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Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday decided to open religious premises and places of worship from August 16 but extended other standard operating procedures for COVID-19 containment till August 31.

“Major decision by J&K Government. All religious places and places of worship to open in Jammu & Kashmir from August 16, 2020. Religious processions and large religious gatherings remain strictly prohibited,” government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said in a tweet.

According to an order issued by the chief secretary, a separate SOP will be issued for opening of religious places.

Meanwhile, the administration has declared all districts of Kashmir except Bandipora as red zones while Ramban is the only district in Jammu division to be included in this category.

Doda and Kishtwar districts are placed in green zones while rest of the seven districts in Jammu region and Bandipora district have been categorised as orange zones.

The government has asked the people to follow the SOPs for respective zones or face penal action in case of any violation.

Red zones are the ones with a large number of coronavirus cases while the orange zones have lesser positive cases. A green zone is one that has not reported any COVID-19 positive case in 28 days.

Majority of such protests took place in Southern districts of Valley, youth understood futility of street protests, say officials

Srinagar: It has been a year since Government of India scrapped the article 370 and cut the erstwhile state into two Union Territories—Ladakh and J&K, for security agencies and the BJP unit of J&K, there is a reason to cheer as figures suggest that zero street protests were reported while only 14 incidents of law and order took place in the first half of the ensuing year.

Official data reveals that no major law and order situation was witnessed in Kashmir since January 1 this year barring a few incidents that were small in nature. “Two protests erupted in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district when top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Reyaz Naikoo was killed. The law and order incidents were less violent in nature compared to previous years and no civilian killing took place in the protests,” an official privy to the data, told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

They said that youth of Kashmir have understood the futility of the street protests and have decided to not to indulge such things. “Only 14 incidents of law and order took place and that too in southern parts of Kashmir. The number is too less if compared to previous years. This signifies a big change,” a security official said. Top security officials in Kashmir also believe that this year post abrogation of article 370 has witnessed a sea change.

Meanwhile, BJP’s J&K unit states that it was because of the J&K’s integration in the union of India that the street protests have died down completely. “You can call it the direct dividend of article 370 roll back. See, today there are no protests at the encounter sites. Stone pelting incidents have vanished completely and youth are cracking IAS and other competitive exams,” said BJP J&K General Secretary Ashok Koul. He, however, said that the development couldn’t take place the way it should have and the reason is COVID-19 pandemic—(KNO)

Srinagar: Kashmir Valley reported eight more deaths due to covid-19 since overnight, taking the fatality count due to the virus to 417 in J&K, officials said on Tuesday.

They said that two among the deaths—a 65-year-old woman from Magam Budgam and a 75-year-old man from Srinagar’s Khaniyar area— were reported at CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 patients in Kashmir Valley.

Also, two residents, a 65-year-old and a 55-year-old from Attina and Dregam Kremshore areas of Budgam died at SKIMS Soura and SMHS hospital respectively, they said.

Regarding the sexagenarian woman from Budgam, they said, she was shifted from SMHS hospital to CD hospital on August 3 with underlying ailments like hypertension diabetes and “severe pneumonia with respiratory failure”.

“She was shifted to ICU and put to ventilator. However at 4 a.m. today, the woman suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and died,” a senior doctor at the CD hospital told GNS.

Regarding other death, the doctor said that besides being hypertensive, the man was suffering from chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severe pneumonia.

The man developed sudden cardiac arrest at 1:45 a.m. and was declared dead subsequently, the doctor added.

Meanwhile, regarding the elderly from Attina Budgam, officials told GNS that he was having underlying ailments and died at the tertiary care hospital early today.

As regards the man from Dregam, a doctor at SMHS said he was admitted with bilateral pneumonia on July 29 and died today.

Sources said that besides elderly from Budgam, a 59-year-old man from Basañtbagh area of Srinagar died at SKIMS. “Both of them had underlying ailments,” sources said. One death was reported from Bandipora district, officials said.

With these deaths, the fatality count due to the virus has risen to 417 in J&K—387 in Kashmir and 30 in Jammu.

Srinagar district with 138 deaths tops the list followed by Baramulla (73), Budgam (31), Kulgam (29), Anantnag (26), Shopian (23), Pulwama (24), Kupwara (21), Jammu (21), Bandipora (15), Ganderbal (7), two each in Rajouri and Doda and one each in Ramban, Samba, Poonch, Udhampur, and Kathua. (GNS)

Srinagar: Kashmir has been almost shut for the last one year, which has cost Rs 40,000 crore to its economy, says the business community.
On last August 5, the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre abrogated Article 370. New Delhi projected it as a move that will bring development and peace in the new Union Territory. But for the last one year, Kashmir’s economy has witnessed heavy losses and educational institutions remain shut.

President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), Sheikh Ashiq said the Kashmir economy has suffered losses over Rs 40,000 crore since August 5.

“Every sector has been badly hit. Lakhs of people lost their jobs for the last one year,” Ashiq told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

He said they have already apprised the government about the deteriorated condition of the economy.

John Ahmad, who runs a travel agency, is sitting at home these days and finding it difficult to feed his family. “Last one year has been the toughest phase for Kashmiris. Everything has been shut. No positive development has taken place,” he said.

He said it was the government that asked tourists to vacate Kashmir last year. “Now the government has to convince them that Kashmir is a safe place for them,” he said.

Tourism is considered the backbone of Kashmir’s economy on which over 20 percent people are directly or indirectly dependent. In 2018, Kashmir received 3,16.434 tourists between August and December. In 2019, the number fell to 43,0,59 for the same period.

The political upheaval followed by the COVID-19 pandemic has been a double blow to the tourism sector.

People associated with the tourism sector like in hotels, travel agencies, houseboats have been rendered jobless.

The handicrafts sector also suffered huge losses for the last one year. Kashmir exports over Rs 16,00 crore worth handicrafts including wood carvings, papier-machie, and shawls.

Many online businesses in Kashmir are on the verge of closing down due to low internet speed.
The business of courier companies has been almost shut since last August. More than 7,000 courier boys are working with 30 courier companies operating in Kashmir. Majority have lost their jobs in the last one year.

J&K BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur however claimed that abrogation of Article 370 has started helping the Union Territory to develop like other parts.

“Earlier this year, an eight member team of union ministers visited Kashmir and later submitted a report to the Centre about jobs to Kashmiri youth. But the COVID played a spoilsport as BJP could not deliver what we wanted. You will see a huge development once the COVID is over. We have already told the Centre to announce a relief package for the business community as they suffered losses,” Thakur said.(KINS)

Despotic actions have a limited shelf life: J&K Peoples Conference

J&K Peoples Conference on Monday convened an online meeting of its executive committee in which the party asserted that decisions taken on and after August 5 are not acceptable to people. These decisions have been thrust on the people of Kashmir and are bereft of any acceptance or legitimacy amongst the masses.

“We believe, for us, August 5, 2019 is a negative milestone. This will be remembered as a sad day, a day of disempowerment a day of attack on our identity. It was a spiteful move and the most unfortunate aspect of it was that an unsuspecting population across the country fed on a diet of hatred and intoxicated on jingoism actually endorsed this spiteful move against the people of Kashmir. We want to tell the people not to despair. Nothing is permanent in politics. Grandeur of power, delusions of invincibility eventually fade into oblivion.

There is enough empirical evidence across the world that such changes thrust against the wishes of people have a limited shelf life. It will better for the government of the day to accept realities and see the clearly visible canary in the coal mines. Otherwise, a time will come when future generations perhaps will agree with us and hold the current dispensation in odium and contempt for institutional demolition in Kashmir”, the executive committee unanimously stated according to a statement from PC spokesperson Adnan Ashraf Mir.

Adnan said that the Peoples Conference leadership termed August 5 actions as a travesty of justice that strike at the very root of the state’s constitutional relationship with the Union and a blow to collective psyche of the Kashmiris, robbing them of their sense of identity and dignity.

“The unconstitutional and undemocratic decisions taken by the Parliament on and after August 5, 2019 served as a death warrant for democracy and completely eroded space for mainstream politics in Kashmir. The harsh treatment meted out to the people who have advocated and championed for democracy has left them red faced and humiliated. They are now being rendered to helpless mute bystanders while non locals decide on the fate and destiny of the inhabitants of J&K. This whole exercise is meant to alter unrecognizably the destiny of the people of Kashmir. And now it seems certain that Delhi is keen to push the Kashmiris to the wall. The damage being inflicted is irreversible”, he added

Srinagar: As many as 16 aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory have qualified Civil Service exams 2019.

A young girl from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district became one of the youngest IAS officers of India who have cracked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil service exam-2019 along with 15 more aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir.

As per data available with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) the list of 829 successful candidates made public by the UPSC on Tuesday included 16 from the erstwhile state including two from Ladakh.

A 23-year-old girl Nadia Beigh from Punzwa village of Kupwara cracked civil services of India in her second attempt and became one of the youngest IAS officers of India.

She credited her family for the success who became part of her journey. She also said hard work and dedication were key to success.

“I did this after making many sacrifices, hand work and prayers of many people. I thank everyone for prayers and hope many people will get inspired by my success. Nothing is impossible in life if you focus on a goal and work hard,” she said.

Aftab Rasool Malik another achiever from Trehgam Kupwara who qualified IAS after years of hard work.

In an interview, Rasool said that consistency was the key to crack civil services. He said he was satisfied with the rank he got in the top-level exams.

Rasool has completed his higher education outside the state. His parents also expressed satisfaction over the achievement.
Meanwhile, in a tweet, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara expressed heartfelt wishes to the civil services achievers from the district.

In another tweet he said, “Congratulations to the Civil Services Achievers of this Frontier District for conquering New frontiers ! Kupwara Youth have New Role Models to look up to, who have surpassed all challenges to emerge victorious through their grit and determination.”

Among others who cracked the exam include Abhiskhek Augustsya from Jammu is ranked at 38 followed by Sunny Gupta (148), Dev Ahuti from Jammu (177), Parth Gupta (240), Asrar Ahmad Kitchloo (248), Asif Yousuf Tantray (328), Namgyal Angmo (323) Nadia Beigh (350)–Kupwara, Aftab Rasool (412)—from Trehgam Kupwara, Sabzar Ahmad Ganie (628)— Hailing from a remote village of Gheeboom Kokernag, Majid Iqbal Khan (638)—a resident of shangus Anantnag, Stanzin Wangyal (716), Rayees Hussain (747), Mohammed Nawas Sharaf Uddin Sharafuddin (778), and Syed Junaid Adil (822).(KINS)

Srinagar: The General Officer Commanding (GOC), Chinar Corps, Lt Gen B.S. Raju, and Director General Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Dilbag Singh, co-chaired a meeting of the Core Group consisting of top officials of the civil administration, intelligence agencies and security forces here on Monday in the backdrop of the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was called to review the security situation in the UT and to ensure readiness to meet the anticipated security challenges.

According to statement issued to KNS, the Core Gp reviewed the security situation in Kashmir and the progress on handling the COVID challenges facing the UT. Special emphasis was given to ensure extensive security for the upcoming one year anniversary of Abrogation of Article 370 including discussions on administrative measures.

On the LoC the recent increased infiltration attempts and CFVs were discussed. Defence officials shared that the surveillance grid and counter infiltration grid in sensitive areas has been reinforced, which has led to early detection and foiling of infiltration attempts in last few weeks. Reports indicate that the launch pads in PoK are full and Pakistan establishment is keen to push in infiltrators in next few weeks. The forces are ready for any border misadventure in form of BAT actions or actions to support infiltration.

It also reads, the core group discussed the need for continued intelligence based anti-terror operations with a humane touch. To address the complete eco-system of terror organisations, the efforts to identify and arrest over ground workers who sustain the terror organisations will continue with vigour.

Review of security indicators show that violence level has dropped in last one year. Intelligence inputs indicate desperation in Pakistani establishment and separatists to generate violence and civil casualties in the valley. The Security Forces have to be wary of attacks on political workers, attacks on soldiers on leave, IED attacks and attacks on isolated posts or patrols. Concurrently law and order including COVID restrictions need to be enforced for safety of the common man. The officials also discussed local recruitment which though lower than last year had seen a spurt in last few weeks, it was decided to enhance steps to prevent local youth from joining terror tanzeems. Steps would include proactive steps in consultation with families of vulnerable youth, and identification and arrest of instigators.

The officials deliberated on the propaganda effort by Pakistan. The officials cautioned against the efforts to instigate violence in the UT. All efforts to instigate violence by the ANEs have to be proactively handled by good surveillance and policing action.

It further reads, The Divisional Commissioner brought out the efforts of the administration to meet the COVID challenges. He also informed the gathering of the efforts to speed up developmental activities in last few months which has resulted in completion of 14000 projects which were languishing for 3 to 5 Years.

Maximum projects approved under PMDP in 2015 have started. Agricultural and rural economic activity is seeing revival, however tourism industry has been impacted by the security challenge and COVID 19 in 2020. He shared that ‘back to villages’ program has started showing results with empowerment of local elected representatives.

Expressing happiness on the synchronization of actions amongst various intelligence agencies, the Corps Commander and DGP also lauded the coordination amongst different security agencies.

In the end, the senior commanders expressed satisfaction at the successful handling of the security situation and asked for continued efforts to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir.(KNS)

Restrictions To Continue Till Aug 8

Srinagar: Authorities in Srinagar on Monday ordered curfew on August 4 and 5 in wake of the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.

“Senior superintendent of Srinagar has reported that a series of inputs have been received suggesting that separatist and Pak sponsored groups are planning to observe 5th August 2020 as Black Day, therein apprehensions of violation action or protests are not ruled out. There are specific inputs about violent protests endangering public life and property,” reads an order issued here by Deputy Commisioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.

In view of restrictions aimed at COVID-19 containment already in place, the movement and assembly of people have been prohibited to avoid spread particularly in wake of recent spike, he said.

“Thus, any such mass gathering would be detrimental to efforts related to COVID-19 containment as well.”

The report has further made a case that to prevent such violence and loss of life and property, it’s imminent to impose curfew in the district, he said as per GNS.

“Therefore, after having considered the material facts in report and examining the situation in backdrop of prevailing factors, I, District Magistrate, Srinagar, by virtue of powers vested in me u/s 144 Cr PC hereby order complete restrictions on public movement / curfew in territorial jurisdiction of District Srinagar.”

Further, he said, medical emergencies and movement of staff on COVID-19 duty with pass/Valid Cards shall be exempted from above restrictions. “Additional Deputy Commissioner (Adm), Srinagar shall deploy one Magistrate each to coordinate implementation in each Police Stations jurisdictions,” he said, adding, “These restrictions shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in force on 4th and 5th August 2020,” the order said, adding, “Meanwhile, the restrictions previously ordered vide this office order dated 31st July 2020 on account of COVID-19 shall continue thereafter till 8th August unless revised earlier.” (GNS)

4G connectivity barred only on mobile phones, says Bhatnagar

A year since high-speed Internet was snapped in Jammu and Kashmir, a top government official said 4G connectivity was barred only on mobile phones and all other “normal applications” were able to function properly with the available Net speed.

Retired IPS officer R.R Bhatnagar, advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of J&K G.C Murmu told The Hindu in an interview that the restrictions imposed after August 5, 2019 were periodically reviewed and many relaxations were given by September the same year. “… and now almost all of them [restrictions] have been removed, except 4G, essentially due to its misuse by Pakistan elements for incitement, radicalisation and terrorism,” he said.

When asked why 4G was not kept suspended, even in the years preceding August 5, 2019 when high number of terrorism related incidents occurred, Mr. Bhatnagar said, “4G was restricted on many occasions even then….For the normal applications to function there is no issue, 4G is available on broadband and telephone lines…hospitals, educational institutes etc. all are using the high-speed Internet.”

Online recruitment process

The government’s recruitment process had been initiated and lakhs had applied through online.

He also claimed security forces have shown considerable restraint and “their observance of human rights has been commendable.”

On August 5 last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved two bills in the Rajya Sabha to revoke the special status of J&K under Article 370 of the Constitution and to downgrade and bifurcate the State into UTs- J&K and Ladakh.

The erstwhile State was placed under an unprecedented lockdown from August 5 and 4G connectivity is yet to be restored.

J&K has been under Central rule since June 2018 after the BJP and the People’s Democratic Party alliance broke.. The 87-member State Assembly was dissolved on November 21 the same year.

Panchayat polls

Mr. Bhatnagar said that the atmosphere was conducive to hold elections for the vacant panchayat seats, except for the various restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Panchayat polls were held in the former State of J&K in 2018 and there are 12,776 vacant sarpanch and panch seats, particularly in south Kashmir as elections couldn’t be held due to security concerns and nil registration by candidates.

A total of 27,281 panches and sarpanches were elected then. Some panches and sarpanches are still living under police protection in Srinagar hotels.

Mr. Bhatnagar said a security assessment of the panchayat functionaries had been made and measures put in place.

He noted that political activity in J&K has resumed, though the COVID-19 guidelines have to be followed. “Political leaders/activists have nearly all been released. Since March this year, there have been 250 releases of PSA [Public Safety Act] detainees,” the former Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force said.

Soz’s charges

On allegations of Congress leader Saifuddin Soz who has been placed under house arrest without any formal orders, he said, “whatever detention has been done is as per law. As far as Mr. Soz is concerned, there are certain security protocols to be followed by the protectee and at present COVID-19 restrictions are also in place.”

Last week, Mr. Soz (82), a former Union Minister, had to scale a pillar at his Srinagar residence to speak to media persons at his gate when policemen kept warning him. Mr. Soz’s wife had moved the Supreme Court against the ‘illegal’ detention but the top court accepted the administration’s statement that he was not under detention and closed the case.

Mr. Bhatnagar said the number of local youths joining terrorist ranks post August 5, compared to the previous years, showed a drop of 42% and steps were being taken to counter glorification and idolisation of terrorists.

“Of course, any youth joining terrorist ranks is always a matter of concern and so we are addressing all factors which impact recruitment into terrorist ranks… around dozen youths were stopped from joining the terrorists. Stone pelting incidents are down by two-thirds. There has been no civilian casualty in police firing [except in terrorist induced encounters and injuries are also down by nearly a half… close watch and legal action has been taken against the separatists who are also not getting public support. Bandh/Hartal calls have had practically no public response”, he stated.

One hundred and forty-eight terrorists, including important commanders, were killed this year and terrorist initiated incidents were down by 60%. There was decline in the number of security forces killed this year- 40, compared to 117 last year, he added.

With inputs from The Hindu