Author: snskashmir

SNS KASHMIR

NEW DELHI JANUARY 11 :

A Chinese soldier, who was apprehended by the Indian Army at the southern bank of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh on Friday, has been handed back to China at Chushul sector. The soldier was apprehended after he transgressed across the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

South Pangong Tso is one of the areas where only a few hundred metres separate troops of the two countries.

The capture of the soldier comes amid a massive deployment of troops by the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in eastern Ladakh in view of the tense border standoff that erupted following a clash between the two sides in the Pangong lake area in early May.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Indian Army said: “During early hours of 08 January, 21, a Chinese soldier was apprehended on the Indian side of the LAC, in Ladakh, in area South of Pangong Tso lake. The PLA soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody by Indian troops deployed in this area.” “Troops from either side are deployed along the LAC since friction erupted last year due to unprecedented mobilisation and forward concentration by Chinese troops. The PLA soldier is being dealt with as per laid down procedures and circumstances under which he had crossed the LAC are being investigated. Further details are awaited,” the Army stated.

On Saturday, China had called for the immediate return of one of its soldiers who “went astray” in the China-India border areas. “Due to darkness and complicated geography, a soldier of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army frontier defence force went astray in the China-India border early Friday morning,” China military online, an official website of the PLA said.

On October 19 last year, Indian troops had captured a Chinese soldier after he “strayed” across the LAC in the Demchok sector of Ladakh. Corporal Wang Ya Long of the PLA was handed back to China at Chushul-Moldo border point in eastern Ladakh following laid down protocols. (AGENCY)

SNS KASHMIR

Jahangeer Ganaie /KNO

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 11 :

Jammu and Kashmir is set to receive first batch of COVID-19 vaccine by today or tomorrow with officials saying that 1st doses will be given to health care workers.

“In coming two days, we will get our 1st batch of Covid-19 vaccine and vaccination will be started on 16th January across the country for which department has already done ground work and mock drills,” they said. 

State Immunisation Officer, Dr Qazi Haroon told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they were expecting 2.5 lakh vaccines today, however, as traffic has been suspended along Srinagar-Jammu highway so it may be take one day more in reaching here. 

He said that more vaccines would arrive in coming weeks, which would be used to vaccinate after this lot. 

Pertinently, the first phase of the drive will cover 30 crore people in India—(KNO)

SRINAGAR JANUARY 11 :

Year 2020 has seen sharp decrease in militancy related incidents and civilian casualties in J&K, a Ministry of Home Affairs’ report has revealed.

As per the report title ‘Major activities of MHA during 2020 – A summary of important developments during the year’ the number of militancy incidents in 2020 “decreased by 63.93 percent as compared to the corresponding period in 2019” in J&K.

It says that there was also a decrease in fatalities of Special Forces Personnel by 29.11 percent and a decrease in casualties of civilians by 14.28 percent in 2020 as compared to the corresponding period in 2019.

A senior MHA official told Greater Kashmir that 42 civilians were killed in militancy related incidents in J&K in 2019. “As compared to this, 32 civilians were killed in J&K in 2020,” he said, adding that in 2019 as many as 78 security forces personnel were killed in J&K. “In 2020 as many as 56 security forces personnel were killed in J&K.”

“Incidents of violence have reduced significantly in Kashmir after August 5 last year and security forces have achieved major success against militants,” the senior MHA official said, adding that soon after the abrogation of Article 370, “militancy-related activities reduced by around 36% in Kashmir last year”.

“Some wanted militants like Hizbul commander Riyaz Naikoo, Lashkar commander Haider, Jaish commander Kari Yasir and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind Burhan Koka have been killed by security forces in 2020,” the official said, adding that the security forces have also busted lot of militant hideouts in Kashmir besides recovering huge weapons including scores of AK 47 rifles.

Ever since the abrogation of J&K’s special status, the MHA official said that both the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) have witnessed an escalation in ceasefire violations. “There were 5,100 instances of ceasefire violation along the LoC in 2020 in Jammu and Kashmir,” the official said. “It was the highest in nearly 18 years that claimed 36 lives and left more than 130 people injured.”

He said that there were 3,289 ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border in 2019. “Of these, 1,565 ceasefire violations took place since August 2019, after the abrogated Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories,” he said, adding that the number of ceasefire violations in 2020 was over five times that of 2017 when 971 cases were reported in which 31 people including 12 civilians and 19 security forces personnel were killed and 151 suffered injuries.

“The corresponding figures for 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were 347, 114, 62, 44, and 28. There were 77 violations in 2008, 21 in 2007 and three in 2006.” (AGENCIES)

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan cricketer and tennis star Sania Mirza’s husband Shoaib Malik escaped unhurt after a car crash in Lahore on Sunday night. The accident happened after the cricketer left Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s National High-Performance Centre to attend the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Player Draft 2021.

A Pakistan journalist also shared the video of the mangled car after the accident on his Twitter account.

Malik took to Twitter to confirm his well being.”I am perfectly all right everybody. It was just a happenstance accident and Almighty has been extremely Benevolent. Thank you to each one of you who’ve reached out. I am deeply grateful for all the love and care…,” Shoaib Malik tweeted.

As per Pak media reports, the incident happened after the 38-year-old all-rounder lost control of his car and it ended up skidding on the road and hitting the parked truck near a restaurant in the area. (AGENCY)

SNS KASHMIR

ISLAMABAD JANUARY 11 :

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday that no talks is possible with India until New Delhi restores the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir. Khan said this while responding to a question about any possibility of a dialogue with New Delhi during his interactions with the representatives of the digital media in Islamabad.

No talks possible with India until they restore the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir, he said We don’t have adversarial relations with any country except India which is trying to destabilise Pakistan, he claimed. Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in Pakistan. Subsequent attacks, including one on Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday that no talks is possible with India until New Delhi restores the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir. Khan said this while responding to a question about any possibility of a dialogue with New Delhi during his interactions with the representatives of the digital media in Islamabad.

No talks possible with India until they restore the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir, he said We don’t have adversarial relations with any country except India which is trying to destabilise Pakistan, he claimed. Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in Pakistan. Subsequent attacks, including one on Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship.

The relationship further dipped after India’s war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terorrist training camp deep inside Pakistan on February 26, 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed Withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special powers and bifurcating the state into two union territories in August last year also evoked a strong reaction from Pakistan, which has been unsuccessfully trying to rally international support against India on the Kashmir issue India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda. (PTI)

“Govt busy in looting our resources, starting with soil, now marking deedar trees to take them away”

” All Himalayan states have special provision to regulate population to save glaciers  from melting”

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU, JANUARY 10 :

Former Member Parliament and Chairman Dogra Swabhimaan Sangathan and said that Goverment  is concerned about 537 seats not 6 seats of J&K and is busy in looting resources of J&K.
” There is no development, employment, education in J&K now. They are concerned about how to levy tax, how to raise power tariff, loot minerals, marking of deodars is being done to take them away from J&K,  sand is being transported outside J&K, people associated with it are no more getting work.
He said this duirng an exclusive interview with KNS.
” When you want destruction, how can development will happen 
Oxygen cylinders are not available in hospitals, internet is not working properly. They charge for 4g and give 2g. When you won’t give jobs and power of power projects of our rivers to us. What is fun of these projects for us.”  
Reacting to a question on DDC election results, he said, ” I don’t accept the DDC election,. It was a selection. They actually wanted to divert by their weaknesses. Grievances of people have increased not lessened. Labourers have not been paid. No work has been done. They just want to show that tourism has increased. No one goes to Kashmir now or patnitop. Hoteliers are crying. They are beating the drum that J&K is open for whole population of country. Earlier also anyone would setup industry on lease. After abrogation of Article 370 ,tourism has gone down to zero.
Land to the tiller act gave right of land to the tillers.  Why cannot a tiller of Govt land become owner of that land. Why was only Article 370 removed and 371 is still there. What is animosity with people of J&K.”
He rubbished the reports of ever supporting abrogation of Article 370, 
“I have never supported the abrogation of Article 370. I was in favour of trifurcation. Politicians or J&K has angered people of Jammu and Ladakh. Article 370 and Article 371 are one. Now People of Ladakh demand inclusion in 6th schedule to safeguard their rights. Why they only think that J&K was not part of India.”
He questioned the GOI for discrimination with J&K
“We the politician’s are responsible for it.  Had we not angered people of Jammu and Ladakh, GOI would not have been able to do it. In five districts they got zero recent elections. There is extreme resentment among people against BJP. Recently BJP leaders from Himachal Pradesh were campaigning here. But in HP law prevents outsiders from land and jobs. They should have created seperate PSC for all three places with equal share of jobs. Is anyone begging in J&K, that they would done our condition better with removal of Article 370.They should have actually replicated the development model of J&K in others states. There is nothing wrong in federalship. PM Modi as Gujrat CM was in favour of independence of states. Why he is doing against it now. Every region of J&K has a seperate identify.”

On being asked whether removal of Article 370 has hit Dogra identify more than other regions, he said, ” every region received same treatment. Yes Ladakh was demanding UT status and after getting it they now demand inclusion on 6th schedule.If Kashmiri, Dogri  languages have been included in 8th schedule of the constitution. Why they are not preserving our identity?  When Article 1 of constitution says we are all indians, how come they would make us more indians. In small Distrct of Samba 25000 people are either employed with army or pensioners of Army; still we have to prove our nationalism. Our youngestors are guarding borders.

Reacting to a question on restoration of statehood, he said, “370 will be given to state.  There should be one one state of Jammu carved. 
He blamed PAGD of  not being impartial regarding Jammu and I have never done it against Kashmir.
“They are together in Kashmir only and not in Jammu. Why they didn’t talk with people only. I am always ready to help my Kashsmiri brothers but I am against politicians. They came together only after they had problem. Before 1947 Jammu had 4 districts and in Kashmir had 2. Now Kashmir has 10 districts. Kashmiri leadership wants best of resources. We don’t want to get sandwiched between India and Kashmir, we want a seperate state.”

On being asked whether Jammu will face the brunt of influx of more people than Kashmir, ” All Himalayan states have been given special status so that population doesn’t increase there. If population will increase, temperature will melt glaciers and all would be drowned in rivers. Our colour and shape will change but we won’t die, they will die.Temperature of Himalaya has important role for climate of India. As far interests of Dogras are considered. Kashmiris always ignored them, Dogra certificate was removed by them. I won’t blame people of Kashmir. Politicians of Jammu and Kashmir are responsible for it. They should have focused on development. Sheikh sb has promised the West Pakistan refugees that they will be treated same way as refugees of PaK. Rest he didn’t did. He was then jailed. In whole country BJP beated the drum across country that they have not been given donicle rights in last 70 years. If we would have given them, what was the issue. Now everyone got the domicle. “

“Be visible and take early measures; Need more feet on the ground; Quickly reach out to the people to address their needs and requirements”: Lt Governor to Officers

Lauds efforts of employees working 24×7 on ground in challenging climatic conditions

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU 10 JANUARY :

Extending the much needed relief to the people of snow bound areas, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha declared ‘Heavy Snowfall’ as state specific Natural Calamity under SDRF norms.

In a statement issued to news agency-kashmir news service(KNS), The Lieutenant Governor was chairing a meeting to take stock of the winter management, particularly, snow clearance efforts of Administration, with all DCs and SSPs of Kashmir Division, through virtual mode, at the Raj Bhavan here today.

Pertinently, ‘Heavy Snowfall’ was not figuring in the list of ‘Natural Calamities’ under SDRF norms, due to which disbursement of relief and ex-gratia for the damages due to heavy snowfall was not possible for the Districts’ Disaster Management Authorities.

Due to declaration of ‘Heavy Snowfall’ as a ‘Natural Calamity’; processing of ex-gratia relief under SDRF will become faster, thereby giving a huge relief to the affected public of snow bound areas.

The Lt Governor sought a detailed report on issues and problems faced by the public due to heavy snowfall and future course of action of the Administration at all levels to overcome the challenges thereof.

On being apprised about the shortage of small rescue vehicles for the movement of people requiring medical assistance, particularly, in remote areas and areas having narrow lanes, the Lt Governor directed that 4×4 rescue vehicles / ambulances be provided to snow affected Districts with immediate effect for helping the people in distress.

The Lt Governor asked the officers to be more sensitive and responsive to the issues of the public and take requisite measures to minimize the difficulties of common people.

“Be visible and take early measures. Need more feet on the ground. Quickly reach out to the people to address their needs and requirements”, the Lt Governor asked the Officers.

The Lt Governor lauded the efforts of employees working 24×7 on ground in challenging climatic conditions. He directed for rationalizing deployment of machinery and equipment for snow clearance from the roads, besides making necessary emergency facilities available to render critical help in contingent situations.

Taking cognizance of media reports, social media posts and grievances received from the public, the Lt Governor asked the Administration to identify gaps and take immediate corrective measures to fill the same to redress the concerning issues of the people.

The Lt Governor also directed the officers to continuously monitor the situation and work in synergy with various departments to avoid any inconvenience to the people.

During the meeting, the Lt Governor took a detailed district wise review of the overall status of power scenario, snow clearance, road connectivity, water supply, essential supplies, disaster management, food supplies, availability of Power buffer stock and other issues.

He emphasized on provision of all basic services to the people, in particular, power, water, road connectivity, food, LPG and other essential commodities without any interruption. He further directed the officers to keep a check on the increase in prices of essential commodities, if any, and take corrective measures. 

The Lt Governor also assessed the implementation of the directions passed in previous winter preparedness meetings.

Sh. Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Sh. BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Sh. Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department and Information Department; Sh. Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department; Sh. Pandurang K. Pole, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Sh. M Raju, Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Deputy Commissioners and SSPs of Kashmir Division attended the meeting, in person and through video conferencing

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR JANUARY 10 :

The DGP J&K, Shri Dilbag Singh visited the South Kashmir districts of Anantnag and Awantipora late in the evening to review the Security preparedness and drills of the Nakas and men deployed on the critical NH 44. The NH 44 security grid is being further enhanced to meet the challenges from terrorism.
During his visit the DGP interacted with jawans of JKP and CRPF. He complimented them for the dedication with which they have been working despite the heavy snow fall and inclement weather braving the harsh winters.

The DGP emphasised upon the importance of courteous behaviour to be displayed during checking on the Highway. He appreciated the men of JKP for the way they have handled the Naka checking duties during COVID-19 pandemic.
The DGP congratulated Deputy Commandant Vasudev of CRPF 40 Bn on a naka. The officer was recently awarded the DGP Disc for his committed service to the nation.
DIG SKR Atul Goel, SSP Anantnag and SSP Awantipora accompanied the DGP.

Scores of frontier villages remain still cut off, with electricity and water supply

    

Reyaz Rashid

Baramulla: People living in different border villages of Sub division Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are up in arms against administration and concern departments for allegedly failing to restore basic essential services like road connectivity, electricity and others services disrupted after heavy snowfall f due to which they are facing grave hardships.

Local residents allege that most of the villages are still cut off   from Tehsil headquarter administration has failed to clear snow from the roads due to which people have to foot miles in knee deep snow.

“Six days after heavy snowfall, administration has miserably failed to restore road connectivity, electricity and water supply in Sub Division Uri and people living in this frontier sector are facing huge inconvenience and hardships in this harsh winter,’ said NC’s Vice President North Kashmir Dr Sajjad Shafi while expressing dismay over the slackness of the administration on its response to the snowfall aftermath.

“People foot to get necessary household merchandise and fetch their ailing family members to hospitals in far-flung areas,” he said.

Senior congress leader and newly elected DDC candidate Chowdary Taj Mohi-ud-din said,  “Many roads including, Nambla B, Nambla C, Gowalta, Gohalan, Sukdar, Churanda, Batgrah, Hatlanga, Mohthal, Upper Garkote, zamorpatan, Lachipora, Hr. Secondary road Bijhama, Bimyar to Morgan,  Limber, Babagale, Budrali, Dudran and Chotali are still closed. There is no infrastructure available with the departments.”

Sarpanch Nambla Mohammad Shafi Ganie said, “My elderly father told me that from 1965 when  electricity reached Nambla, it is for the first time people are without electricity for  six days continuously.”

Another local social activist Khalid Lone of Rampur alleged that recent snowfall has exposed the administration and their failure as they were not able to clear snow from the essential roads and link roads in their area.

“It is for the six consecutive day that normal life in our area remained paralyzed as the administration has failed to restore essential services here,” he said.

He further said that power supply has not yet been restored in the villages including Garkote, Nambla, Sohra, Hatlanga, Balkote, Salikote, Syedpora, Thajal, Tilawari, Churanda, Batgrah, Sokad, Sukdar, Gohalan, Gowalta, Zamoorpatan, Dudran, Chotali, Maydanan.

Villagers from these areas urged Lieutenant Governor led administration for restoration of essential services and snow clearance in the affected areas and compensation for affected families.

Sub Divisional Magistrate  Uri, Riyaz Malik said that snow has been cleared from many villages in Uri but in some places roads are very slippery where machines find it difficult to reach so snow is being cleared manually  there.

 “As for restoration of water and power concerns, we are working on that. In many places power and water supply has been restored. In the remaining places, it shall be restored very soon,” he assured.

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 10 :

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the world, was halted on Sunday evening as the retaining wall of a bridge collapsed at Seiri area near Kella Morh in Ramban district, officials told GNS.

They said that there is no passageway for the traffic to move, leaving vehicles stranded near the spot, close to the Jawahar tunnel.

T . Namgyal, ADGP Traffic J&K, told GNS the retaining wall collapsed as a result of which there is no space for the traffic to move. (GNS)