Srinagar, Jul 2: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested one more accused in connection with Pulwama attack in February 2019 that left 40 CRPF jawans dead.

Officials said that in the continuing investigation of the Pulwama attack case in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed in an IED blast on February 14, 2019, the NIA arrested one more accused, identified as Mohammad Iqbal Rather, a resident of Futlipura, Charar-e-Shareef in Budgam.

They said Rather had allegedly facilitated the movement of Mohammad Umar Farooq, the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant and a key conspirator in this case, after he infiltrated into the Indian territory in Jammu region in April, 2018, though the National Highway to south Kashmir. “Farooq, along with others, had assembled the IED used in the attack,” they said.

Rather had been undergoing judicial custody since September, 2018 in another JeM related case investigated by NIA, officials said.

“As such, he was produced by the Jail authorities before the NIA Special Court, Jammu today and was taken into seven days NIA custody for his interrogation,” they said.

They said initial examination has revealed that Rather was in constant touch with Pakistan-based leadership of JeM and was in communication with them over secure messaging applications. “Rather was part of the ‘transportation module’ of Jaish-e-Mohammed,” officials said.

With this arrest, NIA has so far arrested six accused in this case. “Investigation in this case is in progress,” they added.

Jammu, July 2: The sleuths of Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday arrested former Chief Supervisor of Food Corporation of India in misappropriation case.

ACB spokesman here said that the team was arrested Rakesh Kumar Pargal, resident of Hospital Road, Udhampur, the then Chief Supervisor, FCI Godown, Udhampur, former Incharge Vigilance Squad in Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.

He said that Anti Corruption Bureau arrested him while proceeding further into investigation of case registered for misappropriation of Rs 260 Crores in CAPD, Udhampur on account of cost of wheat grains, transportation charges, labour charges, grinding charges drawn on the basis of fictitious and false bills.

Accused in connivance with other public servants and Mill owners, Transport Contractors abused their official position and thereby dishonestly and fraudulently conferred undue pecuniary advantage upon themselves and the Mill owners, Transport Contractors and others, he added.

He said that the arrested accused was chief supervisor of FCI Godown Udhampur at the time of commission of crime, who was initially appointed as daily wager in September, 1984 in TSO office Chenani and remained posted in AD office Udhampur, Chief Supervisor (FCS&CA Department) FCI Godown Udhampur.

The official remained under suspension from June 26 to September 19, 2012, for his involvement in many cases. After the registration of formal case under Anti-Corruption Law and his suspension from Govt service, he was posted in Enforcement squad and Vigilance squad in CAPD Department, which indicate his deep nexus with other accused officials and private persons, said the spokesman.

Nasir Azam

Srinagar, July 2: Family members of the civilian who was killed during a militant attack on a CRPF party in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday, asked police to come out with substantial evidence as to whose bullet killed their father.

“We respect IGP Kashmir. He has stated that family members of slain man (Bashir Ahmed Khan) were not there. The fact is we were not there, but IGP too was not at the site of incident,” said Iram Bashir Khan, slain man’s daughter, while speaking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) at their residence at HMT, Mustafabad, on Srinagar outskirts.

“If police are claiming my father got killed in cross fire then why is there not even a single scratch on his vehicle. Vehicle would have got damaged as well if my father was caught in the crossfire. Instead the vehicle was parked on the road side and my father’s body was lying beside the vehicle, which indicates he was brought down from his vehicle,” she said.

She said that none of the family members was present on the spot so they can’t claim he got killed by forces’ bullets. “IGP was himself not present on the spot so how can he say that he was killed by militants’ bullets. All we want is that the incident should be thoroughly investigated.”

“I can’t claim by whose bullet my father was killed. But I want to ask one question that when bullets are being fired will the person run away in his vehicle or will he come out and face the bullets?”

She said that they want justice and if her father was killed by militants’ bullets the authorities must prove it.  “Maybe my father got killed by militants’ bullets but it should be probed. All we want is justice. We have lost everything today.”

She said that one must use common sense that why would a person come out of his vehicle when bullets are being fired and that too when he has a kid along with him. “Will he run away or will the person stop his vehicle to come out when bullets are being fired?”

“We want justice and nothing else and authorities must investigate the incident thoroughly. They must prove how my father got killed. But it is common sense, when bullets are being fired and if the person is in his vehicle with a three year-old grandchild run away to save himself and the kid or will he come out of his vehicle to face the bullets and that too when he has a kid along with him?” Iram questioned. She said the her father was lying on the ground “in a hands-up pose” which is suspicious.

“He could be seen in the pictures with his hands up and he has died in the same position, which indicates he was brought down from his vehicle,” she said.

‘Maximum death cases reach hospitals at 11th hour’

Abid Bashir

Srinagar, June 2: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole Thursday said that four districts in Kashmir have shown a surge in Covid positive cases, deaths related to the pandemic and the divisional administration in the Valley was busy in framing a “new strategy” to deal with the situation. He, however, said that surge in positive cases was the outcome of robust testing in Kashmir.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Pole said that an analysis is being done by the divisional administration which shows that four districts—Srinagar, Baramulla, Kulgam and Shopian and Kulgam have shown spurt in the Covid deaths as well as cases. “We are analyzing each death. So far, we have reached a conclusion that all the patients who died of late, reached the hospital at the eleventh hour and doctors couldn’t do much for them,” he said.

The Divisional Commissioner said that they were busy framing a “new strategy” do with the emerging threats and challenges in the four districts that are vulnerable in Kashmir. “The strategy is being fine-tuned and will be doled out within two days from now,” he said.

Pole’s statement comes at a time when J&K witnessed 10 Covid-19 related deaths in the past 24 hours—nine from Kashmir and one from Jammu region.

“Surge in cases is obvious due to the robust testing. Aggressive sample collection is being done across Kashmir which means more positives. That’s is to be dealt with accordingly,” he said. “For us, mortality is a concern. We are analyzing the each death and as I said, new strategy will be out to ensure there is no rise in the mortality rate in the Valley due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

New Delhi, July 2: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking a direction to the Centre and all States to waive fee of private schools for the COVID-19-induced lockdown period or provide uniform maximum relief.

The PIL filed by the lawyer, Reepak Kansal, before the Apex Court, said despite all education being closed since March, private schools are even demanding transport fee, activities charges, building and other funds “without rendering any such services.”

The petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution claimed that charging fee during the lockdown period was unconstitutional.

Lawyer Kansal asked the Apex Court to pass the necessary and proper directions to the concerned authorities in this regard.

The petition could be taken up by the Supreme Court likely in one or two weeks, sources said.

India went into lockdown mode on March 24 this year following the COVID-19 outbreak. The lockdown was extended several times and later relaxed significantly to restart the economic activities.

New Delhi, July 2: Union Tourism Minister (IC) Prahlad Singh Patel on Thursday said that all the monuments can be opened from July 6.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Patel said,” the Ministry of Tourism in association with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided that all the monuments can be opened with full security from July 6.”
It is noteworthy that since the first lockdown for 21 days started on March 24 in view of the spread of Coronavirus, the doors of all the monuments in the country have been closed to tourists.

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 1:  Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday reported six more COVID-19  deaths taking the fatality count due to the virus to 107 in the Union Territory.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura said that a 50-year-old woman from Kandi Kupwara died at the hospital this morning.

“The patient was admitted on June 30 as a case of carcinoma of unknown origin with Right l/l dvt with anemia,” he said, adding, “The patient had undergone peritoneal biopsy and developed post operation sepsis. She was admitted in medical observation on June 27 with complaints of vomiting and hematochesia.” Her swab was taken during that admission which came out positive following which patient was shifted to IDB. “She expired. because of cardiopulmonary arrest.”

Meanwhile, 45-year-old man from Undoo Shangus Anantnag died “due to cardiopulmonary arrest” at 6 p.m. at the same hospital.

Admitted on June 28, Professor Jan said  patient was “k/c/o AML.” He came out positive or the covid-19 on June 28.

Earlier, a 50-year-old woman from Eidgah area of Srinagar died at tertiary care hospital, twelve days after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

Professor Jan said that the woman was admitted on June 19 in Infectious Disease Block “as a case of hypertension, hypothyroidism with community acquired pneumonia with Type 1 respiratory failure.” “She expired on at 6 a.m. today,” he said.

Dr Salim Tak, Medical Superintendent CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 patients here, told GNS while one of them was a resident of Sopore area of Baramulla district, another belonged to Bijbhera area of Anantnag district.

“Both of them were more than 70 years old and had bilateral pneumonia with other comorbidities,” he said. They were admitted to the hospital on the same day—June 24, he added.

Regarding Bijbhera patient, sources said that he was 72-year-old and belonged to New Colony area of the town. He died last night, they said.

Meanwhile, a 54-year-old covid-19 positive man from Jammu’s Shama chak died at army hospital Udhampur.

With the deaths, 107 people so far have succumbed to the virus in J&K— 94 from the Valley and 13 from Jammu division.

Srinagar district with 25 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (17), Kulgam (13), Shopian (12), Anantnag (9), eight each from Jammu and Budgam,  Kupwara (6), Pulwama (four) while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Poonch, Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri and Kathua.  (GNS)

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 1: Twenty-five paramilitary forces personnel, a soldier, five policemen and five pregnant women were among 198 COVID- 19 infections reported in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

Sources said 19 of them are from Jammu Division and 179 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally in J&K to 7695

Giving the district-wise break of the cases, sources that 49 were reported Baramulla, 32 each from Srinagar and Shopian, 24 from Pulwama, 16 from Kupwara,    11 each from Ganderbal and Jammu, eight from Anantnag, six from Budgam, three from Doada, two each from Samba and Rajouri besides one each from Kulgam and Udhampur.

Dr. G H Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS Soura told GNS that out of the 2550 samples were processed at the viral diagnostic laboratory of the hospital, 85 returned positive for the virus.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, told GNS that 29 were from Shopian, 15 each from CRPF Battalions and Pulwama, nine from Srinagar, six from Anantnag, three each from Baramulla and Mumbai, two from from Budgam and one each from Kupwara, Kulgam and Ganderbal.

He said CRPF cases are from 185 Bn Panchgam Pulwama, SoG Camp Panchgam, 177 Bn Sopore, 162 Bn Kupwara and 181 Bn Charar-e-Sharief Budgam.

The Pulwama cases are from Draklern, Mughalpora, Tenghar, Qazigund Kakapora while Anantnag cases are from Aswara and Verinag. The Shopian cases are from Balapora, Herman, Khojapora, Reban, Amshipora, Keegam, Dairoo, Parguchi, Babamohalla, Pinjoora, Alamgunj Derpora and Dk Pora Shopian. The samples taken and confirmed at SKIMS include are from Zushana Kupwara, Marpora Pulwama , Nehru Park Srinagar, Dh Pora Kulgam, Ompura Budgam, Kralpora Srinagar, Wazirbagh Srinagar, Barzulla Srinagar, Elahibagh Srinagar, Khanyar Srinagar, Boniyar Baramulla, Pampore Pulwama, Serhama Anantnag and Ganderbal. The Mumbai cases were confirmed out of the samples received CMO Srinagar, Professor Jan added.

Among the around 80 cases confirmed at the CD lab,  five are men from Police Station Shadi Pora Ganderbal and two paramilitary BSF men (SHQ BSF Baramulla 90) with travel history from Chandigarh, three paramilitary men from SSB 14 battalion Fatehpora Ganderbal, and a soldier from BB Cant here

Dr Riyaz Untoo, Principal SKIMS Bemina, told GNS that out of  684 samples processed at the hospital’s lab, 15 tested positive for COVID-19— 12 from Srinagar and three from Budgam’s Chadoora— female (65) and two males (38, 72). The Srinagar cases include male (51) from Khanayar, male (45) from Buchpora, four males (33, 52, 65, 67) from SR Gunj, male (62) from Chinar Colony Baghat male (23) from Rainawari, male (70) from Dalal Mollaha, male (42) from Harwan, female (45) and female (31) from Danimazar Safakadal.  Meanwhile, officials said that 134 more COVID-19 patients have recovered were and discharged from various hospitals—eight from Jammu and 126 from the Valley. So far 4856 patients have recovered –1166 from Jammu and 3690 from Valley while 105 people have died. (GNS)