Top Stories

Srinagar, Nov 10 : At a time when outdoor saffron in Kashmir is facing three major challenges—lack of irrigation facilities, conversion of saffron land and shortage of saffron corns, farmers in Kashmir’s Saffron bowl, Pampore are growing saffron indoors, which according to them has of late, shown positive results.

Majid Farooq, a grower from Shaar Shali area of Pampore while talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that his family is the first who have started indoor cultivation in the area and results have been phenomenal and most important thing has been that indoor saffron has pure quality.

Ab Majeed Wani, President of Saffron Growers Association of Kashmir told KNO that indoor saffron cultivation is a reality and it has been showing very positive results as of now and there remains zero impact of climate change, extensive rain or heat on indoor saffron.

He said that it will increase the saffron production, the demand can be easily met and even people who don’t have land can grow saffron in their homes.

Dr Bashir Ahmad Allaie, head of Advance Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spices, while talking to KNO said that as climate change has been affecting our every crop and like that it has started to put its impact on outdoor saffron and now we need irrigation for saffron which wasn’t earlier and indoor saffron under these circumstances can play vital role in meeting demand and supply.

Since 2018 we have been working on this experiment and after two years we distributed it for demonstration among farmers, he said, adding that around 12 indoor saffron units have been started in homes of farmers and they are happy with the result.

Through the new multi-tier method, the corms are put in trays and they require around 100 days of darkness before the yield is harvested. “The process is started in August, the flowering begins between October 10 and 15, followed by harvesting in the month of November,” he said.

“Our aim is to accommodate more and more corn in room and get more yield,” he said, adding that corns are being uprooted in June and temperature, humidity and light play pivotal role in the yield and if farmer will take care these things very well, yield will more—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 10 : The Endangered royal stag, popularly known as the Hangul, has shown a gradual increase in its population and fresh survey in this regard is being carried out through genetic methods.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red Data Book which contains lists of species at risk of extinction has declared the Hangul as one of three species that were critically endangered in J&K. The other two are the Markhor and the Tibetan antelope or ‘Chiru’.

The Hangul is placed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the J&K Wildlife Protection Act, 1978.

“To increase the breed of the ‘Hangul’, the animal breeding centre is functional at Shikargah area of Tral in Pulwama under the ‘Species Recovery Programme”, an official said.

The official said that the last Hangul census was conducted in 2021, the population of Hangul has shown a significant rise. “Presently the Hangul population is 263 as per the 2021 census”, he said.

The census revealed that the number of Hangul males per 100 females was 126 in 2021 down from 153 in 2019. The number of fawns per 100 females has increased to 13.4 in 2021 from 9 in 2019.

He said the census reports available with the department show the annual hangul counting started since 2004 using scientific methods which estimates the population at 197 in 2004, 153 in 2006, 127 in 2008, 175 in 2009, 218 in 2011, 186 in 2015, 214 in 2017 and 237 in 2019.

Aaltaf Hussain Dentoo, Wildlife Warden, Central division told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that there is a gradual increase in the population and there are no worrisome factors.

“As hangul is endangered but like other animals they get their food naturally. In winters, during snowfall, we drop some vegetables, fresh leaves and other things for them”, he said.

Teams are being sent on the ground to find the population of Hangul and this time we are using genetic methods to find the population of the Hangul, he said.

“The fecal matter of the Hangul will be sent to Hyderabad laboratory where through a very advanced method, we will find out the total number of Hangul”, Aaltaf said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 10 : The authorities in South Kashmir’s Shopian district have seized nine properties including two schools belonging to banned outfit Jamaat-e-Islami.

According to an order, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that 9 properties have surfaced that are owned by and under possession of banned association Jamat-e-Islami and are located in the jurisdiction of district Shopian and are to be notified in terms of section 8 UA(P) Act.

As per the order the properties include 2 school buildings and separate lands registered in the name of JEI.

It reads that upon obtaining the report from concerned Tehsildar and after perusal of Revenue Record pertaining to these properties, it was found that these properties are owned by or under possession of banned Jamat-e-Islami association through their members.

The order reads that on perusal of the records and other connected documents, these are hereby notified in terms of section 8 of UA(P) Act 1967.

It added that the entry into and usage of these properties by anyone, other than investigating officers of SIA and police for the purpose of investigation, has been banned—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 09 : National Investigation Agency (NIA) Wednesday filed a chargesheet against the accused under arms, explosives act in the case regarding the activities of the The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit.

In a statement issued to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the NIA spokesman said that it filed a chargesheet in ‘activities of The Resistance Front’, an offshoot of LeT, proscribed terrorist organisation, in RC-32/2021/NIA/DLI

“Today (09.11.2022) NIA filed supplementary charge-sheet in this case against the activities of ‘The Resistance Front’, an offshoot of LeT, a proscribed terrorist organisation, in the NIA Special Court, PHC, New Delhi against accused Muzamil Mushtaq Bhat alias Hamza alias Daniyal, resident of District Baramulla (J&K) UT u/s 120B of the IPC, Section 25 (1AA) of the Arms act, Section 4 of the Explosive Substances act, 1908 and Sections 17, 18, 18B, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act, 1967,” the statement said, adding that the case was registered suo moto by NIA n 18.11.2021. During investigations, it emerged that the accused person Muzamil Mushtaq Bhat alias Humza alias Daniyal,who is associated with Pakistan based handlers/ operative commanders of LeT/TRF, had radicalized, motivated and instigated vulnerable youth to join terrorist groups, such as TRF in Kashmir.

He entered into a conspiracy with active terrorist commanders in the valley to train youth of Kashmir to fabricate IEDs/explosives using locally available chemicals. “He, alongwith other co-accused and Pakistan based handlers/operatives of LeT/TRF actively participated in acts in support of LeT and received funds from Pakistan based operatives of LeT. He also facilitated the transfer of weapons in Kashmir for furtherance of terrorist activities in India,” the statement added—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 09 : A hotel owner from Pahalgam area of South Kashmir’s Anantnga district travelled nearly 70 kilometres to return money to a tourist that he had forgot in the hotel room in Pahalgam.

As per details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Abdul Wahid Wani, owner of Best view resort at Ladroo, Pahalgam returned over 19 thousand to the tourist that he had forgot while leaving the hotel.

Taking to KNO, Wahid said a tourist namely Ramesh Choudhary had stayed in his hotel and next day his daughter came to clean the room and found Rs 19,700 there.

“We were waiting to return the money to the owner and on November 08 I received a call of the tourist who had forgot the money. I returned the money to his on the same day,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ramesh who got his money back told KNO that the hotel owner travelled 70 kilometres to return him the lost money.

“I am very thankful to the man who returned my lost money,” he added—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Handwara, Nov 08 : At least 20 persons were injured when a vehicle they were travelling in met with an accident in Watayin area of Handwara in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a bus turned turtle near Watayin when it was on way to Srinagar.

He said that in the at least 20 persons were injured and they were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The official added that among 20 injured 14 were later referred to district hospital Handwara—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 07 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday said that it cracked the recent IED blast incident in Kehnusa village of Bandipora district by arresting two hybrid militants from Sopore area of North Kashmir.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Shabir Nawab while holding a press conference at Police Hqrs in Sopore said that two Lashkar-e-Toiba hybrid militants were arrested from Watlab area of Sopore on Monday morning.

The SSP as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, that the duo were apprehended on the basis of specific inputs generated by the Sopore police. “Three IEDs with detonators were also recovered from them, thus averting a major tragedy”, the SSP said.

Officials identified the duo as Irshad Ahmed Ganaie alias Shahid son of Sonaullah Ganaie and Waseem Raja son of Ghulam Mohd Lone – both the residents of Kenusa, Bandipora.

Notably, on October 27, a low intensity blast occurred at Kehnusa, Bandipora wherein no casualties were reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police in a press release issued to KNO said that acting on specific information, a special checkpoint was established by police near Watlab Crossing in Sopore. During checking a suspicious person carrying a white coloured bag coming from Bandipora towards Watlab was signalled to stop. However, the said suspicious person tried to flee from the spot but he was tactfully apprehended by the alert police party.

“On search, 02 IEDs were recovered from the white coloured bag he was carrying. He has been identified as Irshad Ahmad Ganie alias Shahid son of Sonawallha Ganie resident of Kehnusa Bandipora,” it reads.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused person is a hybrid terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT. On his further disclosure, another hybrid terrorist identified as Wasim Raja Lone son of Ghulam Mohd Lone resident of Kehnusa Bandipora was arrested from whose possession one more IED was recovered, the statement reads further.

During further questioning, the arrested duo revealed that they had planned and executed the IED attack in the Kenusa area of Bandipora on 27/10/2022, the police said.

With the arrest and recovery of three IEDs, Police said it averted a possible major tragedy as the arrested accused were planning to carry out more IED blasts.

In this regard, a case FIR no 251/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress, ends the statement—(KNO)

Ganderbal, Nov 07 : Spotting of snow leopard, an endangered animal in the upper reaches of Kashmir for the first time, will give a significant boost to the efforts aimed at the conservation of the species, Wildlife Officials said Monday.

Interestingly, the researchers from the Nature Conservation Foundation, who are partners with the J&K wildlife department, recently noticed the movement of snow leopard in the upper reaches of Baltal-Zojila area of Kashmir.

Altaf Hussain Dentoo, Wildlife Warden, Central division told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the snow leopard is probably in Kashmir. “Recently, we also received some photos, so there is a good chance that snow leopards may be found in Kashmir,” he said, adding that “We’re currently working on an endangered species prevention project in the Kashmir Valley, and we’re also doing some research on it.”

He said that snow leopards are not harmful to humans. “They attack only when they feel endangered. The Jammu and Kashmir department of wildlife protection has formally launched the first-ever snow leopard assessment in J&K

J&K’s Department of Wildlife Protection and Programme Manager of National Conservation Foundation (NCF) in a statement issued to KNO, said that the Department of Wildlife Protection had been conducting surveys with partner NGOs to understand the presence and abundance of snow leopards under the Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) project funded by the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change.

It said that this iconic and culturally treasured great cat was a good indicator species as it quickly reacts to habitat disturbances and its successful conservation requires sustainable long-term systemic solutions to the threats impacting the quality of habitats.

“Various teams have been conducting surveys across the near 12,000 sq km potential snow leopard of J&K for a few years now covering Gurez, Thajwas, Baltal-Zojila, Wurwun, and Kishtwar landscapes. There is extremely limited evidence of snow leopard occurrence across J&K,” the statement said.

It said that recently in a historic revelation, partners on this project, and researchers from Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) recorded images of the snow leopard in the upper Baltal-Zojila region of Kashmir.

The statement further reads that the team involved in the camera trapping was headed by Munib Khanyari and accompanied by Aashiq Dar of Tangmarg, Baramulla, Aijaz Raina of Sarbal, Sonamarg, Tanzin Thuktan, Rinchen Tobge, and Kesang Chunit of Kibber, Himachal Pradesh.

It said that they were supported extensively by the staff of the Department of Wildlife Protection and the research associates and supported by Suresh Kumar Gupta, IFS Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden and Regional Wildlife Warden – Kashmir Rashid Yahya Naqash.

Notably, India had launched Project Snow Leopard in 2009 to save the elusive and vulnerable species. Unofficial estimates put the population of snow leopards in India around 500. It is believed that about 60% of the snow leopards in the country roam the snowy wilderness of the Himalayan region of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of about 3,000 metres. The rest are found in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

The present snow leopard population assessment in J&K covers potential areas in Kishtwar and adjoining forests in Jammu, Gurez, Thajwas and Overa Aru in Kashmir region—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 07 : The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to hike the Dearness Allowance (DA) of employees and pensioners by four per cent with effect from 01 July, 2022.

An order issued by Secretary Finance Department, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the government employees working in regular pay levels under 7th Pay Commission recommendations, will be paid Dearness Allowance at a revised rate of 38% of Basic Pay from the existing 34% of Basic Pay.

“The term ‘Basic Pay’ in the revised pay structure means the pay drawn in the prescribed level in the pay matrix as per 7th Pay Commission recommendations, but does not include any other type of pay like special pay etc,” the order reads.

It further said that the arrears on account of additional instalment of DA with effect from July, 2022 shall be paid in cash in two equal installments (one in the month of November, 2022 and other in the month of December, 2022) and shall form part of salary from November onwards.

Similar order has been issued regarding the pensioners/family pensioners. “The arrears on account of additional instalment of DA with effect from July shall be paid in cash to Government Pensioners/Family pensioners in two equal installments (one in November and other in December) and shall form part of pension /family pension from November onwards,” it said.

“Other provisions governing the grant of Dearness Allowance on pension/family pension such as the regulations of Dearness Allowance during employment Ire-employment, where more than one pension is drawn etc. and other provisions of the existing rules/orders(as are not in conflict with provisions of this order), shall continue to remain in force.”—(KNO)