2700 unmarked graves discovered in Indian Held Kashmir

Srinagar, 30 June: A human rights group in Kashmir urged authorities to launch a probe into 2,700 unmarked graves believed to be people who died as a result of the region's revolt against Indian rule. Srinagar, India.

In disputed  Kashmir, 2,700 unmarked graves containing over 2,943 bodies across 55 villages in three districts, Bandipore, Baramulla and Kupwara have been discovered.

The Srinagar based human rights group, International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice for Kashmir (IPTJ) in its report released today in a press conference claimed that the graves could be of those missing from the custody of Indian troops. Rights groups put their numbers at ten thousand. The report is based on research between November 2006 and November 2009 and has been authored by prominent human rights activists of India and occupied Kashmir, Angana P. Chatterji, Parvez Imroz, Gautam Navlakha, Zahir-Ud-Din, Mihir Desai, and Khurram Parvez.

112-page dossier, titled ‘Buried Evidence’ was released at a press conference in Srinagar today by Angna Chatterjee, the convener of the group. The report documents in considerable detail how the actions of Indian military and paramilitary forces in Kashmir inflict terror on the local population, killed through extra-judicial means.

The detailed press note issued in Srinagar at the press conference is as follows:

BURIED EVIDENCE is authored by Angana P. Chatterji, Parvez Imroz, Gautam Navlakha, Zahir-Ud-Din, Mihir Desai, and Khurram Parvez.

[Dr. Angana P. Chatterji is Convener IPTK and Professor, Anthropology, California Institute of Integral Studies.

Avocate Parvez Imroz is Convener IPTK and Founder, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.

Gautam Navlakha is Convener IPTK and Editorial Consultant, Economic and Political Weekly.

Zahir-Ud-Din is Convener IPTK and Vice-President, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.

Advocate Mihir Desai is Legal Counsel IPTK and Lawyer, Mumbai High Court and Supreme Court of India.

Khurram Parvez is Liaison IPTK and Programme Coordinator, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.]

Findings

The graveyards investigated by IPTK entomb bodies of those murdered in encounter and fake encounter killings between 1990-2009. These graves include bodies of extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions, as well as massacres committed by the Indian military and paramilitary forces.

Of these graves, 2,373 (87.9 percent) were unnamed. Of these graves, 154 contained two bodies each and 23 contained more than two cadavers. Within these 23 graves, the number of bodies ranged from 3 to 17.

A mass grave may be identified as containing more than one, and usually unidentified, human cadaver. Scholars refer to mass graves as resulting from crimes against humanity, war crimes, or genocide. If the intent of a mass grave is to execute death with impunity, with intent to kill more than one, and to forge an unremitting representation of death, then, to that extent, the graves in Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara are part of a collective burial by India’s military and paramilitary, creating a landscape of “mass burial.”

Post-death, the bodies of the victims were routinely handled by military and paramilitary personnel, including the local police. The bodies were then brought to the “secret graveyards” primarily by personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The graves were constructed by local gravediggers and caretakers, buried individually when possible, and specifically not en mass, in keeping with Islamic religious sensibilities.

The graves, with few exceptions, hold bodies of men. Violence against civilian men has expanded spaces for enacting violence against women. Women have been forced to disproportionately assume the task of caregiving to disintegrated families and undertake the work of seeking justice following disappearances and deaths. These graveyards have been placed next to fields, schools, and homes, largely on community land, and their affect on the local community is daunting.

The Indian Armed Forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police routinely claim the dead buried in unknown and unmarked graves to be “foreign militants/terrorists.” They claim that the dead were unidentified foreign or Kashmiri militants killed while infiltrating across the border areas into Kashmir or travelling from Kashmir into Pakistan to seek arms training. Official state discourse conflates cross-border militancy with present nonviolent struggles by local Kashmiri groups for political and territorial self-determination, portraying local resistance as “terrorist” activity.

Exhumation and identification have not occurred in sizeable cases. Where they have been undertaken, in various instances, “encounter” killings across Kashmir have, in fact, been authenticated as “fake encounter” killings. In instances where, post-burial, bodies have been identified, two methods have been used prevalently. These are 1. Exhumation; and 2. Identification through the use of photographs.

The report also examines 50 alleged “encounter” killings by Indian security forces in numerous districts in Kashmir. Of these persons, 39 were of Muslim descent; 4 were of Hindu descent; 7 were not determined. Of these cases, 49 were labelled militants/foreign insurgents by security forces and one body that was drowned. Of these, following investigations, 47 were found killed in fake encounters and one was identifiable as a local militant.

IPTK has been able to study only partial areas within 3 of 10 districts in Kashmir, and our findings and very preliminary evidence point to the severity of existing conditions. If independent investigations were to be undertaken in all 10 districts, it is reasonable to assume that the 8,000+ enforced disappearances since 1989 would correlate with the number of bodies in unknown, unmarked, and mass graves.

Allegations

The methodical and planned use of killing and violence in Indian-administered Kashmir constitutes crimes against humanity in the context of an ongoing conflict. The Indian state’s governance of Indian-administered Kashmir requires the use of discipline and death as techniques of social control. Discipline is affected through military presence, surveillance, punishment, and fear. Death is disbursed through “extrajudicial” means and those authorized by law. These techniques of rule are used to kill, and create fear of not just death but of murder.

Mass and intensified extrajudicial killings have been part of a sustained and widespread offensive by the military and paramilitary institutions of the Indian state against civilians of Jammu and Kashmir. IPTK asks that the evidence put forward in this report be examined, verified, and reframed as relevant by credible, independent, and international bodies, and that international institutions ask that the Government of India comply with such investigations.

We note that the international community and institutions have not examined the supposition of crimes against humanity in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. We note that the United Nations and its member states have remained ineffective in containing and halting the adverse consequences of the Indians state’s militarization in Kashmir.

We ask that evidence from unknown, unmarked, and mass graves in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir be used to seek justice, through the sentencing of criminals and other judicial and social processes. As well, the existence of these graves, and how they came to be, may be understood as indicative of the effects and issue of militarization, and the issues pertaining to militarization itself must be addressed seriously and expeditiously.

The violences of militarization in Indian-administered Kashmir, between 1989-2009, have resulted in 70,000+ deaths, including through extrajudicial or “fake encounter” executions, custodial brutality, and other means. In the enduring conflict, 6, 67,000 military and paramilitary personnel continue to act with impunity to regulate movement, law, and order across Kashmir. The Indian state itself, through its legal, political, and military actions, has demonstrated the existence of a state of continuing conflict within Indian-

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Is Lashkar-e-Taiba a real global threat

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Is Lashkar-e-Taiba a real global threat

Is Lashkar-e-Taiba a real global threat

By: Abdullah Muntazir

Srinagar, June 29: There is a debate going on in the west on the issue of a possible threat from Lashkar-e-Taiba – A Jihadi group fighting against Indian occupation of Kashmir and blamed for Mumbai attacks in 2008 – to the western interests. There is no doubt Lashkar hates United States for a number of reasons. Apart from the widespread anti-America resentment in almost all Islamic groups across the globe, the group has some of its own reasons to dislike US. US declared Lashkar-e-Taiba a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) a few months after 9/11 without any substantial reason. The group until then never attacked or planned any attack on US interests. Its focus was totally on Kashmir against Indian forces.

The group believes that by declaring it terrorist organization US wanted to please India and press Pakistan to back off from freedom struggle in Kashmir. Despite its anger the group refrained from attacking US interests in the region but US was not satisfied with its own measures by putting Lashkar on FTO list of the State Department and went to UN Security Council in 2005 for international sanctions against the group. Eventually UNSC put the group in the list of Al-Qaeda and Taliban affiliates and asked the member countries to freeze its assets and impose embargo on purchase of weapons while its members were banned from international travelling. These sanctions could not affect the group in Pakistan as technically it was not active in Pakistan anymore after January 12, 2002 when the then president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf banned the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Sipa-e-Sahaba, and Tehreek-e-Jafria.

US also tried its best to put the name of Jamat-ud-Dawah – a charity and preaching Islamic organization accused of being a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba – in the same UNSC list. Nevertheless, China blocked these moves repeatedly until December 10, 2008 when china, on the request of Pakistan, withdrew its technical hold and Jamat-ud-Dawah and the names of its some prominent leaders were included in the list of banned entities. Jamat-ud-Dawah denies any links with Lashkar and interestingly it took US almost five years to conclude that Jamat-ud-Dawah is an alias of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Lashkar was declared FTO in 2001 while US included the name of Jamat-ud-Dawah in the lists of aliases of Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2005.

In short, Lashkar has obvious reasons to be an anti-American Jihadi group but we will have to see whether this so-called anti-Americanism is ever translated into a practical action or it is just rhetoric in the west on the provocation of some Indian lobbies active in the west – particularly in the United States.

For a number of reasons I believe that Lashkar-e-Taiba is not a direct or indirect threat to western interests. Here are these reasons;

Although the group advocates revival of Khilfphah in the Muslim world but at the same time, it also believes in Pakistani nationalism from an Islamic context. For Lashkar, there are only two states on the world map based on ideology, which are Israel and Pakistan. Pakistan came into being exclusively on the base of Islam while Israel is Jewish state. Lashkar believes that protecting Pakistan is like protecting Islam. No transnational pan-Islamic Jihadi group honors geographical borders. For them these borders are un-Islamic and it is sinful to willingly accept these ‘un-Islamic lines’ drawn on the ‘land of Allah’. On the other hand, Lashkar believes Pakistan is a ‘gift of Allah’. Due to this pro-Pakistan ideology, the group naturally becomes closer to Pakistani security establishment. It thinks in the same line as Pakistani armed forces think –India is the number one enemy of Pakistan. It was quite rational for Pakistani security establishment to rely on Lashkar-e-Taiba for freedom of Kashmir. The group has successfully engaged Indian armed forces in Kashmir for almost 15 years along with other Jihadi groups fighting in Kashmir.

There was tremendous pressure on the group after 9/11 to join Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan to fight against US and NATO forces but the group did not want to create problems for its sympathizers in Pakistani state institutions, therefore it openly declined this popular demand of fighting America. Instead of shifting its focus from Kashmir to Afghanistan, the group expanded its operations from Kashmir to inside India. India accuses Lashkar for attacking dozens of high value targets inside its border including attacks on Mumbai, Indian Military Academy, Red Fort, Akshardham Temple, nuclear institute in Bangalore, Mumbai train attacks in 2006 and others. With its high profile attacks on Indian interests, it appealed the young Indian Muslims who are annoyed by dominating Hindu extremists. Massacres of more than five thousand Muslims by Hindu extremists in Indian state of Gujarat poured oil on fire and provided Lashkar with a great opportunity to exploit the Indian Muslim youths. Pakistani security establishment had/has no problem with Lashkar’s anti-India agenda because India is always suspected for its covet activities in FATA and Baluchistan.

Lashkar has ‘sacrificed’ more than five thousand ‘mujahedeen’ in Kashmir. For Lashkar, it will be betrayal to the souls of those five thousand plus martyrs if it leaves the ‘mission Kashmir’ uncompleted and indulges itself in a battle which is already saturated as far as the number of Jihadi groups are concerns. Lashkar believes that by attacking nations other than India will damage its Kashmir campaign.

Popularity graph of Lashkar in occupied Kashmir and Pakistan is on its peak. There was a time when Al-Qaeda was the mentor for all Jihadi groups and Osama bin Laden was one of the most beloved people in Pakistan. However, suicide attacks inside Pakistan became counterproductive and as result, Al-Qaeda and Taliban are deprived off their good reputation in Pakistan. However, this is not the case with Lashkar. It has an ideology that forbids attacking Muslim states. Therefore, Lashkar not only refrained from attacking Pakistani interests but it discouraged other groups too.

Due to its pro Pakistan ideology and policies, it has deep roots in Pakistani society. It is now able to work as a pressure political group in a number of areas in central and northern Punjab. Although it openly denounces democracy but covertly, it supports candidates of its choice. They can be from any political party. Lashkar knows very well that if it started a global Jihadi campaign it will no longer enjoy such a political advantage in Pakistan.

The group very well appreciates its weaknesses and strengths. It is not capable of challenging the whole west. Not only it will be fool enough to create more and more enemies but it will also invite the wrath of Pakistani security establishment, which is not tolerating Al-Qaeda at any cost, although it views Taliban from a different angle. For Pakistani security establishment Taliban are potential allies in the future but Al-Qaeda is ‘an enemy’. The simplest definition of Al-Qaeda is ‘anyone who attacks the west and has an Islamic origin’. Therefore, if Lashkar starts attacking western targets, Pakistan will obviously consider it Al-Qaeda.

Another reason that Lashkar cannot become ‘Next Al-Qaeda’ is that Al-Qaeda itself does not trust Lashkar. It blames Lashkar as a ‘B’ team of  ISI. Due to Lashkar’s reluctance in fighting against US, some of its member defected and tried to join Al-Qaeda but they were considered ‘planted’ people and could not win trust of seniors of Al-Qaeda leaders. One such fighter once told the author of this report, “We are never allowed to see the people of higher ups because they don’t trust us due to our Lashkar background.” While one cannot rule out Lashkar’s support for Afghan Taliban, it seems unlikely that Lashkar and Al-Qaeda can cooperate with each other in current circumstances. Most of the experts in the west quote the example of arrest of Abu Zubaida –a senior leader of Al-Qaeda – from a safe house of Lashkar-e-Taiba but these experts ignore that this arrest was the end of a short love affair between the two groups started right after 9/11. Lashkar was reportedly trying to evacuate ‘Muslim brethrens’ from the war zone but Al-Qaeda members blamed it for betraying and ‘selling’ Abu Zubaida to ISI and US.

Some analysts present David Headley’s case –an American citizen with alleged links with Lashkar as well as CIA –as a catalyst to prove that Lashkar has now global reach and next time a Mumbai style attack may occur ‘not in India but in Manhattan’. A question arises that why these experts and analysts ignore the fact that David Headley was working with Lashkar-e-Taiba since 2003. It was very easy for Lashkar to use Headley and his contacts in US to plan and execute an attack on American soil. Headley’s plea agreement clearly shows that an attack on US or other western countries was never even discussed. Headley only confessed to plan an attack on Danish newspaper. It is an exceptional case as the Danish newspaper committed a crime against the whole Ummah and anyone at anytime can go at any extreme in this cartoon-controversy.

There is a need to view Headley case from another perspective. While Al-Qaeda uses all its available human resource against western targets, Lashkar-e-Taiba succeeded in utilizing a western human resource against its prime enemy India. Think for a while that if David Headley was affiliated with Al-Qaeda what would have happened? A man with American passport, travelling freely across the world, having blessing of some US intelligence agencies –Al-Qaeda would have loved to use him against Pentagon or CIA headquarters or NATO headquarters in Brussels instead of asking him to scout Mumbai.

Virginia Jihad Network also proves that Lashkar is not interested in attacking US or the west. In this case, some American Muslims with Pakistani and Arab origins were allegedly involved in helping Lashkar-e-Taiba for its war against India. US had to enact an old law to convict them because they were not found guilty of harming US citizens. US government accused them that they were trying to harm a US ally. The sentencing of half dozen Muslims was highly criticized by human rights groups.

Pakistani experts on militancy also disagree with the hypothesis of a section of western press and US politicians that Lashkar-e-Taiba is a global threat. These Pakistani experts are not ready to buy the ideas that Al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba are one and same, and that ‘Lashkar is next Al-Qaeda’. Hamid Mir, a leading Pakistani journalist who interviewed Osama Bin Laden more than twice, while commenting on the article of Newsweek magazine in which Lashkar is presented as Next Al-Qaeda, said, “The author of the Newsweek’s article deliberately ignored certain facts to prove his point. Hafiz Muhammad publically condemns suicide bombings and killings of innocent non-Muslims while al-Qaeda does not condemn suicide bombings or killings of innocent people. Jamat-ud-Dawah works in rural Sindh province to help Christians and Hindus but the author of the article mentioned only its relief activities in Kashmir. Lashkar is not like Al-Qaeda.”

Another leading Pakistani journalist and expert on militancy Amir Zia, who works with SAMA TV and News Line Magazine, while talking to the author of this article, said, “Lashkar always remained a Kashmir focused group. It fights against Indian atrocities in Kashmir and tries to attack only military targets. After Mumbai attacks this perception prevailed that this group may become a threat to the west but for me it agenda is limited to Kashmir and India”

Defense analyst and a professor at renowned Quad-e-Azam University Islamabad commented on the issue from a different angle and said “It will be premature to say that Lashkar is a bigger threat than Al-Qaeda. The situation is a bit complex. The group is in evolution process. It works in different forms. It also works in the name of Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation to focus on relief activities. There can be some nexus between some old members of the group but as a whole, the group is not focused on the west. It tries to adopt same line as that of the government of Pakistan. Hafiz Saeed now has started to take up political issues between the two countries.”

Indeed Lashkar is a real threat to India and it is capable of bringing India and Pakistan to war. This indirectly may affect US interests in the region, as it wants Pakistan’s total focus on its western border. Pakistan can use its influence to keep this group away from any Mumbai style attacks inside India but trying to crush this ‘bunch of savages’ as demanded by anti-Pakistan US senator Gary Ackerman may become counterproductive.

Lashkar is not occupying any specific territory just as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan did in Sawat and Waziristan. It is impossible to launch a military operation against the group in Pakistan. If India with its hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in Kashmir could not control a few thousand fighters of Lashkar, how can Pakistan control millions of its supporters across the country? The government of Pakistan can only take administrative measures which it has already taken by arresting 7 top commanders of Lashkar and trying them in an anti terror court.

During current strategic dialogue, US officials demanded actions against Lashkar and its leaders. US are very much concerned on the issue. Nevertheless, Pakistan will have to think of its own interests. While Pakistan cannot support a militant group but it also cannot create another Tehreek-e-Taliban in Pakistan. The strategy of crushing the militants is no longer working and the world is compelled to find ways to peruse Afghan Taliban for dialogue.

Although Pro India senator Gary Ackerman is trying to convince US policy makers that resolution of Kashmir issue will not satisfy Lashkar-e-Taiba but the reality is that Kashmir resolution will end the reasons for Lashkar and other groups fighting in Kashmir to take up arms. On January 17, 2009, Lashkar itself made it categorically clear that it will lay down arms if Kashmir issue is peacefully resolved. Its spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Ghaznavi had said “Our struggle is only confined to Kashmir and we have no relations or association with armed groups operating at international level. We have no global agenda. We just want freedom of Kashmir and if it comes peacefully we will welcome it. We don’t see armed struggle as the only way to achieve our goal. If the world listens to our cries and play its role in resolving the Kashmir issue there would be no reason for is to fight.” ( Kashmir Newspaper )

One can argue that it is just a political statement of Lashkar to mislead the world opinion. Of course, it can be a political statement but if Kashmir issue is resolved then groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba will no longer enjoy sympathies of Pakistan. If the west really wants to contain Lashkar, it should ask India to come out of the fear that if it gives up Kashmir the whole India will disintegrate. A nation of more than a billion citizens should not be fearful from giving people their due rights. Boiling Kashmir will spoil the Indian dreams of becoming a permanent member of UNSC. For its growth and prosperity, India must adopt a conflict free policy in the region. This will make the Indian market secure for the western investors. So the west in general, and US and UK in particular, should come forward and help India in resolving Kashmir issue instead of pressing Pakistan for no long-term benefits.

About the authors: Abdullah Muntazir author of this report is an expert on militancy and regional security.

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Kashmiris not to forget Son of East’s sacrifice: Dr. G.N Fai

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Kashmiris not to forget Son of East’s sacrifice: Dr. G.N Fai

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Five hundred thousands march from Srinagar to Sopore

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Five hundred thousands march from Srinagar to Sopore

Five hundred thousands march from Srinagar to Sopore

Srinagar, 29, June: Near about five hundred thousands of people are currently marching from Srinagar towards Sopore to express solidarity with the people killed in Sopore on a call given by the All parties Hurriyat Conference-APHC.

According to latest reports,more than five hundred thousands of Kashmiris left in a procession from Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar towards Sopore this morning. As the marchers moved on, thousands of other people people joined them on the way.

Chanting ant-India and pro-freedom slogans, the protesters were stopped by indian forces at Hokersar on the outskirts of Srinagar on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road commonly known as Shahrah-e-Aziz (Sheikh Aziz High Way). Latest reports suggest that despite firing of tear gas shells to break the march, the protesters continued marching towards Sopore.

In Sopore, thousands of people this morning took the body of Bilal Ahmed Wani in a procession, killed in Indian troops firing on Sunday. Latest reports suggest that security forces have opened fire in the air to break the marchers, who are raising anti-government and pro-freedom slogans. There are no reports of any casualties.

Meanwhile, authorities have put under house arrest several Hurriyat leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and other executive members of the amalgam, including Bilal Gani Lone, Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, Aga Syed Hassan Alsafvi Almosvi and Mirwaiz aide, Shahidul Islam, Hilal Ahmad War, Ahsan Untoo, Fahti Alam, Ajaz Hussian.

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Iran: Kashmir to imbibe concept of revolution from (Son of Kashmir) Ayatollah Khomeini

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Iran: Kashmir to imbibe concept of revolution from (Son of Kashmir) Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran: Kashmir to imbibe concept of revolution from (Son of Kashmir) Ayatollah Khomeini

Srinagar, June 29: To venerate the 19th anniversary of the Grand Ayatollah Imam Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, various functions are being held across disputed state of Kashmir.

Various functions include the seminars, symposiums, recitation competitions and work shops to aware the people about the life of Ayatollah Imam Khomeini especially the concept of revolution.

Different religious organization including Jammu Kashmir Shai Federation, Anjumani Sharee Shian, Ithadul Muslimeen, Idara Nashre Uloome Ahlul-Bayt are busy with the arrangements to observe the 19th anniversary this week.

In Srinagar, streets can be seen with the posters of Imam Khomeini of various religious organizations about the date and venue of their functions.

Imam Khomeini memorial lectures will be organized at different local colleges in which number of people including New Delhi-based Cultural Councilor of the Iranian Embassy Najaffi will be the chief guest.

"It is now 19 years since the departure of Imam Khomeini, but his spiritual presence is very much alive and growing around the world", said one of the organizer.

Front ranking freedom organisation All parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is organizing a seminar to highlight the different aspects of the Imam Khomeini (R.A) and the concept of revolution in srinagar.

Similar functions are being held in Baramulla district and Central district of Budgam besides in Kargil.

Khomeini was the main force behind the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and initiator of an Islamic system which has turned into a major political challenge for the West.

Indian troops martyr 6 more innocent Kashmiris : Curfew in Srinagar, Sopore, Baramulla, Islamabad

Srinagar, June 29 (Writer-South Asia): In dispted state of Kashmir, the authorities imposed curfew in Srinagar, Sopore, Baramulla and Islamabad, today, to prevent people from holding demonstrations against the killing of innocent youth by Indian troops.

Call for holding the demonstrations had been given by the All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

On the call of the forum patronised by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, complete strike was observed in the Kashmir Valley, which will continue tomorrow. The authorities, today, had deployed large contingents of Indian police and troops in all major cities and towns of the occupied territory. The authorities had suspended the mobile phone services in north Kashmir and SMS services in the entire Valley, depriving people from getting information about the situation in different parts of the occupied territory.

Despite restrictions, people took to the streets in Qamarwari, Barzulla, Omarabad and Lawaypora areas of Srinagar and staged peaceful demonstrations. Defying curfew restrictions, people staged demonstrations in Sopore. Forceful anti-India demonstrations were held in Handwara, Kupwara, Lolab, Lalpora, Badgam, Pulwama, Pampore, wantipora, Tral, Islamabad and Baramulla areas, where Indian troops subjected the protesters to brute force, injuring several of them. A 13-year-old boy was critically injured when the troops fired upon a procession in Islamabad town.

On the other hand, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi continued to remain under house arrest for the second consecutive day, today. Other Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Yasmeen Raja and Javed Ahmed Mir have been lodged at different police stations and jails.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Masarrat Aalam Butt, Mukhtar Ahmed Waza, Gh. Nabi Fai, Sheikh Yaqoob, 11th August Foundaion, NGO Federation of Kashmir, Human Rights Watch, Kashmir Amnest, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani and Mahaz-e-Azadi, in their separate statements strongly condemned the killing of innocent youth in unprovoked firing of Indian troops on peaceful protestors.

APHC leader, Ghulam Ahmed Mir addressing a protest rally at Thannamandi in Rajouri deplored that Indian troops were engaged in genocide of Kashmiri people in the disputed territory.

Indian troops, in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred six more innocent Kashmir youth in Nowgam area of Kupwara. Earlier, three Indian troops were killed in an attack in the same area. (Writer-South Asia)

Indian troops martyr five more innocent Kashmiri youth

Srinagar, June 28 (Writer-South Asia): In disputed Kashmir, Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred five more innocent Kashmir youth in Kupwara district, today, evening.

Troops during violent military operations killed five youth in Nowgam area of the district. Earlier, three Indian troops were killed in an attack in the same area.

Kashmir, a massive march will be conducted towards Sopore town, tomorrow, to protest against the killing of four innocent youth by Indian troops.

Call for the march has been given by the front ranking freedom organisation APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the forum patronised by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani. It has been supported by the High Court Bar Association and other pro-movement leaders and organisations.

The APHC in an extraordinary meeting of its Executive Committee and General Council, chaired by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in Srinagar, today, discussed in detail the latest situation of the disputed territory. A statement issued after the meeting appealed to the people to express solidarity with the Kashmiri martyrs’ mission by massively participating in the march, tomorrow.

On the other hand, curfew continued to remain imposed in Sopore town, for the third consecutive day, today. Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary troopers had been deployed in various localities of the town and the armoured vehicles and troopers were seen patrolling the deserted streets. Protest strike was observed in Baramulla town, as well. The authorities booked Hurriyet leaders, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and Mohammad Ayaz Akbar under draconian law, Public Safety Act.

A constable of Indian police committed suicide by consuming poisonous substances in Bemina area of Srinagar, raising the number of such deaths amongst Indian troops and police personnel in the occupied territory to 185 since January 2007.

In Toronto, on the occasion of G-20 Meet, Kashmiris and their sympathisers held a mammoth rally to protest against the gross human rights violations by Indian troops in disputed Kashmir. A resolution passed at the end of the rally urged the G20 nations to impress upon India to stop human right abuses, honour the rights of the Kashmiri people, release political prisoners, repeal black laws and withdraw its troops from disputed Kashmir.

Kashmir, complete strike was observed, today, on the first day of the 10-day programme to protest against the killing of innocent Kashmiris by Indian troops and the arrest of Hurriyet leaders.

Call for the strike had been given by the forum patronised by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani. All shops, business establishments, public and private offices, banks and courts remained closed while traffic was off the road.

Earlier, leader of the forum, Masarrat Aalam Butt, announcing the 10-day protest programme before the media men in Srinagar, said that initially people would hold Quit Kashmir Campaign as a part of the protest programme.

Giving further details, he said that special prayers would be offered on Saturday and graffiti on walls and Internet on Sunday. “The people are requested to write Go India Go on any space available to them on walls, internet or other medium,” he said.

Masarrat Aalam Butt said that male students would wear black armbands and stage protests in the premises of their educational institutes on Monday and female students would protest in the same way on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he said, peaceful demonstrations would be held in mosques at night from Maghrib to Esha prayers.

He said that on Thursday, July 01, Kashmiri women would march towards Pather Masjid in the old city area of Srinagar. Masarrat Aalam Butt maintained that on July 02 and 03 there would be complete shutdown. He appealed the people to observe complete strike on July 09 and 10. He also announced a march towards Eidgah in Srinagar on July 13, the Martyrs’ Day.

Kashmiris not to forget Son of East’s sacrifice: Dr. G.N Fai

Washington: 29 June 2010 :Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, the Executive Director of Kashmir Centre Washington has paid homage to martyred APHC leader, Gazi Sheikh Abdul Aziz for his devotion in unflagging pursuit of a just and noble cause.


According to Writer-South Asia, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, in a statement issued in Washington in connection with the 2nd martyrdom anniversary of Gazi Sheikh Abdul Aziz, reiterated to continue the mission of the martyrs till its logical end.

Dr Fai said that the martyred leader was imprisoned scores of times for the sole crime of speaking the truth, never compromising his principles and calling for justice. His efforts will remain forever a milestone in the history of the freedom struggle of Kashmir, he maintained.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai said that the people of Kashmir would never forget the selfless contribution and the tireless efforts of Son of East.

The Executive Director stressed the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute without further delay as it caused immense hardships to the people of South Asia in general and the people of Kashmir in particular. Kashmiris have been subjected to the worst kind of barbarous and inhuman treatment.

India should take steps to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to the aspirations of the people, he added. (Writer-South Asia)

F-16s can be used against any adversary: PAF chief

By Iftikhar A. Khan

Islamabad, 28 Jun, 2010 :SHAHBAZ AIR BASE (Jacobabad): The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, has said there is no restriction on the use of newly-acquired F-16 combat aircraft against any adversary.

“Our mission is to maintain peace in the region with honour, but if the primary effort fails we will use all our assets, including these aircraft, to defend our country against any internal or external threats,” he said.

The air chief was talking to reporters at the newly upgraded Shahbaz Air Base on Sunday after a ceremony held to mark the formal induction of the first three of 18 advanced F-16 fighter jets into the PAF fleet.

The aircraft have been purchased from the United States for $1.4 billion. The ceremony was attended by Chief of Staff of US Air Force Gen Norton A. Schwartz, US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson, US Air Forces’ Central Command chief Gen Mike Hostage and US Defence Representative to Pakistan Vice Admiral Michael A. LeFever. Answering a question, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar said the acquisition of the hi-tech falcons would neither spark an arms race nor disturb the balance of power in the region. It would be the other way round, he said, adding that the induction would restore the balance of power as the neighbours already had hi-tech aircraft in their inventory.

Earlier addressing the ceremony, he said the PAF had decided to induct the state-of-the-art aircraft with night precision attack capability in 2006 but the contract became controversial in both the countries from the very beginning, with critics (in the United States) questioning the decision and saying that F-16s would have no role in the fight against terrorism and cynics (at home) also challenged the wisdom of a contract with the US, because of past experience.

He said that Pakistan and the US were allies in the war against terror and trust between the two countries was an essential element required to achieve success in the war. He noted that delivery of the aircraft was the beginning of a process to develop the trust.

“The issue of trust between the two countries would take some time to be established fully, but the ceremony was an important step in that direction,” he said.

He said the new F-16s would provide the PAF all-weather day and night precision attack capability, adding a new dimension to the PAF potential. He said that operationalising capabilities of the new aircraft and mastering their technology was a challenge for the PAF, but expressed the confidence that it would be done in weeks and months.

He said that Shahbaz Airbase had been developed into a modern base capable of handling the most modern fighter aircraft in the world in less than one year. Completion of this task in a record time, he said, reflected the spirit of PAF.

US Air Chief General Norton Schawrtz said the event was symbolic and a tangible demonstration of the US commitment to stand by Pakistan in the long run as an important ally.

“Pakistan’s new F-16s will give PAF pilots and Pakistan’s military an unprecedented advantage against extremist groups who threaten Pakistan and the region by enabling precision targeting in all-weather conditions, during both day and night, while reducing potential for collateral damage,” Gen Schawrtz said.

“The aircraft will also enable increased tactical inter-operability between the PAF, the US Air Force and Isaf coalition air forces – greatly bolstering our ability to jointly communicate, coordinate and work together to achieve common goals while boosting the PAF’s status as a world-class air force.”

US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson said the ceremony was a manifestation of deep and broad strategic partnership between the two countries.

She referred to the useful discussion in a number of areas during the strategic dialogue and said the US was committed to a long-term partnership with an old ally.

She said both the countries were working together to make the region and the world peaceful and secure.

PPP Chairman, Er. Hilal Ahmad War, Arrested from his Maisuma residence today early in the morning by State Police

Srinagar, Jun 28: A heavy contingent of J&K Police headed by Dy.S.P. East (Kothibagh) raided the Maisuma House of People’s Political Party (PPP), Chairman, today early in the morning and arrested the party Chairman Hilal Ahmed War. War’s arrest is seen as a preventive measure by the State police against a possible ‘Sopore Chalo’ march that the Hurriyat (M and G) had announced. Chairman PPP, while endorsing Hurriyat (M and G‘s) call had urged the people to take to the streets and register a peaceful protest in the form of a rally. “People should come out in large numbers in response to Hurriyat’s call peacefully,” said War.

The PPP Chief has been lodged in Police Station Rajbagh. A party spokesperson condemned his arrest in strong words saying it amounted to State oppression and a denial of right to ex-pression. “This highhandedness of the State shows the times we are living in. If one is not even allowed to demonstrate peacefully, it leaves a big void for violent demonstrations,” said the PPP Spokesman. Mr. War had urged youths to make sure no stone-pelting incident occurred. (Writer-South Asia)

Indian Spice Industry

Indian spice industry achieves a record export of 5,300 crore (US$1.17 BILLION)) defying the global meltdown

Let's give them a big hand!

By: Sheikh Gulzaar

Srinagar:Against the previous records of Rs. 4,435 crore (US$ 1billion) in 2007-08, the export has touched an all-time high of Rs.5,300 crore (US$1.17 billion) in 2008-09. The volume exported has also grown significantly-from the previous figure of 4,00,000 tonnes to 4,70,520 tonnes. An increase of 6 per cent in terms of both volume and dollar value, and 19 per cent in rupees terms. No mean achievement, specially in the face of the global recession.

Processed spices like Saffron cashmiriana, curry powder, mint powder, ginkgo biloba powder, spices oils/oleoresin and blended spices account for an impressive 58 percent of total exports.

Aggressive marketing strategies, stringent quality management, a sharper focus on value addition and better insights into customer requirements have all combined to makes this unique feat possible. It also reflects the importers' faith in the industry's commitment to quality, safety and competitiveness of Spices.

Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre heartly congratulates the Spice industry, and hopes that they will win greater laurels in the years ahead.For cultivation of Medicinal plants, Spices like Ginkgo biloba, Saffron plants material, please contact to jkmpic@gmail.com

RAW planning to attack political leaders, separatists in Kashmir: Lashkar

Srinagar: 27 June: Lashkar-e-Toyiba, spokesman said some un-known place to Ed. Sheikh Gulzaar, editor Writer-South Asia that some sources inputs were intercepted in which Indian agencies in the Valley were receiving instructions from RAW to carry out a strike in disputed state of Jammu or Kashmir, which includes targeting any politician or separatist leader.

The sources said Ikhwani might try and target a separatist leader and blame it on Mujaheedins as has been done in the past.

The killing of Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Mirwaiz Farooq, Dr. Qazi Nissar, Abdul Gani Lone and the bid on life of Fazal-haq Qureshi earlier this year by some un-identified gun men were examples of their tactics.

Mirwaiz Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone were allegedly shot dead byIndian forces

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who enjoys Z category security of the state government, has been instructed about the threat perception while a round-the-clock guard was to be provided to other separatist leaders.(Writer-South Asia)

Ginkgo biloba, Saffron,Spices, Cultivation, Medicinal plants

By: Sheikh Gulzaar
Srinagar: Against the previous records of Rs. 4,435 crore (US$ 1billion) in 2007-08, the export has touched an all-time high of Rs.5,300 crore (US$1.17 billion) in 2008-09. The volume exported has also grown significantly-from the previous figure of 4,00,000 tonnes to 4,70,520 tonnes. An increase of 6 per cent in terms of both volume and dollar value, and 19 per cent in rupees terms. No mean achievement, specially in the face of the global recession.

Processed spices like Saffron cashmiriana, curry powder, mint powder, ginkgo biloba powder, spices oils/oleoresin and blended spices account for an impressive 58 percent of total exports.

Aggressive marketing strategies, stringent quality management, a sharper focus on value addition and better insights into customer requirements have all combined to makes this unique feat possible. It also reflects the importers' faith in the industry's commitment to quality, safety and competitiveness of Spices.

Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre heartly congratulates the Spice industry, and hopes that they will win greater laurels in the years ahead.For cultivation of Medicinal plants, Spices like Ginkgo biloba, Saffron plants material, please contact to : cikashmir@gmail.com

Vist us at: http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

Hizbula Mujahideen-HM-Jammu and Kashmir

Hizbul Mujahideen-HM , Hizbul al-Mujāhidīn, meaning "party of holy warriors"), founded by Mohammad Ahsan Dar of Patan in 1991, is a group of Kashmiri Freedom Fighters active in Indian Kashmir since 1989. Their headquarters are located some where in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir. It is believed the group al-Badr, derived from Hizbul Mujahideen in early 1998 when encouraged by the Jammat-i-Islama.The current leader of the group is a Kashmiri known under the alias of Sayeed Salahudeen. Hizbul Mujahideen is group operating in disputed state of Kashmir, and are widely considered by sources on both sides of the Kashmiri conflict to be the most indigenous and widely-supported Freedom Fighter group active in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian government has time and again requested the Pakistani government for the extradition of Sayeed Salahudeen. However in recent times a well known news agency conducted an interview with the leader of Hizbul Mujahideen, where the leader claimed that the government of Pakistan would never hand him over to the Indian authorities.(Writer Database Centre)

Several Indian troops killed in Sopore attacks

Srinagar, Writer-South Asia June 21: Several Indian troops including personnel of Special Operation Group were killed and nine troopers including two IRP personnel were injured in series of four attacks in Sopore town, today. Hizbul Mujahideen firstly attacked the BSF camp in Ganjoo building near Degree College and CRPF bunker near State Bank of India in Sopore this morning. The grenade exploded inside BSF camp and another attack on 179 battalion CRPF killed several troops, the military spokesman of Hizbul Mujahideen, Ehsan Ellahi said.

Complaint Monitoring Portal of Jammu and Kashmir Government: http://jkgrievance.nic.in/

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Kashmir Media Watch , Chief editor beaten up by JK Police

Srinagar, June 20,2010: Kashmir Media Watch, Chief Editor, Ajaz Ahmad War was beaten up ruthlessly by J & K Police near Budshah Chowk in disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir about 10. 30 of this morning while performing his professional duties. The Press fraternity has condemned this act and termed it attack on the freedom of press. Dr. Shabir Choudhary , London based leader of Kashmir National Party strongly condemned this act. Dr. Shabir said this is not a violation of Human Rights but a brutal attack of journalism in Kashmir. He appealed all those persons, parties and scribes who believe in freedom of Press should oppose this action and stand with victim journalist, Ajaz Ahmad War. Meanwhile , Engineer Wahid , leader of Human Watch ( South-Asian Chapter) has condemned the act vehemently. While talking to Senior Superintendent of Police, Javaid Riyaz Bedar regarding the inhuman incident , he said we have attached two cops in this regard and assured the victim that he will personally investigate the matter.(Writer-South Asia)

Ginkgo biloba Seeds avilable in Kashmir

Kashmir is a Resource for Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants can be a big business in Kashmir

Mother of Herbs, J&K can be Superpower Medicine and Perfumes

More than 5000 aromatic/medicinal plants have been discovered in disputed sate of Jammu Kashmir till date. Scientific observations reveal that the state could become the super power in the future for Herbal Medicine and perfumes if the huge resources are exploited properly and effectively. Scientists have so for prioritized over seven hundred medicinal plants yielding high quality chemicals and other ingredients used in life saving medicaments and aromatherapy and in cosmetics.

People in the west have craze to spray their bedding with flavors before going to sleep. Aromatherapy is gaining laurels the world over with Kashmir Lavender being the crown in the world of aroma. How many people know world’s best aroma is produced in Gulmarg?

Rose of Tangmarg (Rosa Domascena) is the best rose of the world. This rose is resistant to al diseases and as such is the craze for aromatic industries. (Source: Dr. Bashir Ahmad, Gazetteer of India, State Gazetteer Unit, State Editor)

A plant commonly called as Soungul/Pooes-Tul (Taxus Baccata) collected by Dr Bashir is believed to yield some alkaloids that are used as anti-cancer drugs in the world of ailments. The plant needs to be studied seriously.

Vanwangan (Podophyllum Emodi) is found growing all over Kashmir from 6000-10000, especially in Fir forests of Gulmarg and Gurez valley. The root of the plant yields Podophyllum resin, which is very popular in modern medicine. It is a powerful purgative and its action somewhat corresponds to that of mercury, hence it is named Vegetable Calomel.

Dr Chopra of the Calcutta School of tropical Medicine comments on the Kashmir plant. “The resin obtained from the specimen sent from Kashmir generally looks somewhat different from that of the imported drug, but physiologically it is quite as effective. The percentage of resin obtainable from Kashmir rhizome is 10 to 12 percent as compared to the foreign varieties, which contain only 3 to 4 percent. The rhizome analyzed is of excellent quality and the possibilities of manufacture of the resin on commercial scale would be considering.” Dr Chopra made these observations in 1928. SN Kaul in his book Forest Products of Jammu Kashmir writes, “The drug was in great demand some time ago and large quantities were put into the market which resulted in considerable reduction in price. Kashmir has been exporting large quantities of the drug to England. The drug is so plentiful in Kashmir that the total demand of the market can be met from Kashmir alone.”

Another important plant is Kuth (Saussurea Lappa). The Sanskrit name of Kuth is Kashmirja, which means “produced in Kashmir”. Even today its growth is limited to Kashmir.

Kuth: Kuth is used as an aromatic, stimulant, as a medicine for cough, asthma, fever, dyspepsia and skin diseases. It is also used in stimulating mixtures for Cholera and prescribed as a stomachic, tonic, for ulcers and in rheumatism. It is also used as a depurative and aphrodisiac.

According to Kaul, Kuth is a plant of great economic value. Stewart in his book on Punjab plants published in 1864 states that in the year 1837 7000 maunds of Kuth were exported via Calcutta to China.

The government has banned unauthorized possession of Kuth for obvious reasons. However, experts suggest extraction and export of the drug on a large scale for economic upliftment of the state.

Experts accuse the government of failure for ignoring these resources. They believe that Jammu Kashmir can find a place in the economic map of the world if appropriate measures are taken before it is too late.

Ginkgo biloba: Ginkgo biloba is the oldest known species of tree on earth. Fossils have been dated to over 220 million years old. Fossil records have shown that ginkgo trees flourished across the North American continent till 7 million years ago. Due to the climatic changes our planet has been through and the impacts from space and ice ages, the ginkgo was only found in southeastern China. It was saved from extinction by Buddhist monks. The monks cultivated the ginkgo at their temples for more than 1,500 years. Near 800 AD the Buddhist monks brought the ginkgo to Japan. In 1691 the German Engelbert Kaempfer found the ginkgo in Japan. Kaempfer brought seeds back to Europe. The ginkgo has now been distributed all over the world again. The ginkgo makes a beautiful shade tree and is a slow growing deciduous tree. It's fall foliage is a wonderful butternut yellow and tends to drop all at once within 48 hours when the time comes in fall. Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre collects rare and vanishing species of plants, herbs and spices. For the past 20 years and devoted to developing many varieties of plants Ginkgo biloba, Saffron that can survive in difficult conditions.For trade enquries: cikashmir@gmail.com, home: http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

The flora : The flora of Himalayan Kashmir comprises about 3,054 species. About 880 species are found in Ladakh. The flora of the Jammu district comprises 506 species. These figures include only the angiosperms, gymnosperms and pteridophytes. The species lists of different districts are being continually updated in taxonomic publications. The lower plants like fungi and algae have not been studied exhaustively; information on the micro-flora of isolated regions is available for some plant orders and families only. The plants of the western Himalayas are well known for their medicinal properties.

This area is a storehouse of medicinal and aromatic plants, which are used in pharmaceutical and perfume industries. The list includes 55 species of important medicinal and aromatic plants. There are 11 medicinal plants in the temperate, cold, arid regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Several medicinal plants grow wild in the temperate and alpine habitats. Some native medicinal plants have been taken up for cultivation, e.g. Dioscorea deltoidea is now cultivated for its tubers which are rich in diosgenin and yield cortisone, a steroid hormone.

Where can I buy Ginkgo seeds?

We are one of the premier registered Agriculture, Horticulture & Flouriculture based institution involved in production,development,trading and exporting of RAW HERBS, FRUITS, SPICES, Fruit,Medicinal Plants and Vegetable seeds from The country of Kashmir.

Saffron - The most expensive Seed in the world now available on Sale!

More details:

Quality seed materials availabe for SALE!!!

Crocus Sativus (Saffron Seed) for planting from June to September

Ginkgo biloba seeds also avilable:-

For further details please write to:

Chenab Industries

Ist Street, Shaheed-e-Azeemat Road, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR J&K 192121

Mailing address: PO Box 667 Srinagar SGR J&K- 190001

Ph: 01933-223705
Call us: 09858986794
e.mail: iirc@rediffmail.com
web: http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

Saffron - The most expensive Plant in the world

Saffron is a perennnial , low growing herb with a globular   corm   ranging   from  0.5  to  5cm  in diameter. The corms (Monje/Seed) produce 6-15 narrow, needle like leaves about 10 cm long; surrounded in the lower region by four to five scales. The flowers are borne singly or in two to three. The three stigmas of the flowers along with the style when dried constitute the saffron of commerce. The plant is a native of Iran and Asia Minor. In the former princely state of  Kashmir Vale is a legendry crop of well drained plateau of  Pampore (South Kashmir) where it is being  grown since ancient times. The recorded time of saffron cultivation in Kashmir dates back 550 AD  nearly four centuries earlier than that recorded in Spain. It is rightly called the golden condiment of Kashmir. Saffron also cultavated in Iran, Spain, Baluchistan, Gilgat and now in Afghanistan

COMPOSITION
The average composition of commercial saffron is water ( 15.6 per cent) starch and sugur (13.15 per cent), essential oils  ( 0.6 per cent) fixed oil (5.63 per cent ), total N-Ffree extract (43. 64 per cent), Crude fiber (4.43 per cent), ash (4.27 per cent). The chief pigment of saffron is its yellowish red glycoside crocin, picrocrin is the bitter tasting pigment and it too is glycoside.

USES
Saffron is as precious as gold not because of its high demand and  low production  but because it  is used  in various religious rituals. Hindus use saffron for marking their foreheads, Muslims divine extract in water and write charms with ink thus formed. In Indian market mostly 50-60 per cent of saffron is used in chewing tobacco and for preparing wine. Saffron is used to prepare saffron rice, saffron cakes, wazwaan, tea, cakes, in the preparation of scent and perfumes. It is used for colouring butter, cheese, puddings and confectionary. Like most oriental aromatic herbs saffron is also used in medicinal and culinary reputations. It stops vomiting, expels worms, heels headache and wounds. It is good for hemorrhoids, for removing the discoloration of face and pimples. It is good for epilepsy. Some times it is used in exenthematous diseases to promote eruption. It is popularly supposed to be a stimulant warm and dry in action helping in the alleviation of urinary, digestive and uterine troubles. Paste of saffron is used in dressing bruises, superficial sores, rheumatic and neurological pains and congestion of chest. Passaries of saffron are used in painful complaints of uterus. Dry boiled corms are administered in Ayurvedic and Unani ststem for treatment of gousciatica  and rheumatic pains.

Soil & Climate
Saffron grows well in drained loamy soil. Medium grade, light soil with neutral to slightly alkaline reaction is suited for its cultivation. It prefers very well drained, clay loam soils of karewas of Kashmir. The soils should be deep and free from stones. Saffron thrives well in sub-temperate regions ranging from 1500 meter to 2400 meter.

It requires cool and sunny situation for promising growth. An optimum of 12 hours light duration is essential for growth and flowering. The day temperature should be 20-22  0C  with a difference of 10-12  0C between day and night temperatures. A good shower during August-September facilities flowering and increased yield. Dry weather condition during flowering period is essential for realizing higher yields. In general locations which receive  30-40 cms rainfall and are covered with snow during winter are good for its cultivation. Spring rains are favourable for promoting corm multiplication wherease, a second spell of rains at the beginning of autumn encourages profuse flowering.

Prpoagation
Propgation of the plant is through corms. The plant remains dormant from May-August. The mother corm reproduces annually and gives rise to four to six daughter cormlets. The corms formed during a year produce flowers in the following year. The mother corms provide food to the new developing corms and in doing so wither, shrink and finally die. Now corms develope each year to replace the older once.

Land Preparation and planting
Land preparation starts in March -April. The field is ploughed four to five times to a depth of 30-35 cms.Another  polghing is done in May and fields leveled. Well developed seed corms @1600 to 2000 kg per per hectare should be used after dipping in five percent solution of copper sulphate. The corms should be of 1.5 cms and above in diameter with outermost loose covering cleaned before planting. The corms should be planted in second fortnight of August at a depth of 15-20 cms with a row to row spacing of 15 cms and corm to corm spacing of five to eight cms. After planting divide the field into 2 meters x 4 meters strips by opening 15 deep and 30 cms wide furrows for proper drainage. Saffron can also be planted as an inter crop in newly planted orchards. The superior and less expensive method recommended by Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre is strip system.

Manures and fertilizers
Mix 15-20 tonnes per hectare of well decomposed FYM during last ploughing. Recent studies have revealed that application of vermicompost @350 kg/hectare has given a yield of 4.88 Kg/hectare.

Varities
Traditional corms used time immemorial is the main cultivar used by the farmers. However research on various genotypes is in the pipeline.One such identified genotype is SMD-45.

Interculture
Keep the planted field undisturbed till the following June. Perform the first hoeing in June using a short handled  tangru locally called (in Kashmie) "ZOUN". This operation provides aeration to the soil which is very important for proper development of Saffron Corms.

Subsequently the second hoeing is done in the month of September along with cleaning and repairing of the drainage channels. Care should be taken not to disturb the growing buds of corms. This hoeing is accompanied by light dressing  of FYM at the rate of two tonnes per hectare. Third and final hoeing is given after the flowering is over and mannure is mixed in the soil with the help of iron  rakes. This schedule of operations is followed every year until the crop remains in the field.

Diseases and pests
Fungal diseases often infect the corms. Fungi like Rhizocotnia crocorum,, Sclerotina bulborum and Phoma Crocophila are reported to infect the corms changing the colour of flesh from white to yellow and finally to black resulting in death of the corms. poor aeration in the soil, injury to corms and hail storms provide ideal conditions for the development of diseases. Discarding can prevent this. Treat healthy corms with five percent copper sulphate solution during planting. Incidence of Gangrane disease (in this, the normal plant which prevents flower formation) is also reported from some fields. Rate and moles causing damage tones of corms every year often damage saffron cro. Zinc phoshide baiting and rat control campaign on watershed basis may be of great help.

Harvesting and processing
The flowering season is confined to three weeks from middle of October to first week of November. The flowers are picked daily in the morning and stigmas and styles are trimmed immediately. About 1,60,000 flowers are hand picked to produce one kg of good quality dried saffron.

Saffron Bulbs/Seeds
Saffron is the only spice that comes from a flower. The flowers themselves are magnificent with a striking purple colour. Add a splash of colour to your flowerbeds or balconies with this splendid flower which blooms in October, thanks to its exceptional flower reversed vegetation cycle. What is more, you can grow and produce your own saffron easily.

Crocus Sativus (Saffron corms) for planting from June to September
Harvest in October-November of the same year!

The corms (size 2/5cm) are available from June to 10 September
however you can reserve them from now on.
Corms are delivered with information of culture
50 Bulbs/Seeds: Rs. 3500/-(For Trail packet)
100 Bulbs: Rs.  6500/-(N/A)
One Kg : Rs. 11500/-(Male/Female)
Five Kg : Rs. 5500/-(MF)
(Minimum Order Quantity 50 Corms/Bulbs)

For more details :
Chenab Industries, Ist Street, Shaheed-e-Azemat Road, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR Jammu and Kashmir 192121
Or
Chenab Industries,PO Box 667 GPO Srinagar SGR Jammu and Kashmir 190001
Ph: 01933-223705
Mob: 09858986794
e-mail: cikashmir@gmail.com, iirc@rediffmail.com 

home: http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

US Journalist,Media,Contact, Press Directory, Database released

By: Sheikh ASHRAF (http://pressinusa.blogspot.com)

International Inf. Resource Centre presents United States Media Directory and brought out a Database on CD-ROM, It containing complete details of 500+ of US Media Units.

Information include Name, Complete Postal Address, including Country and ZIP Code , Ph/Fax and E.mail Addresses and other Information from the more than 500+ media contacts -- editors, reporters, correspondents and news Editors -- who are hungry for fresh news ideas? Simply email your press release to them.

The United States Media Directory lists more than 500+ media contacts, including magazines, trade publications, weekly newspapers, daily newspapers, radio and TV stations and Broadcasting organisations across the United States. (Writer-South Asia)

'Home ministry to take final call on Afzal Guru's plea'

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday said the final decision on parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's mercy petition rests with the central home ministry. She said the Delhi government has made its position clear on the matter in the file, which was sent back to Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna Wednesday. In its reply, the Delhi government has not opposed Guru's death sentence but expressed concerns of law and order if he is executed. BJP puts up hoardings in Delhi on Afzal Guru case "We have sent the file on mercy petition of Afzal Guru to the lieutenant governor. The final decision rests with the home ministry," Dikshit told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

The file will be sent to the home ministry after getting clearance from Khanna's office. As per the laid down procedure, the president sought the home ministry's views on the mercy petition of Guru in 2005. The procedure on mercy petition also requires the home ministry to seek comments of the state government in whose jurisdiction the crime, for which the death penalty is awarded to the convict, has been committed. Guru, a resident of Sopore in the Kashmir Valley, was found guilty of plotting the Dec 13, 2001, parliament attack and was sentenced to death by a trial court in December 2002.

The Delhi High Court confirmed the death penalty in October 2003. The Supreme Court had also upheld the capital punishment given to Guru for his role in the terror attack. Guru's wife, Tabassum, filed a mercy petition to the president after the apex court's verdict.(IANS)