Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Monday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to facilitate travel of Kashmiri medical students from the valley to Bangladesh so that they can appear in the MMBS examination scheduled to be held from May 31.

A spokesperson of J&K Students Association on Monday said that association has written a letter to Dr Jaishankar urging him to facilitate travel of over 100 Kashmiri medical students, who are in the valley, to Bangladesh. “Over 100 Kashmiri medical students pursuing studies in Bangladesh are currently stuck in Kashmiri due to pandemic,” he said.

However, he said the students have been informed by their respective colleges and Universities in Bangladesh that examinations will commence from May 31 and are thus required to return immediately.

He said that their exams were postponed on April 3 and the students were told that date sheet will be announced at least 2 weeks after Eid-ul-Fitr. “Due to second deadly wave of COVID-19, hundreds of students returned to India recently and now all of sudden examination has been announced to start from May 31, 2021,” he said.

He said the students have to complete a 14 day mandatory Quarantine in Bangladesh also. “As Bangladesh government has suspended air travels with India, special arrangement should be made so that these students can return to Bangladesh and appear in the examination,” he said.

The spokesperson requested Dr Jaishankar to take immediate steps to resolve the issue on humanitarian grounds and facilitate travel of these students.

Srinagar: A Naib Tehsildar was fired from his services in south Kashmir district of Pulwama without holding any inquiry ‘in the interest of the security of the state’.

This is the second such case where a government employee was sacked during the last couple of days under Article 311.

Earlier, a government teacher from north Kashmir district of Kupwara was sacked from his services without any inquiry, attracting huge criticism from civil society and political leaders.

“The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under sub-clause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry in the case of Nazir Ahmad Wani, Naib Tehsildar, Pulwama-II,” an order of the General Administration Department (GAD) read.

The order further said that Lt Governor after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available that the activities of Nazir Ahmad Wani are such as to warrant his dismissal from service with immediate effect.

Reacting to these actions, former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic, centre should focus on saving lives instead of firing government employees on flimsy grounds in Kashmir.

“No wonder its misplaced priorities have converted India into shamshanghats & kabristans. The living continue to suffer & the dead are deprived of dignity,” Mehbooba tweeted.

Several politicians, including Apni Party (AP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, besides others have appealed to the Lt Governor to terminate these dismissal orders.

The J&K government on April 21 constituted a Special Task Force (STF) to identify and scrutinize the government employees, and lodge cases against those who pose a threat to the country’s security or are involved in ‘anti-national activities’.

The STF under the chairmanship of Additional Director-General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been scrutinizing the cases of employees suspected of being involved in activities requiring action under the proviso (C) of Article 311(2) of the Constitution. Under the proviso (C) of Article 311(2), the government is empowered to terminate an employee without recourse to the normal procedure if it is satisfied that his or her retention in public service is prejudicial to the security of the state.

Baramulla:  Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, accompanied by concerned officers Monday visited Baramulla where he chaired two seperate  meetings with Deputy Commissioners of Baramulla and Kupwara besides interacting with various stakeholders in order to discuss means and measures for combating the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic.

On the occasion, a comprehensive discussion was held wherein the stakeholders comprising religious heads, transporters, traders among other prominent sections of the society from both the districts separately presented their feedback and suggestions with regard to the issue.

Advisor underlined the need of active cooperation from every stakeholder in combating the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic and said that need of the hour is to supplement the government efforts at this critical juncture. He added that religious heads and PRIs enjoy a respectable position in the society and they can effectively do their part by motivating people to follow SOPs and guidelines for averting major exigencies.

He called for stringent measures for curbing this infection. He also stressed upon the traders and transporters to strictly follow the requisite advisories saying that the situation can go out of control if the issue is not taken seriously.

Baseer said any kind of gathering in the form of religious congregation need to be avoided at the time of pandemic.

He said administration has procured sufficient stock of Oxygen supply and essential drugs and there is no need to pay any heed to the rumours regarding its scarcity. He emphasized upon the officers and other stakeholders to educate people about the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign so that people come forward and take the vaccine doses at their stipulated time.

Meanwhile, Advisor directed both the DCs to formulate exigency plans in view of forthcoming festivals of Shab-e-Qadr and Eid-u-Fitr and make arrangements of mobile vans in containment zones so that all the essential commodities are delivered at the door steps of those living in such zones. He emphasized to ensure that the economic activities relating to agriculture, horticulture, MGNREGA etc goes on smoothly provided  COVID appropriate protocol is strictly followed.

Interacting with the PRI and ULB representatives, Advisor impressed upon them to play a bigger role in tackling this pandemic. He appealed them to step forward and aware the masses about the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing. He further requested them to get their localities sanitized/fumigated.