Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 28: After the completion of the District Development Council (DDC) elections many people were hoping that the assembly polls too will be held in Jammu and Kashmir but it looks unlikely.
According to the media reports the delimitation process will at least take 10 more months to get completed. “The Centre has already tested the waters by holding the DDC polls in the newly carved out union territory. But assembly elections won’t be held till the constituencies are redrawn,” said an analyst.
He said, “The successful conduct of the DDC polls has revived the stalled political process in Jammu and Kashmir and has brought new combinations to fore. Lot of things are likely to change before the assembly polls are held in J&K,” a politician told Precious Kashmir.
He said, “Assembly elections getting delayed will provide more time to the political parties in Kashmir to regain their foothold, at present there is lot of confusion prevalent everywhere.”
An analyst said, “If the situation improves there is every possibility about the demand for restoration of J&K’s statehood gaining momentum.”
It may be recalled that when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&K’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories on August 5, 2019, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the floor of the house announced that J&K’s statehood would be restored as soon as the situation returns to normal. “During the past one and a half year many developments have taken place and it seems that the political parties have accepted that their fight to get everything back is long driven battle and it may not be that easy to get J&K’s special status back. Had it been possible then these parties would not have contested the DDC elections,” the analyst said.
“Political parties have realized that moving on is the best possible way out till the J&K’s statehood is restored. At present the only demand which the Centre may look into in future is returning J&K’s statehood. Other demands may not be fulfilled so easily,” he added.
An observer said, “Assembly elections getting delayed will help the political parties to reach out to the people again and help them in restoring their credibility. Results of the DDC elections have encouraged the Kashmir based parties to move on. The PAGD winning nearly 110 DDC seats is an indication that if these parties work hard and stick to a common platform they can emerge as a force whenever the assembly elections are held. The DDC elections have provided the political parties an opportunity to regroup and make a comeback.”
Assembly polls getting delayed could prove to be blessing in disguise for political parties
Jammu police arrests man with grenades
Jammu, Dec 28: Jammu Police claimed to have averted major militant attacks in the city by arresting a man with hand grenades from Narwal area here.
Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh here on Monday said that a naka was laid on Sunday night by police team at Highway bye pass road and routine checking of vehicles was being done.
“Late in the evening at around 1930 hours, a man roaming suspiciously tried to flee away from the naka on seeing police personnel, but was apprehended,” said the top cop.
He said two hand grenades, concealed in a bag he was carrying, were recovered from the possession of a man identified as Mohammad Ashraf of Lar, Mahore, Reasi, at present living in Peerbagh colony, Sunjawan, Jammu.
A case under explosive substance act is registered and investigation started.
“The arrested person is linked with LeT and was tasked by the handlers from across the border to carry out grenade blasts in the city,” said Singh.
He said the handler across was in contact with more terror operatives whose search is in progress.
With the timely action by Jammu police, possible militant attacks in Jammu city has been averted, he said.
This is the second module linked with LeT which has been busted by the Jammu police in the past one week.
Soldier injured in Shopian encounter succumbs
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 28: An army man, who was critically injured in an encounter with militants on Friday evening at Kanigam, Shopian district of South Kashmir, succumbed to his injuries on Monday.
An official said the soldier identified as Anil Kumar Tomar of 44 RR, who was critically injured during encounter, succumbed to his injuries.
Pertinently, two local Al-Badr militants were killed and two soldiers injured in 19-hour long encounter in Kanigam, Shopian. (KNO)
Traffic resumes on Sgr-Jmu highway, Mughal road shut
Srinagar, Dec 28: Despite fresh snowfall traffic was on Monday resumed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway after remaining suspended from Sunday afternoon due to landslides, triggered by rain.
The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway, linking the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir, was also through for one-way traffic.
However, the historic 86-km-long Mughal road remained closed due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions.
Traffic on 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu highway was suspended on Sunday afternoon due to landslides, triggered by rain at Chanderkote. About a thousand vehicles, including those carrying passengers, got stranded, official sources told UNI.
However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) immediately put into service sophisticated machines and men. The landslides were cleared at around 2000 hrs last night and stranded vehicles were allowed to move towards Kashmir.
But, they said, due to fresh snowfall on both sides of Jawahar tunnel, vehicles were again stopped as precautionary measure to prevent any accident. About four inches to five inches of snowfall was recorded at the tunnel till early this morning, they said, adding despite continued snowfall BRO launched the operation and cleared the accumulated snow on the road.
They said more than 250 stranded vehicles had crossed the tunnel till 1000 hrs towards Kashmir and more vehicles, including those carrying essentials are on the way.
There was again landslides at Chanderkote this morning and BRO and NHAI are on job to put through again the highway, they said adding once the landslides are cleared stranded Kashmir bound vehicles at different places on other side of the Chanderkote will be allowed to move.
Fresh vehicles will be allowed only after all stranded vehicles are cleared, sources said.
A police spokesman said that as per normal schedule Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) were to ply from Srinagar to Jammu and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) from Jakheni Udhampur to Kashmir.
He said forces are also requested not to violate schedule and ply from Jammu towards Kashmir.
He said the Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region remained closed due to accumulation of snow and slippery road condition for the past three weeks. There was fresh snowfall since last night on the road, which is seen as an alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The road remained closed for winter months due to snow every year.
He said only one-way traffic is allowed on Srinagar-Leh national highway despite snow on the road, particularly at Zojila pass. Today vehicles will ply from Srinagar to Leh between 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs, he said adding vehicles may carry anti skid chain to gain more grip on the slippery road.
Barring Gulmarg, Kokernag, temp above normal in Kashmir
Srinagar, Dec 28: Barring world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and tourist resort of Kokernag, the maximum temperature was above normal on Monday in the Kashmir, where sun was out this morning after upper reaches received snowfall.
However, rain continued to elude plains, including summer capital, Srinagar, where the maximum temperature today was 10.5 degree, 2.6 notches above normal as the sun was out today. The sky would be partly to mainly cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperature would be around 8 degree and minus one in Srinagar during the next 24 hours.
He said Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar- Jammu highway, recorded 8.7 degree, which was 0.8 degree above normal.
World famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, the maximum temperature was 6.4 degree, 0.7 degree above normal. However, the water level in water bodies, including river Lidder passing through Pahalgam, remained low as snow on upper reaches remained frozen.
Kupwara, where a fresh avalanche warning has been issued in the upper reaches during the next 24 hours, the maximum temperature was 9.3 degree, 1.3 notches above normal.
However, the famed ski resort of Gulmarg, where large number of skiers and tourists are out on the world class slopes since early this morning, the maximum temperature was minus 2.6 degree which was 4.2 notches below normal.
Tourist resort of Kokernag also witnessed 0.3 degree below normal maximum temperature. Against normal of 6.3 degree, it was 6 degree today, a Met department spokesman said this evening.
Fresh avalanche warning in JK
Srinagar, Dec 28: A fresh avalanche warning has been issued for upper reaches in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hour.
Director Disaster Management J&K Governor Aamir Ali said there is a threat of medium danger avalanche in the upper reaches of Poonch, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts of Jammu region.
Low level avalanche warning has been issued for the upper reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts in Kashmir valley.
During the past 24 hours these areas witnessed fresh snowfall though rain or snow still eludes most plains, including summer capital, Srinagar.
Election for chairperson, vice-chairperson of DDCs in next 20 days
Will see whether anti-defection law can be imposed: Div Com
Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Dec 28: The election for chairperson and vice-chairperson of district development councils (DDCs) in Jammu & Kashmir will be held in next 20 days.
According to Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Rules, the election for chairperson and vice-chairperson of DDCs shall not be held later than 20 days after administering of oath to members.
“As soon as possible but not later than twenty days after oath or affirmation of allegiance under sub-rule(1) is administered or made, the deputy commissioner concerned shall call under his presidentship a meeting of all elected members to elect one of its members to be the chairperson and another member to be the vice-chairperson,” reads the Rules.
As per the Rules, the election for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons can be delayed only due to natural calamities and severe law and order.
But in these cases, elections shall be held not later than one month from declaration of result of election of the elected members of the DDCs.
It is worthwhile to mention that all elected DDC members were today administered oath by deputy commissioners in all 20 districts of J&.
In the DDC elections held recently, the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration(PAGD) emerged victorious on 110 seats. The Bharatiya Janta Party, which fought elections on 230 seats, won 75 seats.
Meanwhile, amid allegations of horse-trading by political parties, the divisional administration Kashmir P K Pole said that it will verify whether the anti-defection law can be enacted in Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the oath ceremony of recently elected DDC members at SKICC here, Pole while replying to question said he will have to check it from the Rural Development Department (RDD) department first.
Newly elected DDC members take oath
DC Sgr administers oath to pregnant woman at her home
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 28: The newly elected District Development Council (DDC) members were on Monday administered oath in their respective districts in Jammu and Kashmir.
An official said that the oath taking ceremony was held in all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir for DDC members, who were elected in recently held elections which witnessed a voting turnout of about 51 per cent in J&K.
During the ceremonies, as many as 14 DDC members from each district were administered oath by their respective Deputy Commissioners. “The ceremonies were attended by senior police and security force officers, besides officials from the administration,” he said.
In Srinagar, the oath taking ceremony was attended by Divisional Commissioner P K Pole, who during his address to the members, hoped that they will work for the development`and betterment of the people in their respective constituencies and districts.
“DDC already existed on the rest of the country from last over 50 to 60 years and the members to these councils are elected directly by the people. In J&K, the members were to be elected indirectly according to previous act. The 73 amendment to the Constitution was extended for the first time in J&K following which DDC elections were held in eight phases,” Pole told reporters on the sideline of the ceremony.
He said a lot of preparation had to be done for conducting these elections and the people participated in the polls in large numbers. “Now that the people have elected their representatives they hopefully won’t have to come to the officers of their Deputy Commissioners or Divisional Commissioner as their issues will be resolved by local level,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary visited the house of a DDC woman candidate at Harwan to administer oath to her as she wasn’t able to attend the official oath ceremony held at Tagore hall.
Shahid visited Harwan area of Srinagar outskirts to administer oath to DDC candidate Rizwana Akhtar, an expecting mother.
The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) bagged 110 seats of the total 280 constituencies in the maiden DDC elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 75 DDC constituencies followed by J&K National Conference with 67 seats. The PDP bagged 27 while the Congress won 26 seats. The newly formed J&K Apni Party (JKAP) won 12 while JKPC and CPI-M bagged eight and five seats respectively. Meanwhile, independents turned out to be key players during these elections by winning 50 seats.
Coronavirus Pandemic : 6 more die of Covid in JK, death toll rises to 1875
156 new positive cases, 115261 recovered so far
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Dec 28: A 46-year-old man was among six persons who succumbed to the covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours, taking its fatality count to 1875. Five among the victims belonged to Kashmir Valley and one to Jammu division—a 78-year-old from R S Pura Jammu.
The victims from Valley include a 46-year-old man from Budgam, a 70-year-old man from Kupwara, a 65-year-old man from Srinagar, a 70-year-old man from Baramulla and an 80-year-old man from Shopian.
With these deaths, the total fatality count in J&K reached 1875—1183 in the Valley and 692 in the Jammu region.
Srinagar district with 447 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (354), Baramulla (171), Budgam (108), Kupwara (91), Pulwama (88), Anantnag (83), Doda (62), Bandipora (60), Udhampur (57), Kulgam (53), Rajouri (54), Kathua (48), Ganderbal (43), Shopian (38), Samba (38), Poonch (23), Ramban (21), Kishtwar(21), and Reasi (14).
Meanwhile, 156 new positive cases were reported in J&K today. Of the new cases, 66 were recorded in Jammu division and 90 in Kashmir division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin), out of 120293 positive cases in J&K so far, 3157 are active positive, 115261 have recovered and 1875 have died — 692 in Jammu division and 1183 in Kashmir division.
It further said out of 3739623 test results available, 3619330 samples have been tested as negative till December 28, 2020.
Till date 872900 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 15697persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 3157 in isolation and 29925 in home surveillance. Besides, 822246 persons have completed their surveillance period.
According to the bulletin, among the total 120293 positive cases in J&K, 11255 have been reported as travellers while 109038 as others.
It said there are 1321 COVID dedicated beds, 1185 Isolation beds with 1082 vacant beds and 136 ICU beds where 98 beds are vacant in Jammu division while there are 2345 COVID dedicated beds,2197 Isolation beds where 1927 beds are vacant and 148 ICU beds where 123 are vacant beds in Kashmir division. There are a total of 3666 COVID dedicated beds, 3382 Isolation beds with 3009 beds vacant and 284 ICU beds with 221 vacant beds in Jammu and Kashmir.
Guidelines for surveillance to remain in force upto Jan 31
New Delhi, Dec 28: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday issued an order to extend the earlier ‘guidelines for COVID-19 surveillance’, which will remain in force upto January 31, 2021.
“While there has been a continuous decline in the active and new COVID-19 cases, there is need to maintain surveillance, containment and caution, keeping in view the surge in cases globally, and emergence of a new variant of the virus in the United Kingdom (UK),” the MHA said in a press release.
Accordingly, containment zones continue to be demarcated carefully; prescribed containment measures strictly followed within these zones; COVID-appropriate behaviour promoted and strictly enforced; and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed in respect of various permitted activities followed scrupulously, the MHA said.
It added that the focused approach on surveillance, containment and strict observance of the guidelines/SOPs issued by MHA and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), as envisaged in the guidelines issued on 25.11.2020; need to be enforced strictly by States and Union Territories.
India has reported 20,021 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,02,07,871, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Monday.
The total number of active cases stands at 2,77,301 while total recoveries are at 97,82,669 and the cumulative death toll stands at 1,47,901.
