Govt will consider phased reopening after staff, students are fully vaccinated

Srinagar: State Executive Committee headed by Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Sunday ordered continuous closure of the educational institutions for onsite or in-person teaching till further orders.

In an order issued here after detailed review of the current COVID situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the SEC said the government shall consider phased re-opening of Institutions where 100% vaccination of staff and students has been achieved.

The review meeting was attended by the additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Principal Secretary to Government, Home, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and other officers of Jammu and Kashmir.

“All school and higher educational institutions, including coaching centers, shall continue to remain closed for onsite / in-person teaching, till further orders. However, the educational institutions are permitted to seek personal attendance of vaccinated staff for administrative purposes,” the order, a copy of which lies with GNS, reads, adding, “Government shall consider phased re-opening of institutions where 100% vaccination of staff and students has been achieved.”

All Deputy Commissioners have been asked to intensify testing by making optimum use of available rt-PCR and RAT capacities. There shall be no drop in testing levels

The SEC also reiterated that there shall be no weekend curfew in any district of Jammu and Kashmir. Also, night curfew shall continue to remain in force in all districts from 8 pm to 7 am, the order said.

“The maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor/ outdoor gathering shall be restricted to 25,” it reads.

The Block Divas, the SEC said, shall resume in all Districts subject to the ceiling of 25 persons only with due compliance with Covid Appropriate Behaviour. “Necessary modifications in the conduct of the event may accordingly be made by all District Magistrates.”

All Deputy Commissioners have been also asked to focus on the positivity rates of the medical-blocks under their jurisdictions.

“Intensified measures, related to Covid management and restriction of activities, shall be undertaken by the DCs in these Blocks,” the order reads, adding, “There shall be renewed focus on Panchayat level mapping of cases and effective micro-containment zones shall be constituted wherever unusual spike of cases is noticed.”

The deputy commissioners, the SEC said, shall keep active track of the positivity rates in the Blocks and consider implementing stricter control measures in closed clustered spaces like Public or Private Offices, community halls, malls, bazaars etc in case weekly positivity rate goes beyond 4 percent in these Blocks.

“The three – “T” protocol of testing, tracking and treating, besides vaccination, needs to be strengthened in these Blocks. The proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be scaled up, on best effort basis, to 70 % or more, excluding travelers.”

Intensive vaccination drives shall be taken up in all districts to ensure timely administration of second dose besides maximizing first dose to vulnerable groups, it said.

The SEC also asked the District Magistrates to strictly ensure that there was full compliance to COVID appropriate behavior and defaulters are firmly dealt with under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code.

“The District Magistrates shall constitute joint teams of Police and Executive Magistrates for intensifying enforcement of Covid Appropriate Behaviour,” it said, adding, “The joint teams shall submit daily reports regarding activities carried out by them and their assessment of compliance level. DCs will intensify the campaigns for ensuring COVID appropriate behavior. Dedicated IEC, including Public Announcements through mobile vehicles must be undertaken.”

CEO SASB, Mahant Deependra Giri perform Samapan Poojan

Srinagar: The Samapan Pooja to mark the closing of the annual pilgrimage to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji, on Shravan Poornima was performed today morning amid chanting of religious hymns and Mantras.

Sh Nitishwar Kumar, Chief Executive Officer Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and Sh Anup Kumar Soni, Additional CEO, SASB prayed for the sustained peace, harmony, progress, and prosperity in the Union Territory of J&K.

Meanwhile, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board facilitated the carriage of Holy Mace (Pavitra Chhari) to the Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji.  Shri Deependra Giri, Mahant Chhari-Mubarak Amarnathji led the Chhari Yatra accompanied by saints of Dashnami Akhada and held the Chhari Poojan to mark the conclusion of Yatra 2021.

Earlier this year, the annual pilgrimage of Amarnathji was canceled due to Covid-19 pandemic, but Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board carried out all traditional religious rituals at the Shri Amarnathji cave.

SASB had made arrangements for the live telecast of morning and evening Aarti on TV Channels and social media in addition to facilitating Virtual Pooja, Hawan and Online Prasad booking. Around 7 to 8 Million devotees performed the free virtual darshan on Jio TV platform through live streaming on Shri Amarnathji Channel.  All these steps kept the religious sentiments of the devotees alive.

The CEO SASB was accompanied by Charu Sinha, IG CRPF Srinagar sector; Kritika Jyotsana, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal; Rahul Pandey Director Information & Public Relations Department; Atul Kumar, Camp Director Holy Cave and other senior officers of  SASB, Army, CRPF, Civil and Police administration.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) Lt Governor Manoj Sinha condoled the demise of  former Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, who breathed his last on Saturday.
“Deeply saddened by the demise of Mr Singh who was the voice of underpribiledged,” Sinha said.

The LG said Singh was a popular public figure and an efficient administrator who made immense contributions to nation building. “Deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends,” Sinha said.

Srinagar: “ Raksha Bandhan”—a festival of bonding between brothers and sisters—was on Sunday celebrated in the Kashmir valley, where local women tied rakhis on the wrists of security forces who are posted away from their homes.

On this day, sisters tied colourful rakhis on the wrists of their brothers in the valley, including Srinagar.

Local women also tied rakhis on the wrists of security force personnel posted l in different parts of the valley.

In Srinagar a group of local women today visited CRPF camp of 144 Battalion at Boulevard on the bank of Dal Lake and tied rakhis on the wrists of the officers and soldiers.

On the occasion, the women exchanged sweets with the soldiers while the Jawans exchanged gifts with these women.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajay Verma, Second in Command said Raksha Bandhan is a festival to celebrate the bond between a brother and sister where brother takes the pledge to protect his sister.

He added that as the soldiers remain away from their homes so the local women today visited our Battalion and tied rakhis on soldiers’ wrists who reciprocated by giving away gifts to them.

He also expressed gratitude to the women who visited here and tied rakhis on their wrists and said they feel honoured by the gesture and affection.

The event was organized by CRPF 144 BN in collaboration with Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.

Jammu
In Jammu Raksha Bandhan was celebrated with festivity on Sunday.

Amidst COVID guidelines and SOPs, the markets in various areas of Jammu city, witnessed hustle bustle.

The administration has lifted COVID restrictions and markets remained open, the shops witnessed rush of customers especially the major markets in the city.

“We have followed all COVID pandemic guidelines so that we happily celebrate the festival with much enthusiasm,” said Rohini, a housewife.

She expressed that last year, she made a video call to her brother and celebrated the festival with all rituals, adding, “though Corona pandemic threat is not yet over, we need to take all precautions and celebrate every festival by following guidelines issued time to time by the government.”

Ruchie, another housewife said, “let us be safe first. Following SOPs and guidelines like social distancing are in the interest of everyone.”

“We have to be very cautious and must stay away from rush and gatherings to prevent ourselves and everyone around,” she said adding that more faster people start living in new normal, quicker will be won the fight against Corona pandemic.

“We have visited the market to purchase the required items and found people following all guidelines in shops and malls, which is need of the hour,” she said.

“I am happy that my cousin visited to us with my aunt and uncle to celebrate the Rakhi,” Arya, 8, expressed adding that she missed sweets and celebrations with a bang but followed all SOPs and wore mask while tying ‘Rakhi’.

Meanwhile kite flying competitions like in other parts of the country, which are popular in Jammu city to mark the festival, was also organised at many locations.

Kites with slogans like ‘Go Corona Go’, ‘Corona ko Harana Hai’, also hit the stands and were seen flying high.

Police also appealed to the people not to use, manufacture and sale of Manja/Gattu (Chinese thread) as the Government has imposed a ban on it.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has greeted people on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

The Lt Governor said that the Rakhi on a brother’s wrist is a symbol of care, love and safety. It represents a sister’s prayers of protection and a brother’s promise of the same for her.
“The festival teaches us to imbibe the feelings of brotherhood, togetherness and harmony amongst all, he added.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor prayed for greater communal harmony between different communities of the society.

New Delhi: An Indian Air Force C-17 plane with 168 evacuees, including 107 Indians, arrived in India from Kabul, on Sunday morning. On board were two Afghan Sikh MPs with their families.
The IAF plane landed at the Hindon Air Force station in Ghaziabad.

Afghan MPs Narender Singh Khalsa and Anarkali Kaur Honaryar were on board with their families.

Both the MPs, while speaking to the Indian media, got very emotional.

Narender Singh Khalsa, wiping his tears, said, “Everything that we had built over the years has ended. Everything has been snatched from us. It’s over now.”

The IAF plane carrying the evacuees took off from Kabul at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday.

An Afghan Sikh said the situation was bad in Afghanistan, and expressed gratitude to the Indian government for evacuating them.

Most of the evacuees were reportedly part of the batch that was detained by the Taliban outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport for a brief while on Saturday. They were questioned and their passports seized. But later, they were allowed to proceed to the airport.

Separately, another batch of Indian nationals, arrived from Tajikistan on board an Air India flight on Sunday. The 87 Indian evacuees were first flown to Tajikistan on transit from Kabul before being flown back to India.

Two Nepalese nationals were also among those evacuated.

The passengers had been evacuated from Kabul by an Indian Air Force plane.

In another operation, 135 Indians who were evacuated from Kabul and taken to Doha on transit were repatriated to India on Saturday night, the Indian embassy in Doha said,

The embassy said that they provided consular and logistic assistance to the Indians to ensure their safe return to India, and thanked the Qatar authorities and others for helping in the evacuation.

Srinagar: All the three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants who were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Saturday were locals and involved in civilian killings and other atrocities, police said on Sunday.

The arms and ammunition recovered from the slain militants included a Self Loading Rifle (SLR) which was looted from a policeman guarding a minority village at Zainpora in south Kashmir district of Shopian on December 11, 2018, a police spokesperson said.

Three JeM militants were killed in an encounter which ensued after a joint team of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) was attacked by the militants in the forest area of Nagbaeran Tral, Awantipora in Pulwama.

One of the slain militants was identified as Wakeel Shah, who was involved in the killing of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Municipal Councilor Rakesh Pandits on June 2, 2021 in Tral area of Pulwama, the spokesman added.

While the second militant was identified as Abdul Hamid Chopan. His son Adil Chopan was also a militant, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in 2017. Hamid was involved in killings of civilians, he added.

He said the third militant was identified as Illyas Najar, son of Manzoor Najar, a resident of Khellan, Pulwama. Illyas was active since June 2019 and was involved in many militancy-related incidents, including atrocities on civilians.