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Srinagar: Moderate snowfall occurred in higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir while it was lighter on the plains on Tuesday as the MET forecast improvement in weather from Wednesday.
The harsh winter patch of ‘Chillai Kalan’ will end on January 31. It is the snowfall during the Chillai Kalan that helps replenish all the perennial water reservoirs of both UTs.
It was zero degrees Celsius in Srinagar, Pahalgam was at minus 3 and Gulmarg minus 7.5.
Leh town of Ladakh was at minus 17.3, Kargil minus 16.4 and Drass was at minus 17.8 degrees Celsius.
Jammu city had 3.7, Katra 4.5, Batote minus 1.5, Bannihal 0.4 and Bhaderwah minus 1.9 as the minimum temperatures.
The snowfall brought hope to the local people linked with the tourism industry as they expect business to pick up around the New Year. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism has been one the worst-hit sectors. According to the weather office, snowfall started in Srinagar around 7 am, several hours after it had begun in neighbouring Budgam and Pulwama districts. Snowfall was also going in Kulgam and Anantnag districts of south Kashmir. Gulmarg, the popular ski resort, recorded seven inches of fresh snowfall, while Pahalgam and Sonamarg resorts in central Kashmir received around three to four inches of snow each. 
Gurez in north Kashmir recorded three inches of fresh snowfall, weather officials they said, adding that there are reports of snowfall in other areas in the upper reaches of Kashmir Valley as well. The area around the Jawahar Tunnel – on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway – also received snowfall since Monday but luckily the arterial road was open for traffic today. The snowfall ahead of the New Year has seen many domestic tourists and locals rushing to Gulmarg and Pahalgam, officials said.
Gulmarg saw more then 1,200 domestic tourist arrivals on Monday, while over 2,500 locals from various parts of the Valley were also at the skiing resort. The numbers are expected to rise over the next two days. Pahalgam resort is also seeing brisk footfall ahead of the New Year celebrations. (KINS)

Srinagar: ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar is promoting horticulture in temperate region of the country by popularizing new technologies, varieties and Government policies.

In a statement issued to news agency KINS the Institute said that it is on job to implement Government schemes like National Saffron Mission and High Density Plantation in apple for enhancing yield, quality and income of the farmers.

“Promotion of walnut cultivation in J &K and Uttarakhand has been taken up with popularization of Institute developed walnut varieties (CITH-W-1 to CITH-W-20)” it said.

“Institute is focusing on development and outreach of technologies to the farmers field and farmer first programmes for enhancing farmer’s income by 2022 which is Hon’ble PMs vision”.

“The Institute is continuously working for the benefit of farmers by providing quality planting material of apple, walnut, almond, apricot, cherry, peach, plum, pear etc, HRD & technological support in various field of temperate horticulture.

Institute has vision for enhancing the livelihood of the farmers by providing quality inputs, technological support and awareness/benefits of Government schemes” the statement added.(KINS)

Srinagar: With the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha led administration has tightened it’s screws against the corrupt officials, it appears that the work culture in the government offices too has improved. 

An analyst talking to news agency KINS said, “Many new corruption cases have been registered and old cases which were dumped under the carpet stand reopened. Pro-active approach of the Manoj Sinha led administration, Anti-Corruption Bureau and other agencies, is giving sleepless nights to the people who during their tenure just ignored these issues.”

It’s in place to mention here that transition of erstwhile State into a Union Territory has extended the jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to Jammu and Kashmir. The ACB has got more teeth and is acting on the complaints swiftly.
The analyst said, “In absence of political interference many big fishes have been nailed during the past few months. Big shots who used to think that they are above the law have been questioned and grilled in the cases which were pushed on the backburner by the erstwhile regimes.”

He said that besides the ACB, The Enforcement Directorate has also taken keen interest in Kashmir.
The analyst said, “The ACB is registering cases on a daily basis. No complaint is being overlooked. People are feeling the change in ground situation and are approaching the anti-graft agencies frequently. The quick response is encouraging more and more people to come forward.”

He said, “The pro-active approach of these agencies can go a long way in curbing the corruption in the newly carved out Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”

An observer said, “The work culture in the government offices too seems to have improved. The complaints about files remaining stuck for months together at one place have declined. The officials have realized that they are being watched and their functioning is being monitored. They don’t want to end up in trouble and are trying to complete the assigned tasks without any delay.”

He said, “The present dispensation in J&K is trying to make people comfortable and it appears that work culture has improved. Officials haven’t changed. They are the same people who used to work in the political regimes but their style of functioning has changed as they want to ensure that their jobs remain safe.”

Another analyst said, “The steps which have been taken in the recent past by the administration have made the government officials realize that they can be axed if they don’t perform.”(KINS)

Each district to get 50 Lac rupees

Srinagar: In a major development, the Directorate of Samagra Shiksha, Jammu and Kashmir Union territory has sanctioned Rs 10 Crore in favor of District Institute of Education & Training (DIET) across 20 districts of Union Territory.

Samagra Shiksha is a sector-wide development programme which subsumes the then-existing centrally sponsored schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE) to help to harmonise the implementation mechanisms and transaction costs at all levels.

While as the objective of DIET is to conduct short term orientation courses for in-service teachers and to impart one-year training course of Diploma in Elementary Education for untrained, undergraduate teachers.

The order issued by Dr Arun Manhas, Project Director Samagra Shiksha, Jammu and Kashmir which lies with news agency KINS reads, “Sanction is hereby accorded release of Rs 10 Crore on account of Training in favour of District Institute of Education & Training of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory for the year 2020-21.

Further as per the order, Rs 5 Crore have been issued for the 10 district of Jammu which includes Doda, Jammu, Kathua, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Samba and Udhampur. While as Rs 5 Crore have been sanctioned to 10 districts of Kashmir which includes Anantnag, Budgam, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Shopian and Srinagar. 

As per the order, funds shall be utilized only after seeking approval from the Directorate of Samagra Shiksha, Jammu and Kashmir, while the guidelines with respect to the expenditure to be incurred shall be issued subsequently.

Also, the funds shall be utilized after observing all codal formalities and norms, while proper books of accounts of the expenditure incurred shall be maintained as per the norms, also the accounts and other records shall be open to audit and inspection to audit and inspection by the Chirag society and the amount allotted under TSP is to be spent for the purpose it is meant.(KINS)

Srinagar: With crime against women on rise in Kashmir, Senior Supreme Court lawyer Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi, who remained last chairperson of J&K Women’s Commission that ceased to exist, tells Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) crime reporter about the significance of the Commission and how the crime against women and children could be curtailed:

KINS: How important was State Women’s Commission for safety of women and child rights in J&K?

Masoodi: The Jammu and Kashmir State Commission For Protection of Women and Child Rights Act provided for the establishment of the Jammu and Kashmir State Commission For Protection of Women and Child Rights (JKSCPWCR) was a masterpiece of legislation that conjointly provided for the protection of women and child rights. Some of the important powers of Commission  included, but not limiting to, investigation of matters relating to Constitutional and legal safeguards for women and children, taking up cases of violations of rights of women and children ; to inspect homes/jails/hospitals and other places where women and children are lodged or kept or imprisoned. The greatest potential for intervention, personally my favourite, was the power to look into complaints and take suomoto cognizance of violation of rights. The JKSCPWCR Act provided for all the powers of a civil court including that to summon a person from any part of J&K; to require production of documents; require evidence on affidavits; access to public records and the power of issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents. The dynamism of the office of Chairperson of the Commission coupled with the aforesaid powers and through its members and civil society can reach out at the grassroots to ensure the implementation of welfare laws in letter and spirit.

KINS: What needs to be done to stop crime against women?

Masoodi: I personally feel that crime against women and children could be curtailed to a considerable extent if we chart out a strategy whereby we focus equally on crime prevention as much as we focus on post commission of crime remedies. There cannot be a bullet shot approach in stopping such crimes as the root of such crimes lies in the mind-set which is built over years. Hence, besides stringent provisions of law there must be a comprehensive strategy to infuse and inculcate virtues of morality in young boys by involving them in various kinds of workshops and orientation programmes wherein they respect, importance and role of girls and women in different capacities must be taught to them on regular basis. Simultaneously, there should provision of safe spaces at public places, quick and swift crime response system, research on attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours of men and boys, as well as young people, related to various forms of violence, and supports advocacy, awareness-raising, community mobilization, and educational programmes, as well as legal and policy reforms, widespread awareness of sexual violence laws through print media, electronic media and social media, if done properly, can prove to be very fruitful. Unfortunately, despite so much water has flown under the bridge, we have yet not reached half way mark towards achieving a just and ideal society for women.

KINS: What role society can play to curb on crime against women?

Masoodi: As I said earlier the root of such crimes rests in the mind-set which is built over years. Hence, besides stringent provisions of law there must be a comprehensive strategy to infuse and inculcate virtues of morality in young boys by involving them in various kinds of workshops and orientation programmes wherein the respect, importance and role of girls and women in different capacities must be taught to them on regular basis. Importantly, recognizing and speaking out against violence is extremely crucial, one must ring the bell against violence as soon as it is committed for failure to rise or report against such violence not only emboldens the culprit but also sends out a very dangerous signal in society because of which many prospective offenders take things for a ride and commit such dastardly acts without any fear of law. We must thrive to create a just society wherein girls and women are not subjected to gender based discrimination and they are provided with equal academic, social, economic and political opportunities and women should be given their due share in the decision making process and only then we can fairly cherish for a bright, safe and secure future for girls and women in our country.

KINS: On an average how many calls you receive from victims per month?

Masoodi: Ever since the closure of Commission, my office has been receiving somewhere between 5-10 complaints in a month through calls, mails, personal messages and social media.
This was second part of her interview (KINS)

“Closing doors to APD by Hurriyat set bad precedent across country; Hurriyat didn’t reciprocate dialogue call of HM”, “Person arrested with three guns released for becoming BJP proxy, Waheed who brought youths into mainstream jailed by NIA”

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Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti in a major revelation regarding the reason to break alliance with the BJP said she didn’t accept the proposal of not handing over the bodies of slain militants to their families for last rites and a major crackdown against Jamaat-e-Islami in J&K.

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She also said that closing doors for the All Parties Delegation (APD) by the Hurriyat leaders set a bad precedent across India and her party would continue to vouch for the resolution of Kashmir issue through dialogue between India and Pakistan.

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She said this while addressing the party workers and DDC election winners at PDP headquarters in Srinagar.

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Defending the joining of her party with BJP for alliance, Mehbooba said that late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed had joined hands with BJP only to “cage a jin” in a bottle so that article 370 won’t be touched.

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“We had an agreement with BJP that article 370 won’t be touched, historic roads will be opened besides dialogue with Hurriyat leaders and Pakistan. That was the Agenda of Alliance,” she said as according to KNS correspondent.

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Revealing the fall of alliance, she said that the alliance crumbled after she was told by the BJP to sign a pact that read: “i refused to agree to a plan of BJP not handing over militant bodies to their families for last rites and a crackdown against the JeI across Kashmir.”

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However Mehbooba said an opportunity was lost by not responding to the repeated offers of Home Minister of India who stated “My doors are open for everyone.”

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While felicitating the DDC candidates who won from various seats across Kashmir, PDP chief said “BJP had written PDP’s obituary but the recent council elections proved that PDP is workers’ party; actually a movement on ground. my father used to say workers are like his eyes. I believe in same. Today, PDP is alive again because of workers. We won so many seats despite the big leaders left the party but they lost in their own constituencies as our worker stood with us firmly,” she said.

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Training her guns at BJP led government in New Delhi for using investigation agencies, Mehbooba said that history is witness whenever any party comes to power, it invites other smaller parties to join them to run the governance “but “We are seeing reverse of everything.” “BJP made country’s top agencies as its partners including NIA, ED, CBI only suppress people and harass them,” she alleged.

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Mehbooba accused the Government of harassing, intimidated, threatning the workers in last two months of DDC elections, “now DDC winners are being blackmailed to join other parties.A person who was caught along with three guns in his car was let go and his case was withdrawn as he became BJP’s proxy. On the contrary PDP youth leader Waheed Para, who made hundreds of youth join PDP was jailed by NIA. Waheed is the one who brought 6000 youth to former Home Minister of India’s rally in Kashmir. Despite court orders, they didn’t allow him to take oath in jail. He was bringing youth into the fold of mainstream; how can he be linked with militants.”

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According to KNS correspondent, she said PDP will continue to press for resolution of Kashmir issue through dialogue with Hurriyat and Pakistan.

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We are not saying we will resolve the Kashmir issue, but we have a role. We wont allow Kashmir act as a battle ground but want it to be a peace bridge between India and Pakistan. We are not saying what Atal Bihari Vajpayee did. We demand opening of our traditional routes.”

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She accused BJP Government led of choking Kashmir’s economy and tarnishing the J&K’s constitution with scrapping of article 370
“We will fight for our rights. We are not the ones who would raise white flags. We will not bow; no matter how far BJP goes in choking Kashmir economy and making us dependent on all sides.” (KNS).

Srinagar, Dec 27: Medical experts on Monday said that the new strain of Covid-19 is behaving differently and authorities must sound alert to prevent it from spreading in Jammu and Kashmir.

DAK President and flu expert, Dr Nisar ul Hassan while talking exclusively with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that there is a need to remain vigilant as new strain is behaving differently.

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“The new strain has been found in UK, and many tourists visits Kashmir from that place so there is a need to remain vigilant like checking entry and exit points on airports, railways stations and bus-stands,” he said.

Hassan said though Covid strain was seen in August- September but no genetic sequencing was done by then and now there is a significant mutation in it.

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“Viruses have characteristics to mutate, but this virus strain is behaving differently in a significant manner because it has around 40 mutations and seven of them are in the spike protein which basically invades human cells,” he said.

Hassan said once the spike proteins are mutated it can cause deletion mutation of two amino acids and thus it can spread rapidly.

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“Authorities must not downplay new mutations, they must educate people, prepare them and sound alert so as to prevent the new outbreak, Hassan said. ” There are chances we have this mutant virus before England and that it may have died of its own.”

Hassain said patients who have recovered from Covid-19 can also get re-infected due to new strain as recovered patients may have developed immune system to the first strain which couldn’t protect them from the second strain.

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“Moreover, the vaccines developed can’t effect fully for all strains as at present the vaccines developed are for one strain and not for new strain so it could be partially effective and there is a need for an updated vaccine which could make it fully effective,” he said.

“At present as the virus is behaving, it seems it won’t go so early but will remain with us for some time which cannot be predicted,” he added—(KNO)

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Srinagar: A soldier who was injured along with another colleague in gunfight in Shopian district’s Kanigam area succumbed to the wounds on Monday.

Official sources told GNS that the soldier was critically injured in the gunfight at Kanigam Shopian last week and succumbed to his injuries at army’s 92-Base Hospital Srinagar.

Two soldiers were injured while as many local Al-Badr militants were killed in the gunfight which commenced late on Friday and culminated on December 26.

The encounter had ensued after a team of Police, 44RR and 178Bn CRPF cordon launched a join corodon and search operation in Kanigam following a specific input regarding presence of militants.

The two militants killed were identified as Owais Farooq of Kadlabal Pampore Awantipora and Asif Lone of Turkwangam Shopian, both affiliated with Al-Badr. (GNS)

Srinagar: The Delimitation Commission operating from its New Delhi office has gathered vital data pertaining to total electorates in Jammu and Kashmir and is most likely to visit Union territory in February- March, KINS has learnt.

The Commission constituted to ‘redraw’ J&K’s Assembly hasn’t visited Jammu and Kashmir even once during the past nine and half months of its constitution.

Sources said that earlier though the commission had planned to visit Union territory Jammu and Kashmir, but it couldn’t visit due to the severity of coronavirus pandemic and more so because of the District Development Council (DDC) elections.

However highly placed sources told news agency KINS that now the commission is likely to visit J&K in the February- March to seek views of political parties and people on the delimitation of constituencies.

Asked whether the Coronavirus-induced lockdown had delayed the work of the Delimitation Commission, a source said that the panel remains “unstoppable” and continues with its task.

Sources said that the first visit of the commission will discuss how to ensure equal distribution of assembly seats among the two regions.

However KINS could not contacted any member of the commission for the comments over the visit.

As per the reorganisation act of J&K 2019, Ladakh UT will have no Assembly while J&K UT will have an Assembly after elections but prior to elections delimitation exercise was a must.
For detailed analysis for delimitation of the Assembly constituencies, sources said that the commission was studying the data pertaining to electorates in J&K including region, district, Assembly segment and block wise.

The Delimitation Commission is headed by Justice (Retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai and comprises Sushil Chandra, Election Commissioner and Hridesh Kumar, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K. It has all five Lok Sabha MPs from J&K including Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Justice (Retired) Hasnain Masoodi as associate members. However, the National Conference, which has three members, has already dissociated from the Commission.
Top BJP leaders that include national vice president Avinash Rai Khanna and BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul had told KINS that they would like the delimitation commission to keep the population, topography, geography and area in mind while making recommendations. “Our motive is to end regional balance,” they had said.

“The delimitation exercise is going on. As soon as the delimitation process is over, there will be elections in the future so that the Union Territory has its own government, which will undertake development work with renewed vigour,” one of the top BJP leaders told KINS wishing not to be named.

The Delimitation Commission, according to sources, was also carrying out detailed study of the Assembly constituencies which can be reserved for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.

Sources said that there were indications that seats to be reserved for SCs could also go up by one or two.

The Commission has been mandated to delimit the constituencies of the Union Territory in accordance with the provisions of Part V of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 and Delimitation Act, 2002, by the Union Ministry for Law and Justice on March 6 this year.

While splitting Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, the Union Home Ministry had increased Assembly seats of Jammu and Kashmir by seven taking total seats to 114-24 of which are reserved for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) while election will be held for 90 seats.

Erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir had 111 seats including 24 reserved for PoK while elections were held for 87 seats. With creation of Ladakh as Union Territory, four seats of the region were reduced and the Assembly was left with 83 seats. However, with an increase of seven seats, J&K UT will have an Assembly of 90 seats. Two Women MLAs will be nominated to the House, which was the position earlier also.

In the previous Assembly, Kashmir had 46 seats, Jammu 37 and Ladakh four.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir came into being on October 31, 2019 after the state was reorganised and bifurcated into two Union Territories, Ladakh being the other.

It is to mention here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on 15 August announced that elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir after a delimitation process in the Union Territory was over.

“The delimitation exercise is going on in Jammu and Kashmir under the chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court judge. As soon as the delimitation process is over, there will be elections in the future,” Modi had said. (KINS)

Srinagar: The family of footballer turned militant who was killed in a gunfight in Baramulla have denied having spoken to their son ever since he had gone missing, adding that the audio doing rounds on social media claiming to be a telephonic conversation between the father-son duo is “fake.

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