Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, June 29: Transporters in Kashmir have been pushed to the wall. Their operations have been hit since August 5, 2019, when the Centre announced its decision to revoke J&K’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories.
A transporter while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Our vehicles have been stranded for the past 10-months now. We were unable to run our services after August 2019 due to restrictions and the subsequent shutdowns which followed. As the things had started getting revived, COVID-19 happened. Since March again our fleet has been stranded.”
He said, “The frequent closure of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to heavy snowfall this year also led to transporters facing huge losses.”
Another transporter said, “The government has lifted the lockdown and life is slowly returning to normal but no decision has been taken about restarting the public transport service. Even public transport vehicles are not being allowed to ply on the highway. We are in a mess and have no idea about how we will pull ourselves out of the prevailing crisis.”
He said that transporters have assured the authorities that they will follow the social distancing norms and if anyone violates the norms stern action should be taken against him. “If SRTC buses can ply then why cannot the buses run by the private transporters be allowed to move. Even authorities are not allowing the Sumos and other cabs to ply between Jammu and Srinagar. In many parts of the countries the inter-state bus services are operating. It’s strange that we are not being allowed to run the services even within the union territory, ” the transporter added.
“We were told that COVID-19 is a part of life now and we have to live with it. But it seems the right of transporters to live has been snatched. If the restrictions on public transport are not lifted, we will be pushed to penury,” he said.
Last week transporters had tried staging a protest in Srinagar to attract the attention of the authorities towards their plight. “It’s true that we are not being asked by the banks to pay the instalments on the loans we have taken for our vehicles but the banks are charging the interest. Our liability is accumulating. This interest should be waived off,” the transporters said. “The government has to come for our rescue. The transport sector has been badly hit. We have been left to fend for ourselves. It’s unfortunate that our entire community and our families have been ignored completely.”
Hizb Commander among 3 militants killed in Anantnag gunfight
Doda district militancy-free now: DGP
Srinagar, June 29: Three militants, including a top commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, were killed in a gunfight in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday.
“On a specific input regarding presence of militants in village Khulchohar area of Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by JK Police, 19RR and CRPF in the area,” a police spokesperson said.
During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter, he said.
“In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” he said, adding,” “The identification and affiliation of the killed militants is being ascertained.”
An official said one of the (slain) is Masood Ahmad Bhat resident of Doda (District Commander of HM outfit) and other two unidentified are from LeT outfit.”
The bodies were sent to Handwara for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities including collection of their DNA, he added.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, the spokesperson said, appreciated the joint team for exercising utmost restraint, “thereby ensured a clean operation with no collateral damage.”
Earlier, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh confirmed that Masood “who had shifted his area of operation to Kashmir” was among the slain.
“Doda district in Jammu zone has become totally militancy free once again as Masood was last surviving (militant) of the district,” he said.
The other two slain were identified by sources as Tariq Khan of Lal Chowk Anantnag and Nadeem from Kulgam. However, police did not confirm their identity so far.
COVID-19: Kashmir reports 2 more deaths, toll 96
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, June 29: Kashmir Valley on Monday reported two deaths due to covid-19, taking the fatality count due to the virus in J&K to 96. Both the deaths took place at SMHS hospital here.
Dr Nazir Choudhary, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, told GNS that a 45-year-old man from Bijbhera Anantnag with “bilateral pneumonia” died this afternoon, a day after he was admitted to the health facility.
Earlier, a 65-year-old resident of Sugan Shopian who was also admitted yesterday (June 28) and “sampled on the same day” died at the hospital, Dr Choudhary said. “The patient was hypertensive and had breathlessness besides other ailments. He died at 1:30 a.m. today,” he said.
So far, 96 people have succumbed to the virus in J&K—11 from Jammu division and 85 from the Valley.
Srinagar district with 22 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (15), Kulgam (13), Shopian (11), seven each from Jammu and Budgam and Anantnag and Kupwara (5), Pulwama (four) while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Poonch, Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri.
COVID-19: 4 Kashmiris with Pak travel history among 144 fresh cases
J&K tally rises to 7237; Recovery rate reaches 63.35 percent in UT
Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, June 29: Jammu and Kashmir Monday recorded 144 fresh COVID-19 positive cases that include four Kashmiris with travel history from Pakistan and a six-day-old baby, taking the number of total cases in the UT to 7237.
Officials told KNO that among the 144 new cases that were detected in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, 67 were tested positive at SKIMS, 08 at JVC Bemina, 22 at CD hospital and rest at other hospitals.
Among 144 new cases, 99 belong to Kashmir division while as 45 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division has reached to 5658 including 3449 recoveries and 85 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached to 1579 including 1136 recoveries and 11 deaths.
The added that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 2557 including 2125 from Kashmir division and 432 from Jammu division.
With 269 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 4585 which is 63.35 percent of the total cases.
“Cases tested positive in J&K include 01 from Kulgam, 17 from Srinagar, 18 from Shopian, 10 from Baramulla, 15 from Anantnag, 02 from Kupwara, 02 from Bandipora, 04 from Budgam, 29 from Pulwama and 01 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 45 from Jammu division include 03 each from Jammu, Udhampur and Doda,13 from Kuthua, 8 from Samba, 2 from Poonch, 7 from Rajouri,5 from Reasi and one from Ramban, ” officials disclosed.
Dr Farooq Jan Medical Superintendent at SKIMS said that out of 2319 samples tested at SKIMS on Monday, 67 were tested positive.
He said that new positive case include 29 from Pulwama, 16 from Shopian (including 5 from DC office Shopian) , 13 from Anantnag, 02 from Srinagar, one each from Baramulla, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Kulgam and one each from DIG office Baramulla, 35 battalion CRPF Humhama and 45 battalion CRPF Bandipora
He further added that among new positive cases 5 have travel history of Delhi and 4 have travel history of Pakistan.
Dr Reyaz Untoo Principal at JVC Bemina said that out of 572 samples tested at the hospital, 08 from Srinagar were tested positive.
He said that 10 more patients were discharged from hospital after their recovery and now 127 patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
He said that so far 23 major surgeries were conducted and 17 normal deliveries were managed at the hospital.
Officials from CD hospital said that 22 patients who were tested positive at the hospital on Monday include 6 day old baby from Khansahib Budgam
As per officials figures, 891 positive cases including 22 deaths and 265 recoveries are from Srinagar, 816 including 15 deaths and 381 recoveries are from Baramulla, 767 including 583 recoveries and 13 deaths are from Kulgam, 750 including 11 deaths and 545 recoveries are from Shopian, 650 including 07 deaths and 543 recoveries are from Anantnag, 536 including 391 recoveries and 05 deaths are from Kupwara, 469 including 207 recoveries and 04 deaths are from Pulwama, 397 including 216 recoveries and 07 death are from Budgam, 291 including 255 recoveries and 01 death are from Bandipora, 91 including 62 recoveries are from Ganderbal.
In Jammu division, 336 including 278 recoveries and 07 deaths are from Jammu district, 272 including 172 recoveries and 01 death are from Udhampur, 217 including 182 recoveries are from Ramban, 226 including 156 recoveries are from Kathua, 144 including 86 recoveries from Samba, 123 including 99 recoveries and 01 death are from Poonch, 111 including 01 death and 69 recoveries are from Rajouri, 77 including 57 recoveries and 01 death are from Doda, 45 including 26 recoveries are from Reasi and 27 including 20 recoveries are from Kishtwar.
As per the daily information bulletin, 278,689 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 40,312 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 2557 persons are in hospital isolation while 34 persons are under hospital quarantine.
According to the bulletin, 188,546 persons have completed surveillance period and 47,145 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 358,530 samples are available.
Out of 358, 530 the number of samples tested negative stands at 351,293 while as 7237 have been tested positive, among them 2557 are active and 4585 persons have recovered and 96 persons have died.
4 militants, 5 security personnel killed in Karachi attack
Islamabad, June 29: Four militants and five security personnel were killed in a terrorist attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange building in southern port city of Karachi on Monday, police said.
The militants with sophisticated weapons stormed the building of the Pakistan Stock Exchange and attacked the security personnel by hurling hand grenades and firing at them, Senior Superintendent Police City of Karachi Muqaddas Haider told the media.
He said two militants were killed during the exchange of firing with the security teams and police, while the other two managed to enter the building and later were gunned down by paramilitary troops who rushed to the site following the attack.
The killed security personnel include four personnel from stock exchange security and a policeman, he said, adding that seven people including policemen also got injured in the attack.
Managing Director of Pakistan Stock Exchange Farrukh Khan told the media that all militants were restricted and killed near the gate of the stock exchange and none of them reached the offices where trading was taking place, adding that operation of the market continued during the attack and was still underway.
The injured people have been shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi where two of them are reportedly in critical condition.
Police, army and paramilitary troops have cordoned off the area for clearance operation, and all kinds of movement near the building has been restricted.
No group or individual has claimed the attack yet, but local police suspected that Balochi separate groups were behind the deadly attack.
23 killed in Afghanistan blast
Kabul, (Afghanistan), June 29: At least 23 civilians were killed in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province and dozens were injured when rockets fell on a cattle market on Monday, said Afghan government and Taliban officials.
The warring sides blamed each other for the attack on the open-air weekly cattle market in Sangin district where hundreds of villagers from neighbouring districts had gathered to trade sheep and goats.
A spokesman for Helmand’s governor said the several rockets fired by Taliban insurgents landed close to the cattle market, killing 23 civilians, including children.
Taliban officials blamed the government officials for killing the civilians.
Geelani quits Hurriyat
Nasir Azam
Srinagar, June 29: Senior separatist leader and the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday announced to part ways from the “Hurriyat Forum” citing present prevailing situation the
In an audio message Geelani said: “Keeping in view the present situation in Hurriyat Conference, I announce to part ways from the Hurriyat forum. The decision has been conveyed to all the constituents of Hurriyat through official letters.”
In his detailed letter to the members of the Hurriyat Conference, Geelani has said that henceforth he shall not be answerable in any manner about the future conduct of the constituent members of the platform.
Hurriyat Conference was formed on March 9, 1993 as a united political platform of the separatist parties in Kashmir. Ten years after its formation, the Hurriyat Conference split into the moderate group headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and the hardline group headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Not keeping good health, Geelani has mostly remained under house arrest in his Srinagar’s Hyderpora area for the past over eight years. Before that also authorities used to detain him on and off under house arrest to maintain law and order in Kashmir. In a separate statement issued by Geelani, he accused some people of luring Kashmiri youth to drugs and promoting narco-trade and changing the discourse of Kashmir movement.
Interestingly, Geelani tweet that “this was a movement of our faith and freedom. Unfortunately some people sitting across LoC steered our youth to abyss of drugs. Our drugged youth generation has lost senses. Instead of Kashmir’s freedom movement, this is now a struggle of Pakistan’s interest and drugs.”
Geelani’s surprising move has triggered a storm in political circles and also on the social media with BJP cashing in on the development terming as a victory of Government of India and the direct outcome of roll back of Article 370—(KNO)
Geelani ruined lives of Kashmiri youth: Madhav
Owais Gul
Srinagar, June 29: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday welcomed the resignation of top separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani from Hurriyat Conference and termed his decision as better late than never.’ The party also blamed Geelani for “ruining the lives of thousands of Kashmiri youth and families.”
BJP General Secretary, Ram Madhav in a tweet blamed Geelani for ruining the lives of thousands of Kashmiri youth and families, saying that the leader has pushed Valley into ‘terror’ and violence.
Madhav further asked that after resigning from Hurriyat without giving any reason, does it absolve the senior separatist leader of all the past sins.
“This man was singularly responsible for ruining the lives of thousands of Kashmiri youths and families; for pushing Valley into terror n violence. Now resigns from Hurriyat without giving a reason. Does it absolve him of all d past sins?,” Madhav tweeted.
Moreover, talking to KNO, BJP General Secretary (Organization), Ashok Koul welcomed the decision taken by Geelani.
Koul said such a decision should have been taken long back. “(Dair aayad durust ayad) Though bit late, but a good decision,” he said.
He also added that Geelani should now ask his followers to accept Kashmir as an integral part of India.
NRI businessman booked under sedition for FB post on domicile law
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, June 29: Jammu and Kashmir police today booked NRI businessman and former president of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Mubeen Shah for his “seditious post” on J&K domicile law.
“Yes, we have lodged a case against him (Shah). Law will take its own course,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Dr Haseeb Muhgal told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). A case of sedition against Shah has been lodged at police station Ram Munshibagh, Srinagar.
Shah, a prominent businessman was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) after August 5 last year and released in December. He is currently based in Malaysia where he runs his Kashmiri handicraft business.
The Facebook post that invited trouble for him read: “All village/mohalla/town committees of Kashmir should come together and make sure that not a single non-local lives in their areas. They should ask all non-Kashmiris to vacate and leave Kashmir. Each and every local committee must do its part.”
It further read that, all of these committees should give clear instructions to people that anyone who tries to give space to non-locals will be socially boycotted and anyone who tries to sell land to any non-Kashmiri will be socially boycotted as well as evicted from the area.
“These committees should also make it clear that any tehsildar or any administrator who’s found to have given domicile to any non-Kashmiri will also be socially boycotted. The social boycott against these people should be very strict. They shouldn’t be allowed to enter into the village/mohalla/town and no one should speak to them or their families or do any kind of work with them.
We should think of other efficient measures as well to stop India from changing the demographics of Kashmir. It’s most important for all Kashmiris to come together at this very important stage and collectively fight against settler-colonialism. It’s now or never. It’s do or die. All of us have to join hands and fight now!”
The industrialist also wrote on his Facebook that he knows he has been booked. “I know they have booked me and registered an FIR against me. My lawyers will look into it but I will not desist from writing what I feel is the truth and resist as I understand with conviction that the resistance is beautiful. I request all Kashmiris to resist in whatever way you can and stop this settler program,” he wrote.
Govt directs 2 IPS officers to join duties in Ladakh
Srinagar, June 29: The government on Monday directed two IPS officers in Jammu and Kashmir to join their duties in Ladakh Union Territory immediately.
According to the order, a copy of which is in possession with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the two officers include Bhim Sen Tuti (IPS), DIG, JKS Range and Rajiv Omprakash Pande (IPS), SP Udhampur.
The duo as per the order has been asked to join their duties in Ladakh UT immediately.
“It is hereby ordered that Mr. Bhim Sen Tuti (IPS), DIG, JKS Range and Mr. Rajiv Omprakash Pande (IPS), SP Udhampur, under orders of transfers from UT of J&K to UT of Ladakh, in terms of the order under reference, shall be deemed to have been relieved with immediate effect, with further directions to report at their news places of postings, forthwith,” the order under number 137-JK (Home) of 2020, dated 29-06-2020 reads.
Consequently, the government has ordered Vivek Gupta (IPS), Incharge DIG, Rajouri-Poonch Range, to hold the charge of the post of DIG, JSK Range, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.
“Ms. Sargun (IPS), Superintendent of Police, Leh, under orders of transfer from UT Ladakh to UT of J&K, is posted as Superintendent of Police, Udhampur,” the order added—(KNO)
