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Govt amends domicile order for J&K

Containment

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Three days after issuing Gazette notification on domicile law in Jammu and Kashmir, the central government tonight amended it to provide for reservation in all jobs of the newly-created Union Territory for the domiciles, instead of only Class IV employees.

The amended notification was issued in the wake of criticism by mainstream parties of J&K.

It also has certain more amendments.

According to the official order, MHA amended section 5A of The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization and Recruitment Act) replacing “a post carrying a pay scale of not more than Level-4 (25500)” with “any post”.

In section 8 of the Act, it added “is a domicile of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir” thus making it mandatory for a person to be a domicile of J&K to get any government job.

The development comes after JK Apni party president Altaf Bukhari apprised National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the shortcomings in the central government order on domicile rights in the matter of employment and demanded that all levels of jobs including non gazetted and gazetted be reserved only for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Government issued Gazette notification on Tuesday, eight months after the abolition of special status of J&K.

According to the Gazette notification, “a person who has resided for a period of 15- years or has studied for a period of 7 years and appeared in Class 10th /12th examination in an educational institution in J&K, will be eligible to be the resident of Union Territory.”

The Gazette notification has been amended in 3 days.

In the initial notification, the jobs were reserved only for Class IV employees, which earned criticism.

J&K: 2G internet services extended till Apr 15

Social Media

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Government has extended 2G mobile internet services (on post-paid and verified pre-paid sim cards) in the Union Territory till April 15.

Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department, Shaleen Kabra in an official order said that data is “being misused for incitement, including circulation of fake news and the directions/restrictions contained in Government Order No 21(1.01S) of 2020 dated 26.03.2020 shall continue till April 15”.

The government further said that “the internet speed restrictions have, while enabling access to essential services and sites, not posed any hindrance to COVID-19 control measures or to access online educational content, but checked the unfettered misuse of social media for incitement and propagating/coordinating terror activities”.

The government also said that the recent changes “in the domicile law in J&K too has the potential to be exploited by those inimical to public peace and tranquility and cause large scale violence and disturb public order.”

Kabra further said that they have found that social media is misused for “incitement and propagating /coordinating terror activities”.

Internet services along with mobile and fixed land line telephony were suspended in Kashmir on August 4 last year.

From the past few weeks, people and other political leaders had asked UT and GoI to restore 4G internet in Jammu and Kashmir keeping in view the present situation.

Nepal: ‘Govt negligence’ puts Bajura at high risk of Covid-19

According to media reports, hundreds of migrant workers are stranded on both sides, following the lockdown imposed India and Nepal. (Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Government authorities in Sudurpaschim Province in Nepal have been “violating” the nationwide lockdown order by sending people who came from India and other districts to Bajura district, reports The Himalayan Times.

People have been following the lockdown orders in Bajura by staying at home and not moving out, except in case of emergency, the newspaper reports. However, the provincial government has been sending people from other districts to Bajura, Chief District Officer, Ganga Prasad Neupane was quoted as saying by the daily.

Neupane said people should not be sent from one district to another and they should stay put in the same place during the lockdown.

“The flow of people entering the district had swollen. But we have kept them in quarantine facilities,” he told the newspaper.

The Himalayan Times has further said in its report that many people have been entering Bajura from India daily even during the lockdown period and the province government has let them enter the district.

Health Coordinator Dipak Sha at Budhiganga Municipality told the paper that Bajura would be at high risk of infection due to people’s movement during the lockdown. He also said the province government had been sending people to their respective districts even during the lockdown.

However, Bajura Police chief has said initiatives are being taken so that the lockdown rules are not violated.

As per the Nepal daily, the Sudurpaschim province government has sent 26 people, who came from India three days ago, to Bajura.

According to reports, hundreds of Nepalese workers returning from India are stranded at border points as India-Nepal border has been closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On the other hand, 352 Indian migrant labourers, working in Nepal’s Birgunj, have been kept at a hostel of Thakur Ram College there. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has suspended all passenger movements through all immigration land check posts at the India-Nepal border until further orders.

Nepal has imposed a nationwide lockdown till April 7.

COVID-19 death toll rises in India to 62; total cases at 2,547

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of positive COVID-19 cases in India rose to 2,547 while the death toll climbed to 62, according to the Health Ministry data.

The latest numbers put out by the Health Ministry include 2,322 active coronavirus cases, while 156 people have been cured or discharged. The spike in numbers came even as the country entered its tenth day of lockdown.

Maharashtra has become the worst affected state with 335 cases, followed by Kerala with 286 positive cases.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the number of coronavirus cases may shoot up in Delhi in the coming days as the government has decided to put all the people evacuated from Nizamuddin Markaz under test.

Meanwhile, a nationwide search is underway to identify those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event. Authorities across states have already identified 5,000 persons and sent them for quarantine, according to the media reports.

WFP helps Bhutan prepare for Covid-19

The facility, like the one in this file photo, will be used to preposition food to help meet the needs of the population in Bhutan. (Source: Twitter @WFPAsiaPacific)

New Delhi (NVI): United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has donated two mobile storage units to Bhutan in a bid to help prepare the landlocked country for COVID-19.

The units, worth a total of USD 45,000, will be used to help authorities store food to meet the needs of people in case of any emergency due to the COVID-19 situation.

The mobile storage units were donated by WFP to Bhutan yesterday. The facility will be used to preposition food to help meet the needs of the population.

Bhutan is a small landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas bordered by the People’s Republic of China in the North and India on the other 3 sides.

WFP has extended the support, keeping in mind the potential shocks that can affect a vulnerable population. At such a time of crisis, many countries in the world may face decreased access to affordable and nutritious food amid the growing unemployment rate and lost/reduced wages.

So far, Bhutan has reported only five coronavirus cases and no deaths, but there are fears due to the pandemic.

Bhutan Government had confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19 on March 28, detected in Bhutanese nationals. Its first confirmed infection was a 76-year-old American tourist on March 5.

Four LeT militants, 3 OGWs arrested in north Kashmir

woman SPO

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Police today said that it has arrested four Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants and three Over Ground Workers (OGWs) from Handwara area of north Kashmir.

“In the wee hours today, Handwara police with 21 RR, 30 RR and 92 BN CRPF following the input regarding the presence of militants in Village Gund Chogal launched a search operation. During search operation four militants of LeT were apprehended,” police said.

The arrested militants have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Chopan, Mudasir Ahmad Pandit, Mohammad Rafi Sheikh and Burhan Mushtaq Wani.

The police have recovered three AK-47s, eight AK 47 magazines, 332 AK rounds, 12 Hand Grenades, three pistols, six pistol magazines, 24 pistol rounds and letter Pad of LeT outfit.

Earlier in the day, police arrested three LeT OGWs from Handwara.

NCC in Shillong to help fight Covid-19

Shillong (NVI): In a bid to help contain the fast-spreading coronavirus, the NCC Group in Shillong has set up a Disaster Management Cell along with the Meghalaya state government, the Defence spokesperson said today.

On the occasion, Group Commander NCC Shillong, Brig PM Bali visited the Emergency Operations Centre at Shillong. He interacted with officials and staff manning the facility to understand the requirement of NCC volunteers by the state & explained to them guidelines issued by the Ministry of Defence for ‘Ex NCC Yogdan’.

As per the guidelines, all NCC volunteers will be trained before being employed. Meghalaya government will provide 100 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to NCC for the task.

The Defence Ministry yesterday said that NCC has offered the services of its cadets in aiding the civil authorities from across the country to join the fight against COVID-19 under ‘Exercise NCC Yogdan’.

As per MoD, only senior division volunteer cadets above 18 years of age will be employed under the exercise. They should be employed in small cohesive groups of eight to 20 under the supervision of permanent instructor staff and an associate NCC officer.

Five more test positive for Covid-19 in JK, total 75 cases so far

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Five more people have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir, as the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory reached 75 today.

“75 COVID19 cases have been reported in Jammu & Kashmir, with 5 cases being reported today out of which 70 are active. Four of the new cases are from Kashmir while one came into light in Jammu,” J&K government spokesperson, Rohit Kansal said.

Kashmir now has 57 positive cases while Jammu has 18 COVID-19 patients.

Till yesterday, the government has placed 1,70,677 persons under observation. “Of them, 10,694 are in-home quarantine, 622 in hospital quarantine, 4,109 in-home surveillance.

Meanwhile, in case of any emergency, people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 at their doorsteps by calling on toll-free No- 108. Pregnant women and sick infants can avail free ambulance services by dialing toll-free No- 102.

Furthermore, a 24×7 toll-free national helpline number 1075 has been activated for support, guidance, and response to health-related queries on novel coronavirus disease. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has also set up helpline numbers in this regard: 0191-2549676 (UT level Cell for J&K), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division), 0194-2440283 and 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division).

According to the advisory, people are advised to remain calm & not to panic as the prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 in the UT are being monitored at the highest level and necessary action to protect and safeguard the lives of people have been taken by the Government. “The Government has undertaken aggressive contact tracing and testing campaign that is why surge has been found in the number of confirmed positive cases,” the advisory reads.

People have been requested to stay indoors, strictly implement social distancing measures, disclose recent travel history to COVID-19 affected countries/areas and report any contact with positive cases voluntarily.

The general public has been advised to avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals, in case anyone develops a fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical advice promptly by calling on COVID-19 helpline numbers so that they can be provided correct medical advice and directed to the right health facility, if needed.

“People must take basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent hand washing with soap & water, and observing coughing & sneezing etiquettes,” the Government advisory added.

Spike in COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka; total at 143

New Delhi (NVI): The number of total confirmed coronavirus cases in Sri Lanka has risen to 143, according to the Health Promotion Bureau report.

In addition, 2 deaths due to the novel coronavirus have been reported.

A total of 173 more people are under observation at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDH), according to the media reports.

The indefinite curfew continues in Colombo, Gampaha, Kaluthra, Puttalam, Jaffna and Kandy regions.

Over 7,000 people have been arrested for curfew violations, according to the police officials.

President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said today that it has been observed during the current state of emergency in the country, messages purported to be from him are being shared on various social media messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook messenger etc.

He said that any announcement will be made only through his official web pages and social media account.

Father on death bed, J&K man cycling over 2100 km from Mumbai

Mohammad Arif

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): With the entire country under lockdown and public transport off the roads, a man has embarked on a long journey on his bicycle from Mumbai to meet his ailing father in Rajouri district of Jammu, around 2100 kilometers away.

It is not going to be an easy journey for 29-year-old Mohammad Arif, a resident of Rajouri, who works as a watchman in Mumbai Central. But a distress call from his hometown has compelled Arif to take up the extraordinary challenge.

“My father has suffered a hemorrhage after he was beaten by his relatives. He is right now in hospital fighting for life. His last wish is to see me,” Arif said.

Arif landed in Mumbai a month back to earn his livelihood. “My father is living alone as I am his lonely son. Besides, I and my wife parted ways long back and three of my kids are staying with her,” he said.

He said his in-laws live near his father’s house, and recently, there was a scuffle on some issue in which his father suffered the hemorrhage.

When asked how he will reach Rajouri on a bicycle, Arif said, “I had no other option than to start this journey on the bicycle. I don’t have money to even hire any vehicle,” Arif said while adding that it will be an easy journey for him if people can help him by arranging a conveyance.

Meanwhile, concerned residents of Mumbai have launched a campaign on social media to help Arif.

Before landing in Mumbai, Arif was working in UAE as a driver for seven years. “I met an accident there because I didn’t have proper documents. I was jailed there for 11 months that’s why I have to return back to India,” he said.

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