Jammu: Inspector General (IG) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Jammu P S Ranpise Monday said that all units have been briefed about the threat posed by sticky bombs during the Amarnath Yatra.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating a free medical camp organised by the 16th Battalion in Sidhra, Ranpise said all necessary arrangements are being made to ensure successful Amarnath Yatra this year which is likely to witness heavy rush.

“We are already alert and are ready to face any challenges. All units have been briefed about the threat posed by sticky bombs and all arrangements are being made to make Yatra successful this year as it is likely to witness a heavy rush of pilgrims,” he said.

Ranpise said that security arrangements regarding Amarnath Yatra have been discussed with the police administration.

“The CRPF is trying its best to meet all the arrangements,” he said.

Ranpise said that a large number of forces were already deployed on the Jammu and Kashmir highway. “At the same time, using technology, drones and other modern equipment will also be included in the security arrangements, so that no hassle will be encountered during this yatra,” he said. “CPRPF personnel would also be given training on Amarnath Yatra.”

The Amarnath Yatra will commence on June 28 and end August 22.

The annual Amarnath Yatra was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 epidemic and a live telecast was arranged to provide devotees with a virtual view. Earlier, the administration had decided to hold the yatra from July 21 to August 3, but the decision was later withdrawn.

Srinagar: After remaining closed for over a year due to Coronavirus pandemic, primary schools reopened on Monday in the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley amid strict COVID-19 guidelines put in place by the government.

However, expressing concern over sending their children to schools amid rise in COVID-19 cases in many parts of the country, parents have alleged lack of facilities in educational institutes to prevent the spread of virus among primary school students, keeping in view their age.

The reopening of primary schools was deferred by a week on March 8, when class work for students studying in class 6th to class 8th in all government and private schools resumed in the Kashmir Division.

Students in colorful uniforms were being screened at the entrance of their respective schools and only children wearing face masks were allowed into the premises. However, many parents alleged that the COVID-19 guidelines, including social distancing, were not being followed in private schools in the valley, including Srinagar.

The parents alleged that the school administrations were forcing them to send their children to schools without taking responsibility of the children. “The administration is asking us to fill the undertaking forms which put the onus of safety of children on the parents rather than the educational institutes,” Mansoor Ahmad, a parent, told UNI.

“Initially we were told that we have option to sent our children to school or not. But, now the schools have closed the online classes and announced examination, leaving us with no option but to sent them to schools,” he added.

Another parent, Firdous Ahmad, said the administration has asserted that they will not permit children to have lunch break and use the washroom. “It is highly irresponsible that children studying in primary classes (upto 11 years of age) will not be allowed to go to washroom or have lunch break till the school closes for the day, which is 1330 hrs,” he said.

A UNI correspondent, who visited many schools in Srinagar, saw that social distancing were not being followed in many schools, leaving small children vulnerable to the virus.

Educational institutes were reopening in a phased manner in the valley. The class work in High and Higher Secondary schools, particularly government institutes, resumed on March 1 about a fortnight after degree colleges and universities reopened in the Kashmir Division.

All educational institutes, including schools, colleges and universities, operated barely for two weeks in the 2020 academic session before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a country-wide lockdown bringing life to a grinding halt. In 2019, the academic session was badly affected following closure of all educational institutes after August 5, when centre abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides dividing J&K into two Union Territories.

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: In a COVID-19 test drive at Women’s College Srinagar, three students of the institution were confirmed positive on Monday for the deadly virus.

Officials of the college told KNO that three of its students were tested positive for COVID-19.

“As of now, we have decided not to close the institution,” the official said.

The officials said, “At least 521 tests were conducted in Womens College Srinagar wherein three second semester students were tested positive for COVID-19 positive.”

Last week, Principal of Islamia College of Science and Commerce ordered closure of the establishment for a week following the outbreak of COVID-19 among its two faculty members.

Pertinently, after a gap of nearly eleven months, the colleges in winter zones of Jammu and Kashmir divisions reopened on February-15 for physical academic activities.

Gulmarg receives fresh snowfall

Srinagar: Weatherman on Monday said there is no forecast for “major rainfall activity”    this week even as moderate rains or snow are “likely” on March 21 and 22 in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Light rain at isolated places is likely during next few days. There is no forecast of major rainfall activity till March 20, “Sonam Lotus, the Director of the local meteorological department, said, adding, “Moderate rain or snow is likely during 21-22nd in J&K and at Sonamarg -Drass axis.”

Meanwhile a meteorological department official told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of 6.3°C against 5.8°C on the previous night. The minimum temperature was 2.6°C above normal for this time of the year in this summer capital, the official said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of 6.0°C against 5.5°C on the previous night while mercury settled at minus 1.3°C against 0.6°C on the earlier night at Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 4.1°C, same as recorded on the previous night, the official said.

The minimum temperature settled at 1.7°C in Kupwara against 2.4°C on the previous night, the official said.

Gulmarg recorded minimum temperature of minus 2.6°C against minus 2.2°C on the previous night, the official said. The world famous skiing resort also received 3cm of fresh snowfall in last 24 hours, the official added.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a video conference with all chief ministers on the prevailing COVID-19 situation and the vaccination drive against the virus on Wednesday. The virtual meeting, to be held at 12.30pm on March 17, comes in the wake of a rapid rise in coronavirus cases in several states.

The Prime Minister, who has been holding such exercises regularly since the outbreak of the pandemic, last interacted with chief ministers in January before the vaccination roll-out.

He had announced that the Centre will bear the expenses of vaccinating nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers in the first round and suggested that public representatives, a reference to politicians, should not be part of this initial exercise. The drive has now moved on to next round to cover people over 60 years of age, and those aged above 45 years and having comorbidities.

On Monday, India registered 26,291 cases, a 8,700 rise in active cases. This is also the highest single-day spike in 85 days, taking the country’s infection tally to 1,13,85,339, according to Union health ministry data. The number of deaths due to the pandemic increased to 1,58,725 with 118 more fatalities being recorded in 24 hours.

As many as 24 states and Union territories reported rise in active cases, with Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab and Karnataka registering maximum number of cases at 16,600, 1,800, 1,500 and 934 new cases, respectively.

Tally reaches 127,734; Active cases over 900 in J&K, recovery rate around 98 percent

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Monday reported 94 fresh cases of Covid-19 taking tally of cases in J&K to 127,734 while as no death related to covid-19 was reported in last 24 hours in the UT.

Of the exact number of 127,734 cases, 75,506 are from Kashmir and 52,228 from Jammu division. Officials said that among 94 new cases, 85 belong to Kashmir division while as 09 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 75,506 including 73,534 recoveries and 1,244 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 52,228 including 51,289 recoveries and 730 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 937 including 728 from Kashmir division and 209 from Jammu division.

With 77 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 124,823 which is 97.73 percent of the total cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 49 from Srinagar, 06 from Baramulla, 07 from Budgam, 06 from Pulwama,   13 from Kupwara, 02 from Anantnag, 00 from Bandipora, 01 from Ganderbal, 01 from Kulgam and 00 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 09 from Jammu division include 09 from Jammu, 00 from Udhampur, 00 from Rajouri, 00 from Doda, 00 from Kathua, 00 from Samba, 00 from Kishtwar, 00 from Poonch, 00 from Ramban and 06 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.

As per officials figures, 27,620 positive cases including 464 deaths and 26,716 recoveries are from Srinagar, 8,399 including 177 deaths and 8,131 recoveries are from Baramulla, 7,980 including 7,798 recoveries and 120 deaths are from Budgam, 5,908 including 5,788 recoveries and 92 deaths are from Pulwama, 5,723 including 97 deaths and 5,602 recoveries are from Kupwara, 5,087 including 4,971 recoveries and 91 deaths are from Anantnag, 4,727 cases including 4,654 and 62 deaths are from Bandipora, 4,688 including 4,624 recoveries and 47 deaths are from Ganderbal, 2,752 including 2,684 recoveries and 54 deaths are from Kulgam and 2,622 including 2,566 recoveries and 40 deaths are from Shopian.

In Jammu division, 25,407 including 24,862 recoveries and 377 deaths are from Jammu district, 4,324 including 4,261 recoveries and 57 deaths are from Udhampur, 3,879 including 3,822 recoveries and 55 deaths are from Rajouri, 3,440 including 3,374 recoveries and 64 deaths are from Doda, 3,271 including 3,214 recoveries and 53 deaths are from Kathua, 2,843 including 2,798 recoveries and 41 deaths are from Samba, 2,739 including 2,716 recoveries and 22 deaths are from Kishtwar, 2,533 including 2,496 recoveries and 24 deaths are from Poonch, 2,135 including 2,114 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Ramban and 1,657 including 1,632 recoveries and 16 deaths are from Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin 1,394,138 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 29,725 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 937 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 1,243,753 persons have completed surveillance period and 117,749 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 5,581,500 samples are available.

Out of 5,581,500 the number of samples tested negative stands at 5,453,766 while as 127,734 have tested positive, among them 937 persons are active, 124,823 persons have recovered and 1,974 persons have died.

Srinagar: A top official of Jammu & Kashmir administration has expressed displeasure over a meagre number of symptomatic cases being tested for COVID-19 in Kashmir Valley.

Official documents in possession of news agency KNO reveal that Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P.K. Pole has expressed displeasure over a meagre number of symptomatic cases being tested for COVID-19 by the districts during the last four weeks. “The divisional commissioner Kashmir took a serious note of rapid decline in Rapid Antigen Testing in districts and directed the CMOs to enhance testing as per revised targets besides keeping ratio of RAT and RT-PCR in proportion as per government guidelines,” reads record note of a meeting held on 9th of this month to review COVID-19 mitigation measures in Kashmir Valley.

In the meeting, according to the record note, divisional commissioner Kashmir directed all the chief medical officers (CMOs) to increase the testing of symptomatic patients visiting hospitals.

The Divisional Commissioner has also directed the authorities to make contact tracing of positive cases more effective.

“In view of the recent rise in number of corona virus cases in some states and spike in positivity rate among travellers, raising apprehensions, it has been directed that district contract tracing teams shall more pro-actively and trace at least 15 contacts for each positive person to make contact tracing more effective besides breaking the chain of infection,” the record note further states.

The Divisional Commissioner also directed the authorities to carry internal audit of COVID-19 related logistics like testing kits, oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators etc.

Srinagar: Former minister Imran Raza Ansari on Monday resigned from the post of General Secretary of Peoples Conference (PC).

Ansari, who was a minister in PDP-BJP coalition government in erstwhile state of J&K, joined the PC in November 2018 after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Taking to micro-blogging site twitter, Ansari said, “As our Party @JKPC_ is growing and lots of leaders have started joining this caravan of change I am requesting my party President @sajadlone to accept my resignation from post of General Secretary effective today.”

Ansari, a prominent Shia leader in the valley, was the first one to rebel against Mehbooba in the party after she was dislodged from power by the BJP which withdrew support from the coalition on June 19, 2018.

Assesses summer preparedness of the Deptt

Jammu: Principal Secretary Power Development Department, Rohit Kansal today inspected the 2×50 MVA Grid Station and the 2×10 MVA Receiving Station at Canal Road here today.

The inspection was held in order to assess the department’s preparedness for the upcoming summer season.

Chairman, Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited, Jagmohan Sharma and Managing Director, Jammu Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited and JPDCL, Nasib Singh also accompanied the Principal Secretary during his visit.

While interacting with various officers during the visit, the Principal Secretary directed them to mobilise resources and manpower for delivering uninterrupted power supply to the public during harsh summers.

Those present at the occasion also included Chief Engineers, Sudhir Gupta and Gurmeet Singh; Superintendent Engineers, KK Thappa and BR Kundal, Executive Engineer, Sadiq Azad and AEE, Jitendra Singh among others.

The visit came as a follow up of a high level meeting held last week in which detailed deliberations were held on various short term and medium term measures initiated by the corporations of the department for smooth and uninterrupted power supply during the summer months.

New Delhi: Indian Mujahideen terrorist Ariz Khan, convicted in the killing of a police officer in the 2008 Batla House encounter in Delhi, was sentenced to death on Monday. The encounter between the Delhi police and a bunch of terrorists holed up in the South Delhi neighbourhood had led to the death of Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma while two others sustained injuries.

A native of Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, Khan was arrested by the Delhi police’s Special Cell in February 2018 after fleeing the spot in 2008. He was convicted in the case last week. Khan is also the alleged mastermind of the 2008 serial blasts across Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.

The police sought the death penalty for Khan saying it was not just any killing but a murder of a law enforcement officer who was a defender of justice. Additional Public Prosecutor AT Ansari, appearing for the police, said the case attracts exemplary punishment, which is capital punishment.

Advocate MS Khan, appearing for Ariz Khan, opposed the death penalty and said the incident was not premeditated.

The court had said on March 8 that it was “duly proved that Ariz Khan and his associates caused the murder of police official and fired gunshot on the police official”.

Calling it one of the “rarest of the rare cases” that merit the death penalty, Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav on Monday also imposed a total fine of ₹ 11 lakh against Khan. The court said ₹ 10 lakh should be immediately released to the family members of Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma.