Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 3: One hundred and seventy more persons, including 57 travelers, tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, taking the overall tally of the cases to 8019 in J&K.

Official sources said that among them 42 are from Jammu division and 128 from Kashmir. These include 10 personnel from 108 RCC Trehgam Kupwara, four CRPF personnel, a policeman from DPL Baramulla besides two babies and a doctor.

Giving the district-wise details, sources said 41 were reported from Srinagar 41, Kupwara 24, 21 each from Baramulla and Anantnag,  Jammu 13, Kathua 10, Ganderbal eight, Samba six, five each from Budgam and Kulgam, three each from Ramban, Rajouri and Doda, two each from Bandipora and Udhampur  besides one from Shopian.

Out of these cases, 63 were confirmed at CD hospital lab, 61 at SKIMS Soura, 11 at SKIMS Bemina and remaining at Jammu labs.

Dr. G H Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS Soura told GNS that out of the 1543 samples were processed at the viral diagnostic laboratory of the hospital, 61 returned positive for the virus.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, said that 23 are from Anantnag, 12 from Kupwara, 15 from Srinagar, four each from Bandipora and CRPF Battalions, two from Kupwara and one Ganderbal.

The cases from Anantnag include two males (26, 25) from High Ground Anantnag, male (55) and female (60) from Kokernag,  female (66) from Dooru , male (14) from Danter, male (26) from Gopalpora, male (48) and female (45) from Monghall , four females (59, 37, 10, 35) and male (34) from Bijbehara, male (66) from Arwani , female (30) from Zirpara, male (55) and two female (50, 35) from Tantraypora Siligam, male (18) from Siligam, male (34) from Vailoo Anantnag, female (55) from Hassanpora  and female (22) from  Bijbehara Anantnag

The 14 cases from Kupwara include tens males (36, 48, 31, 34, 45, 42, 52, 52, 43, 30) from 109 RCC Trehgam Kupwara, male (75) from Kralpora, male (60) from Handwara , male (26) from Kupwara and female (65) from Manigah Batpora.

The 15 cases from Srinagar include male (42) from Hazratbal, female (35) from Zainakoot , female (35) from Soura , male (51) from Badamwari , two males (28, 25) from Khanyar , three females (60, 40, 13) and male (15) from Kimber , female (NA) from Illahibagh, male (43) from Habak , male (03) and 01 female (38) from Eidgah and female (70) from Batapora.

Four cases from Bandipora include female (32) from Chewa, male (53) from Ajas, male (40) from Gundboon  and male (33) from Sultanpora  while  the CRPF cases include males (24, 26, 38, 51) from 35 battalion Budgam and Ganderbal case is a male (50) from Manigam.

Dr Riyaz Untoo, Principal SKIMS Bemina, said that out of 536 samples processed at the hospital’s lab, 11 tested positive for COVID-19— all from Srinagar. They include two males (28, 40) and three females (60, 0, 55) from Sheribhat, male (27) from Rainawari, male (31) from Batmaloo, female (50) from Rajbagh , male (44) from Bemina,  male (45) from  Qamarwari  and male (52) from Sanatnagar.

The cases confirmed at CD hospital lab include male (28) from Sultanpora Kandi, female (28) and male (28) from Diver Lolab, female (36) and male (55) from Dolipora Trehgam, two males (45, 45) and two female (18, 54) from Kupwara, male (65) from Baramulla, female (60) from Shopian, female (65) from Kulgam, male (30) from Nagranar, Male (22) from Binnar Baramulla, Male (23) from Devbugh, male (25) from BB CANT Srinagar, male (58) from Bemina , male (55) from Soura , female (45) from Naridara Baramulla, Male (20) from Qazigund, female (55) from Kalashpora Srinagar, male (75) and female (40) from Safakadal , male (62) from Buchpora, male (63) from Bemina , two males (65, 39) from Habakadal, male (23) from Rajbagh, male (NA) from Gupkar , male (34) from GMC Srinagar, male (01) from DJ Pora Kulgam,  male (55) from Chattabal Srinagar, female (32) and male (35) from Batamaloo, male (NA) from Khag Budgam,  male (40) from Handwara, male (35) from Ajas, female (59) from Lalpora Tangmarg, four males (37, 30,28, 40)from Pehlipora Safapora, three females (25, 8 Month, 04) from Iqbal Abad Kangan, male (36) from Narikher Kunzer, three Males (30, 50, 25) from Sangri Colony, male (60) from Jalal Sahib,

male (34) from Jamia Baramulla, male (35) from Kakarhamam, male (21) from Kanlibagh, male (72) from Noorbagh,  two males (4M, 50) from Suhail Colony, male (20) from Khanpora,  male (29) from TawheedGunj, two males (45, 45) from Kanlibagh, male (60) from Rajbagh Srinagar, male (54) from DPL Baramulla,  male (38) from Panzla Baramulla and  male (25) from Halmatpora.

Meanwhile, sources said 101 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals—50 from Jammu division and 51 from Kashmir, taking the overall number of the recovered persons to 5075—1254 from Jammu and 3821 from the Valley.

New Delhi, July 3: The first made-in-India coronavirus vaccine may be launched by August 15, with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) fast-tracking efforts to develop “Covaxin” in partnership with Bharat Biotech International Limited. A dozen institutes have been selected for clinical trials of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine (BBV152 COVID vaccine), the government’s top medical research body has said.

The institutes have been asked by the ICMR to step up clinical trials as it is a “priority project” monitored at the topmost level of the government.

“The vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune. ICMR and BBIL are jointly working for the pre-clinical as well as clinical development of this vaccine,” the ICMR said in a letter to the institutes.

The ICMR talked about plans to launch the vaccine for public health use by August 15, Independence Day. Experts have questioned the deadline, since the clinical trial is yet to begin.

“It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by 15th August 2020 after completion of all clinical trials,” said the research body.

The final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project, the ICMR told the institutes, advising them to speed up approvals related to clinical trials and ensure that subjects are enrolled starting this week.

“Non-compliance will be viewed very seriously. Therefore, you are advised to treat this project on highest priority and meet the given timelines without any lapse,” said ICMR’s letter.

Bharti Biotech’s application for clinical trial, accessed by NDTV, reveals that the estimated duration of the trial is one year and three months. The sample size of the study is 1,125 people between 12 and 65 years. Out of the 12 institutes picked BY ICMR, seven are yet to establish an “Ethics Committee” to oversee the trial.

“How can ICMR say that the vaccine will be launched for public use by August 15? How can the clinical trial be completed in just one month for a vaccine,” wondered Amulya Nidhi of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, a network of organisations working on public health.

While ICMR has refused to comment on its letter, Satyajit Mohapatra, who is in charge of the clinical trial in SRM Hospital and Research Centre, Tamil Nadu, told NDTV: “ICMR has given a timeframe for completion of Phase 1 of the trial by August. Phase 2 of the study will start after completion of Phase 1, followed by Phase 3.”

The Phase 1 is planned for completion in 28 days, which would meet the August 15 deadline. It is not clear how the vaccine can be made available for public use with just the results of the first phase.

Worldwide, scientists are racing to produce a vaccine for the deadly virus that has infected over 10 million, including 600,000 in India, and caused more than 500,000 deaths.

No vaccine has yet been approved for commercial use against COVID-19. More than a dozen possible vaccines from over 100 being developed globally are being tested on humans. Some have shown potential in early-stage trials.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, July 03: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Friday said fear of getting stigmatised leads to delay in seeking medical help which is the main reason for increase in number of Covid-19 deaths in Kashmir valley.

“Patients arrive at hospitals only when their symptoms worsen,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Early detection of cases is the key to reduce Covid-19 deaths,” he said.

“But, patients come to hospitals late when their lungs are largely affected which decreases their chances of survival,” he added.

Dr Nisar said instead of making people aware about the disease, an environment of fear and panic has been created.

“Fear and misconceptions about the pandemic have resulted in social stigma for both patients and their families,” he said

Dr Nisar said stigma makes people to hide their illness and keep them away from seeking health care.

“There is an urgent need to scale up awareness among people on Covid and do away with the stigma that has come to surround pandemic,” he said.

Dr Nisar said shifting critically-ill patients who are on life-support from various hospitals to Covid designated hospitals is also contributing to increased mortality.

“Shifting them to dedicated hospitals is leading to interruption and delay in treatment.”

“Most of these Covid death cases have underlying medical conditions which is liable to get neglected in Covid centers for want of specialists and equipments,” he said.

“We need to revisit the existing protocol for shifting critically-ill patients, who test positive for Covid-19 at different hospitals,” he added.

Dr Nisar said another reason for surge in deaths is lack of ECMO machines in Covid centres.

“Most of Covid patients who get placed on conventional ventilators die, but ECMO machine saves patients from the brink of death,” he said.

“While plasma therapy has proved life-saving in critically-ill Covid patients, hospitals in Kahmir have nothing to offer to dying Covid patients,” said Dr Nisar.

New Delhi, July 3: India’s novel coronavirus tally surged to 625544 on Friday as it registered a record breaking single-day spike of 20903 infections.

According to the health ministry, the death toll across the country have now reached 18213 after 379 more people lost their battle to the virus.

However, with the improving recovery rate in the country, 379892 cases have so far been cured and discharged, which are 152453 more than that of the cases under active medical supervision in the country which stands at 227439.

Srinagar, July 3: Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar on Friday said that Srinagar can’t be militancy free as militants come to the summer capital for various reasons, including medical treatment.

However, he said security forces are ready to meet any eventuality and asserted that militants are being killed before they can establish a base in the city.

“Srinagar is such a city where militants keep coming for medical treatment, raising funds, meetings etc. Srinagar cannot be militancy-free,” Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of wreath laying ceremony of a CRPF head constable, who was killed in an encounter in Srinagar late last night.

The IGP said that it is misconception that any district, where encounter doesn’t take place, is militancy free. “Time and again I have been saying that any district where an encounter does not take place does not mean militants are not present there. The militants keep on changing their shelter and hideouts,” he said.

“We keep on generating information and kill them accordingly,” he added.

The IGP said there are currently 12 militants — including four from Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), four from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and three from Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) – who are on the top list of security forces in the Valley. “We will neutralize all these militants very soon,” Kumar said.

Earlier this week, Kumar had said that 118 militants, including 107 locals and 11 foreigners, were killed in different encounters with security forces in the last six months in the Valley, adding that there has been a decline of 48 per cent in new recruitment in militant ranks in 2020 as compared to 2019. “So far as many as 118 militants, including 11 Pakistani nationals and 107 locals, were killed in different encounters with security forces in the Valley. The slain militants included top militant commanders and chiefs,” he said.

Of these, he said 57 were from HM, 25 were from LeT, 22 from JeM, rest were from other smaller groups. “Almost 50 per cent militants killed belong to HM,” he added.

New Delhi, July 3: Amid unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces along the Line of Control, India on Friday registered its strong protest saying the activities are in contravention to the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding between the two nations.

“We have registered our strong protest at the continued unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan forces along the Line of Control and the International Boundary which are in contravention to the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding,” sources in the government establishment said.

Till June this year, 14 Indians were killed and 88 injured in more than 2,432 unprovoked ceasefire violations carried out by Pakistan forces. India has also conveyed its concerns regarding cross border infiltration of militants.

‘We have also conveyed our strong concerns at the continued support being extended by the Pakistan forces for cross border infiltration of terrorists, including through covering fire,’ the sources said.

Despite these concerns having been shared, including through the channel of Director Generals Military Operations, the Pakistan forces have not ceased such activities, they said.

New Delhi, July 3: Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Friday announced the decision to postpone the entrance examinations for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG 2020) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) till September.

As per the fresh date sheet, the JEE Main examination will be held between September 1-6, while the advanced exam will be on September 27.

The NEET examination will be conducted by the NTA on September 13.

The announcement came during the Fit India webinar, during which the Education Minister was persistently questioned regarding the dates for NEET and JEE Main exams.

“Keeping in mind the safety of students and to ensure quality education we have decided to postpone #JEE & #NEET examinations. JEE Main examination will be held between 1st-6th Sept, JEE advanced exam will be held on 27th Sept & NEET examination will be held on 13th Sept (SIC),” HRD Minister Pokhriyal informed aspirants in a tweet.

The decision will impact over 25 lakh students. As many as nine lakh candidates have registered to take the JEE Main, and approximately 16 lakh have registered for NEET.

Recently, parents of the candidates in West Asian countries who are aspiring to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG 2020) had filed a plea in Supreme Court demanding to postpone the medical entrance exam.

A committee was set up by the HRD Ministry to review the Covid-19 situation in the country and whether conducting the NEET and JEE tests would be safe or not.

“Looking at the prevailing circumstances and requests received from students and parents appearing for #JEE & #NEET examinations, a committee consisting of DG NTA and other experts has been advised to review the situation & submit its recommendations to HRD Ministry latest by tomorrow,” Mr Pokhriyal had tweeted on Thursday.

Bhat Imran

Srinagar, July 3: The University of Kashmir is likely to hold offline entrance tests for admission to various post graduate courses in the varsity.

An official source told KNO that the authorities will decide the mode of entrance examinations within a week’s time.

He said that KU has not taken a call yet as to how and when the administration will conduct the entrance test but most probably the entrance test will be held via offline mode.

“Majority of the students aspiring to appear for the test informed us that they were not aware of the offline exams and were preparing for the entrance test for quite a long time,” he told KNO

The official also said that earlier this week KU facilitated 374 students of business studies who appeared for the online exams of under graduate aptitude test (UGAT) and they got a good response.

“Although the UGAT exams are held online across India, however, in absence of high-speed internet we facilitated the students and conducted the test offline,” he said.

He said that as far as holding the offline entrance test is concerned, it will not be a big issue for KU administration except in two subjects.

“In majority of the subjects there is a maximum intake capacity of 200-500, however, in Botany and Zoology nearly 2000-2500 have to be accommodated,” he added.

KU registrar, Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir said that the administration has not taken a final call yet with regard to the issue.

“We have not taken any call and most probably the entrance test will be held offline in view of the demand and requests from the aspirants,” Mir said.

‘Many others involved in spreading false propaganda identified’

Srinagar, July 3: A government employee, working in Higher Education Department was on Friday arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Cyber Cell for allegedly running an anti-national campaign on social media.

As per the official communiqué, an employee of Higher Education Department was arrested for posting the stuff on social media, which as per the police was in contravention of social media policy for the government.

A statement read that the employee was allegedly running an anti-national campaign on social media and tried to create a fake narrative. “The accused was circulating highly seditious and provocative posts through his social media accounts, which were highly prejudicial to maintenance of law and order,” J&K Police Cyber Cell said.

The officials further stated that the accused has been handed over to Police Station Sopore by Cyber Cell. “The employee has also been booked under relevant sections of law for further course of action,” they said.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Cyber Cell said that it has identified many persons who are misusing social media by spreading false propaganda against the government.

The statement further reads that investigation has been set in motion to identify other persons involved in similar anti-State campaigns on social media and spreading false propaganda.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, July 3: The Crime Branch Kashmir on Friday presented two challans against five accused persons.

The challan was presented before Passenger Tax Court Srinagar and the accused in the case (FIR No 18/2013 U/S 420,468,471,120-B IPC) include  Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, Shahnawaz Ahmad Reshi, both from Shopian, Abdul Razaq Tantray of Baramulla, Zahid Ilyas Ganie of Ganderbal. And Farooq Ahmad Lone of Pattan Baramulla.

The Crime Branch Kashmir in a statement said that it had received complaint from Mujeeb Masood Khan through Court of Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, alleging therein that one Riyaz Ahmad Bhat and others have deceived him under the garb of providing government Job and grabbed an amount of Rs 2,30000 in lieu of fake appointment order.

“Enquiry conducted by the Crime Branch Kashmir revealsedthat Riyaz Ahmad, Farooq Ahmad , Shahnawaz Ahmad and Abdul Razak Tantray in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy had dishonestly and fraudulently deceived (him) under the garb of providing Government Job.

The Crime Branch also presented challan in Case FIR No 01/2014 U/S 419, 420,467,468,120-B RPC r/w 5(2) PC Act before the Court of Additional Special Judge Anti Corruption Srinagar related to Unfair assistance provided to a student by the supervising staff during exam.

The challan produced against Imtiyaz Asgar of Bonpora Batmaloo Srinagar and Mehraj Ud Din Zargar  of Balgarden Srinagar, the Crime Branch added.