Precious Kashmir Desk

Srinagar, Apr 26: The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.
The WHO said no study has evaluated whether the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 confers immunity to subsequent infection by this virus in humans.
“There is still a lack of sufficient evidence for the effectiveness of antibody-mediated immunity to guarantee the accuracy of an immunity passport or risk-free certificate. According to the UN agency, laboratory tests that detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in people, including rapid immunodiagnostic tests, need further validation to determine their accuracy and reliability,” the WHO has said.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 26: The door-to-door health survey in wake of COVID-19 spread which was started less than two weeks ago is nearing completion in all areas notified as red zones in Srinagar. District-wide household health survey is now being started using the Swathya Nidhi mobile application launched by the government.

This was informed in a meeting convened here Sunday under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.

It was informed that a population of around 25 thousand people put together has been covered under the survey and the data as generated has been submitted to health authorities for investigations as required.

The meeting was informed that the exercise will be now be replicated across the district adding that all relevant preparations have been made for holding a health audit of the entire population of the district.

It was informed that some 700 teams comprising officials from Health, ICDS and Election constituted for the purpose will start conducting the said audit tomorrow adding that the entire audit is targeted for completion within two weeks.

The involvement of election officials in the audit is aimed at facilitating accurate and quick conduct thereof. It was informed that BLOs will be the central point for recording the data as collected during the health audit adding that all data will be collected using the Swasthya Nidhi mobile application launched by the J&K Government.

The meeting was informed that concerned election returning officers or EROs have been made responsible for ensuring completion of the audit within their respective jurisdictions within the stipulated time of two weeks.

Speaking on the occasion the DC directed all EROs to ensure all their BLOs are equipped and on the ground beginning tomorrow morning. It is notable that Srinagar has 8 election constituencies.

Earlier ADC Srinagar Masrat Hashim who is the nodal officer for COVID-19 surveillance activities in the district and CMO Srinagar Dr Jehangir Bakshi who were both present briefed the meeting about the status of audit work held in red zones areas of the district.

The officers informed the meeting that the door-to-door survey for identifying suspects which was started on April 14 was nearing completion in all COVID-19 red zones of Srinagar adding that all these areas will now be covered under the health audit using the Swasthya Nidhi app.

Dr Shahid while emphasising the importance of the health audit in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the district directed the officers to ensure that all that is required is done and that the entire exercise is completed at the earliest and within the stipulated time so that corrective action as required can be taken without delay.

He appealed to all citizens for support enabling hundred percent coverage to make the health survey a success. He said decisions for COVID-19 containment will be based on the results of this audit adding that therefore there must be full cooperation and participation in the exercise.

It should be noted that once the data is generated it will be used by health authorities at the next level for assessment to identify COVID-19 suspects and the spread if so in localities and the district.

Concerned officers including all 8 EROs were present in the meeting. CDPOs of the district also attended the meeting.

United News of India
Lucknow, Apr 26: As many as 79 people of Jammu and Kashmir have been released on bail here, Uttar Pradesh Jail Authorities said on Sunday.

Altogether 239 prisoners of J&K were shifted to different jails in the state after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, the authorities said, adding that remaining 160 are still languishing in the different prisons across the state.

Most of them were arrested under the Public Safety Act(PSA) for opposing the Centre’s decision to revoke both the articles and split the then state into two union territories

The bail orders were received from J&K recently, following which the step of releasing the inmates was taken, sources said.

They have been allotted travel passes to proceed to Jammu and Kashmir, it added.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 26: Four militants were killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday, police said.
Jammu and Kashmir Police on its official twitter handle wrote at 9:30 pm, “Kulgam encounter update: 2 militants killed so far. Two more militants trapped. Operation going on.”
In another tweet around 10:25 pm the J&K Police said, “Two more militants killed. Operation still going on.”
An official said following specific information about presence of militants, a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) in J&K police, Army and CRPF at Asthal in Kulgam this evening. “When security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons. The security forces retaliated, triggering an encounter.”

“Additional security forces have been rushed to further cordon off the area to foil any attempts by militants to escape,” the official added.

Chandigarh, Apr 26:  Punjab police on Sunday claimed to have arrested an activist of the Kashmiri militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen with Rs 29 lakh cash worth Indian currency in his possession.
Hilal Ahmed Wagay, a resident of Nowgam coming under Avantipora police station area of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, was nabbed by the Amritsar police team on April 25 near Metro Mart, Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said in a statement here.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Wagay was sent by Kashmir chief of Hizbul Mujahideen, Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo, for collecting money from an unidentified person near Metro Mart in Amritsar in a truck, the DGP said.
Money was delivered to him by an unknown person, who came on a two-wheeler, Gupta said.

The person accompanying Wagay in the truck was identified as Rayees Ahmed, of Bijbehara in Anantnag district, the DGP added.
A case was registered under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (Amendment 2012) in Sadar police station in Amritsar. (Agencies)

United News of India
Jammu, Apr 26: Army on Sunday said that as many as 22 militants have been killed in April month and total 54 so far in 2020 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Northern Command based Defence Spokesman Lt Col Abhinav Navneet here on Sunday said, “Indian Army in two separate successful operations conducted within 24 hours on April 24 and 25, killed four militants at Anantnag and Pulwama districts.”

“With this, the number of militants killed by Army in April this year alone has gone up to 22 and the overall count in 2020 to 54,” he said.

He said that on Saturday morning, a joint team of RR and Police launched cordon and search operation in Goripora area of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

“As the joint team approached towards the suspected spot, hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter.

In the ensuing gunfight two militants were killed,” he added.
“Earlier on Friday, militants abducted a policeman from Sheerpora area of Yaripora, Kulgam. A joint team of RR, SOG and CRPF immediately cordoned off the area and launched rescue operation. Militants were chased at Kharpora leading to a brief gunfight in which both of them were killed while a policeman was injured.”

He said, “Army has consistently dominated the Line of Control as well as hinterland, killing the militants and their leadership.”

“This has further strengthened the security grid in Valley. Army has therefore been successful in developing positive security environment and the “Awaam” feels assured about their safety and overall peace to sustain during the summer season of 2020,” he added.

New Delhi, Apr 26: The outbreak of COVID-19 has affected the three services in very limited numbers and the discipline and patience of the armed forces’ personnel have helped in preventing its spread there, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat said on Sunday.

“COVID-19 has affected the three services in very limited numbers. In the case of the Navy, there was one person who was affected and we found that he was asymptomatic for a long time and kept associating with other fellow sailors. But the moment it was detected, the Navy has been very quick to react and ensure that the spread does not take place any further,” he told a wire agency in an interview.

General Rawat said because of the quick reaction, Navy was able to control the spread of this menace. “So, I think because of this quick reaction, the Navy was able to contain the spread of this menace. The fact that they have been quick to control the spread, I think the credit does go to the people who took prompt action. I would once again say that this is the discipline and patience which has helped us in preventing the spread of the menace,” he said.

United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 26: Fifteen more paramilitary CRPF men have tested positive for COVID-19.

An official said that these personnel who belong to 31st battalion underwent test when ‘contact tracing’ was done after a head constable working as a nursing assistant was declared COVID-19 positive a few days back.

The nursing assistant is part of the 162nd battalion deployed in Kupwara of Jammu and Kashmir and was in the national capital region (Noida) on leave.

The jawan was asked to report to the 31st battalion based in Kalkaji area of the national capital for testing and he was confirmed with COVID-19 infection on April 21.

While all 15 personnel have been admitted to a hospital in Delhi for isolation. So far as many as 50 personnel have been quarantined. These include seven constables, a head constable and a sub-inspector rank officer, the official added.

Early this month, on April 2 the Force’s Chief Medical Officer at Composite Hospital here, was tested COVID-19 positive and was shifted to the isolation ward of AIIMS, Jhajjar, Haryana.

The doctor was posted in the office of the Additional Director General (Medical) of the Central Armed Police Forces.

The about 3.25 lakh personnel lakh strong CRPF is country’s largest paramilitary or Central Armed Police Force and is designated as the lead internal security force of the country for conduct of anti-Naxal and counter-terrorist operations apart from rendering regular law and order duties.

Srinagar, Apr 26: In order to engage and reach out to students amid lockdown to combat Coronavirus, Directorate of School Education, Kashmir, is starting educational broadcast (audio classes) on radio for children in the Valley from next week.

An official on Sunday said that the broadcast is being organised in collaboration with All India Radio, Srinagar.

”The Educational Broadcast will enable students to learn through the medium of radio while sitting in their homes,” he said, adding the idea behind the initiative is to engage the students and to reach out to them while they are confined to their homes due to nationwide lockdown announced in view of Covid-19 pandemic.

”Teachers will be delivering lessons as per curriculum and the same will reach to one and all students through radio. The lessons will be aired on All India Radio, Srinagar during day time for which the time slots have already been specified by the station,” he said.

The Directorate of School Education, Kashmir has already taken some initiatives in order to reach out to the students to help them to continue their studies while in lockdown. DSEK has started tele-classes from March 26, 2020 through the Kashir channel of Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar and presently two classes are aired daily on DDK covering the syllabus of elementary and secondary classes.

While two more classes are going to be added to this chunk on Kashir channel from next week taking the number of tele-classes to four on daily basis. More classes are being added taking the number to eight classes, which will btelecasted through DDK and All India Radio daily for the students. Moreover, DSEK has also reached out to the students through local cable networks who telecast the lessons prepared by DSEK, he said.

In addition to this, the Directorate of School Education has connected to a large number of students through its digital platform and video classes have been kept available for students on its YouTube channel which is linked to the official website of DSEK. Not only this, the DSEK has also made available online classes for students.

Besides, home assignments have also been delivered to the students through at their doorsteps and presently they are working on the same. In order to ease out the mental stress of students caused due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Directorate has established a helpdesk for complete counseling of students. Not only students, but teachers and parent also seek advice and guidance regarding Covid-19, mental stress and career options of students at this helpdesk where experts, clinical psychologists and career counselors reply to the queries of students online and on call.

Director, School Education, Kashmir, Mohammad Younis Malik said that these platforms have been kept available for children so that they do not feel isolated and can continue with their studies while staying at their home due to lockdown. He said that the Directorate is exploring every possibility to reach out to the students online and offline so that their studies do not suffer due to corona virus outbreak.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Chaudary, leads from the front comes out on streets to implement lockdown.  He caught a man, who had prepared a fake movement pass bearing registration numbers of three vehicles, in Srinagar, on Sunday.

Srinagar, Apr 26: A youth was arrested by police for allegedly misusing social media in central Kashmir.

A police official on Sunday said that during the investigation of a case, a Facebook account named as ‘Rancho Khan’ was tracked by Ganderbal police by using modern techniques.

He said the account was traced and it surfaced that the account is operated by a youth of Padshahi Bagh Tilwanpora, Srinagar.

“Accordingly, the accused was arrested and shifted to a police station where he remains in custody,” he said, adding the accused was using abusive language and posting threat comment on social media.

“Ganderbal police have warned the rumour mongers and hate mongers to refrain from misuse of social media platforms. Any person found indulging in such activities will be dealt with strictly under law,” he said

“A case FIR number 74/2020 under relevant sections of law stands registered at Police Station Ganderbal and investigations were initiated,” he added.