Srinagar: Amidst Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has distributed 3730 quintals worth Rs. 84.9 crore of free ration among 37, 30,239 beneficiaries under Priority household (PHH), Antyodya Ana Yojna (AAY) categories in Kashmir for May and June-2021.

Sharing details, the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole said that the department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs (FCS&CA), besides smooth supply of monthly ration to consumers, department has distributed additional free ration of over 1865 quintals of rice and wheat among PHH and AAY category beneficiaries during the month of May- 2021.

He said that the free ration was distributed after instructed by the Government as relief to the poor population after people’s livelihood suffered due to covid pandemic.

The Div Com said that while distribution of free additional ration for the month of May has been already completed, the distribution  for the month of June shall pick up soon across all the districts of Kashmir.

He said that keeping pandemic and lockdown into consideration, the Government announced free ration for two months among poor consumers under which free ration of 5 kg per soul which includes 1772 quintals of rice and 932 quintals of wheat during the month of May.

He said that FCS&CA has geared up for the distribution of additional ration for the month of June also.

The Div Com further said that the administration is committed to provide assistance to the deserving people on every front during the time of pandemic.

He said that despite the pandemic, the supply of ration to all consumers was carried out smoothly and timely in all districts.

Srinagar: As the markets reopened partially again on Thursday, the Jammu and Kashmir police claimed to have arrested 175 persons across the Valley in the last 24 hours for violating the lockdown norms as well as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Notably, the government eased the lockdown restrictions and allowed many shops to resume their businesses across Srinagar and other districts of the Valley after a month-long lockdown.

All the markets, shops and other business units remained open today while the public transport with 50 per cent seating capacity were functioning normally.

However, a spokesman said that during the last 24 hours, police have arrested 175 persons, lodged 90 FIRs and also realized fine to the tune of Rs 7,22,160 from 6034 people throughout the Kashmir valley for violating the various guidelines, rules and SOPs regarding Covid-19.

The special drive against the violators of Covid-19 guidelines and rules continued throughout all the districts of Kashmir Valley to ensure that people adhere to SOPs and guidelines envisaged by the government to curb COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, police appealed to people to cooperate in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs, guidelines and protocols for their own safety and for the safety of others.

“The special drive shall continue throughout the districts of Kashmir Valley to strengthen the safety measures,” the statement said.

By: JahangeerGanaie

Srinagar: As Jammu and Kashmir faces a second wave of Coronavirus, the children have been showing mild to moderate symptoms of Covid-19.

The fresh surge of Coronavirus cases has witnessed more pediatric cases among ages of more than 10 years and also between 01 to 08 years.

As per the official document, the cases of acute Covid-19 have increased manifold in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It is believed that COVID-19 is relatively less common in children and serious COVID-19 disease is a rare occurrence. However, the number of cases in children has been steadily increasing and so are the children with the severe COVID-19 disease being admitted to ICU,” reads the document.

The document reads that a significant proportion of children is asymptomatic or may have non-specific symptoms making a diagnosis of infection challenging. Children with several comorbidities like genetic, neurologic and metabolic diseases have an increased risk of severe disease.

“Children with SARS-CoV-2 infection are at risk of developing Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome of Children (MIS-C), a syndrome akin to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome,” it said.

The document said COVID-19 among children constituted 7.3 per cent (73/1000 cases) of cases admitted to one COVID-19 centre in Kashmir province in 2020.

“In another tertiary care centre, of the 81 children with COVID-19 seen in 2020, 19 had acute COVID-19 disease with no mortality and rest had MIS-C,” it adds.

“The same tertiary centre has already registered 60 patients with COVID-19 (57 acute COVID-19 and 3 with MIS-C) during the second wave in 2021. Three children with acute COVID-19 disease died with severe pneumonic illness,” the document reads.

The document said that it is suspected that the number of cases with MIS-C will show a considerable rise in the coming weeks as the syndrome follows COVID-19 infection by several weeks.

Pertinently, the Covid Advisory Committee members in their recent report have also said that the occurrence of COVID-19 related severe lung disease and deaths in children is a direct reflection of the introduction of variants of concern in the community, which have a propensity to cause severe disease.

The document also reveals that the percentage of pregnant ladies in the first wave was just one per cent but in the second wave it has reached five per cent.

“Pregnant mothers are a special subgroup while considering infection with SARS-CoV-2 due to lowered immunity status, a propensity to infection of the maternal-fetal interface which could result in obstetrical events and vertical transmission to the fetus,” it said.

The document said, obstetricians in J&K are experiencing challenging times with a steep rise in the number of cases with a significant increase in the COVID positivity among pregnant women.

Collected data from one tertiary care hospital show that healthy pregnant women had a positivity rate of one per cent last year till March this year when it became two per cent. Currently, it stands at nearly 5 per cent, the report said.

“Seeing the current increasing trend of positivity in apparently healthy pregnant ladies it is very likely that in the next 3 to 6 months the obstetrical services may get overwhelmed,” the report adds. (KNO)

Srinagar: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Thursday rewarded three Central reserve Police Force (CRPF) men in recognition of their efforts in saving a woman, who attempted to commit suicide by jumping into river Jhelum in the summer capital, Srinagar, last month.

A police spokesperson said that the DGP presented Commendation Certificates Class 1 to Inspector GopiLal, Sub Inspector Mohan Lal, and Head Constable Radhesh Kumar of the 132 Battalion of the CRPF, alongwith a cheque of Rs 10,000. “The cheque was received by the CO of the Battalion T H Khan,” he said.

Appreciating the efforts of the CRPF, he said that such acts further strengthen the people friendly image of the security forces and have a positive impact in the society. The DGP said that besides ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir, ‘our prime duty is to extend a helping hand to our people as and when required’.

The Commandant CRPF 132 Battalion Khan thanked the DGP for recognizing the good work of the CRPF personnel and said that this gesture would act as morale booster for the CRPF personnel.

The spokesperson said that on May 31 at around 1115 hrs, prompt action by joint forces deployed at Budshah Bridge saved the life of a woman. “The lady tried to commit suicide by jumping into the river Jhelum. Sensing this, Sub Inspector Mohan Lal of CRPF 132 BT, D coy caught hold of her and called for help. Other personnel of CRPF, JKP and JKAP deployed there quickly joined him to save the woman,” he said.

He said the party later brought her to Police Station Maisuma where she was counseled and handed over to her family.

By: Owais Gul

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir unit of BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) on Thursday said Tral incident is a security lapse and questioned how militants were roaming freely in the area.

“It is a security lapse. We’re not security agencies aware that three unidentified militants were roaming in the area? Is this not a security lapse? We agree with the fact that our leader had not taken PSOs along with him,” BJP’s General Secretary, Ashok Koul told reporters at Srinagar party office.

BJP leader and chairman Municipal Committee TralRakeshPandita was killed by suspected militants in Tral area of southern Kashmir last night

Koul said the government should admit lapses on its part.

He termed the killing as a political killing and said that this should not be associated with return of Kashmiri Pandits.

“It is a political killing and should not be connected with the return of Kashmir Pandits or other things,” he said.

He said BJP leaders are being targeted by militants from past one year in Kashmir.

He said such incidents should not take place. “Pandita was trying to strengthen the Municipal Committee and was working for development,” he said. (KNO)

Srinagar: Hours after militants shot dead a Municipal councilor in Kashmir who was travelling without his Personal Security Officers (PSOs), Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar issued an advisory on Thursday, asking the protected persons not to go anywhere without PSOs and assessment of the local threat.

“No protectee should go anywhere without PSOs. Visits are allowed only after ground assessment of local threats is done. Request is to all protectees not to violate SOPs and risk their lives unnecessarily,” the advisory read.

A Municipal councilor was shot dead by militants at Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district late on Wednesday evening. Police said three unidentified terrorists fired upon RakeshPandita, Municipal Councillor town Tral, who was visiting his friend at TralPayeen. RakeshPandita succumbed to injuries whereas the daughter of his friend got seriously wounded.

Police said Pandita was residing in a secure accommodation at Srinagar and was provided with two PSOs (Personal Security Officers). He was not accompanied by the PSOs during his visit to Tral.

When militants attacked Pandita, police were dealing with another situation inside the SOG camp in Tral town where a surrendered militant, Mohammad Amin had injured a policeman after snatching his rifle when the surrendered militant was being questioned.

The surrendered militant had later taken refuge in a room inside the camp.

Police said after repeated persuasion to lay down his weapon failed, the surrendered militant was shot dead. (IANS)

High-level probe ordered, family contests police claim

By: JahangeerGanaie

Srinagar, June 3: The night-long stand-off at the Police Complex Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district ended with the killing of “weapon snatcher” who fired at police personnel intermittently during the night, police said Thursday.

A senior police official said that Muhammad AminMalik of Nagabal, Machama area of Tral, who according to police, was arrested on May 30, for questioning, Wednesday afternoon snatched a gun from a police man inside the Police Complex Tral and engaged the policemen through-out the night.

“In the incident, the cop identified as Amjad Khan received injuries following which Amin took shelter in the generator room of the camp,” he said.

He said that his family was rushed to the spot to persuade him to surrender, however, he turned down the repeated surrender offers.

The police official said that Amin fired upon forces, which was retaliated and exchange of fire continued for several hours and in the ensuing gunfight, he got killed.

POLICE VERSION

Police said that the person killed in an overnight operation at police component complex Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district was an “active militant operative” who was arrested on May 30 along with incriminating material including explosives.

A police official said that Muhammad AminMalik s/o Abdul AhadMalik R/O NagbalMachhma, Tral, was an active militant operative, who was killed in an overnight operation on 2/3 June jointly conducted by Awantipora Police, 180 Bn CRPF and 42 RR at Police Component complex Tral.

“Amin was arrested on May 30, 2021 along with incriminating materials viz. arms, ammunitions and explosives including unlicensed 12 bore gun, live rounds, explosives, iron/steel balls, 9 feature phones and other warlike stores used in fabrication of IEDs,” the official said, adding that “A case FIR No. 48/2021 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Tral. Amin was on Police remand and on 2/6/2021 he was brought from Police Station Tral to the Police Component, Tral for further interrogation. During the interrogation the terror operative got hold of the service rifle (AK 47) of Constable Amjad Khan and fired indiscriminately with intention to kill the Police personnel. He critically wounded CT Amjad Khan.”

The official said that Amin then took total control of the interrogation room and engaged the Police personnel by firing intermittently from the snatched weapon.

“Sensing grave danger to the lives of Police personnel and that of Amin, his mother and Executive Magistrate were brought on the site and repeated sincere efforts were made to persuade him to throw away the weapon and surrender.” Amin, police said, however, displayed complete defiance to such persuasions and not only refused to surrender but also fired upon the Police party engaged in persuasion. “One of the Police personnel was hit with a bullet on chest and survived because of bulletproof jacket he was wearing,” the official said, adding that “After failing of all efforts to ensure his surrender, the terror operative was engaged in a gun fight following the rules and SoP of such engagement and was neutralized.”

The police official said that the snatched weapon was recovered from the possession of the slain.

“In this regard, case FIR No. 61/2021 under relevant sections of law stands registered at Police Station Tral and investigation taken up. Body of slain militant was sent to Police Hospital Srinagar for medico-legal formalities,” the official said.

Police said that it is pertinent to mention that the slain militant operative was an active militant of HizbulMujahideen in the past and was arrested in 2003. “Further, his brother ShabirMalik was also a militant of the AGuH outfit, who was eliminated at Brenpathri in 2019,” the official said.

FAMILY VERSION

Zahoor Ahmed Malik, brother of slain Amin, alleged that police had raided their house last week but his brother wasn’t present there. “Three days after the police raid, we presented Amin before DySP with a promise that he will be back home within three days,” Zahoor said. He said that a few days ago, he went to see his brother and was shocked to see his knee and wrist was broken. “My brother told me that he was beaten and tied to a chair after which his wrist and knee were broken,” alleged Zahoor.

On Wednesday, Zahoor said that they got a call at 4 pm from the police station. “We were told that Amin has snatched the weapon. We took our mother who is depression patient and is not able to hear properly as she has received bullet injury in the past and has also lost her son in 2019, to persuade Amin to surrender,” Zahoor said, adding that “my mother made several appeals to Amin and told us that she wasn’t able to hear whether Amin was responding or not.”

Later, Zahoor said that he was told  by police men at police complex Tral that they are persuading his brother and by morning he will be back home. “In the morning, we came to know that he had been killed. Irony is that we were not even allowed to have his last glimpse. His body was taken to an unknown location,” Zahoor said, adding that “the entire incident must be probed impartially.” He said his brother was an active militant who surrendered in 2003.

“Since his surrender he was never called for questioning as he was earning his livelihood by going for daily labour work.” Zahoor said his brother left behind his wife, two sons aged 14 and 7 years. (KNO)

Srinagar: Following reports of the cases of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Kashmir, the Directorate of Sheep Husbandry Kashmir (DSHK) has informed all the Sheep farmers of the division not to panic and take necessary preventive measures as the disease is not usually manifested in a virulent form in small ruminants.

The department as per an official communiqué has informed that an outbreak of Foot & Mouth like disease was reported in sheep during early May in district  Budgam and the department immediately took remedial measures and started vaccination of the animals in periphery of the affected areas (ring vaccination) and offered treatment of clinical cases.

The disease was mainly reported from rural areas like Rathsun, Shalkani, Gundipora of Beerwah Sub division of District Budgam where about 1700 sheep were affected out of which about 1600 have recovered fully. Besides district Budgam, disease was sporadically reported from isolated pockets of District Anantnag, Baramulla and Bandipora.

It was revealed that besides field vets who attended the outbreak, the department immediately deputed experts from Disease Investigation Lab Nowshera who ensured all kinds of prophylactic and curative measures to prevent mortalities and spread of the disease. The teams collected the necessary samples from affected areas and the tests have been sent to Bhubaneshwar BSL-2 lab for confirmatory diagnosis of the disease.

In the meantime all symptomatic treatment of affected cases is being undertaken and there is no paucity of either drugs or vaccines required to address the outbreak. Moreover 05 teams of experts from Disease Investigation Laboratory Nowshera have been deputed for 10 districts of Kashmir division, to keep a tight surveillance on any form of disease outbreak throughout the division especially of the migrating flocks from different areas of the valley.

It was also informed that the department has established various first aid camps at sub alpines and shall be keeping all the resources available at Highland pastures where the flocks migrate during summer to keep an eye on the disease and provide necessary treatment as and when required.

Meanwhile, during the present year, FMD vaccination was to be done under Government of India’s scheme of NADCP which got delayed in sheep due to Covid-19 pandemic and accordingly the department took proactive measures to procure the vaccine out of its own resources to contain the spread of the disease.

The department has once again advised the farmers to follow the advisories issued by the department and also bring any case of such disease in the notice of nearest veterinary care professionals for timely intervention to prevent any losses to the livestock.

Srinagar:  An army soldier from Anantnag district was killed when his service weapon reportedly went off accidental at his place of posting at Uplona Baramulla, officials said on Thursday.

They said Sepoy Muneer Ahmad Ganie (13780067W), posted with army’s 52 RR, son of Mohammad Ramzan of Larikpora Anantnag of 52 RR was brought at PCR Hospital here for medical formalities.

“Reportedly on June 2, his service weapon went off accidentally while cleaning and got injured. Later on he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital,” the official sources told GNS. (GNS)

By: Murtaza Mushtaq/Jahangir Lolabi

Kupwara: Several incidents of cloudbursts and hailstorms were intermittently witnessed throughout the day in various parts of this north Kashmir district on Thursday. The weather turbulences have reportedly caused substantial damage to orchards and standing crops across dozens of hamlets, leaving thousands inhabitants fending for themselves.

Reports reaching GNS said that a major cloudburst hit a site in proximity to the house of one Manzoor Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Sadiq Bhat in village Sharkoot of Tarathpora in Handwara this evening.  Out of panic amid the incessant downpour coupled with a loud bang, a woman, wife of Mohammad Sadiq Bhat, suffered a heart stroke and was relocated from the house. However she was said to be responding well after initial treatment. The cloudburst caused damage to the house of Bhat besides to other houses in the vicinity.

The rainstorm is also said to have washed large swathes of paddy fields besides severely damaging apple, cherry, pear, apricot orchards in the area.

The people, with children on shoulders, were seen running towards safer spots as the downpour kept on inundating the low lying places in the area.

Similar incidents were also reported from Kralpora, Aawura, Dooniwari, where the cloudbursts wrecked havoc to orchards and standing crops and also caused damage to some residential houses.

Reports of hailstorms and incessant rains have been in the meantime received from over two dozen hamlets including in Dowlatpora, Villgam, Guzriyal, Gofa-Bal, Hangnikote, Panzgam, Babapora, Batpora, Zurhama, Dardsun, Warsun, Laderwan, Lashdat, Punchi Mohalla, Meelyal, Thindpora, Hirri, Dard Hari Khar Gund, Ludarwan, Shuloora, Champora, Dahama, Dolipora, Cherapawa, Sunamullo, Kukrusa, Guzriyal, Panzgam.

However no loss to life has been reported from anywhere so far. (GNS)