News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu

  • JK Govt launches financial assistance scheme for families who lost sole earning members to Covid

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: With the Covid-19 pandemic snatching the bread earners of many families, the Lt Governor administration on Wednesday launched a Special Scheme — Special Assistance Scheme for Covid Mortalities (SASCM) — for financial assistance to families, who lost their only bread earner to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Under the SASCM scheme, cash assistance of Rs 1000 per month shall be provided to spouse and the eldest member of the family.

    The J&K Government has created a Special Cell in the Social Welfare Department to identify and track support to these families over time in the spirit of leaving no one behind.

    Besides, the SASCM scheme provides for a scholarship of Rs 20,000 per annum for school-going students and Rs 40,000 per annum for college-going students.

    “A family in distress shall be eligible for a scholarship for two children if they are not getting any other scholarship,” an official spokesman said.

    The Special Cell in Social Welfare Department, he said, shall also explore further assistance under other existing schemes of the government for which the family may be eligible.

    “An important element of support shall be financial assistance for self-employment for any of the surviving member, who wishes to start any business for livelihood support.”

    A total of 3702 people have died of Covid-19 in J&K since the outbreak of the pandemic last year. Of the 3702 casualties due to Covid, 1918 have died in Kashmir and 1784 in the Jammu region.

    Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said his administration has taken prompt and decisive action to support the elderly, women, and children.

    “Our decision is about personal protection and mitigating vulnerability of families, which have lost their bread-earner by extending long-term assistance. The government’s aim is to take care of their day-to-day lives and ensure financial security,” he observed.

  • BJP leaders face ire of businessmen during visit to hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina and MP Jugal Kishore on Monday faced the ire of agitating businessmen during a visit to different hospitals in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

    The Rajouri unit of the Congress accused the BJP leaders of violating the COVID-19 SOPs for “cheap publicity” although the BJP president defended the visit, saying they are touring different hospitals to inspect the facilities being provided to COVID-19 patients and bring any shortcoming to the notice of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.

    “We voted for BJP en masse but nothing changed on the ground do something good for the society and do not ignore the people,” a local leader of the business community said to the visiting BJP leaders at Sunderbani market in Rajouri district the hometown of Raina.

    Amid slogans of ‘shame shame’, the businessman alleged that a poor shopkeeper is being slapped with an FIR and a fine of Rs 5,000 if he opens his shop for a few hours to sustain his family during this pandemic.

    “Have we voted to get FIRs registered against us,” the agitated businessman asked, claiming there is no one to listen to them.

    However, the protesting shopkeepers dispersed peacefully and later the BJP leaders visited Government Medical College (GMC) hospital Rajouri and other health institutions where they took stock of the facilities being provided to the COVID patients.

    The Rajouri District Congress Committee (DCC) described the visit of the BJP leaders as a “cheap publicity stunt” and said the COVID-19 protocols and social distancing norms were violated by them.

    “The BJP leaders came for a cheap publicity stunt after neglecting the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch as far as the health sector is concerned,” DCC president and former minister Shabir Ahmad Khan and other senior leaders of the party said in a joint statement.

    Referring to the Sunderbani protest, the statement said the BJP leaders faced the wrath of angry people for their “lies and neglect” as the people of two border districts are facing hardships due to the alleged failure of BJP leadership in the timely creation of the required health facilities.

    “The MP and BJP leaders could have invited the principal GMC and medical superintendent and administration for discussion regarding the health facilities in the Dak bungalow but indulged in photo opportunities and the drama to get cheap publicity, after more than hundred of people have lost their lives,” the statement said.

    The Congress leaders said the GMC Rajouri lacks facilities in terms of manpower and logistics due to “utter neglect”, while the sanctioned 3,000 LPM oxygen plant is yet to made operational and the recently commissioned 1000 LPM oxygen plant does not cater to the need of the hospital and the present requirements of two districts.

    “There is no trained staff to make the ventilator supported beds to be fully operational as a result patients suffer,” the statement said.

    Interacting with media persons outside the GMC Rajouri, the J-K BJP president said the second wave of the pandemic has affected all parts of the country and his party workers are risking their lives to provide assistance to the people.

    “We are in a grave situation and trying to reach out to the people braving the risk to our lives. We are visiting different hospitals to inspect the facilities and look for any shortcoming so that the issue is raised timely with the Lt governor for redressal,” he said, responding to a question about complaints of SOP violations against them.

    He said BJP workers are driven by the feeling of serving humanity and it is because of the efforts of the BJP that the GMC Rajouri is functional with an oxygen plant to provide succour to the people of the border districts who otherwise had to visit Jammu for specialised treatment.

    “This is not the time for politics, to level allegations and counter the allegations,” he said and saluted the doctors, para-medical staff and other corona warriors for their service to the society.

  • COVID-19 surge: Restrictions in place across Jammu and Kashmir to curb spread

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: Normal life came to a standstill across Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday as policemen strictly enforced curfew to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Union Territory, officials said.

    Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha had announced a 34-hour curfew from 8 pm on Saturday till 6 am Monday amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

    Security forces put barricades on roads at many places and were also seen patrolling localities in the twin capitals as well as in other district headquarters to ensure that there is no violation of the curfew, the officials said.

    However, essential and emergency services were being allowed to move, they added.

    The officials said police vehicles, fitted with public address system, went around localities announcing the imposition of strict restrictions for combating the spread of coronavirus Saturday night itself.

    Markets wore a deserted look as people preferred to stay indoors and were cooperating with the administration, they said.

    An order issued on Saturday night by Member secretary, State Executive Committee, Simrandeep Singh said the scheduled marriages up to permissible gathering norms will be exempted from the purview of the Corona curfew subject to production of wedding cards and identity cards.

    The government had earlier permitted gathering of 50 persons in indoor functions and 100 outdoors besides 20 for funerals.

    The SEC also ordered the closure of technical training institutions falling under the department of skill development or technical education for on-campus in-person education till May 15 and said online education will be the mode of teaching.

    The government had already closed down all educational institutions including universities, colleges and schools till May 15 and said during their closure, attendance of staff in person will be restricted to 50 percent only.

    Earlier, on April 8, the administration had ordered imposition of night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am in the urban areas of eight districts which was later extended to municipal and urban local body limits of all the 20 districts in the Union Territory on April 20.

    The UT has witnessed a surge in COVID-19 cases over the last few weeks.

  • BRO bridge brings relief to isolated village on borders of Punjab, Jammu

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Working amid a raging pandemic, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has established a vital all-weather bridge connecting an isolated village on the borders of Punjab and Jammu. The bridge has been a 70-year-old demand of the residents of the Sakol village. “BRO provided yet another vital link between Punjab state  and Jammu Union Territory by constructing a 160 feet long double deck  bailey bridge over Tarnah River on  Chadwal-Sanjimore-Hariyachak-Paharpur-Simbal stretch,” the Army in Press Release on Friday said.

    As per the Army, earlier the entire region across the River used to get cut-off amid flooding. People had to either use a ferry or pontoon bridge established by BRO.  Every year, a pontoon bridge was required to be launched for crossing the river and de-launched after receding of water level post monsoon. Now this bridge will provide all -weather connectivity between both the regions.

    Army sources said, the bridge will provide the much-needed lifeline to the people of Sakol village, who had to  go through a lot of hardship in crossing the dreaded river during the monsoon.  “It was indeed a historic and watershed moment for the villagers and for this region.  Their 70-year-old demand for the construction of a bridge has finally been fulfilled,” the Army said. BRO personnel worked relentlessly round the clock and finished the construction in five days, the Army said. It was a very challenging task, officials said.  

  • Leopard strays into posh Jammu locality, injures three before being captured

    By PTI
    JAMMU: An adult leopard on Tuesday strayed into a posh locality of the city and attacked and injured three persons including two Wildlife Department officials before being captured in a rescue operation lasting over two hours.

    Two wildlife officials, including a doctor, and a civilian were injured in the attack by the beast, the presence of which caused panic among the people in the Gandhi Nagar locality of the city.

    The full-grown leopard attracted a crowd of curious onlookers, seen using their mobile phones to record the operation despite repeated appeals by authorities to disperse for their safety, officials said.

    “We received a call about the presence of the leopard at a green belt area of Gandhi Nagar around 11. 30 am and rushed rescue teams with tranquillizer guns and cages,” Jammu’s Wildlife warden Anil Kumar Atri told PTI.

    He said the rescue teams managed to tranquillize the leopard and shifted it to Manda Zoo around 2 pm.

    In the process, a wildlife doctor and a helper were injured by the leopard and were hospitalized.

    A civilian, who was the first to be attacked by the animal, suffered serious injuries on his face and head, a police official said, adding he was shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital.

    He said police parties from Gandhi Nagar police station also joined the rescue operation and tried to keep away the people.

    The leopard was spotted by a gardener inside the park and the Wildlife Department was informed immediately, the official said.

    The leopard had ventured into the city from the nearby forest last week and was spotted in the Bahu Fort area of Jammu city after which the people in the locality and adjoining areas were asked to remain cautious, the officials said.

  • Fraudsters dupe Jammu woman of Rs 4.37 lakh on pretext of marriage, six booked

    By PTI
    JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Police crime branch on Monday registered a case against six people hailing from different parts of the country for allegedly duping a woman of Rs 4.37 lakh on the pretext of marriage, an official said.

    The case was registered based on a complaint filed by the woman, a resident of Jammu.

    The accused were identified as Atom Roy, Zahir Hussain and Sartaj Hussain of West Bengal, Hazrat Ali of Bihar, Vinay Kumar of Delhi and Huinu of Manipur, a crime branch spokesperson said.

    The woman said a person befriended her on a social media platform and later proposed to marry her.

    The person then claimed to have sent a parcel to her despite her reluctance to accept it.

    After a few days, accused Roy introduced himself as customs officer and told her to give custom duties of Rs 45,500 to claim the parcel, the spokesman said, adding that Roy again called her the next day to inform that the parcel had 1,00,000 pounds.

    The woman said she contacted the sender who asked her to do as the “so-called custom people” wanted.

    The spokesman said she received “an e-mail regarding anti-money laundering certificate for which she had to pay Rs 1,18,900 and another e-mail on behalf of Foreign Remittance Department, RBI, for which she had to pay Rs 2,73,000”.

    Suspecting foul play, the woman then contacted international bank services in Srinagar and came to know that she was trapped in a scam.

    On receipt of her complaint, a preliminary verification was conducted and oral and documentary evidence was collected which prima facie substantiated the allegations against the accused, the crime branch spokesperson said.

    He said it has been found that the accused have opened various bank accounts on fake and forged documents and obtained various SIM cards besides making fake Instagram accounts by impersonation and used the internet through fraudulent e-mails/Whatsapp and allured the complainant and other gullible victims to cheat them.

    “In this manner the gang of fraudsters duped the complainant of her money to the tune of Rs 4,37,400 by fraudulent means,” the spokesman said.

    Further investigation into the matter was on and efforts are being made to nab the accused, the spokesperson said.

  • Block Development Council chairperson from Gurez joins BJP in Jammu

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Block Development Council (BDC) chairperson from north Kashmir’s Gurez, Famida Bano, on Monday joined the BJP here, a party spokesperson said.

    Bano was welcomed by BJP general secretary (organization) Ashok Kaul, who said her joining would boost the morale of party workers in Gurez segment of Bandipora district.

    Bano said she has decided to join the BJP with a firm view that she will be able to serve in an empowered way.

    She also expressed her gratitude to the BJP leadership and said, “I will never let the party down.”

    Kaul said, “Gurez is a very sensitive and strategic constituency. There is huge neglect and deprivation due to the discrimination of traditional political parties who were governing the state for last seven decades.”

    Former MLC Surinder Ambardar said Gurez would be developed as a model constituency in future.

    “The people of Gurez have shown their patriotism by negating separatism and terrorism for last three decades. They are wedded to nationalism and are echoing the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

    District Development Council (DDC) member from Tulail (Gurez) Aijaz Khan was also present on the occasion.

  • Mehbooba Mufti seeks people’s support for struggle for restoration of J-K’s statehood, special status

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday sought people’s support for the struggle for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and special status under the Constitution.

    Speaking at a daylong convention of party workers in Budgam district, Mehbooba said she will not budge or shy away from speaking up for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

    “I have decided for myself and taken a conscious decision to speak up for my people, struggle for their dignity and rights and advocate peace and reconciliation as a means to sustainable peace not only in J-K, but the whole of the subcontinent,” she said.

    “I know the road is full of challenges and would test me every minute. But, as a citizen of J-K and the leader of PDP, this is expected of me and I assure you that the party would make no compromise on the agenda of (party founder) Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) Sahab and won’t leave our people in lurch, whatever pressures be,” she said.

    Cautioning the people that the struggle will be a long and an arduous one, Mehbooba said the road is full of challenges and not for the faint-hearted.

    She asked for the support of the people of J-K, saying she cannot do it all alone.

    “I need your constant support to get back what was unjustly snatched away from us….I urge the people of Jammu and Kashmir to stand up, decide and choose their sides for a meaningful struggle towards the restoration of honour and dignity of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said, referring to the revocation of the erstwhile state’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and its bifurcation by the Centre in August 2019.

    “The central government has used every means and resources to demolish me and my party, but here we stand tall with head high as we have nothing to hide or regret about,” she added.

    Batting for cordial and peaceful relations between India and Pakistan, the former chief minister said it was high time that leadership of the two countries must sit across the table and resolve all the pending issues for durable peace.

  • Policeman shoots wife, mother-in-law and father-in-law to death after quarrel in Jammu

    By PTI
    JAMMU: A policeman allegedly killed his wife, mother-in-law and father-in-law after a spat in Jammu on Tuesday night, officials said.

    Indian Reserve Police (IRP) personnel Rajender Kumar reached his in-laws’ house and opened indiscriminate fire following a quarrel, killing his wife Seema, mother-in-law Raj Kumari and father-in-law Ramesh Kumar.

    His brother-in-law and uncle-in-law fled to another room in the house and had a narrow escape, the officials said.

    Rajender Kumar, who escaped from the spot after the killing, has subsequently been arrested.

    Hundreds of people assembled at the GMC Hospital in Jammu where the bodies were taken by police and staged a protest.

  • Animal slaughter, meat sale banned in Jammu during Navratra

    By PTI
    JAMMU: The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has passed a resolution banning animal slaughter and sale of meat in the city during the Navratra beginning April 13, mayor Chander Mohan Gupta said on Monday.

    The resolution was unanimously passed by 75 corporators at a special two-day session of the house as Jammu is a city of temples and a large number of devotees visit Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and Bawe Wali Matta temple during the Navratra festival, Gupta said.

    He said the JMC would ensure strict implementation of the decision during the upcoming Navratra festival.

    “All meet shops including slaughter houses will remain shut during the nine days of the festival. There will be no slaughter of animals or sale of meat anywhere in Jammu city during these days,” Gupta said.