, Major Somnath, Brigadier Rajinder Singh and Lieutenant Colonel DR Rai not told to the students in schools?,” asked Sinha at the Srinagar Airfield where the function was held.

The Lieutenant Governor said there was a need to correct the history and tell people more about the October 27, 1947 invasion.

“The truth is they were Pakistan Army men in guise of tribals who murdered our innocent brothers, burnt our houses and raped sisters and daughters,” he said, adding it had become necessary now to refute the misconceptions being spread for many years and to unmask the neighbouring country.

Meanwhile, the Army recreated some dramatic scenes of the 1947 war by enacting the landing of Indian soldiers, who repulsed the Pakistani attack. The re-enactment of historical Budgam landing to celebrate 75 years of induction of Army to save J&K from Pakistan invasion was carried out at the airfield in Rangreth on the outskirts of the city here.

The Army also held wreath laying ceremonies at different formations across the Jammu region, including the Northern Command Headquarters at Udhampur. — PTI

Arsheed is among three Kashmiri students booked under sedition for celebrating Pakistan’s win against India

Srinagar, Oct 28 : The mother of Arsheed Yousuf, who has been booked by the authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra area under sedition for celebrating win of Pakistan in T20 match over India on Sunday, has appealed to the authorities to have mercy upon her and forgive her son if he has committed any mistake.

Notably, on Tuesday Raja Balwant Singh Engineering Techincal College in Agra suspended three Kashmiri students for allegedly taking to social media to celebrate Pakistan’s win over India in T20 World cup match on Sunday.

Arsheed Yousuf (21) son of late Mohammad Yousuf Paul of Budgam district was among the three students who have been booked under IPC Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 505(1)(B) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public) and Section 66F of the Information Technology Act.

Arsheed along with two other students, Showket Ahmad and Inayat Altaf were taken into custody by the police on Monday and a case has been registered against them under stringent laws.

Wahida, a widow, mother of Arsheed while talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) urged the authorities to forgive his sone if he has committer any mistake and have mercy upon a widow mother.

“I beg to the authorities to forgive him for his childish mistake and release him so that his future could be saved. Being a widow I have no one to earn a penny. I have been working hard  just to make my son educated enough to earn a respectable livelihood,” she said.

With folded hands and teary eyes, Wahida pleaded the authorities to forgive her son as he is her only support after his father’s death.

“After his (Arsheed) father’s death, I am doing every possible work for my children to make them have a successful life. From labour to household works I did everything just to make him study well. But now he has been booked and this news has totally shattered me. He is my everything, my reason to live,” she said.

She said that if her son has committed a mistake, she pleads the to authorities to forgive him.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir students Association (JKSA) has written to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath to drop the charges against the three students and to revoke their suspension from their college. (KNS)

Srinagar, Oct 28: The Uttar Pradesh police has booked three Kashmiri students for sedition 124 (A) for allegedly celebrating Pakistan cricket team’s win against India in the T20 World cup after BJP workers filed a complaint against them in police, reported Srinagar based news agency kashmir Dot Com.

The students are studying in Raja Balwant Singh (RBS) Engineering Technical Agra, and were arrested yesterday evening by the UP police from their hostel.

The three students were identified as Arsheed Yusuf (21) son of Mohammad Yousuf Paul, a resident of Checkpora Chadoora in Budgam, Inayat Altaf Sheikh Son of Mohammad Altaf, a resident of Dooniwari in Budgam and Showkat Ahmed of Shahgund in Bandipora district.

The police booked the students after BJP workers protested at the college campus and filed a complaint against them with the Agra police.

Mohammad Shaban Ganie father of Showkat Ahmad Ganie of Shahgund Bandipora, one of the arrested students told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that we talked to our son on last evening before they were arrested since then we have no contact with him and do not know about his whereabouts.

“Nobody informed us, neither the police nor any administrative official informed us about our son, we are all worried and all of the family is in mental trauma. We are too poor to afford a legal lawyer for him,” said Shaban who is a laborer by profession.

The father has appealed Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and UP CM Yogi Adityanath to release their son on humanitarian grounds and forgive him if he has committed any mistake.

Shabir Ahmad Sheikh, uncle of Inayat Altaf Sheikh of Chadoora Budgam, who also has been arrested said that the family urges the UP government and LG to release their son on humanitarian grounds. Arshid’s father is a carpenter.

“We were informed by one of the college teachers about our son’s arrest. The teacher said ‘they are safe and the police has arrested them for some social media status’. We don’t have any knowledge about the charges slapped against them. We want our son to be safe and his early release,” he said.

The students have allegedly posted congratulatory messages for Pakistan as their Whatsapp status.

However, as per reports in Times of India quoting College authorities the students have not raised any celebratory slogans in support of Pakistan cricket team.

“The students did not shout pro-Pakistan slogans,” said B S K B S Kushwaha, director (academics), of the college told ToI, adding the registering of an FIR against the students based on a complaint from an outsider and without consulting college authorities is incorrect.”

Following the arrest of the students, rest of the students who are enrolled in the college have left for home fearing for their life, said Nasir Khuehami, president of J&K Students Association.

Khuehami has urged the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to drop an FIR against three Kashmiri students & revoke their suspension. (KDC)

Srinagar, Oct 27: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday said Covid-19 will likely become a seasonal illness similar to flu that peaks in fall and winter.

“Covid-19 pandemic will end at some point, but the virus will continue to circulate in the human population,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“However, the impact of the virus in terms of deaths, illness and the need for social isolation will lessen. Cases will wax and wane over time. Outbreaks will pop up here and there,” he said.

“Covid-19 will become yet another infection joining many other diseases that humanity has learned to live with. We will probably be living with this virus for rest of our lives,” he added.

Dr Hassan said Covid-19 could transform into a milder illness that can be managed seasonally like the annual flu.

“The 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic could offer a clue about the course of Covid-19,” he said.

The DAK President said H1N1 pandemic was over in about 16 months, but the virus did not disappear. Instead it has turned into a seasonal flu strain that circulates all years, and peaks during winter. Covid-19 could ultimately become another seasonal respiratory virus, like the four other coronaviruses that cause a sizeable proportion of common colds.

“The seasonality of respiratory viruses is affected by number of factors,” he said.

“Flu, for example tends to peak in winter because people spend more time indoors in close proximity to each other, our immune system gets weakened in cold weather due to vitamin D deficiency and the flu virus is more stable in lower temperature.”

“The latest knowledge on the stability and transmission of Covid-19 suggests that the novel virus might follow a similar pattern,” Dr Nisar said.

“That will happen only once the pandemic phase of Covid-19 will be over,” he said adding “Covid-19 is still in a pandemic phase because infections continue to increase across the globe and many people are still susceptible.”

“Vaccination is critical to end the pandemic phase of the virus. When enough people will get vaccination against the virus, and that too quickly, we may see an end to the pandemic soon. Even with vaccination, virus is going to stay around and cause smaller outbreaks, much like seasonal flu. And, we may need booster shots of Covid-19 vaccine on regular basis to maintain immunization over time,” said Dr Nisar.