First anniversary of Article 370: An eerie silence, little celebrations; shutdown amid curbs mark the day in Kashmir
Crucial meet convened by NC president at his Gupkar residence disallowed, Omar takes to twitter to vent anger, Tarigami questions normalcy claims, no curfew claim far from truth, says Muzafar Shah
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Aug 05 (KNO): The first anniversary of article 370 abrogation and bifurcation of erstwhile state into two halves—Ladakh and J&K on Wednesday saw little celebrations that too from the BJP leaders and activists while entire valley remained under strict curbs amid spontaneous shutdown.
On this day last year, union home minister Amit Shah made a historic announcement on the floor of the Parliament—abrogation of article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile J&K state and creation of two Union Territories. The announcement had triggered a four-month long spontaneous shutdown across the Valley amid stringent curbs coupled with the internet and communication gag. A year on, the internet continues to remain throttled in J&K at 2G speed.
According to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the day passed off peacefully barring a grenade attack in southern Shopian district in which no loss of life was reported. Eye-witnesses said that people of Srinagar city woke up to stringent curbs amid heavy deployment of security forces on all major roads including city centre Lal Chowk. “Majority of downtown parts were sealed with pools of concertina wires and nobody was allowed to venture out on streets,” a resident of the volatile Nowhatta area told KNO. Residents of other downtown parts echoed similar views.
Reports from various district headquarters of Kashmir suggested that complete shutdown was observed even as heavy deployment of security forces remained on roads and towns.
The authorities also didn’t allow the crucial meeting convened by the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah at his Gupkar residence as all roads leading to his house were sealed with concertina wires and heavy deployment of forces was made. Talking to KNO, Dr Farooq said that none of the leaders, he had invited for the meeting to evolve a joint consensus post Article 370 roll back, but he heard that all have been put under house detention. “They (BJP) claim a political process has started in Kashmir, but they didn’t allow leaders to reach my home,” he said.
NC vice-president Omar Abdullah took to his twitter handle to vent his anger. He wrote: “One year on, this is Gupkar road today – police vehicles opposite our gates, concertina wire strung across the road at regular intervals & no vehicles allowed. My father had called a meeting of leaders of MAINSTREAM parties to deliberate on the current situation.” In another tweet, Omar wrote: “Clearly the meeting is not being allowed to go ahead. The BJP gets to announce a 15 day celebration to mark 5th Aug & a handful of us aren’t allowed to meet in my father’s lawn.
So much for BJP national leaders wondering why there is no political activity.” In another tweet the former chief minister of erstwhile State of J&K, wrote: “One year later the authorities are still too afraid to allow us to meet much less carry out any normal political activity. This fear speaks volumes about the true situation on the ground in Kashmir.”
CPI (M) senior leader and former MLA Kulgam, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami asked that is this the normalcy which government is talking about? “How can you claim normalcy when the leaders are not even being allowed to hold a meeting,” he said. “I was scheduled to attend the meeting today, but was asked not to venture out of his home today.”
Meanwhile, there were little celebrations too by none other than the BJP leaders and workers. They celebrated the day by unfurling the flag and distributing sweets among each other at the party headquarters. The biggest function was held in BJP’s Srinagar office where the national flag was hoisted amid a pledge that all the party leaders will serve J&K to the best of their capabilities.
J&K BJP spokesman, Altaf Thakur, said that the party celebrated one year of Article 370 revocation at all district headquarters and the main function was held in Srinagar office of the party. “The celebrations will last for 15 days and there will be virtual rallies followed by the visits of various union ministers of J&K in the days ahead.
They will meet people and listen to their grievances,” Thakur said. Awami National Conference (ANC) vice president Muzaffar Shah said that he was stopped when he tried to venture out of his house. “On Doordarshan, an announcement was made there is no curfew, but facts on ground tell another story. I was stopped,” he said—(KNO)
COVID-19: 90 travelers among 559 fresh cases, J&K tally mounts to 22,955
Recovery rate over 66 percent in UT
Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Aug 05 : Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday recorded 559 fresh cases of COVID-19 pandemic including 90 travelers, taking the total number of positive cases to 22,955.
With 559 new cases, the tally of positive cases in J&K has reached to 22,955 including 17,755 from Kashmir and 5,200 from Jammu division.
Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), among 559 new cases, 463 belong to Kashmir division while as 96 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division has reached to 17,755 including 11,980 recoveries while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 5,200 including 3,264 recoveries and 31 deaths.
The officials that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 7,285 including 5,380 from Kashmir division and 1905 from Jammu division.
With 388 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 15,224 which is 66.40 percent of the total cases.
Pertinently, Srinagar district alone has 5,590 positive cases which is more than the total number of positive cases in Jammu division where total cases are 5,200
“Cases tested positive in J&K include 106 from Srinagar, 29 from Baramulla, 105 from Pulwama, 27 from Kulgam, 07 from Shopian, 07 from Anantnag, 41 from Budgam, 02 from Kupwara, 44 from Bandipora and 41 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 96 from Jammu division include 61 from Jammu, 08 from Kuthua, 05 from Rajouri, 12 from Udhampur, 05 from Samba, 03 from Poonch and 02 from Kishtiwar, ” officials disclosed.
As per officials figures, 5,590 positive cases including 141 deaths and 3,094 recoveries are from Srinagar, 1,997 including 73 deaths and 1,531 recoveries are from Baramulla, 1,733 including 951 recoveries and 24 deaths are from Pulwama,1,552 including 1,337 recoveries and 29 deaths are from Kulgam, 1,492 including 23 deaths and 1,256 recoveries are from Shopian, 1,417 including 28 deaths and 1,129 recoveries are from Anantnag, 1,386 including 900 recoveries and 33 deaths are from Budgam 1,163 including 957 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Kupwara, 865 including 539 recoveries and 16 deaths are from Bandipora and 560 including 331 recoveries and 07 deaths are from Ganderbal.
In Jammu division, 1,361 including 714 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Jammu district, 746 including 485 recoveries and 02 death are from Rajouri, 574 including 442 recoveries and 01 death are from Ramban, 559 including 427 recoveries and 01 death are from Kathua, 593 including 372 recoveries and two deaths are from Udhampur, 462 including 287 recoveries and 01 death are from Samba, 299 including 218 recoveries and 02 deaths are from Doda, 251 including 155 recoveries and 01 death are from Poonch, 198 including 60 recoveries are from Reasi and 157 including 104 recoveries are from Kishtwar.
As per the daily information bulletin, 379, 311 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 43,206 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 7,285 persons are in isolation.
According to the bulletin, 284,790 persons have completed surveillance period and 43,604 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 679,415 samples are available.
Out of 679,415 the number of samples tested negative stands at 656,460 while as 22,955 have been tested positive, among them 7,285 are active and 15,244 persons have recovered—(KNO)
