The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Chill returns to Valley
Cold wave conditions to continue for 3-4 days, says weatherman
Azhar Qadri
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
The night temperature in the city here has plunged to a shivering four degrees Celsius and the state’s weather office forecasts the cold wave conditions, which have hit the Kashmir region over the past one week, to continue for few more days.

Srinagar city recorded the minimum temperature at 4 degrees Celsius, which is one degree below normal, an official of the state Meteorological Department said. It is for the second consecutive night that temperature in the city fell to this level.

The maximum temperature in the city was 18.5 degrees Celsius, which is nearly three degrees below normal, the official said.

The temperature in the region has been severely hit since last week when the mountains around Pahalgam in south Kashmir, Gulmarg in north Kashmir and Zojila in central Kashmir received the season’s first snowfall and most of the districts were lashed with rains.

The latest precipitation, which began on Monday evening last week and continued for another day, had downed the mercury by several degrees below the normal.

Residents of the Valley have been forced by the chill to go indoors early in the evening to shield themselves from an unnerving cold, which gets more intense after dusk.

A senior official of the state Meteorological department said the temperature is running two to three degrees below the normal average for this time of the year. Assistant Director Meteorological Department AR Zargar told The Tribune that the cold wave condition is expected to continue for next three to four days after which temperature will stabilise.

The official said the residents were feeling more cold because the temperature had plunged “drastically” instead of “gradually”.

The daily forecast for the region, issued by the Met Department, suggests the weather to remain cold in most of the state during the next 24 hours.

First snowfall

Man injured in attack on Srinagar hotel dies
Kupwara village mourns its son
Amin Masoodi

Anees Ahmad Wani

Lolab (Kupwara), October 22
Pall of gloom descended on Andurgbugh village in Lolab today when the body of Anees Ahmad Wani (26) reached his native village. He was seriously injured in the firing near Silver Star hotel at Nowgam bypass in Srinagar on Friday. He died at the SMHS hospital this morning.

Lone bread-winner of a poor family, the deceased was working as a bell boy in the hotel for the past two years. Wailing family members showered sweets on his body as women failed to console Zoona Begum, the mother of the deceased.

She fainted several times after seeing the body of her son. The father of victim, Habibullah Wani (65), is suffering from stomach cancer and had undergone an unsuccessful bypass surgery last month. Lying on a bed around his son’s body, Habibullah said, “Anees was the lone bread-winner of our family who sacrificed his education for me. I may die of cancer anytime and am worried about my wife and son.”

The deceased was scheduled to visit his home on Eid after four months. “He telephoned us on October 17 saying that he will bring woollens for all family members on Eid. We were looking forward to celebrate Eid with him but least did we know that he would leave us forever,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, younger brother of the deceased while breaking down.

Anees left his education in 2009 and worked as a labourer in Lolab for few months before moving to Srinagar for a job. “He left studies to support his poor family. He was a sensible boy who sacrificed his education for his family,” a relative said.

Ceasefire violations will derail Indo-Pak peace process: CPM
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
Expressing concern over the recent ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Uri sectors, the state unit of the CPM today said ‘vitiation’ of the atmosphere along the borders would derail the peace process between India and Pakistan.

The CPM said this in a resolution that was adopted on the concluding day of a two-day party meet held here.

In other resolutions adopted by the party, the CPM said the governments, both at the Centre and the state, were not “seen doing anything substantial to improve livelihood of the common man.” “The escalation in prices of essential commodities, the recent decision to increase the prices of diesel and limiting the number of subsidised LPG cylinders will further make the life of the common man miserable,” the CPM said.

The party also demanded withdrawal of ‘draconian’ laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA) from the state.

It emphasised on chalking out a comprehensive vision document for the long-term solution of problems being faced by the youth in the state. “In addition to the general problems faced by the youth in India and the entire world, the J&K youth have some specific difficulties which include non-availability of quality vocational education, suitable employment opportunities and denial of economic and social empowerment,” the statement added.

It claimed that employment schemes like “Himmayat” and “Udaan” had failed to attract the youth of the state due to ‘inherent loopholes’.

The statement further said it would intensify its campaign against corruption in the state.

Holiday season in Kashmir
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
In view of a long list of holidays, including Dasehra and Eid, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in Srinagar will remain closed for over a week.

Though there would be no hearing of cases for the current week at the high court, the Court Registry would be open for two days. The court is scheduled to open next week on October 29.

“The whole week starting October 22 till October 27 has been designated as the non-sitting days, however, the High Court Registry shall remain open on October 25 and 26”, an official said, adding that the high court shall re-convene next Monday on October 29.

Besides, the government employees in Kashmir are also relishing a long list of holidays in the running week. As per the rescheduled list of holidays by the government, offices and other government establishments will remain closed for several days on account of Eid and other festivals.

According to a government order issued by the General Administration Department, the holiday on account of Urs Shah-i-Hamdan shall now be observed on October 23 (Tuesday). The holiday was earlier listed on October 22 in the Kashmir province.

Similarly, as per the government order, Eid-ul-Azha holidays will be observed on October 27 and October 28.

Besides, there shall also be a statewide holiday on October 24 on account of Dasehra.

Governor inaugurates international symposium
Calls for boosting saffron production
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
Governor NN Vohra inaugurated a 4-day International Saffron Symposium on ‘Advances in Saffron Biology, Technology and Trade’ at the SKICC today.

The Governor said all the efforts aimed at boosting the saffron production should be enhanced since the state has distinction of producing the culinary spice.

The symposium, in which researchers, policy makers, traders and growers from various saffron producing countries are participating, has been organised by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K), in collaboration with the International Society for Horticulture Science (ISHS), Belgium.

The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the University, observed that saffron is world’s number one culinary spice and perhaps the costliest one.

He said the recent researches had shown that it also has tremendous medicinal values and hoped that focused researches would be undertaken in the country to further improve the efficacy of saffron’s medicinal properties.

He said there was an urgent need for timely availability of quality corms, irrigation facilities, bringing more areas under the saffron cultivation, quality control and marketing arrangements to secure the envisaged outcomes. He observed that there was a large gap between the supply and demand for saffron worldwide and this scenario called for continuous endeavours to increase its production.

The Governor released a souvenir brought out by the SKUAST-K on the occasion.

A number of other publications were also released at the inaugural session of the symposium.

Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir said saffron occupies an important place in the agricultural scenario of the state. He said saffron has been cultivated in the Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar and Kishtwar districts. He dwelt on the national mission, initiated in 2010, for promoting the production and trade of saffron.

Agriculture Minister meets Governor
Tribune News Service

Governor NN Vohra and Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir during a meeting at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Srinagar, October 22
J-K agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today and discussed issues on the growth of agriculture sector.

The Governor and the agriculture minister discussed the need for enhanced diversification of agriculture with a view of encouraging cultivation of low volume-high value crops and the promotion of dairy and poultry farming, a spokesman said.

The issues related to the speedy socio-economic development of the state and security issues also came up for discussion during the meeting, he said.

Governor greets people on Mahanavmi, Dasehra
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
Governor NN Vohra today felicitated people on the eve of Mahanavmi and Dasehra and prayed for communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, progress and prosperity in the state.

The Governor said these festivals symbolise the triumph of virtue and righteousness over evil and darkness, a Raj Bhavan spokesman said.

“The Governor observed that these festivals are a glorious heritage of our pluralistic traditions, which further strengthens the bonds of brotherhood and amity,” he said.

The Governor prayed for well-being of the people on the occasion.

Authorities introduce early ripening varieties of apple
Move aimed at discouraging the use of artificial agents and chemicals by farming community to ripen fruits
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
In an effort to discourage the use of chemical ripening agents and hormones for artificial ripening of fruits, especially by the farming community engaged in the horticulture sector, the authorities in Kashmir have introduced many early-ripening varieties of apple.

Many such exotic varieties of apple, which ripe early and show good colour development, include red chief, scarlet spur, star crimson and red fiji and many more.

Though the authorities in Kashmir have never recommended artificial ripening of fruits, especially apple by using chemical agents, it has been noticed that such hazardous agents and hormones are easily available in the market.

What is more disturbing is that of late an increasing number of farmers have been lured towards the use of such artificial-ripening agents and hormones in their apple orchards.

However, the civil society and the authorities in Kashmir have woken up to the health hazardous of such artificial-ripening agents. Besides, the government has made it clear that no such chemical in the state has been recommended by the Agriculture Department for artificial ripening.

“No chemical is recommended for artificial ripening of temperate fruit crops,” the official papers submitted by the government in the recently concluded Assembly session revealed.

“Continuous awareness is being created in the farming community through various modes of communication to discourage the use of ripening hormones”, the official papers revealed.

Early ripening and improved apple cultivars

“At the same time, some improved exotic apple cultivars have been introduced with natural full colour development characteristic features which can replace the cultivars with low-colour intensity”, the official papers put in the Assembly by the government revealed.

These early ripening and improved apple varieties include origon spur, red chief, cooper-4, early red one, scarlet spur, star crimson, and red fiji etc.

“The filed performance of these substitute/replacement cultivars have shown encouraging results”, the official data revealed.

The state produces around 18 to 22 lakh metric tonnes of different varieties of fresh and dry fruit, with 80 per cent of the production comprising apple varieties. Official estimates say over 10 lakh people are directly or indirectly associated with the fruit industry in Kashmir.

“Ethylene and its derivatives are some of the commonly used artificial ripening agents which are used by the farmers for early ripening of apple in some areas, though it is not recommended”, said Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, associate professor at the Division of Environmental Sciences, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir.

Stating that the use of such agents is hazardous for both health and the fruit, Dr Farooq said such artificial ripening agents reduce the strength and shelf life of the apple.

Artificial ripening agent: How it works

Calcium carbide, ethylene and its derivatives are normally used for artificial ripening of fruits by the apple farmers and fruit vendors in the Valley. The calcium carbide is also known to the fruit vendors as “masala”.

When calcium carbide comes in contact with moisture, it produces acetylene gas which accelerates ripening.

It also makes appearance of fruits attractive.

Fruit-ful industry

The state produces around 18 to 22 lakh metric tonnes of different varieties of fresh and dry fruit, with 80 per cent of the production comprising apple varieties.

Over 10 lakh people are directly or indirectly associated with the fruit industry in Kashmir

Two days on, student’s body yet to be fished out

Bandipora, October 22
For the second consecutive day today, divers (of the Navy) and a team of police officials could not retrieve the body of Class IX student Nigar Ahmad Dar of Laherwalpora from the Jhelum in Bandipora. The victim, who was seriously injured in clashes over sand mining between two groups near Baniyari, had drowned in the Jhelum on Saturday.

The fast current of water in the Jhelum may have driven the body of the deceased to Wullar Lake, said a police official. “Following rains during the past few days, the flow of water has increased tremendously in the Jhelum and other tributaries. The body may have been driven to Wullar Lake since part of the Jhelum water flows into the lake,” he said.

Residents of Leharwalpora accused the police of starting the rescue operations late. “The police took too much time in starting the rescue operation and also called the Navy commandos late,” said a local resident.— OC

Minister reviews Arrangements ahead of Eid
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Qamar Ali Akhoon today instructed officers to intensify market checking across the Valley and mobilise field functionaries at all the districts, tehsils and block-levels to ensure provision of qualitative commodities on fixed rates on the forthcoming Eid-ul-Adha and Muharram.

The minister reviewed Eid and Muharram arrangements ahead of the festival at an officers meeting here today.

Secretary CAPD Mohammad Abbas Dar, Transport Commissioner Meraj Ahmad Kakroo, CAPD director Mir Mushtaq Ahmad and other senior officers were present at the meeting.

Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated in the region on October 27 and Muharram will be observed next month.

Akhoon asked the officers to mobilise human resources and keep constant vigil on profiteers, besides ensuring availability of adequate stocks of essential supplies to the consumers.

“It is the responsibility of the district officers to see whether the stock of kerosene, rice, flour, sugar and LPG is reaching in time on the depots and other sale outlets for distribution among the consumers,” the minister said.

The minister directed the officers to personally inspect the markets and ensure that rate lists were displayed by the shopkeepers outside their shops. He ordered stern action under law against the profiteers and black-marketers and warned that nobody would be allowed to indulge in such practices.

Akhoon said the kerosene quota has been increased to seven litres per ration ticket in view of the winters and directed the officers to ensure dispatch of the kerosene oil to the depots before 15th of every month.

Regarding the LPG supply, the meeting was informed that over 10,000 refilled cylinders were being distributed to the consumers’ on day-to-day basis through the oil companies. The minister had asked the representatives of oil companies to bring more efficiency in the gas distribution and open more counters to address the problems being faced by the people on this account.

The meeting was informed that the state government has identified nine places in the city for sale of sacrificial animals. The meeting was also informed that buffer stock of essential commodities, including 30,385 metric tons of rice, 6,739 metric tons of wheat and 3,436 metric tons of sugar was available in the Valley.

Havan performed after 25 years
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
A night-long ‘havan’ was performed at the Sri Durga Nag temple after 25 years in view of the Navratra festival.

"We prayed for peace in the Valley and the entire world. Even though we conduct poojas during the Navratras, the ritual was held after 25 years," said Krishna Pandit, the temple priest. He said a nine-day daily pooja was performed at the temple with the chanting of various Vedic mantras.

"Situation was not conducive here for past many years but we are happy that we held large scale celebrations this time," said Komal Raina, a devotee.

Krishna Koul, another devotee, said the festivities epitomised Hindu-Muslim brotherhood in the Valley.

Valley to observe Urs of Shah-e-Hamdaan today
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
The annual Urs of Kashmir’s revered Sufi saint Mir Syed Ali Hamadani, famously known as Shah-e-Hamdaan, will be observed on Tuesday.

The main function will be held at Khankah-e-Moula mosque in the old city where hundreds of devotees are expected to come and offer prayers.

The Urs of the Sufi saint is observed on the sixth of the last month of the Islamic calendar, which follows a lunar schedule. The day will be marked as a government holiday in the region.

Hamadani is believed to be among the first Muslim scholars to have travelled to the Valley around 700 years ago and is credited with introducing Islam in the region.

Jammu and Kashmir Law Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar had chaired a review meeting few days ago to oversee the arrangements for the annual Urs.

He had asked the officials to place a fool-proof mechanism in place to ensure no inconvenience was caused to the devotees.

JKFAMC felicitates renowned theatre personalities, writers of Valley
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22
The Jammu and Kashmir Filmmakers and Artists Cooperative Limited (JKFAMC) has felicitated renowned theatre personalities, playwrights and writers for their outstanding contribution to the cinema, theatre and poetry sectors.

Among those who were awarded with lifetime achievement awards included noted poet-cum-broadcaster Farooq Nazki, veteran theatre personality Makhan Lal Saraf and famous Kashmiri playwright Sajood Sailani.

The awards were presented by Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora and Minister of State for Home, Tourism and Culture Nasir Aslam Wani.

The JKFMAC comedy drama festival prizes were also presented on the occasion. Ladakhi play ‘GOBSKAR’ by Vajra film productions, Leh, and ‘Government Inspector’ by Sumooh theatre, Jammu, shared the best production award. The second best production award was bagged by Sangam theatre, Srinagar, for play ‘Grand Reharsal’ directed by Mir Sarwar.

The JKFMAC awards, instituted last year, aimed at felicitating the outstanding and established artists and media persons that have an extra-ordinary contribution in the field of performing arts and broadcasting, besides encouraging budding amateur artists of the state.

The cooperative, established three years ago, headed by Valley’s prominent artist Ayash Arif had taken the heritage revival and promotion task of art and culture in the state. Last year, it had organised many music festivals in Srinagar and a 10-day comedy drama festival in the month of June-July at the SKICC Auditorium after a gap of 22 years.

This year, the cooperative held its first 11-day state level drama festival in September at the SKICC, Srinagar, wherein theatre groups from Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir participated. Both the festivals were inaugurated by Governor NN Vohra.

Two Doordarshan programme producers Manzoor khan and Bashir Qadri were also felicitated on the occasion.

Policeman among 3 car snatchers held
Our Correspondent

Anantnag, October 22
The police on Monday arrested three persons, including a policeman for allegedly stealing a car from the Bijbehara area.

The police said three persons stole a Santro car, bearing registration number JK-03C/0364, from Mohammad Iqbal Dar, a resident of Bijbehara. The police intercepted the car at a naka checking at the KP road in the jurisdiction of the Anantnag police station.

The three people, arrested with snatched car, had been identified as Fayaz Ahmad Dar, resident of Gadhanzpora, Bijbehara, Shabir Ahmad Baba, resident of Gund Nowroze, Bijbehara and J&K police constable Muhammad Altaf Wani, resident of Naina, Batapora, Bijbehara.

A case FIR no 303/ 2012 under Section 392of the RPC and 7/25 IA Act has been registered in the regard and investigation has been initiated.

The district police authorities, Srinagar, said the constable was absent from his duties since last one month and had been suspended. Departmental enquiry has been initiated against the accused constable.

Police table tennis meet gets under way
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 22
The 1st Police Martyrs' Memorial Table Tennis Championship-2012, organised by the J&K Police, in collaboration with the J&K Table Tennis Association commenced at Indoor Sports complex, MA stadium here today.

Superintendent of police Shalinder Singh, who was the chief guest on the occasion, declared the meet open. DySP (DAR) Vijay Kumar, J&K Table Tennis Association general secretary Ajay Sharma, Sheetal Gandotra, Satish Gupta, Vicky Mahajan, IP Singh, Satvir Singh, Sunil Sharma and Rajan Sharma were also present.

Meanwhile, in the other matches played, Manvika toppled Sivangi Jamwal by 12-14,11-7,11-2 in the
sub-junior girls’ section while Bhavya outplayed Himani by 11-3, 11-3. In the other matches played, Ritul beat Shivangi by 11-2, 11-1, Archita beat Yatiksha by 11-2, 11-5 and Shreya thrashed Ankita by 11-3, 11-4.

In the cadet boys’ category, Kanit thrashed Arush by 11-2, 11-3 whereas Aman beat Divyansh by 11-1, 11-0. Shahrukh had no difficulty in defeating Sobit Sharma by 11-8, 11-2 while Aman Verma defeated Shivam by 11-3, 11-4.

In the other matches played, Manuvrat beat Aryan Sharma by 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, Ninvad beat Abhay Kaul by 11-6, 11-9, Karan Langer beat Rishav by 11-9, 11-5, Hitesh beat Ribuv by 11-6, 11-3 and Ashank beat Tanaz by 11-9, 11-8.