Srinagar, July 16: Urging people to wear masks to prevent spread of COVID-19, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, on Thursday sought the help of Imams to appeal to people from mosques to follow guidelines issued by the administration.

A police spokesman said this evening that IGP Vijay Kumar once again appealed to general public to wear masks.

He said Kumar has sought the assistance of Imams to appeal from the mosques for this purpose.

However, mosques, shrines and other religious places of all faiths are closed due to lockdown in the valley.

Srinagar, Jul 16: Work was on Thursday resumed after remaining suspended for about a year on Z-Morh tunnel on the national highway, connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir valley, an official spokesman said this evening.

He said after remaining halted for about a year, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P.K Pole today launched the resumption work on the crucial 6.5 km long Z-Morh Tunnel between Gagangeer and Sonamarg in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal.

He said the Z-Morh Tunnel is part of a mega project announced by the Government of India to ensure undisrupted all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh which mostly remains closed during the winters due to heavy snowfall.

The project has been commissioned with a total cost of Rs 2,379 crore and awarded to APCO Amarnathji Tunnelway Pvt. Ltd.

Speaking on the occasion, Div Com said that the development of any area depends on its road connectivity especially in areas having mountainous terrain.

He said, with the commissioning of Z-Morh Tunnel, the economy of the area will get boost as the tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity to Sonamarg tourist destination which remains closed during the winters due to heavy snowfall in Gagangeer area.

While inspecting the executed work, the Managing Director, NHIDCL stressed upon the executing agencies to ensure completion of the projects within the stipulated time frame so that it could be dedicated to the public on time.

Nasir Azam

Srinagar, July 16: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole said that deputy commissioners of all Kashmir districts have been authorized to review the situation related to Covid and take decisions whether lockdown needs to be re-imposed in any of their areas in the wake of spike in the positive cases.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) exclusively, the divisional commissioner Kashmir said that as far the re-imposing of lockdown is concerned, all the deputy commissioners have been given powers and they have been authorized to take a call whether lockdown needs to be re-imposed in any of their areas or in the entire district in the wake of spike in Covid positive cases and deaths in Kashmir.

“The DC’s will take a call. If there is any area in their district, where people assemble in large numbers without masks and social distancing, they can re-impose lockdown in that particular area. They have been authorized to do that,” Pole told KNO

He said that wearing of face masks and maintaining social distancing has been made mandatory for every person in Kashmir. “Whosoever doesn’t follow it, will face the music in terms of fine and punishment,” Pole said. He, however, didn’t say that lockdown was being re-imposed in entire Kashmir as rumours about the same were making rounds across the Valley throughout the day.

Each and every party worker can’t be provided with security, issue already taken up with police top brass: Ashok Koul

Tasaduq Hussain

Srinagar, July 16:  A week after the killing of BJP’s young leader, his brother and father, the gross root level workers have started to resign from the party stating that the party has failed to elevate them and the local administration continues to ignore them.

In the past eight days, at least four ruling BJP workers/leaders resigned from the party alone including a woman from north Kashmir districts of Baramulla and Kupwara.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the aggrieved party leaders and workers alleged that the party has failed to facilitate and work for the interest of poor people and the unending threats and security concerns bother them which forced them to quit from the party.

Mubeena Begum, a woman BJP worker, who resigned from the party said that since she joined the party she could deliver what she had promised to the people of her area. “Party also didn’t support the way it should have and the local administration don’t pay heed to our concerns. This is the reason why I am resigning,” she said.

Aijaz Ahmad, another party leader who resigned earlier said that the local administration never accepted them as BJP leaders and workers and that became the main reason why they failed to deliver. “I still remember we have worked under immense pressure and threats but successfully managed to conduct BDC elections still we were left unrecognized,” he said.

Bashir Ahmed Malik, a Handwara resident, who also resigned from the BJP party, said that there are some personal issues behind his resignation and his family members also forced him to give up the post fearing the ongoing threats.

“I have daughters back home who are my responsibility and now there are threats that actually bother me. The security apprehension is a hurdle before anyone these days”, he told KNO

J&K BJP General Secretary (Org), Ashok Koul that the life threats can’t be ruled out at this time.

“There is a fear among our workers. Some posts are threatening in which they have been warned of dire consequences,” he said. “These leaders were part of different political parties who in the past have worked for their benefits but BJP doesn’t serve for personal interests since the local administration appropriately knows what has to be done and political leaders shouldn’t interfere in those affairs.”

As far as the security, Koul said that BJP has already taken up the issue with the police top brass and the security review of each and every political worker is being conducted. “Every single worker cant be provided with the security cover, but those who have genuine threats and are vulnerable, will be given a proper cover very soon,” he said—(KNO)

Sopore, July 16 : Sopore police on Thursday claimed to have arrested youth for creating fake accounts on social media and using these accounts for anti-national activities.

Police in a statement said that a person identified as Rayees Ahmad Mir @ Danish, son of Feroz Ahmad Mir of Brath Kalan was arrested for creating fake accounts on social media and using the same accounts for anti-national activities.

“Recently, he had uploaded a video on his Facebook account namely Abu Huzaife (claiming to be from Gujranwala Pakistan) and the person whose photograph is shown in the video is a very reputed businessman from Bemina Srinagar, issuing a hit warrant against him for his association with political party,” police said.

Spokesman added that the person whose photograph was uploaded approached Sopore police for taking action against the admin, creator of this account.  “Upon receiving this information, Sopore police took cognizance and registered a case and with the assistance of cyber cell of Jammu and Kashmir Police Srinagar, Sopore Police was able to identify the user, admin of the Facebook account, page from where the threatening video was uploaded,” police said.

Police added that the accused has been arrested and is now in police custody, since past few days police has identified many accounts and persons who are misusing social media to create an anti state atmosphere and demonizing security forces.

“Those who create fake accounts on social media to run anti-state propaganda and spreading fake information must bear in mind that they will be identified and proceeded under law,” police said.

Sopore police with the help of cyber cell of Jammu and Kashmir Police is in the process of indenting the antecedents of some 200 such accounts who have been sharing anti state content in order to create law and order problem in the area and they are to be summoned shortly.  It is for the general public that whosoever misuses the medium will not be spared, spokesman said.

Jammu, July 16:  Till today morning, 1,13,200 Registrations have been done by the candidates on JKSSB’s Online Portal, since the commencement of online application submission from 10th July, 2020 and 47,950 candidates completed their online application submission process for Class IV posts. It has been noted that about 75,000 unique visitors visited the online application portal of JKSSB yesterday.

Pertinently, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board has advertised 8575 Class IV posts for District/Divisional/Union Territory cadre in various departments under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Appointment to the Class-IV (Special Recruitment) Rules, 2020, in pursuance of General Administration Department’s Revised Indent No. GAD/Mtg/RB-IV/50/2020 Dated 22.06.2020 under Advertisement Notification No. 01 of 2020 dated 26.06.2020.

Further, the Services Selection Board has operationalized two helplines one each at Srinagar and Jammu for the convenience of aspirants. In addition, any person who finds difficulty in submission of application form due to technical issue or for any other reasons, may send a self-explanatory mail at [email protected] for seeking guidance, clarification etc. (KNS)

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 15: Jammu and Kashmir reported its highest rise in Covid-19 deaths on Wednesday with the virus claiming 13 lives taking the total fatalities in the Union Territory to 208.

Official sources told GNS that among the deaths, 10 were reported from SKIMS. The three other fatalities were reported at SMHS hospital here and GMC Anantnag.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent of the SKIMS Soura, said a 60-year-old woman from Sopore who was admitted on July 13 as a “case of SAH (Subarachnoid hemorrhage) expired at 4:00 a.m. today in ward 2A.”

He said an 85-year-old from Ladoora area of the district who was referred from GMC Baramulla “as a diagnosed case of covid positive with hypertension, CVD, COPD bilateral community acquired pneumonia (CAP)” died at 6:30 a.m. “The patient was shifted here in need of ventilatory support but was declared dead at 6:30 a.m.”

Later, at around 7 a.m., a 60-year-old man from Hathlango Sopore with underlying “hypertension, hypothyroid, BHP B/L CAP” died at the hospital, Professor Jan said.

Earlier, a 52-year-old man from Lalbazaar Srinagar who was admitted on July 13 as a “case of b/l CAP with ARDS and was covid positive” died at 2:00 a.m., Professor Jan said.

Prior to him, Professor Jan said, a 70-year-old man from Illahibagh Srinagar who was admitted on July 5 “as a case of hypertension,  B/l CAP, Shock and MODS” died at 12 midnight.  The fatality from southern Kashmir district, Professor Jan said that a 77-year-old man from New Colony Pulwama died at 12:30 a.m.

“He was admitted on July 11 in ward 2A as a case of CAP and was covid positive,” he added.

Dr. G H Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS Soura told GNS that a 60-year-old man from Saida Kadal Srinagar died at 8:30 a.m. today.

Admitted on July 14, the sexagenarian was in medical emergency and his sample was taken yesterday. “The body was kept in mortuary and the patient tested covid-19 positive,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza told GNS that a 70-year-old patient from Rathsuna area of the central Kashmir district was found positive for Covid-19 after death today.  She also died at SKIMS.

A senior doctor at SKIMS told GNS that a 22-year-old woman from Liver Anantnag died at the tertiary care hospital this afternoon. “Her attendants forcibly took the body,” he said. Later, the local authorities in her hometown persuaded upon the family to take all measures. “Better sense prevailed and all covis-19 related guidelines were followed.”

He said that an 80-year-old from Sopore died at 8:10 p.m. “He was admitted on July 10 and diagnosed as case of bilateral CAP, ARDS, type-I respiratory failure and Rh Arthritis,” he said.

The doctor said an elderly woman from Srinagar also died at the hospital in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, a 50-year-old woman from Banglow bagh Baramulla died at a hospital at 5:20 p.m. She was admitted on July 14 and was suffering from bilateral pneumonia.

Dr Nazir Ahmad Choudhary told GNS that a 62-year-old from Baramulla man who was admitted on July 9 and diagnosed as a case of “bilateral pneumonia with diabetes mellitus” died today. “His sample had returned positive for the covid-19,” he added. Later, he said, an 80-year-old man with bilateral pneumonia and other comorbidities died in the hospital.

Meanwhile, a 65-year-old male covid-19 patient from Takiya Khrewan died at GMC Anantnag, hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Majid Mahrib told GNS. “He was admitted on July 4 and died last night.”

With these deaths, 190 people in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu have died so far due to the Covid-19.

Srinagar district with 50 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (42), Kulgam (22), Shopian (17), Anantnag (17), Budgam (15), eleven each in Jammu and Kupwara, Pulwama (7), Bandipora (3), Ganderbal (4) and Doda (2) while one death each has been reported from Poonch, Udhampur, Rajouri and Kathua. (GNS)

Fresh cases include 40 persons in ‘Police custody’, 18 from PHQ

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 15: Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday reported 493 new novel coronavirus infections, taking the number of covid-19 cases to 11666 in J&K

Among the fresh cases include forty persons under “police custody”, eight doctors, 11 Army personnel besides 18 from police headquarters here.

Giving district wise details, officials said Srinagar reported 153 cases, Baramulla 44, Kulgam 47,

Shopian  3, Anantnag 72, Kupwara 10, Pulwama       41, Budgam 42, Bandipora 18, Ganderbal 6, Jammu 15, Udhampur     1, Ramban 6, Rajouri 3, Samba 24, Poonch 1, Doda 4 and Kishtwar 3.

Officials at SKIMS Soura said that out of 1944 samples which were processed at the viral diagnostic laboratory of the hospital today, 122 returned positive for the virus.

They said that 38 are from Pulwama, 30 from Srinagar, 19 from PHQ, 12 from Bandipora, seven from Anantnag, six from Kupwara, three from Ganderbal and Baramulla, two from Budgam and one each from Kulgam and Doda.

The Anantnag cases include male (30) from Qaimoh, male (28) from Dalwach, female (58) from Bijbhera, female (50) and male (50) from Anantnag, male (56) from Wanhama, female (60) from Sanbari, female (50) from Zirpora Bijbehara, male (46) from Telwari.

The Bandipora cases Include female (62) from Ayatmulla, two females (62, 20) from Ashtingoo, two males (23, 28) from Manasbal, male (27) and female (21) from Naidkhai, male (37) from Safapora, male (30) from Inderkote, male (35) from Ajas, male (30) from Hakbara.

The Kupwara cases among others include six males (29, 25, 22, 25, 25, 26) from 48 Field Hospital Zangli Kupwara and male (51) from Kupwara.

The cases from CD Include male (60) from Doonawari Baramulla, female (40) from Kahmer Rafiabad, male (32) from Selu Sopore, male (35) from Ladoora Bla, female (49) from Pazalpora Baramulla, male (28) from Naz Colony, two females (40, NA) and six males (25, 50, 45, 17, 24, 72) from Bemina, three males (58, 45, 38) from Rainawari, male (28) from Sonerwani, male (11) and female (35) from Aloosa, ten males (21, 21, 25, 35, 28, 24, 23, 25, 28, 24) from BB Cant Srg, female (05) from Kupwara, female (02) from Sanatnagar, female (48) from Dalgate, male (53) and female (75) from Safakadal Srg, female (NA) from Nagam Chadoora, male (70) from Shargam, female (50) from Sumbal Bandipora, male (16) from Budgam, male (28) from Noorbagh, female (70) from Khimber, female (28) and male (49) from Kralpora, male (34) from Pulwama, male (NA) from Tarkawangam Shopian, two females (63, 50) from HMT Srg, male (34) from Mattan, male (35) from Taper, male (20) from Lasjan Srg, two males (65, 34) and female (55) from Natipora Srg, male (60) from Gopalpora Budgam, male (60) and female (75) from Sonwar Srg, male (25) from Alamgunj Shopian, female (04) and two males (40, 38) from Nawakadal, male (47) from Baghi Mehtab Srg, male (28) from Srinagar, male (NA) from Banihal Ramban, male (50) from Koker Bazar Srg, male (70) and female (38) from Pirbagh Srg, male (55) from Tankipora, male (NA) from Maisuma, male (73) from Villgam Kupwara, male (72) from Karan Nagar, female (58) from Indra Nagar, male (60) from Hawal Srg, female (60) from Khanyar, two females (76, 50) and two males (20, 56) from Peerbagh, NA (NA) from Parraypora Srg, male (40) from Chanapora, NA (70) from Zakura, male (05) from Battergam, male (25) from Hayatpora, male (19) from Bijbehara, male (45) from Waghama, male (18) from Kathso, two males (38, 27) from Arwani, two males (30, 22) from Sopat, two males (39, 23) from Kulgam, male (23) from DH Pora, male (21) from Monghall, male (27) from Qazigund, male (29) from Kilam, male (25) from Hanjipora, male (24) from Pulwama, male (44) from Dadsoora Tral, male (19) from Awnera, male (32) from Kralpora, male (22) from Maghama, male (24) from Naibug, male (20) from Pampore, male (20) from Sangam, male (22) from Anantnag, male (25) from Bihama, male (22) from Waghama, male (22) from Tulkhan, male (23) from Badimarg, male (44) from Panjo Verinag, male (17) from Ajmir, male (23) from Tarigam, male (33) from Krna, male (35) from Hutmura, male (22) from Fresal, male (70) from Dooru, male (28) from Budgam, two males (30, 50) from DH Pora, male (18) from Arwani, male (22) from Panipora, female (32) from Uthoora Pulwama, male (37) from Shirpora, male (35) from Washama, male (70) from Kokernag, female (66) from Mir Danter, male (46) from Verinag, three males (65, 33, 34) and female (75) from Mattan, two males (62, 42) from Srinagar, two males (73, 49) from Bemina Srg, female (45) from NA, male (34) from Asham, female (65) from Ganastan, female (NA) from Qamarwari Srg, eleven males (NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA) and four female (NA, NA, NA, NA) from NA, female (NA) from Baramulla.