Srinagar, Feb 25 : For evolving a final consensus as to whether the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls be held together or separately, the top election commission team which is arriving here in Jammu and Kashmir will hold separate deliberations with the DGP, Intelligence officers, political parties and also the State administration.

Sources told news agency that all eyes are set on the crucial, rather most important visit of full team of Election Commission of India on March 4 and 5 to Srinagar for reviewing the overall security atmosphere in the State to take a final call on holding crucial Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. The polls are due in the trouble-ravaged State as J&K at present is under president’s rule.

The State plunged into the Governors’ rule last year after the sudden withdrawal of support to the PDP by the BJP. The New Delhi removed Governor of the State, NN Vohra with Satya Pal Malik, who after completing his six month’s stint was made as the care take Governor with State taking a plunge into presidential rule.

At present security situation in Kashmir is grim in the wake of deadly Lethpora attack that left over 40 CRPF men dead and over two dozen injured. The incident forced the security top brass to take unprecedented security measures to foil or to prevent such attacks in future as Lethpora attack was first of its kind in the past 30 years that inflicted huge casualties to forces.

Now that the elections are due, ECI, that earlier postponed its visit to J&K, is arriving on March 4 for a two-day visit to assess the ground situation, to get the feedback and to meet the security top brass for evolving a final consensus as to whether the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls be held together or separately.

“Yes, it’s a very crucial visit of the ECI. There will be discussions and the team would take feedback for taking its call on holding polls in the State,” a top official in the State’s Election department told,on the condition of anonymity. “The ECI will also hold separate deliberations with the DGP, IGP, Intelligence officers, political parties and also the State administration.”
The official said final announcement whether the state would witness Parliamentary elections first or both, Lok Sabha and Assembly together, will be made on March 7 or 8 from New Delhi.

Except PDP, National Conference, Congress, BJP and Peoples Conference favour early polls. The PDP faced internal rebellion with many of its senior party leaders quitting one after another resulting in the sorts of “internal wrangling” in the party.

A top police officer said that they have already briefed the ECI about some challenges in Kashmir and also the conducive atmosphere in Jammu and Ladakh. “Despite certain challenges, we are ready to ensure a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for polls,” he told, on the condition of anonymity. “We have already started preparations as 100 companies of additional forces have arrived in Srinagar and more are on cards.” (KNS)

Srinagar, Feb 25, : Kashmir Valley may face food crisis in coming days as the stores of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Food Corporation of India are empty across Kashmir Valley.

   Insiders told news agency  that no ration is available or stored in FCI and FCSCA stores. They said barring few stores of district Budgam, all other stores across Kashmir Valley are without any stock. “The reasons may be known to the higher ups but the closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway may be a cause for it,” they said.

   “There is no rice, no sugar and flour available at any store. A serious food-crisis is in offing,” said an employee.

   Insiders said that South Kashmir has been facing major food crisis. For Mir Bazar, Anantang, a couple of trucks were dispatched from Srinagar and Budgam. The frequent closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway is the main reason for the shortage of supply. Reports said there are hundreds of trucks loaded with rice stranded on strategic Srinagar-Jammu highway.

   Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Muhammad Qasim said there has been complete sale of ration at every ghat while new supply will be made available in March. He refuted the reports that there is shortage of supply. “There was some problem in South Kashmir that has been addressed,” he said. (CNS)

Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday said dialogue was the only way to resolve issues.

Referring to mass arrests, he said the use of force would only harden the revolt in Kashmir.

“Undemocratic and illegal arrest spree of religious scholars, resistance leaders and hurriyat activists continues unabated across valley. Use of force only furthers hardening of stand and revolt. Engagement is the only way out.

Hundreds of separatist and religious leaders have been arrested in a crackdown launched by the police during past few days across the valley.

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, Feb 25: J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has extended the last date for submission of online application forms for 1235 vacancies in five New Medical Colleges and 20 in Forensic Science Laboratory of the Home Department.

According to Malik Suhail, PRO, JKSSB, the last date for submission of online application forms for all these posts shall be now 14 March 2019 instead of 27 February 2019.

He said the online application forms can be submitted on JKSSB portalwww.ssbjk.in.

Pertinently, JKSSB had issued six advertisements inviting online applications for 1235 posts of 5 new Medical Colleges of Anantnag, Doda, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kathua and 20 posts of Forensic Science Laboratory of the Home Department. The filling of online application forms had commenced from 4th of February, 2019 and the last date for submission of online application forms was 27th of February, 2019.

However, according to JKSSB spokesman, other terms and conditions, notified in these advertisements shall remain unchanged.

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, Feb 25: Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) on Monday called on Divisional Commissioner  Basheer Ahmad Khan and expressed its concern over the shortage of essential commodities in Kashmir valley.

Nasir Hamid Khan, Senior  Vice President, said the problems being faced by the general public and the business community due to the frequent closure of the highway and the subsequent shortage of essentials was discussed with the divisional commissioner threadbare.

“Baseer Ahmad Khan, the divisional commissioner said that the administration was closely monitoring the situation,” the KCCI said in its statement, adding that the divisional commissioner stated that there was no cause for panic on account of shortage of fuels and LPG.

“He said that a large number of vehicles carrying Petroleum products and LPG Cylinders were stranded due to landslides near Battery Cheshma/Patnitop resulting in the running dry of petrol pumps. He said that the patch had now been cleared on war-footing and around 500 to 600 trucks carrying these essentials and food grains were on way to Kashmir. He assured that petrol pumps would be replenished soon but rationing would continue as a precautionary measure till the stocks were fully  replenished. He advised the general public not to go for panic stocking of essentials as the supply would be restored to normal soon.”

Nasir Hamid Khan invited the attention of the Divisional Commissioner towards the problems being caused to the fruit industry in the movement of fruit laden trucks towards Jammu and other stations. He said that although the traffic schedule was from Srinagar to Jammu, fruit ladens trucks had been stopped at Qazigund.  Basheer Ahmad Khan said that the trucks had been stopped to facilitate the movement of the essentials to Srinagar and issued on spot instructions to all concerned Deputy Commissioners to ensure that all fruit laden vehicles were cleared at the earliest and also regularly monitor and facilitate the movement of fruit to their destinations.

Ahead of Article 35(A) hearing in Supreme Court, Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora has decided to suspended the class work and postponed all exams till February 28.

Greater Kashmir has posted that “All exams are postponed and classwork has been suspended till February 28,”

Pertainally Kashmir valley is on high alert post Pulwama attack in which 49 CRPF men were killed and dozens were injured as suicide bomber storms CRPF Convey along Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Lethpora area of Pulwama on 14 Feb.

Srinagar: Weatherman on Monday predicted a wet week in the Kashmir from Feb 25 and light rain, snow, thundershowers in next 24 hrs in the valley.
Meteorological department on Monday said that from February 25 to March 03 the state will witness fairly widespread and isolated downpour over the week.
”On Feb 25 and March 1, we expect fairly widespread downpour while on Feb 26, March 2 and 3 widespread rains, snowfall is expected in the state,” MeT said.