SRINAGAR: Body of an unidentified woman was found in the premises of LD hospital in Srinagar on Sunday morning.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that body of woman aged aroud 40 years, wearing brown Pheran, was found in the premises of LD hospital.
He said the body has been shifted to mortuary of GMC Srinagar for medico-legal formalities while further investigation has been taken up.
SRINAGAR: A young female boxer from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district became first Kashmiri woman to fight senior nationals which were held in Bhopal.
Shariya Manzoor (21), a resident of Nehama village in Kakapora, who is pursuing her Bachelor’s from Government Degree College Pulwama made it to pre quarter finals where she lost to world champion holder boxer.
Boxing is an Olympic game which are very rarely played in Kashmir and reaching to senior nationals in this field is considered to be a big thing.
News agency KNO quoted Shariya Manzoor as having said that she could have performed better had there been such infrastructure in Kashmir as players have to buy items required for practice in boxing themselves.
Manzoor believes that she can do wonders in this field, if sports department along with sports fraternity will support her.
Though Shariya didn’t won any round in pre-quarters but her bravery and techniques were praised by one and all, while she was also praised for wearing Hijab even during the game, said other players who were part of the group accompanying her.
Becoming first woman to reach pre-quarters in National Championship is not a little thing but i don’t want to stop here as I want to compete in more mega stages and prove my mettle, Shariya said.
Kashmiri woman are very much talented and can do wonders in any field if they will be supported well, she said.
She said that lack of infrastructure is becoming an obstacle for dozens of youth especially girls who are interested in martial arts and other sports but are forced to choose some other field.
“My dream is to reach to the international stage and perform well in mega events but I want support from the government so that I can prove my mettle at mega stages,” she said.
She said that she is practicing hard and learning some art forms and boxing at the Lion’s Den academy in Pulwama and she was hopeful that she can participate in mega international events and showcase her skills.
Notably, Shariya has won six medals at national level in different martial arts so far.
SRINAGAR: The night temperature improved further at most places of Kashmir while Gulmarg and Pahalgam again recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 8.2 degree Celsius and minus 9.4 degree Celsius respectively.
Kashmir remained under intense cold for over one week. However, after fresh snowfall, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of the Valley recorded an improvement in the minimum temperature.
As per details the mercury in Srinagar settled at 0.5 degree Celsius.
The mercury settled at 0.3 degree Celsius in Qazigund while Kupwara in the northern district recorded a low of minus 4.5 degree Celsius.
Pertinently, the weatherman had predicted further drop in minimum temperature, saying that amid dry weather conditions till January 7, the days will be warmer and the nights will be colder. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: A 40-year-old man died after he fell from a tree in Nowgam area of Sumbal in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Saturday, officials said here.
Quoting an official told the news agency KNO reported that the man identified as Bashir Ahmad Chakan of Nowgam area of Sumbal fell from a tree and died on the spot.
He said his body has been shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities, following which it will be handed to the family members.
Meanwhile, police have taken cognisance of this incident.
SRINAGAR: Additional Director General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Saturday said that total of 172 Militants including 42 foreign militants were killed in 93 operations in Valley this year.
“During year 2022, total 93 encounters took place in Kashmir in which 172 militants including 42 foreign militants got neutralised. Maximum militants neutralised from LeT/TRF(108) outfit followed by JeM (35), HM (22), Al-Badr (4) and AGuH(3) outfits,” police spokesman in a tweet quoted ADGP as having said.
During year 2022, total 93 successful encounters took place in Kashmir in which 172 terrorists including 42 foreign terrorists got neutralised. Maximum terrorists neutralised from LeT/TRF(108) outfit followed by JeM (35), HM (22), Al-Badr (4) and AGuH(3) outfits: ADGP Kashmir
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) December 31, 2022
“100 fresh recruitments into militant ranks were reported showing a decline of 37% compared to last year. Maximum (74) joined LeT. Out of total recruitment, 65 militants neutralised in encounters, 17 militants arrested and 18 militants are still active,” ADGP was quoted as saying.
This year, 100 fresh recruitments into terrorist ranks were reported showing a decline of 37% compared to last year. Maximum (74) joined LeT. Out of total recruitment, 65 terrorists neutralised in encounters, 17 terrorists arrested and 18 terrorists are still active: ADGP Kashmir
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) December 31, 2022
“The Life span of newly recruited militants declined drastically. Out of total 65 newly recruited militants killed this year, 58 (89%) were neutralised within first month of their joining,” he said.
The Life span of newly recruited terrorists declined drastically. Out of total 65 newly recruited terrorists killed this year, 58 (89%) were neutralised within first month of their joining: ADGP Kashmir
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) December 31, 2022
“This year huge quantities of weapons (360) were recovered during encounters and modules’ busting which include 121 AK series rifles, 08 M4 Carbine & 231 pistols. Besides, timely seizure of IEDs, Sticky Bombs and Grenades averted major militant incidents.”
This year huge quantities of weapons (360) were recovered during encounters and modules' busting which include 121 AK series rifles, 08 M4 Carbine & 231 pistols. Besides, timely seizure of IEDs, Sticky Bombs and Grenades averted major terror incidents: ADGP Kashmir
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) December 31, 2022
“During year, total 29 civilians killed by militants include 21 locals (6 Hindu including 3 KPs & 15 Muslim) and 08 from other states. All militants involved in these militant crimes have been neutralised except Basit Dar & Adil Wani who will be neutralised soon.”
During year, total 29 civilians killed by terrorists include 21 locals (6 Hindu including 3 KPs & 15 Muslim) and 08 from other states. All terrorists involved in these terror crimes have been neutralised except Basit Dar & Adil Wani who will be neutralised soon: ADGP Kashmir
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) December 31, 2022
“Total 26 Security Forces personnel including 14 JKP personnel attained martyrdom during militant attacks/encounters. Majority of militants involved in these militant crimes have been neutralised,” police quoted ADGP as having said.
During the year, total 26 Security Forces personnel including 14 JKP personnel attained martyrdom during terror attacks/encounters. Majority of terrorists involved in these terror crimes have been neutralised: ADGP Kashmir
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) December 31, 2022
SRINAGAR: An extension wall of the house of a Hizb-ul-Mujaddeen militant allegedly built on encroached government land in Pahalgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district was demolished by authorities on Saturday, officials said here.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the wall was demolished of the house of Ghulam Nabi Khan alias Amir Khan in Liver Pahalgam.
He said Aamir is the operational commander of Hizb who crossed over to Pakistan Administrated Kashmir (PaK) in the early 90’s and is operating from there.
Earlier, house of JeM militant Ashiq Ahmad Nengroo alias Amjid Bhai of Hajan Bala was also demolished in Rajpora area of Pulwama.
SRINAGAR: Another person who was injured after a man went on a rampage in Ashmuqam area of Anantnag district, succumbed at hospital after 9 days, officials said here on Saturday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the man was injured on December 23 after a mentally deranged person went on a rampage in Ashmuqam area.
He said, however, he succumbed to his injuries at Srinagar hospital after 9 days.
The official identified him as Mohammad Sultan Saka son of Mohammad Yousuf of Ashmuqam.
Notably, 3 persons were killed and 6 injured others were injured in the incident on December 23.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Bank has thrown up a surprise. At the year’s end, it informed SEBI that it has appointed Ms Shahla Ayoub, an assistant professor in economics, as the bank’s additional independent director on the bank’s Board.
The decision was taken by the bank’s Board of Directors on December 26, 2022. The appointment has been made for three years.
The bank has shared a profile of Ms Shahla Ayoub and identified her as a “young Economist of J&K”, who is presently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Higher Education.
Ms Shahla, the communication said has worked as an Assistant Director in Economics and Statistics, Department of Planning, Government of J&K before joining the Department of Higher Education. “She brings to Board an affluence of Economic expertise and perspicacity,” the communication reads. “She has a yearning and yawning interest in the field of economic research, especially in the areas of conflict economics, financial inclusion and developmental economics.”
To her credit, the profile reads, Ms Shahla has to her credit a number of publications, “out of which following have carried more impact; i. Good Governance: Indian issues and concerns (published in European Academic Research, Vol III, issue X; Jan 2016, ISSN No 2286-4822). ii. Conflict and Economic warfare; Insights from Kashmir, (Golden Research Thoughts, Vol. II, Issue VII, Jan 2013, ISSN No 2231- 5603) Jan 2016, ISSN No 2286-4822). iii. A disparity in the sense of security causes disparity in economic welfare – A case study of conflict-hit households in urban Srinagar (published in European Academic Research, Vol III, issue X, Jan 2016, ISSN NO 2286-4822)”.
Besides, the profile said that she has also presented a paper on Response of Households to conflict: A case study of District Srinagar at an International seminar organized by the Indian Economic Association (IEA), in May 2012, and also on Financial Inclusion of Handicraftsmen in District Srinagar.
Now JK Bank’s Board of Directors comprises Baldev Prakash (MD and CEO), R K Chibber, Vivek Bhardwaj (IAS), Dr Rajiv Lochan Bishnoi, Naba Kishore Sahoo, Umesh Chandra Panday, Anil Kumar Geol, Anand Kumar, Sudhir Gupta and Shahla Ayoub.
SRINAGAR: The General Administration Department (GAD) on Friday issued a list of holidays for the calendar year 2023.
Every year, a list of public holidays is released for Jammu and Kashmir. Check the holiday calendar of 2023 below.
SRINAGAR: The administration on Friday said only 4×4 vehicles and vehicles with anti-skid chains will be allowed to move towards Gulmarg and vice-verse after snowfall made the road slippery.
According to order issued by the Sub divisional magistrate, Gulmarg to prevent accidents and long lasting traffic jams due to slippery road, which puts the commuters to much inconvenience, only 4×4 vehicles and those with anti skid chains shall be allowed from Tangmarg to Gulmarg and vice versa till the thawing of the ice from the road.
SRINAGAR: A female tourist died and seven others were injured in a road accident near Zig Post in Qazigund area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that a vehicle coming from Jammu towards Srinagar rolled down into a deep gorge near Zig Post.
He said in the incident a tourist from UP died, while 7 others were injured and they were shifted to Qazigund and Verinag hospitals.
He identified the tourist as Sheeba Iraqi wife of Atuqullah Iqrai of Lucknow UP.
SRINAGAR: A patient suffering from a kidney ailment from Banihal, who was admitted to district hospital Kulgam, died on Friday morning even as his family alleged medical negligence on part of hospital authorities.
Mohammad Imran Gujjar (22) son of Noor Alam of Tanka Trigam Banihal was admitted to district hospital Kulgam on Thursday died today morning.
Quoting deceased’s brother news agency GNS reported that Imran was admitted to DH Kulgam Thursday and was under going treatment. “However, on Thursday evening, when his condition started to deteriorate, we contacted doctors but no one came to see him,” he alleged.
He alleged a doctor who was on duty told them that click photos of tests reports and he will check them.
“Nurses were available but no doctor came to see him all night and he died on today morning,” he alleged.
The family members demanded government must constitute a committee to look into the matter and take action against the doctor who, according to them, didn’t even came to see the patient despite repeated requests.
Meanwhile, medical superintendent DH Kulgam Dr Afshana said that they have started investigation in this regard and if anyone is found involved any kind of negligence due action will be taken.
SRINAGAR: India reported 243 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, against 268 cases reported on the previous day, said the Union Health Ministry on Friday.
The active caseload stands at 3,609 cases, accounting for 0.01 per cent of the country’s total positive cases.
The weekly positive rate currently stands at 0.16 per cent, while the daily positive rate stands at 0.11 per cent.
The recovery of 185 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,41,43,850. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.80 per cent.
Also in the same period, a total of 2,13,080 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 91.05 crore.
With 81,097 vaccines administered in the last 24 hours, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 220.09 crore as of Friday morning. (IANS)
SRINAGAR: At least 13 “inter-connected” houses and around ten shops were gutted in a massive midnight fire, augmented by the blast of “ten gas (LPG) cylinders”, in Dangarpora area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Friday.
An official from Fire and Emergency Services Department said that at least 200 houses were saved by the “timely” action.
“At 2:56 a.m., we received information about the fire. Since the Fire Service Station is just a half a kilometer from the area, we rushed a number of fire tenders immediately,” news agency GNS quoted an official as having said, adding, “By the time we reached, the fire had spread extensively as at least ten LPG gas cylinders had exploded as a result of which there was extensive damage.” He said that adequate number of fire tenders and men were rushed to the area. “Since there was adequate availability of water and firefighters along with locals put their best effort, we were able to prevent the fire from spreading further.”
He said at least 200 houses were saved in the very densely populated area of the south Kashmir district. Sources told GNS that the 13 houses suffered damages and most of them have been completely gutted along with at least 10 shops.
A firefighter was also injured in the operation and has been admitted to Government Medical College Anantnag.
AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraben Modi passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad on Friday. She was 100.
In a heartfelt note, the prime minister wrote, “In Maa I have always felt that trinity, which contains the journey of an ascetic, the symbol of a selfless Karmayogi and a life committed to values.”
शानदार शताब्दी का ईश्वर चरणों में विराम… मां में मैंने हमेशा उस त्रिमूर्ति की अनुभूति की है, जिसमें एक तपस्वी की यात्रा, निष्काम कर्मयोगी का प्रतीक और मूल्यों के प्रति प्रतिबद्ध जीवन समाहित रहा है। pic.twitter.com/yE5xwRogJi
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2022
In another tweet, the prime minister wrote, “When I met her on her 100th birthday, she said one thing, which is always remembered that is work with intelligence, live life with purity.”
मैं जब उनसे 100वें जन्मदिन पर मिला तो उन्होंने एक बात कही थी, जो हमेशा याद रहती है कि કામ કરો બુદ્ધિથી, જીવન જીવો શુદ્ધિથી यानि काम करो बुद्धि से और जीवन जियो शुद्धि से।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2022
Heeraba lived with her youngest son Pankaj, a retired Gujarat government official, at Raysan in Gandhinagar district.
SRINAGAR: The Srinagar-Leh road was on Thursday closed for vehicular movement after fresh snowfall at Zoji La Pass, officials said.
The fresh snowfall on forced the closure of Srinagar-Leh highway as well as historic Mughal road, connecting twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian on Thursday.
An official from traffic department said that Srinagar-leh Highway was closed amid snowfall around areas of Sonamarg.
He added that the historic Mughal road was also closed following snowfall in Pir Ki Gali and other areas along the thoroughfare.
Meanwhile, Jammu-Srinagar was through for the traffic when this report was filed.
SRINAGAR: The Economic Offence Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has produced Challan against 7 accused persons for grabbing huge amount from complainants on the pretext of providing jobs in Jammu and Kashmir police.
A statement issued by Crime Branch Kashmir said that the challan was filed in case FIR No.19/2015 U/S 419, 420, 120-B RPC before the court of JMIC Ganderbal against Rakesh Kumar, Manzoor Ahmad Ganaie, Mohammad Yousuf Wani, Gh. Mohammad, Abdul Qayoom Sheikh, Shakeel Ahmad Mir S/O Ghulam and Abdul Hamid Bhat.
The instant case was registered upon a receipt of written complaint, wherein it was alleged that Rakesh Kumar and others in league with each other have dishonestly and fraudulently grabbed huge amount from the complainants on the pretext of providing jobs in J&K Police, the statement reads.
“Subsequently, preliminary verification was ordered to be conducted into the matter which culminated into registration of Case FIR No. 19/2015 of Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir ( Now Economic Offence Wing) and investigation set into the motion,” it reads.
During the course of investigation, it was established that all accused persons under a well planned criminal conspiracy lured the victims on the pretext of providing jobs in J&K Police and dishonestly grabbed huge amount by cheating them, it added.
“The acts committed prima facie disclosed commission of offence punishable U/S 419, 420, 120-B RPC and accordingly challan of was produced in the court of law for judicial determination,” a statement issued by Crime Branch Kashmir said.
SRINAGAR: India reported 268 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours against 188 cases reported on the previous day, said the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.
The active caseload stands at 3,552 cases, accounting for 0.01 per cent of the country’s total positive cases.
The weekly positive rate currently stands at 0.17 per cent, while the daily positive rate stands at 0.11 per cent.
The recovery of 182 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,41,43,665. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.80 per cent.
Also in the same period, a total of 2,36,919 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 91.04 crore.
With 99,231 vaccines administered in last 24 hours, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 220.08 crore as of Thursday morning. (IANS)
Awarded for his research in microbiology last week, CSIR-IIIM Principle Scientist, Dr Zahoor Ahmad Parray has been primarily working on the drugs involving Tuberculosis. In a freewheeling interview with Masood Hussain, the scientist details his learning curve and the research investigations at PGIMER, John Hopkins, CSIR Pretoria and the IIIM, Srinagar
KASHMIR LIFE (KL): What is the state and status of Tuberculosis (TB) in Kashmir and all around the world?
DR ZAHOOR A PARRAY (ZAP): There was a time when it was said that there can be no cure for Tuberculosis. But in 1943, Streptomycin was discovered for TB treatment. Now there are approximately two dozen of antibiotics that cure TB. They are set in three categories that include the first line of patients with a six-month course, a two-year course for patients who lack resistance, and a two-year course for patients who are multi-drug resistant.
WHO estimation suggests a success rate of 90 per cent in the last 20 years in preventing about 55 million people from dying of TB. It is all about the right diagnosis, right treatment, and care that have saved all these lives.
At the same time, however, TB is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases. At least one-third or one-fourth of the population is actively suffering from it. Approximately one million people all around the world are diagnosed with TB per year and almost 1.5 million die because of it. The main issue of TB is a deformity. A 1997 TB by WHO suggests around 9.7 million children were orphans as one or both of their parents died of TB.
India is concerned as one of the highest TB-burden countries with at least 2 to 2.8 million cases per year. Between 2014 and 2018, forty thousand people suffer from TB.
Recognizing the problem, the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2018, decided to fight against TB under United to end tuberculosis: an urgent global response to a global epidemic by 2030. Certain targets were set regarding diagnosis, medication, and funding to eradicate TB. There was also an ambitious project further set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025.
KL: What are the common symptoms that can determine if a person has been infected with TB bacteria and should go for testing?
ZAP: TB can infect any organ of the human body. It manifests indirectly with other diseases of the respective organs. So, it is quite difficult for the patients and doctors to recognize it in the first instance. For instance, if someone is suffering from stomach TB, it mimics H Pylori infection and misleads the doctor. If someone is suffering from bone TB, doctors suspect a bone disorder. Routinely, doctors are unable to determine TB at first. They generally give preference to antibiotics at first and when there is no response from the patient to the medication, they diagnose them with TB.
Usually, TB symptoms involve weight loss, loss of appetite, constant fever, night sweats, chest pain, chills, coughing up blood, and many more including specific organ pain. Supposing that someone is undergoing hip TB, it is very difficult to diagnose such a disease and we test such diseases by indirect methods.
Nowadays, especially in Kashmir, we have infertility issues. Now gynaecologists claim that in around 30 per cent of cases these infertile females were diagnosed with TB of the intra-uterine tract. So, when these patients get the TB treatment of six months, they are able to conceive. So treating TB requires a tedious process of diagnosing it first.
The crisis is that people suffering from TB do not come out due to social stigma. They do not speak about it openly. This is despite the fact that TB is 100 per cent curable.
KL: How has your expedition in terms of career and education been till now?
ZAP: I had primary schooling at Salafia Muslim Institute Yaripora, which has been there for more than seven decades and has made a marvellous contribution to the field of education. I did my high school at Government Higher Secondary School, Yaripora and then joined Government Degree College, Anantnag. There, I had a teacher who always adored me and helped me throughout.
I did my masters from the Biochemistry department at the University of Kashmir. Then, I joined the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh for a PhD. Then I went to South Africa, Pretoria, for my postdoc where I worked in (CSIR) Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and researched nanotechnology and material manufacturing polymer-ceramics. Subsequently, I did my second Post Doc at John Hopkins, Centre for TB Research, Baltimore, Maryland.
Eventually, in 2010, I shifted from John Hopkins to CSIR IIIM, and to date, I am working there only.
KL: What were the main takeaways from your PhD and Post Doc?
ZAP: At PGIMER, I researched alginate nanoparticle-based anti-TB drug delivery. The idea was to reduce the duration of the medication course of the TB patients so that they would not require taking it on daily basis. Then we came up with the nanotechnology-based drug delivery system that has the advantage of taking it once a fortnight. The system in vogue is that a person, for instance, supposed to take four tablets daily ends up taking sixty tablets in 15 days. With the nano-particle drug system, we demonstrated the same person can take only take one tablet for two weeks and it will work the same way. The success rate of it was seen as better in a guinea pig model. We examined the model in mice as well. Now, it is in clinical trials. Secondly, I worked on Azole (a class of five-membered heterocyclic compounds containing a nitrogen atom and at least one other non-carbon atom as part of the ring) antifungal drugs. I carried out an experiment to demonstrate, for the first time in Jalma lab, Agra, that they have anti-TB potential to curve resistance strain of TB. ICMR funded this study for Prof Khullar and his team to validate this in humans.
In my postdoc, I dealt with how we can improve and ameliorate the quality of polymer in nano-particles so that it can be human-friendly.
Later at John Hopkins, my focus was on the development of new anti-TB drugs. There was an important drug that is now almost conditionally approved in humans, known as PA24. When phase two testing of this medicine was examined for its effectiveness in humans, it was seen that it has no dose-response. So, when the results were further extended to us, we saw and proved that it was wrongly evaluated. So, it is always advised to scientists all over the globe that molecule may be right but evaluation may be wrong.
Besides, I did a series of experiments that got published and were forwarded to clinical settings, then this compound was re-evaluated in phase two trials and our claims were proved 100 per cent correct.
There was also one more study on the fluoroquinolone (highly effective antibiotics) series in which the newest fluoroquinolone was DC-159a. There was no study about whether it could be effective against TB or not. I investigated this and established its potency against TB. My study was published and the drug was forwarded for clinical development.
The third and critical question that revolved at that time was related to the drugs evaluated in mice and what was the difference between human TB pathology and mice TB pathology. We saw that TB in humans is more dangerous than in mice because mice lack a robust immune system. So, when I was at Hopkins, I studied how we can generate the same TB pathology in a guinea pig model as in the human lungs so that in the future we would be able to make the medication effective accordingly. So, based on the series, I have published five international research papers that are now used as a reference model.
Besides, one of the major TB traits is that it is the friend of all the foes of the human body. TB bonds greatly with HIV, diabetes, kidney issues, and cancer, and, in certain conditions, it becomes aggressive, leading to human death.
The issue was whether there is a drug available for TB, which could be used in HIV cases, where weak nutrition is weak and the person is immune-compromised. There was no study on this issue. We worked on it and showed a comparison of two individuals with HIV and another HIV negative having a wider TB drug response.
KL: What is your research focus at CSIR-IIIM?
ZAP: For me, CSIR was challenging in different aspects. The first idea that I developed at CSIR was how to reduce the medication of two-year courses for drug-resistant TB patients. My goal was how we can treat a TB patient in less than two years. Unfortunately, however, we lacked a setup for that at CSIR. So, I wrote to different global investigators about this idea. There was one drug combination that could treat or at least give a clue to drug-resistant patients and cure them in 10 months rather than in two years. I wasn’t able to figure that out in CSIR, so I was given a lab space at John Hopkins for that trial. After that, I published that paper in the American Journal of Critical Care Medicine with the first authorship of my own. Now, in India, the Bedaquiline drug is recommended for (MDR) Multi-Drug Resistant patients and that treatment is also for less than a year.
At CSIR when we analyzed TB prevalence and found we also have drug-resistant forms of TB, which are more difficult to treat. We raised new concepts that would benchmark new drug discovery. We came up with a new molecule, which was never evaluated against any microbe. We abbreviated that molecule in our lab as Palmitate. It was never evaluated against TB. The study was funded by ICMR, the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Science and Technology including the CSIR. Now we have sufficient resources to implement this project.
Besides, we are also looking into a bacterial disease called meningitis, which is quite challenging and mostly found in children. One of the causes of meningitis is micro-bacterial TB. So, we wrote another project to ICMR and it was funded and we are right now working on Central Nervous System TB.
We also developed a molecule and hope that it will be effective against both TB as well as HIV.
We also came up with some anti-TB and anti-bacterial drugs for bacterial diseases that were extracted from actinomycosis bacteria. In today’s world, terrestrial actinomycosis has been explored almost fully but we came to know that some Ladakh springs have complete ocean substitutes and are salty. Eventually, we went there and examined those lakes and springs and extracted and characterized the actinomycosis and to our surprise, we found 60 strains from those, which can produce antibiotics against different diseases. And out of 60 strains, 37 strains showed activity against TB. Again, the Department of Biotechnology funded this entire project.
Apart from this, I worked with Dr Raja Kishor Roy, my colleague at Jammu, who is a peptide chemist. Together we are working on a project called drug-resistant tsunami which is considered a threat to scientists. Resistant bacterial infections have the potential to erase human history like a tsunami. So, we combined the negative or Amar potash bacteria with non-natural amino acid-based peptides for screening infections in urine, lungs, and GI tracts. There are many fatal pathogens called escape pathogens, for the dangerous trend they represent. This project is funded by CSIR.
Umaima Reshi processed the interview
SRINAGAR: A man died after his vehicle skidded off the road in Ramban district on Thursday morning, officials said here.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that an the vehicle rolled down on National Highway 44 near Kelamorh in Ramban.
He said the driver of the vehicle died on the spot and his body was later recovered following a rescue operation.
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday asked people to thwart the attempts of those forces who are inimical to the unique political identity of Jammu and Kashmir.
This he said while addressing a gathering at Naushaher in Srinagar. Exuding confidence that the people will foil all such attempts by keeping the flame of unity and brotherhood alive, he said, “I see no way of achieving anything in J&K without a lasting unity between different sections of our society. We have to stop seeing ourselves as Hindu Muslim, Shia- Suni, Bareli Deobandi. Unity in diversity must be our creed to last for all time and under all circumstances, otherwise there is no end in sight to our common problems in the shape of poverty, unemployment, and under-development. Our mutual discord will make our descent into darkness. Divided we cannot achieve anything, let alone get back our abridged constitutional and democratic rights.”
Earlier he visited Chanapora, Naushahar to condole with the bereaved family of noted trader Ghulam Rasool Mir, who breathed his last the other day. Joined in by the party’s local unit functionaries, he offered Fatiha for the departed soul.
Meanwhile Party Chief Spokesperson & Incharge Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq today visited Lalbazar in Zadibal constituency to share grief with the family of late Haji Ghulam Muhammad Thatroo, who had breathed his last the other day.
SRINAGAR: Fire broke out in civil secretariat in Jammu division on Wednesday afternoon, official said here.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that fire broke out in top floor in one of the blocks of the secretariat today.
He said fire tenders have reached to the spot to douse off the flames, while further details were being ascertained.
Further details are awaited.
JAMMU: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Tuesday remarked that the skilling of youth in relevant trades is the key to tide over the problem of unemployment in the UT.
Dr Mehta was speaking in a meeting to discuss the ways and means of skilling and capacity building of youth with the stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Skill Development Department (SDD); Commissioner Secretary, RDD; Director IIM, Jammu; Deputy Commissioners; MD, NRLM; Director, SDD; representatives from Banks and other concerned officers.
On the occasion, Dr Mehta impressed upon the officers to map skill gap in districts as per employment potential and expected areas of investment. He asked them to impart skills to every youth as par aptitude and willingness. He called for imparting skills that are relevant in the market and help the person in gainful employment.
The Chief Secretary issued instructions for making a robust mechanism to skill those youth identified during the recently held outreach programmes of ‘Back to Village’ and ‘My Town My Pride’. He stressed on providing right skills to these youth identified from Panchayats and Local Bodies so that they happen to be inspiration for others. He reiterated that investments worth around Rs 60000 crores are coming to UT in next few years under Single Window System and it would open doors for thousands of youth to gain employment.
Dr Mehta further maintained that the LG administration is has evolved a multi-pronged strategy to provide employment to the youth of J&K. He stressed on the need to skill every youngster in the UT so that gainful Self Employment avenues becomes a reality and youth become successful entrepreneurs with guidance and support from government. He also elucidated that it is also the endeavour of government to upskill youth in high value skills so that they are able to seize employment in any part of the globe.
He urged the educated youth to come forward for gaining rightful skills in the best of the skill institutes for earning their livelihood in a respectable manner. He observed that J&K has dozens of skill institutes including those of National repute like IIT, IIM, NIT and more than half a dozen Universities. He told them to utilize this opportunity for making themselves worthy enough to earn jobs of their choice. He made out that for the people with right skill sets, there is no dearth of opportunities and their earnings.
The Principal Secretary, SDD, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon gave a detailed presentation on the strategy formulated by his department for skilling of youth. He threw light on various aspects and avenues where skilling of youth could fetch them better returns. He also set out the investment trends to be witnessed in next 5 years and the scope of employment in different sectors in both the divisions of J&K.
Dr Samoon also gave insights about the trainings to be started by the department to upskill the youth identified in the recently concluded Back to Village-4 programme. He asked the Deputy Commissioners to facilitate these youth to get skilled in different trades in the trainings to be started in the first week of January next year.
It was divulged that hundreds of MoUs have been signed till date for establishing industrial units in the UT. It was given out that more than 3.37 lakh skilled and semi-skilled workers are estimated to be required in J&K in the sectors of Trade, Tourism & Hospitality, Education & Health, Real estate/Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Food processing, Construction and ITes in the future.
It was further revealed that more than 85000 students are targeted by different government departments and skill imparting agencies in the first phase. It includes training of around 11696 students by SDD, 11371 by RDD, 10840 by IT Department, 6834 by Mission Youth, 5544 by Handloom, 5539 by Social Welfare, 4811 by Higher Education, 4284 by Health, 4226 by Tourism, 4073 by KVIB, 3012 by EDI, 2920 by Agriculture, 2177 by Home, 2115 by Transport, 2039 by Handicrafts, 1846 by Tribal Affairs, 1040 by FCS&CA, 869 by SKUAST, and 584 by I&C Departments.
It was said that the SDD will act as the central agency for maintaining MIS, act as link between departments and agencies like NIESEBUD, and SSCs for syllabus, study material, identification of certified trainers, identification of infrastructure, registration of students on the portal, assessment, certification and post certification assistance. Further SDD will allocate a pool of experts within the Department who will assist the government to achieve the vision & mission of imparting quality training to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
SRINAGAR: For nearly a century, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has been the first choice for higher education for students from Kashmir. The varsity has given Kashmir many of its political leaders, teachers, professionals and a number of scientists too.
Right now, more than 1300 students are enrolled with the AMU.
Off late, however, AMU’s Kashmir students are seen on newspaper front pages, for all the wrong reasons. This is a key concern in Kashmir that the environment in one of the best universities is gradually becoming unfriendly for the students from Kashmir. Generations of Kashmir still consider AMU, their second home. There has not been a year since the “aligarhians” have not had a get together on the birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the AMU-lot is one of the close-knit groups in Kashmir’s educated lot.
The Latest Instance
Reports appearing in the media suggest that a PhD scholar, Jibran objected to the noisy badminton game of some students on the premises of MM Hall on December 25 night. It was around 11 pm. He wanted them to stop the noise, move to their rooms and permit the inmates to study and sleep.
When he repeated the request, he alleged the students attacked him and later attempted to barge into his room. He told reporters that he was abused and thrashed. This made him insecure and the word spread. The youth playing badminton in the Hall premises were reportedly juniors from different streams. The scholar and his Hall inmates said they were called terrorists and threatened that they will be shot dead.
The students communicated the issue to the university administration and they allegedly avoided acting on the complaint.
On December 26, around 150 students from Kashmir staged a protest. They closed the University’s Centenary Gate so that their protest is noticed and they will be heard. Instead of giving them a patient hearing, students alleged that the university proctor arrived on the spot and ordered university guards to disperse the protesting students. Students claimed they were cane-charged and manhandled by the guards. However, another student said that the same group of students – who were behind the tension – appeared and attacked them in presence of the proctor.
Interestingly, some of the videos from this attack within the university have gone viral. In one video clip, a young man – not a Kashmiri – is holding a pistol, apparently a country-made Katha, quite popular with the local gangsters.
Later, the UP Police reached the spot and communicated with the students. They were assured that their meeting with the District Magistrate Aligarh will be facilitated. A police report that appeared in a section of the media suggested the assaulting group was from Gazipur.
Later, a group of five Kashmiri students did meet Additional DC, Aligarh, Minu Rana who heard them patiently. She later told reporters that the Kashmiri students are feeling insecure and the government will find a solution for the insecurity, She, however, said thee was not any formal complaint.
Not A First
Students said that it has become a new norm in the university that on slight provocations, the Kashmiri students are being attacked. In certain cases, their rooms are also being attacked and ransacked.
There have been a series of attacks, usually the outcome of minor arguments that are routine in the student spaces. In the last three months, reports said as many as seven Jammu and Kashmir students were assaulted, resulting in certain cases, grievous injuries. One of them is still suffering from head trauma.
Issue of Impunity
Kashmiri students told the UP police, university administration and the media that the frequent assaults on them are the outcome of a lack of action from the university officials. They are seeking an enquiry into the treatment meted out to Kashmiri students in the university.
The students have given a detailed memorandum to the administration flagging their issues and insecurities.
SRINAGAR: A minor lost his life while two other members of his family were injured in a road accident in Zawoora area of Shopian district on Tuesday.
Quoting an official news agency KNO reported that a vehicle skidded off the road and fell down into a deep gorge in Zawoora.
He said in the incident one child died on the spot, while two others were injured and they have been shifted to district hospital Shopian.
He identified the boy as Janu Shakeel son of Shakeel Ahmed of Shopian while injured were identified as Gulshana Bano wife of Ab Rashid and Nusrat Jan wife Riyaz Ahmed.
Meanwhile, Police have taken cognizance of the incident.
SRINAGAR: Member of Parliament and Secretary General Indian National Congress, KC Venugopal on Tuesday said that all prominent leaders including Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and others have expressed their willingness to participate in Bharat Jodo Yatra, being carried out by Congress to “unite the countrymen against the divisive politics of BJP and Sangh Parivar.”
“Certainly I am very much happy to say that leaders like Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and others are joining Bharat Jodo Yatra in J&K”, Venugopal, as reported by KNS, told media persons here.
He said like minded people and parties across India have expressed their will to join BJY and added, “The impact of yatra is increasing with the passing of each day which vindicates that people of the country want secular ethics intact within the country”.
Venugopal said the yatra is aimed to send a clear and loud message to divisive forces like BJP and Sangh Parivar who caused a massive damage to country and it’s constitution.
To a query, the Congress MP said the yatra in J&K will tentatively take place on 22 – 23 January 2023.
He added the government is trying to instill fear in the minds of people about new variant of Covid virus which however seems a “drama” to stop Rahul Gandhi from furthering the Yatra. “When flights are coming from China uninterruptedly. When there is no protocol set for arriving passengers, so why government is creating drama in the name of Covid19. This seems the government is trying to stop our yatra,” he added.
“If government will frame SOPs in general to avoid any untoward, we will have no hesitation to abide the directions,” Venugopal maintained.
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has appointed Dr M Angamuthu as a member of the Union Territory Level Apex Committee for recommending a suitable policy regime for promotion of export oriented agricultural commodities from the Union territory.
According to Government Order No.: 1589-JK(GAD) of 2022 Dr M Angamuthu, IAS, Chairman, APEDA, New Delhi shall also be the Member of the Union Territory Level Apex Committee constituted in terms of Government Order No.985 -JK(GAD) dated. 30.8.2022, for recommending a suitable policy regime for promotion of export oriented agricultural commodities from the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
It is further ordered that the following shall be the additional Goals & Targets for next 5 years for committee:
“a.Increase agricultural exports from 190 Crores to 3000 Crores from J&K, b. Diversify export base and increase high value and value added agricultural exports, c. Promote“Brand JK”for its uniqueness and quality, d. Promote novel Ethnic, Traditional, Organic and Non-Traditional agricultural products, e. Enable and empower Farmers for Export opportunities, ” it said.
SRINAGAR: Government Medical College Srinagar and its associated SMHS hospital has successfully performed its first and milestone Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant on in a case of high risk multiple myeloma.
According to an official statement said that the patient was admitted in Medical Unit-III of the Postgraduate Department of Medicine and the whole procedure was conducted/managed by the qualified and experienced Clinical Hematologist Dr Mir Sadaqat, Assistant Professor-Department of Medicine and Clinical Hematology Unit of GMC and Associated Super-Specialty Hospital Srinagar.
“The procedure involved stem cell mobilization, stem cell harvesting, myeloablation and stem cell rescue. The patient remained admitted for 22 days in the hospital and was discharged after successful engraftment of the stem cells,” said an official handout.
“It was due to the visionary approach of the worthy Principal/Dean, GMC Srinagar Prof. (Dr.) Masood Tanvir and his administration alongwith guidance from respected Prof.(Dr) Rakesh K Koul, HoD Medicine GMC Srinagar, support from respected Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Ismail – HoMU-III, mentorship by Prof. (Dr.) Javid Rasool, HoD Clinical Hematology SKIMS Soura and full blood bank support from Prof.(Dr) Sheikh Bilal, HoD Pathology/Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine which made this state of art procedure was successful,” it reads.
This is first time in the history of GMC Srinagar that this type of treatment modality in a blood cancer patient has been provided that too in a resource limited setting.
By providing such treatment modalities to our cancer patients will definitely help them not only as a standard of care for a disease but also an option which was never available before this procedure in GMC Srinagar, reads the statement.
SRINAGAR: Democratic Azad Party (DAP) chief, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday said that there is a need to make difference between militants & non-militants and the Kashmiri Pandit employees should be shifted to Jammu till situation in Kashmir improves.
Quoting Azad the news agency KNO reported that every individual should not be looked through the prism of militancy.
“There is a dire need to make difference between militants and non-militants as everyone should not be looked as a suspect,” he said.
He added Kashmiri Pandit employees, in wake of the targeted killings don’t want to stay here and they should be shifted to Jammu till the situation improves.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday claimed to have arrested a person identified as Mohammed Azam Daniyal son of Mohd Tehseen Daniyal a resident of Dhani Karnah and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession.
A police spokesman in a statement said that the recovery was made from him when an a specific information was generated by local police that the individual is involved in smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics from across the border.
“The individual after registration of case was picked up and interrogated during the preceding night and on his disclosure 01 Pistol, 02 Pistol Magazines & 43 Pistol rounds were recovered from the lawns of his house which he had kept buried under the soil,” he said.
“Case under relevant sections of Law has been registered and investigations taken up. More recoveries and arrests are expected in the case,” said police spokesman in a statement.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has asked people across the country to stop seeing killings in Kashmir on basis of religion. The statement in the backdrop of protests by nearly 10,000 employees of Jammu and Kashmir in Jammu is being seen as significant.
“It is true some Kashmiri Pandit became victims of targeted killings. But there is another side too… I want to say that people from the Kashmir valley are also killed. A lot of other people have also been killed.. There are also labourers who come from Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand during the apple season…,” Sinha told an interaction in a Delhi newsroom. “The country should stop seeing this issue on the basis of religion.”
Sinha said that these “two-three incidents” should not become the basis for spreading “a narrative”.
On Striking KP, SC Employees, LG Sinha, BJP Not On Same Page
The statement assumes significance in wake of the fact that since May 12, 2022, almost all the Kashmiri Pandits employed in Kashmir under a special package and an entire flock of reserved category employees serving in Kashmir, are protesting in Jammu. Citing security reasons, they are seeking their relocation out of Kashmir till the situation improves. After months of persuading them to return and paying them salaries without work till August 2022, Sinha announced that people who will sit at home will not get their salaries.
This triggered a crisis as BJP spearheaded a counter-campaign with one senior minister saying that saving lives was more important even if it means shutting down a dozen offices. Interestingly, all other political parties including the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, PDP, Congress and even the Democratic Azad Party supported the protesting employees.
It was in this response that Sinha said that killings in Kashmir should not be seen from the religious prism.
Under the special package, the Government of India funded the employment of 6000 migrant Kashmiri Pandits with the sole condition that they will have to serve in Kashmir. For this, they will be given a flat each.
Sinha said that so far 5866 Pandits have been given jobs. He revealed that 1,200 homes are being given to Kashmiri Pandits in April and by December 2023, 1,800 more houses will be allotted. At the same time, work on a major housing complex in Srinagar is in fast-forward mode.
Sinha’s statement came at the peak of Chilai Kalan, the harshest phase of winter. Even right now, tens of thousands of non-local and non-Muslim workers are in Kashmir, some working in remote Fruit Mandis in the periphery.
“People who are residents believe they (labourers) have a huge role to play in the UT’s economy. They have a role in its development. Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India. Anybody can work in any state…they have the right to work here. The same goes for Kashmir,” Sinha was quoted as having said. “There’s a majority in Kashmir who appreciate this and want other people to come and work. We also take care of them (migrants)… push for their insurance. During the apple season, we had guidelines regarding their safety and security – financial and societal.”
Admitting that the KP employees face problems, Sinha said he was in constant touch with them. “First, they wanted to relocate to safer places. Slowly we have managed to post people in the district headquarters,” Sinha said. “Now if the employee is from the rural development department, he cannot be posted in the city. So, he is posted in the village neighbouring the district headquarters. A few are in the tehsil headquarters but the police had said it is secured.”
In 2022, India Jr Home Minister Nityanand Rai told the Rajya Sabha early this month that 14 people belonging to minority communities, including three Kashmiri Pandits, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir. A total of 31 civilians were killed this year.
SRINAGAR: Amid cloud cover and the possibility of isolated snowfall over upper reaches, there was a slight respite from intense cold conditions in Kashmir Valley on Monday.
Quoting a meteorological department official news agency GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.5°C against the previous night’s minus 5.8°C that was the coldest recorded minimum temperature so far during this season. Today’s temperature was 1.5°C below normal for the summer capital, the official said.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.2°C against minus 5.0°C on the previous night. The temperature was 2.2°C below normal as well as the season’s coldest for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 5.7°C against minus 7.0°C on the previous night which was the coldest night this season in the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Today’s minimum temperature was below normal by 0.7°C, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.5°C against minus 2.2°C on the previous night, he said. It was 0.4°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against minus 6.4°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 0.2°C above normal for the world-famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 3.5°C against minus 6.0°C on the previous night which was the coldest temperature recorded so far this winter in the north Kashmir area, he said. The official said the low temperature was 0.9°C below normal.
Jammu recorded a low of 4.5°C against 4.1°C on the previous night. It was 3.7°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of minus 1.0°C (below normal by 1.9°C), Batote 0.7°C (2.0°C below normal), Katra 7.2°C (0.3°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 0.4°C (0.9°C above normal).
In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 13.4°C and 10.2°C respectively, the official said.
Kashmir is under Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 is in its infancy, it does not mean an end to the winter.
“From December 26-30th, generally cloudy weather is expected with intermittent light snow at isolated to scattered places on higher reaches of North, Northwestern and central Kashmir during 29 (Night) -30th,” the MeT official said, adding, “Slight improvement in minimum temperature and respite from cold and dry weather is expected from 26th to 31st December.”
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday constituted a 16-member committee to oversee the preparations related to G20 event.
According to Government Order No.1577-JK(GAD) of 2022, the committee will be headed by Financial Commissioner (additional chief secretary), home department, J&K.
“In view of the visit of officials from G20 participating countries/organizations to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of Committee to oversee the preparations related to G20 event in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” reads the order issued by order.
SRINAGAR: India reported 196 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours against the previous day’s 227 count, according to the Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting via video conferencing with the Indian Medical Association later in the day on Covid-19 situation and preparedness.
The active caseload stands at 3,428, accounting for 0.01 per cent of the total positive cases.
As per the data, the weekly positive rate currently stands at 0.16 per cent, while the daily positive rate stands at 0.56 per cent.
Recovery of 190 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,41,43,179. Consequently, the recovery rate stands at 98.80 per cent.
Also in the same period, a total of 35,173 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 90.99 crore.
With 29,818 vaccines administered in the last 24 hrs, the Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 220.05 crore as of this morning.
SRINAGAR: The Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) has started dredging five navigation channels as part of the plan to restore around 13 navigation channels in Dal Lake by the end of this year, an officials spokesman said.
The five navigation channels include Tengbagh to Bakhuri Mohalla, Tengbagh to Aanchari Mohalla, Jalla Mohalla to Shamshan Ghat, Imam Barah Hassan Abad to Gurpora, and Babademb outflow channel. The official said the existing depth of 2 to 3 feet will be taken 8 to 9 feet.
The concerned official said that for the first time dredging is going on in these Navigation channels, 13 outflow channels for an approximate length of 8.711 km shall be cleared. The main cause of silt/sedimentation deposition is the 2014 flood-silt, earth, debris and other waste material shall be removed.
He added the average breadth of existing channels is 8 meters and after dredging it will be increased to approximately 10mtr. Also water carrying capacity will be increased. Once the work is completed there will be no more foul smell, the official added.
SRINAGAR: Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit and Reserved Category employees protesting in Jammu since May, have landed in a proverbial crossfire between BJP and LG Manoj Sinha administration talking publicly in contrarian voices. Though presumed to be one, they are talking in two different tones, for their own reasons.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha had announced that the striking employees are sitting at home and will not get their salaries. “We provided salaries to employees till August this year after they asked for a cooling period following their departure from Kashmir to Jammu,” Sinha told a presser n Jammu early this week. “The government cannot pay salaries if the employees are sitting at home and not joining work,” Manoj Sinha was quoted as saying during a press conference in Jammu.
Admitting that he is in touch with the striking employees, Sinha said his administration has ensured that all Kashmiri Pandit employees – barring those serving Rural Development Department – are transferred to the district headquarters.
The two sections of the employees left Kashmir in wake of targeted killings and started demanding relocation outside Kashmir. Under a special package, the Kashmiri Pandits were given jobs on the condition that they serve Kashmir. The Scheduled Caste applied for the reserved category positions in Kashmir and was appointed.
Both sections of employees are not working in Kashmir since May 12. They are said to be around 10,000 employees. They routinely assemble in Jammu and demand their relocation outside Kashmir. Recently after LG Sinha talked about the salary halt, they took the protest to the BJP office in Jammu where Ravinder Raina spoke to them. Raina said the babus (Officers) might have misled the Lt Governor.
A day after came a blow from none other than Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh. “I personally believe that nothing is more important than a life,” Dr Singh said. “I would say that if there is a threat to even one life, even a dozen offices could be shut.”
The administration has been insisting that the situation in Kashmir security has improved in the last few years. However, the mass migration of the minority community employees suggests things are not hanky dory. Kashmir political class is supportive of the demands by the employees.
“Shoddy handling of the situation with the employees unabatedly protesting in Jammu is a clear reflection that the situation in Kashmir valley is far from normal,” Dr Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir’s five-time Chief Minster, said at an event in Delhi. “What else does it reflect? This is contrary to the claims of the Lt Governor and his administration.” He added: “These employees are willing to work. But whose responsibility is it to provide a safe working atmosphere to them.”
“Giving an ultimatum to join otherwise, your salaries will be stopped is wrong. The administration needs to know their problems and try to resolve those,” Mehbooba Mufti told reporters in Jammu when asked about the controversy. “When they are satisfied that the situation in Kashmir has improved, they will return but should not be compelled like this.”
The statement, AAP spokesperson Appu Singh, is “unfortunate” as it shows that “LG administration is trying to crush the voice of these employees through muscle power instead of talking to them.”
Ghulam Nabi Azad has also responded to the emerging situation. “I am of the opinion that Kashmiri Pandit employees be transferred to safer places in Jammu. When the situation improves, they should be brought back,.” he was quoted as having said in Jammu.
The protesting employees may have to decide faster as the controversy indicates they are fast becoming a political issue. Jammu and Kashmir is expected to have elections early next year.
SRINAGAR: India reported total 227 fresh Covid cases on Sunday in the last 24 hrs, against 201 cases on previous day, said Union Health Ministry.
In the same period, the country has recorded 1 more Covid related deaths, taking the national fatalities tally to 5,30,693, as per the report.
Meanwhile, the active caseload of the country stands at 3,424 cases, accounting for 0.01 per cent of the country’s total positive cases.
The weekly positive rate of the country currently stands at 0.14 per cent, while the daily positive rate stands at 0.18 per cent.
The recovery of 198 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,41,42,989. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.80 per cent.
Also in the same period, a total of 1,29,159 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 90.99 crore.
With 1,11,304 vaccines administered in last 24 hrs, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 220.05 crore as of Sunday morning.
SRINAGAR: The counter insurgent forces in the Kashmir region have been largely successful in reducing the number of militants while the remaining ones are facing an ammunition shortage, a top army official said here Sunday.
Quoting the army offical news agency KNO reported that the security forces have stepped up anti-miltancy operations and have set a target to bring down the number of active militants in Kashmir further and the forces have been very successful in it. He also said that the Indian Army is vigilant and won’t allow any infiltration into Kashmir.
He also said that the Pakistan is pulling the militants from across the LoC in a bid to disturb the communal harmony in the valley, besides short guns are being sent here by Pakistan just to target the civilians but “we will never let that happen.”
Meanwhile, giving details about the Uri operation, he said that yesterday a joint operation was launched by the security forces in Rampur sector along the line of control after intercepting major consignment of ams and ammunition.
The searches, he said led the recoveries of the consignment including 8 AK74, 24 AK 74 Magazines, 12 Chinese Pistols, 24 pistol magazines, 9 Chinese grenades, 5 Pak Grenades, 5 wheat bags, 81 Pak Balloons, 560 rounds of AK Rifle and 244 rounds of pistol.
The officer said that this is among the largest interception of war like stories which has been executed close to the line of control in recent years. SSP Baramulla Rayees Muhammad Bhat, said: “Balloons, which are typically sent more frequently to the Jammu side, have been sent to the valley side for the first time. It perhaps points to a kind of attempt to instigate certain propaganda again.”
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday claimed to have arrested a man for committing an unnatural sexual offense upon a minor boy (age about 15 years) in the Chadoora area of Budgam
A police spokesman in a statement said that on December 24 police Station Chadoora received a written complaint from parents of minor boy (aged about 15 years) that their son has been kidnapped by one Mohammad Sidiq Sheikh (age about 60 years) son of Ali Mohammad Sheikh, resident of Gogjipathri, Chadoora, a few days back and had been taken to Jammu where he committed an unnatural sexual offense upon him.
“In this connection, Case FIR number 205/2022 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Chadoora, and the investigation was taken up,” said the spokesman.
He said that during the course of the investigation, after the medical examination, the victim was shifted to Child Protection Unit Budgam.
He added that today morning, the accused was arrested from Railway Station Budgam.The arrested child abuser has been booked under POCSO Act besides other sections of law.
Further investigation into the matter is going on, said police spokesman in a statement.
SRINAGAR: A top BJP leader said the Jammu and Kashmir will go for assembly elections somewhere between April and May 2023. Jammu and Kashmir is under direct central rule since 2018 summer.
Tarun Chug who is BJP in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir dropped hints at early polls while addressing a party meeting in Jammu. He was asking the party members to get proactive, talk to people and inform them about the achievements.
“Agar sarkar May mein banani hai toh March mein ticketein bantni hai (if the government is to be formed in May, then tickets have to be distributed in March). We have only two-and-a-half months left,” Chug told the party workers.
He told reporters that holding pols is the prerogative of the Election Commission of India but he hopes the elections will be held early. The party is planning to fly top leaders including the president of the party, the prime minister and the home minister to Jammu and Kashmir in the next three months. Party president JP Nadda is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir in January, Home Minister in February and Prime Minister in March, reports appearing in the media said.
SRINAGAR: The government has decided to implement the Student Assessment and Evaluation Scheme (SAES) starting with the upcoming academic session, which will require the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to develop uniform question papers for all government and government recognized schools.
This decision represents a significant change that will put an end to the traditional examination system.
As per the NEP-2020 examination reforms, the purpose of assessment will change from one that is summative and primarily tests rote memorization skills to one that is more regular and formative, is more competency-based, supports our students’ learning and development, and tests higher-order skills like analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity.
The pupils would receive a multidimensional report card or a holistic progress card in place of a grade sheet, which would reflect each learner’s individuality and progress in detail. Software assisted by artificial intelligence would create a 360-degree perspective of a student’s progress and help them choose the best careers would also be used.
With the new curriculum and pedagogical structure of 5+3+3+4 adopted as per the NEP-2020 guidelines replacing the 10+2 pattern in school education, the new assessment and evaluation scheme takes effect right from the foundational stage.
The ‘Foundational’ stage is comprised of the first five years of education, the next three are ‘Preparatory’ followed by another three years in the ‘Middle’ stage. The final four years included the grades 9th and 10th in Phase-I and 11th and 12th in Phase-II under the head ‘Secondary’ stage.
The contents of the evaluation mechanism at every level, including the standard operating procedures, are detailed in a 12-page document signed by Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary Education who also serves as the Director of SCERT.
The foundational stage’s evaluation and assessment procedures are to be carried out by the heads of the schools using the models outlined in the school-based assessment (SBA) document by the NCERT/SCERT.
The evaluation and assessment of the Preparatory and Middle stages would also be conducted by the heads of the schools using assessment tools and model question papers prescribed by the SCERT.
The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has been given sole responsibility for the Secondary stage, which includes classes 9th through 12th, and will be administered in accordance with NEP-2020 criteria.
For the formative assessment, co-curricular component, and summative assessment, respectively, the weighting of the marks shall be allocated as 30, 20, and 50 with a qualifying percentage of 33% in each. Recitation, art and craft, role playing, painting, group songs, discussion, debates, health and hygiene, environmental awareness, and IT awareness are some of the activities that form the co-curricular component.
Students who have been designated as potential learners will be promoted to the next class on a proviso basis with plans for extra courses for two to three months during the vacation or at the start of the next session, followed by another assessment of grade-appropriate competencies. Only when the student is unable to meet the eligibility requirements in this reassessment tool may they be held back.
The evaluation shall be carried out in the Complex Head under the supervision of the head of the complex and overall supervision of DIET/SCERT.
SRINAGAR: In a meeting with health experts Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta was today assured that there is no need to panic in view of rising Covid-19 cases in neighboring countries as no surge have been reported so far in the UT.
The meeting was attended by the Divisional Commissioners; Secretary, Health; Director SKIMS; Principals of Medical Colleges and Heads of Medicine and other experts from the Medical Colleges.
Dr Mehta enjoined upon all these health experts to take preemptive measures so that the administration is fully prepared to meet any contingency. He asked them to activate all the Covid testing facilities so that any person desiring to test finds the facility nearby. He impressed upon them to create ample awareness among public so that no unnecessary scare is created among them.
The Chief Secretary also emphasized on assessing all the facilities afresh so that their operational readiness is checked. He asked them to take stock of medicines and other paraphernalia before hand so that people are served better, if need arises. He asked the department to give booster doses to the vulnerable groups like elderly. He also directed them for encouraging people to observe the Covid appropriate behavior for safety of one and all.
The Secretary Health informed the meeting that currently there is no bed occupancy related to covid in the health facilities of the UT. He made out that the testing capacity of J&K has been augmented by many folds. The new three COBAS 6800 machines are also being procured for enhancing the facilities further, he added.
It was also revealed that every sample of a positive person is sent for its genome analysis as per the GoI guidelines. It was apprised that the genome sequencing labs at both the cities of Jammu and Srinagar are being established shortly for better monitoring and evaluation here.
The international travelers are also being monitored and tested randomly besides observing the advisories issued by the Health Ministry, AIIMS and Indian Medical Association, as was divulged in the meeting.
Moreover the health experts also gave their suggestions regarding the current scenario and preparedness of J&K UT. They informed that the virus is not so lethal this time although the spread may be faster. They advised people to only take precautions so that they keep themselves safe as well as others.
It was revealed that J&K has around 20000 isolation beds available including 717 ICU, 1320 Ventilators and 5468 oxygen supported beds. It has a capacity to generate 1,14,366 LPM of oxygen from its 154 plants. The UT also has 4 CBNAAT, 15 TRUENAT labs in its hospitals to generate tests more accurately and quickly, the meeting was informed.
