New Delhi, Sep 29: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has tested positive for COVID-19 during a routine test, his office said in a tweet this evening. The 71-year-old, who is in home quarantine, is asymptomatic and in good health, the tweet read.

“The Vice President of India who underwent a routine COVID-19 test today morning has been tested positive. He is however, asymptomatic and in good health. He has been advised home quarantine. His wife Smt. Usha Naidu has been tested negative and is in self-isolation,” the tweet from his office read.

Naidu, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, recently attended the monsoon session of parliament, which was cut short after more than 25 members tested positive for the virus.

Srinagar Sep 29: Amid rise in coronavirus cases, many youth in Kashmir are on the forefront to arrange funerals of those who die due to COVID-19.

People, even relatives of COVID-19 victims are reluctant to arrange funerals for those who die due to coronavirus, fearing they might get infected.

However, many in Kashmir are on the forefront to do the last rites of COVID-19 victims.

They do everything from carrying coffin to graveyard, dig graves and also bury dead bodies. They remain 24×7 available.

A founding member of one such volunteer group is Sajad Ahmad Khan, a 38-year-old youth of Bemina Srinagar, who runs a departmental store.

He took this initiative when on one evening; Khan was passing through the lanes of Bemina to return home, he saw relatives of a lady who died of COVID-19 were reluctant to go closer to the coffin.

That day he made up his mind to arrange decent burials for those who die of COVID-19.

He posted on his Facebook page, that he can be contacted if any family wants burial of any COVID victim.

“Since then I am receiving calls from people for burial of those who died due to COVID,” he said.

“All most everywhere, people are raising objections and do not want COVID victims to be buried in their graveyard. This stigma has to end. We should help each other in this crisis like we did during the 2014 floods,” he said.

Khan provides all the equipment to his team (volunteers) like personal protection equipment (PPE) kits, sanitisers and other things.

Another youth, Arif Ahmad, who too arranges funerals of COVID-19 victims, said they do this service voluntarily. “There is no fault of those who died because of COVID-19. Then why do people stay away from performing their last rites,” Ahmad, a 30-year-old Srinagar youth told news agency KINS.

He said some people were even raising objections and do not want COVID-19 victims to be buried in ancestral graveyards.

Bashir Ahmad, a Srinagar resident, said the volunteers arranged everything for the funeral of one of his relatives. “We should salute these brave young people who do this noble work,” he added.

The World Health Organisation has also issued guidelines for managing bodies of those who die of COVID-19 saying, “cadavers do not transmit disease”.(KINS)

New Delhi, Sep 29: “How long can Mehbooba Mufti be kept in custody”, the Supreme Court asked the centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration today as it heard her daughter’s petition challenging the former Chief Minister’s detention under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).

Mehbooba Mufti, the chief of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been in detention for over a year after was arrested on the eve of the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and its bifurcation into two Union Territories on August 5 last year.

The top court today gave two weeks’ time to the Jammu and Kashmir administration to give its stand on how long Mufti can be kept in custody and whether her custody can be extended beyond one year.

“What is the proposal of Jammu and Kashmir administration on her detention,” a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said during the hearing through video-conferencing.

In July, Mufti’s detention under the Public Safety Act was extended for another three months.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represents the government, asked judges not to make any observation and said Jammu and Kashmir has had a history of violence.

“The history of the state is wonderful, but what one can one say. Prima facie you have exceeded the maximum period of detention,” Justice Kaul said.

Iltija Mufti had approached the Supreme Court seeking her mother’s release. She also sought permission from the court for filing a habeas corpus, to produce Mehbooba Mufti in court. In her plea, Iltija Mufti says her mother’s detention is illegal and that the Jammu and Kashmir administration is yet to file its reply to her earlier petition despite a notice and this, she said, shows the respect the authorities have for the court.

Former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, who too were detained under the Public Safety Act, have already been released.

Srinagar, Sep 29: Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday booked a Bridegroom for bursting firecrackers during his marriage ceremony in Srinagar on Monday night, a police spokesman said this afternoon.

This was the second time police registered a case against bridegroom for bursting fire crackers and violating Standard Operative Procedure (SOG) issued by the administration to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, police has booked a family in Solina area of the uptown.

He said last night sound of firecrackers was heard in Batmaloo area of the city. On inquiry it was found that the firecrackers were burst during the marriage ceremony of one Bilal Ahmad Shah, son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah, resident of Rekha Chowk, Batmaloo by his friends and family.

He said today police Station Batmaloo booked a Bridegroom for bursting firecrackers during his marriage ceremony last night. He said the administration has prohibited to use Firecrackers within the territorial jurisdiction of District Srinagar. An order in this regard stands promulgated by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, he said.

He said in this regard case FIR 138/2020 u/s 188 IPC stands registered in the matter. Investigation of the case is in progress.
Police have urged people not to use firecrackers anywhere within the territorial jurisdiction of District Srinagar.

Shopian, Sep 29: a local court on Tuesday sent two accused in Amshipora fake encounter to 8 day judicial remand.

Three Rajouri labourers were killed in fake Amshipora Shopian encounter on July 18.

In this connection two local informers had deposed before the Enquiry Commission whom police had arrested in connection with the said encounter.

Sources told KNT that two accused were produced at District Court Shopian and were sent for eight days judicial remand.
They added that these two local informers had been arrested on the charges of “criminal conspiracy” and are being questioned to know about the chain of events that led to Amshipora encounter.

Offers Raj Bhawan’s Chopper to public for medical emergencies, evacuation

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Sep 29: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today chaired a joint meeting of various departments on winter preparedness here at Civil Secretariat and directed the concerned officers for the strengthening of a robust response mechanism for power restoration, essential supplies, water and road connectivity during winters. The Lt Governor also directed the officials present in the meeting to use Choppers of Raj Bhawan for medical emergencies in addition to the Heli Services extended by the Central Government in the cut off areas such as Tangdhar, Gurez, Keran, Machhil.

Take early measures for ensuring uninterrupted drinking water and power supply, besides, put in place a strong mechanism for ensuring smooth movement of traffic for continuous road connectivity ahead of the winter season with special focus on far-flung and snowbound areas. Apart from available helicopter service to cut off areas, the administration should use choppers at Raj Bhawan to help those in distress, he added.

He also directed to ensure availability of public utilities like wood, ration, medicines and other basic amenities.

For road connectivity, the Lt Governor directed for acquiring all the necessary machinery required for snow clearance from all the main and internal roads. In order to clear the inner lanes of villages off snow, where machines cannot be deployed, the administration can hire the trained manpower, and must clear the snow for smooth movement.

Stressing upon synergy between the departments, the Lt Governor directed the officers to monitor and keep a close watch on the functioning of their respective departments pertaining to winter preparedness for better coordination to avoid inconvenience to the public.

While reviewing the winter preparedness of the Power Department, the Lt Governor enquired about the availability and surplus of power transformers for the coming winter season. He directed the Power Department for establishment of task force to ensure power supply and gave strict directions for the availability of surplus transformers to cater to the need during the winter season.

The Lt Governor directed the Jal Shakti Department to take all the measures required to ensure that there is no scarcity of drinking water. He also stressed upon enough stock of fuel, cooking gas before harsh winter slams the region.

The Lt. Governor also asked the top government officials to put in place every available facility including emergency services such as power back-up for hospitals, water pumping stations, important government offices and state of the art ambulance services at all hospitals, especially in the higher reaches area. The officials said snow control rooms will be established in every district headquarters by 15th October for smooth operation of Snow Clearance mechanically and manually.

BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Sh. Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor; Sh. Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department; Sh. Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department and Information Department; Sh. Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department; Sh. Pandurang K. Pole Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Sh. M Raju, Secretary to the Government, Jal Shakti Department; Sh. Simrandeep Singh, Special Secretary to the Government, Department of DMRR&R; Sh. Mohammad Aijaz, Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited and other senior officers attended the meeting.

Asks them to own Back to Village Programme

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 29: Own the ambitious Back to Village Programme and every single officer on the ground must work as a changemaker to ensure benefits of governance reach the last man in the queue, Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha directed the senior officials during a meeting he chaired to review the preparedness for Back to Village 3 programme at Civil Secretariat here today.

The ambitious programme starting from 2nd October aims to take the governance to the doorstep of people which is also seen as a unique effort of the Government to strengthen the newly constituted Panchayats.

He sought detailed report on action plan for the conduct of B2V3 Programme and enquired about progress made under Jan Abhiyan programme.

He asked all the stakeholders to put in dedicated efforts to complement the unique and sincere efforts of the government to reach the doorsteps of the people with responsive, accountable and equitable governance.

He issued directions to the DCs, ADCs, SSPs, ASPs and other senior officers of the Districts to remain present at all Sub-Division Headquarters in every District on rotational basis from 10 am to 4 pm every Wednesday, with officers and representatives of different line departments.

The Lt Governor also sought detail of activities to be conducted during the three day visit of over 4000 visiting officers, who will visit all panchayats of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

Focus on ensuring that funds and functions devolved to the panchayats are used without any bottlenecks and the beneficiary schemes actually reach the people. Public services have to be target oriented and administration should ensure 100% saturation, he added.

During the meeting, Lt Governor instructed all officers to gear up and gave a clarion call to own B2V3 for making it a huge success.

Discussions were also held on the issues of vacant government buildings, availability of playgrounds in every panchayat, Government handholding to Self-Help Groups, sanitation activities and to identify candidates for Self-Employment.

Sheetal Nanda, Secretary to the Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj apprised the Lt Governor about the achievements recorded during Block Diwas under Jan Abhiyan. Three-day activity plan of visiting officers was also given during the meeting.

The meeting was attended by BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor; Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to Government, Science & Technology Department and Social Welfare Department;Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, Principal Secretary to the Government, School Education Department; Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department and Information Department; Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Industries and Commerce Department; Pandurang K. Pole Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Sheetal Nanda, Secretary to the Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj; Simrandeep Singh, Secretary, Public Grievances and other senior officers.

Anantnag, Sep 29: Militants “seem to have fled” after an encounter with joint team of police and army in Marahama Sangam area in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a police officer said on Tuesday.

He said that militants and the joint team of forces had exchanged fire after former attacked a patrol in Marahama area this afternoon.

“It seems that the militants have managed to flee. However the searches in the area are still underway,” the officer told GNS.

Srinagar, Sep 29: Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday said that due “callous approach” of the detaining authorities, the whole purpose of the preventive laws is getting defeated in J&K.

“We are at pains to observe that in routine this Court comes across the cases in which the detention orders issued on the grounds of threat to the security and integrity of State are getting quashed due to non adherence to technical requirements,” said a bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Rajnesh Oswal while allowing an appeal against court’s single bench order by virtue of which PSA detention of a man– Sartaj Ahmad Allie—from Kulgam.

“In many petitions the grounds taken are non-furnishing of material relied upon by the detaining Authority to the detenue; not informing the detenue about his right to make representation; not informing the detenue about the grounds of detention in the language that he understands etc. The law on which is well settled,” the court said as per Global News Service Correspondent, adding, “Due to callous approach of the detaining Authorities in passing such orders, the whole purpose of the Preventive laws is getting defeated.”

The court said that either the detaining authorities are not aware about the requirements of law or they are dealing the issues of preventive detention very “casually”.

“Be that as it may, time has come when the detaining Authorities must be imparted proper training about the requirements of law in passing the detention order so as to ensure that such orders are not set aside on technical grounds,” the court said as per GNS and asked Registrar Judicial to send copies of the judgment to the Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary, Department of Home, and Law Secretary, for compliance through email. “It is made clear that any such slackness in future may invite imposition of personal cost on the officer concerned,” the court said.

Meanwhile allowing the petition by Sartaj who was booked under PSA on 28 November 2018, the court ordered that he be released forthwith provided he is not detained in any other matter including FIR Nos. 260/2017 and 333/2017.

” The Learned AAG (additional advocate general) has not been able to bring to our notice any such satisfaction recorded by the detaining Authority while passing the detention order. The Single Judge though has discussed about the appellant (Sartja) being in custody at the time of passing of detention order but has not dealt this issue in right perspective,” the court said, adding, “On this ground only the appeal deserves to be allowed.”

Haridwar, Sep 29: “The sole aim of the opposition in the country is to oppose us only for the sake of opposition and to spread misinformation to misguide the people”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Tuesday.

PM Modi made the observation while dedicating to the nation, six mega projects, through video conferencing.

The projects include– 68 mld. capacity treatment plant at Jagjeetpur and 18 mld. capacity plant at Sarai in Haridwar district, completed under the Namami Ganga Mission.

Welcoming the Prime Minister, Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that after the completion of a network of STPs not a drop of untreated water would flow in the Ganga. Trivendra Singh Rawat, the chief minister of the state, said that almost all the STPs have been completed and the few which could not be completed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, would be completed before the Kumbh in Haridwar.

“The treated water would be recycled and reused for agricultural fields on the bank of the Ganga. We are also trying to promote organic farming in the stretches on the banks of the holy river, which would empower the farmers community”, remarked the Chief Minister.

PM Modi said that Ganga was not only the center of faith and our culture, but it was also the lifeline of about half the population of the country. Targeting the former non BJP governments at the center, he said that they wasted money on cleanliness of the Ganga, but their efforts did not yield any result, since they had neither farsightedness nor could they enlist public participation in the Ganga cleanliness mission. “We had adopted a new approach and new technology the result of which is there for all to see,” he added.

He further remarked that during the last Ardh Kumbh at Prayag, the devotees from all over the world witnessed the magnificence and purity of the Ganga and now during the coming Kumbh at Haridwar they will have the experience of taking bath and achman (a ritual of sipping water) in clean water of the holy river. Elaborating further on the clean Ganga Mission, he said that it was the biggest and widest component of Jal Jeevan Mission, which had been launched by the union water resources ministry.

On the occasion a documentary, showcasing the flowing of the Ganga through mountains and its biodiversity, was also displayed. The PM also unveiled Ganga Avlokan Museum, built at Chandighat in the city. The museum would promote tourism in the region, he hoped.

Lambasting the opposition parties, mainly the Congress, without naming them, he said that they had no agenda except targeting his government. “They oppose all the reforms. When we introduced GST to cut down taxes, they opposed it. When we purchased Rafale to strengthen our air force, they opposed it. When we tried to liberate the farmers from the clutches of the middle men, they opposed it. They are even insulting the farmers by consigning to fire the machines, which are venerated by the farmers” he alleged.

Without naming the Congress, he said that a party, whose four generations have ruled the country, is opposing agriculture bills, which we have brought for the freedom of the farmers. They are targeting us by training their guns at us from the shoulders of others”, he stated.