Sumaya Jan

SRINAGAR, July 6: Amid surge in the coronavirus cases, people in Kashmir are not following COVID-19 guidelines.

Hundreds of people could be seen on the streets or on Boulevard along the banks of Dal Lake without wearing masks or maintaining social distance.

This is despite authorities having announced that wearing masks was mandatory in all public places.

However, rarely anyone could be seen wearing masks. “Looks hundreds of vendors are selling barbecues and fried fish on the banks of Dal Lake. Neither these sellers nor customers are wearing masks. I do wear a mask to protect myself but it won’t make any difference as less than 10 percent of people are wearing masks,” Imran Ahmad, a resident of Nishat told KINS.

He said the government should take strict measures to ensure people wear masks. “If wearing a mask has been made mandatory they are why law enforcing agencies are not implementing these guidelines. Why don’t they fine those who are not following COVID guidelines,” he asked.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole said it is mandatory to wear masks. “People should not come out of their homes without wearing masks. They should properly cover their mouth and nose. If people don’t wear masks, they will infect others. We are also raising awareness to ensure people wear masks,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir said.

Srinagar, July 6: A spokesperson of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry today expressed concern at the increase in the number of COVID positive cases in the Valley. The spokesperson stated that reports of gross carelessness and violation of COVID protocols were coming from various districts, especially Srinagar District.

Due to the onset of summer, there was a visible reduction in the wearing of masks in public places due to it’s discomfort and also negligence in maintaining of safe social distances. People had started thronging public parks and picnic spots which was a matter of grave concern and alarm. The situation gets worse on weekends and holidays.

In a statement a KCCI spokesman said that the first three months of the COVID pandemic resulted in the deaths of 64 people in Jammu and Kashmir. From 18th June onwards, 67 deaths have occurred in a span of only two weeks. The majority of the 127 deaths – 113 to be exact -have occurred in Kashmir. The Health Department has reported increase in the severe and symptomatic cases coming to hospitals.

It is important to underline the importance of strictly following the COVID protocols as in many cases youth who themselves possess strong immune systems tend to infect other vulnerable sections of the society with weaker immune systems like the elderly or those with medical conditions.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry appeals to the members of the business community to renew the focus on strict adherence to regular sanitization and maintaining safe distances in their business establishments and markets. The Government had relaxed the guidelines to accommodate the genuine concerns of the business community but the responsibility of keeping the markets safe is to be equally shared by the respective business community as well. It needs to be noted that ignoring the threat of COVID could prove disastrous for the whole society. The business leaders, elders of civil society and families are requested to play their role in controlling the serious ramifications of this invisible pandemic.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry reiterates our earlier appeal to kindly avoid unnecessary movement to the commercial areas as the basic idiom of “Stay Home Stay Alive” is still the best advice. In addition, measures like keeping a safe distance of 2 metres, frequent washing of hands, proper wearing of N95 Masks, avoiding touching of eyes, nose and mouth, avoiding touching unsafe surfaces had proven to greatly reduce the chances of getting infected. Please take them seriously as mistakes can be dangerous and inflict heavy costs for the whole community.

New Delhi, July 6: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday said that it has filed a charge sheet against six accused Syed Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu, jailed Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Devender Singh, Irfan Safi Mir alias Advocate, Rafi Ahmad Rather, Tanveer Ahmad Wani, and Irfan Ahmad under sections of IPC, UA(P)A, Arms Act and Explosive Acts at Jammu NIA Special Court.

The case was initially registered at Qazigund Police Station in Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir on January 11 when the state police nabbed two militants Syed Naveed Mushtaq, a District Commander of HM of Sopian and Gandarbal, Rafi Ahmad Rather along with a serving J&K Dy SP Devender Singh and lrfan Shafi Mir while they were driving out towards Jammu. On search of the car, one AK-47, three pistols, a cache of ammunition and explosive were recovered. All the four were arrested by J&K Police on the same day.

After filing the charge sheet, the NIA is an official statement said, “During the course of investigation, the accused persons were interrogated thoroughly and searches were conducted at 15 places in Kashmir Valley as well as in Jammu.”

Later, three more accused persons namely Syed Man Ahmad, Tanveer Ahmad Wani and Tariq Ahmad Mir were arrested in the case in for being part of the conspiracy to extend support to Hizb-ul Mujahidin for raising and transferring funds to HM militants harbouring them and supplying them arms, ammunition and explosives to carry out subversive activities, it added.

Besides Devender Singh, the charge sheet also names banned Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Syed Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu as well as the group’s alleged over-ground worker Irfan Shafi Mir and its member Rafi Ahmad Rather. The other two named are Tanveer Ahmad Wani, a trader, and Naveed Babu’s brother Syed Irfan Ahmad, officials said.

Accused Singh had also established contact with officials of the Pakistan High Commission through secure social media platforms, the NIA said in the charge sheet, adding that he was being “groomed by Pakistani officials for obtaining sensitive information.”

Militant Naveed Babu had deserted J&K Police force along with certain weapons and was responsible for various killings, including incidents in which labourers and truck drivers were killed after the abrogation of Article 370 from the State.

He had made efforts to recruit gullible youths to join cadre of Hizb-uI-Mujahideen and was receiving funds from LoC traders, accused Tanveer Ahmad Wani who was an Ex-President of LoC traders Association, who was providing him funds with the help of other traders based across the Line of Control and weapons and ammunition from across the border with the help of arms smugglers and accused Devender Singh.

Investigation has further brought on record that the Pakistani establishment has been devising all possible ways and means to fund and sustain the militant activities of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen, the NIA said, adding that further investigation in the case has continued against arrested accused Tariq Ahmad Mir and others in the case.

Main accused arrested, 2 others still at large, efforts on to nab them: Police

Bhat Imran

Srinagar, July 6 : The School Education Department on Monday suspended three teachers of two Middle schools of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district following the alleged gang-rape of a 20-year-old girl.

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kulgam, Muhammad Ashraf Rather told KNO that the victim and the teachers are from the same village.

“The girl has filed a complaint in the local Police Station following which one teacher has been put behind the bars while two others have disappeared,” he said, adding that “the victim was taken to an orchard and was molested there.”

He said on Monday, the district office of the School Education Department has suspended all the three teachers after the villagers approached them with the written complaint in this regard.

Rather said that the department has also constituted an inquiry committee in this regard, adding, “the victim is said to be 20-years-old and is not studying anywhere.”

Meanwhile, the concerned Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Kulgam has issued a suspension order against the accused persons.

“On the basis of written complaint submitted by inhabitants of village Chachmulla regarding sexual harassment of a local girl, the teachers allegedly involved are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect pending inquiry,” the order reads.

Meanwhile, police in a statement said that Kulgam Police have arrested the prime accused involved in kidnapping and rape of a girl within 24 hours.

“Police Station DH Pora received a complaint stating that a girl (name with held) has been kidnapped and sexually assaulted by three individuals’ residents of Chachimullah and Gandwani areas of Kulgam,” police statement said, adding that accordingly, a case under FIR number 109/2020 under relevant sections of law was registered at PS DH Pora and investigation was initiated.

“A special team headed by SHO DH Pora under the supervision of SDPO DH Pora while acting swiftly arrested the Prime accused, a resident of Chachimullah within 24 hours after complaint was received. He has been shifted to PS DH Pora where he remains in custody. However, the other two persons are still at large and efforts are on to nab them,” the statement added.

After fulfilling all medico-legal formalities, the girl was handed over to her legal heirs, police said, adding that an investigation into the matter is in progress.

Moreover, police said the rumours are being floated by miscreants that police has let off the accused persons and the medical examiner was trying to convince the victim to change her statement.

However, police refuted the rumours as ‘baseless’ and said it is being propagated by vested interests to create unrest. “Floating rumours to instigate disturbance shall invite legal action against the erring individual. In case someone has specific information with respect to the rumours the same may be communicated to police so that necessary action can be taken,” police said.

Meanwhile, swift action by police against anti-social elements has been appreciated by the locals.

Stresses on close monitoring, speedy execution of development works; release of pending payments

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, July 6: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today stressed on close monitoring of developmental works and their speedy execution, besides releasing of pending payments under various schemes on priority. The Lt Governor was chairing a high level meeting of Administrative Secretaries here at Civil Secretariat.

BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Finance department; Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education; Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, besides Administrative Secretaries of various departments and senior officers attended the meeting.

The Lt Governor directed the Administrative Secretaries to increase the field visits, with minimum one field visit every week to get first hand appraisal of the status of developmental works, expedite all the ongoing development works for their early completion and submit Utilization Certificates (UCs) of works done from time to time. Earmark half of the days for meeting public in the Secretariat / HoD offices and also earmark time for meeting public representatives.

He further directed them to release the pending payments under various schemes targetted for individual beneficiaries on priority, besides release of wages of contractual / daily wagers within one week’s period.

In view of the persistent demand of people for making available minor minerals, the Lt Governor asked the concerned officers to explore modalities for immediate short term mining permits at local levels to ensure that people do not suffer due to paucity of minor minerals.

The Lt Governor emphasized on developing a robust mechanism for proper tracking of files to complement the government’s resolve of ensuring responsive and accountable government. He observed that the Government is committed to holistic development of the UT to meet the aspirations of the people of J&K and called for coordinated efforts at all levels of the administrative setup in this direction.

He also asked the Administrative Secretaries to take all the requisite measures for improving public delivery mechanism and continue working with dedication and zeal for the welfare of the public.

Srinagar, July 6: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today paid rich tributes to Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on his birth anniversary.

In his message, the Lt Governor described him as a visionary leader who played an instrumental role in shaping Indian politics.

J&K always had a special place in his thoughts. His exemplary contributions towards National Unity and development of India can never be forgotten, he added.

Kulgam, July 6: Two Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) men were killed in a fratricidal shooting incident in a court complex in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday evening.

Police sources told KNT that at SSB camp in Kulgam near court complex the sentry first fired upon one officer of the camp and then shot himself dead with his service rifle.

Sources said the there was some argument between ASI and the sentry.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP), Gurinder Pal, told another news agency KNO that two soldiers have died in the fratricidal shooting incident at Kulgam. He said that further details are being collected.

The deceased were identified ASI Sandeep Kumar and constable Hemant Sharma.

Peerzada Waseem

Baramulla, July 6: Suspected militants on Monday evening lobbed a grenade towards Police Post Delina in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla, Abdul Qayoom told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the grenade exploded on the road, adding that no casualty was reported in the incident.

Soon after the attack, the search operation was launched in the area to nab the attackers.

Srinagar, July 6: Chief Justice Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Geeta Mittal, was today given ceremonial guard of honour by contingent of CRPF on opening of   Main Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court here  in accordance with the  Bi- annual  Darbar Move for the summer season  at Srinagar.

Judges of High Court, Registrar General, Registrar Vigilance and other officers and officials of the Registry besides other concerned were present on the occasion.

Later, Chief Justice interacted with the staff of the High Court and lauded their dedication and commitment towards justice dispensation despite facing challenging times due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Justice expressed hope that the HC staff and officers and officials of the Registry will continue to work with the same zeal and devotion.

Pertinently, this year’s Darbar Move has been delayed because of COVID-19 pandemic.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, July 6: The Directorate of School Education, Jammu (DSEJ) has appealed to the parents of students of private schools   not to get misled by the self styled leaders of an unregistered organization called Parents Association.

“This Association has not been constituted under the relevant provisions of the J&K School Education Act and/or the Right to Education Act. There are FIRs against the so called chairman of the association for blackmailing. Reports have also been received that he is extorting money from gullible parents on the promises of waiver of school fee. He is giving false statements about full waiver of fee in other States and many other factually incorrect statements,” a DSEJ communiqué stated.

For the information of all parents, it is again clarified that the government has already given a major relief by providing for monthly tuition fee only. No other fee is to be charged by any private school during the closure of schools. However, if any parent is unable to pay even monthly tuition fee due to stoppage of salary or income, the concerned school or the directorate can be approached so that his/her case is considered sympathetically on merit, it added.

The DSEJ communiqué further advised the parents to go through the advisory dated 19.05.2020 issued by this Directorate which clarifies all issues related to school fee, books, online education etc. Parents are requested to organise themselves in school specific Associations as explained in the advisory so that the genuine issues of each parent can be addressed properly in a democratic manner. The directorate shall also organise webinars for having direct interaction with parents. Therefore, they are requested to avoid getting mislead by mischievous elements,

Any parent having any complaint can call on the helpline number 6006800068 or can register a formal complaint on schedujammu.nic.in/samadhan