Precious Kashmir | Daily Newspaper

3 journalists beaten by army in Jashn-e-Baramulla festival

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26/12/2020

Action will be taken against culprits: Army
Peerzada Waseem
Baramulla, Dec 25: At least three senior journalists were allegedly beaten up by army men during the festival of Jashn-e-Baramulla on Friday in which Bollywood Actress Amisha Patel was the chief guest.
As per the eyewitnesses, the function was going well until the scribes, while performing their professional duty asked to get a byte from Bollywood actress Amisha Patel.
However, as per the journalists, the army officials allegedly started beating them without any reason.
The three journalists that were allegedly beaten include Suhail Khan, online editor Kashmir Despatch, Kashmir Crown reporter Ashiq Mir and a Mudasir Malla whose camera was also damaged in the incident.
Soon after the incident, journalists boycotted the event and staged a protest against the army.
Meanwhile, a senior army official in a statement assured that action will be taken against the soldier involved in the incident.
“This is an unfortunate incident which should not have happened in the first place,” the statement reads.
The officer assured protesting journalists that a team will be constituted to inquire about the incident.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Press Club (KPC) expressed concern over the incident that took place with three video Journalists during an event in north Kashmir today and called for a probe into the matter.
In a statement, the Club termed the incident very unfortunate and urged the Army authorities to inquire into the matter and take stern action against those found guilty—(KNO)

Muslims help perform last rites of Pandit in Ganderbal

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Precious Kashmir

26/12/2020

Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Dec 25: The Muslim neighbourhood in Wussan locality of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal helped perform the last rites of an elderly Kashmiri Pandit on Friday.
Pandit Nath, 92, breathed her last in her home at Wussan in the wee hours on Friday plunging the whole locality in mourning, eyewitnesses said.
Soon after the news of her death spread, local Muslims made special arrangements in performing her last rites. They also ferried firewood for helping the family to cremate the deceased.
“It is in our Islam to take care of neighbours irrespective of their religion,” Inayat, a local resident said.
In Wussan locality around a dozen pandit families are residing who did not migrate from Kashmir valley during early1990’s and instead decided to stay put. Since then the two communities have lived in the locality in harmony and have always shown compassion to each other.
After militancy erupted in the Valley in the early 90s, the Pandit community was forced to migrate from Kashmir. A very small percentage of Kashmiri Pandits, however, stayed back and are living in many parts of Kashmir. (KNO)

NC demands release of detained political leaders

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Precious Kashmir

25/12/2020

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 25: National Conference (NC) on Friday condemned the arrest spree of mainstream political leaders in Kashmir.
“The message from the results of DDC elections was loud and clear that it was the democracy that had triumphed, but far from doing justice with the people by respecting their decision, nasty tactics are being employed to undermine the verdict of people by witch-hunting of political leaders,”, NC spokesman said in a statement toay.
He condemned the arrest of party leaders Hilal Akbar lone and Shabir Ahmed Kullay.
“Falling to make any mark in the recently concluded DDC polls and coaxing to win over crossovers democratically, the powers that be are now resorting to witch-hunting and undue intimidation of political leaders. The arrest of JKNC party leaders Hilal lone and Shabir Ahmed Kullay is a case in point. Kullay was arrested yesterday after he had led a DDC member to meet party high command. In another instance, Hilal Lone was also bundled out in Naidkhai area of north Kashmir. District President Shopian Showkat Ahmed Ganaie is also under detention for three days now; the grounds of detention have not been made known by the administration as yet,” he said, demanding immediate release of detained leaders.

DDC Poll Verdict

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Precious Kashmir

25/12/2020

But for Hajin-A and Drugmulla constituencies—the first-ever DDC polls have been completed in all respects to complete the 3-tier Panchayat elections. The elections saw coming together on one platform of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration which includes among seven parties arch-rivals National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The amalgam, formed to fight for Article 370 restoration, has consolidated votes in most of the 10 districts in the Valley and three districts of the Pir Panjal and the Chenab in the Jammu division. The grouping won at least 110 seats out of a total of 2780 seats while the BJP emerged victorious on 75 seats. Given the verdict, the PAGD and the Congress are likely to have their chairmen in around 13 districts out of a total of 20 districts while the BJP could be leading upto six or seven. The independent who have won 50 of seats can surely swing some districts in favour of the BJP or the PAGD.
It was the first political exercise in the erstwhile state since August 5, 2019 when the government of India headed by NDA effectively revoked the special status and downgraded the Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. While the elections were about local bodies, both the BJP and the PAGD turned it into a sought of referendum on those decisions.
The PAGD was reluctant at the start to fight polls as some quarters had expressed apprehensions that this would normalise the revocation of the special status. However the alliance’s decision belied such expectations and its participation was a bid to reclaim the political space, cautioning that doing otherwise would enable the BJP and its allied parties to fill in the vacuum and control the levers of power. While the DDCs have become the kind of mini-assemblies and had become important for the alliance to control these to enhance its political clout. It also argued that strengthening its political presence at the district level will add force to its position that Article 370 was revoked without consulting people of J&K. The role of the DDCs is profoundly significant. It led to the restart of the political process after a hiatus of sixteen months. While political activities demand more space, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha should be praised for holding an election whose results are seen as a fair reflection of the popular will. Also, and importantly too, the DDCs are for the development of the erstwhile state and they need to perform their primary task.

Emergence of new COVID-19 strain in UK presses panic button in Kashmir

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Afaq Bhat

25/12/2020

Emergence of new COVID-19 strain in UK presses panic button in Kashmir

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 24: Emergence of new mutated version of the COVID-19 in the United Kingdom and it spreading to other countries has pressed the panic button in Kashmir.
Administration in Kashmir is once again gearing up to fight yet another wave of the virus. The authorities in line with the advisory issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MHFW) GoI have initiated preventive measures in efforts to prevent its spread in the Valley.
District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary who is also the Chairman District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Srinagar has ordered that all those who have travel history to the UK or any European country in the past two weeks – since December 9 – will have to undergo RT-PCR testing for COVID-19.
The order directs for quick establishment of separate quarantine facilities where the said travellers and their contacts will be shifted for undergoing the prescribed quarantine period if testing positive — the aim being to prevent spread of the mutated strain.
A medico while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Reports emanating from the United Kingdom and other European countries indicate that the new COVID-19 strain could prove deadly.”
He said that the new strain has put the question mark over the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. “The new strain emerged in the United Kingdom soon after the immunization drive commenced in the country.”
President of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) and flu expert Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan told this newspaper it is possible that the changed virus might evade the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine. “While it is anticipated that vaccine efficacy will not be significantly hampered by mutated virus. The new variant might escape the immune response made by the existing vaccines that have been developed against the original strain of the virus,” he added.
Another medico said, “Everyone in Kashmir is eagerly waiting for the COVID vaccine to come, but the reports about the new COVID strain have pressed the panic button. If it reaches the Valley we will be once again caught in a difficult situation amidst harsh winter season. The intake capacity of our hospitals is limited. The administration has to ensure that the people entering into Kashmir are free from COVID, anyone who tests positive should be quarantined and contacts put under isolation.”
An official said, “The administration is monitoring the situation and all of us are hoping that the new COVID strain stays away from the Valley. All the necessary arrangements are being put in place to prevent another wave of COVID sweeping Kashmir.”

Power tariff hiked in Srinagar areas, consumers aghast

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Gul Owais

24/12/2020

Power tariff hiked in Srinagar areas, consumers aghast

Have conducted inspections in 2 months, tariff increased as per usage: PDD Chief

Gul Owais

Srinagar: The Power Development Department (PDD) has yet again left the consumers in lurch by resorting to ‘unexpected’ hike in monthly electricity tariff in many areas of Srinagar.
The local consumers here have alleged that the department has increased their monthly tariff by almost 60 per cent, thus leaving them in lurch at large.
The people from some of the areas especially Tanki Pora area of Srinagar and Malik Sahib Gojwara Nowhatta said that the department has served them electricity bills a few days ago in which they found that their monthly tariff has been hiked by almost 60 per cent.
“We hardly get electricity nowadays due to unscheduled power cuts, but despite that, the department has increased their monthly tariff, which is nothing less than a shock,” Ali Muhammad, one of the consumers said.
The consumers stated that they find it hard to save so much extra from their meager sources of income and now the hike by the department would not be affordable for them.
“There should have been a proper mechanism in place. Those who fall under Below Poverty Line (BPL) should not be charged a hefty amount as monthly tariff,” the consumers said.
Notably, the hike in the monthly power tariff has also led to the protest a few days back in Tanki Pora area of Srinagar where women took to the streets and blocked the main Habba Kadal-Tankipora road to press for their demands.
The women protesters blocked the road by erecting temporary barricades and were allowing no one to move ahead. The protesters said that the unnecessary hike in the monthly power tariff at this juncture would certainly add to their miseries.
“Nobody has earned a single from last over one year till October ending. We are already facing a financial crunch and how is it possible for us to pay such a huge amount as monthly electricity bills,” they said and demanded immediate redressal of their grievances.
Talking to Precious Kashmir, Chief Engineer PDD, Aijaz Ahmad Dar said that the monthly electricity tariff has been hiked after proper inspections from the last two months.
“The tariff has been hiked according to the usage by the consumers. If anybody has any concern in this regard, he or she should approach the concerned AEE to carry out inspection again so that the tariff for them will be set accordingly,” he said.

2 militants killed in Baramulla encounter

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United News Of India

24/12/2020

2 militants killed in Baramulla encounter

Srinagar, Dec 24: Two militants were killed in a gunfight with the security forces in north Kashmir Baramulla district on Thursday, police said.
A police spokesman said on a tip-off about the presence of militants, the troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir and the CRPF launched a joint CASO in the wee hours of Thursday at village Wanigam Payeen Kreeri in Baramulla.
After sealing all exit points, when security forces launched house-to-house searches, they came under fire from the militants hiding there. The fire was retaliated, ensuing in an encounter, added the spokesperson.
He said two militants have been killed so far and the operation was still going on, when the reports last came in.
Official sources said the slain militants were identified as Abrar, resident of Pakistan and Amir Siraj, resident of Sopore.
Meanwhile, additional security forces and police personnel have been rushed to the area to prevent any law and order problem outside the cordoned area.
Locals told UNI over phone that loud explosions and firing continued, since morning. They said the house, from where the militants were firing, was locked. However, residents in nearby houses were rescued and taken to safer places.

CRPF man injured in Ganderbal attack succumbs

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Precious Kashmir

24/12/2020

Militants hurl grenades in Baramulla, Srinagar; SSB personnel wounded
Precious Kashmir Desk
Srinagar, Dec 24: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) man, who was injured in grenade blast yesterday, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday at SK institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura.
Officials told KNO that a CRPF man identified as Ct Mritunjoy Chutia, 24, of 115 bn CRPF G Coy has succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Soura.
He along with two other CRPF men was injured in the grenade blast in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a personnel of Sema Suraksha Bal (SSB) was wounded in a grenade explosion in Malpora, Watergam area of Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday evening. An official said that a grenade was hurled at the SSB vehicle in Watergam area resulting in injuries to SSB personnel.
He said that the injured SSB man has been identified as CT Rakesh. “The injuries are minor in nature and the SSB man stable,” he said, adding that the area has been cordoned and a massive hunt launched to nab the attackers.
On Thursday evening suspected militants hurled a grenade towards Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men at Braripora area of Srinagar City. However, no loss of life or injury was reported, officials said.
Officials told KNO that suspected militants lobbed grenade towards CRPF 161 bn, A Coy camp Braripora Chowk Nawa Kadal, which exploded some distance far from the bunker with a huge bang.
However, no damage was reported while officials from Police Station Safa Kadal reached the spot—

3rd round of “LG’s Mulaqaat-Live Public Grievance Hearing”

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Precious Kashmir

24/12/2020

3rd round of “LG’s Mulaqaat-Live Public Grievance Hearing”

Sinha holds interaction with public through virtual mode; several grievances redressed on spot

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 24: In continuation to the UT Government’s initiative of reaching out to the people with prompt disposal of their grievances, the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today held 3rd round of the series – “LG’s Mulaqaat-Live Public Grievance Hearing”, wherein he took the first hand appraisal of people’s issues and grievances through virtual mode.

Through LG’s Mulaqaat”- Live Public Grievance Hearing, an institutionalized mechanism has been laid for making the grievance redressal mechanism prompt, robust, responsive and more efficient, observed the Lt Governor.

At the same time, the performance efficiency of online Grievance Redressal System is also being monitored so that requisite measures can be taken to achieve the desired results on ground, he added.

On being informed that overall disposal of grievances has increased from 52% in 1st and 66% in 2nd to 79% in 3rd round of LG’s Mulaqaat, the Lt Governor expressed satisfaction over the improvement in the performance and increase in the rate of grievance disposal. He underscored the importance of constantly making improvements in the grievance redressal mechanism in order to provide the people with effective citizen centric governance.

While taking a detailed assessment of the performance of online Grievance Redressal System-JKIGRAMS, the Lt Governor took feedback from the people on the grievance redressal mechanism being put in place by the Administration. He also reviewed the implementation of directions passed during the earlier held interactions.

The Lt Governor observed that Administration at all levels must put in dedicated efforts on grievance redressal to meet the expectations of public.

The objective of the initiative -“LG’s Mulaqaat-Live Public Grievance Hearing”, is to hold one-to-one interaction with the individuals from across the UT every month selected randomly, and take stock of their issues and concerns for prompt redressal. It also provides an important feedback on the working of Administration thus opening the window for making improvements in the working of the Government, the Lt Governor maintained.

In today’s two-hour long programme, randomly selected applicants from across the UT projected several issues pertaining to the augmentation of water supply; replacement of electricity poles; removal of encroachment on playground; pending payments on account of various works and schemes, on which the Lt Governor issued on spot directions for their immediate resolution and set timelines for the redressal of other grievances raised during the interaction.

Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lt Governor; BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department; Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor; All Administrative Secretaries; Divisional Commissioners; IGPs; DCs; SSPs; HoDs and other senior officers of the various government departments and agencies remained present throughout the interaction and briefed the Lt Governor on measures taken for the redressal of the grievances received and their present status.

COVID-19 kills 7 more in J&K, 291 test positive

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Nadeem Nadu

24/12/2020

COVID-19 kills 7 more in J&K, 291 test positive

Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Dec 24: A 92-year-old man was among seven more people who died to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, while 291 more people tested positive for the virus across Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.
They said that fatality count due to the pestilence has mounted to 1860, while 119344 persons have tested positive for the virus in J&K till date.
Four among those who died today belonged to Jammu division and three to Kashmir, officials said.
They said the victims include a 55-year-old man from Chatha Near Satwari Jammu, 73-year-old man from Janipur Jammu, a 92-year-old man from Gole Gujral Jammu, a 65-year-old man from Budhwani Samba, an 80-year-old woman from Nambal Anantnag, an 85-year-old man from Tengpora Srinagar and a 70-year-old man from Beerwah Budgam.
With these deaths, the total fatality count in J&K reached 1860—1174 in the Valley and 686 in the Jammu region.
Srinagar district with 444 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (350), Baramulla (170), Budgam (107), Kupwara (90), Pulwama (88), Anantnag (83), Doda (61), Bandipora (59), Udhampur (57), Kulgam (53), Rajouri (54), Kathua (48), Ganderbal (43), Shopian (37), Samba (38), Poonch (22), Ramban (21), Kishtwar(21), and Reasi (14).

291 fresh COVID-19 cases in J&K
Meanwhile, nineteen travelers and two minors were among 291 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in last 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
They said Srinagar reported 66 cases, Baramulla 7, Budgam 22, Kupwara 12, Pulwama 18, Anantnag 3, Bandipora 3, Ganderbal 4, Kulgam 4, Shopian 8, Jammu 94, Udhampur 9, Rajouri 8, Doda 3, Kathua 8, Kishtwar 3, Samba 8, Poonch 1, Ramban 6 and Reasi 4.
A number of these cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of CD hospital, SKIMS Soura and GMC Anantnag.
The CD cases include two females (45, 40) from Habakadal, female (46) from Naveedabad Batamaloo, female (80) from Pulwama, female (70) from Pulwama, four males (21, 40, 42, 73) and four females (47, 33, 54, 70) from Safakadal, female (24) from Deedarpora Handwara, female (42) from Chadoora, female (30) from Rangwara Baramulla, male (65) from Safakadal, female (35) from Khanyar Srg, two females (35, 57) from Sanatnagar, female (28) from Budgam, male (50) from Chanapora, female (30) from HMT, female (19) from Hyderpora, male (03) from Bemina, female (49) from Gagribal, male (44) from Makdomi Sahib, female (25) from Hawal, male (50) from Eidgah, male (19) from Lal Bazar, male (34) from Malarata, male (19) from Hope Classes Parraypora.
SKIMS Cases
The Budgam cases include male (45) from PS Charisharief, female (30) from Sangarwani, female (25) from Dragger, female (65) from Ranger Chadoora, male (80) from Kralwari Chadoora, male (23) from Kralpora Magam, male (60) from Peth Makhama, male (45) from Hyderpora, male (65) from Beerwah, female (30) from Hanjilawaypora, male (36) from Parryangan Ompora, male (85) from Patah Sharan Budgam.
The Kupwara cases include male (24) from 328 Fd Hosp Niyari Kupwara.
The Ganderbal cases include female (26) from Beehama, male (35) from Wakura Ganderbal.
The Srinagar cases include female (50) from Sir Syed Avenue Peerbagh, male (15) from Batamaloo, male (42) from Buchpora, male (36) from Nishat, female (37) from Zakura, two females (36, 10) and male (09) from Nishat, two males (55, 69) from Nigeen, female (28) from Chasmashahi, female (22) from Malabagh, male (34) from Lal Bazar, female (20) from Srinagar, male (60) from Baghat, female (24) from Skims Srinagar.
The Baramulla cases include male (31) from Uplina, male (60) from Boniyar Baramulla.
The Anantnag cases include male (70) from Harnag Anantnag. The Jammu cases include male (30) from Kujwani Jammu.
The GMC Anantnag female (62) and two males (73, 30) from Lalpora, male (45) from Kadalbal Pampore, four females (55, 50, 40, 26) and male (39) from Athwajan Srg, female (29) from Kanipora Budgam, two females (56, 18) from Bemina Srg, three males (70, 30, 18) and female (62) from Kanipora Budgam, female (48) from Barpor Pulwama, male (67) from S Karewa, two females (25, 53) from Gagren. Moreover, the officials said that 299 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals including 160 from Jammu Division and 139 from Kashmir. (GNS)

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