Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Dec 25: The chief scientific adviser for Operation Warp Speed said the frequency of allergic reactions to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is higher than what would be expected for other jabs, according to a report.

Dr. Moncef Slaoui said the last time he was updated on allergic reactions was Tuesday, when there were six cases, and added that the data on COVID-19 immunizations is lagging behind the actual numbers, CNN reported.

“That frequency, as it stood yesterday, is superior to what one would expect with other vaccines,” he said.

On Monday, a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases official said the US is looking at why some people have suffered severe allergic reactions shortly after receiving the Pfizer shot.

Srinagar: For the first time, authorities are making all efforts to keep the 440 kilometre Srinagar-Leh road open during winters in view of standoff between India and Chinese troops in Ladakh.

The authorities would close the Srinagar-Leh road in the first week of December till April. However, this year the road is still open.

An official of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) said they are making all efforts to keep the highway open in maximum day during winters.

“We have got new equipments and machinery to clear the snow and to keep highway open. This is being done to facilitate movement of troops, equipment and other essentials.

Government does not want to take any chances as Chinese troops could move further ahead in Eastern Ladakh during winters,” the official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

The stretch especially Zojila pass witnesses heavy snowfall with the road buried under several feet of snow. 

Deputy Commissioner Kargil Baser-ul-Haq Choudhary also said the administration was trying to keep the road open during winters. “If nature support us then we will be able to keep the road open,” he told news agency KINS.

For months there are escalations along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. In June this year, at least 20 Indian army men were killed after their clash with Chinese soldiers in Galwan valley of Ladakh.

The China has been objecting for developing infrastructure near the LAC in Ladakh and withdrawal of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

China is particularly concerned about a bridge that India is reportedly building across the Galwan Nallah.

Thee bridge according to locals is about 7.5 km from the LAC. But the Chinese have objected because they are suspicious of India’s aims on account of New Delhi’s claim over Aksai Chin.

India shares a 3,488-km border with China while Ladakh shares 646 kms of the LAC with the neighbouring country.

June’s face-off was the biggest confrontation between the two militaries after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La when India lost around 80 soldiers while over 300 Chinese army personnel were killed in the confrontation. (KINS)

Srinagar: Maj Gen HS Sahi, GOC Kilo Force today said misguided youth should shun their path and become part of national Mainstream.

“Joining Militancy is not an option, youth who got misguided by the propaganda of Pakistan should shun that path and join national mainstream and be part of changing Kashmir which is on path of development,” he told reporters duirng a musical event function organised at GDC Handwara.

He added that Grassroot level development is being pushed forward in Kashmir.

“People voted in record high percentage in DDC elections. I am hopeful that all those candidates chosen by people will fullfill their Development aspiration,” he said.

Regarding the organising of the youth program, he said, ” the aim of these programmes is to give platform to the youth so that they can showcase their talent for better future.”

“I am glad to see 80 percent of youth attended the event in a temperature of minus 6. (KNS)”

Srinagar: Although temperatures of Jammu and Kashmir starts dropping in the beginning of December, but the harshest winters commence by the third week of December and last until the end of January.

The minimum temperatures of Jammu and Kashmir are already heading south. Anantnag, Banihal, Batote, Gulmarg, Kukernag, Kupwara and Qazigund are witnessing minimum temperatures in the range of -3 and -5 degree, Srinagar and Gulmarg are recording minimum temperature around -6 degrees. Most of the districts of Jammu and Kashmir are witnessing freezing morning and nights.

The 40-day period of chilly winter in Kashmir is known as ‘Chillai-Kalan’ in local language which began on December 21, 2020 and it will end on January 31, 2021.

This is the favourable period for upper reaches of valley to receive snowfall. During this period intensity of western disturbances are usually very high. Heavy to very heavy snowfall leads to subzero temperatures across the valley.

Chillai-Kalan period is known for freezing temperatures, lakes and river get frozen.
During these 40 days, chances of snowfall are highest, and the maximum temperature drops significantly. During Chillai-Kalan, the weather in Kashmir valley continues to remain very cold and minimum temperatures usually hovers below freezing point and the snowfall during this 40-day period is much heavier and lasts longer.

When Chillai-Kalan ends, the cold wave continues even after that. Chillai-Kalan is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) that is between January 31 and February 19 which is followed by 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) between February 20 to March 2. (KINS) With inputs from agencies.

Srinagar: Families of accused people in advocate Babar Qadri’s killing Friday claimed that their sons were innocent and asked investigating agencies to show them proof.

On September 24, advocate Babar Qadri was shot dead by two gunmen who disguised as clients, at his residence at Hawal area of downtown Srinagar.

They reportedly told Qadri that they wanted to discuss an accident-related matter, but took out pistols and fired in his head. Qadri was rushed to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital in Srinagar, but he was declared brought dead.

While as per reports, the three detainees have told the police that the order for his September 24 assassination came from central jail, Srinagar.

A special team constituted by the Jammu and Kashmir police to investigate the murder of the lawyer and television panellist also arrested two men from the Srinagar central jail.

The two individuals, who have been taken into custody, were in jail for a stone-pelting and murder case.

While families of accused Friday protested at Srinagar’s press colony claiming their sons were innocent.

Sister of one of the accused said her brother was on shop at Khanyar when Babar Qadri was killed. 

“Police can check the CCTVs. But my brother has been falsely implicated in the case. He has been interrogated. His legs have also been fractured due to interrogation,” she said as per news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

A relative of another accused claimed that police has done investigation in a “closed room”.

“We seek justice as our sons have been implicated in a wrong case. If they are involved, ask police to show us the proof,” he said. “We were shocked when we got to know that our sons have been implicated in Babar Qadri murder case. We stand by his family and those who did the act should be punished. But innocents should not be implicated,” he demanded.

In his last tweet on September 21, Qadri had tagged J&K police and said that there was a threat to his life. (KINS)

Asks forces to be ‘extra alert’, strengthen public relations

Srinagar: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Tuesday said militants and their masters are frustrated by witnessing huge participation of people in the ongoing electoral process and are attempting to create disturbance.

The DGP, according to a police statement issued to GNS, is in the Valley and chaired a series of joint security review meetings at Sopore, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts. He was accompanied by IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar.

While addressing the officers’ meetings, the DGP directed the forces to be “extra alert” to foil the “evil designs” of militants.

“The people of J&K have expectations from the forces and we have to fulfill their expectations by working with commitment,” Singh said while stressing for keeping strict vigil on the activities of anti-national elements attempting to disrupt the peace in J&K.

People’s wholehearted cooperation with the forces has helped in maintaining sustained peace, and these relations should be strengthened at all levels to defeat ill designs of inimical elements, he added.

The DGP directed the officers to utilize their resources and energies efficiently to gain the confidence of the people, making them stakeholders in the dividends of peace and progress. He also called for strengthening the security grid and plugging the gaps with strict security measures for the remaining phases of the ongoing DDC elections. He emphasized on usage of surveillance technology and focus on qualitative changes. At Bandipora, the DGP inaugurated newly constructed conference hall and GOs mess.

The DGP appreciated the role of Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security forces in combating militancy and providing a better security environment to the people of J&K.

During the meetings, the officers apprised the DGP regarding the security situation in the areas under their command. (GNS)

Srinagar: People associated with handicrafts in Kashmir are struggling to feed their families due to subsequent lockdowns since August 5 last year.

Kashmir remained shut for months after abrogation of Article 370 in August last year and now COVID-19.

Amid this, at least 3 lakh people associated with handicrafts including carpets, papier-machie, shawls, wood carving are finding it difficult to feed their families. Kashmir’s handicrafts are famous across the world due to quality and are man made.

Ghulam Mohammad, 45, a resident of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district has been selling vegetables on a footpath for the last several months.

“All the money I had saved which I earned through carpet weaving has been exhausted. It is over a year now, we are making no earnings through carpet weaving and now selling vegetables,” he told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS). Before August 5 last year, he would earn Rs 600 per day. He had two more people who were assisting him in carpet weaving.

There are so many artisans who have taken up odd jobs to manage the expenses of their families during the COVID.

“We were making earnings even during the worst times. But this time, our business is shut as we are not able to export carpets in international markets,” said Bashir Ahmad, a carpet dealer.

Gulf and European countries form a major customer base for Kashmiri carpet dealers.
They have suffered huge losses as they could not export the goods.

Mohammad Subhan, a papier-machie artist from Srinagar is sitting idle since the COVID-19 began in March.

“We have been badly hit first by lockdown post abrogation of Article 370 and now COVID-19 pandemic. There is no availability of raw material. There is hardly any productivity and sales,” he added.

The Kashmiri craft of papier-machie mainly uses wood, leftover wood pulp and paper waste.

Every year Subhan would participate in various artisan fairs across India like in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Gujarat.

However, this year, these fairs were not organized due to COVID-19.

In Bandipora’s Gada Khad village over 500 people associated with handicrafts are doing menial jobs to sustain their families.

An official said 3 lakh people associated with handicrafts are in bad shape.

He said presently there is no business in the handicrafts sector. (KINS)

Says massive people’s participation in DDC polls changed K-narrative

Srinagar: Apni Party President Syed Altaf Bukhari Tuesday asserted that massive participation of people in ongoing District Development Council (DDC) polls have changed the Kashmir narrative and it has become evident that elections and Kashmir issue are two separate poles.

Bukhari, who was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a maiden rally in Sher-e-Kashmir Park here in Srinagar said that people’s enmass participation in ongoing DDC polls has changed the traditional Kashmir narrative and people have made it clear that elections and Kashmir issue are two separate poles.

Bukhari who had been a cabinet minister in PDP-BJP combine in recent past said that JKAP is trying to take all sections of sociey into confidence for ensuring grassroots level development in Jammu and Kashmir. “Today you can see transporters, traders, hoteliers, houseboat owners and other sections of the society participated in our rally which is a clear message that people doesn’t want divisive and deciet politics which they bore during last 70 years”.

Without naming anybody, Bukhari said that few political parties tried to hoodwink common masses amidst ongoing DDC polls but people have understand their designs and subsquently the worth of ballot. “The electorates across J&K are politically mature. They know who are their well-wishers? They have changed the traditional narrative of Kashmir issue while participating in ongoing DDC polls massively and came to know elections and Kashmir issue are two separate poles”, Bukhari said.

Hitting hard to regional political parties, the JKAP President said that not only BJP but regional mainstream political parties who ruled over J&K for decades are equally responsible for “political uncertainty” in Jammu and Kashmir. “I blame BJP equally as Congress, NC, PDP and others for the “political uncertainty in Kashmir”, he said.

Bukhari said that Apni Party is 9-month old as it was constituted in March this year. “We are like a 9-month old baby. One should expect from us what he is going to expect from a 9-month old baby. We are not claiming we will sweep DDC polls but we will try to represent the wishes of our people instead of befooling them”, he said.

Bukhari who is being called as “B-team” of BJP by regional politicians said the JKAP will participate in delimitation process and ensure no justice is done to people of J&K. He added my party will be the first one to raise voice against the commission if share of any region or district will be grabbed during the process. (KNS)

Srinagar: In the backdrop of killing of a PSO of a PDP leader in Natipora area and recent attacks, security has been put on high alert in Srinagar to foil such attacks.

On Monday morning suspected militants gunmen shot dead a personal security guard of Peoples Democratic Party leader Haji Parvaiz Ahmad in Natipora area.

Police said two militants opened fire at constable Manzoor Ahmad and injured him as he was trying to protect the PDP leader. The constable was admitted to Bone and Joints Hospital, Srinagar, where he succumbed to his injuries.

“Jammu and Kashmir Police led by DGP [Director General of Police] Dilbag Singh salutes the martyr for sacrificing his life for the nation,” the official account of the force tweeted.
The incident is the latest in a series of such attacks on civilians and security personnel.

On December 9, five civilians were injured in a grenade explosion at the main market in the Singhpora neighbourhood of Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. A police officer and a civilian were injured on December 6 in cross-firing after an encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Srinagar.

On December 4, unidentified assailants shot at a candidate for the District Development Council polls at Sagam Kokernag area in Anantnag district during the second phase of voting. Anees-ul-Islam Ganie was contesting as an Independent from the Sagam constituency in Anantnag.

Two security force personnel were killed in a suspected militant attack on the outskirts of Srinagar on November 26.

A senior police official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that security forces have been put on alert across Kashmir. “Security has also been strengthened and put on alert especially in Srinagar in view of attacks. Militants have shown their presence in Srinagar in the recent past,” the police official said.

As per inputs received by security agencies, there is a possibility that militants may carry out more such attacks, the official said.
“All security agencies have been put on high alert to foil any militant attacks as they are desperate to show their presence in the valley,” the official said. (KINS)

Jammu: Kashmir and Jammu are the “two eyes” of the Union Territory of J&K, and going ahead, for overall progress, both have to work together without one being favoured over the other, said Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of J&K.

“Samaan bhav sey dono ke vikas ke liye humein kaam karna hai aur dono milke hi is UT ko aage badha sakti hai (We have to work towards the development of these two regions equally, and it’s only when both work together that they can take the UT forward),” said Sinha in an interview to The Indian Express. “I think if the administration’s intentions are clear, and the government is not favouring one over the other, then there will be no opposition.”

The L-G spoke on a range of issues from the annulment of the Roshni Act and its unraveling to the fear of demographic change in the Valley following the repeal of land laws, the timeline for Assembly elections and restoration of 4G services, and the ‘Gupkar Gang’ jibe by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Sinha, who took oath on August 7, and has visited all 10 districts in Kashmir, and six (of 10) in Jammu, over the last four months, said there were “some people” who have “vested interests” in differentiating Jammu from Kashmir on the lines of “region, religion, caste, colour or area.”

L-G Sinha sought to allay fears expressed by mainstream political leaders that Assembly elections would be put on the back burner, particularly after the ongoing District Development Council (DDC) polls. He said Assembly elections are held in states which have DDCs. “Assembly function is different from that of DDC or Parliament. So, where is the contradiction?” he said.

There was no reason to fear, Sinha said. The Prime Minister has talked about Assembly elections from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15; the Home Minister has said it on the floor of Parliament, he pointed out.

“Is mein kisi ko aapatti nahi hai (Nobody has an objection to this). And the Prime Minister has said on August 15, that when the Delimitation Commission completes its work, Assembly elections will be held,” he said.

Responding to a question on fears of a demographic change in the Valley, especially after the repeal of certain land laws and amendments in some others, the Lt Governor said in J&K, 90 per cent of land is agricultural. “Nobody from outside J&K can buy agricultural land. Even within J&K, only agriculturists can buy such land,” he said.

While the amendment to certain laws has enabled outsiders to buy land in the UT, Sinha said there was no treatment for “imagined” fears.

“Give me a single example of any outsider having bought land here. Since August 5, 2019, tell me a single name. I challenge anyone to name one person from outside who has bought land here. This is baseless,” he said.

Asked about Shah’s tweet referring to mainstream political parties — which formed an alliance ahead of the DDC elections — as ‘Gupkar Gang,’ Sinha said: “As a leader of a party, he has every right to issue a political statement. If leaders in a political party can give certain statements, then others also have the freedom to speak their mind…Constitutional post hum hold kar rahein hain, humko is se matlab nahi (I hold a Constitutional post, and I am not concerned about it) (KNS)