Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 31: Jammu and Kashmir Thursday recorded three deaths and 227 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 120971.
Of the three deaths reported today, two were reported from Jammu region and one from Kashmir.
The government informed that 227 new positive cases of novel Corona virus (COVID-19) — 95 from Jammu division and132 from Kashmir division – were reported today, thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 120971.
Out of 120971 positive cases, 3009 are active positive, 116079 have recovered and 1883 have died — 697 in Jammu division and 1186 in Kashmir division.
The government further said that out of 3822674test results available, 3701703 samples have been tested as negative till December 31, 2020.
Till date 885230 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 13165persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 3009 in isolation and 30739 in home surveillance. Besides, 836434 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Among the total 120971 positive cases in J&K, 11281 have been reported as travellers while 109690 as others.
According to the medical bulletin, there are 1321 COVID dedicated beds, 1185 Isolation beds with 1098 vacant beds and 136 ICU beds where 95 beds are vacant in Jammu division while there are 2345 COVID dedicated beds,2197 Isolation beds where 1939 beds are vacant and 148 ICU beds where 121 are vacant beds in Kashmir division. There are a total of 3666 COVID dedicated beds, 3382 Isolation beds with 3037 beds vacant and 284 ICU beds with 216 vacant beds in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Slight increase in militant recruitment this year, no civilian killing in L&O situation
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 31: The Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Thursday said that 225 militants have been killed in over 100 anti-militancy operations across the Jammu and Kashmir in the outgoing year.
“Over 100 successful anti-militancy operations were carried out in Jammu and Kashmir this year in which 225 militants have been killed,” he told reporters here while giving the round up.
He said 207 militants were killed in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu region.
The DGP further said 60 security men including 16 policemen and 44 paramilitary and Army men were killed in militancy violence in 2020.
He said there were a dozen militants active in the Jammu region and the number has reduced to three now. “They are in Kishtwar district and we are tracking them”.
The DGP, however, said there has been a slight increase in the number of people joining militant ranks in comparison to 2019 but it is lower than 2018.
“However, the positive aspect is that 70 per cent of new recruits were either killed or arrested. The shelf life of militants has decreased,” he said.
The police chief said that there has been a significant decline in militancy -related incidents this year in comparison to 2018 and 2019 and added, “despite several attempts by Pakistan, cases of infiltration this year is lowest in the last three-four years. So, they had to rely on local recruits and they tried to supply weapons, explosive materials and cash to them through drones, most of these were foiled.”
Singh said that police and security agencies have cracked down on overground workers (OGWs) of militant outfits, who throw grenades or work as messengers and couriers.
“As many as 635 OGWs were arrested and 56 out of them were booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA),” he said. “During the year, 299 militant and their associates were arrested and 12 militants surrendered during the live encounters”.
The DGP said 426 weapons and over 9,000 ammunition and magazines, and a huge cache of explosive material were recovered and seized during anti-militancy operations.
There has been a decrease in the number of civilian killings this year.
“As many as 38 civilians were killed this year as compared to 44 last year,” Singh said.
The DGP further said there was no civilian killing during law and order situation in J&K this year.
Last year, he said, two civilians were killed during the law and order situation.

Gulmarg freezes at – 10.4 degree Celsius

Srinagar, Dec 31: The chilly weather conditions have intensified as the mercury dipped and settled several degrees below normal due to open skies across Kashmir valley, where world famous ski resort of Gulmarg was the coldest place at minus 10.4 degree.
However, there was some improvement in the day temperature due to sunshine though ice cold winds continued in the valley, where is expected to remain dry during the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, people continued to suffer as all the waterbodies in the Union Territory of Ladakh remained frozen even as the maximum and minimum temperatures have been settling below freezing point. The border town of Kargil was the coldest place in the region as the mercury dipped about 1 degree from Wednesday and settled at minus 18.5 degree, followed by Leh at minus 15.8 degree.
A Met department spokesperson said the weather will remain dry during the next 48 hours, resulting in further dip in the minimum temperature though the day temperature is expected to improve.
He said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit J&K on Saturday. “Under the influence of this WD, light to heavy snow and rain is expected for four days from Saturday,” he added.
Even though there was a slight improvement in the night temperature due to partial clouds, Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the coldest place in the valley. Against minus 11 degree recorded on Wednesday, the night temperature at the ski resort settled at minus 10.4 degree, which is 4 degree below normal.
Tourists woke up to a chilly Thursday morning in Gulmarg, which is covered under several feet of snow. But, as the day progressed sun came out from behind the clouds, resulting in some improvement in the maximum temperature though ice cold winds continued. “Tourists are thronging in large number in Gulmarg to celebrate New Year. All the hotels in the ski resort are completely booked and tourists are having a time of their lives. Despite chilly conditions they are out on ski slopes enjoying different snow related activities,” a hotelier said.
People woke up to a sunny but chilly Thursday morning in Srinagar, which witnessed a dip of about 4 degrees in the night temperature. Against minus 2.1 degree recorded on Wednesday, the night temperature in the city was minus 5.9 degree, which is about 4 degree below normal.
The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam dipped marginally and settled at minus 9.6 degree, which is over 4 degree below normal.
The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir, tourist resort of Kokernag dipped and settled at minus 6.2 degree, minus 5.8 degree and minus 7.8 degree, respectively.

Srinagar, Dec 31: The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway, connecting the Union Territory of Ladakh with Kashmir, was on Thursday closed for winter months due to slippery road conditions.
The announcement to close the highway, which is the only link of Ladakh with Kashmir valley, came hours after 300 passengers, who were stranded at Zojila Pass due to the slippery road conditions, were rescued by BEACON in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.
“The Srinagar-Leh national highway has been closed for any vehicular movement for six winter months due to slippery road conditions,” a traffic police official told UNI.
He said the decision was taken as it was becoming very dangerous to ply vehicles on the snow covered road, which now remains slippery throughout the day the due to sub-zero maximum and minimum temperatures.
This was for the first time that the highway remained open till December 31 though the road was closed several times during the last over two months due to slippery road conditions following snowfall. The highway in previous years used to be closed for traffic in the first week on December.
The highway every year remains closed during winter months due to accumulation of 10 to 15 feet of snow, particularly at Zojila, Meenmarg, Zero point, India gate and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia.
An official said that 122 RCC of Beacon along with other machinery and workers launched an operation late last night soon after receiving information that about 300 passengers, onboard 106 vehicles, were stranded at Zojila due to slippery road conditions. “After hectic efforts, all the passengers and vehicles were rescued safely from Zojila Pass,” he said.
The centre in October launched the blasting of the Zojila tunnel, which will provide for all-year connectivity between Kashmir valley and Ladakh though Srinagar-Leh Highway.
The 14.15km long tunnel will be built at an altitude of about 3000 m under Zojila pass (presently motorable only for 6 months in a year) on NH-1 connecting Srinagar and Leh through Dras and Kargil. The stretch is one of the most dangerous in the world to drive and so the project is also geo-strategically sensitive.
While Zojila Tunnel will be 14.15m long, the approach road’s length will be 18.63 km which means the entire project’s length is 32.78 km. The project will make the travel on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Section of NH-1 free from avalanches and enhance safety. It will also reduce the travel time from more than 3 hours to 15 minutes, the government said in a statement.

Pulwama, Shopian shuts to mourn deaths
Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Dec 31: The family of one of the three youth, whom police and army say were killed in an encounter at Lawaypora area of Srinagar, on Thursday demanded return of bodies of their kin besides an impartial probe into the incident to get justice.
The family of Aijaz Ahmad whose father is a policeman wrote to Lt Governor and demanded the dead body of Aijaz and investigation in the case.
“That the applicants are the maternal uncle and grandfather of the deceased and through the medium of this application wants to draw your kind attention, that the deceased was doing the graduation in Degree College Pulwama in arts subjects and in this regard has told the family members that he has some work at Pulwama on 29-12-2020,” the letter reads.
“That on 3 pm on the same date, the said deceased has called his sister namely Asiya Jan on phone that his work is incomplete and afterwords on 30-12-2020 at 9:00 SHO Rajpora has called the father of the deceased Mohd Maqbool Ganie and enquired about the deceased, in turn, the father of the deceased called back the SHO concerned and send the photograph of his son through WhatsApp. The SHO Rajpora in reply told the father of the deceased that he has to approach the PCR Batamallo Srinagar for further details of his son,” it further adds.
“That the said Mohd Maqbool Ganie along with the locals of the village went to the PCR, and where the father of the found the dead body of his son and told the PCR to hand over the body of the son, but the authority did not return the dead body of the deceased to his father,” the letter read, adding that the father of the deceased was astonished when the PCR authorities declined to hand over the body of the deceased to the father of the deceased and it was the surprise for the father of the deceased when the PCR authorities told him that his son was a militant.
“That it is worthwhile to mention here that the said deceased was a student by profession and has no criminal background and there is no FIR against the said deceased in any agency including the police station Rajpora,” letter further reads, while adding that the said deceased was not remotely connected with any anti-national activities and the question of joining militancy does not arise at all.
“That the killing of the said deceased is very brutal and calculated one which is against the law of the Iand and also hits the democracy and Indian constitution,” the letter reads.
“The killing of the said person is a gross violation of human rights, no doubt that station in the Kashmir is disturbed one, but that does not give the right to the security agency to kill an innocent in such a ruthless manner. It is therefore humbly prayed and requested, that the dead body of the said person be handed over to his family members as soon as possible for conducting the last rites of the deceased and a team of impartial officer be constituted for conducting the enquiry in the said matter in the interests of justice,” the letter reads.
The families of two other slain youth Ather Mushtaq and Zubair Ahmed have also alleged that their wards were innocent civilians and not connected with militancy.
“How can a person become a hardcore militant within two or three hours. If authorities are claiming that if the trio were not militants then what they were doing at the encounter site. They must answer how trio from Rajouri killed in Amshipora fake encounter reached from Chowgam to the encounter spot and where from the ammunition came,” they said.
The families said their sons were innocent and authorities must probe the matter and so that they can get justice.
Meanwhile, complete shutdown was observed in most parts of Pulwama and Shopian district to mourn the killings.
All business establishments remained shut and public transport also remained off the roads.
Internet services remained suspended in Shopian district for second consecutive day today. (KNO).

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 31: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Thursday extended New Year greetings to people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In his message, Sinha said, “New Year brings us a chance to start over again and learn from our mistakes. With the lessons learned, we can work towards a better future for all”.
“We are devising new paths and new policies by following four Mantras for the ‘Present’ & a ‘New Future’- Peace, Progress, Prosperity, and People First,” said the Lt Governor.
“Let us all resolve to work collectively for creating a brighter tomorrow and be the pioneers of change. I hope and believe that with the dawn of New Year, Jammu and Kashmir would usher in a new era of progress and equitable development”, observed the Lt Governor.
He prayed for sustained peace, good health, progress, and prosperity to all in the coming year.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar also extended New Year greetings to people.
He hoped that new year will be a year of peace, harmony, progress and social integration for the entire Jammu and Kashmir.
“May the New Year usher in peace and prosperity, revitalize our energy and spirit of commitment towards achieving excellence in all walks of life”, Advisor said.
Advisor Baseer Ahmad Khan also extended New Year greetings to the people of the Union Territory and wished for happiness and prosperity for everyone.
He hoped for a wonderful 2021 and prayed that this year may be filled with joy and prosperity.
“I pray that the coming year brings with it success, good health and prosperity for all and may everyone’s aspirations be fulfilled”, the Advisor said.

New Delhi, Dec 31: The Central government has cleared the appointment of Justice Pankaj Mithal as the next Chief Justice of the High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal has been appointed to helm the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in view of the retirement of Chief Justice Gita Mittal earlier this month.

Following Justice Mittal’s retirement, Justice Rajesh Bindal has been serving as the High Court’s acting Chief Justice. Justice Bindal’s transfer to the Calcutta High Court has also been notified today.

Justice Pankaj Mithal enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh in 1985 and practiced before the Allahabad High Court until 2006 when he was elevated as an additional judge of that High Court. He became a permanent judge in 2008.

The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended Justice Mithal’s elevation as the Jammu and Kashmir High Court’s Chief Justice on December 14.

Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Dec 31: The government has constituted a high-level to propose a roadmap for doing away with the practice of adhoc promotions in the Union Territory.
The six -member panel has been set-up for proposing a roadmap/way forward for putting an end to the practice of making adhoc promotions in various government Departments of Union territory of Jammu and
Kashmir, reads an official order.
The committee has been mandated to examine the reasons behind prevalent and continuing system of making adhoc promotions in government departments.
It has also been tasked to examine the issues/bottlenecks confronted by the departments in making regular promotions.
The committee comprises of administrative secretary Finance department, administrative secretary Public Works Department, administrative secretary General Administration Department, administrative secretary Jal Shakti Department, administrative secretary ARI& Trainings Department and administrative secretary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
The committee, according to the order, shall be serviced by the General Administration Department and submit its report within a period of four weeks.
It is worthwhile to mention that Public Service Commission has repeatedly slammed government departments for adhoc promotions—(KNO)

Beijing, Dec 31: China and India are in consultations to hold the ninth round of Corps Commander-level meeting to discuss the disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh, the Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Sr Colonel Tan Kefei said Thursday.
Since the eighth round of Corps Commander-level talks between the armies of China and India, the two sides have maintained consultations on disengagement of frontline troops and strengthened management of border troops, Tan told an online media briefing.
The situation in the border areas is generally stable, he said, according to a transcript posted on the Chinese Defence Ministry website.
China is willing to maintain communication with India through military and diplomatic channels, he said.
India is expected to work with China towards the same goal, implement the consensus reached at the Corps Commander-level meetings, and take pragmatic measures to further abate the tension in border areas, Tan said.
India and China have held several rounds of talks at the diplomatic and military-level to resolve the standoff that erupted in early May.
At the latest round of foreign ministry-level talks on December 18, the two sides said that they have agreed to continue work towards ensuring complete disengagement of troops in all friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The meeting also decided to hold the next round of military dialogue at an early date.
In the midst of the eastern Ladakh standoff, Chinese President Xi Jinping on December 19 appointed a new General as the Commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s Western Theatre Command which oversees the China-India border.
Xi, who heads the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high-command of the two million-strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA), appointed Gen. Zhang Xudong as the Commander of the Western Theatre Command.
Gen. Zhang succeeds 65-year-old Gen. Zhao Zongqi who headed the Western Theatre Command during the 2017 Doklam standoff where the Indian Army stood up against the PLA’s plan of laying a road close to the Indian border in an area claimed by Bhutan.