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Srinagar, Jul 20: In the past five years, at least eight percent of the female population in Jammu and Kashmir suffer pregnancy loss, reveals a survey conducted by Government of India (GoI).

The official figures of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) states that the region has witnessed at least eight percent of foetal wastage in the backdrop of abortion, miscarriage and stillbirth in the past five years.

“At least 92 percent of last pregnancies in the five years preceding the survey ended in a live birth, and the remaining 8 percent terminated in foetal wastage (abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth),” reads the survey.

It also states that the miscarriage was most commonly reported type of foetal wastage, accounting for at least five percent of all pregnancies, and abortions accounted for 2 percent.

“The three main reasons for abortion reported by women were complications in pregnancy with 26 percent, health issues with 19 percent and 17 percent of unplanned pregnancy,” reads the GoI survey.

It also states that the 69 percent methods used for performing abortions was done through medicines, Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) was conducted to one percent and other 23 percent surgical methods were also used.

“A large majority of at least 79 percent of abortions were performed in the public health sector, and 14 percent were performed in the private health sector,” it reads.

“Thirty-seven percent of women reported having complications from the abortion. Most abortions in Jammu and Kashmir with 82 percent are performed by doctors,” the survey reads—(KNO)

Srinager, July 19: The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference Monday said that they does not expect the ruling party to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s special status as abrogating Article 370 was an ideological plank of the ruling government for 70 years.

“Abrogating Article 370 was an ideological plank of this government for 70 years, ” the People’s Conference Tweeted on its official Twitter handle.

PC also said that they wouldn’t expect them to give it back. “But that doesn’t stop us from going to the courts, which we have, or waiting for a liberal government at a future date to give it back.”

In another Tweet, PC said: “We should not allow the issues of Articles 370 and 35A to be an impediment in delivering other things which are more achievable in the short term like full statehood.”

MeT Issues Amber Warning For ‘Isolated Heavy Rain’ On July 20

Srinagar, July 19: Jammu and Kashmir received moderate to heavy rain with Kathua district receiving over 121mm downpour since overnight, officials said on Monday.

The weatherman has forecast more rain “in spells” till July 21, with main activity on Tuesday.
“As expected, light to moderate rain occurred at most places of J&K especially since late night. More rain in spells is likely till (July) 21st with peak on (July) 20th,” Director local Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus said.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar received 1.8mm of rain till 0830 hours while the summer capital of J&K recorded maximum temperature of 27.3 degrees Celsius which is 2.5 degrees Celsius below the normal for the season.

The Capital city on Sunday recorded hottest July day in eight years as mercury shot up to 35.0 degree Celsius.

Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, received 5.2mm of rain till 0830 hours and recorded maximum of 28.2 degrees Celsius against normal of 34.2 degrees Celsius, he said.

Kathua district recorded downpour of 121.8mm of rain while Bhaderwah had 13.7mm of rain followed by 9.2mm in Katra, 3.4mm in Banihal and 1.6mm in Batote.

Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, received 14.8mm of rain and maximum temperature of 28.0 degrees Celsius, he said.

Pahalgam had highest rainfall in Kashmir Valley with 26.3mm of rain till 0830 hours and 3.3mm from 0830 to 1730 hours while the famous tourist resort recorded a maximum of 23.0 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag had 9.2mm of rain even as it recorded a day temperature of 27.3 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The border town Kupwara received 2.6mm of rain while it recorded maximum temperature of 28.3 degrees Celsius against previous day’s 35.3 degree Celsius which was highest in eight years for the area, he said.

World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir received 2.6mm of rain and was the coldest place in Valley, recording maximum of 19.0 degrees Celsius, he added.

The weatherman has issued ‘amber/orange warning for “isolated heavy rain, thunderstorm & lightning” on July 20 and “yellow warning” for “isolated thunderstorm lightning” on July 21.

There are four types of colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched), amber –government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Strongly refuting the news report appearing in a section of media that construction work was going on without seeking NOC on wetland in Tawheed Abad Nadirgund area of Peer Bagh Srinagar, a family from Srinagar Monday clarified that they own over 28 kanals of propriety land which in no case is a wet land, but an apple orchard.

“It is a colony where number of houses and buildings comprising of hundreds of flats have come up, just adjacent to our land. We don’t know why we were singled out to be targeted, given the fact we had obtained online NOC from Assistant Commissioner Nazool that clearly states that the land we own is not a wetland and is far away from the Narkara waterbody,” the family said.

They said another misinformation was spread that SMC has put the construction work on hold while the fact is that Jammu Kashmir Special Tribunal had already stayed the impugned order in their favor.

One of the family members told news agency Kashmir News Trust that a misinformation campaign against them was spread by vested interest elements. “If we are restrained to carry out construction work, how come other buildings have come up in the same area. How Irrigation and Flood Control Department officials permitted those flats to come up in the area. We appeal Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to intervene and fix the responsibility, for us being harassed, while scores in the same locality have never been subjected to such a harassment”, he said.

“It is not agricultural land, besides getting NOC from Irrigation and Flood Control Department is not mandatory as Land Revenue Act has ceased to exit due to implementation of New Master Plan,” the family said adding that they possess all documents to prove their claim.

“We don’t know why some people want to impede the construction work and what are their interests,” the family said, adding that it was a fit case for ACB to probe and bring to fore, the real reasons behind only us being singled out to be targeted, when there is nothing illegal in the context of our case. (KNT)

Srinagar, July 19: Two days after the arrest of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Secretary Sofi Akbar in a Kashmirfight blog case has been suspended with immediate effect.

Shopian Jul 19: Two militants including police cop turned top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander have been killed in an encounter between security forces and militants at Check Sadiq Khan area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday evening.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that two militants have been killed, while as the search operation is on in the area.

He said the militants turned down repeated surrender offers given to them by government forces, adding that a police cop turned top commander of LeT identified as Ishfaq Dar @Abu Akram active since 2017 is among the slain, however, another identification is being ascertained.

Ishfaq has worked as constable in Jammu and Kashmir police from 2010 but he escaped in 2017 and joined militant ranks, a top official told KDC.

Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 34 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, the mobile internet services have been suspended in the district—(KDC)

Srinagar, July 18: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole on Sunday said that no congregational prayers will be allowed on Eid-ul-Adha in the Kashmir valley in view of the prediction of Covid-19 third wave.

Talking with Kashmir *News Service (KNS), PK Pole said that there will be no congregational prayers on Eid as the limited number of people allowed in any sort of gathering is just 25 and it will difficult to limit the number to 25 if congregational prayers are allowed.

He said that the prayers will be allowed in a decentralised way like it has been allowed during the peak of Covid-19 second wave.

“As any sort of gathering is limited to 25, which included Eid gatherings or congregational prayers, so these prayer will not be allowed. Limiting the number of people to 25 would be difficult if congregational prayers are allowed in Eid, so the prayers will be allowed in a decentralised way, there will be no congregational prayers,” he said.

He also said that that people must follow government SOPs and medical experts’ instructions on the occasion Eid-ul-Adha and avoid Covid-19 threats.

Pole said that considering the damage caused by the third wave of Covid-19 in other countries, everyone should follow the guidelines and precautions strictly on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha with regard to COVID-19.

He said that the third wave of Covid-19 has become a reality in other countries and in view of the third wave, the government of India has also taken steps against it and people have to follow them.

Pole said that the coming days will be very crucial and urged people to continue their fight against the pandemic by strictly following the physical distancing norms and use of mask. (KNS)

‘Governor’s job assurance proved hoax’

Srinagar, Jul 17: The families of three youth from Rajouri who were killed in a fake encounter on 18 July last year said that they were betrayed by the administration.

The families said that except receiving Rs 5 lakh compensation each, no progress has been made in the case.

Mohammed Yousuf, father of Abrar Ahmad told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that last year when LG Governor visited their residence, they were assured that a kin of each family will get a government job but as of now nothing has happened.

“We visited the offices of Deputy Commissioner Rajouri where we were asked to bring a letter from LG office following which we sought an appointment with LG, but we are still waiting for the call,” Yousuf said.

“If authorities have already identified the people who killed our sons, why is the government unnecessarily delaying action against them,” Yousuf said.

They requested the LG Governor to look into the matter and provide them justice by providing government jobs to one family member of each slain.

Notably on July 18, last year, three labourers were killed in a fake encounter at Amshipora, Shopian. Their pictures went viral on social media after which three families from Rajouri district of Jammu claimed that the slain were their kin who had traveled to Shopian to work as labourers.

Amid hue and cry by the netizens and civil society activists, the families demanded DNA mapping of the slain trio.

The police conducted the DNA profiling of slain, the samples of which matched with three Rajouri families on September 25, which proved that the slain were not militants, the labourers who were earning their living in Amshipora.

While the army initially said the three were “terrorists”, it later admitted that its men exceeded the powers vested under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and contravened the dos and don’ts of the chief of army staff (COAS) as approved by the Supreme Court. The army had also ordered a court of inquiry into the encounter.

The slain trio were identified as Abrar Ahmed, 25; Imtiyaz Ahmed, 20, and Mohammed Ibrar, 16. On October 3, after around 70 days, the bodies of three labourers were exhumed.

The bodies were later handed over to the families and buried at their native places in Rajouri district.

Police later produced challan against three persons involved in the case and were produced before Principal and session Judge Shopian in December last year.

As per the challan trio involved in the case are Captain Bupinder of 62 RR, Tabish Ahmad, a resident of Shopian and Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama—(KNO)