Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Dec 28: The Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Monday said people who have recovered from Covid-19 infection could be reinfected with the new mutated strain.

“Those who have got Covid-19 could get sick again with the new variant,” DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan said.

“A new mutated Covid strain has surfaced in the United Kingdom and is spreading to other countries,” he said.

“The new variant has multiple mutations in the spike protein of the virus and the most troubling is deletion mutation which makes it spread more easily.”

Quoting a new study published in the preprint server bioRxiv, Dr Nisar said that antibodies elicited by natural Covid-19 infection may not be able to neutralize emerging strains that display deletion mutations in their genetic sequence.”

“Researchers from South Korea found that a young woman infected with one strain of Covid-19 was, just weeks after recovering, reinfected with a different strain of the virus,” he said.

“The findings indicate that the patient’s immune response to the first strain did not protect her from the second strain and highlights how mutations could make controlling Covid-19 more difficult than first thought.”

Nisar said the mutation in the new variant has resulted in an altered protein product which could evade the immune response elicited by earlier strain of the same virus.

“The new strain could lead to resurgence of Covid-19 cases that could reignite the pandemic,” he said.

“The mutated variant is the dominant strain in UK and is responsible for more than 60 percent of Covid-19 cases.”

“While we struggle to come to grips with the news of a new strain of coronavirus being detected in the UK, another variant of the virus, potentially more infectious has emerged in South Africa,” said Nisar.

“Kashmir being the favorite tourist destination, the mutants can come to us anytime. We have to be prepared and alert – we need to gear up our hospitals to prevent an outbreak,” he said.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Dec 28:  The Crime Branch Kashmir on Monday produced a challan against Anantnag resident for allegedly forging the signatures of then chief minister Omar Abdullah on the list of daily wagers for their regularization, who otherwise did not exist on the rolls of department.

According to a Crime Branch statement, officials said that the Crime Branch Kashmir produced Challan in a case under FIR number 32/2014 under section 420,468,471 RPC against accused Ghulam Mohammad Wani S/O Mohammad Ahsan Wani R/O Anzwala Anantnag, self styled president of the Daily Wagers Union Jammu and Kashmir, before the Court of Forest Magistrate Srinagar.

Consequent upon a complaint received from Chief Minister’s Secretariat of the erstwhile state of J&K, regarding the use of fake and forged letter pad of the then Chief Minister , Omar Abdullah for regularization of the daily wage workers of Rural Development Department J&K, the statement said.

“The above-mentioned accused had forged the signatures of the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The said accused Ghulam Mohammad Wani also forged the signatures of the then Director Rural Development Department Jammu/Kashmir whereby he had prepared/forwarded the list of Daily Wage Workers to senior formations for their regularization, who otherwise were not existing on the rolls of Department,” the statement added.

New Delhi, Dec 28: As a major boon for youth, particularly the government job aspirants, a Common Eligibility Test (CET) will be conducted across the country from next year to screen and shortlist candidates for recruitment to central government jobs.

Disclosing this here today, Union MoS PMO  Dr Jitendra Singh said this path-breaking transformational reform carried out by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) was possible because of the personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his deep concern for the youth.

He said the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) for conducting Common Eligibility Test has been constituted with the approval of the Union Cabinet.

The National Recruitment Agency (NRA), said Jitendra Singh, will be a multi-agency body which will conduct the common test to screen and shortlist candidates for Group-’B’ and ‘C’ (non-technical)  posts. The most significant feature of this reform is that every district  in the country will have at least one Examination Centre which would greatly enhance access to the candidates living  in far-flung areas, he said.

He said one of the important objectives of this historic reform is to provide a level playing field to every candidate so that none of the job aspirants is at a disadvantage and has an equal opportunity  regardless of his or her background or  socio-economic status. “This will also be a huge benefit to women and Divyang candidates as well as candidates who find it financially unaffordable to appear for multiple tests by travelling to multiple Centers.”

Singh said the first Common Eligibility Test to be conducted by the NRA is likely to be scheduled around the second half of 2021.

He also pointed out that NRA will be an independent autonomous organization responsible for shortlisting candidates for certain categories for which recruitment is carried through Staff Selection Commission (SSC), State Selection Boards (RRBs) and Institute  of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). However, the existing central recruiting agencies like SSC, RRBs and IBPS would continue to conduct specific recruitments as per their requirements and the Common Eligibility Test will only be the test for preliminary screening of candidates for the jobs.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Dec 28: The Srinagar Mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu Monday chaired a meeting with senior officers of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) regarding operation of commercial activities in residential areas.

Besides, Commissioner SMC Gazanfar Ali, Joint Commissioner Adm, Joint Commissioner Planning, Secretary SMC, Chief Enforcement Officer, Assistant Town Planning wing and other officials were present in the meeting.

Mattu after reviewing the status of issuance of Building permission  directed that any establishment operating within SMC limits without relevant and authorized building usage permission will be found in violation of Building regulation rules and Master plan in vogue.

“All such structures shall be sealed down with immediate effect,” he said.

Mattu also directed the concerned officials to go for inspection of city zone wise, thereby covering all the establishments to check the status of building permissions of these structures/establishments in which commercial activities are going on.

The concerned officials were directed to prepare a list of structures area wise where any sort of commercial activities are going on and also to check the nature of building permissions simultaneously.

“No commercial activities will be allowed in residential areas. People strictly have to follow the authorized usage of building permissions,” asserted Mayor.

It has been found that the applicants apply for repairs of residential houses or go for the guest house permissions and later convert their structures fully into commercial use.

“This practice needs to be stopped and the applicant will only be allowed to operate with the building activities as per nature of building Permissions,” Mayor said.

As per the Municipal act 2000 and master plan 2035, an applicant strictly has to follow the nature and usage of building permission permissible under the various categories including Residential, Commercial, Mix use etc to carry out the building usage activities further stressed Mayor SMC—(KNO)

Bhat Imran
Srinagar, Dec 28: The government Monday appointed advisor-in-charge of higher education and school education department Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar as the chairperson of the task force constituted for implementation of NEP-2020.
According to the government order, the advisor-in-charge of higher education and school education department shall be the chairperson of the task force constituted for implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“In the partial modification of government order issued in September 2020, it is hereby ordered that the advisor-in-charge of higher education and school education department shall be the chairperson of the task force constituted in terms of order issued for implementation of NEP-2020,” it reads. (KNO)

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 28: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Monday said major part of financial package announced by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is yet to be fullfilled.
A KCCI spokesman said business community of Kashmir was undergoing a period of unprecedented stress and turbulence and heading towards financial instability.
“The financial package announced Governor on September 25 was a ray of hope for the Business Community. While appreciating the efforts put in by Lt. Governor for the said package. But at the same time most of the announcements in the package are still awaited,” he said.
The spokesman said the committee has recommended an interest subvention of 5% for six months amounting to Rs. 1089.24 Crore, partial waiver of fixed electricity charges for one year amounting to Rs. 80 crore, waiver of water charges for six months costing Rs. 25 crore , time bound One Time Settlement (OTS) , capital infusion in accordance with the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, replacement of old vehicles and insurances support costing Rs. 50 Crore to the transporters support to artist and others costing Rs. 108.75 crore which are partially implemented and needs immediate attention from the J&K Government.
The spokesman said removal of Lakhanpur Toll post has hit the business very badly and a committee was formed to ascertain its effects on the industries but the report has not still come out, it reads.
“It is a well-known fact that our export performance over 5 years have deteriorated to the worst level. To encourage exports from J&K we need to support at all levels in manufacturing, artisans and weavers. In our recently meeting held with Lt. Governor was kind enough to ensure KCC&I delegation that Government constitute a Export Promotion Board for all Export level issues but till date no Board was constituted,” it said.
The spokesman said various other issues were raised by KCC&I with J&K and Central Government being faced by the industrial and other sectors, which needs to be addressed so that the problems faced by the industries and other sectors taken care off.
The KCCI urged the Lt Governor to intervene so that these problems gets redressed as soon as possible.

Srinagar, Dec 28: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday produced a charge-sheet against a Special Police Officer (SPO) and a woman the court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Baramulla in a fraud case.
A spokesman of the ACB said this evening that ACB produced Charge Sheet in case FIR Number 10/2013 Under Section 5(1) (d) r/w 5(2) Prevention of Corruption Act 2006, section 420, 467, 468,471,120-B RPC of Police Station Vigilance Organistion (Now ACB) in the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Baramulla against Abdul Rashid Rather SPO No 06/SPO and Raja Begum Widow of Late Ghulam Ahmad Rather.
The case was registered in Police Station VOK on the basis of a verification conducted into the allegations of fake and fraud certificate issued by Police Station Bandipora with respect to death of Ghulam Ahmad Rather son of Habib Rather resident of Pazalpora Mantrigam, Bandipora.
The certificate was used for grabbing piece of land without the knowledge of actual land owners, he said adding the verification revealed that the oral gift shown to have been made by Rather in favour of Ghulam Mohammad Rather and Abdul Majid Rather sons of Ghulam Qadir Rather resident of Pazalpora Mantrigam Bandipora on 02-05-1998, whereby land measuring 17 marlas under survey No.1579 at village Mantrigam was devolved vide mutation No.1315 dated 02-05-1998, has been found to be false and fabricated, as Rather the owner had died on 14-03-1996, two years before the date of attestation of the instant fraudulent mutation.
The spokesman said inquiry conducted has further revealed that Raja widow of late Rather has been found registered with social welfare department Bandipora as a widow and the incentives stand paid regularly to her by the social welfare department since 1997, which also indicates the death of her husband prior to 1997.
Besides, 17 marlas of land in question were also found in her possession till 2006, he said adding in order to cover the misdeeds the accused beneficiaries namely Ghulam Mohammad Rather and Abdul Majid Rather in league with Chowkidar concerned and officials of Police Station Bandipora have managed a fake and fraud death certificate of Ghulam Ahmad Rather wherein the date of death of late Rather has been shown as 12-12-2001, giving a notion that the late Rather was alive on the date of the attestation of the mutation 02-05-1998.
He said the Investigation of the case was concluded as proved against the aforementioned accused for launching prosecution, accordingly the chargesheet has been produced in the court of law.
The next date of hearing has been fixed on February 9, 2021, he said.

Raouf Dar

Srinagar, Dec 28: Hundreds of tourists have arrived in famous Gulmarg, Pahalgam and other places in the Valley to celebrate New Year.

A hotelier in Gulmarg said tourists from across the country are rushing towards this famous ski resort in north Kashmir on the New Year’s Eve.

People associated with travel trade say tourist arrivals started to pick up from December 23 to celebrate Christmas here and later stayed put to ring in the New Year from Kashmir.

“The snow is the only thing during winters which attract tourists, especially skiing lovers to visit Gulmarg,” said a senior tourism department official, adding, “In order to make hassle free journey to Gulmarg, government has put in various measures enroute to ski-resort.”“

“Tourists returning to Kashmir is a good omen. We are hoping that the revival of the tourism industry will help us recover the losses which we have suffered during the past one and half-years,” said a hotelier.

He said Gulmarg has received a good number of tourists and they are hopeful that number of tourists visiting other parts of the Valley too will increase in coming days.

“Our hotels have been vacant for nearly 2-years now. Let’s hope COVID vaccine will end the pandemic and normalcy will return,” the hotelier said.

A restaurant owner said that during past 2-years, many eateries have wound up operations and hundreds of people have been rendered jobless.

A travel agent, who organizes package tours for the tourists, said, “During all these months we have been requesting the government to come for our rescue by providing us some relief. Unfortunately, nothing was done to help us out so that we could survive.”

“During the past few weeks we have been receiving many enquiries and it seems that tourists want to visit the Valley. Signs of revival are there but it can take some more time. Another thing that COVID has taught is that we cannot depend on anyone for help. We have to help ourselves to stand on our own feet,” he said.

An official of Tourism Department said, “Our department is putting all the efforts to woo the tourists. A plan is being worked out to help the small time tourism players who have suffered during the past two years. Slowly things are falling in place. We are hopeful that the coming days will be better.”  (KINS)

Umaisar Gull Ganie
Qazigund, Dec 28: Keeping alive the spirit of communal harmony, Muslims performed the last rites of a 75-year-old Kashmiri Pandit in Qazigund area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday.
The Muslims of Taragam locality of Qazigund stepped forward in large numbers to perform the last rites of a Kashmiri Pandit, who died during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.
Locals said Sham Lal Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit, who was aged 75 passed away late last night and as soon as the news spread in the area, Muslims in large numbers stepped forward to help perform the last rites of the deceased.
Veer Ji Bhat, son of Sham Lal while thanking the local Muslims said: “I have never felt alone here for the past 30 years despite militancy and the claims of local Pandits being harassed elsewhere.” He said that he is proud and thankful that he did not leave the Kashmir Valley.
Commenting further on the communal harmony in Kashmir he said; “We do not know of anything about the last rites of Sham Ji, the local Muslims arranged and provided everything, I am very thankful to them.”
“We were one and shared a great camaraderie. Our families used to visit each other, eat together and we always remained together in happiness and sorrow. We lost a friend, well-wisher and a noble soul and the entire area is saddened by his death,” Ghulam Mohammad Lone, a resident of Taragam said.
“We do not know of any religious discrimination, we always have been one community and no attempts to polarize the local population will succeed,” Ghulam Nabi Khan, another local said. He said that the community irrespective of religion has spent their whole lives as one.
Today’s event is yet another example of Kashmiriyat- true humanity that exists within the Kashmiri community. (KNO)

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Dec 28:  Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir PK Pole Monday stated that the completion of three-tier Panchayati Raj System has realized the dream of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Gram Swaraj’.

This was stated by the Div Com at an oath ceremony of DDC members held at SKICC Srinagar, today.

While addressing the gathering, the Div Com congratulated the elected members and said that the DDC election has realized the dream of Mahatma Gandhi’s Gram Swaraj adding that with this the dawn of new development in J&K has begun.

He assured the DDC members that the administration will extend all logistic support to them at all levels. He expressed hope that they, the DDC members, will resolve the developmental issues of the people at grass root level.

The Div Com said that from now onwards people need not to approach divisional or district administrations for the purpose of basic amenities, and can apprise their respective constituency members about their issues and subsequently the DDC members shall facilitate them in fulfilling all their developmental needs.

Regarding the availability of funds to District Developmental Councils, the Div Com said that the annual budget of districts from next financial year will be prepared and decided by DDC members.

The Div Com also distributed mementos among the DDC members of district Srinagar, who took oath during the event.