Jammu:  Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has extended his warm greetings to people on the eve of Jumat-ul-Vida.

In a felicitation message, the Lt Governor observed that such auspicious occasions provide an opportunity to offer special prayers and seek the blessings of the almighty.

The Lt Governor expressed hope that the occasion would further instill the spirit of brotherhood and compassion among the people of all sects to create a harmonious and inclusive society.

The Lt Governor appealed to the people to follow preventive measures and guidelines to contain COVID-19 spread.

Srinagar:  Three newly recruited Al-Badr militants were on Thursday killed by security forces in an encounter which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Shopian.

A police spokesperson said that following specific information about presence of militants, in Kanigam area of Shopian, a joint CASO was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 178 battalion of CRPF late last night in the area.

“During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender. Family members of the trapped militants were also called to the encounter site to motivate and persuade them to surrender,” he said.

He said due to the great efforts and utmost patience of police, security forces and repeated surrender appeals with the help of their family members, one of the trapped militant, identified as Tausif Ahmad, ultimately surrendered and laid down his arms before the joint security forces.

He said the surrendered militant later also appealed to his trapped companions to surrender, however, they turned down the offer and fired indiscriminately on joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter.

“In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” he said.

He said the slain militants have been identified as Danish Mir, Mohd Umer Bhat both residents of Khajapora Shopian and Zaid Bashir Reshi resident of Raben Shopian. “As per police records, they were affiliated with proscribed outfit Al-Badr,” he said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir once again makes a fervent appeal to all misguided youth, who have joined militant ranks, to shun the path of violence and return to mainstream as the society needs them and most importantly their parents.

“We will welcome and accept them with open arms,” he said.

Srinagar: Jummatul Vida and Shab-e Qadr prayers have been cancelled in view of unabated rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths at historic Jamia Masjid, which remained closed for congregational prayers since April 29, in downtown Srinagar.

A spokesperson for the Aniuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid (AAJM) said that Jummatul Vida and Shab-e-Qadr programmes at the grand mosque have been cancelled due to exponential rise in COVID-19 cases and lockdown, which has been imposed in the wake of second wave of Coronavirus.

“The people should spend these holy occasions especially the last 10 days of Ramazan at their homes by holding special prayers, dhikr-o-adhkaar and manaajaat besides pray to Almighty Allah to grant us complete refuge from the deadly virus,” he said in a statement issued here on Thursday.

The Anjuman stressed upon the people to religiously follow the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) and guidelines, saying the priority must be to save lives and prevent the virus from spreading.

“The best way to do that right now is to stay indoors. It also reiterated its appeal to people to get administered with Covid vaccine,” he added.

AAJM is headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is under house arrest since August 4, 2019, a day before centre abrogated Article 370 and 35 A besides divided the Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UTs).

Meanwhile, no congregational Friday prayers were held last week in most shrines and mosques in the valley, including Srinagar, in view of the COVID-19 lock down that was imposed on April 29 following surge in the corona virus positive cases. The lockdown was later extended till Thursday and then till May 10 in the valley.

Srinagar:  Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, P K Pole on Wednesday accorded sanction for the constitution of the  committees  for Monitoring and Auditing of Oxygen delivery systems on a daily basis in Covid 19 hospitals of Srinagar.

According to the order, the committee for each hospital shall have Head or OSD,  Member from Administration, Technical Expert, Mechanical Operator and Oxygen Plant Operator.

For SKIMS, Soura the committee is Headed by Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani, KAS with other members including member from administration, Dr. Farooq Jan (MS); and  Mir Gh. Nabi (Sr. Foreman), Er. Ratan Singh (JE) and Yaseen (Head Operator).

Also for, SKIMS, Bemina, JVC the committee is again headed by Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani, KAS, with other members including Dr. Susan jalali, Mr. Manzoor Ah.(Anaesthesia Technician), Er. Zulifikar Hussain (AEE) and  Mr. Nazir Ahmad (Head Operator).

Likewise, for SMHS Hospital the monitoring and Auditing committee for Oxygen Supply is headed by Shabir-ul Hassan, KAS with other members including Dr. Asif Drabu, Mr. Farooq Ahmad (Sr. Anaesthesia Technician), Er. Manzoor Ahmad Khan (AEE) and Mehraj Ahmad.

Similarly, for CD Hospital Hamida Akhter, KAS, has been appointed as head of the committee while Dr. Tahira Parveen (RMO), Hilal Ahmad Bhat (Anaesthesia Technician), Er. Bupinder Singh (JE) and Altaf Ahmad have been including in the committee.

Further, In Kashmir Nursing Home, the monitoring and auditing committee is headed by Hamida Akhter, assisted by Dr. Mubashir, Younis Rather (Anaesthesia Technician), Er. Owais (JE) and Farooq Ahmad.

JLNM monitoring and auditing committee is headed by Shabir-ul- Hassan, KAS with other members including Dr. Tauseef,

Samiullah (Anaesthesia Technician), Er. Amit Dhar (JE) and Tariq Ahmad.

These committees have been asked to regularly inspect the Oxygen Plant, Manifold/pipe line and Oxygen delivery ports to ascertain any leakages in the oxygen delivery system and shall monitor the purity of delivered oxygen at least 3 times a day in their respective hospitals. The oxygen purity should never be allowed to go below 90%.

The committees  have been directed to  ensure that display sign boards for patient awareness are installed in wards and patients are directed not to touch and change Oxygen LPM Delivery settings.

Besides, the committees have been asked to  ensure that good quality branded oximeters are used for SPO2 monitoring and the same shall be measured every 3 hours and recorded by the Para Medical Staff.

Also,  the committees  should ensure that the LPM delivery settings changes are carried with precautions and staff is trained for the same.

The committees have been directed to ensure that the ward boy should make it a point that while a patient is taking food or going to the washroom, the oxygen flow-meter knob should be shut for oxygen beds.

Furthermore, it has asked to  train staff members whose duty would be only to look into saving of oxygen.

Divisional administration also asked the committees that they  shall submit detailed  inspection reports to the Head of the Institutions for corrective measures needed, if any, and the Head of institution shall forward the same to the Divisional Covid Control Room and Div Com Office alongwith action taken report.

Srinagar:  As the recent surge in Covid-19 positive cases has resulted in increase in bed occupancy rate in the Tertiary Care Hospitals (Category 1) in Srinagar, the Divisional Administration established Tirage Centers to utilize the hospital beds of Tertiary Care Hospitals including SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar, Chest Disease, Hospital, Srinagar, SMHS, Hospital, Srinagar, Kashmir Nursing Home, Srinagar, JLNM, Hospital, Srinagar and  PHC, Chanapora, Srinagar.

The Div Com, Kashmir issued an order in this regard which reads that for effectively and judiciously use of beds in the hospitals it has become imperative to establish Triage Centres which shall form the first Nodal point for Covid-19 patients, where they shall be assessed by the designated team of Health professionals.

Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that two Triage Centres shall be established at NIT Campus Hazratbal Srinagar and SKIMS-JVC, Bemina Srinagar, which shall work as first contact point for patients in district Srinagar.

Divisional Administration also directed all the Chief Medical Officers of other nine districts to establish a similar mechanism of Triage and also make sure that there are no unnecessary referrals to Tertiary Care hospitals.

Srinagar:  Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Thursday called for conducting fire safety audits and mechanical system audit of all dedicated covid-19 hospitals in Kashmir.

The audit has been ordered in the backdrop of the increasing rush of covid patients resulting in manifold increase in the supply of electricity due to  round the clock operation of oxygen generation plants, mechanical systems and supply feeders.

The Div Com said that the manifold increase in the electricity supply to these institutions has made them high risk fire prone.

In order to safeguard life and property, the Div Com directed all Deputy Commissioners to conduct fire safety audits and mechanical system audit of all covid dedicated facilities to ensure avoiding  of any fire related or any untoward incident happenings.

DCs were directed to constitute joint teams to conduct audits at the earliest.

He said that it has become imperative to conduct these audits as there have been cases like fire incidents in some parts of the country resulting in deaths to patients as well as hospital staff in the recent past.

The Div Com further instructed all district administrations to take corrective measures and ensure provision of power back up,necessary repairs and buffer stock arrangements available at all these dedicated covid-19 hospitals and wellness centres.

He also directed DCs to submit detailed reports within  a week’s time.

Seeks details of bed capacity, drug availability

Jammu:  Welcoming the efforts of the government and taking stock of the entire covid-19 situation, J&K high court on Thursday said much more was required to be done in Jammu and Kashmir.

Among others, a division bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Dhar said that the court’s directions are primarily needed in respect of supply of oxygen to patients at home, seeking the services of infectious disease specialist, removing the deficiency, if any, in regard to availability of ventilators, oxygen, beds and medication including remedisivir besides for removing shortage of doctors and the staff, if any, as well as the registration and vaccination of lawyers.

“In view of the circumstances, welcoming the efforts of the government and taking stock of the entire situation, we find that still much more is required to be done.”

To resolve difficulty faced in the supply of oxygen to the patients at home, the court directed the Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, to nominate adequate number of Nodal Officers for each city and to publicise their full details with contact number etc so that such patients or their relatives may approach them with proper medical prescription for the supply of oxygen.

“Once they are so approached, they shall take immediate and adequate steps to ensure the supply of oxygen where it is found to be needed without causing any harassment to anyone,” the court said.

The court observed that it was not sure as to the availability of infectious diseases specialists in the J&K or whether such specialist is necessary in the present situation.

Nonetheless, the court said, the Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education is expected to explore the number of such specialists available throughout the country and the possibility, if any of them is willing to serve the J&K, “if such service of an expert is genuinely needed.”

“The shortage of oxygen, medicines including Remdesivir or of doctors or staff is not born out from any material on record therefore it is not appropriate for the Court to enter into the arena at this stage and leaves it upon the Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education to come out on affidavit within two weeks with complete details of the number of hospitals both government and private available for Covid treatment, number of beds available thereof, District wise/City wise, quantity of Remdesivir allotted to the J&K, the exact quantity of Remdesivir received and used etc with the corresponding figures of the requirement,” the court said.

The court also observed that since this is not an adversarial litigation, “we hope and trust that no one would make any effort to draw any mileage out of it so as to reduce it to a personal interest litigation or a publicity interest litigation.” “The media would also act cautiously in the best interest of the public and country,”

Insofar as the registration and vaccination of lawyers above the age of 45 years, the court said it poses no problem in the light of the submission of the Advocate General D C Raina that it can be done without difficulty.

“It can easily be resolved by directing the Registry of the Court to discuss the issue with the Finance Commissioner, Health and Medical Education with the help of Advocate General to get some date fixed for the registration of such advocates and thereafter some dates for their vaccination which may be notified to carry out vaccination in groups either at some suitable place in the High Court Campus or Medical College or Hospital as may be agreed upon,” the court said, adding, “The above exercise be completed within a week beginning from May 6.”

Regarding vaccination of lawyers between the age group of 18 to 45, the court said that they are adviced to get themselves registered for vaccination online as per the prescribed procedure. “Once they are registered they will be provided facility of vaccination in group again on appropriate dates and a suitable place or otherwise they will be given a slot for vaccination on priority at the earliest, if possible with in a period of two weeks from the date of registration.” (GNS)

115 persons arrested for violating norms; Rs 103,370 realized as fine: Police

Srinagar: The Corona curfew continued for the seventh straight day in Jammu and Kashmir while police claimed to have arrested 115 persons across the Valley for violating the norms.

Corona Curfew is in place in Srinagar and other districts of Jammu and Kashmir since last Thursday in a bid to prevent the deadly virus from spreading. The government extended the lockdown in Srinagar and four other districts till May 10.

The police and paramilitary men were deployed although in large number to enforce the lockdown restrictions. The barricades and concertina wires were erected at many places and bridges to thwart the public movement.

Meanwhile, all the shops and business establishments barring emergency services, standalone shops remained closed throughout the day in Srinagar and other districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, the public transport with 50 per cent seating capacity was also allowed to ply today by the authorities.

A police spokesman said  during last 24 hours, 115 persons were arrested, 49 FIRs were lodged and also fine to the tune of Rs 103,370 from 601 people were realized for violating the guidelines, rules throughout Kashmir valley.

“Besides, six vehicles were also seized in Budgam for violating Covid-19 norms,” police said, adding that the special drive against the violators of Covid-19 guidelines, rules continued throughout all the districts of Kashmir Valley to ensure that people adhere to SOPs and  guidelines envisaged by government to curb COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, police urged people to cooperate in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs, guidelines and protocols for the safety of the people. “The special drive shall remain continue throughout the districts of Kashmir Valley to strengthen the safety measures,” police said—(KNO)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered transfer of several police officers including DGP Prisons, J&K.

The transfer orders comes a day after senior Hurriyat Conference leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai died of covid-19, a day after he was shifted to Jammu hospital where he was detained under PSA since July last year.

According to an order issued by Home department, V.K. Singh (IPS), DGP Prisons, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Commandant General HG/CD/SDRF, J&K.

“The post of Commandant General HG/CD/SDRP, J&K, is declared to be equivalent in rank and status to that of DGP, till the time it is held by V.K.Singh,” the order reads.

Dr. B. Srinivas, Commandant General HG/CD/SDRF, J&K, has been transferred and posted as DGP Prisons, J&K.  He has been asked to continue to hold the additional charge of the post of Director, Fire & Emergency Service, J&K, till further orders.

R.R. Swain, ADGP CID, J&K, upon his promotion to the grade of DGP, is designated as Special DG, CID, J&K, the order reads. “The post of ADGP CED, J&K is declared to be equivalent in the rank and status to that of DGP till the time it is held by the officer.”

A K Choudhary ADGP Armed, J&K, upon his promotion to the grade of DGP, has been transferred and posted as Special DG Crime, J&K. “The post of ADGP Crime, J&K is declared to be equivalent in the rank and status to that of DGP till the time it is held by the officer.”

S.J.M. Gillani, ADGP Coordination, PHQ, J&K,  has been transferred and posted as ADGP Armed, J&K.

Abdul Gani Mir, ADGP (Law & Order), holding additional charge of the post of ADGP Hqrs. PHQ, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, J&K Police Housing Corporation, relieving Deepak Kumar of the additional charge of the post.

‘Mukesh Singh IGP Jammu, upon his promotion to the grade of ADGP, shall continue in the present position, with the post declared equivalent in the rank and status to that of ADGP till the time it is held by the officer.”

M.K. Sinha, IGP Crime, J&K, upon his promotion to the grade of ADGP, has been transferred and posted as ADGP Hqrs. PHQ, J&K against an available vacancy.

Danesh Rana, IGP Armed Jammu, upon his promotion to the grade of ADGP, has been transferred and posted as ADGP Coordination, PHQ, J&K, the order, issued by the orders of Lieutenant Governor, added.

Srinagar:  Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday sanctioned accord to the appointment of Dr. Samia Rashid as Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar.

An Order Number 374-JK (HME) of 2021 Dated 06-05-2021 to this effect, of which a copy a lies with news agency Global News Service (GNS), states that “…Dr. Samia Rashid, Professor and Head, Department of Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, as Principal, Government Medical College, Sringar, in pay level-15 (182200-224100) with effect from 01.03.2020.”