Firecracker sales boom before Eid

With Eid festivity color takes grip over markets, the boom this time has been witnessed in firecracker sales.

Ahead of Eid and many customers make it a point to visit Maharaja Bazar in uptown Srinagar, which is considered as an epicenter of firecrackers in the Valley.

“On this Eid, I want to fulfill all the wishes of my children,” said Aisha Begum, a teacher, who has come to buy fire crackers for her kids and finds this market an apt place to find the best ones at nominal price.
The market does not only cater retail needs, it is place where wholesalers also book their stock.

Dealers said that sales used to start few days prior to Eid but this time orders are placed a fortnight early prior to Eid.

Talking to Kashmir Reader, Ghulam Mohammad Tanga of Cock Crackers said, “Even with some time left for Eid, dealers are visiting us to beef up their firecracker supplies,” he said.

Tanga added that sales this year have been up as dealers want more stock as sales are expected to remain positive even after Eid as marriages season is going to kick off.

But dealers say that over time taste in firecracker usage has changed, and firecrackers have progressed from producing banging sounds  to dispersing more of colors.  

Bashir Ahmed Dar also a wholesaler of firecrackers said that new variants of crackers are being introduced in the markets, even though demand for the older lot remains high as they cost less.
Kids still like the rocket, ground wheel locally known as Charkre , phuljhari, but many are demanding the new varieties, that are expensive. The costlier ones can cost Rs 1500 as these crackers have the ability to create numerous explosions at different heights with an display of colors.

Many like colors over deafening sound that is why many opt for them.

According to the historians the use of firecrackers in Kashmir is more than five decade old. Speaking to Kashmir Reader, Zareef Ahmad Zareef, a prominent historian said, “Kashmiri’s have adopted the art of bursting firecrackers after Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad started Jashn e Kashmir in 1954. It (Jashn e Kashmir) used to be the poetry recitation across the valley and at the end they used to burst crackers as a mark of joy.”

Zareef added that before 1950 there was an occasional use of firecrackers either on marriages or Hindu festivals. The firecrackers used where made locally by different manufacturers and sold at very nominal prices.

From Downtown

I looked down from the window- Empty streets of downtown,
                           An excruciating voice echoing in background.


  Following the voice,
                                  Lane after Lane- Street after Street


At the corner –a Grey haired lady squinting from the window,
         Half her face covered- fear in her eyes


                                 Don’t follow the voice, She advised,
                                 You will also die is what she cried.


                   With my lonely shadow on street
                 I reached near stream


                 A body hand cuffed, floating.
                       Save me- Save me Save me, he screamed.


              Oh it is you I shouted, Wakeel Sahb  I recognized,
                                         Helpless in defense I cried.



                          Jumping in the river to save you
                                                     I too died….

Air con sales witness boom in Kashmir

SRINAGAR:

As Kashmir witnessed an unusual hot summer this year, sales of air conditioners have increased enormously, which according to the electrical dealers is first time phenomena in the Valley.

“I have alone sold 380 air conditioners in just six months this year, which is indeed a massive sale. Last year I did a sale of around 70 air conditioners, most of them were installed in Mosques. But this year it was beyond my expectations,” said Ajaz Ahmad Rather owner of MS Electronics.

Soaring temperatures have forced people here to use air cons in homes as well other places but some private offices are preferring it most as the rising temperatures affect their work output, Rather said.

“Few years back if some one needed a air conditioner here, we have to get it on order because of its occasional market but now we stock in bulk,” said Rather.

Rather, who deals in Hitachi, LG, Toshiba air cons, said people prefer different brands and specifications according to their requirement and budget but it is the LG which tops the list of preference. “The price range at our shop starts from Rs 28990 to above Rs1 lakh,” he said.

The Kashmir Valley this year has witnessed an unusual increase in temperatures. The mercury soared above 35 degrees Celsius, which has pushed people to buy the cooling gadgets like air conditioners.

The dealers said air cons have topped the list as compared to other cooling gadgets.

Asif Raja, manager at Hubsun, LG’s distributor for Kashmir, told Kashmir Reader, “The range is available from Rs 25000 onwards for hot and cold air conditioners and the demand is very high.” “Earlier only elite class used to install air conditioners in their offices and houses but now the soaring temperatures have forced even middle class families to purchase them,” Raja added.

He said another reason for increase in sales is due to reasonable price range available, which is within the reach of customers besides less electricity consumption.

Another dealer at Maharaja Bazar, Adil Electronics added that the electric fans are being slowly replaced by air conditioners.

According to the Adil, air conditioners nowadays consume less electricity. “It used to be the burden due to its high electricity consumption but now the new technology has very low electricity consumption.”

AGRI DEPTT LIKELY TO ALLOW SALE OF SEIZED FERTILIZERS

FARMERS ALLEGE hush up

Srinagar, July 15

Farmers have alleged the Agriculture Department of hushing up the case of 2600 metric tons of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer, which were earlier held up and declared as substandard by the department after testing its sample in two state labs of Jammu and Srinagar.

The DAP was supplied by the fertilizer giant Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) to the Valley in March. Later after testing negative in the state labs its samples were sent to a out of state lab for verification testing at an undisclosed place and the department has said they have received the report and the results are in contrary to the results provided by the state labs.

“Among the 20 samples we have sent outside state for tests 18 show positive results that means they are not substandard,” said deputy director law and enforcement wing of Agriculture Deoartment MS Katoo.

However, Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Saba, a peasant’s front has termed the report false and baseless aimed at hushing up the matter and supplying valley with substandard fertilizers.

Talking to Kashmir Reader President Kisan Saba Jammu and Kashmir Showkat Ahmed said, “When both laboratories of state have termed it substandard how they can send it to outside state. And if the tests from outside state are correct what for is the laboratories in the state.”

Ahmed said that when a normal sample comes in 15 to 19 days why this time it took them more than a month. It gives a feel that there is something fishy in it, he alleged.

Accusing the agriculture department for sabotaging the farmers for their ‘personal desires’, another member of Kisan Saba Ghulam Nabi Dar said, “The main players at agriculture department are filling their pockets and are bringing farmers and fruit growers at stake”.

A member of fruit growers association from Sopore Ghulam Rasool Mir said, “We have been the worst victims of substandard fertilizers as the department does not keep the proper check. There are some agencies who want to give a serious jolt to our agro industries by promoting substandard fertilizers but department is not taking its duty seriously to stop it.”

When asked whether this is green signal for the release of seized fertilizers Deputy Director Katoo of the Agriculture Department said if the results are positive department cannot stop it.

He added that a test done in Srinagar and Jammu has revealed a substandard nature of the supply which was later send outside state from Jammu.

However, he said that the final decision will be taken by the Director Agriculture, Farooq Ahmad Lone. When contacted Lone said the control of fertilizers comes under the jurisdiction of Director Agriculture Jammu who collects the samples after they enter the state via Lakhanpore or railway station Jammu, so it is his prerogative and he knows the best about it. Despite repeated attempts the Director Agriculture Jammu Ajay Khajuria did not receive the phone call on his mobile and his office told Kashmir Reader that he has went out for a meeting.

Earlier when the story was published by Kashmir Reader, a member of Kashmir Apex Agriculture Cooperative Supply and Marketing Society Ltd, Nowgam, an authorized distributor of IFFCO who has received some of the supplies said, “The percentage is only a bit low and the company officials were pushing for analytical tests conducted in their presence, besides also giving an option of lowering the rate of their seized product. It is some of their rival companies that are trying to malign the image of the company.”

The seizure of fertilizer was carried out in March this year when consignments of substandard DAP fertilizers where reported to have reached Valley, with the law enforcement wing of Agriculture Department seizing it at various store houses.

The valley on an average consumes 80,000 MT of DAP that are sourced from different companies. DAP is used both in agricultural and horticulture crops for it supplying the crops with Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium nutrients.

Most educated youth don’t want govt jobs: Omar

Srinagar, July 10

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said he was happy to see the change in mindset of educated youth regarding government jobs and the state should not be seen as a job provider.

"It is heartening to observe that the overwhelming majority of educated youth present in the auditorium in today's conference have not indicated government jobs as their first preference," Omar said after asking boys and girls at a career counseling conference at the SKICC here to raise their hands if a government job was their first preference.

"You are the ones who will take care of the state in the future and develop it as per your dreams."

"In fact, the state government should not be seen as a job provider, but as a service delivering and development giving concern," he said adding that it is very difficult for a state like Jammu and Kashmir to manage a huge establishment with its meager income sources.

"The total annual income of the state is just Rs.6,500 crore and we have to pay salaries to government employees to the tune of Rs.13,500 crore yearly and the losses per annum on electricity supply account for another Rs.2,000 crore," he explained and said that even under this kind of scenario, the state government is creating government job facilities for youth to the best extent possible.

The chief minister said new initiatives for skill development and employability of youth have been initiated and the schemes like 'Udaan' and 'Himayat' are under implementation with help of the good offices of the Prime Minister to prepare the youth for getting absorbed in the open job market.

He said private investors and companies are being roped in and the negative perception in the minds of big business houses regarding investing in the state is being removed.

Omar Abdullah also said, "Gone are the days when medical and engineering fields were the only choices for the young generation. There is a vast world before you and you are talented enough to prove your ability," he told the youth asking them to face challenges confidently and prove their excellence.

Oil tanker owners call off strike

Supply will ease today,  say fuel station owners

Srinagar, July 5

The two-day strike by oil tanker owners, which has resulted in shortage of fuel in the Srinagar city and major towns in the Valley has been called off late Wednesday evening.

Oil tanker owners have called for indefinite strike  after a body of a Jammu based tanker driver was recovered in Qazigund with ‘silt throat’. The Tanker Association has been demanding arrest of the accused persons responsible for killing of Akshay Kumar Sharma (tanker driver) a resident of Sunderbani and compensation to the family members of the deceased.

Talking to the Kashmir Reader Ayoub Bacha owner of Chinar Fuel Station M A Road said, “Since the morning there has been tremendous rush of customers in our stations which has resulted most of the petrol pumps, nearly 60 to 70 percent, ran out of fuel,”

He added that shortage will be over by tomorrow as the Tanker Owners Association has called off the strike.
Another petrol pump owner Waseem Ahmad who runs a petrol pump at Hyderpora here said that their supply dwindled by noon and they could not cater to the rush as many had zeroed in on their station to fill their tanks.

Ahmad said that the position is going to ease as the Tankers have already started loading the supply and many are on way with this essential commodity.

The stopping of supply had created major disruptions at other places and people struggled to get petrol with many visiting suburban stations to get their supply.

“I kept visiting from one pump to another and at last got some at HMT, where a beeline of motorists where waiting,” said Abdul Hameed Shala a resident of Zaldagar adding that many resorted to buying petrol in bulk from these outlets as there were rumors that the strike will continue.
All the three major supplies including the HPCL, BP and Indian Oil stations today received huge rush.

“When I heard about the strike I immediately went to the petrol pump and filled the tank I also took 3 liters in a separate bottle because of the fear that strike may prolong,” said Ali Mohammad a resident of Chanapora.      

Auto fuel is supplied through tankers to Kashmir by more than 1000 tankers plying daily to the Valley to cater the daily demands of 1200 KL of diesel, petrol and kerosene.

Talking to the Kashmir Reader, Pradeep Sharma Divisional Commissioner Jammu said, “Our negotiations with oil tanker association were successful and they have called off their strike.” He added that they have restored their work already.

IFFCO fertiliser scam

Samples sent out of state for testing

Srinagar, July 4

Agriculture Department is waiting for a final test report that will decide the fate of 26,00 metric tons of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer supplied by fertilizer giant Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) to the Valley in March.

 This supply had been put on hold after its tests revealed a low percentage of an important chemical than the setup norm.

Deputy Director Law and Enforcement Wing of Agriculture Department MS Katoo told Kashmir Reader that to cross check and maintain neutrality samples have been sent for verification to an outside laboratory as well, by the Directorate Office in Jammu.

“We are hopeful of receiving its report in few days and based on its findings we will initiate our action,” he said adding that the tests done here have revealed a substandard nature of the supply.

According to sources the samples of a particular lot of IFFCO’s DAP have failed repeated tests conducted recently here at a departmental testing lab.

However, a member of Kashmir Apex Agriculture Cooperative Supply and Marketing Society Ltd, Nowgam, an authorized distributor of IFFCO told Kashmir Reader that their supply has always been up to mark and it is some of their rival companies that are trying to malign the image of the company.

“The percentage is only a bit low and the company officials were pushing for analytical tests conducted in their presence, besides also giving an option of lowering the rate of their seized product,” he said.

 A top official of the department who wanted to remain anonymous said that, the company or its dealer’s reasoning cannot be implemented as the tests conducted here have pointed to less percentage of an important component.

“There is no option of lowering the rate as the farmers have to be guided afresh on the usage content of this fertilizer and it can lead to crop fluctuation,” he said adding that the lab here is fully capable of conducting such analytical tests.

The valley on an average consumes 80,000 mt of DAP that are sourced from different companies. DAP is used both in agricultural and horticulture crops for it supplying the crops with Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium nutrients.

However, Katoo told Kashmir Reader that there is no shortfall on this important fertilizer as they have asked other companies to beef up the supply after the IFFCO seizure.

The seizure was carried out in March this year when consignments of substandard DAP fertilizers where reported to have reached valley, with the law enforcement wing of Agriculture Department seizing it at various store houses.

Inimical forces trying to push JK towards 2010-like crisis: Rather

Srinagar, June 30

'Curfew imposed for safety of people’

Terming the desecration of holy Qur’an at a mosque in the outskirts of this summer capital as a conspiracy to divide people on sectarian lines, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather Friday said “forces inimical to peace” were trying to push Jammu and Kashmir towards the brink of a “2010-like crisis”.

"There are elements inimical to peace in the state. The people have foiled their nefarious designs so far... The government is going to deal with an iron hand with the elements responsible for such incidents,” Rather, who was flanked by ministers Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Agha Ruhullah,  told reporters at a press conference here.

Rather said the state was still reeling under the tragic destruction of 200-year-old Dastageer sahib shrine while vested interests were trying to foment further trouble. Asked about the restrictions in the old city, the minister said it was necessary to ensure safety of life and property of the people living in these areas. "The government cannot remain a mute spectator when some elements are trying to push the state to the brink of a crisis like that of 2010," he added.
He said the government had to impose curfew in view of “stone pelting.”

Rather said that a time bound and comprehensive action plan to recreate the gutted Dastgeer Sahib shrine was being prepared on war footing. The shrine complex will be an architectural marvel, he added.

“Two days ago we had a high command meeting in presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and we felt that the need of the  hour is to create a master plan,” he said.

He added that the government will recreate the shrine on the previous pattern. Advices from all stakeholders of the shrine including Sajada Nasheen will be taken into account and the government  will also take safety measures for other shrines in order to avoid any such incident in future.

When asked about the demands of various religious leaders to add civil society members and religious scholar in the judicial probe by District magistrate, he replied, “From a common man to a member of civil society suggestions are welcome from all.”

Srinagar witnesses spurt in fast food outlets

Srinagar, June 27

Forgetting your lunch doesn’t mean skipping it anymore as a chain of fast food outlets that has propped up in the city are ready to serve the best from Burgers to Momos. And the trend to eat out has picked up among locals.

To cater the demands of people, Srinagar city is witnessing a mushrooming of fast food outlets as the trend of fast food culture is picking up fast in Kashmir.

Manoj Dugal who runs a fast food outlet, Calcutta Kathi Rolls in Srinagar said: “We started few months back. Earlier we used to host very limited customers, usually bystanders, but now we receive a good number which is almost 70 percent increase.  Majority of customers besides tourists is either students, working class and families also visit sometimes.”

Sheikh Junaid, manager at Coffee Arabica, an upscale coffee shop, which has become very popular outing place among the youngsters in last few years told Kashmir Reader that Kashmiris  have changed their traditional food Culture and are now-a-days preferring to eat out.
He adds, “We are food lovers we open heartedly welcome new varieties of food.”

Another restaurant owner Feroz Ahmad said, “Initially there was dearth of restaurants in the city but as the demand has increased we have also increased the varieties to our list. We have enough restaurants in the city now which gives stiff competition to provide a good quality and affordable price to the customer.”

Ahmad said earlier they used to have only Kashmiri wazwan but because of high market demands to other varieties they have added several dishes to their menu. “From Pizza to Momos we deal with everything now. People want to taste some thing different and new. So we need to be prepared for that,” he said.    

Hat Trick, a unit of Chowdhary Group has nearly 20 food outlets functioning in Valley and have further expansion plans to become first fast food chain in . Hat Trick opened its first unit outside the Srinagar city in Anantnag this month.

Showkat Chawdhary, who is CEO of the Chowdhary Group said, “The trend is mostly followed by youngsters as they watch on televisions and Internet. 15 years ago there was no concept of pizza but now everyone seems so comfortable with it that it has now become the part of our dish.

Murtaza Ahmad, manager at Hat Trick Rajbagh told Kashmir Reader, “Since we have opened this restaurant here we have seen sales increasing day by day. People from all professions come and especially in the evening time we witness massive rush of visitors. At times traffic police have to come and manage traffic on the roads because of overflow of customers.”

Chowdhary said that earlier the trend used to remain confined in Srinagar only but now it is picking up in other districts as well. In Anantnag we opened the first outlet this month and it witnessed massive response.

But despite the large number of out lets in the city, Chowdhary feels that more and more people should come in this business, as the demand is ever increasing.

Even though the youngsters say that they find it trendy to go to the fast food outlets. Zarqa Shafi, a class 12 student of Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary School said, “I left my home early in the morning for the tuition and then directly go to school.  It is not possible for me to take my lunch with me. Whenever I feel hungry I go out and eat something from any outlet. More important it is very trendy and we too prefer it.”

Witness testifies against ‘Papi’ Kishtwari

Srinagar, June 20

A witness Tuesday testified before a court in Pulwama that Ghulam Mohammad Lone alias Papa Kishtwari was involved in the murder of a civilian, Abdul Samad Dar of Pampore, on January 6, 1996.
According to the witness, who deposed before Principal District & Sessions Pulwama, Kishtwari tied Dar with a tree on the fateful day and killed him.  

“It was Shab-e-Barat and as I left house for prayers, I saw Abdul Samad Dar being dragged out from his house which was set ablaze. He was then tied with a walnut tree by a rope and was killed before his family, without any rhyme and reason,” the witness told a court.
The court is hearing the case filed by Dar’s son Nissar Ahmad.

 

Papa Kishtwari is a notorious government gunman who hails from north Kashmir’s Bandipore district and was a tenant in Pampore. He owes his aka Kishtwari to his wife Hafeeza, who hails from Kishtwar district of Jammu region.

The residents of Pampore town, mostly businessmen and farmers, have determined to fight against Kishtwari by displaying a list of 23 persons who they say were civilians killed by him and his cronies.
Kishtwari was arrested in 2008 in a case pertaining to land grab of a local graveyard in 2008 and was later arrested when his cronies opened fire on protestors and injured two local residents.

Besides Abdul Samad Dar’s alleged killing, Kishtwari is also said to be involved in the murder of one Ali Mohammad Mir, 47, of Brein, Nishat who according to his son Zahoor Ahmad left home to buy some medicines but never returned.  

Next day Zahoor lodged Mir’s missing report at Nishat Police station.  “My father was mentally sound but police registered him as a mentally weak person in missing report,” Zahoor said.   

According to Zahoor, his father was kidnapped and subsequently killed by Kishtwari.  “Ali Mohammed Mir is missing since the day he was abducted and is buried in some mass or unmarked grave in Kashmir,” Zahoor added.

Some of Kishtwari’s other victims are: Peerzada Ahmad (student), Sheikh Ghulam Rasool Azad (general secretary Auqaf), Shakeela Bano (housewife), Fayaz Ahmad Wani (contractor), Muhammad Shafi Ganie (driver), Irshad Ahmad Bhat (labourer) and Muhammad Shaban Dar (government employee).

Cherry brings gloom to farmers

The production hits all time low due to inclement weather: Growers

 Srinagar, June 19

Cherry a red and delicate fruit produced mostly in Kashmir this time has brought gloom on the faces of growers who say this year’s weather has routed the crop and any hopes of revenue generation from it.
Production of this monopoly crop – Kashmir produces 70 percent of total cherry produced in India – has gone through a heavy loss during last two years. Growers say that 2011 and 2012 were the worst years. Last year its revenue may have satisfied the farmers a bit but this year it is worst than ever before, growers say.

Talking to Kashmir Reader, Ishfaq Ahmed Magray a fruit grower from North Kashmir’s Tangmarg area, which holds distinction in the highest cherry production in the Valley says, “It is horrible. We witnessed more than 75 percent loss this year.”

“When the blossom was at its peak the frequent rainfall, hailstorm and snowfall washed away all our blossom and we were left with nothing,” said Magray.

Kashmir is one among the cherry producing state besides Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Most of the cherry crop is exported to New Delhi, which accounts for 70 percent of total production from Kashmir. Mumbai is the second biggest market for Kashmiri cherries.

Most of the cherry producing places in Kashmir are Ganderbal, Zabarwan hills in Srinagar, South Kashmir’s Shopian and North Kashmir’s Tangmarg, Baramulla and Bandipora.  

“In some cherry producing areas like Ganderbal, Tangmarg and Shopian, the production has witnessed a loss of up to 70 percent due to rainfall and hailstorm,” says Ali Mohammad Ganai, a grower from Ganderbal.

“This year the crop was hit twice. First when the blossom was at its best we sold it to brokers. Later when the rainfall and windstorm divested everything, brokers turned away the deal.”

Ganai says though the prices this year are good but due to minimum crop production farmers hardly get any benefits.  Last year 1 kg was sold at Rs70 to Rs80 but this year it has reached at Rs150 to Rs160 per kg. Despite of such a high price, Ganie says, still are not minimizing farmers’ losses.
Kashmir cherry is famous for its delicious varieties, which include Double Gilas, Gilas Makhmali and Gilas Mishri. According to Ganai, the costly variety here is Gilas Mishri, which is considered as a king of all the varieties available here. Gilas Mishri used to generate 60 percent of revenue in overall production but this year we have restricted boxes of Mishri because the hailstorm had washed everything.

Talking to Kashmir Reader Dr Fayaz Ahmad Banday, associate director, extension education, SKUAST said, “In the early phase of blossom there was a weather fluctuation which has damaged its blossom then the hailstorm damaged it further.”

He added that growers should adapt new scientific techniques to address the demands of market.

NC’s old hand shot dead

Srinagar, June 16

Suspected militants Friday shot dead a veteran worker of ruling National Conference in Natipora here.
70-year-old Abdul Rehman Ganai was fired upon when he was heading towards a local mosque to offer Friday prayers, police said.
Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Reader they heard four bullet shots at around 1:15 pm and, as the people rushed to the spot, they found Ganai in a pool of blood.

Police immediately rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. No arrests were however made.

Ganai was rushed to the nearby Bone and Joints hospital at Barzulla where doctors declared him brought dead. Later, hundreds of people participated in the funeral of Ganai.

Talking to Kashmir Reader, SDPO Shabir Ahmad said police was probing into the killing and no one has been arrested so far.
Ganai, a former employee of the Silk Factory, was National Conference’s block president and believed to be close to Nasir Sogami who represents Amira Kadal constituency in the Assembly.

Ganai had announced his resignation from the NC at the height of 2010 agitation and sought public apology in a local mosque. A year later, however, he rejoined the party.   

This is the first political killing in Srinagar this year and comes three weeks after a daring attack by militants on a CRPF patrol near Rainawari in downtown city which left seven CRPF personnel injured.
CM outraged at ‘silence of netizens’
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed outrage at Ganai’s killing but was surprised at the silence of netizens over the incident. “I suppose because Abdul Rehman Ganai was an NC activist his killing today is not worthy of the outrage we often see here in Twitteristan,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Meanwhile, NC president and Union Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, and party’s general secretary Sheikh Nazir have also condemned the killing of Ganie.

 In a statement here, the NC leaders called Ganie a “very pious man, a great social worker and an old party activist ready to help people.” They prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and for courage to the bereaved family.

Dr. Farooq, while expressing deep shock and grief over the incident said “such killings are inhuman, heartless and cold blooded.”

Sheikh Nazir said that it’s a great loss to the party and extended his condolences to the bereaved members.

Opposition PDP has also condemned Ganai’s killing. In a statement PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said violence should have no place in any society “especially the one like ours which have suffered immense trouble and miseries for the last two decades on account of use of force.”

Mehbooba said the frequency of such incidents as is evident by the recent attacks on panches and sarpanches has of late grown at an alarming pace and the government has been unable to explain the spurt in violence. She said on the one hand the present government is pushing the people  to wall as a result of its inefficiency, misgovernance and corruption and on the other hand it is unable to safeguard the lives of ordinary, defenseless people.

Meanwhile, the MOS Home Nasir Aslam Wani who is the concerned MLA Amirakadal while expressing grief over the death said that he was a very staunch worker and always ready to work for the downtrodden. A delegation Including, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Ali Mohammad Dar, G.A. Saloora visited the residence of Abdul Rehman Ganie and participated in his jinazah.

Inclement weather heavily damaging orchards: Growers

Srinagar, June 15

Fruit growers in the Valley are predicting 80 percent losses in apple production this year due to inclement weather and frequent hailstorms.

Photo Courtesy wn.com

Shakeel Ahmad, a fruit grower from South Kashmir’s Shopian district, a prominent apple belt, says that due to persistent cold weather and frequent hailstorms apple crop has suffered severe damage. “This year we are going to face one of the worst seasons. The recent hailstorm has devastated the entire blossom from the trees,” he says.

“Even the production was down by 60 to 70 percent last year in our area but this year it is worst.”
Experts from the Horticulture Department say that though there is not any generalised picture of the damage, which could be revealed only after the proper survey, but the production graph will go down.

The disease control in the orchards this year too was tough for the growers as pesticide spray schedule was disturbed and rains washed much of the sprays. “In rainy seasons you need to do more sprays to prevent from the scab and other disease due to wet weather. In fact it increases the expenses incurred on the orchards,” Ahmad says.

Another grower, Ghulam Nabi Bhat from North Kashmir’s Rafiabad area, a fruit hub in Baramulla District says that 60 percent apple and pear crop was damaged due to hailstorms. “Our costly variety Delicious has been the worst hit with the apples now decaying on trees,” Bhat says.

“We contacted the experts, and they advised sprays, but this could not be taken forward as rains are constantly dampening any efforts of salvage, of the remaining crop,” he said.

Talking to Kashmir Reader Jammu and Kashmir Fruit Growers Association president Ghulam Rasool Wagay says, “This year we are going to witness heavy loss. Our expensive fruit quality that is Delicious which has witnessed 80 percent damage, will be a heavy jolt on our industry.”

Director Horticulture, GH Shah says that few areas in Shopian have grim situation where the apple crop faces the losses from the beginning of flowering season due to cold temperature, which is not considered good for fertilization. In North Kashmir the fruit was in abundance but later hailstorms damaged it in certain pockets.

Shah says the overall losses won’t be alarmingly low. “Though it is early to quantify the losses in exact figures but production will be less than previous years,” says Shah.

Manzoor Ahmad, District Level Subject Matter Specialist Pomology told Kashmir Reader, that the department is trying its best to make the people aware and the efforts are being reciprocated well by the growers who too are keen to save their crops and work on the guidelines provided to them.
Commenting on this cold temperature and hailstorm, Manzoor Ahmad said that areas in Khag, Chadoora, and Rafiabad where hit, and rains increased humidity in many areas resulting delay in bud formation or stagnation.

However, Wagay maintains that the industry will witness 60 percent damage in the yield.
In 2010 the Valley fruit growers had exported the fruit worth Rs3000 crores while as in 2011 the production was increased up to 5 percent.

Sangbaaz Force’ hacks yatra-related website

Srinagar, June 12

 A website related to Amarnath Yatra has been defaced by a group of hackers calling itself “Cyber Sangbaaz Force & Z Company Hacking Crew Free Kashmir.”

Photo Courtesy Facebook.com

The group, which claims to have hacked more than 200 government and private websites on India’s Independence Day last year, posted messages like “Free Kashmir from illegal occupation supporting Kashmir” on the website of Jammu-based Amarnath Yatri Niyas.

 “A big blot on the face of so-called Indian democratic state, which holds state of Jammu and Kashmir under illegal occupation and has committed the worst human rights violations,” says the message on the home page of www.amarnathyatriniyas.org 

It says the “world has ever seen, in a new tactics employed by Indian Intel. which with has under gone killing of more than 300 teenagers students from 2008 to 2010 and till now (sic).”

The Amarnath Niyas works for the facilities like food and medicines for the pilgrims who visit Amarnath shrine located in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam area from different states of India. The organisation is run by many Hindu religious groups, traders and voluntaries from various professions. 

The hackers’ message adds: “This is a policy of slow genocide in State of J&K. As young as 8 year Kid, was brutally murdered by the hands of occupational forces.  Since India Judiciary Stands Exposed as the Culprits involved have neither been booked nor bought in the court of law. This is the message to all the international forums that claims of Indian Democratic setup is nothing but a HOAX. It’s a high time when international bodies should cognise the world about the brutal face of Indian Democracy (sic).” 

The hackers have also uploaded the video of the killings of 2010 agitation in the Valley in which more than 120 protesters and bystanders were killed in action by the government forces.

Confirming that its website has been hacked, Yatri Niyas’s convenor Gineshvar Mishra told Kashmir Reader that “I also came to know about this incident through my friend.”

Mishra said they were working to restore the website to its original form

Vivanta has 'Israeli trained guards and intelligence network'

Srinagar, March 2:

A leading hotel in Kashmir valley, owned by the Taj group, has its own intelligence gathering network and its security staff has been trained in counter-terrorism techniques in Israel, aleading American daily has revealed. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Hotel Vivanta, one of a two five star hotel of Kashmir, which has been widely hailed because of its natural picturesque which is studded with sparkling and serene Dal lake, Asia's largest tulip garden and a wide sweep of shimmering snow-clad mountains has 'Israeli trained guards and intelligence network'.

 "It is guarded like a fortress by armed men, but many of its defenses are not visible to the pampered guests," New York Times report said. The newspaper quoted a private security official of the hotel as saying that it has "its own intelligence gathering system, which includes using a network of local residents for information about anything unusual in their neighborhood. 

The security official himself, according to New York Times, has undergone a month's counter-terrorism training in Israel. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, India's leading player in hospitality, On April 18 last year, launched Vivanta by Taj - Srinagar.

The launch event was then attended by Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah, Abhijit Mukerji, Executive Director, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces along with Veer Vijay Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Vivanta by Taj - Hotels & Resorts. 

Located on Kralsangri hill overlooking scenic Dal Lake, Vivanta by Taj - Srinagar, is 20 kms away from the new airport in the city. The six acre property has 89 rooms; each room and suite provides breathtaking views of the Valley. Militants in past have barricaded themselves into several hotel buildings in the city here while carrying out commando-style raids on security installation. 

In last such gun battle in Jan 2010, a two-member Fidayeen squad launched a gun and bomb attack on security installation located at Palladium Cinema in Lal Chowk. The militants then took shelter at the adjoining New Punjab Hotel, which was completely damaged after the 22-hour long gunfight. 

The heightened security set-up of Hotel Vivanta is also the after-effect of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, in which 10 Lashkar-e-Toiba militants launched a commando raid crippling the entire city for three days. During the attack on Mumbai, a militant squad has barricaded themselves inside The Taj hotel there, after which the security set-up around all high-profile hotels has been considerably increased Vivanta.

September, Valley will shout waka waka!

Srinagar, June 8:

Football fans in the Valley will have a lot to cheer this summer as nine leading Indian soccer clubs–out of which four have already confirmed their participation–are expected to compete in a tournament hosted here after three decades.

Photo Courtesy BBC

The Jammu and Kashmir Bank is organising the tournament–All India Gold Cup Tournament 2012–this September which will see high profile football clubs in action.

The invited clubs include Mohamodean Sports, East Bengal, Mohan Bengal, Salgaocar Goa, Churchill Brothers, Simla Youngs, FC Delhi, Logone North East and Punjab Police.

So far, East Bengal, the giants of Kolkata football, Salgaocar Goa, Punjab Police and Logone North have agreed to send their teams to the Valley, the organizers told Kashmir Reader.

Kashmir used to be the hub of soccer activities till early ‘80s with massive fan following. Club football in specific would be the talk of the town those days as jam packed stadiums would witness the football encounters between the different football clubs.

Tafazal Hussain, Executive President and Chairman J&K Bank Sports Board, who is one of the brains behind the idea, said that the organizing committee has already sent invitations to nine clubs outside Jammu and Kashmir. “This will be the first tournament of its kind hosted by Jammu and Kashmir Bank which will start from the first week of September. Nine teams are expected to participate in the tournament,” Tafazal told Kashmir Reader.

Besides top football clubs outside the valley, some of the local clubs will also feature in the tourney. The qualifying tournament, Tafazal said, will commence Eid-ul-Azha. “We will have some district teams participating in the tournament as well.” He added that the J&K Bank will organise with the tournament every year.

Kashmir last brush with a high profile club football tournament came in 1984 when it played host to Federation Cup. Thanks to the host of reasons, Kashmir couldn’t organise a big tournament ever since except for Santosh Trophy that it hosted in 2008.

The tournament will be organised in alliance with Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) - the custodians of the game in the state.  

Conforming the participations of different clubs of India JKFA President, Zameer Ahmad Thakur said, “We have so far received green signals from the teams like East Bengal, Salgaocar Goa, Logone North East and Punjab police and rest are pending.”

The decision for the football club has been widely hailed among the fans and senior football players.

Mohammad Haneef, one of the stalwarts of JKSRTC-one of the most popular clubs of yesteryears — sounded a happy man. “Obviously I am happy to hear this news. It will bring Kashmir football back to the limelight. Hopefully, we will make this tournament a success,” said the former player.

Going through the memory lane, Hanief said, “It used to be carnival like atmosphere when the leading clubs were playing. The fans cheering for their favourite club would be an ad-on for the quality football. This initiative to start the tournament will help to promote the sports culture and also to restore the lost glory of the game.” 

Faceless assasins on prowl

My son has done nothing, He is innocent

BY Yawar Nazir

Sopore, Nov 10

Mohammad Ashraf Dar quietly ventured out in the midnight of his house in ChanKhan locality of Sopore town. But, his mother saw him talking on cellular phone while moving out. "We presumed that he was talking to his fiancee," says a family member.
Dar the eldest among three siblings, including two sisters, had been engaged last week and had plans to solemnize his marriage in near future.
At about 10.15, the silent night was broken by a volley of bullets that triggered panic among the residents. Then there was silence. "We first thought a gun-battle had broken but minutes later the gunfire stopped," says a local Zubair Khan.
Asharaf's father, Ghulam Ahmad Dar, who works as a sweeper, tried to venture out but was stopped by the family members. They too thought that a gun-battle had broken out so choose to stay indoors and wait for Ashraf to return.
Till the crack of the dawn, he didnt return and his family went out in search. His bullet ridden body was found few hundred meters away away from his house near Krankshivan Colony.
Ashraf, 28, belonged to a poor family and worked as a labourer at a band saw mill. "He was the only one to have a cellular phone in our family. We could not call him," says a relative.
"My son has done nothing, he is innocent," says Ashraf's mother Sara Begum at her modest house on Muslim Educational Trust road in Sopore.
His body was taken by police for post mortem and later returned to the family for final rites.
"Police recovered a bullet-ridden body of a band saw labourer near Krankshivan Colony, Sopore. A case has been registered in this regard," a police official said.
Ashraf's killing comes five days after MohsinWani, 35, a businessman was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Kralteng locality of the town.
Despite resentment, protests and strong condemnations from pro-freedom and pro-India parties, the killings at the hands of unknown gunmen have continued in north Kashmir's Baramulla district since the begining of year.
In the last six months, shockingly, at least eight people, including two teenage sisters were killed and four injured by mysterious gunmen.
The cycle of the killings by the 'unknown gunmen' started from one-room house in Muslim Peer locality of Sopore on the evening of January 31. The victims- Kulsuma, 19 and Rehana, 17 were dragged from their house and shot dead in the neighboringMohalla Rahim Sahab.
The killing led to a blame game between police and the militants. While police accused Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) for the siblings' killings and even identified the militants involved, the latter rejected the police claims and suspected the hand of the government agencies.
Amid charges and counter charges, the police on March 13, claimed to have killed Lashkar militant, Waseem Ahmad Ganai 'responsible' for the sisters' killing.
Ten days after Muslim Peer killings, unidentified gunmen shot at and injured two youth in two different shootouts in the Apple town.


Majid Ahmad, son of Bashir Ahmad Khan of BadamBagh was shot at and injured in Chotta Bazar area while Mohammad Arif, son of Abdul GaffarReshi of Watlab was fired upon near the Sopore bus stand.
On the evening of February 15, the horror of unknown gunmen visited Kreeri area of the district.
Two girls, including a minor were injured after being shot at by unidentified pistol-borne men in Duderhama village of Kreeri.
The girls, Shaista, 18, daughter of GhulamMohi-ud-din Akhoon and 6-year-old Monisa, miraculously survived in the shootout.
The police arrested three people, including Shaista's sister-in-law, HaseenaBadroo for hatching the conspiracy with the help of pro-government gunmen, popularly known as Ikhwanis.
On February 28, unidentified gunmen again resurfaced in Kreeri. Their target: A businessman. Haji Nazir Ahmad Lone, 45, son of Mohammad Abdullah of Thindam was shot dead from close range inside his office in broad day light.
The locals took to streets demanding the identification of the 'unidentified killers'.
As the police probed the incident, starling revelations came into the light. The killing, according to the police was carried out by Lone's competitor to settle personal scores.
Interestingly, in this 'contract killing' plot, the names of former militants and police sources surfaced surprising even the police department.
Twenty-one-year old, Sajad Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Rahman Dar of Kraleteng was the third victim of unknown gunmen this year.
A school drop-out, Sajad was shot dead near Mohalla Rahim Sahib, Sopore on April 10.
Fourteen days after Sajad's killing, unidentified gunmen again stuck in Kreeri village killing an Imam.
Hafiz Mohammad Ashraf Lone, 30, of Chattipora, Sopore was shot in the head, three days after he reportedly went missing. The killing was widely condemned across political circles.
However, the condemnations and the calls for probe did not put an end to the killings.
In the evening of April 30, unidentified gunmen appeared in Chankhan locality of the Apple town and shot at and critically injured Shams ud din Parray, 24, son of Ghulam Hassan.

Handicraft department generates Rs 7763 crore revenue through exhibitions

Sales mark to touch Rs 1200 crore: Kawoosa 

                                                                                                                        

 The Jammu and Kashmir handicraft department has generated revenue of Rs. 7763 crore from the exhibitions held in various states of the country during the last two years. According to reports, the department has witnessed nearly 34 percent boost in the overall sales of the products exported to different states during the fiscal year of 2010-11 as compared to last business period.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

In 2010, the department witnessed sale of Rs 661.24 crore, while in the last year it has reached the mark of Rs 1004 crore."On every passing year the sales are increasing. We have exported very good amount of goods in fiscal year the sales of handicrafts goods exported to different Indian markets were nearly rupees 700 crore which raised to more than rupees 1000 crore in 2010-11 which is the all time high sales so far" Publicity and Exhibition officer Handicrafts department, Reyaz Kawoosa told State Observer.                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                               "The department is expecting good sale in the coming years. The sales during 2009-10 were all time high," he added.          

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Kawoosa said that the department expects the sales mark to touch Rs 1200 crore."The department has also generated revenue of Rs. 7763 crores from the 15 national exhibitions it (department) had organized in different Indian states during the years of 2010 and 2011," he added.      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The handicrafts department had registered more than hundred corporation societies and covered 4423 artisan under the insurance schemes for the revival and development of the handicrafts. The boost in sales has also encouraged the traders associated with the handicraft industry considered to be the backbone of the state's economy. "Kashmiri handicrafts have the tremendous potential in the national and international arena. Be it Kashmiri carpet, shawls, paper machie all are exported to different parts of the world from Kashmir," Ali Mohammad, a carpet dealer told this newspaper.