February 2022

Daily Covid cases in Jammu and Kashmir fell to 33-day low, with 547 infections reported in the last 24 hours even as seven persons succumbed to the virus during the time, officials said on Thursday.

They said 307 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 240 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall infection tally to 449333. On January 8, 655 cases were reported while 542 persons had tested positive on January 7.

Regarding the fatalities, the officials told GNS that four were reported from Jammu division and three from Kashmir Valley. So far 4739 persons have succumbed to the virus so far—2320 in Jammu and 2419 in Kashmir.

Giving district-wise details of the cases, they said, Srinagar reported 103, Baramulla 16, Budgam 22,
Pulwama 17, Kupwara 28, Anantnag 11, Bandipora 15, Ganderbal 19, Kulgam 8, Shopian 1, Jammu 176, Udhampur 13, Rajouri 9, Doda 22, Kathua 17, Samba 12, Kishtwar 12, Poonch 4, Ramban 39 and Reasi 3.

Besides, they said, 2258 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time— 662 from Jammu Division and 1596 from Kashmir. So far 436082 people have recovered, leaving the active case tally at 8512—3288 in Jammu and 5224 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 52941 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

Aamir Wani, Baramulla, 10 Feb : A lineman of Power Development Department PDD was on Thursday evening injuried after he recieved an electric shock at Muqam village in northern kashmir’s baramulla district.

Locals said that a PDD lineman identified as Hilal Ahmad lone s/o Ab Rehman lone resident of Kreeri while repairing an electric wire recieved an electric shock and thus simultaneously sustained burn injuries. He was Shifted to SDH Kreeri where doctors referred him to Govt Medical College Baramulla GMC for further treatment.

The residents of Cantonment Badamibagh including areas like Palpora, Sonwar, Iqbal Colony, Indra Nagar, Shivpora and Batwara resented unilateral decisions of Cantonment Authorities.

The residents said many areas in the vicinity of cantonment installations were declared no construction zones.

They said no construction, repair or renovation is allowed within 500 yards from the vicinity of Cantonment.

In this regard, two writ petitions are also pending before the High Court of J&K.

The residents further alleged that the houses have been served with attachment notices against property tax.

Pertinently, many elected members of the Cantonment Board from the same areas, have unanimously rejected the proposal of charging house tax from the residents of the cantonment zone.

Backing the demand of the residents of the Cantonement area, the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashmir (CCIK) urged the Cantonement Authorities to allow the construction in the area as many hotels and houses need to carry out repair works.

The CCIK President further demanded that the decision to impose the property tax may also be withdrawn.

Mohammad Afzal Parry, a Cantonement Board member, said the municipality doesn’t charge the property tax which was repealed under urban immovable property tax act almost a decade back.

The residents appealed to the authorities to repeal the property tax as the population in the area is under financial strain and cannot in any way afford to pay such tax.

Several delegations of people from different walks of life today called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, at Raj Bhavan here.

A delegation of Sikh community led by S. Rajinder Singh called on the Lt Governor and presented the demand of a job package for Kashmiri Sikhs on the pattern of non-migrant KPs. They also demanded the removal of encroachments around the land of Gurdwaras in the valley.

The Lt Governor while interacting with the members of the delegation assured them that their demands would be looked into earnestly for their redressal on merit.

Mahant Rohit Shastri, President, Shri Kailakh Jyotish Avim Vedic Sansthan Trust while calling on the Lt Governor projected various issues pertaining to the promotion and preservation of Sanskrit language in the UT.

He also put forth the demand to designate the Raipur Domana link road and Higher Secondary School Domana after the name of Lt Col Mahatam Singh, Maha Vir Chakra.

Sh. Sheikh Muzaffar, President, Jammu & Kashmir Nationalist People’s Front, met the Lt Governor and expressed his gratitude for the unprecedented reforms and initiatives brought in several sectors for increasing the pace of development in J&K.

Sh Muzaffar also put forth the demands of a Sports stadium in Achabal, Degree College at Achgoza, Pulwama, and a maternity hospital in Anantnag.

Later, writer and education consultant, Sh Firdous Ahmad Bhat also met the Lt Governor and highlighted various issues related to the youth.

Discussing the demands and issues presented before him, the Lt Governor said that all the demands would be taken up with concerned quarters of UT administration for appropriate action on them based on merit.

The Lt Governor urged the President of JKNPF to continue his endeavours for the welfare of the people of UT.

Burglars looted cash and jewellery in a house in absence of family members in Budnambal Payeen village of Kralpora Kupwara, reports said on Wednesday.

Reports reaching GNS said that oen Maqsood Ahmad Lone son of Mohammad Razaq Lone of Budnambal Kralpora registered a complaint in Police Station Kralpora, claiming that on Friday, unknown burglars entered his house and looted jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh and 20K cash.

In the complaint, he said that he was out of his home along with his family and house was locked when the incident occurred.

SHO police station Kralpora Waseem Budoo when contacted told GNS that a case (FIR no 6/22) has been registered and investigation taken up.(GNS)

Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Wednesday visited Nawabazar to inspect the work of removal of unhygienic material including garbage trash, building material from both embankments of Kut Kul Srinagar being executed by Irrigation and Flood Control Department.

On the occasion, Div Com said that Kut Kul passing through Shehar-e-Khas will be cleaned and made Navigable by March.

Meanwhile, Div Com directed the Executive Engineer to complete the work within a week. He also directed concerned contractor to start cleaning work at other places, simultaneously.

He also directed concerned officers to repair the remaining walls of the kul wherever needed.

Div Com enjoined on the Executive Engineer to communicate with locals and aware them about their responsibilities to keep Kul clean from garbage and other trash material.

Div Com was informed that the material is amassed during the day and taken away to the dumping site by the late hours.

The 2.8 Km long Kul is being cleaned at the cost of 18.41 lakhs by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department—(KNO)

Two girls have brought laurels to District Ganderbal after securing 3rd and 4th position in 12th standard examinations.

Shah Ribka resident of Arampora secured 3rd position with 497 marks in science stream while Mehvish Mushtaq from Bandibagh secured 4th position with 496 marks.

The success of the duo has not only made their parents proud but the educational institution where they were pursuing studies.

The girls have paid gratitude to the teachers of Dreamland school for their guidance and to parents for support.

In a function organized by the school administration in honor of these girls a cash reward and scholarship for further studies was handed over by the principal.

The Board of School Education (BOSE) on Tuesday declared annual regular results of 12th standard of Kashmir division with an overall pass percentage of 75 percent, among the 72 boys and 78 girl students

An exclusive Interview with—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Shah Ribika said that she is very happy after achieving the success with a huge percentage.

She said that the teachers and the family supported her to achieve the feat in the exams

Another student Mehvish Mushtaq told KNO that bagging fourth position is a proud moment for her as well as for her family.

“Due to Covid-19, we were not able to continue with the offline exams. However, online education has not brought any change to my education,” Mehvish said. “It is a modern world and we need to cope with these things, thus offline and online education hardly matters for me.”—(KNO)

The government on Wednesday said that the decision with regard to the reopening of schools will be taken by the State Executive Committee (SEC) soon and that it will ensure rehabilitation of the acid attack survivor, who is recovering as per the doctors at Chennai hospital.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad while talking to the reporters said that the Covid cases have recorded significant decline fpr which the administration want to thank people for following the Covid Appropriate Behaviour and media as well for playing pivotal role.

“All the predictions with regard to the spurt in Covid cases were proven wrong by Srinagar residents as the daily cases have reached 100 cases now. We should further focus to bring the number of cases to zero,” he said, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Correspondent.

He added that there is a need to adhere to the CAB in letter and spirit as Srinagar at present has nearly 6000 active cases.

Asked about the reopening of schools, he said that the SEC will make a decision in this regard very soon. However, he added that vaccination for children is pivotal for the reopening of schools and the process must be completed at earliest. “Schools will be reopened when the vaccination process is completed,” he added.

About the recent acid attack in Srinagar, DC said that the drive to put an end to such incidents has already been started since yesterday while market checking squads have been constituted to continue these drives.

“The government on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is bearing the expenses of the treatment of the victim. Besides, complete rehabilitation of victim will also be ensured,” he said.

He also added that the doctor’s report is indicating a positive response to the treatment and they pray for the speedy recovery of the victim.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal while talking to media persons said that the chargesheet in the acid attack case will be filed in next couple of days and the drives have been launched to ensure that such attacks don’t take place in the future.

About drug menace, SSP said that the police was working to put an end to the drug abuse and a special helpline has already been established. We will ensure that the directions with regard to the sale of acid by Supreme Court (SC) are implemented in spirit,” he added—(KNO)

An unidentified male body was recovered in Brenwar area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday.

Official sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a body of an elderly man was found by locals near power grid station Brenwar Chadoora, who later informed the police accordingly.

“Body has been recovered from the spot and identification of deceased is being ascertained while further investigations have been started,” said a police officer—(KNO)

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura has resigned from his post in the party as a member of political affairs committee.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Hanjura has submitted his resignation to party president Mehbooba Mufti—(KNO)