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Total cases 121,786; Death toll mounts to 1,891; recovery rate over 96 percent in UT

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Monday recorded five death due to COVID-19 taking the death toll to 1,891 in the Union Territory while as 133 positive cases were reported taking the tally of positive cases to 121,786 in the UT.

Of the exact number of 121,786cases, 71,474 are from Kashmir and 50,312 from Jammu division. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that among 133 new cases, 75 belong to Kashmir division while as 58 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 71,474 including 68,834 recoveries and 1,190 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 50,312 including 48,377 recoveries and 701 deaths.

The officials said that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 2,684 including 1,450 from Kashmir division and 1,234 from Jammu division.

With 419 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 117,211 which is 96.24 percent of the total cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 29 from Srinagar, 07 from Baramulla, 07 from Budgam, 21 from Kupwara, 01 from Pulwama, 02 from Anantnag, 04 from Bandipora, 02 from Ganderbal, 00 from Kulgam and 02 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 58 from Jammu division include 37 from Jammu, 01 from Udhampur, 01 from Rajouri, 00 from Doda, 03 from Kathua, 02 from Kishtwar, 03 from Samba, 10 from Poonch, 01 from Ramban and 00 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.

Notably, in the last 24 hours five persons who were tested positive for COVID-19 have died, among them three belong to Kashmir division and two to Jammu division.

As per media bulletin, patients who have died include one each from Budgam, Ganderbal and Shopian in Kashmir division and two from Jammu district in Jammu division.

As per officials figures, 25,482 positive cases including 450 deaths and 24,495 recoveries are from Srinagar, 8,004 including 172 deaths and 7,712 recoveries are from Baramulla, 7,644 including 7,426 recoveries and 110 deaths are from Budgam, 5,571 including 5,357 recoveries and 91 deaths are from Kupwara, 5,600 including 88 deaths and 5,361 recoveries are from Pulwama, 4,823 including 4,632 recoveries and 83 deaths are from Anantnag, 4,660 cases including 4,542 and 60 deaths are from Bandipora, 4,500 including 4,375 recoveries and 44 deaths are from Ganderbal, 2,666 including 2,556 recoveries and 53 deaths are from Kulgam and 2,524 including 2,378 recoveries and 39 deaths are from Shopian.

In Jammu division, 24,058 including 23,024 recoveries and 357 deaths are from Jammu district, 4,096 including 3,987 recoveries and 57 deaths are from Udhampur, 3,846 including 3,664 recoveries and 54 deaths are from Rajouri, 3,398 including 3,289 recoveries and 64 deaths are from Doda, 3,214 including 3,123 recoveries and 49 deaths are from Kathua, 2,722 including 2,688 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Kishtwar, 2,775 including 2,534 recoveries and 39 deaths are from Samba, 2,462 including 2,397 recoveries and 24 deaths are from Poonch, 2,113 including 2,070 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Ramban and 1,628 including 1,601 recoveries and 15 deaths are from Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin, 904,156 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 16,963 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 2,684 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 848,927 persons have completed surveillance period and 33,691 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 3,943,822 samples are available.

Out of 3,943,822 the number of samples tested negative stands at 3,822,036 while as 121,786 have tested positive, among them 2,684 persons are active, 117,211 persons have recovered and 1,891 persons have died—(KNO)

Srinagar: In a relief for the people of Jammu and Kashmir the construction work on the much-awaited Qazigund-Banihal four-lane tunnel is nearing completion and is likely to be open for traffic from April in the ensuing year.

The construction work of the four-lane Qazigund to Banihal tunnel was awarded to an Andhra Pradesh based Navayuga Engineering Company by the NHAI with an estimated cost of over Rs 2000 crore.

The project missed several deadlines for many reasons in the past including the land conditions, lockdown besides financial issues known to the construction company.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Project manager of Qazigund-Banihal tunnel, Gaurav Gopal said that the work is expected to be completed by April 2021.

“The work on the Qazigund-Banihal four-lane tunnel is expected to be finalised by April 2021,” Gopal said.

Officials privy to the construction work said that the CCTV cameras and other facilities have been ensured with exhaust while some related work is still going in and outside the tunnel.

The tunnel is believed to reduce the road distance between Banihal in Jammu province and Qazigund in south Kashmir by 16 km from the present 35 km and will bypass Jawahar Tunnel and Shaitan Nalla, which is prone to heavy snowfall and slippery conditions during winters.

The Qazigund – Banihal stretch often remains closed for traffic movement due to the heavy snowfall and rains in the areas especially during the winter season.

The construction of the Qazigund-Banihal tunnel was started over a decade back but missed several deadlines will now make the travel over Srinagar Jammu Highway easier with the less consuming time that will be a major relief for the people of both Kashmir and Jammu division especially for the tourists who visit the Valley to enjoy the snowfall—(KNO)

One crore recovered from fraudsters in 2020: SSP Tahir Ashraf

Srinagar: Prompt action by Cyber Police Kashmir helped ailing patient from being duped of Rs Eleven lakh by scammers.

A police official told news agency KINS that a resident from Ganderbal district lost 11 lakh rupees due to the negligence of his son which he had availed as loan from the bank for treatment of his chronic disease and has to undergo a surgery outside the state.

The whole amount was available in his son’s account who was trapped in currency trading.
SSP Cyber cell Kashmir Tahir Ashraf said that scammers came in touch with his son through social media sites and motivated him, for which he was promised hefty returns and direct credit to his bank account.

“The matter was further taken up with the gateway authorities to ascertain the merchant details. The dedicated and expert financial team of cyber police station Kashmir succeeds in tracing the whole account and blocked the same which was being used to exchange into foreign currency. The gateway authorities were made to refund the whole amount into the complainant’s bank account,” the SSP maintained.

He said that Cyber police station, Kashmir zone Srinagar time and again is advising the general public not to believe persons who call in the name of stock market trading or provide service by giving advice and making an investment in the share market to get abnormal profits within short periods.

“Trusting them, do not transfer any amount either online or in any other form as they are entirely fake. Community members have hailed the prompt action of Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar in tracing and saving the hard earned money of complainants,” he said.
SSP Tahir Ashraf said that during the year 2020 Cyber Police Kashmir have saved around rupees one crore of gullible people which they have lost in various financial frauds. (KINS)

Press Trust of India

Srinigar: Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Monday said that only a fair and transparent probe can satisfy families of three youth killed in Lawaypora Srinagar last week.

“It is very important that the probe in to this encounter be concluded at the earliest. Only a fair & transparent probe, already promised by @manojsinha_ , will satisfy the families who have lost their loved ones who they insist were innocent,” Omar said in a tweet.

He said that the Lieutenant Governor has promised a fair and speedy probe in to this encounter national Conference member parliament and former judge of the high court Hasnain Masoodi called upon him and spoke to him about it.

“In the interim we hope the LG will order the handing over of the bodies to the families.”

Police claims that trio were militants, however, families said that trio are civilians and were killed in Staged encounter. (PTK)

Srinagar: Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court has stayed the operation of the judgment of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order impugned dated 9th December 2020 regarding promotion of 2010 batch of Sub Inspectors and ordered that any promotions made on the basis of the impugned seniority list questioned by the private respondents shall remain subject to the outcome of the present petition.

According to news agency Kashmir Dot Com- (KDC) in a case, Ranjeet Singh and others Appellant V/s Tajamul Islam and others Respondent(s), division bench of Justice Dheeraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sindhu Sharma stated that subject to objections and till next date of hearing, operation of the judgment and order impugned dated 9th December 2020 shall remain stayed. Any promotions made on the basis of the impugned seniority list questioned by the private respondents shall remain subject to the outcome of the present petition.

According to the court details, the petitioners challenged the judgment and order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench (for short, ‘Tribunal’) whereby the Tribunal quashed the final seniority list of direct recruits Sub Inspectors of Jammu and Kashmir Police. The Tribunal has held that the seniority list ought to have been framed on the basis of Rule 111(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police Rules, 1960 (for short, ‘Police Rules’) and that seniority ought to be given based on the merit as assessed in the written test as well as viva voce test and not on the basis of merit obtained in the training course.

Counsel appearing for the petitioners, R A Jan urged that the view expressed by the Tribunal was erroneous in law and contrary to the mandate of Rule 111 of the Police Rules.

It was urged that the seniority could have been framed on the basis of merit obtained in the basic induction training course only in accordance with the aforesaid rules and that the reliance placed by the Tribunal on the Division Bench judgment of this court in Rohit Gupta & ors vs. Ajay Kumar & ors, 2016(2) JKJ 315 was misplaced as the same pertains to the prosecuting officers, which was a class apart from the serving police agency (Executive Wing) as the petitioners herein.

Counsel for the private respondents, on the other hand, placed overwhelming reliance upon the judgment (supra) to emphasize the point that the view expressed by the Tribunal was legally justified. Heard counsel for the parties.

It is not denied that the petitioners had undergone the basic induction training course of one year before getting confirmed as direct recruits Sub Inspectors. On a perusal of the Rule 111(2) of the Police Rules, it, prima facie, appears that seniority of candidates directly appointed on the same date, who were required to pass any course or departmental examination as a necessary condition of their subsequent confirmation would depend on their order of merit in such course or examination. This part of the rule cannot be easily brushed aside in its application even on its plain reading.

“We are of the opinion that the petitioners have succeeded in making out a prima facie case. Issue notice in the main petition as also in application,” observed the court, providing four week time to the respondents to file objections, reads an order copy of court a copy of which lies with news agency KDC.

Major plot of fuelling tension in Jammu region foiled : SSP

Srinigar: The Jammu and Kashmir police in Poonch district along-with local Army have made third consecutive recovery of arms, ammunition and grenades after recent busting of a militancy module and arrest of three militant associates in Mendhar area.

The fresh recovery has been made on Sunday morning during an operation in LoC village Dabbi of Balakote.

Senior Superintendent of Police Poonch Ramesh Angral said that on December 28 last year, three militant associates were arrested in Balakote area near LoC with six hand grenades were recovered from their possession.

The trio include Mustafa Khan son of Yasir Khan resident of Galuta, Mohammad Yaseen son of Walayat Khan and Rayees Ahmed son of Mohammad Iqbal, both resident of Dabbi Balakote.

SSP said that during sustained interrogation of the trio, some more vital clues were developed after which Police team headed by SDPO Mendhar Zaheer Jafri and Army launched an operation in Dabbi village located ahead of LoC fence in Balakote from where a consignment of arms, ammunition and grenades have been recovered on Sunday morning.

The recovery include one pistol, three pistol magazines, thirty five bullets and five hand grenades.

He said that today’s recovery is the third recovery under this module of militant associates busted in LoC area of Mendhar.

SSP Poonch Ramesh Angral further informed that Jammu and Kashmir Gazanvi Force is the militant outfit which was operating this module from POJK

SSP said that Jammu and Kashmir Gazanvi Force apart from militant activities is now also trying to carry out militant activities and is attempting to target religious places with an aim to trigger communal tension in Jammu region.

He added in the first recovery of six hand grenades that was made from the arrested three persons, it is evident that grenades were to be lobbed on religious places in Ari and Mendhar town areas of Poonch district.

The second recovery was made from Dabi village wherein two pistols, seventy bullets and two grenades were recovered.

”The handlers from across used to drop the consignment in hidden patches right infront of Indian locations and these arrested militant associates than managed to pick it up for further carriage in hinterland.” SSP said.

The total recovery made so far include 13 grenades, 03 pistols, 05 pistol magazines, 105 pistol bullets, 04 Pakistan made ballons, 01 flag of Tehreek ul Majahideen Jammu and Kashmir and 18 posters of J&K Gazanavi Force. (PTK)

Lone, Masoodi, Sakina impress upon admin to restore road connectivity, electricity and water supply in north, south Kashmir

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Sunday censured the incumbent administration over its failure to rise up to exigencies that have surfaced in wake of fresh snowfall across Kashmir Division.

In a statement to KNS, Party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar while taking exception to administrative apathy on ground said, “Administration has again been caught napping. The fresh snowfall has debunked the claims of administration on ensuring basic facilities to people. It has been snowing incessantly since yesterday but the administration is yet to swing its men and machinery into action to clear the major, minor arterials and inner alleys. The situation in the urban areas of Srinagar post snowfall presents a grimy tale of administrative neglect. Many localities in Srinagar city are reeling under darkness every since it started snowing; various roads and inner alleys are inundated. Electricity in many parts of city is playing hide and seek with consumers. Shortage of edibles and other household merchandise has added to the mounting woes of people across Kashmir.”

Sagar urged the incumbent administration to take stock of the situation in far-flung areas and ensure people all effective and basic amenities. “The pesky electricity supply and unsteady water supply have aggravated the people in plains as well as the upper reaches of our state. Many interior roads haven’t been cleared of snow yet and what worsens the situation is the unavailability of any prompt action from the government. The stock situation in Kargil and other areas including Keran, Badarwah, kishtiwar, Gurez and Leh should be reviewed,” he said.

He implored upon the administration to rise up to the needs of people and ensure all basic and effective amenities to them.

Meanwhile party’s members of Parliament Muhammad Akbar Lone, Hasnain Masoodi and State Secretary Sakina Itoo have also impressed upon the district administration of north and south Kashmir districts to put its men and machinery into action and restore road connectivity, electricity and water supply to all far-flung areas.

The leaders also impressed upon the administration to immediately clear the inter district road network and inner alleys in all north and south Kashmir districts. They also rued the absence of medics and another associated staff in primarily, secondary, and tertiary health care facilities in north and south Kashmir districts. (KNS)

Srinagar: Kashmir region on Sunday received moderate to heavy snowfall while rains lashed lashed the Jammu and Ladakh division.

Metrological department had forecast widespread snowfall in many areas of the valley on Sunday and Monday and heavy snowfall at isolated places.

According to “Kashmir News Service” correspondent, The snowfall threw life out of gear across Kashmir where people complained of closed roads and power outage, the authorities claimed that in all the districts administration was reaching out to people with men ans machinery.

Authorities has also suspended traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway because of heavy snow accumulation in the Jawahar Tunnel area.

However minimum temperatures improved throughout J&K on Sunday.

Srinagar recorded minus 1.5, Pahalgam minus 1.5 while Gulmarg had minus 5.0 as the minimum temperature.

The-day long period of harsh winter cold known as the ‘Chillai Kalan’, will end on January 31.

Meanwhile Indian Metrological department said: “At present widespread light to moderate snowfall/rain with thunderstorm in plains of Jammu reported from Jammu and Kashmir whereas weather remained mainly dry in Ladakh.

Forecast for next 5 days:

Moderate to heavy snowfall/rain with thunderstorm most likely to continue till 6th Forenoon. We expect heavy to very heavy snowfall mainly during 4th afternoon to 5th especially in South Kashmir, Poonch, Rajouri, Banihal-Ramban, Reasi. Light to Moderate snowfall is also likely in Zanskar, Drass,Kargil, Leh, etc.

On 5th Probable Impacts:

Disruption of Surface n Air transportation, Landslide on hilly area, water logging in local drainage etc.

It also said that Heavy to very heavy snowfall/rain at scattered places of Jammu and Kashmir during next 3 days and significant improvement from 6th onwards (KNS).

Srinagar, Dec 3: J&K Bank authorities has decided to conduct the written test for Banking Associate today as per schedule.
A top Bank Official Informed that the examination for Banking associate will be held as per schedule.
Earlier reports that aspirants demanded postponement of examination due to closure of roads at various places across Kashmir. (KNS).