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Srinagar June 30: Jammu and Kashmir police personnel and their families live under constant fear after the recent spate of militant attacks on cops when they were off from their duties and with their families.
There are over one lakh Jammu and Kashmir police personnel. After attending their duties, they return to their homes and spend time with their families. However, it has been recently seen gunmen have attacked the cops when they were off their duties.
The recent incident took place on Sunday evening when suspected militants barged into the house of Fayaz Ahmad Bhat at Hariparigam Awantipora in South Kashmir, who had been a Special Police Officer (SPO) with the Jammu and Kashmir police.
“When masked gunmen pointed their gun at 50-year-old Bhat, his wife Raja Begum and 22-year-old daughter Rafiya Jan tried to save him by shielding from the bullets. The militants fired indiscriminately and the bullets hit Bhat on his head while bullets pierced into the abdomen and chest of his wife and daughter,” one of their relatives told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
Bhat died on the spot while his wife died at Government Medical College Anantnag an hour later while his daughter breathed her last the next morning in the hospital.
Bhat’s son 27-year-old Liyaqat Ahmad is in the army and posted at Khrew in his native district Pulwama.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar who visited the bereaved family on Monday said when the SPO’s family members had tried to save him, the militants fired upon them too. He said that two foreign militants from the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit had carried out the attack.
Kumar said that policemen are always under threat for being on the frontline, but targeting their families was nothing short of cowardly.
In the month of June, militants killed three policemen when they were off their duties.
Recently, militants shot dead Parvaiz Ahmed Dar, a J&K police inspector, near Nowgam area of Srinagar city when he was returning home after offering prayers in the Mosque. CCTV footage showed two gunmen fired at Dar from very close range who died on the spot.
On June 17, militants also shot dead a J&K policeman, Javaid Ahmed in Srinagar near his home.
The spate in attacks on policemen has created a fear for cops and their families. “My son who is the lone bread earner in our family has been serving in Jammu and Kashmir for the last over five years. He never caused any harm to anybody. But we live a fearful life that he too may be attacked at home when he comes to meet us on the weekend. If he leaves the job then who will feed me and my two daughters,” mother of a cop from Pulwama told news agency KINS.
Earlier in April, militants disguised as burkha-clad women killed a J&K policeman, Rameez Raja, who was guarding the residence of a local politician in Nowgam, Srinagar. In February, Suhail Ahmed and Muhammad Yousuf, two J&K policemen, were killed during a militant attack in Srinagar when they were having tea at a local Dhaba.

Srinagar, June 30: Many in Kashmir believe that the novel coronavirus pandemic is over and are openly flouting Covid-19 norms.
It has been seen in almost every district that a sizable number of people flout Covid rules adamantly. They have their own reasons and versions and beliefs. Most who flout precautionary norms cite the drop in the number of cases in the Union territory as the reason for their actions.
What is even more surprising is the fact that even educated individuals also place their trust in such outlandish beliefs.
“I think the serious phase of coronavirus is over. Look at the cases in Union territory, they are coming down daily. So there is no need to be alarmed now I guess. The intensity of the virus has died down ,” a youngster from City centre lalchowk told early news agency KINS on condition of anonymity.
With his face mask dangling from the side pocket, the young resident says he does not always wear it. He adds, “It is suffocating plus when there is no one around, there is no need to wear the mask. It is only needed when there is a crowd around you.”
When asked why he kept the mask with him if he did not believe in wearing it at all times, the youngster responded with a smile saying, “Police roam around at so many places and impose a fine. So it is better to have one with you.”
Another youngster found at a mall had his own excuse for not wearing a face mask.
Requesting anonymity, he told early times, “Look now we have developed enough immunity so now there is not much tension. Only the old people and those who have issues with heart and lungs need to take precautions and perhaps wear a mask all the time.”
Asked where he had gathered such information from, the youngster, taken aback, said, “Look around you. Look at the local shopping complexes, the other bazaars. The crowd is back. And the cases are not rising. This means that we have got immunity now.
Another person said, “I do not have any symptoms so I do not wear a mask. I am not a threat to anyone. But I keep a sanitizer with me. My friends and I went to Lalchowk yesterday and we did not wear masks and we are fit.”
However medical experts warn that this reckless behaviour could cause serious harm in the coming days.
KINS talked to some senior doctors to understand their viewpoint on the issue.
“It will require months before we let our guards down completely. We believe that it would take early 2022 to vaccinate the majority of the population. Till then, we have to be on our guard. Wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and avoiding venturing out is still a must. We have to put our best foot forward to reduce the chances of getting infected.” The doctor who is posted here in the SKIMS sour said wishing anonymity.
Another Pulmonologist at SHMS said the number of cases reflects the status of the disease in the community, but for an individual, the probability of infection and severity of the disease is still determined by the precautions that one takes, and this has remained unchanged through the pandemic.
Dr adds, “If you actually get vaccinated and the vaccine takes effect, nothing has changed in terms of the probability of severe disease, the availability of drugs to cure the disease, and the possible long-term effects of the disease, even when mild.”
A similar sentiment is echoed by another doctor. He said that herd immunity may take time even after vaccination and that people should be careful till a majority of the population undergoes vaccination and that will take time.
The doctor goes on to say that people should be cautious in letting their guard down thinking that it is an immunity passport since the immunity may be short-lived and the virus may re-emerge in a stronger manner.
“Bottom line is to continue to follow all the norms of social distancing, wearing masks, adhering to hand hygiene and following all respiratory etiquettes,” the doctors added.(KINS)

Srinagar: The BJP would have slandered even BR Ambedkar, the father of Indian Constitution, as pro-Pakistan had he been alive, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said on Sunday amidst criticism of Congress leader Digvijaya Singh over his remarks on Article 370.

Mehbooba said Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of J&K before its operative provisions were nullified by the Centre in 2019, was granted by the Constitution drafted by Ambedkar, but it had been “subverted” by the Centre.

Her remarks came amidst growing criticism of the Congress and Singh over his purported comments in an audio chat on social media that his party will have a “relook” at Article 370 revocation and Jammu and Kashmir’s lost statehood if it returns to power.

The BJP has said that Singh’s remarks were part of a larger pattern of the party being “hand in glove” with Pakistan. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who was a BJP ally for some time in J&K, criticised the saffron party.

“Thank God! Ambedkar ji isn’t alive or else he too would have been slandered as pro- Pakistan by BJP” she tweeted.

“The decision of revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of J&K is extremely, I would say, sad decision, and the Congress party would certainly have a relook on the issue,” Digvijay Singh had said, according to excerpts of the clubhouse conversation available on social media.

Srinagar, June 21: Prof. Saifuddin Soz, Former Union Minister Monday said that: “India’s Central Government did not learn from its mistakes and it continued to repeat its mistakes.

“Now, it’s (Central Govt.’s) intention to restore the ‘Statehood’ will not yield any advantage to it because that is a small issue before the people of Jammu and Kashmir State,” Soz said.

He said the real issue is the J&K State’s Special Status enshrined in the now-abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which the Union Govt. has to be restored.

Soz said that India has earned a great flak at the international level, where the peoples’ as well as their governments feel convinced that the people of Jammu and Kashmir State are deeply hurt and angry on the erosion of Internal Autonomy ratified by the people of the State and the then Central Govt., through the Delhi Agreement of 1952.

“Any move by the Central Govt. short of restoring the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution of India will be rejected by the people of the J&K State, out-rightly.”

Soz said people of the State will prove it again to the Union that their anger will never subside till the provisions of Article 370 will be restored.” (KNT)

‘My victory a big slap for power mongers’

Srinagar: Four members including former Deputy Mayor Sheikh Muhammad Imran won the Executive Committee Elections of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday.

Sources said that 11 Corporators had participated in the elections, which was held to fill up 4 vacant seats in the Executive Committee.

Those who were elected include former NC member Danish Bhat, Nazir Gilkar from BJP, Shafat Gafar from Congress and Independent candidate Sheikh Muhammad Imran.

Sheikh Muhamamd Imran’s victory came as a big surprise as he is not being supported by any political party.

“It is the first step towards the eradication of corruption in SMC. I am powerless. Congress betrayed me. BJP and Apni Party are allies while NC didn’t favour me and yet I bagged the seat by the grace of Almighty. My victory is a slap for those who enjoy power,” Sheikh Muhammad Imran told news agency Kashmir News Trust.

He said like-minded people supported him as they like him want to eradicate corruption from the Corporation.

Aasif Beigh who was official candidate from Congress held Chief Whip Basharat Bin Qadir responsible for his debacle. He alleged that Chief Whip of the party back stabbed him.

“BJP had only one member, how it managed to garner the support of 11 members. Congress had 17 members but its candidate got only one vote. How is it possible?,” Beigh questioned and sought action against the Chief Whip who according to Beigh always backstabbed party and its candidates.

Beigh said he will not only raise the matter with Jammu Kashmir Party president but also will approach the All-India Congress Committee where he will question Basharat Bin Qadri’s elevation.

Pertinently, Executive Committee is a powerful body where all the developmental plans and schemes for Srinagar are discussed and implemented. (KNT)

DODA : Working in present times when the entire humanity is fighting against the deadly Coronavirus threat has made my job one of the most noble, responsible, critical and challenging, said Ambulance driver at Associate Hospital Government Medical College, Doda, Parvaz Iqbal Sheikh.

“Amid the fast life of present times, the rate of incidents/accidents has exceeded considerably which requires readiness of medical machinery as well as the frontline workers like me” Parvaz added.

Parvaz says that being in the service as an ambulance driver for more than 8 years now, he has never felt so depressed and stressed as in the last one year, while working amid this deadly Covid-19 pandemic day and night.

Referring to his last year duty schedule, Parvaz says that he had to everyday take the samples collected at the GMC or from elsewhere in the district all the way to designated Centres in Jammu under set protocol so that these are tested, because at that time there was no RT PCR machine available in the GMC Doda.

Adding further, he says that when any patient was gasping for oxygen last year he had to be referred to Jammu or Srinagar for intensive care as there was no manifold or oxygen generation plant available in GMC Doda at that point of time.

“Spinning wheels at a fast speed by risking our own lives while taking the referred patients to the out of district hospitals gives us more happiness than any other worldly pleasure”, Parvaz added.

“Apart from this when nobody is ready to touch the dead bodies of the Covid victims, we would assist the bereaved family in making arrangements for the final journey of the deceased, while putting our own lives at stake,” he added.

He urged the people of the district to follow the instructions with regard to Covid appropriate behaviour seriously as this deadly virus has swallowed the beloved and dear ones of many of us in recent times.(PTK)