SRINAGAR: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir is currently carrying out raids at nine different locations in three districts of South Kashmir, an official said on Thursday.
Quoting an official, KNO reported that the SIA personnel accompanied by police and the paramilitary CRPF are carrying out raids at nine locations in three districts
“The searches are underway in Litter area of Pulwama, Shirmal and Kachwa area of Shopian and Chittergul, Semthan and Shangus Utrosoo area of Anantnag districts of South Kashmir,” he said.
He said these searches are being carried out in connection with investigation in the killing of Sanjay Sharma (Bank ATM guard) who was killed by militants in Achan Pulwama in February this year.
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SRINAGAR: A court in Srinagar has convicted a man for raping a minor girl from the Soura area of Srinagar in 2012 and termed it a “crime against society”.
“It is established that the accused at the time of committing the heinous crime of rape with a minor girl who was studying in 4th class, was a major married person living with his wife in a rented room in the neighborhood of the victim who used to go there for playing with younger brother of the accused who was also putting up with them there,” presiding officer of 2nd Additional Session Judge Srinagar, Renu Dogra Gupta said after hearing the counsel for accused and additional Public Prosecutor Farooq Ahmad Malik.
“The accused had gagged her mouth and committed the heinous and barbaric crime of rape with her there and also threaten not to disclose the same to anyone,” the court said and convicted him for the offense under 376 RPC (rape).
The court observed that the victim who was a minor at that time might have suffered very much. “And (she) has lost everything including honour, dignity, education etc. She became a helpless victim of a diabolic person whose sin was only this that she used to go to the accused’s rented residence for playing with his younger brother and innocent child was made prey of lust by accused”.
The court said that the accused being a major and married person, was fully aware of the consequences of his “barbaric act”, adding that the Crime of this nature against the child girl, is definitely a crime against society.
Stating that the prosecution has successfully proved the guilt of the accused beyond any reasonable doubt, the court said, “The accused is liable to be convicted for the offense punishable under Sections 376 of RPC,” the court said.
After convicting him the court sent him to judicial custody in the central jail in Srinagar.
Pertinently, police had received a complaint from the girl’s father that he took his daughter for check after she complained of abdominal pain and upon tests by the doctors she was declared to be pregnant.
On being asked, the minor girl disclosed that the person who resides in their neighborhood as tenant, namely Irshad Ahmad of Malik of Ahlan Gadwak Kokernag, raped her several times, the prosecution said based on the statement by the complainant.
After receiving the report, the prosecution said, a case (FIR No 33/2012) for the commission of offence punishable under Section 376 RPC was registered in police Station Soura and the investigation started. During investigation, it said, the victim girl’s age certificate was obtained and she was found to be 14 years old.
Subsequently, the accused was arrested and on the basis of the facts and evidence collected, it said, a charge sheet under Section 376 RPC was filed on 23 June 2012. Subsequently the trial ensued and culminated in conviction of the accused, Irshad Ahmad of Malik of Ahlan Gadwak Kokernag, at present Anchar Soura.
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SRINAGAR: Srinagar Police on Wednesday said that they solved the Batmaloo murder case in 24 hours by arresting the accused involved in stabbing a 45-year-old man to death in the Batamaloo area of Srinagar last evening.
Addressing a press conference, Superintendent of Police (SP) South Srinagar, Gaurav Sikarwar, said that the assailant, a teenager stabbed a man identified as Aijaz Ahmad Bhat multiple times after having a heated argument with him.
He said that soon after the killing a case was registered and an investigation taken up. “After analysing CCTV footage police zeroed in on the culprit and arrested him,” he said.
The accused later confessed to his crime and police on his instance recovered the sharp-edged weapon used in the commission of the crime.
He further added that during the investigation it came to the fore that the assailant, a juvenile and a resident of Moominaabad Batmaloo had developed a love interest with the daughter of the victim, who was against this relationship.
SP South further said that the accused was looking for an opportunity to cause harm to the victim for his constant objection to the relationship between the two.
On Tuesday, late in the evening, the accused in a fit of rage stabbed the victim multiple times with a sharp-edged weapon, in his neck and chest, police said.
“The case was cracked within hours as the accused was arrested at 2:00 AM in the night. Blood-stained shirt, trousers, and the knife used in the crime were recovered,” he said.
Meanwhile, police said that the accused a juvenile has committed a heinous crime and a petition will be filed in court to treat him as adult as per section 15 of JJ act 2015.
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SRINAGAR: Rains continued to lash Jammu and Kashmir and night temperatures were recorded below normal except in Pahalgam and Kupwara on Wednesday.
The meteorological department has also forecast widespread intermittent light to moderate rain, thunder, and lightning with the possibility of hailstorms and gusty winds at a few places till Friday.
A meteorological department official said that in the last 24 hours till 0830 hours , Srinagar received 16.2mm of rain, Qazigund 7.6mm, Pahalgam traces, Kupwara 0.4mm, Kupwara 10.6mm, Gulmarg 8.8mm, Jammu 1.3mm, Banihal 11.8mm, Botote 33.6mm, Katra 4.8mm and Bhaderwah 13.4mm.Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 11.6°C against 11.8°C on the previous night and it was below normal by 0.9°C for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 10.2°C against 11.2°C on the previous night and it was above normal by 0.9°C for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 7.8°C against 8.8°C on the previous night and it was 1.2°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 11.2°C, the same as on the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Kokernag recorded a low of 9.1°C against 8.3°C on the previous night and it was 2.0°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 5.0°C against 4.0°C on the previous night and it was below normal by 2.6°C for the world-famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 18.0°C against 20.6°C on the previous night and it was 7.5°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 10.5°C (below normal by 2.2°C), Batote 11.7°C (2.2°C below normal), Katra 16.1°C (5.7°C below normal) and Bhaderwah 10.8°C (below normal by 0.8°C). Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of 4.8°C, he said. (GNS)
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Months of preparations and tons of efforts resulted in an incident-free G20 TWG meeting amid unprecedented security measures in Kashmir. Discussions around sustainable development and film tourism apart, the over-hyped event offered interesting peephole views of the perceptions and perspectives around Kashmir, reportsRaashid AndrabiandSyed Shadab Ali Gillani
G20 Delegates from different countries attending the side event on Film Tourism for Economic Growth and Cultural Preservation at SKICC Srinagar on May 22, 2023
The first wave of relief was visible on the faces of security men as they watched the tightly-guarded convoy of black Scorpios, small buses and ambulances passing through a deserted Indira Gandhi Airport road to the pre-partition palace converted into a five-star hotel on May 22. The security grid was literally awake the whole night and every inch of the space that the G20’s Tourism Working Group (TWG) delegates were supposed to step on was under their sight.
“I had not a wink since 1 am so I am politely requesting you not to wait somewhere else for the bus,” a middle-aged, visible tired cop told a group of commuters waiting for the bus near Humhama. “Let the convoy pass and it will be slightly better.”
The situation eased momentarily. With the convoy gone, the cops and paramilitary men guarding the road moved from the shadows of the greeting buntings installed across the city and resumed sort of the routine. Quite a few buses were plying, markets were open but not many people were seen on the streets. The focus shifted to the Boulevard on the two sides of which are located the city’s two top hotels on the Zabarwan Hills, the SKICC, the venue of the meeting, and five major gardens and picnic spots.
G20 secretariat took over the charge of delegates soon after they moved out of the chartered aircraft to a red carpet welcome. They were formally received by Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy and Amitabh Kant, the G20 Sherpa. Young girls queued up on either side of the red carpet and presented Kashmiri pashmina shawl and a Dogri saffa to them and applied tika to their foreheads, a traditional Hindu style of greeting. Outside the airport, traditional Kashmiri drummers and Jammu flute were in attendance.
It was a flower petal shower waiting for them in the lawns of the two hotels, they checked-in, by folk dancers from Kashmir and Jammu, welcoming them with the tunes of santoor and folk songs. Soon, they were in the auditorium of the SKICC and there were a series of speeches and interactions.
Stress Busting Destination
“The finest destination anywhere in the world to shoot a film and to shoot a romance and it cannot be a better place than Kashmir,” Kant told the participants in his welcome speech, insisting 370 films were shot in 2022. “We will help you bring more and more romance, more glamour and nature in your films.”
Kant told the session Film Tourism for Economic and Cultural Preservation that Kashmir is an ideal land for shooting great stories as it has something to offer to everyone. “Without Kashmir, no romance in India was complete,” he insisted while talking about Bollywood’s age-old love for Kashmir. “Just enjoy, relax and treat it as your greatest stress busters you ever had,” Kant suggested to the participants perhaps not knowing that 45 per cent of Kashmiri adults suffer from mental distress.
Dr Jitendra Singh’s speech was a good lecture about the inherent capacities that encouraged Bollywood to retain Kashmir as its permanent set till the situation turned upside down. Terming Kashmir as the “most profitable, cost-effective and economically viable” film destination, Singh said the situation has improved and the crews must fly in from across the world.
“In 2022, 1.84 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir and this year, we expect 20 million arrivals including foreign guests,” Tourism Minister, GK Reddy told reporters, revealing the government plans 100 per cent FDI in the hospitality sector across India. “We have started the preparations, and the Government has approached all States, and discussions are going on. Our idea is that without private investment we cannot become a world tourist destination which is why we want investment globally and locally. We cannot become a world tourist destination, which is why we want investments globally and domestically, and we are also encouraging 100 per cent FDI under Modi.”
Reddy said the region (Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh) gets 74 to 160 flights. “The weekly flight tally for Srinagar has gone up to 532 flights since the end of 2022,” he said.
A French delegate takes a tour of the famous Mughal Garden located on the banks of Dal Lake at Srinagar on May 24 2023.
The highlight of the session was Telugu actor, K Ram Charan, whose The Elephant Whisperers bagged two Oscars for Naatu Naatu song. Apart from having a brief interaction with a film scribe, he shook a leg with a delegate on the famed song. The symbolic dance that went viral on social media was brief, perhaps because he was too tired. After flying to Srinagar in his charter aircraft, he had to spend not less than an hour at the airport as his three vehicles waited for fuel.
Telugu star said that India’s film industry is 90 years old and it will take the sector another 95 years to explore Kashmir. “I shot in this auditorium (SKICC) in 2016,” he said. “So, visiting Kashmir feels like an achievement for me. This is such a surreal feeling.”
Press Interaction
An interaction followed the session in which Singh, GK Reddy, Kant and the top PIB official and the G20 coordinator addressed the media.
“If such an event (G20) was held earlier, a strike call would be given from Islamabad (Pakistan) and shops on Residency Road (in the city centre of) Srinagar would close,” Singh told delegates. “Now there is no hartal even if the call for hartal has come from here or there.” He said the common in Kashmir want to move on “as they have lost two generations (due to militancy)”.
Singh said that holding the event in Srinagar was “an achievement of sorts”. He expected the delegates to appreciate the Kashmir change and “falsify the perception that is sought to be created by vested interests”. Insisting that youth in Kashmir are “highly aspirational even in comparison with their counterparts in the rest of the country, highly forward-looking and well informed,” Singh said they do not want to miss the bus of development and progress and have trusted Premier Narendra Modi to be part of the globalised world.
Unlike the first session, the news conference was not a monologue. A lot of media had flown to Srinagar and these included a good number of foreign journalists based in Delhi, who otherwise require a formal permission to Srinagar visit. They along with many Srinagar-based scribes asked questions, some of them not so comfortable.
NDTV’s Nazir Masoodi asked whether a fairly large participation was an endorsement of “India’s stand on Kashmir” or whether the government wanted the participation of even those opposed to that stand, according to Kolkata-based newspaper, The Telegraph.
Oscar-winning South Indian actor, Ram Charan alongside G20 delegate from Singapore at SKICC Srinagar on May 22, 2023
“What is important is to understand the myth of this (India’s stand). What stand? What is India’s stand? Jammu and Kashmir is as much a part of India like any other state or Union Territory of India,” Singh responded. “I don’t understand what it means — India’s stand on Kashmir? What is India’s stand on Punjab, UT of Delhi or Goa? This is exactly what we need to see with our eyes and ears open, to clarify the clouding of thoughts about what has happened.”
Naveed Iqbal, a journalist with The Indian Express asked if such an international event was possible in Kashmir, why not a political process? The minister termed the question “motivated by the mindset, which was haunting the earlier friend.” This, he said because he has personally been associated with media earlier.
Singh, however, responded to the question. “What do you mean by that? The political process is already going on. We have DDCs (district development councils) in place, BDCs (block development councils), panch and sarpanch councils. Is that not part of political process to you?” Singh asked. “You should compliment us, Narendra Modiji, that district councils were introduced after 70 years.”
Jammu and Kashmir is lacking an assembly and the erstwhile state is being remotely ruled from Delhi since 2018 summer.
It was now the turn of a French Radio journalist who asked about the “very high security” and closure of schools for the TWG meeting. In response, Singh said that such restrictions are in vogue even in France. “I did not say schools. But whenever there is a meeting of this scale you always have scaled-up security, even in France, in Paris,” Singh said. “I have seen, I have been a witness, the hotels where they stay are cordoned off, lanes are cordoned off. Just because it is happening here, to an extent what you are saying does not make it different.” The minister did put a word of caution: “Please don’t project it like that. The delegates from other countries would get apprehensive by what you have said.”
G20 delegates dressed in traditional Kashmiri attire on their visit to the famous Mughal Garden in Srinagar on May 24 2023
Participation
From the very start, participation was a key element being asked and debated. G20 is a group of 19 countries and the EU. Its members comprise nearly two-thirds of the world population and three-fourths of the global GDP. Three Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Indonesia are its members.
Every time, there is a G20 meeting the host countries invite other countries as well. This is a routine protocol.
India Today’s Geeta Mohan asked if the non-participation of some countries was proof that their allegiance to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation was greater than their strategic partnership with India. She was apparently responding to the absence of G20’s all three Muslim members. China had already publicly stated that it was unlikely to attend the meeting. China and India are in a stand-off in Ladakh, a development that took place within a year after the reading down of the Article 370 of the Constitution of India.
This time, G20 Chief Coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla, responded suggesting her not to “miss the wood for the trees”. He told the reporter that the meeting had drawn heavy participation and the fact is that not all countries participate in all meetings.
From the very eve of the meeting, Kant has been maintaining that barring China every other member was attending the meeting. “Some country not participating does not mean it has become an enemy of ours. Don’t take it to that level,” Kant was quoted as saying. He claimed that those who were not had sent their private travel and tour industry representatives. Media reports suggest Riyadh and Istanbul had sent trade delegations but not attended the functions formally. Kant said there are 61 participants from 29 countries. A media report put the number at 122 delegates, including 60 foreigners.
While two of the OIC trio stayed away – Indonesia, officials said had sent a counsellor identified as Hanafi, the fact is that many others from the OIC grouping did participate. They were invited specially. These included UAE, Nigeria, Bangladesh and, possibly Oman. Bangladesh and Nigeria had sent their Delhi-based mission heads, Md Mustafizur Rahman and Ahmed Sule. Even the UAE had sent its envoy Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri. Egypt had also been invited specially but it chose not to join. Its absence was felt in Delhi as Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade in 2023.
Western Advisories
Almost everybody in the hospitality sector maintained from day one that the possible outcome of the meeting would be that the host state would request the visiting delegates to undo advisories they had issued to their citizens suggesting them against visiting Kashmir. This was even being hoped at the official level as well that the meeting would help Kashmir attract the Western tourists as used to be there before the militancy broke out in 1990.
“The G20 will aid in eradicating unfavourable impressions of Jammu and Kashmir, which would benefit its tourism,” Union Tourism Secretary, Arvind Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a news conference at SKICC on May 21, 2023. “As delegates and envoys visit from many nations, they will immediately have first-hand knowledge of the situation, which aids in eliminating unfavourable travel recommendations.”
Top host officials were dismissive of the development. “If travel advisory was so stringent… their representatives would not have come. All G7 countries are participating,” Kant was quoted telling a questioner. “What travel advisory are we talking about? Let us not get carried away by the bogey of travel advisory or something. Tourists are coming, tourism is flourishing.” He insisted: “Hardly any country has issued a travel advisory.”
TWG’s LG Day
Day 2 was literally the day of Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha who started his day with a brief speech to the meeting and later took them for lunch in the Raj Bhawan lawns. He hailed organisers that the Srinagar meet has been bigger than previous TWG meetings in Siliguri and Gujarat. “I have been informed that 57 delegates from 27 countries are participating in the G20 meeting at Srinagar and it is a reflection of India’s strength and our ancient values of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” he said.
“In 2022, 18 million tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir contributing seven per cent to the total GDP of the UT,” Sinha told the delegates, which cleared the confusion that the hospitality sector is the mainstay of Kashmir economy. “In 2022, more than 300 films and serials were shot.”
Highlighting the changes that post-2019 were affected in Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha shared statistics: 60 lakh people participated in sports activities in 2022; 4292 Panchayats have youth clubs; Jammu and Kashmir registers a start-up every second day; one new industry goes operational every day; six lakh women entrepreneurs are trying to scale global heights; since 2019,770 thousand entrepreneurs were registered which roughly means that per day 527 youth started their entrepreneurial journey; every day, 7 to 8 applications from different industrial houses from India and abroad are received and in 2022, on an average one industry became operational per day.
Sinha revealed that project implementation has gone up 10 fold as Jammu and Kashmir has infrastructure projects worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore underway. “State land will be auctioned for setting up hotels and infrastructure and some hotels will be disinvested,” Sinha said. “We will show you quality hotels after two years.”
Lt Governor Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha with G20 delegates at SKICC in Srinagar on May 23, 2023. Pic: DIPR
Press Freedom
Sinha said the media in Kashmir enjoys “absolute freedom”. Responding to a question from a Western scribe, during an interaction with media in Raj Bhawan lawns, Sinha did refer to the commentary by a global watchdog.
“According to a report by an international organisation, seven journalists in Kashmir were arrested on terror charges and for disrupting social harmony, not for their reporting,” Sinha said. “The numbers are 10 to 20 times higher anywhere else in the world.”Sinha insisted there is an independent and active media in Jammu and Kashmir. “More than 400 newspapers are published here.”
The foreign journalist’s question apparently emanated from a statement that the US-based media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) tweeted on May 22, coinciding with the start of the G20 event. “CPJ calls on the Indian government to end its brutal crackdown on the media and immediately release the four arbitrarily detained Kashmiri journalists,” the group said in a statement shared on Twitter. It mentioned the names of Asif Sultan, Fahad Shah, Sajad Gul and Irfan Mehraj.
On Pakistan
Scribes asked Sinha and Reddy about the remarks that Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto made while speaking in Muzaffarabad. He had accused Delhi of “abusing” the G20 presidency. He claimed the G20 meeting was aimed at showing “normalcy and peace” are returning to the region after Delhi revoked its “limited autonomy in 2019 and took direct control, imposing an extended lockdown”.
“I think our neighbouring nation should make arrangements for feeding its people and for providing basic amenities. We have come a long way from there. G20 is a matter of pride for us,” Sinha said, insisting G20 presidency is a matter of pride for India. “The presence of UN representatives here indicates that the world wants India to host such an event.” Five UN organisations, including UN Headquarters, UNWTO and UNEP and ILO participated.
“Who is Pakistan to say anything? What right does it have? Jammu and Kashmir has been a part of India since Independence. This is our land, these are our people, and thousands of people have sacrificed their lives for it. Who is Pakistan to say anything?” Reddy told in response to a similar question in SKICC during the day. He suggested Islamabad to do something for the betterment of its people. “Provide them employment, food. Why are you talking about us? You have no right.”
Photo-ops, Picnic
Though the delegates went for a joy ride in the recently de-weeded part of the Dal Lake around the Centaur-SKICC complex in bedecked and illuminated Shikaras on the second day of their arrival, the last of the three-day was exclusively meant for sightseeing. Authorities at the last moment cancelled their overnight stay at Gulmarg and also skipped the Dachigam National Park, the abode of threatened Kashmir stag Hangul, not far away from the hotels guests were staying in.
Officially it was said the visit was cancelled for logistical reasons. The security establishment told reporters that security apprehensions were paramount. Not far away from the Line of Control, there was an attempt at infiltration in the sector a few days earlier. The meadow, Kashmir’s key scenic spot is within the simple mortar range from the other side of the divide. Security reasons were also the main factor behind dropping Dachigam from the diplomat-outing plan, a fascinating spot where they were supposed to have lunch.
This left the neighbouring Nishat Mughal Garden and Pari Mahal as the only options around. Earlier, they spent some time at the world-class Royal Spring Golf Course (RSGC). After starting their day with a yoga session, they spent quite a fair time in Nishat, one of the many scenic spots that Kashmir got during the Mughal occupation. Later some female embassy staffers adored traditional Kashmir dresses including Pherans and not-in-vogue headgear including silver jewellery and started posing for the official cameras in groups and individually. One photograph of a young French embassy staffer was an instant hit on social media and is expected to remain a poster of Kashmir tourism throughout.
The city was tense as the delegates moved to the recently refurbished all-pedestrian Polo View High Street. Even the security grid was on tenterhooks. This was the only occasion when the delegates were out in the open having the option of talking to people if they wished so. Traffic remained jammed for more than an hour till they remained busy at the shops. Some of the delegates had desired to meet some politicians but it was not immediately known if they were granted permission.
Some of the delegates had visited the mini-exhibition that the government had set up in the lawns of the SKICC where the crafts were on display and the craftsmen were working. They had made some purchases there as well.
The delegates were also invited to a cultural show. Initially, the administration released a series of scintillating photographs of the show, which among other things shows a diplomat also shaking a leg. Most of these photographs were later quietly withdrawn.
G20 delegates take a ride on shikaras, at Dal Lake in Srinagar, Monday, May 22, 2023. They arrived in the city for the third tourism working group meeting of the G20 countries, KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
Guarded Responses
Diplomats and embassy staffers are trained to listen rather than speak. Not many people spoke. European Union members refused to speak to anybody. A few preferred Twitter to acknowledge their presence in Srinagar. “Shopping our way through the best of J&K’s famed agricultural produce and GI artisanal crafts; even bumped into a merlion. Must visit!” Simon Wong, High Commissioner of Singapore to India, said in a tweet.
Those who spoke were cautious and brief. “We attended the meetings and the side events and also met members of the local chambers here,” a Mexican participant said. “G20 is a top priority for Mexico,” he said.
“It was a fantastic and memorable visit. I love being in Srinagar. I hope people come and enjoy the scenic beauty and the film tourism prospers in Kashmir,” Chang Jae-Bok, South Korean Ambassador to India, told The Hindu. He told The Indian Express: “There are some limitations to come here and we need special permits, but it was a pleasure to be here.” Earlier, he told reporters that Korean tourist footfalls in Kashmir must soar in the coming days.
Admitting his first visit to Kashmir was a different experience, a Bahrain embassy official said he was “captivated by the breathtaking beauty” that surpassed all descriptions. “Contrary to misconceptions, Kashmir holds no resemblance to the negative imagery portrayed elsewhere,” he told a reporter. “We, as international delegates, now have a significant responsibility to promote this destination even more, building upon its natural charm, which is already a testament to its marketing potential.”
Joyce, a Netherlands embassy staffer, whose purchases made it to newspapers, appreciated the government’s “flawless planning” and termed Kashmir “an alluring location”.
“Our country has no advisory on its people who intend to visit Kashmir,” a South Korean delegate told reporters. “I would spread the word that countries, who have barred its citizens from visiting Kashmir, should immediately lift such advisory and let their people see nature closely. There can be no better place than Kashmir; nevertheless, we have just seen Srinagar only.”
Natives Politics
Neither reported nor probed, was the interesting facet of the event that the native political class was absent both physically and metaphorically. Srinagar city Mayor hosted a lunch and was perhaps the only local involved in the exercise. No political party, not even those being seen as the ruling party’s team B were seen anywhere.
There was not even a symbolic welcome from any of the political parties. If someone talked, it was the impact of the event that they referred to.
Altaf Bukhari of the Apni Party referred to the meeting as a positive development and hoped it will bring in foreign visitors who are not coming because of the adverse advisories.
Speaking at Bengaluru, after joining the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Mehbooba Mufti accused Delhi of turning Kashmir into Guantanamo, ahead of the meeting. “To tell you the truth, if you visit Kashmir today you will see that the place which was converted to an open-air prison (following the abrogation of Article 370) has been converted to Guantanamo… Even houses have been taken over. Homes have been taken over,” The Indian Express quoted her saying. “Why not have a SAARC summit and address the problems we (the people of Kashmir) have?”
Even the very thin coverage that the international media has given to the event is not very positive. No report of the event skipped the 2019 happenings or the concerns that many people had expressed over the event. Every report mentioned the unprecedented security arrangements including “visibility of the security personnel was significantly reduced on the streets” and cops roaming in civvies “to keep an eye on anti-national elements”. Even Noam Chomsky had reacted to the G20’s Srinagar event.
It will be too early to offer an idea about the outcome of the event. Apurva Chandra, I&B Secretary said 404 films, serials and advertisements were shoot in Kashmir in the last two years and given the emphasis on film shooting, an expectation is that the English cinema must explore Kashmir.
Travel trade in Kashmir was supportive of the event in the hope that the Western countries will withdraw the negative advisories they have issued to their citizens. How soon will it happen remains to be seen.
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SRINAGAR: Suvaid Yaseen, a scholar from Kashmir has been awarded the prestigious Joukowsky Prize for his dissertation at the Brown University in Rhode Islands. The dissertation is titled Islamic Intersections: Religion and Politics in Kashmir in the Long Twentieth-Century.
Suvaid Yaseen (Kashmir scholar)
Kashmir-born Yaseen completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Political Science at the University of Delhi and an MPhil in Political Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is a Visiting Lecturer in History at Mount Holyoke College.
Joukowsky Family Foundation Outstanding Dissertation Award is an annual prize awarded by the Graduate School for superior achievements in research by students who are completing their PhDs. Supported through the Joukowsky Family Foundation, the awards are given to students from each of the four main academic areas: humanities, life sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences. The award carries a US $2,500 honorarium.
Yaseen has received the award in the field of Social Science. His ground-breaking research delves into the previously unexplored lives and perspectives of poets, educators, ulema (Muslim scholars), activists, and rebels in Kashmir. His work challenges conventional historiographies and provides a fresh understanding of the complex dynamics in Kashmir.
Yaseen’s dissertation invites readers to examine the region from a new perspective by transcending colonial and postcolonial narratives. Employing the framework of an Islamic discursive tradition, he explores the social and political movements of Muslims in Kashmir. The concept of an “intellectual history from the below” emerges, emphasizing the significance of overlooked sources such as poetry, biography, and religious newspapers in revealing nuanced and contentious histories.
One of the notable aspects of Yaseen’s research is the extensive fieldwork and diverse skills it required. He conducted research in various countries, visiting libraries and personal archives to analyse documents written in Kashmiri, Urdu-Hindi, Persian, and Arabic. His efforts uncovered local Kashmiri voices on topics ranging from land and language to religion and political issues. Yaseen’s archival work has shed light on connections that challenge conventional narratives, offering a fresh perspective on Islam, identity, and politics during a transformative period. His work promises to shape scholarly discourse on the region and inspire further exploration into the complexities of Kashmir’s past and present.
He has also published an article titled Poetry as history: Maulana Muhammad Anwar Shopiani and the Ahl-i Hadith movement in Kashmir in the renowned Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. The next step for Yaseen is to transform his dissertation into a book, a task that involves a different kind of intellectual labour but promises to be essential reading for scholars interested in Kashmir, South Asian history, and transnational Islamic networks.
Prior to joining Mount Holyoke College, Yaseen taught political thought at the University of Delhi and collaborated on interdisciplinary research projects with writers, filmmakers, and artists. At Brown University, he actively contributed to the Centre for Contemporary South Asia, organising teach-ins on dissent and hosting a speaker series that challenged conventional definitions of regions and disciplinary boundaries. His relationships with artists and filmmakers allowed him to expand the scope of the Centre’s humanities programming through screenings, artist talks, and exhibitions.
Yaseen’s exceptional research and contributions have earned him numerous awards and fellowships, including the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship, the Andrew W Mellon Humanities Fellowship, and the Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship. These accolades reflect not only the recognition of his personal work but also the support and mentorship he has received from the academic community at Brown and the unwavering support of his friends and family.
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SRINAGAR: Keeping their tryst with Kashmir’s wetlands and water bodies, the Department of Wildlife, Wetland Division, said that more than twelve lakh migratory birds have visited the valley.
“The census of migratory birds for this year has been done, and more than 12 lakh migratory birds have arrived in the valley, of which some winged species have turned up after a gap of eighty years,” Afshan Dewan, Wildlife Warden (Wetlands) said.
She said that for the first time after the management intervention at the Shalibugh wetland site, more than two lakh migratory birds visited the site. In the last few years, it had been extremely low, he added.
Dewan said that among the sites taken up for the census of migratory birds, Hokersar Wetland recorded more than five lakh migratory birds.
She said many people are now showing keen interest in bird watching and understanding their migration. “We carried out the census of migratory birds at 17 sites in the valley, which included eight wetland sites,” she added.
With the weather changes happening from March, the majority of the migratory birds have left the valley wetlands and other sites, the officer added.
Every year, migratory birds from colder regions including Russia, Europe, and Central Asia arrive in lakhs to the Kashmir Valley, of which major winged visitors stay in Hokersar Wetland, while others travel to several wetlands and water bodies—(KNO)
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SRINAGAR: In Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a man was apprehended on Tuesday with 11 grams of heroin, along with the seizure of 31 mobile phones and Rs 1.16 lakh in cash, as stated by the police.
The police released a statement mentioning that Aziz Ahmed, also known as Sonu Chinese, an infamous drug dealer, was captured during a raid on his residence in Rajouri town. The operation took place in the presence of an executive magistrate deployed by the district civil administration.
During the raid, two electronic weighing machines, three cameras, three motors, four amplifiers, one inverter, one stabilizer, and one speaker were also discovered and recovered.
The police stated, “Some of the recovered items are suspected to be stolen, but the exact purpose of the mobile phones will be determined during the investigation.”
Ahmed, who had gained notoriety for engaging in narcotics peddling in the town and enticing young individuals into addiction, has been charged under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Senior Superintendent of Police Amritpal Singh (IPS) of Rajouri emphasized, “There is a zero tolerance policy against peddlers, and strict legal actions will continue to be taken against them.”
He further added, “Parental surveillance at home is the foremost and most effective preventive measure to safeguard the youth and the younger generation from falling into the trap of drug addiction and narcotics.”
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SRINAGAR: Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand is offering a fully funded scholarship for international students who want to pursue Doctoral specialization.
The last date to apply is July 1, 2023.
Candidates who have completed their Master’s degree from any recognized University with great academic merit and demonstrate a potential for high-quality research are eligible to apply.
The University offers approximately 110 scholarships per year in the field of Architecture, Business and Government, Design, Education, Engineering, Health, Humanities, Law, Music, Technology, and Science.
Documents required for the scholarship include academic transcripts, a record of publications, an English language proficiency certificate, and a letter of motivation.
Selected candidates will receive a full tuition fee, an annual stipend of 27,500 USD (22, 75,000 INR), and a well-planned tour to get exposure to New Zealand’s culture, traditions, and history.
Eligible candidates need to apply online through the official website of the University.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday arrested a resident of Narkara in central Kashmir’s Budgam for allegedly sexually harassing a girl.
A police spokesperson said that in response to a distressing incident reported involving an act of sexual harassment against a young girl the police arrested the accused.
He was arrested after a girl reported sexual harassment after accepting lift from an unknown known vehicle in the Soibugh area of the district, police said today.
It said the victim approached Soibug Police Post on Tuesday to file a written complaint detailing the events that unfolded.
“According to the victim’s statement, on 25th May she left for her coaching classes in Budgam. She accepted a lift from an unknown vehicle near Soibugh along her journey. Unfortunately, during the course of the trip, the driver subjected her to sexual harassment. She managed to escape, albeit leaving behind her mobile phone and school bag inside the vehicle,” read the statement.
Budgam Police immediately began investigating the incident thoroughly. “Through diligent efforts and resourceful investigative work, the accused individual involved in this deplorable act has been identified as Saqib Ahmad Dar of Narkara Budgam. He was promptly apprehended and the vehicle involved in the incident was also seized.”
Budgam Police, he said, are committed to ensure safety and security of all individuals, particularly women and children.
“This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of reporting such crimes promptly, allowing law enforcement agencies to take swift action and bring the perpetrators to justice,” said the spokesman.
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SRINAGAR: Deepu, a circus performer was shot dead by two unidentified persons in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday night.
A resident of Udhampur, Deepu was on his way to buy milk from a nearby market when two bike-borne men shot him from a close range at around 8:30 pm near Jaglaat Mandi in Anantnag town.
According to the police, he was working at a private circus mela at an amusement park in the district.
Condemnation of the killing poured in from all sections of the society, especially the political class.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former JK chief minister Mehbooba Mufti while condemning the killing said that GOI’s policies in JK have been a complete failure.
“Deeply anguished by yet another attack on an innocent civilian in Anantnag. Deepu eked out his living by working at an amusement park. My heart goes out to his family in this hour of grief. This speaks volumes about GOI’s policy which has been a monumental failure in J&K.
Deeply anguished by yet another attack on an innocent civilian in Anantnag. Deepu eked out his living by working at an amusement park. My heart goes out to his family in this hour of grief. This speaks volumes about GOI’s policy which have been a monumental failure in J&K.
National Conference (NC) Vice President, Omar Abdullah said that he was pained by yet another targeted killing in JK.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Omar wrote, “Pained by the news of yet another targeted attack against a civilian in Anantnag area of South Kashmir. The murder of Deepak who worked with a traveling circus to earn an honest living is an abomination & I condemn this militant attack unreservedly. May Deepak’s soul rest in peace,” he said.
Pained by the news of yet another targeted attack against a civilian in Anantnag area of South Kashmir. The murder of Deepak who worked with a traveling circus to earn an honest living is an abomination & I condemn this militant attack unreservedly. May Deepak’s soul rest in…
Calling the civilian’s killing a curse against humanity, Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “Strongly condemn the heinous act of killing Deepu of Udhampur by terrorists in Anantnag. Terrorism is a menace that needs to be fought by us collectively. It is a curse against humanity,” Azad wrote on his twitter handle.
Strongly condemn the heinous act of killing Deepu of Udhampur by terrorists in Anantnag. Terrorism is a menace that needs to be fought by us collectively. It is a curse against humanity!
Peoples Confrence (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone in a tweet condemned the killing of the circus worker.
“The killing of Deepu by terrorists in Anantnag is yet another incident of savagery. In wonderment how does the killing of a civilian help anybody. Deepu was here in search of livelihood for himself and his family. And May Allah burn in hell those thugs who killed him,” Sajad said.
The killing of Deepu by terrorists in Anantnag is yet another incident of savagery. In wonderment how does the killing of a civilian help anybody. Deepu was here in search of livelihood for himself and his family.
And May Allah burn in hell those thugs who killed him
SRINAGAR: At least eight people were killed while 20 other persons were injured after the vehicle which was carrying them fell into a deep Gorge in the Jhajjar Kotli area of Jammu district.
Quoting officials, GNS reported that a vehicle bearing registration number UP81 CT0999 while coming from Amritsar to Katra lost its control and skidded into deep Gorge.
In this incident, 8 people were killed, and as many as 20 people were injured.
Soon police and other rescue teams reached the spot and shifted injured persons to a nearby hospital.
Meanwhile, SSP Jammu Chandan Kohli reached the spot and is supervising the rescue operation.
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Naqba Day marks the beginning of Palestinians’ exodus from their homeland, but for the last 75 years, the international community has been unable to give the Palestinians their right to their own homeland.
Palestinian singer Sanaa Moussa (centre), an “Ambassador of Palestinian heritage”, performs during the special commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba is held in the General Assembly Hall. A musical composition about the Nakba entitled “Bright Colors on a Dark Canvas” by Naseem Alatrash, Grammy Award-nominee cellist, and composer is also performed accompanied by the New York Arabic Orchestra and directed by Eugene Friesen, a four-time Grammy Award Winner.
On May 15, 2023, for the first time in history, the United Nations 2023 marked the 75th anniversary of the mass displacement of Palestinians known as the Naqba or the Catastrophe. The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Naqba at UN Headquarters in New York, pursuant to the mandate by the General Assembly.
Naqba’s History
Until the end of World War-I, Palestine was under Turkish rule as part of the Ottoman Empire. Later, it came under British control, the so-called British Mandate. The period, under the British, was marked by growing anti-Semitism in Europe, which led to an increasing number of Jews from around the world moving to Palestine, which to them was their ancestral homeland, Eretz Israel, the Promised Land by God, where Jews had always been living, though in much smaller numbers.
Post-Holocaust in Nazi Germany, a United Nations-led Partition Plan for Palestine was adopted by the UN General Assembly. The Arab League rejected the plan, but the Jewish Agency for Palestine accepted it. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed.
As a reaction, a coalition of five Arab states declared war against the new state but was eventually defeated by Israel in 1949. Before the war, between 200,000 and 300,000 Palestinians had already left or were forced out of Palestine and during the fighting, a further 300,000 to 400,000 Palestinians were displaced. The overall figure is estimated to be around 700,000 people.
During the war, more than 400 Arab villages were destroyed. While human rights violations were committed on both sides, the massacre of Deir Yassin – a village on the road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem – is particularly engraved in Palestinian memory to this day. At least 100 people were killed, including women and children. It triggered widespread fear among Palestinians and prompted many to flee their homes.
By the end of the war, Israel held around 40 per cent of the area initially earmarked for the Palestinians by the UN partition plan of 1947.
Then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat coined the term Naqba Day in 1998. He set the date as the official day for the commemoration of the loss of the Palestinian homeland.
Drones fire tear smoke shells on Palestinian protesters in 2018
Palestinian Migration
Most of the Palestinians ended up as stateless refugees in neighbouring Arab countries, and only a minority moved further abroad. Until today, only a fraction of the next-generation Palestinians have applied for or received other citizenship. As a result, the vast majority of the currently around 6.2 million Palestinians in the Middle East have remained stateless into the third or fourth generation.
According to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, most Palestinians in the region still live in refugee camps, which over time have transformed into refugee towns. They are mainly based in the Gaza Strip, in the Occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and East Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, UNRWA has not been able to get full support from the Western nations for fulfilling its mandate. To date, UNRWA has only received less than 25 per cent of its financial requirements, or US$ 364 million and still needs US$ 1.3 billion. At the beginning of 2023, UNRWA appealed for US$ 1.6 billion in support of its programmes, operations and emergency response across Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), the Gaza Strip and Jordan.
Over the years, the Agency has put in place several measures to utilise the very few financial contributions it received from donors.
The photograph shows the Israeli soldiers in control of the area where Muslims were offering Shab al Qadar prayers on May 8, 2021. Pic: Social media
The Palestinian right to return?
According to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 of 1948, as well as the UN Resolution 3236 of 1974, and the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, Palestinians who are considered Palestinian refugees have the “right of return.”
Israel however is rejecting this “right of return” for Palestinians stating that this would mean an end to Israel’s identity as a Jewish state. Israel denies responsibility for the displacement of Palestinians and points out that between 1948 and 1972 around 800,000 Jews were expelled or had to flee from Arab countries like Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen.
Though seemingly implausible, but at one point this century – in Egypt in January 2001 – Israelis and Palestinians were negotiating how to carry out UN General Assembly Resolution 194. This important resolution was passed on 11th December 1948, with 35 countries, including the US and the UK, voting for it. But today we seem to beat the farthest possible distance from seeing justice carried out for Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
Originally, the Zionist movement was propelled by the logic of settler colonialism. Historian Patrick Wolfe has defined it as a mode of domination characterised by “a logic of elimination”. Settler colonial regimes seek to smother the native people, or at least to suppress their political autonomy. The elimination of the native people is a precondition for expropriating the land and its natural resources.
Jewish-American intellectual Noam Chomsky observed that “settler colonialism is the most extreme and sadistic form of imperialism”. The hallmark of settler colonialism is ruthlessness and the disregard for law, justice and morality. And currently, we are witnessing all these aspects under the Zionist Israeli regime.
The Zionist movement was nothing if not ruthless. It did not plan to cooperate with the native Arab population for the common good. On the contrary, it always planned to supplant them. The only way the Zionist project could be realised and maintained was by expelling a large number of Arabs from their homes and taking over their land.
Apparently, Israel was able to achieve this, with the help of British politicians and in later years, with tacit American support. If we have to resolve the Palestinian issue, then the only credible option is for the UN to influence both the UK and the USA to play a constructive role, not a confrontational or bipartisan approach towards resolving the issue, as per the aspirations of the Palestinian people and demands of fair and equal justice.
Asad Mirza
On the other hand, the position of Arab states on the issue was evident from the statement made by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who stressed his country’s commitment to Palestinian statehood at the Arab League summit on Friday last, amid intensified US efforts to broker a normalisation deal between the Gulf kingdom and Israel.
The comments are largely standard for leadership in Riyadh, which has long insisted publicly that it remains committed to the Palestinian cause and will only normalise ties with Israel after a two-state solution has been reached. But it also shows the lack of resolve on their part to get the Palestinian issue resolved once and for all.
(Asad Mirza is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. In his career spanning more than 20 years, he was also associated with BBC Urdu Service and Khaleej Times of Dubai. Views are personal.)
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SRINAGAR: Security forces carried out a search operation in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Monday, following a tip-off about the movement of some suspicious individuals, according to officials.
A resident of Purani village noticed the movement of at least three suspicious people in the early hours and promptly informed the police, they said.
The police, along with assistance from the Army and the CRPF, swiftly established a cordon and conducted house-to-house searches. However, no suspicious individuals were found, according to the officials.
Local residents claimed that this was the second instance in a fortnight where the movement of suspicious individuals during nighttime had been reported by a villager.
In addition, they have demanded the establishment of a permanent security post in the village to enhance protection.
Given the three separate attacks that have occurred since January, resulting in the death of 10 army soldiers and seven civilians, security forces remain on high alert in Poonch and the nearby Rajouri districts.
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SRINAGAR: Several structures were damaged in a fire incident in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Monday.
A police officer said that a fire broke out at Ghanie Mohalla in Kaloosa Bandipora and it engulfed several structures in no time.
Soon after incident, fire tenders and police rushed to the spot and doused off the flames, he said.
He said that in the incident residential structures belonging to Gh Mohammad s/o Gh Ahmad Ganaie, Manzoor Ahmed s/o Gh Ahmad Ganaie, Manzoor Iqbal s/o Gh Rasool Ganaie Akhter Hussain s/o M Akbar Ganaie, Akbar s/o M Ramzan Ganaie were damaged.
Meanwhile police have taken cognizance of the incident and started investigation—(KS)
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SRINAGAR: Continuing its crackdown on drug peddlers and their accomplices, Awantipora Police successfully apprehended a female drug peddler in the Pampore area.
According to a statement, the Police acted on specific intelligence and set up a special checkpoint at Gallander, under the leadership of SHO PS Pampore Syed Aqeel Shah-JKPS Dy.SP(P), and under the supervision of SDPO Pampore Shri Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir-JKPS. As a result, they arrested a female drug peddler identified as Safeeqa Begum, wife of Mohammad Shaban Ganie, residing in Lelhar Kakapora.
The police spokesperson reported that the lady drug peddler was found in possession of 1 kilogram and 800 grams of charas powder. The recovered drugs are considered a significant seizure in the fight against drug trafficking.
A case has been registered at Police Station Pampore under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), with the FIR number 72/2023, as confirmed by the police spokesperson.
It is noteworthy that the arrest and seizure were conducted with the support and collaboration of the Executive Magistrate of Pampore, the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Pampore, and the Legal Metrology Department of Pulwama, the spokesperson added.
The police spokesperson further emphasized that their consistent actions against drug peddlers aim to provide reassurance to the community members that efforts are being made to rid society of the menace of drug abuse.
The diligent efforts of the Awantipora Police in apprehending the female drug peddler and seizing a significant amount of drugs reflect their commitment to maintaining a drug-free community and ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents. (KS)
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SRINAGAR: Cocoon production in Kashmir has been hit by insects and pests thereby leading to a sharp decline in cocoon production in the last few years resulting in constant financial losses, officials said.
Officials who wished not to be named told KNO that in the last five years, the number of farmers associated with silk rearing has declined thereby declining the overall cocoon production.
They said that if efforts are taken at the earliest, the industry will collapse as farmers have been facing losses due to the unavailability of proper technical guidance.
Farmers who have been associated with silk rearing for a long said that mulberry leaves are being damaged by insects and pests due to which farmers are unable to maintain quality and produce more cocoon.
“We aren’t being provided technical guidance as we lack skills and there is a need to create awareness camps and workshops to guide silk rearers,” said a farmer, adding that the Sericulture department has failed in producing quality seeds, and good breeds silkworms to farmers resulting in less production of cocoons.
He said farmers must be trained and quality silkworms and mulberry leaves must be kept available for them.
“Due to the unavailability of quality leaves, silkworms and less scientific intervention along with technical guidance farmers have been facing losses and several farmers have already switched to other businesses,” he added.
A top official said that during 2017-18, over 27,181 farmers were associated with cocoon rearing in Kashmir thereby producing 893 metric tons of cocoons and generating an income of about Rs 22.337 crore.
However, in the year 2018-19, the number of farmers declined to 25,000, thereby producing 790 metric tons (MT) and generating revenue of Rs 23.486 crore.
He said that in the year 2019-20, the number of farmers further declined to around 24,000 and the production increased to around 810 metric tons (MT) and Rs 17.845 crore revenue was generated.
He said that during 2020-21, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of farmers declined to around 22,000 thereby producing just 563 MT of cocoons and generating only Rs 12.183 crore.
However, in 2021-22, the number of farmers increased again to around 25,000, thereby 694 MT of cocoons and generating an amount of Rs 17.185 crore.
In the year 2021-22, the number of farmers increased again and there was a marginal increase in production and income as well, he said.
“About 70 percent of cocoons are exported to other states while only 30 percent buyers are locals,” he added.
He said that the department is making efforts to revive sericulture sector to double production in next five years.
“The Jammu and Kashmir government has already approved an ambitious project worth Rs 91 crore for the revival and revitalization of the silk industry in the UT through technological interventions,” he said.
The project, according to an official, contains end-to-end interventions, right from the availability of mulberry leaves to better seed and worm production and finally, augmentation of reeling facilities to double the number of cocoons produced in J&K and boost value addition by establishing a state-of-the-art automatic reeling facility at Jammu.
“The number of farmers has started to increase as under this project, they are getting every facility free of cost, he said.
“The number of farmers will be increased by 7000 and we are expecting marginal increase this year as well. Around 10 lakh hybrid variety mulberry trees will be planted in J&K by farmers including 4 lakh in Kashmir and 6 lakh in Jammu. Farmers will get Rs 70 per plant so that quality mulberry leaves shall be produced,” he said.
“1700 rearing sheds costing around 2.15 lakhs each have been sanctioned and farmers will have give just 10 percent (labour component) while 90 percent it will be free for them and steps for disease management and technical guidance free of cost will be given to farmers,” he added.
“We are planning to double local seed production and special attention is being given towards quality so that farmers will generate more and more income,”
According to the government, the sericulture department has 173 mulberry nurseries spread over an area of 963 acres, and 374 mulberry blocks over an area of 2215 acres spread across the UT.
Kashmir is known for the best quality silk, exported all over the world. Over 27000 families in Jammu and Kashmir are said to be associated with silkworm rearing, out of which 8,900 families are from the Valley and the rest from the Jammu division.
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SRINAGAR: Leaders of Kashmir’s two principal parties joined the Khir Bhawani Mela at Tulmulla in Ganderbal. They interacted with the pilgrims and extended them greetings over the annual festival.
“Delighted to participate in Zyeshth Ashtami festivities at Tulmull. It was reassuring to get a glimpse of muslims & pandits bonding,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet, after returning from Tulmula. She expressed her eagerness to witness the coexistence of Hindu-Muslim-Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir once again. “This is Kashmiriyat woven to the idea of India, in stark contrast to the blatant disregard for the constitution in ‘Temple of democracy today’.”
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Provincial Nasir Aslam Wani Sogami visited the Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tikker, Kupwara to extend warm greetings to the Kashmiri Pandit community on the annual festival of Zyeth Atham being observed at the shrine.
Interacting with the Kashmir Pandits, who had made journeys from across the country to the temple, Nasir said the festivity is a glaring example of the syncretic cultural ethos of Jammu and Kashmir, where people from diverse religious backgrounds join the festivity with the spirit of bonhomie and inclusivity.
Mehbooba Mufti at Khir Bhawani Tulmula on Maya 28, 2023.
It was a huge rush to the main temple in Ganderbal. Barefooted devotees carried rose petals as they paid homage to the goddess, while men took a dip in the nearby stream, seeking purification and spiritual blessings. The Ragnya Devi temple reverberated with chants of hymns, as devotees offered milk and kheer (rice pudding) to the sacred spring within the premises.
Those who could not reach the five temples in Kashmir where the celebrations take place, reported to Kheer Bhawani Peeth in the Janipur area in Jammu. It is a replica of the Tulmulla shrine that came up after the majority of the community members migrated to Jamu in the early 1990s.
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SRINAGAR: In a bid to combat child exploitation, a special task force rescued 18 children who were forced into begging or labour in Jammu city, reports appearing in media said. The Children in Street Situation (CISS) task force, carried out the rescue operations in the last few days.
“We have rescued 18 children, including two girls below the age of 14 years, from different hotspot areas in the city over the past couple of days,” Arti Choudhary, the Protection Officer of the Social Welfare department’s Mission Vatsalya was quoted as saying. “The children were then presented before the Child Welfare Committee to facilitate their proper rehabilitation.”
The rescue took place at various bustling marketplaces, religious sites, traffic signals, and upscale neighbourhoods like Gandhi Nagar, Vikram Chowk, and Bohu Plaza. The children have been admitted to childcare institutions where they have access to proper nutrition, counselling, and medical care. Most of the rescued children hail from Rajasthan.
It was not immediately known if any action was initiated against the people forcing the boys and girls into labour and begging.
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SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Administration on Saturday extended the upper age limit for the combined competitive examination-2023 by three years bringing respite to thousands of JKAS aspirants who have been distressed over the changed eligibility criteria.
According to a notification issued by the General Administration Department by the order of Lt Governor, the upper age limit for open merit candidates was fixed at 35 years from the current 32 years.
The upper age limit for reserved category candidates and physically challenged candidates has been extended from 34 years to 37 years and from 35 years to 38 years, respectively.
The order in this regard was issued by Commissioner Secretary, GAD, Sanjeev Verma said.
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SRINAGAR: Almost all the 270 Rohingya refugees who are in detention in Hiranagar Sub-Jail are protesting over their continued detention. They are seeking their release or repatriation to junta-ruled Myanmar.
Rohingyas receiving support from NGO’s at Narwal, Jammu camp in 2017.
Their protest started on May 12, 2023, when they started refusing to take food. After an SDM rank official visited them, reports appearing in the media said, they accepted dry ration and started cooking themselves.
In March 2021, the government rounded up 271 Rohingyas, including 74 women and 70 children and detained them in the sub-jail. The sub-jail was notified as a “holding centre” on March 5, 2021, under Section 2(b) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Those arrested are only a part of the 5700-odd Rohingya Muslim refugees living in Jammu and Kashmir, mostly in Jammu. They are considered the world’s most persecuted Muslims.
Earlier police said there were 17 FIRs registered against 38 Rohingya Refugees. On April 6, 2022, the High Court had directs the government to identify all illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh in Jammu and Kashmir within six weeks. The government, in its response put the number at 13,400.
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SRINAGAR: Ganderbal’s Tulmulla village wore a festive look as hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits reached the historic temple shrine to celebrate Jyeshtha Ashtami festival. Authorities have made elaborate arrangements as the civil society is present to greet the Pandits, mostly driving from the plains where they live post-migration since the 1990s.
Devotees at Khir Bhawani festival at Tulmulla on May 28, 2023. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
The festival is being organised at five temples across Kashmir but Tulmulla, a village in Ganderbal on the way to Ladakh from Srinagar, gets most of the crowd.
To facilitate the pilgrimage, a fleet of 125 buses were flagged off by top officials in Jammu. The buses transported the pilgrims to different shrines, including Tulmulla in Ganderbal, Tikker in Kupwara, Manzgam in Kulgam, Logripora in Anantnag, and Martand in Anantnag. OfOfficials said 95 buses came to Tulmulla, 23 to Tikker in Kupwara, three to Manzgam in Kulgam, two to Logripora in Anantnag, and two to Martand in Anantnag.
The tradition of getting the Hindu pilgrims in convoy is a tradition that the civilian government introduced a decade back. This helps the migrants to spend many days in Srinagar and revisit their relatives and neighbours and reconnect with the society they have been part of.
In the recent years, the arrivals in 2023 would be the highest. The village within and outside the Kheer Bhawani temple was bedecked, crowded, noisy unlike the thin attendance in last few years. The visiting pilgrims admitted there were more people willing to have their prayer in the temple than before.
Sections of Kashmir society and the political class of Kashmir has always remained very attached to the smooth conduct of the Hindu festival. There were emotional scenes of reunion as some youngsters were seen presenting roses to the visitors.
“This annual festival, celebrated with great fervour, exemplifies the bonhomie and harmonious coexistence between the Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims, transcending religious boundaries and fostering communal harmony,” former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said. “It represents a unique amalgamation of spirituality, culture, and communal harmony. It provides a platform for Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims to come together, exchange greetings, and share their rich traditions and customs. The festival epitomizes the syncretic ethos of Jammu and Kashmir, where people from diverse backgrounds coexist harmoniously, united by their shared love for this land.”
“Mela Kheer Bhawani (Zyeth Atham) Mubarak to our Kashmiri Pandit brethren everywhere,” Omar Abdullah said while greeting the Pandits. “The ancient festival is a lustrous example of communal harmony and brotherhood which symbolizes the centuries past glorious pluralistic ethos of Jammu and Kashmir. A glaring symbol of our rich past, Mela Kheer Bhawani reflects the closely-knit fabric of Kashmiri culture and ethos. I hope and pray the solemn occasion further strengthens the sense of kinship and unity among the people.”
“I extend my greetings to Kashmiri Pandits on Zeisht Ashtami which is the auspicious day to be celebrated across Kashmir,” Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
Kashmir pandit women busy in laying the earthen lamps for the ceremony at Mela Khir Bhawani at Tulmulla (Ganderbal) on May 28,2023. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
“I extend my heartfelt greetings to the people, especially the Pandit brethren, on the spiritual festival of Kheer Bhawani,” Apni Party founder, Altaf Bukhari said. “For centuries, Kheer Bhawani Mela has been significant in fostering communal harmony and brotherhood between the communities of Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims. The festival symbolises Kashmir’s rich pluralistic ethos and the reason that Kashmiri people from various religious identities come together in unity to celebrate this annual Mela.”
“I extend warm greetings to the people, particularly Kashmiri Pandit brethren, on the eve of Mela and pray that the festivity acts as harbinger of peace and prosperity in the region,” former minister congressman Saifuddin Soz said. “Festival presents a perfect example of religious harmony that has been a mainstay of our centuries old culture and tradition.”
In terms of preparations, the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, assured that fool proof arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of the Mela. However, there were reports of protests by Kashmiri Pandit devotees in Tulmulla, claiming inadequate facilities at the Kheer Bhawani Temple. Divisional Commissioner Bidhuri dismissed these allegations, stating that adequate arrangements had been made for the devotees.
Authorities said more than 4000 pilgrims had reached the respective places on the weekend even though they have made arrangements for more people.
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