Tally at 22,396; 14856 recover

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 4: As many as 390 more people tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday taking the total number of infected persons in Jammu and Kashmir to 22396, officials said.
They said that of the fresh cases 238 tested positive in Kashmir and 152 in Jammu. Moreover, 824 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 291 from Jammu Division and 533 from Kashmir Division.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 22396 positive cases, 7123 are Active Positive, 14856 have recovered and 417 have died; 30 in Jammu division and 387 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 671413 test results available, 649017 samples have been tested as negative till August 04, 2020.

Additionally, till date 376393 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for observation which included 44229 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 7123 in isolation and 43078 under home surveillance. Besides, 281546 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 5432 positive cases (including 99 cases reported today) with 2300 Active Positive, 2994 recovered (including 229 cases recovered today), 138 deaths; Baramulla has 1968 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 443 Active Positive, 1452 recovered (including 09 cases recovered today), 73 deaths; Pulwama reported 1628 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 723 active positive cases and 881 recovered (including 49 cases recovered today) and 24 deaths; Kulgam has 1524 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 173 Active Positive and 1322 recoveries (including 173 cases recovered today) and 29 deaths; Shopian has 1485 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 224 Active Positive, 1238 recovered and 23 deaths; Anantnag district has 1411 positive cases (including 37 cases reported today) with 270 Active Positive, 1115 recovered (including 45 cases recovered today), 26 deaths;  Budgam has 1345 positive cases (including 09 cases reported today) with 436 Active Positive and 878 recovered (including 150 cases recovered today) cases and 31 deaths; Kupwara has 1161 positive cases (including 20 cases reported today) with 200 Active Positive, 940 recovered(including 04 cases recovered today), 21 deaths; Bandipora has 820 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 273 Active Positive, 532 recovered (including 01 cases recovered today) and 15 deaths and  Ganderbal has 518 positive cases (including 28 cases reported today) with 180 active positive cases and 331 recoveries (including 34 case recovered today) and 07 deaths.

Similarly, Jammu has 1300 positive cases (including 41 cases reported today) with 583 active positive cases and 696 recoveries (including 52 cases recovered today), 21 deaths; Rajouri has 741 positive cases (including 21cases reported today) with 288 active positive cases, 451 recovered (including 147 cases recovered today), 02 deaths; Ramban has 574 positive cases with 131 active positive, 442 recoveries (including 01 case recovered today), 01 death; Kathua has 551 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 139 Active positive, 411 recovered (including 42 cases recovered today), 01 death; Udhampur has 581 positive cases (including 26 cases reported today)  with 216 active positive cases, 364 recovered (including 02 cases recovered today), 01 death; Samba has 457 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 176 Active Positive and 280 recoveries (including 01 case recovered today), 01 death; Doda has 299 positive cases (including 07 case reported today) with 80 active positive cases, 217 recoveries (including 17 recoveries today), 02 deaths; Poonch has 248 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 95 active positive, 152 recoveries (including 08 cases recovered today),01 death; Reasi has 198 positive cases (including 28 cases reported today) with 138 active positive, 60 recoveries (including 01 case recovered today) and Kishtwar has 155 positive cases  with 55 active positive cases; 100 recoveries (including 20 cases recovered today).

According to the bulletin, of the total 22396 positive cases in J&K 4593 have been reported as travelers while 17803 as others.

The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.

The bulletin has informed the people that, the best way to protect themselves from COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 2 metre from others, frequently cleaning hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer or washing them with soap and water and following good respiratory etiquette and hygiene.

As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory.

The bulletin again explained that early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us. “Not disclosing symptoms could put life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”.

Advisory has further exhorted upon the people not to step out of home, unless absolutely necessary. “If you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear a mask and practice social distancing, personal hygiene and frequent handwashing with soap and water.”

In case of any emergency people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 at their doorsteps by calling on toll-free number 108 while as pregnant women and sick infants can avail free ambulance services by dialling toll-free number 102.

People can also call on toll-free national helpline number 1075; J&K COVID-19 Helpline Numbers 0191- 2549676 (UT level Cell), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division), 0194-2440283 & 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division) for support, guidance, and response to health-related queries on Novel Corona virus Disease (COVID-19).

Public is advised to strictly follow the advisories issued by the government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.

People are also advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 4: The Union Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, today chaired a high level meeting to review the management of COVID-19 pandemic in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Secretary, J&K, B V R Subrahmanyam, Financial Commissioner, H&ME, Atal Dulloo, Additional Secretary (UT), Govind Mohan, Joint Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary (JK), Manish Tiwari and Mission Director (NHM), Bhupinder Kumar were present in the meeting.

At the outset, Health and Medical Education Department gave a presentation on prevailing situation in the UT. The meeting was informed that J&K is performing reasonably well in mitigating COVID-19 pandemic with  53,323 tests per million population, 1,746 cases per million population, doubling rate of 27.2 days, 3.3% positivity rate, 61.3% recovery rate, and 1.8% mortality rate. It was mentioned that the UT has so far conducted 6.5 lakh tests and currently has 21,416 confirmed cases, 7893 active cases, 13,127 recovered cases and 396 deaths.

Union Home Secretary while reviewing the COVID death audit report observed that most of the critical patients die within 72 hours of hospitalization. He emphasized on the need to tackle the issue.

Regarding testing capacities, Chief Secretary said that the related infrastructure has been ramped up and against the WHO recommendation of 140 tests per million population per day, J&K is now conducting 900 tests per million per day. For this, 5 additional testing laboratories, 4 CBNAAT facilities and 15 TRUENAT laboratories were established in government medical institutions, besides, augmenting the RTPCR tests with Rapid Antigen Tests. Further, the Government is also in the process of procuring 3 COBAS 6800 fully automated systems to enhance per day testing capacity, which is currently at 12,000 tests per day.

Further, Chief Secretary informed that the Government has recently revised home quarantine guidelines to permit such isolation in favour of asymptomatic patients with no co-morbidity and have Arogya Setu app downloaded for better monitoring, adding that they are being provided with Government sponsored oxymeters with the instruction of reporting to hospitals if their oxygen saturation level dips below 90%. “This will reduce the burden on healthcare institutions and will pave way to better monitoring of critical cases”, he said.

While sharing the data on surge of bilateral pneumonia cases in the valley, Chief Secretary sought help of the Union Government through a technical team of experts for analysing such cases and advising on probable containment of its spread.

Srinagar, Aug 4: After the gap of over four months, the government on Tuesday decided to open all the religious places in Jammu and Kashmir from August 16.

In a tweet, Government spokesman Rohit Kansal said that all the religious places and places of worship will open in Jammu and Kashmir from August 16.
“Major decision by J&K Government. All religious places and places of worship to open in Jammu & Kashmir from August 16, 2020. Religious processions and large religious gatherings remain strictly prohibited,” Kansal tweeted.

Pertinently, in wake of COVID-19 outbreak, the government ordered closure of all the religious places in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent the deadly virus from spreading.

Jammu, Aug 4: Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday classified the districts as Red, Orange and Green zones for the purpose of implementing the lockdown, from tomorrow (August 5, 2020).

An order issued by Chairperson of the State Executive Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred under section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, declared all districts of Kashmir province, (except Bandipora district) and Ramban district of Jammu Province as red zones; Kathua, Samba, Bandipora, Reasi, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts as Orange zones; and Doda and Kishtwar as Green zones.

The Lakhanpur Containment Zone on the National Highway will be a RED/ Containment Zone with a 500 meter buffer, the order stated.

This categorization of districts into Red, Orange and Green, as per the order, will be followed for the purposes of implementation of permitted activities in the respective districts, as per a separate order, to be issued by the State Executive Committee (SEC).

It further stated that this classification of districts will be reviewed periodically and any further modifications will be made by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

The classification, as per the order, has been done after a detailed review of the current COVID situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the Financial Commissioner, Health; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir and other officers.

The review particularly included ‘An overall assessment of the situation pertaining to the spread of COVID19 in Jammu and Kashmir; The trend in new cases particularly the recent spread/ spike in new cases in view of the continuous movement of persons travelling to J&K and between provinces/ districts; and the risk perception of the Health department vis-a-vis each district and the need to control further spread of COVID-19. (KNO)

Srinagar, Aug 4: Strict curfew restrictions were imposed in Kashmir on Tuesday to maintain law and order following intelligence inputs suggesting that separatists are planning to observe August 5,2020 as black day, officials said.

District Magistrates (DMs) of almost all districts in the Kashmir ordered imposition of restrictions for two days from today to prevent protests and other rallies on the first anniversary of scrapping of Article 370 and dividing the J&K into two Union Territories (UTs) on August 5, 2019.

The mainstream political parties too had announced to observe August 5 as black day while some had decided to hold rallies against the Centre’s decision alleging it was illegal and unconstitutional. However, the BJP decided to celebrate the day by organizing functions in Kashmir.

Additional security forces and police personnel were deployed to strictly impose the restrictions in the Valley.

In summer capital Srinagar, all main roads were closed and only those having fresh valid curfew pass issued by the DM were allowed to move.

We have strict instructions that only those having fresh curfew passes and medical emergency should be allowed to move, security force personnel told a group of media persons in the down town, where all roads were sealed since early this morning.

Large number of security force and J&K police personnel were deployed in the entire down town and outskirts to prevent any law and order problem.
All roads leading to historic Jamia Masjid were closed with barbed wire. The worship place, has remained closed since March this year in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nallahmar road from Khanyar to Chattabal remained closed for any pedestrian and traffic movement.
However, the road leading to S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura through down town was open though only patients and those associated with medical professionals were being allowed to move.

In the civil lines, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of summer capital, roads wore a deserted look with only security forces and police personnel remaining deployed. The Amira Kadal bridge, connecting Hari Singh High Street (HSHS) with Lal Chowk was closed with barbed wire.  The main markets, including Goni Khan and Mahraj Bazar, were also closed with barbed wire.

All roads leading to Maisumawere also closed and large number of security forces remained deployed to foil any attempt to protest.

In the uptown repeated announcements were made by police directing people to remain indoor as curfew has been imposed. The one-tube of fly over from Jehangir Chowk to Ram Bagh was closed for any traffic movement.

Security forces were also seen directing people to return back to their homes at Channapora and Rambagh and other places. However, in some areas some shops were also seen functioning and private vehicles plying.

Life also remained crippled due to restrictions imposed by the authorities in major towns and tehsil headquarters in the north, south and central Kashmir. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the road due to restrictions. Large number of security forces remained deployed to prevent any protests.

New Delhi, Aug 3: The recruitment  of local youths in Jammu and Kashmir by militant outfits has come down by nearly 42 percent since August 5, 2019 when the special provisions under Article 370 was abrogated and the erstwhile State was bifurcated into two Union Territories (UTs), the Home Ministry officials said here on Monday.

The officials, quoting figures provided by intelligence agencies, said, during the one year period before August 5, 2019 around 172 locals joined different militant groups, but after August 5, 2019 till date, recruitment of such vulnerable reduced by around 42 percent (from 172 to 100).

They also said that total number of militants who attempted infiltration from other Kashmir decreased by 33 percent as the figure was 241 in previous period which came down to 162 post August 5. However, the success rate of infiltration increased by 27 percent as the entry of 112 foreign militants out of a total of 162 attempting to enter. The figure for previous period was 101 successfully entering out of a 241 who attempted.

“A total of 276 militants were killed during one year period prior to August 5, 2019. It may be noted that after August 5, 2019 there was very little violence and almost a complete lull for about six months. Since January 2020 till date, within seven months, 148 militants have been killed whereas prior to August 5, 2019, militants killed during infiltration was 22 which has come down to 3 post August 5”, the officials in the security set up said.

Sharing the data on militant initiated violence, the Ministry officials said that as against 395 incidents prior to August 5 in 2019, it was 181 in post August 5 with substantial decrease of 54 percent whereas there was also a drop in civilian killing by 18 percent as 51 civilians got killed by militants during previous period but in post August 5 period, it was only 42.

There has been decline in number of casualty in Security Force as 117 personnel had lost their lives during previous period but in post August 5, the figure fell to 40, a decrease of 66 percent whereas injuries to forces has come down from 207 to 98 in last one year.

Srinagar, Aug 4:  Security agencies remained clueless so far about the whereabouts of Rifleman of Territorial Army (TA) who was abducted by suspected militants in Shopian on Sunday evening when he was driving his vehicle, which was later recovered in damaged condition (burnt) in Kulgam.
So far there was also no response to appeal by the family members of the soldier seeking his release.

Official sources said security forces and police personnel alongwith intelligence agencies had launched searches to trace the missing rifleman of 162 TA Shakir Manzoor, a resident of Harmain Shopian. However, there was no clue about Manzoor, who had come to his home to celebrate Eid-u-Adha with family members, sources said on Tuesday. We are on the job and working on different directions to trace the missing soldier, they said.

A defence ministry spokesman said on Monday that soldier Manzoor is missing since 1700 hrs on Sunday. However, his abandoned burnt car was later found near Kulgam, he said adding it is suspected that the soldier has been abducted by militants.

He said massive searches have been launched to trace the missing soldier.

Sources said Shakir had left his home at Harmain Shopian Sunday evening in the car. However, when he did not return, police was informed and a massive hunt was launched to trace him.

They said the burnt car of Shakir was later recovered at Rambhama in Kulgam.

Meanwhile, family members of soldier have appealed to abductor to release him on humanitarian grounds.

Ishtiyaq Ahmad

Srinagar, Aug 4:  In view of the inputs that ‘militants may attack and target top political leaders’, the police are reviewing security of all political leaders in Kashmir.

Highly placed sources told KINS that top police officers are taking all measures for the safety of politicians.

“Top police officers have issued instructions to field units to be extra careful in view of serious inputs of attack on political leaders,” top sources said.

Quoting a communication which has been sent to field units, the source said, “As per field sources militants are planning to attack on important political leaders. You are instructed to review security of all political leaders and take all precautions/measures including strengthening of their security grid and also advise them to restrict their movement only to important events and unnecessarily/ avoidable movement be avoided.”

The move comes after the killing of a young BJP leader in north Kashmir’s Bandipora on July 8 last month.

A senior police officer said that the security of politicians is being reviewed and could also be upgraded on the risk assessment of different leaders. “From time to time we review the security of protected political leaders but after the political killings in Bandipora, and the recent inputs the security of party leaders is being again reviewed,” the officer said.

Sources said that the top police officials have taken the inputs seriously and are ensuring proper protection of the politicians in Kashmir. “The field officers like SPs, SDPOs and SHOs have already been apprised of the need of protecting the politicians, especially those travelling frequently to southern districts of Kashmir,” sources said.

A series of meetings, according to sources, were held, to work out the security cover for the top politicians.

Sources said that scores of leaders, including those who are protected already had sought an increase in their security cover in the wake of fresh security threats.

“One of the BJP leader’s had sought an increase in the security cover,” sources maintained.

However, in response, the leader was advised to refrain from taking unnecessary visits and not to venture out unnecessarily,” sources maintained.

The communique sent to the BJP leader who is active in the party affairs here in Srinagar reads, “In case there is a need for urgent political trip or tour, the security wing of the police and the concerned police station should be informed in advance for additional deployment of forces for security cover”.

It is advised to follow the advisor/ SOP/ Guidelines issued from time to time which is in the best interest of your personnel security and safety,” it reads

Another senior police officer said that the security advisory has already been issued to all political leaders and workers, who are protected persons, in the wake of fresh threats issued to them by the militants after an attack on a young BJP leader in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

“We have urged BJP and other political leaders to avoid unnecessary travel so that they remain safe. We have also asked them to inform us in advance in case they really need to go out for party related activities so that additional security will be provided to them,” the officer said, adding that not informing the security agencies about political events or other important visits can “jeopardize the security of a particular leader.”

He however said that the police can’t give nafri (security men) to each and everybody who is in politics. “We will assess the threat perception of politicians and accordingly work out a protection plan,” the officer said, wishing anonymity.

Politicians from various mainstream parties have expressed concern over their security arrangements, especially in Kashmir.

Top BJP leaders like general secretary Ram Madhav and state president Ravinder Raina had also flagged the issue of security of their leaders before police officials.

After the revocation of Article 370 last year, the security of many politicians affiliated with different parties was downsized or withdrawn.

It is to mention here that last year a high level committee headed by chief secretary BVR Subramaniam was constituted to work out the modalities and review the cases of each individual who had requested for the security cover.

Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Aug 4: As many as 16 aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir have qualified Civil Service exams 2019.
A young girl from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district became one of the youngest IAS officers of India by cracking the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil service exam-2019 along with 15 more aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the details available with KINS the list of 829 successful candidates made public by the UPSC on Tuesday included 16 from the erstwhile J&K state including two from Ladakh.
A 23-year-old girl Nadia Beigh from Punzwa village of Kupwara cracked civil services of India in her second attempt and became one of the youngest IAS officers of India.
She credited her family for the success who became part of her journey. She also said hard work and dedication were key to success.
“I did this after making many sacrifices, hard work and prayers of many people. I thank everyone for prayers and hope many people will get inspired by my success. Nothing is impossible in life if you focus on a goal and work hard,” she said.
Aftab Rasool Malik another achiever from Trehgam Kupwara also cracked IAS after years of hard work.
In an interview, Rasool said that consistency was the key to crack civil services. He said he was satisfied with the rank he got in the top-level exams.
Rasool has completed his higher education outside the state. His parents also expressed satisfaction over the achievement.
Meanwhile, in a tweet, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara expressed congratulated the civil services achievers from the district.
“Congratulations to the Civil Services Achievers of this Frontier District for conquering New frontiers ! Kupwara Youth have New Role Models to look up to, who have surpassed all challenges to emerge victorious through their grit and determination,” he tweeted.
Among others who cracked the exam include Abhiskhek Augustsya from Jammu is ranked at 38 followed by Sunny Gupta (148), Dev Ahuti from Jammu (177), Parth Gupta (240), Asrar Ahmad Kitchloo (248), Asif Yousuf Tantray (328), Namgyal Angmo (323) Nadia Beigh (350)–Kupwara, Aftab Rasool (412)—from Trehgam Kupwara, Sabzar Ahmad Ganie (628)— Hailing from a remote village of Gheeboom Kokernag, Majid Iqbal Khan (638)—a resident of shangus Anantnag, Stanzin Wangyal (716), Rayees Hussain (747), Mohammed Nawas Sharaf Uddin Sharafuddin (778), and Syed Junaid Adil (822).

Srinagar, Aug 4: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today congratulated the candidates from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for cracking the Civil Services Examination.

In a congratulatory message, the Lt Governor conveyed his warm felicitation to all the successful candidates for the commendable accomplishment and expressed hope that they would discharge their duties with utmost dedication, commitment, rectitude and sincerity to uphold the highest traditions of the Civil Services.

He said that this accomplishment is the true recognition of their sincere efforts and hard work and wished them high success in their future endeavours.

“Their achievement would certainly motivate and inspire many more youths from J&K to take the country’s prestigious Civil Services Examination in years to come”, he added.

He also conveyed his warm greetings to the family members and parents of all the successful candidates.