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Srinagar, March 15: The spread of the coronavirus has also hit the preparations of first-ever Global Investors Summit-2020 in Jammu and Kashmir and the major event is likely to be postponed, which was scheduled in April.

Jammu and Kashmir administration had embarked on massive preparations to organise first-ever Global Investors Summit-2020 in the Union Territory for which Centre has allotted Rs 50 crore for hosting the mega event.

A senior official of Industries and Commerce Department said the Summit was expected to be held in April this year in Srinagar and Jammu.

“The spread of coronavirus has hit the preparations badly. We had started preparations but have now been put on hold,” a senior government official told Kashmir Indepth New Service (KINS).

He said Indian Railways was also scheduled to hold a major event in Srinagar in the first week of March, which was also canceled in view spread of coronavirus.

He said the Centre has allotted Rs 50 crore for the event.

“The amount was to be spent on publicity, accommodation, travel, special cars and other arrangements for visitors,” the official said.

The official said Summit is being organised with the theme of ‘EXPLORE, INVEST and GROW’ aimed to bring together senior entrepreneurs, leaders from corporate sectors across the world.

“The event was to see strategic sectoral sessions, technical presentations, round table deliberations, partnerships, one-to-one business and signing of a memorandum of understanding,” the official said.

The official said that delegates were scheduled to be taken to picturesque spots in the valley. “Several hotels along the banks of Dal Lake were also booked for the delegates. But the event won’t be held in April now in view spread of coronavirus,” the official said.

Government has identified over 20,000 kanals of land and will be open for outside investors.

Confederation of Indian Industry has been selected as the national partner, while Earnest Young, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and Expro have been selected as knowledge, media and event partner. Pre-summit investors meet was held in New Delhi in January.

At the meet, Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu said that the government for the first time was making an attempt to promote investment in J&K.

“This is the dawn of new era for the growth, development and overall well-being of the people of J&K,” he has said.

Government has identified 14 sectors for prioritizing efforts for the investment in J&K. These include Manufacturing, IT sector, tourism hospitality, film production, agriculture, milk poultry, wool production processing silk, handlooms, handicrafts, healthcare, medicinal plants, education, skill development infrastructure, and real estate.

“The investors Summit will provide an opportunity to allay fears and apprehensions from the minds of the outside business community about investment in J&K. It will present immense opportunities to develop contacts between the local and outside the business community and will provide not only primary employment but also generate secondary and ancillary employment opportunities for youth,” Chief Secretary B.V.R Subrahmanyam has said. (KINS)

Photo © Masrat Zehra

Srinagar, March 15: Amid growing scare of coronavirus, Srinagar city on Sunday turned into a ghost city with empty walkways, streets, and very little transport and other business establishments.

With the increase in many positive cases for coronavirus in India, administration in four districts of Jammu and Kashmir had already imposed restrictions over the gathering of more than five persons at any public place with immediate for the period of one month.

Amid fear of coronavirus in the capital city, Srinagar on Sunday wore a deserted look with less number of people were seen standing in the busiest markets of Srinagar.

Reports said all the main routes in the capital city were devoid of traffic, with very less number of vehicles were seen plying on Sunday; people wearing masks were seen almost at every place in the city.

Sunday market on the three-km long road stretch from Radio Kashmir to Lal Chowk which usually attracts thousands of customers from different parts of the valley on Sunday was deserted as vendors were not allowed to put up their stalls in the market.

Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattoo last week ordered the closure of the Sunday market as a precautionary measure because of COVID-19.

In view of the COVID-19 threat, the government had ordered the closure of all educational institution including colleges, universities across Jammu’ and Kashmir, besides control rooms and surveillance teams have been constituted in all the districts of Union Territory besides two coronavirus lab testing facilities had already been made functional in SKIMS, Srinagar and GMC Jammu.

Govt also had urged citizens especially those with travel history to affected countries such as China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, etc to self declare immediately and to report to the nearest government health facility If any symptoms are found.

Pertinent to mention here an official of SKIMS told Kashmir Indepth News Service, no patient has tested positive of coronavirus in Kashmir so far. (KINS)

80% of people who died from the virus were above 60 years of age

Srinagar Mar 15: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said older people are more vulnerable to develop severe illness and death from the novel (new) coronavirus that has so far killed at least 5,839 people and infected 156,885 worldwide.
“If you are old, you are at a higher risk of having a severe disease and even death from the novel virus,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.
Based on data from confirmed cases of the novel virus, Dr Nisar said about 80% of people who died from the virus were above 60 years of age.
“The highest death rate was in people over the age of 80,” he said adding “around 15% of people in this age group died from the disease.”
Dr Nisar said people with underlying chronic medical conditions also increase the risk of dying from the new virus.
He said while the fatality rate in patients with no health conditions was 1.4%, it was 13.2% for those with heart disease, 9.2% for those with diabetes, 8.4% for people with high blood pressure, 8% for people with chronic lung disease, and 7.6% for those with cancer.
Dr Nisar said elderly and people with medical conditions have weak immune system that promotes viral replication leaving them at a higher risk of developing severe complications from the virus.
He said it is important to remember that older people may not manifest with the usual symptoms of the novel coronavirus that are fever and cough.
“We should be alert for atypical presentations in them,” Dr Nisar said.
“Feeling weak or changes in mental status might be the only signs of infection in older people. A fall or forgetfulness or feeling of unwellness in an elderly could be due to the viral illness, even if other, more common symptoms aren’t in evidence,” he said.
“Older people and those with comorbidities should take extra precautions to prevent the contraction of virus. Apart from maintaining personal hygiene by hand washing, they should try to stay home as much as they can, and avoid crowds and nonessential travel,” said Dr Nisar.

‘No reason to call for praying at home when Kashmir is virus free so far, Will take a call if situation worsens God forbid’

Srinagar, March 15: Kashmir’s Grand Mufti, Nasir-ul-Islam on Sunday said the Islamic law—shariah doesn’t permit avoiding religious congregations including Friday prayers when the pendemic like Coronavirus has not even spread in Kashmir. He said time is ripe for organizing congregational repentance prayers in masjids across Kashmir and the Imams are advised upon to lead such prayers to seek Allah’s refuge from the Covid-19.

According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Grand Mufti said that, however, was quick to add that in case god-forbid, anybody tests positive in Kashmir, which is not the case so far, the Ulema will sit and unanimously decide about the “strategy to be adopted.”

“I don’t see any reason to call for banning congregational prayers at masjids and shrines as the virus has not spread in Kashmir yet. As per the official figures, not a single case has tested positive and we should be thankful to Almighty Allah for that,” Mufti Nasir said. He urged Imams and Molvis of all the shrines and masjids across Kashmir to organize prayers for repentance across Kashmir to seek Allah’s refuge from the deadly virus.

The Grand Mufti, as per KNO, said that every day, there should be “mass repentance prayers in every masjid across the Valley.” “There is no need to avoid congregational prayers of Fridays or other prayers of the day. People should not make Covid-19 an excuse to offer prayers at home. Islam doesn’t allow lame excuses and there should be solid reason to pray at home, which I don’t see anywhere,” he said.

As per official figures, only two cases have tested positive in Jammu region of J&K while as no case has been tested positive in Kashmir so far even though hundreds of people have been screened and over 1000 samples taken for testing so far—(KNO)

Srinagar, 15 March, 2020: A day after his release from detention under PSA, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah underlined the importance of free exchange of ideas and urged all political leaders here to unite in demand of bringing back all J&K detainees from outside J&K, pending their release.

His Full Statement:

I have consciously avoided making any political statements since I was released from detention on the 13th of March. While I believe a free & frank exchange of political views is essential so that we can take stock of the momentous changes that J&K has seen after 5th August 2019 we are still some way away from an environment where such political discourse will be possible. This is especially so considering the number of people detained in August last year who remain in jails outside J&K.

I am acutely aware that compared to hundreds of Kashmiri families I have been far more fortunate. I was detained at home & my family had access to me. Yesterday when I went to meet my son Omar, also detained under the Public Safety Act, I had to travel a kilometre from my home to be able to see him. For families of most of the detainees meeting their loved ones is not nearly as easy. Their loved ones have been detained in jails spread across a number of states. They get two visits a month for which they have to spend large sums of money they can ill afford traveling to & staying in the vicinity of these prisons.

The already onerous financial burden is made worse by the health risk they now face because of COVID-19. At a time when people are being advised not to travel these families are being forced to put their lives at risk in order to meet their loved ones for a few short but very precious hours.

Before we allow politics to divide us I appeal to all political leaders here to unite behind the call to the union government to bring back all detainees from J&K in prisons outside pending their release. While we would like to see them all released as soon as possible, pending that they should be shifted to J&K. This is a humanitarian demand & I hope others will join me in placing this demand in front of the government of India.

(National conference)

Internet services snapped in area

Jahangeer Ganaie

Anantnag, Mar 15 (KNO): Top commanders of lashkar Toiba  and  Jaish -e Muhammad   are among four militants  killed in an encounter with government forces in Watergam area of Anantnag district  in south Kashmir on Sunday.

According to wire Service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), four militants were killed in brief exchange of gunfire with joint team of security forces within a house. 

DIG South Kashmir Atul Goyal told KNO said that acting on specific inputs on intervening night of Saturday – Sunday a joint  search operation was launched in the area.

As the searches were intensified, hiding militants fired upon the joint  forces  approaching towards suspected spot which was retaliated heavily  triggering off  an encounter, resulted in killing of four militants, Goyal said.

On being asked there was no fire from militants, “militants tried to break the cordon and flee after which forces fired and managed to kill all four hiding  militants without causing injury to any of forces personnel”, he said.

Goyal furthermore said that incriminating material including arms and ammunition has been recovered from the slain militants.

An official identified the slain militants as Muzaffar Ahmad and Umar Ahmad from Sopat village of Kulgam and Gulzar

Ahmad from Tarigam village and Sajad Ahmad from Tengbal Frisal village of Kulgam.

He added that Muzzafar, umar and sajad were associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) while as Gulzar was associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)

He added that Muzzafar and Gulzar were operating as top commanders of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in the area.

The official further said that exchange too place at a hideout within  the  house of Fayaz Ahmad Dar, a local.

Meanwhile as a precautionary measure internet services have been suspended in Anantnag and kulgam district—(KNO)

Srinagar, March 15: Forces on Sunday afternoon fired some shots in air aftera suspicious Maruati vehicle ignored a singal to stop at naka party in Chursu area of Awantipora in Pulwama district.

An official told wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a maruti vechile on way from Srinagar towards Anantnag was asked to stop at Barsoo, Awantipora but driver didnt stop and escaped from the spot.

After that same vehicle was asked to stop at charsoo Awantipora but the driver gained speed and managed to give slip to forces after which forces present fired few shots in air, he added.—(KNO)

Further details awaited

Rajouri, March 15 (GNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has placed under suspension medical superintendent of Associated Hospital Rajouri, Dr. Raghuvir Singh, for disclosing name of person who was recognized as a potential coronavirus (Covid-19) patient in the district.

As per protocol, if any suspect case comes under tracking, it is imperative for the Health Department to keep the same person firstly either in Home Quarantine or in quarantine ward established in Hospitals, till incubation period and samples are to be sent at designated laboratories for further diagnosis.

One person who had returned from Saudi Arabia and suffering from fever and Cold was brought to Associated Hospital, Rajouri on Saturday morning and doctors decided to keep him in Isolation ward there as a suspect case of novel corona virus.

The Medical Superintendent wrote a letter to the incharge Police Post, GMC and AH Rajouri, wherein he clearly mentioned the identity of the suspect, which is against the ruling of the Supreme Court where privacy of the patient is to be maintained, reads an order by Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, a copy of which lies with GNS .

“Due to the disclosure of privacy of the suspect case, panic was spread among his relatives who met him, after his arrival, residing in the area where the suspect belongs to, which made the situation more worsen (sic),” reads the order.

“Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, etiquettes & Ethics) Regulations, 2002 stresses that confidence concerning Individual or domestic life, entrusted by patient to a physician and defects in the disposition or character of the patients observed during medical attendance should never be revealed unless their revelation is required by the Laws of the State or Union Territory”.

Under Rule 7.14 of the Regulations 2002, it is imperative that the registered Medical practitioner shall not disclose the secret of patient, that have been learnt in the exercise of his/her profession except 1 in a court of Law under order of presiding Judge or in circumstances where there is serious identified risk to a specific person or commodity and in notifiable disease.

“…Pending enquiry, Dr. Raghuvir Singh, Medical Superintendent, AH GMC Rajouri is hereby placed under suspension, for sharing the details of the patient and not maintaining the privacy, which is sheer violation of Charter of Patients’ rights, issued by Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Gol and Professional conduct rules of Medical Council of India & dereliction of duties,” the deputy commissioner ordered.

He has been attached with the office of the Chief Medical Officer, Rajouri during the period of suspension. Principal Govt Medical College Rajouri has been asked to make alternate arrangement, so that work may not suffer in the Associated Hospital, GMC Rajouri. (GNS)