Precious Kashmir

SEC Sharma appreciates counting staff

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23/12/2020

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 22: The State Election Commissioner (SEC), K K Sharma has lauded the efforts of all the employees engaged in the counting of votes for all the DDC Constituencies that began at 9.00 am today in all the 20 Districts of Jammu & Kashmir.

The SEC said that despite the cold conditions prevalent in the Valley and other parts of Jammu province, officials associated with the counting and allied arrangements have put in extraordinarily efforts by reporting at the designated places for counting halls at 06.00 am. While the actual counting began at 09.00 am, and was complete in many places and is likely to continue till midnight in few of the Constituencies.

The State Election Commission shared the trends and the results of Constituencies as these were pouring in through its website https://ceojk.nic.in/ by updating the information on it on a continuous basis. The information made available on the Commission’s website was displayed in all the media centers set up by every district at the venue of counting. The State Election Commission appreciated the efforts of NIC, State Informatics Officer, Abhay Kumar, his team and also the team led by Baiju Ubbot.

The State Election Commission also informed that counting was deferred in Drugmulla, Kupwara and Hajin-A, Bandipora constituencies in view of a question that has arisen on eligibility of one each contesting candidates from the seats and added that a final decision in this regard shall be taken after taking all aspects into consideration.

While the counting of votes is still going-on, the results have been declared for 247 constituencies in which BJP has won 70 seats, NC with 57, independents 44, PDP 26, INC 22, JKAP 10, JKPC 6, CPI-M 5, JKPM 3, JKNPP 2, PDF and BSP one each.

SEC also complimented all the district administration for the arrangements that were put in place for the counting process besides ensuring smooth conduct of the election process.

New Variant Renews Virus Threat

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Precious Kashmir

23/12/2020

A new variant of the novel coronavirus found in Britain has caused fear. The variant appears no more lethal than the original Sars-coV-2 but is much more transmissible. The ripples are not restricted to Britain alone where sixteen million people are already under new severe tier 4 restrictions but have been felt globally.

Already nearly a dozen countries in Europe and elsewhere including India have banned travel from the U.K in hopes of keeping the evolved virus at bay.

As per the preliminary study of European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the variant has the potential to increase by over 0.4 the number of people a person can infect. So far there is no evidence that it can cause any change in disease severity or increase the risk of reinfection.

The new strain was initially detected in September and has been expanding rapidly over the past four weeks. In theory, a virus showing improved transmissibility could threaten any nation with more infections, suffering and death.

It is established fact that all viruses mutate. Many mutations are insignificant and disappear. But sometimes a small change in the genetic code can give the virus an advantage in the pressure-cooker environment of natural selection. While there are many unknowns, scientists looking at genetic sequences of the new strain see an unexpectedly large number of changes — 17 mutations all at once — and some of them concern the spike protein, the device by which the virus attaches to the human cell. There may be a purely biological explanation for the increased transmissibility. One is perhaps the spike protein has improved its function, which might lead to fewer viral particles triggering an infection or a higher viral load in each person, causing a more rapid proliferation to others. Human behavior is also believed to have helped boost the transmission with superspreader events and crowds of people without masks in the UK.

The good news is that, so far, the new strain does not appear to produce a more severe disease outcome or higher mortality. Hitherto, it does not seem to threaten the viability of the first vaccines either. Also, only a few cases caused by the new variant have been reported and the extent of international spread still remains unknown.

The virus crosses an invisible bridge between people when they are in close contact. The best and only defense right now are non-pharmaceutical interventions by closing that bridge with prescribed distancing, masks and good hygiene.

Jailed PDP youth president wins DDC elections

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Jahangeer Ganaie

22/12/2020

Jailed PDP youth president wins DDC elections

Jahangeer Ganaie

Pulwama, Dec 22: People’s Democratic Youth President Waheed Ur Rehman Para on Tuesday won DDC elections from the Pulwama-1 constituency by over one thousand votes.

Officials said that he got 1322 votes while as running candidate BJP district president Sajad Ahmad Raina got 314 votes, so Para won by 1008 votes.

Five days after filling his nomination papers, Para contesting elections first time was arrested by NIA in New Delhi on 25 November over have links to a Naveed Babu-Davinder Singh militancy case.

Para was booked for his alleged links with Irfan Shafi Mir, who was arrested along with Hizbul Mujahideen militant and was remanded to 15 days NIA custody two days later.

On December 20, NIA sent him to 30 days judicial custody. Earlier, Para was also kept under detention for about six months after abrogation of article 370 on August 5 last year.

Meanwhile, PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti while expressing her happiness over his win said that it couldn’t be prouder of PDPs Waheed Pata who won his maiden election by a huge margin and hope justice prevails.

“Couldn’t be prouder of PDPs @parawahid who won his maiden election by a huge margin of votes. Despite being arrested on baseless charges right after filing his nomination people have shown their love & trust for Waheed. Hope justice prevails,” tweeted Mehbooba—(KNO)

Independents win 7 seats in Srinagar

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Precious Kashmir

22/12/2020

JKAP secures 3, NC, PDP, BJP, JKPM bag one each
Srinagar, Dec 22: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has managed to secure a seat in the District Development Council (DDC) polls while the independents have emerged victorious on seven seats in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the details available with KNO, independents have bagged seven seats out of 14 in Srinagar.
The seven DDC seats bagged by independents include Harwan-I, Harwan-II, Harwan-IV, Harwan-VI, Qamarwari-I, Qamarwari-II and Srinagar-I. According to the details, Shaista Aslam, an Independent candidate has bagged 474 votes in Harwan-I.
In Harwan-II, Ali Mohammad Rather, Independent candidate has secured 314 votes. In Harwan-IV, Rizwana Bano, another Independent has bagged 410 votes, the details available said, adding that Harwan-VI was bagged by Independent candidate, Mohammad Shaban Chopan by securing 609 votes.
In Qamarwari-I, Qamarwari-II and Srinagar-I were bagged by Independent candidates including Jameela Begum by 418 votes, Mohammad Yaseen Rather by 156 and Bilal Ahmad Bhat by 482 votes respectively.
National Conference (NC) candidate, Kaisar Ahmad Ganie has emerged victorious from Harwan-III constituency by securing 502 votes while Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) candidates including Shabir Ahmad Reshi from Harwan-V, Malik Aftab from Srinagar-III have emerged victorious by bagging 399, 213 and 274 votes respectively.

However, three parties Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), BJP and Jammu Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) have won one seat each. BJP candidate Aijaz Hussain Rather has won Khanmoh-II by bagging 823 votes while PDP candidate Manzoor Ahmad Bhat and JKPM candidate Afroza Banu won by bagging 615 and 532 votes respectively.

JKPCC president’s son loses Verinag seat

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Precious Kashmir

22/12/2020

Srinagar, Nov 22: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Ghulam Ahmad Mir’ son Naseer Ahmad Mir on Tuesday lost the District Development Council (DDC) polls in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Naseer, who contested from the Verinag constituency lost to independent candidate Peer Shahbaz Ahmad.

Son of the JKPCC president, Naseer Ahmad Mir had plunged into electoral politics for the first time.

His father, a former minister, has been the JKPCC president for two consecutive terms since 2015.

Ghulam Ahmad Mir had also lost his last election when he contested the Parliamentary polls from the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency. He was defeated by National Conference’s Hasnain Masoodi in the 2019 polls.

Taj Mohiuddin wins in Uri

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Precious Kashmir

22/12/2020

Srinagar, Dec 22: Former Minister and veteran Congress man Taj Mohiuddin today won the DDC elections in Paranpelan Uri constituency.
Talking to KNS, Taj Mohiuddin said, ” People didn’t vote on the basis of caste, creed and group. People of UrI understand this and gave votes on basis of development.”
Regarding the filing of FIR against him by law enforcement agencies, he said, ” It happens in politics. Credit goes to people of Uri. I pray to God to give me opportunity to serve my people again. Grassroot panchayat not a big post but electing me for the post shows the love of people and I will ensure grassroot level development.”

Counting stopped for Hajin-A, Drugmulla over Pak contestants

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Precious Kashmir

22/12/2020

Bandipora/Kuwpara, Dec 22: Counting of votes for Hajin-A and Drugmulla constituencies of DDC in Bandipora and Kupwara Districts was stopped as one of the contestants happen to be a Pak resident, officials told GNS on Tuesday.

The contestant from Hajin-A, Shazia Aslam is said to be brought up in Muzzafarabad area of Pakistan administered Kashmir, and married to a Kashmiri militant, Mohammad Phapoo who then surrendered and even participated in assembly elections later.

At the time of acceptance of her nominations, Shazia told reporters that that wives of the former militants currently in Jammu and Kashmir, who crossed the Line of Control through a rehabilitation policy, should live their life with peace and dignity.

Meanwhile, authorities stopped counting for Drugmulla constituency as one of the contestants—Somaya Sadaf— also belongs to Pak and has been married to a local resident.

Independents sweep ULB elections in Langate wards

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Precious Kashmir

22/12/2020

Jahangir Lolabi

Kupwara, Dec 22: Authorities on Tuesday declared results of all the three Urban-local bodies (ULB) seats in Langate of Handwara.

The winning candidates are Mohammed Yousaf Thoker from Ward number 3, Gulshana Majeed from Ward number 5 and Shahnawaz Abdullah from Ward number 5.

It has been learnt that all the winning candidates had contested the elections as Independent.

Meanwhile counting process for the first ever DDC elections is going on across various constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir and results will be updated accordingly. (GNS)

Fast-spreading Covid strain not seen in India so far: Centre

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Precious Kashmir

22/12/2020

Fast-spreading Covid strain not seen in India so far: Centre

New Delhi, Dec 22: A mutated and more aggressive strain of the novel coronavirus – which was first identified in the United Kingdom in September – has not been seen in India so far, the government said Tuesday.
The new strain – initial data suggests it is at least 70 per cent more easily transmitted – has sparked concern worldwide, amid surging infection rates in the UK and fears the first lot of vaccines may not be as effective against the mutation.
“The new strain or mutation of (the) coronavirus in the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far,” Dr VK Paul, a member of government think-tank NITI Aayog, said.
“(And) as of now, it has no impact on the potential of vaccines being developed in our country and (which) are available in other countries,” he added.
India has joined over 25 other countries in imposing a temporary ban on all flights to and from the UK; the ban begins midnight Wednesday and will be in place till December 31.
This morning the government also announced SOPs for all incoming passengers until then.
The SOPs include mandatory RT-PCR tests for all arrivals and isolation for those testing positive, as well as institutional quarantine for contacts of passengers who test positive. According to the government, “contacts” will include all those within three rows of the infected passenger.
Eight passengers who arrived last night on two separate flights from London have tested positive for the virus. Those on a British Airways flight that landed in Delhi today were tested but found negative.

COVID-19: 6 more die, 308 test positive in J&K

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Precious Kashmir

22/12/2020

COVID-19: 6 more die, 308 test positive in J&K

Jammu, Dec 22: Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday recorded six more deaths due to Novel Coronavirus, taking the toll of deaths so far to 1,850 while fresh 308 positive cases were reported in the Union territory today, taking the toll up to 118,803.

The government informed that 308 new positive cases of novel Corona virus (COVID-19), 174 from Jammu division and 134 from Kashmir division, have been reported today thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 118803. “Also, 06 COVID-19 deaths have been reported; 05 from Jammu division and 01 from Kashmir Division,” the government said in a statement.
Moreover, 281 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals including 111 from Jammu Division and 170 from Kashmir Division.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 118803 positive cases, 3646 are Active Positive, 113307 have recovered and 1850 have died; 681 in Jammu division and 1169 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 3581035 test results available, 3462232 samples have been tested as negative till December22, 2020.

Till date 852990 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 18844 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 3646 in isolation and 28182 in home surveillance. Besides, 800468 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 24816 positive cases (including 65cases reported today) with 679 Active Positive, 23694 recovered (including52 cases recovered today), 443 deaths; Baramulla has 7866 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 162 Active Positive, 7534 recovered (including 23 cases recovered today), 170deaths; Pulwama reported 5440 positive cases (including 12 case reported today) with 184 active positive cases, 5168 recovered (including 18 cases recovered today), 88 deaths; Kulgam has 2644 positive cases (including 04 case reported today) with 67 Active Positive, 2524 recoveries and 53 deaths; Shopian has 2462 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 88 Active Positive, 2337 recovered and 37 deaths; Anantnag district has 4748positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 121 Active Positive, 4545 recovered (including 10cases recovered today), 82 deaths; Budgam has 7454 positive cases (including 21 cases reported today) with 185 Active Positive and 7163 recovered (including 23 cases recovered today), 106 deaths; Kupwara has 5457 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 147 Active Positive, 5221 recovered (including 15cases recovered today), 89 deaths; Bandipora has 4617 positive cases with 98 Active Positive, 4461 recovered (including 03 cases recovered today), 58 deaths and Ganderbal has 4431 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 111 active positive cases, 4277recoveries (including 26 cases recovered today) and 43 deaths.

Similarly, Jammu has 23051positive cases (including 99 cases reported today) with 852 active positive cases, 21853 recoveries (including 28 cases recovered today), 346 deaths; Rajouri has 3787 positive cases (including 10 cases reported today) with 224 active positive cases, 3509 recovered (including 10 cases recovered today), 54 deaths; Ramban has 2072 positive cases with 40 active positive, 2011 recoveries and 21 deaths; Kathua has 3121 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today) with 84 Active positive, 2989 recovered (including 13 cases recovered today), 48 deaths; Udhampur has 4037 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 128 active positive cases, 3852 recovered (including 31 cases recovered today) and 57 deaths; Samba has 2695 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 229 Active Positive, 2429 recoveriesand 37 deaths; Doda has 3348 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today) with 82 active positive cases, 3205 recoveries (including 12 cases recovered today), 61 deaths; Poonch has 2436 positive cases (including 02cases reported today) with 29 active positive, 2385 recoveriesand 22 deaths; Reasi has 1611 positive cases with 61 active positive, 1536recoveries and 14 deaths while Kishtwar has 2710 positive cases with 75 active positive cases and 2614 recoveries (including 17 cases recovered today) and 21 deaths.

According to the bulletin, among the total 118803 positive cases, 11147 have been reported as travellers while 107656 as others.

The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.

The bulletin added that there are 1321 COVID dedicated beds, 1185 Isolation beds with 1075 vacant beds and 136 ICU beds where 92 beds are vacant in Jammu division while there are 2345 COVID dedicated beds, 2197 Isolation beds where 1898 beds are vacant and 148 ICU beds where 122 are vacant beds in Kashmir division. There are total of 3666 COVID dedicated beds, 3382 Isolation beds with 2973 beds vacant and 284 ICU beds with 214 vacant beds in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)

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