Handwara, Sep 11: A 40-year-old Kashmiri shawl seller belonging to north-Kashmir’s Handwara area of Kupwara district was found dead in Haryana on Saturday morning, reports and officials said.

Mohammad Shafi Shah son of Mohammad Satar Shah, a resident of Lillam in Ramhall Handwara, as per the family was found dead at his rented accommodation at Shalferi Golah district Keithal near Sher-e-Punjab Dhaba. “He was working as a shawl seller there for last seven years”, a family members told GNS.

Some family members and relatives have left for Punjab to retrieve the body back home, they further said.

A senior police officer here told GNS that as per initial enquiry at Haryana, “prima facie, it appears to be a natural death. “Moreover family members have gone there. Rest of the story will come out in a couple of days,” the officer added. (GNS)

PTI

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 146 fresh Covid cases, taking the infection tally to 3,26,799, while no new death due to the virus was reported from the Union Territory in the past 24 hours, officials said.

Out of the fresh cases, 25 were from the Jammu division and 121 from the Kashmir division, the officials said.

Srinagar district recorded the highest number of 72 cases followed by 15 cases in Baramulla district.

There are 1,301 active cases in the Union Territory as recoveries outnumbered fresh cases while the number of recovered patients was 3,21,086, the officials said.

The death toll in the Union Territory due to the pandemic was 4,412 as no new fatality was reported in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the officials said there were 46 confirmed cases of mucormycosis (black fungus) in the Union Territory as one fresh case was reported since last evening.

PTI

The annual Patt Mela, devoted to Lord Vasuki Nag, commenced here on Saturday amid tight security and strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines, officials said.

Patt Mela is a symbol of the Nag culture and is celebrated every year on Nag Panchami with hundreds of people from across Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country converging at Khakhal Mohallah.

The Mela Pat, which is celebrated every year for three days to commemorate the historic meet between Mughal emperor Akbar and King Nagpal of Bhaderwah in the 16th century at Delhi, started here on Tuesday at Mohalla Khakhal of Bhaderwah.

Thousands of people from different parts of the state participated in the fair, which is devoted to Lord Vaskui Naag, the presiding deity of Bhaderwah valley.The Mela was first started in 16th century by King Nagpal, ruler of a small principality called Bhaderkashi, now known as Bhaderwah.

The Mela is organised on the conclusion of Kailash Yatra and people without any difference of caste, colour and creed participate in the fair.The traditional Dhaku dance, a unique folk dance of the area, is a regular feature during the Mela. According to legend, Raja Nagpal did not use to bow before anyone except his lord, Vasuki Nag.

Once, Mughal emperor Akbar summoned Nagpal to Delhi. It was mandatory for all rulers to bow before the emperor, but Raja Nagpal entered the Darbar and took his seat without bowing to the emperor, which offended Akbar. His courtiers suggested stern action against Raja Nagpal but the latter justified his action by claiming that he does not bow before anybody except his lord, Vasuki Nag.

The next day Akbar’s minister decided that the Raja would enter the hall through a small window, compelling him to bow. But instead of bowing his head, King Nagpal projected his legs from the window. This enraged Akbar and he asked him to prove the power of his lord Vasuki Nag or else action will be taken against him. To the surprise of everyone, the colourful turban of King Nagpal turned into a big serpent with many heads.

Thereupon Akbar asked for pardon and accorded due place to King Nagpal in his Darbar.

On returning to Bhaderwah on the day of Nag Panchmi, the king made a public display of the costly gifts and wealth given to him by Akbar. Since then, the Mela Pat is celebrated in Bhaderwah.The Sanatam Dharam Sabha Bhaderwah and mela Committee makes all arrangements for the mela and the local dance is performed with people raising slogans in praise of Raja Nagpal and Lord Vasuki Naag.

Braving rain, a large number of devotees thronged Khakhal and performed the traditional ‘Dekho’ dance.

“Perhaps, this is the only festival in India which has been celebrated for the last 600 years without any untoward or ugly incident, which clearly shows the communal harmony of this area and the respect for our King Nag Pal,” he said.

Bandipora, 11 Sep: Bandipora: A 28-year-old man died of a massive cardiac arrest at his native village in Nebirpora area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Saturday afternoon.

An official identified the deceased as Ishfaq Ahmad Mir son of Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, a resident of Nebirpora saying he died after suffering a heart attack at his home.

He was immediately taken to District hospital Bandipora, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The sudden death of the young boy left the area in grief.

The growing incidents of heart attack, especially among the youngsters across Kashmir, have created fear among the people.

Recently, there have been several cases in which a number of youth died following heart attack.

Srinagar, Sep 11: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday said people can receive Covid and flu vaccine at the same time.

“You can get jabs for the flu and Covid on the same day,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Receiving the Covid-19 vaccine and flu shot together is safe and won’t affect your immune response to either one,” he said.

Dr Hassan said it is just as safe and effective to get Covid shot and a flu shot at the same time as it is to get them several days or weeks apart.

“You can get both vaccines in the same arm, but providers should separate injection sites by at least one inch,” he said.

“However, those influenza vaccines that are more likely to cause a local reaction like the high dose or adjuvant flu vaccine should be administered in different limbs,” he added.

“Previously, the CDC had recommended that people should receive their Covid-19 vaccination alone and schedule any other vaccination at least 2 weeks before or after Covid-19 vaccination,” Dr Hassan said.

“This was out of an abundance of caution, since Covid-19 vaccine was brand new to all of us,” he said.

The DAK President said getting a flu shot in times of Covid crisis is more important than ever.

“Becoming infected with both viruses at the same time is possible and could increase the chances of becoming severely ill,” he said.

“Last year flu season was mild due to masking, social distancing, reduced travel, remote work and other mitigation measures in place because of Covid-19 pandemic,” Dr Nisar said.

“But unlike last year, this year’s flu season could be harsher as students are returning to schools, workplaces are transitioning back to in-person operation and many people have thrown caution to the wind,” he said.

“As last year flu hasn’t been able to be in circulation like it normally would, there is less of that natural immunity to the flu.

So we could have more flu cases this year than last year that makes this year’s flu shot crucial than ever,” he added.

Kishtwar, Sept 11: Police have arrested husband, mother-in-law and brother-in-law of a woman who was murder in July this year and passed off as a case of suicide in Kishtwar district, officials said. The accused had killed the woman— Neetu Devi— so that second marriage of her husband, Lokesh Kumar, resident of Horna Tehsil Mughal Maidan District Kishtwar, could be solemnized, police said.

A police spokesman in a statement told GNS that on July 11, an inquest proceedings under Section 174 Cr.PC into the suspicious death of one Smt. Neetu Devi was initiated at Police Station Chatroo. The inquest proceeding was initiated when it came to know from the paternal side that the in-laws of the deceased lady were performing last rites of the deceased without informing her parents.

Initially, they said, in-laws of the deceased lady stated that the deceased lady had committed suicide by hanging herself. “During the course of enquiry, some foul play into the matter was substantiated by the enquiry officer and accordingly the inquest proceedings was converted into FIR No. 51/2021 U/Sec. 302/IPC of Police Station Chatroo.”

Keeping in view the sensitivity of the case, SSP Kishtwar Shafqat Hussain Batt (JKPS) constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of Addl. SP Kishtwar Rajinder Singh (JKPS) headed by Dheeraj Singh Katoch, Dy. SP DAR, supervisory officer of police station Chatroo alongwith SHO Inspector Sandeep Parihar. The SIT collected evidences, lifted some suspects for questioning and during the course of investigation and sustained questioning of the suspects it was established that the deceased waomn was murdered by her husband namely Lokesh Kumar son of Isher Dass, Gowash Lal (Brother in-law) and Devki Devi (mother-in-law) by strangulating her with a duppata and hands, the spokesman said.

Accordingly, he said, on the basis of investigation viz-a-viz statement of witnesses and other evidences, the SIT established the role of the trio. “The accused persons after committing the heinous crime shifted the dead body of the deceased to a nearby Committee Hall and hanged it with a hook using Dupatta to pretend that the deceased had committed suicide,” he said.

During investigation, he said, it came to fore that the in-laws of the deceased wanted to get another marriage of Lokesh Kumar (husband of deceased) solemnized somewhere else for which they carried out such a heinous crime in a planned manner. “All the accused persons were taken into custody and presently are lodged in District Jail Kishtwar,” the statement added.(GNS)

Mehbooba Mufti ‘advising’ the Taliban to follow “real Sharia law” and set an example for the world. Her comments followed Farooq Abdullah’s who ‘hoped’ that the Taliban would “deliver good governance in accordance with Islamic principles”.

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173 New Infections, One Death Reported In 24 Hours

Srinagar: The spike in the covid-19 cases continued for the third consecutive day on Friday as the Jammu & Kashmir reported 173 new novel coronavirus infections even as there was one death due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said.

23 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 150 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall case tally to 326653.

There was one death, from Jammu division, reported due to the pathogen during the time, they said. So far 4412—2167 in Jammu and 2245 in Kashmir have succumbed to the virus as per official data.

Providing the district-wise details, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 80 cases, Baramulla 12, Budgam 21, Pulwama 7, Kupwara 9, Anantnag 6, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 8, Kulgam 5, Shopian 0, Jammu 2, Udhampur 0, Rajouri 4, Doda 10, Kathua 0, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 3, Ramban 2 and Reasi 2.

A number of these cases were confirmed at CD hospital and include male (70) and female (63) from Nowpora, male (69) and female (36) from Alamgiri Bazar, female (44) from Nowpora, female (28) from Zadibal, female (30) from Nowshera, two males (80, 55) and female (70) from Lal Bazar, male (75) from Narbal, male (34) from RS Awantipora, female (NA) from Pattan, male (21) from Bemina, female (51) from Rawalpora, male (14) from Khonmoh Srg, male (40) and two females (35, 87) from NA, female (NA) from Khonmoh, male (45) from Wuran, male (31) from Amda Kadal, female (27) from Wantpora, two females (30, 34) and two males (7, 25) from Lal Bazar, male (45) and female (60) from Nowpora.

Moreover, they said, 142 more COVID-19 patients have recovered—19 from Jammu Division and 123 from the valley. So far, 320948 people have recovered, leaving active cases at 1293— 231 in Jammu and 1062 in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, there was no fresh confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today, they said. So far 45 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials added.

Jammu, Sep 10: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the RSS-BJP combine of trying to break the composite culture of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The feeling of love, brotherhood and composite culture exists among you all. I feel sad that the RSS and BJP are trying to break this culture,” Gandhi said in his address to Congress office-bearers and workers at a party function here on the second day of his two-day visit to Jammu.
“They (RSS, BJP) attack love and brotherhood… You got weakened and as result, they took away your statehood,” he added.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the ideological fount of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre.
The Congress leader exhorted the gathering to chant ”Jai Mata Di”, a day after he paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra.
“I went to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine yesterday. There are three symbols of mata (pindis) there – Mata Durga, Mata Lakshmi and Mata Saraswati,” Gandhi said.
Goddess Durga protects us, Lakshmi is a symbol of power, and Saraswati symbolises education and knowledge, he said.
“When these three shaktis are in your home and country, your home and country will make progress,” he said.
However, the BJP government”s policies like demonetisation and GST have weakened their powers, he said.
Whereas, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act (MGNREGA) and the GDP with a growth rate of 9 per cent under the Congress had increased their powers, he added.
Pointing towards his hand, Gandhi co-related the Congress election symbol with Lord Shiva and Guru Nanak Dev, and said it was the symbol of being fearless.
“This hand is the symbol that you should not be afraid of anything,” Gandhi said, adding that the “BJP is afraid of everything”