January 2022

People of Jammu, particularly the city residents, seem confused over ‘64 hour long weekend lockdown’ which was supposed to begin from Friday afternoon.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday ordered imposition of complete restriction on non-essential movement in the Union Territory from every Friday 2 pm to Monday 6.00 am.

However in Jammu, the markets and business establishments remained open for the entire day after Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry claimed that they (CCIJ) had talked to the administration for relaxation in the restriction till 9 pm in the evening.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Arun Gupta president JCCI said, “I have talked with Deputy Commissioner and SSP Jammu to give relaxation to the traders till Friday evening,”

“The festival and marriage season is going on. Traders can’t afford a three day lockdown. I had made a request to the administration to allow normal functioning of bazaars for Friday and also appealed to the traders to close business establishments for Saturday and Sunday,” Gupta said.

In the meantime, around 2.30 pm, when all the markets were working normally, the official twitter handle of Deputy Commissioner Jammu reconfirmed administration’s order and stated that there were complete restrictions on non-essential items till Monday morning.

“𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃 𝐑𝐞st𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐮, Complete restrictions on non-essential movement from Friday 2:00 PM to Monday 6:00 AM. No restrictions on transport, essential services and home deliveries during this period (sic),” tweets Deputy Commissioner Jammu.

Later speaking to media DC Jammu Anshul Garg said that Jammu District on request of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry shops were allowed to open to avoid panic. He said the consultations were held with traders to shut shops for Saturday and Sunday so that the transmission chain could be broken.

However, strict lockdown were observed after noon in districts of Jammu including Kishtwar, Ramban, Doda, Poonch and Rajouri.

Pertinently, the government imposed an unannounced weekend lockdown across Jammu and Kashmir on last Saturday and Sunday in wake of the surge in Covid-19 cases across the Union Territory.

The formal order in this regard, the Chief Secretary, who is also Chairman of State Executive Committee (SEC) has said that there shall be a complete restriction on non-essential movement in the entire UT of J&K from every Friday 2.00 pm to Monday 6.00 am, henceforth.

It also said that the pregnant women employees will be exempted from physical attendance and they shall be allowed to work from home—(KNO)

Police on Friday said that one Iftikhar Ahmad Dar from Anantnag was arrested for carrying “scandalous online campaign against Kashmiri students studying outside, causing anguish to students and parents.”

In a tweet, police said that a case (FIR No. 23/2022) at police station Anantnag stands registered under relevant sections of law. (GNS)

Covid-19 cases continue to mount as Jammu and Kashmir reported 5720 new infections while five more persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Friday.

They said that 1890 the fresh cases were confirmed from Jammu Division and 3830 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally to 384381.

Regarding the deaths, they said, four were from Jammu division and one from Kashmir. So far 4591 people have died due to the virus—2241 in Jammu division and 2350 in Kashmir Valley.

Giving district wise details, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 1341 cases, Baramulla 688, Budgam 550, Pulwama 170, Kupwara 208, Anantnag 237, Bandipora 241, Ganderbal 246, Kulgam 106, Shopian 43, Jammu 1306,
Udhampur 100, Rajouri 62, Doda 103, Kathua 61, Samba 99, Kishtwar 18, Poonch 48, Ramban 22 and
Reasi 71.

A number of the fresh cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of GMC Srinagar and Anatnag besides District Hospital Pulwama.

The GMC Srinagar cases include female (29) (NA) from Shalimar, female (54) (NA) from Shalimar, male (59) (NA) from Shalimar, male (36) (NA) from Lalbazar, female (57) (NA) from Brain, female (47) (NA) from Shalimar, female (16) (NA) from Brain nishat, female (38) (NA) from Brain nishat, male (30) (NA) from Tulmullah ganderbal, male (52) (NA) from Nishat, male (36) (NA) from Brain, female (59) (NA) from Harwan, male (38) (NA) from Habbak Sgr, male (28) (NA) from Nagabal dara, female (29) (NA) from Nishat, male (29) (NA) from Nishat, male (28) (NA) from Harwan, female (34) (NA) from Ishbar nishat, female (25) (NA) from Ishbar nishat, female (26) (NA) from Sgr, female (26) (NA) from Baramulla, male (51) (NA) from Natipora, male (24) (NA) from Anantnag, male (27) (NA) from GDC hostel, female (29) (NA) from GDC Sgr, male (26) (NA) from GDC hostel, female (30) (NA) from Qamarwari, male (58) (NA) from Qamarwari, female (30) (NA) from Nowshera, male (27) (NA) from Pulwama, male (39) (NA) from Rajbagh, female (35) (NA) from Rajbagh, male (20) (NA) from Rajbagh, female (24) (NA) from Sgr, female (27) (NA) from Shalimar, male (65) (NA) from Habbak, female (30) (NA) from Habbak, female (75) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (69) (NA) from Batamaloo, female (60) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (85) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (35) (NA) from Chattabal, female (28) (NA) from Bandipora, female (32) (NA) from Eidgah, female (24) (NA) from Pulwama, female (22) (NA) from Pulwama, male (24) (NA) from Anantnag, male (30) (NA) from Pulwama, male (23) (NA) from Kupwara, male (40) (NA) from Sgr, male (29) (NA) from Anantnag, female (65) (NA) from Sgr, female (50) (NA) from Sgr, male (22) (NA) from Kupwara, male (26) (NA) from Pampore, male (27) (NA) from Sgr, female (62) (NA) from Sgr, female (30) (NA) from Bemina, female (50) (NA) from Sgr, male (65) (NA) from Budgam, male (24) (NA) from Sgr, female (55) (NA) from Sgr, male (29) (NA) from Harwan, male (90) (NA) from Ganderbal, female (90) (NA) from Gopalpora, male (60) (NA) from Sgr, female (28) (NA) from Rawalpora, female (60) (NA) from Rawalpora, female (33) (NA) from Kargil, male (21) (NA) from Anantnag, female (25) (NA) from Sanatnagar, female (23) (NA) from GMC, male (25) (NA) from Bandgam, female (70) (NA) from Budgam, male (24) (NA) from Sgr, male (27) (NA) from Sgr, male (28) (NA) from Sgr, male (35) (NA) from Chadoora pulwama, male (35) (NA) from Sangerwani pulwama, male (30) (NA) from Pakherpora, female (27) (NA) from Indranagar, male (45) (NA) from Chanpora, male (03) (NA) from Hyderpora, male (49) (NA) from Chanpora and male (36) (NA) from Natipora.
The GMC Anantnag cases include male (15) from Malik Mohalla, male (41) from Ratnipora, male (22) from Tharin Keller, female (35) from Abhama Pul, male (32) from Herpora, female (23) from Charimarg, female (28) from Awneera, male (40) from Mah Kulgam, male (35) from Panewa Kulgam, three males (36, 36, 53) and two females (36, 21) from Sahoo DH Pora, two males (40, 50) and female (28) from Damhall DH Pora, male (35) from Khull DH Pora, male (36) from Kulgam DH Pora, female (15) from Manzgam Kulgam, female (35) from Laroo Kulgam, two males (10, 58) from Okey Kulgam, female (19) from Motergam Kulgam, male (45) from Hablish Kulgam, male (46) from Behibagh Kulgam, female (45) from Qazigund, male (66) from Laisoo Kulgam, female (19) from Akhal Kulgam, male (24) from Pulwama, male (21) from Sachin Dailgam, male (50) from Nai Basti, female (32) from Soura, female (26) from Shangus, female (25) from GMC Ang, female (28) from Pulwama, female (46) from Malaknag, male (27) from Anantnag, male (32) from Ashajipora, male (67) from Anchidora, male (60) and female (25) from Khanabal, male (25) from Sarnal, two males (53, 23) from Anchidora, female (15) from Bijbehara, female (27) from Lazibal, male (35) from KP Road, male (38) from Nowgam Shangus, three females (14, 18, 40) from Ashajipora, male (40) from New Qazibagh, three males (45, 45, 42) from South Campus, female (62) from Achgoza Pul, male (21) from Narwani, female (24) from Dailgam, male (28) from Khundroo, male (50) from Imooh, two females (28, 60) from Gulshan Abad and female (36) from Wardwan.

The DH Pulwama cases include male (30) from Prichoo pulwama, female (28) from Pulwama, male (30) from Kakapora, female (30) from washbugh, male (30) from Murran, male (37) from Chadoora, female (40) from Arihal, male (48) from Chattapora, male (45) from Koil, female (50) from Ariham, female (28) from Trichal, female (20) from Rahmoo, female (50) from Parigam, female (27) (NA) from Malangpora, female (27) from Nowgam, female (35) from Gongoo, male (32) from Heff shirmal, male (60) from Koil, male (25) from Drabgam, male (35) from Gudoora, female (35) from New colony pulwama, male (10) from New colony pulwama, female (30) from Drisoo pulwama, female (33) from Wasoora, male (17) from Payer pulwama, male (26) from Sheikhara pulwama and female (30) from Babhara Pulwama.
Besides, they said, 1877 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time—819 from Jammu Division and 1058 from Kashmir. So far 344908 people have recovered, leaving active case tally at 34882—11602 in Jammu and 23280 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 51 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said.

They also informed that 39460 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

In a joint hard words press statement JDU State General Secretary Sanjay Dhar, Vivek Bali State Secretary J&K , P. L. Pandita Chairman Migrants J&K appealed to Power Development Department to stop unscheduled power curtailment during this winter season in whole Kashmir valley. JD(U) leaders said that PDD has forced people to face winter conditions with continuous unscheduled power cuts in whole Kashmir valley most of the districts in south Kashmir faced electricity curtailment despite that they pay their bills. These leaders also urged to LG Govt to announce an amnesty scheme with regard to the electricity bills for the people keeping in view the Covid situation. These leaders said that the unscheduled power cuts have increased from many hours and it has created a difficult situation for the people during this winter season. They said the people are paying the bills even then they are not provided 24/7 electricity in winter season this is injustice with them. The PDD should look into the issues and resolve them so that the people do not suffer. They urged honourable LG J&K and Power commissioner secretary that the situation has got from bad to worse with every passing day as the curtailment has increased and PDD should immediately stop curtailment of electricity as soon as possible.

Two persons are feared dead in river Chenab in Ramban district, officials said on Friday.

They said the truck, they were travelling in, is parked on Jammu-Srinagar and the duo was seen by someone drowning. The person subsequently raised the alarm and massive searches headed by SSP Ramban Mohita Sharma and SHO Ramban Sandeep Charak.

A police officer identified the missing duo as Manjeet Singh son of Dalgeet Singh and Jatinder Singh son of Mangal Singh, both residents of Amritsar Punjab. When this report was filed, the searches in the area were going on. (GNS)

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has released the photographs of three wanted militants in the Kashmir Valley.

According to news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC), Police has released the photographs of three militants who are said to be residents of Kulgam, Pulwama and Srinagar. These photographs were pasted on walls in Summer capital Srinagar.

As per Police Basit Ahmad Dar @Kamran Son of Abdul Rashid Dar, a resident Redwani Payeen Kulgam, Arif Ahmad Hazar @Rehan Bhai, son of Farooq Ahmad Hazir, @ resident of Wagam Pulwama and Momin Gulzar @Momin son of Gulzar Ahmad Mir, a resident of Firdous Colony Ali Jan Road Eidgah Srinagar are wanted militants.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has also announced a reward for anyone providing information about them.

Amid forecast for widespread moderate rain and snow on weekend, night temperature recorded an increase in J&K, except Gulmarg and Pahalgam, on Friday.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K, recorded a low of 2.8°C against last night’s 2.2°C.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.5°C against minus 5.0°C on previous night, he said. The temperature was 2.7°C above normal for this time of the year in the famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.4°C against minus 0.6°C last night, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of 1.6°C against 0.7°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 0.4°C against minus 0.1°C on the previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of 1.2°C , same as on the previous two nights, the official said.

Jammu recorded a low of 10.6°C against previous night’s minus 0.1°C which is 3.6°C above normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of 1.8°C, Katra 8.2°C and Bhaderwah saw a minimum of 1.7°C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 12.0°C against last night’s minus 9.0°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 14.2°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 21.4°C against last night’s minus 15.9°C, official said.

“An Active Western Disturbance is Most likely to cause Widespread Moderate Rain/Snow in J&K during 22-23rd Jan,” the meteorological department official said, adding, that the weather system may temporary cause disruptions in surface and air transportation. “(Probability of Occurrence as of today is 75%),” he said. (GNS)

Army and police on Friday claimed to have recovered 31 kilograms of narcotics along the Line of Control in Poonch district.

“Based on inputs of likely smuggling of Narcotics through the Line of Control in Poonch, Indian Army along with JKP launched relentless operations in the area,” Lt Col Devender Anand, Jammu-based PRO (Defence) said in a statement to GNS.

“The operations were backed up with a well integrated surveillance grid coupled with extensive domination of the areas close to the Line of Control,” he said, adding, “On 19 and 20 January, Narcotics weighing approximately 31Kg have been recovered in a search operation conducted by Indian Army and JKP, very close to the Line of Control.’ The nature of the narcotics claimed to have been recovered has not been given out so far.(GNS)

Amid unabated upsurge in covid-19 cases, government on Thursday imposed 64-hours weekly lockdown beginning Friday 1400 hours till further orders.

“There will be complete restriction on non-essential movement in the entire J&K from every Friday 2.00 pm to Monday 6.00 am, henceforth,” Chairman State Executive Committee and Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta said in an order, amending the previous order issued last week.

Amid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the entire J&K and the presence of variant of concern (Omicron), the State Executive Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 ordered: “That there shall be a complete restriction on non-essential movement in the entire UT of J&K from every Friday 2.00 pm to Monday 6.00 am, henceforth,” reads an order issued here by the Chief secretary and chairman SEC.”

“Pregnant Women Employees will be exempted from physical attendance. They shall be allowed to work from home,” the order, a copy of which lies with GNS reads further, adding, “These directions shall be applicable till further orders.”

There has been surge in covid-19 cases in J&K. On January 1, J&K reported 169 cases, 165 cases on January 2, 178 on January 3, 199 on January 4, 418 on January 5, 349 on January 6, 542 on January 7, 655 on January 8, 687 on January 9, 706 on January 10, 1148 on January 11, 1695 on January 12, 1966 on January 13, 2456 on January 14, 3251 on January 15, 3499 on January 16, 2817 on January 17, 4651 on January 18 and 5818 on January 19 and 5992 on January 20.

The SEC underlined that Enforcement of Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) was critical in determining the need for additional restrictions.

“All the Government Department(s)/Office(s) shall minimise conducting in-person meetings/interactions etc. All Administrative Secretaries/ Head of the Departments)/ Institution(s) shall ensure optimal use of virtual mode for conducting official meetings etc,” reads an order by SEC.

To reduce the rate of transmission within J&K, the SEC said that all efforts shall be made by authorities through active involvement of PRIs, Community Leaders, Market Associations and Federations.

“IEC campaign for containing surge in Covid cases/3rd Wave shall be undertaken immediately by all District Magistrates (Chairperson, District Disaster Management Authorities) in their respective jurisdictions highlighting the necessity of Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB).”

The SEC reiterated that maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor or outdoor gathering shall be strictly restricted to 25.

“Banquet Halls in all the Districts of J&K are permitted to allow gathering up to 25 vaccinated persons (with verifiable RT-PCR or RAT not older than 72 hours) or 25% of the authorised capacity (whichever is less), preferably in open spaces.”
It ordered that cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes, restaurants, clubs, gymnasiums and swimming pools are permitted to function at 25% of the authorised capacity with due precautions such as CAB and adherence to SOP
As regards the education institutions, all Colleges, Schools, Polytechnics, ITIs, Coaching Centres for Civil Services/Engineering/NEET etc. have been asked to adopt online medium of teaching. “There shall be no in-person teaching.”

Also night Curfew shall continue to remain in force in all Districts from 9 pm to 6 am with complete restriction on non-essential movement.

“There shall also be complete restriction on non-essential movement during weekends in entire J&K,” the order reads, adding, “All Deputy Commissioners shall intensify testing and ensure full utilisation of available RT-PCR and RAT capacities. There shall be no drop in testing levels.”

The Deputy Commissioners have been also asked focus on the positivity rates of the Medical-Blocks under their jurisdictions. “Intensified measures related to Covid management and restriction of activities shall be undertaken in these Blocks.”

The DCs have been also asked to keep active track of the positivity rates in their respective jurisdictions. “Strict perimeter control (Micro-Containment Zone) shall be implemented for localities where Covid-19 Positive Cases number reaches 3 and above. This shall be done to ensure no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.”

Inter State movement of passenger transport of SRTC or Stage Contract Private Passenger Buses have been permitted for fully vaccinated person or persons with verifiable RT-PCR not older than 72 hours or based on RAT on-spot with strict compliance with CAB.

“Entry into Parks shall be permitted to vaccinated persons only with due verification. Surprise checks shall be conducted by inspection teams to assess the implementation and initiate corrective measures.” (GNS)