Srinagar, July 8: Ant-Corruption Bureau on Wednesday registered a case against former General Manager District Industries Centre, Pulwama for “misuse of official position.”

“The verification revealed that Laiq Parvaiz during his posting as GM DIC Pulwama, made allotments of land in favor of various unit holders in gross violation of industrial policy 2016 as well as procedural guidelines of 2017,” reads a statement from ACB. As per industrial policy of 2016, the allotment of land to unit holders and execution of lease deeds was the domain of SICOP/SIDCO.

General Manager not only issued allotment orders qua the land in violation of rules but also executed lease deeds thereof with the unit holders which in view of rules, was within the competence SICOP/SIDCO. “By acting in this manner the General Manager DIC Pulwama abused his official position for ulterior motives, in league with the unit holders and thus conferred undue benefits upon the unit holders,” it said, adding, “The facts constituted Commission of offences Punishable under  section 5 (1)(d) r/w 5(2) of J&K P.C Act Svt. 2006  and section 120-B RPC. Consequently, a case under FIR No. 03/2020 was  registered against said General Manager District Industries, Centre, Pulwama and others in P/S Anti Corruption Bureau South Kashmir (Anantnag).”

Subsequently, it said, search was conducted in the residential house of the accused GM by ACB.

“Investigation of the case has been taken up.”

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 8: Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday reported 330 COVID-19 infections including 9 from Raj Bhawan here and 19 from paramilitary CRPF Humhama.

Among the cases, 59 were from Jammu Division and 271 from Kashmir Valley, taking the tally overall to 9261.

Giving the district wise breakup, officials said Srinagar reported 119, Baramulla 82, Anantnag26, Rajouri 23, Kupwara 18, Doda 14, seven each in Bandipora and Samba, five each in Budgam and Udhampur, four each in Kulgam, Ganderbal, Shopian and Reasi, two each in Pulwama, Ramban and Jammu,   one each in Kathua and Kishtwar.

Among the cases also one each from DPL Kupwara and Baramulla, two from BB CANT Srinagar, four employees from JKB and one from Axis Bank besides two heath worker, three pregnant woman.

Dr G H Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS Soura told GNS that out of the 2385 samples which were processed at the viral diagnostic laboratory of the hospital, 83 returned positive for the virus.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, told GNS among them 28 are from Anantnag, 21 from Srinagar, 19 from CRPF, seven from Bandipora, three from Baramulla and one each from Pulwama, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Shopian while address of  one was not available.

21 cases from Srinagar include Male (28) from Sanat Nagar Srinagar, , Male (35) from Padshahi Bagh, Male (25) from Shalimar, male (01) from Jawahar Nagar, Male (55) from Hawal, Male (55) Rainawari , female (30) from Peerbagh, Male (55) from Barbarshah, Male (26) from Nowgam, 10. 01 Male (20) from Srinagar, 01 female (52) from Rajbagh Srinagar, 01 female (21) from Ahmednagar, , Male (52) from Saidakadal, Male (58) from Zoonimar,  Male (70) from Gulab Bagh , Male (50) from Alamgiri Bazar, Male (65) from Dulatabagh, female (60) from Buchpora, female (50) from Habakadal, Male (22) from Aloochi Bagh  and Male (36) from Satho Bagwanpora.

The Bandipora cases include male (33) from NHPC,  female (40) from Naidkhai , Male (40) from Sumbal Bandipora, , Male (48) from Ayathmulla , Male (19) from Gundpora  and two females (45, 43) from Ahamishareef.  19 from CRPF include male (38, 33, 48, 24, 41, 39, 40, 40, 30, 52, 46, 50, 40, 50, 53, 39, 30, 39, 35) from 35 batallion Humama Budgam.

Dr Riyaz Untoo, Principal SKIMS Bemina, said that out of 430 samples processed at the hospital’s lab, 51 tested positive for COVID-19. Of them 50 are from Srinagar and one Shopian—female (38) from Nadigam.

The Srinagar cases include female (65) from Nawakadal, male (56) and female (53) from Ahmad Nagar, male (40) and female (58) from Elahibagh, female (25) and two males (32, 65) from Lal Bazar, male (40) from Budshah Mohalla Lal Bazar

females (35, 58) and male (60) from  Buchpora, male (33) from Ganderbal, male (42) and two females (17, 50) from  SR Gunj, female (40) from  Barbarshah, male (27) from Khankah, male (25) from  Aalikadal, males (14, 11) and from Zadi Masjid Safa Kadal, males (95, 1) and female (60) from Habbkadal, male (47) from Khanyar, male (23) from Nowshera, male (23), originally a resident of Kupwara, female (42) from Nishat, male (37) from Hyderpora, male (28) from Wuyan Pampore, male (24) from Kralpora, male (45) from Batamaloo, male (36) from Watlar, amle (32) from Rajwan, male (30) from  Soura, female (30) and male (59) from Rawalpora, female (29) from Rainawari, male (35) from Chanapora, males (31 and 52) from Dalgate, male (36) from  Eidgah, male (45) from Balgardan, male (30) from Maisuma, male (48) and female (65) from Peerbagh, males (22 and 42) from Sonwar  and male (45) from Naseem Bagh. The cases from Raj Bhawan were confirmed at CD hospital lab and include males (40, 44, 37, 41, 28, 45, 37, 50 and 26).

The others include male (33) from Budkoot, male (25) from Gulgam Kupwara, male (30) from DPL Kupwara, male (19) from Kralpora, male (28) from Maidan Chogal, 02 male (29, 52) from SBI Trehgam, 03 male (40, 31, 24) from Trehgam, female (45) from PHC Trehgam, 02 male (12, 10) from Dolipora Trehgam , male (63) and 02 female (60, 18) from Amlook Colony Uri, female (26) from Delina,  male (30) from Sangrama, 02 male (53, 32) from Kanlibagh Baramulla, male (43) from DPL Baramulla, male (43) from Baramulla, 02 male (09, 27) and 02 female (65, 39) from Noorbagh Baramulla,male (22) from Sheeri, female (55) from Fathapora, female (38) from Old Town Baramulla (Resample), male (46) from Pattan Baramulla (Resample), female (38) from Watergam Baramulla, male (51) from Narbal, male (NA) from Sopore, male (NA) from Shopian, male (NA) from Kulgam, female (70) from Noorbagh, male (60) from Peerbagh, 02 male (41, 37) from BB Cant Srinagar, 02 male (60, NA) and female (55) from Srinagar, female (27) from Rajbagh Srinagar, male (56) from Indra Nagar, six males (33, 29, 33, 29, 31, 30) from Mirgund, 02 male (31, 34) from Pattan, female (60) from Budkoot Handwara, male (65) from Nadihal Bandipora, female (40) from Mandarbagh, male (77) from Habba Kadal, female (55) from Nishat, male (20) from Doda, male (26) from Lawipora Srinagar, male (65), female (NA) from Shopian , female (65) from Handwara, male (55) from Chadoora, female (40) from Noorbagh, male (46) from Qazipora, 02 male (27, 16) and female (19) from Harriwatnoo, male (50) from Treran, female (20) from Chek Ferozpora, male (27) from Waniloo, male (50) from Ferozpora, female (38) from Kitichama, 02 male (50, 26) from Noor Bagh,  female (50) from Kanlibagh, 02 female (50, 19) from Drangbal, 02 male (65, 15) and 03 female (63, 38, 23) from Fatehgarh, female (50) from Singpora, male (27) from Kanispora, male (30) from Kupwara, male (55) from Khan Sahib, male (55) from Jamia Mohalla, 03 male (34, 30, 35) from Sangricolony, female (62) from Khojabagh , 03 male (45, 07, 47) and 07 female (35, 09, 41, 13, 35, 41, 42) from Tawheed Gunj, male (35) from Ganai Hamam, male (60) from Hyderpora, 03 female (65, 35, 75) and 02 male (44,  59) from NA, female (68) from Chanapora, male (65) from Khawajabagh Baramulla , female (50) from Khansahib, male (35) from Kanispora Baramulla, male (32) from Mir Sahib Baramulla, female (30) from Dangiwacha Baramulla, male (55) from Johama Baramulla, female (27) from Sonwar Srinagar, male (23) from Bangdoora Kreeri Baramulla (Resample), female (45) from Sopore, male (37) from Bagi Rehmat Sopore, male (40, 55) from New Colony Sopore, male (26) from Parray Mohalla, female (42) from Sadiq Colony Sopore, male (20) from Hadipora Rafiabad, 02 female (21, 28) from Model Town Sopore , female (50) from Sopore, female (23) from K Colony Sopore and male (29) from Sangrama and male (61) from Waskura.

Srinagar, July 8: Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Srinagar Wing, will remain closed for two days from Wednesday after some paramilitary CRPF personnel deployed there tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to an order by the Registrar General.

The Registrar General of the HC, Jawad Ahmad in an order today said that “As informed by the in charge CRPF High Court of J&K at Srinagar, some CRPF personnel deployed at Srinagar wing of the High Court of J&K have tested COVID positive”.

“As per Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) issued by the Government, access to the High Court premises in Srinagar wing of the High Court of J&K has to remain closed for two days for sanitization purpose,” the order said.

“No person except the sanitization workers will be permitted entry into the High Court premises on 8th and 9th of July, 2020”, the order read.

However, urgent cases listed on these two days (Wednesday and Thursday) in Court shall be taken up for consideration on July 10, 2020, the order said. “Dates in other matters will be given by the concerned Bench Secretary and will be posted on the website of the High Court of J&K on July 11 2020,” the order added.

New Delhi, July 8: India’s Covid contagion tally on Wednesday climbed close to 7.5 lakh as yet another steep spike of  22,752 new cases was reported in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry Update said.

Total confirmed cases of the pandemic at present across the nation stand at 7,42,417.

Lives claimed by the lethal virus pan India have now reached 20,642 as 482 more demises were reported since Tuesday, the  government data said.

However, on the brighter side with the improving recovery rate, the number of cured and discharged cases have now reached 4,56,830.

The cases at present under active medical supervision in the country are 2,64,944, according to the government data, while the  difference between the active cases and recoveries has been increasing on the positive side with more cured and discharged.

As per Indian Council of Medical Research, the country has tested 1,04,73,771 samples till Tuesday.

The most affected state by the contagion in the country that is Maharashtra witnessed a sharp spike in the cases with 5134 fresh infections since Tuesday, and now the state’s tally has reached 217121, while the fatalities count has increased to 9250.

Tamil Nadu, at number two, now houses 118594 confirmed cases of contagion with the state’s death toll mounting to 1636.

The national capital’s is now home to 102831 cases, while the city’s death toll due to the pandemic has reached 3165.

Gujarat after having a spike of 778 fresh infections in the past 24 hours , is now carries case load of 37550, while the death toll in the state has now reached 1977.

Uttar Pradesh, after a sharp spike of 1,332 cases in the past one day, has reached close to 30k mark , with cases at present standing at 29968. Fatalities in the northern state due to the pandemic have reached 827.

Telangana , has also witnessed a sharp rise in cases with 1879 new infections since Tuesday, and the tally has risen to 27612.

Another southern state of Karnataka too recorded rapid rise in new cases with 1498 infections in the past 24 hours and now houses 26815 confirmed cases of the COVID contagion, while deaths due to the lethal virus here stand at 416.

West Bengal’s tally has surged to 23837, while covid deaths in the state so far stand at 804.

The desert state of Rajasthan,is presently home to 21404 cases whereas 472 patients have lost their lives to the pandemic.

Andhra Pradesh’s tally has risen to 21197  ,while 252 lives have so far been claimed by the virus spread.

Haryana at present, has alomst 18k cases with the figure at 17999 ,and 279 fatalities have been recorded due to the same in the state.

Madhya Pradesh added 343 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the count to 15627, while deaths at present stand at 622.

Bihar has recorded 445  fresh infections , taking the total number of infected in the state to 12570 with 104  fatalities.

Assam  added 362 cases since Tuesday with its tally reaching 12522 ,while deaths in the state due to the pandemic stand at 14.

Odisha’s tally has reached 10097, while 42 people have so far died due to the pandemic in the state.

Srinagar, July 8: Class work will remain suspended in the Kashmir University (KU) till July 31 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Registrar of the KU Prof Farooq Ahmad Mir said in an order on Wednesday that suspension of class work will continue in the university till end of this month.

The order however, said that faculty members shall work from home and utilise the time online educational activities as per the approved academic calendar by the administration. The order however asked all the Deans, Heads, Coordinators, Directors and other in-charge officers of campuses and other offices to attend duties at the respective administrative units.

Class work in the KU and other educational institutions was suspended in the Kashmir valley in March this year in view of the COVID pandemic.

Washington, July 8: US President Donald Trump has officially withdrawn the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), US Senator Bob Menendez said in a statement.

“Congress received notification that POTUS [President of the United States] officially withdrew the US from the WHO in the midst of a pandemic,” Menendez said via Twitter on Tuesday.

According to a congressional resolution upon joining the body in 1948, the United States can exit the WHO on a one-year notice provided US financial obligations are met in full for the organization’s current fiscal year.

Menendez added that Trump’s decision isolates the United States amid the pandemic.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and scores of other Democrats slammed the move.

“The President’s official withdrawal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization is an act of true senselessness as @WHO coordinates the global fight against COVID-19. With millions of lives at risk, the President is crippling the international effort to defeat the virus,” Pelosi said in a tweet.

Congressman Ted Lieu was blunt, concise and to the point in his assessment.

“Withdrawing from the World Health Organization in the middle of a pandemic is INSANE,” Lieu said via Twitter.

Trump has accused the WHO of colluding with China to cover up the origins and handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

In April, Trump announced a temporary freeze of US funding for the WHO and warned that the freeze would become permanent unless the organization committed to major changes within 30 days. However, in late May, Trump confirmed the United States would withdraw from the WHO and redirect funds to other global health needs.

The WHO said it declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency in January, which gave countries enough time to prepare. Chinese officials have repeatedly said they shared information on the outbreak in a timely manner. (UNI)

Bandipora, July 8:  Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Bandipora leader, Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father and his brother were on Wednesday shot dead by the unidentified gunmen outside their residence in Muslimabad area here in North Kashmir.

Official sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Bari, his father Bashir Ahmed and brother Umar Bari were fired upon by the suspected militants outside their residence in Bandipora.

The residence of Bari is just opposite Bandipora Police Station. Hospital sources confirmed to KNO that all three were declared dead on their arrival to the hospital.

Srinagar July 8: Government of India Wednesday suspended IPS officer Basant Rath on the charges of misconduct and misbehavior by him.

“Whereas, a disciplinary proceeding against Basant Rath (IPS: RR: 2000. JK) is contemplated in connection with repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehavior, which have been brought to the notice of the Government. Now, therefore, the competent authority in the Ministry of Home Affairs, in exercise of powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-rule (i) of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, hereby places, the said Basant Rath, (IPS: RR: 2000, JK), under suspension with immediate effect,” reads the MHA order a copy of which lies with KINS.

“It is further ordered that during the period that this order shall remain in force, the Headquarters of Basant Rath (IPS: RR: 2000, 1K), shall be Jammu, Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the said Basant Rath (IPS: RR: 2000, JK) shall not leave the said headquarters without obtaining the permission of DGP, Jammu and Kashmir Police. During the period that this order shall remain in force the said Basant Rath (IPS: RR: 2000.1K) shall be paid such subsistence allowance and dearness allowance as is admissible under Rule 4 (1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, on production of a certificate that he is not engaged in any other employment, business, profession or vocation,” the order reads.

Srinagar July 8: Authorities at SMC Wednesday announced that elections for the post of Mayor Srinagar will be held on July 14.

Secretary SMC Wednesday issued a notification which reads: “The Election of Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Srinagar will be conducted as per the given programme: a) Forms of Nomination Paper shall be obtained from the office of the Secretary, Srinagar Municipal Corporation between 1100 hours and 1(00 hours from 9. July 2020 to 10. July 2020. b) Nomination Papers shall be delivered between 1100 hours in the Morning and 1600 hours in the afternoon by a Candidate or his Proposer at do office of the Secretary, Srinagar Municipal Corporation on any day not later than I I. ofJuly 2020. 01 Notice of withdrawal of candidature shall be delivered by a candidate at any time before the election is proceeded within the meeting. d) In the event or election being contested, do poll will take place on 14 of July 2020 from 1100 hours onwards.”

Parvaiz Ahmad Qadri, who is Acting Mayor SMC Tuesday also issued a notification asking SMC Commissioner to initiate process for the elections.

“Notification for fresh elections to the post of Mayor as per the Provision and relevant Section of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000. Therefore Commissioner. SMC may kindly initiate necessary process for fresh elections to the post of Mayor as per the provisions and relevant section of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000,” the notification reads.

As per rules, a new mayor has to be elected within 30 days of the ouster/resignation of the previous one. On June 15, Junaid Matoo, the former Mayor of SMC couldn’t prove his major and had to step down from the post.

Congress corporators followed the party whip and abstained from the voting but two NC Corporators in violation of the party whip voted against Junaid, who, however, announced that he accepts the verdict.

However, since June 15, hectic lobbyism is going on among corporators of all the political parties.

What created ripples in the political circles recently was the call recording of the female corporator from Dalgate, who claimed that one of the political parties was backing Imran and would ensure he gets the Mayor’s post. She was, however, reprimanded by the party high command for her comments. Later Imran too denied any links with any political party.

Sheikh Imran had also clarified that he was not behind the ouster of Junaid Matoo from post of Mayor.(KINS)

Suhail Khan

Srinagar, July 8: A woman was killed and three other persons were injured in a cross border shelling along the line of control (LOC) in Poonch sector and Kupwara sector in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

In Poonch sector a 60-year-old woman identified as Rashem Bi wife of Azam Ahmed was killed when Pakistan army resorted to heavy shelling along the line of control (LOC) in Balakote sector of Poonch in Rajouri district.

In the cross border shelling, another civilian identified as Hakam Bi was injured and was later hospitalized for treatment.

In another cross border shelling at Tangdar sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, two civilians were injured.

An official told KINS that Pakistan initiated an unprovoked Ceasefire Violation (CFV) along the LoC in Tangdhar Sector, Kupwara, north Kashmir this afternoon by firing mortars and other weapons. “The befitting response is being given,” he said. two civilians were injured in the cross border shelling.’

A police officer said that two persons identified as Zameer Ahmed son of Mohammad Abdullah Mughal and Sadakaqat son of Abdul Aziz both residents of Seemari got injured while digging a community bunker at Semari in cross border shelling. Officer said both injured were shifted to SDH Tangdhar for treatment. (KINS)