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Boy Killed, Drowned in Ganderbal Power canal; 2 arrested for questioning

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Panic gripped Kawcherwan, Kangan in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Wednesday evening after reports surfaced that a boy was killed and drowned in a power canal.

An official said that a search was launched to trace the body soon after the incident was reported.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganderbal, Khalil Ahmed Poswal, along with SHO Kangan, reached the spot to personally monitor the investigations and the search operation.

Talking to KNO SSP Poswal said, “Two persons have been arrested for questioning. We have cut off water in the power canal to facilitate retrieval of the body. I am personally monitoring the entire situation along with my team. The SDRF, locals, police, and Kangan Police are on the job.” (KNO)

‘Giran’ apples rot in orchards due to highway closures, say growers

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: In Kashmir’s apple heartland, orchards are strewn with fallen fruit this year, but instead of offering relief to struggling farmers, the “Giran” apples have turned into a fresh source of worry.

Locally known as “Giran”, these are apples that fall prematurely from trees before harvest.

Growers, who spoke to KNO said that due to unusual weather and heavy fruit fall this season, nearly 30–40 per cent of the crop is “Giran”. Yet, unlike past years, there are no takers for the produce.

Traditionally, small makeshift roadside mandis would spring up across Pulwama, Shopian, and other apple belts where “Giran” apples found ready buyers for juice factories and low-grade processing. However, repeated closures of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway have disrupted supplies so severely that these mandis were forced to shut down.

“Earlier, Giran apples at least helped us recover some costs. Even if sold at Rs 100–150 per crate, it was a relief compared to nothing,” said Nazir Ahmad, a grower from Pulwama. “But this year, after highway issues, traders closed their mandis. The fruit we had procured rotted in front of us because it could not be transported outside. Now, no one wants to buy it.”

The situation has left hundreds of youth, who earned seasonal income by trading in “Giran”, without work. “The Giran business relies on quick movement. If the fruit doesn’t reach outside mandis within two days, it spoils. Buyers know this risk, so they simply stopped coming,” explained a trader at Jabli Pora Fruit Mandi.

For many farmers, “Giran” apples once acted as a lifeline—bringing in modest earnings that supported their expenses on pesticides, labour, and packaging. Now, growers say they are forced to watch helplessly as the fruit rots in their orchards.

“This is not just about a low-grade apple; it is about livelihoods,” said Abdul Hameed, another grower from Shopian. “Thousands of families, from pickers to packers to transporters, are tied to this trade. If the government doesn’t take immediate steps, this part of our economy will collapse completely.”

Farmers are now appealing for urgent intervention. They want authorities to make special arrangements for apple-laden trucks, including those carrying Giran produce, so that the fallen fruit can reach processing units before spoiling.

Once dismissed as waste, “Giran” apples had gradually built an ecosystem of employment in Kashmir. Today, the same apples are proving to be a burden, symbolising how fragile the valley’s horticulture economy remains in the face of logistical bottlenecks. (KNO)

PCOS a common hormonal disorder, increasing among women in Kashmir, say doctors

Kashmir Leader Desk
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PSrinagar: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common hormonal disorders among women of reproductive age, is becoming a growing health concern in Kashmir and across the country.

Doctors warn that the lack of awareness and delayed treatment often worsen the condition, leading to infertility, diabetes, and heart problems later in life.

Dr Shazia, a Gynaecologist at GMC Srinagar, speaking to KNO, explained that PCOS occurs when women’s ovaries produce higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones (androgens). “This hormonal imbalance interferes with the regular release of eggs during the menstrual cycle. As a result, multiple small cysts can form in the ovaries,” she said.

Dr Rukhsana Akhter, a gynaecologist posted in south Kashmir, said PCOS does not have a single cause but is linked to several factors. She said that excess androgen production disrupts ovulation, high insulin levels increase androgen production, leading to irregular cycles and weight gain.

“Women with a family history of PCOS are more prone to the disorder, and sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and stress are major contributors,” she added.

Gynaecologists warn that untreated PCOS has both short-term and long-term consequences. “Initially, patients complain of irregular periods, excessive hair growth, acne, or weight gain. But over time, PCOS can lead to infertility, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, endometrial cancer, and serious mental health issues like depression,” Dr Rukhsana added

She said that while PCOS cannot be completely cured, its effects can be managed effectively. Lifestyle modification is the first line of treatment. “Weight control through regular exercise and a balanced diet is crucial,” Dr Rukhsana added.

Doctors said that women experiencing irregular cycles or excessive hair growth should seek medical advice early. They added that depending on symptoms, doctors may prescribe hormonal therapy, insulin-sensitising agents, or fertility treatment.

According to doctors, counselling helps patients deal with stress and anxiety linked to PCOS. They urged women not to ignore symptoms, adding, “We see a rising trend of PCOS among young girls, even teenagers. Timely consultation and lifestyle changes can prevent lifelong complications.” (KNO)

8-foot-long python rescued in Rajouri, released back into forest

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: An eight-foot-long python, which had captured a wild jackal, was successfully rescued by the wildlife protection team, police, and locals in the Nowshera area of Rajouri district on Tuesday, officials said.

Wildlife Warden Rajouri-Poonch, Nadeem Iqbal Mirza told KNO that they received information from locals about the presence of a huge snake. “Along with police teams, we launched a rescue operation and successfully rescued the python,” he said.

Mirza said it was an Indian Rock Python rescued in the village, measuring approximately 7–8 feet in length.

The warden said the python had hunted and swallowed a jackal. “The python was rescued and later released back into a protected forest area,” he added. (KNO)

J&K floods: 150 lives lost, 178 injured, 33 missing

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Flash floods and cloudbursts that struck Jammu and Kashmir in August and September claimed 150 lives, left 33 persons missing, and caused property damage worth crores.

According to the figures available with KNO, Kishtwar District recorded the highest number of casualties where 33 persons are still missing. “A total of 150 people lost their lives while 178 persons were injured” data reveals, adding, “Over 13600 houses were damaged fully, severely or partially across the region during the recent natural calamities.”

According to the figures 864 houses were damaged in Kashmir of which 16 were fully damaged, 57 severely and 791 partially.

An official said that the relief has already been disbursed in all these cases.

On agricultural losses, more than 12,500 hectares of land got affected and nearly 315 hectares were hit in Horticulture sector, primarily in Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama districts with estimated losses of about Rs 59 lakh.

In Jammu, 12,800 houses were damaged. Of them, 4,200 houses were fully damaged and over 8,600 partially damaged. The data revealed that the worst-hit districts are Udhampur and Jammu.

Besides, 758 were declared unsafe after the government conducted safety audit of 8,800 schools in Jammu division.

It may be recalled that soon after the flash floods and landslides hit Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Jammu on August 31 and toured the flood-hit Jammu and assured the victims of relief and rehabilitation.

Shah accompanied by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma and other top officials toured different areas in Jammu region to assess the situation.

He met the flood victims at Mangu Chak, one of the worst-hit villages near Jammu Airport, and took the first-hand account of the situation. He interacted with the villagers and assured them proper relief and rehabilitation.

Shah also visited Tawi bridge near Bikram Chowk and inspected the damage along the riverbanks.

Shah during his Jammu visit also chaired a meeting attended by LG Sinha, CM Omar, LoP Sharma, the DGP of police, and several officials of the Centre and the Union Territory administration.

Shah also reviewed the damage caused to the border security grid by the flash floods

Before the Home Minister’s visit, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Jammu on August 24 to take stock of the situation following flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Chisoti village in Kishtwar district. However, Singh’s plan to visit the devastated village couldn’t materialize due to inclement weather and the blocking of a road by a landslide in Paddar Sub-division. (KNO)

India must move from ‘Make in India’ to ‘Think in India’ says Army Chief

Kashmir Leader Desk
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New Delhi: Stating that India must move from “Make in India” to “Think in India,” Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said that ‘Operation Sindoor’ demonstrated the positive impact of self-reliant technology, and the need of the hour is to remain ahead of evolving threats.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Tri Services Academia Technology Symposium (T-SATS) at the Manekshaw Centre, the Army Chief, according to KNO said, “We have to encourage domestic ideation, innovation, and system development by industry, think tanks, and academia.”

He compared technological adaptation in warfare to a game of chess, saying that failing to think ahead would lead to setbacks.

He said, “While indigenous scalability has been shown, further investment in niche technology and enterprise-scale implementation is required.”

He said India’s proposed air defence system, Sudarshan Chakra, would integrate multiple protective layers, starting with counter-drone systems and extending to counter-UAV and counter-hypersonic systems. “Some elements cannot not be discussed publicly for security reasons but I assure you that it’s one of the best systems in the world,” he added.

The Army Chief said the system would combine sensors, missiles, surveillance apparatus, and artificial intelligence tools to provide both defence and offensive capabilities.

According to him, the concept was in the ideation phase but would be comprehensive in scope. He cautioned that adversaries were also improving their capabilities, pointing to the drones encountered during Operation Sindoor, which had shown advanced features including the use of artificial intelligence and visual navigation even after GPS jamming.

He said India’s counter-drone and GPS-jamming systems had performed effectively during the operation, minimising damage. However, he added that similar results could not be assumed in the future because adversaries would adapt once they understood India’s current capabilities.

He cited examples from the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, where relatively inexpensive drones had caused significant damage to costly military assets. He said this reflected the cycle of innovation and adaptation in warfare, where the side adapting faster gained an advantage.

He said self-reliance provided not only independence but also the ability to surprise an adversary. Such surprises, he added, could only be used once before the other side learned, requiring continuous innovation.

He said the economic dimension of war also needed to be considered. Drones were now both military and commercial assets, and their wider use would affect security as well as the economy.

General Dwivedi said Mission Sudarshan Chakra would aim to integrate multiple defence layers and advanced systems, keeping India ahead of adversaries while remaining economically viable.

A new portal was launched ahead of the symposium to connect researchers and academic institutes across the country, and the response had been substantial. (KNO)

Youth, startup ecosystems backbone of PM Modi’s vision of New India: Amit Shah

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Asserting that youth and startup ecosystems are the backbone of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of New India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that during his 11-year tenure the Prime Minister has fulfilled the dream of transforming Indian youth from job seekers to job providers.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Startup Conclave 2025 here the Union Home Minister, according to KNO said, “Before 2014, Indian youth had to leave the country to innovate, conduct research, or implement their ideas in the startup sector. In 2000, there was no concept of startups, systems, or ecosystems in India.”

He said, “By 2014, there were fewer than 500 startups, and dreaming of startups was only feasible for children from affluent backgrounds.” He emphasized that over the past ten years, PM Modi launched Startup India in 2016, and today, India has become the fastest-growing country in building a world-class startup ecosystem.

Shah said that through Startup India, PM Modi has fulfilled the dream of transforming Indian youth from job seekers to job creators.

He has elevated startups beyond mere profit-making entities, making them a significant tool for self-reliance. The startup ecosystem has become a platform to address many of the country’s challenges, accelerate innovation, and provide opportunities for youth creativity.

Amit Shah said that in the eight years from 2016 to 2024, India has become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. Furthermore, over the past ten years, India has also emerged as the third-largest digital ecosystem, empowering the startup ecosystem. The digital ecosystem rapidly brings the ideas, vision, and courage of the youth to the forefront of the nation and the world.

He said that in 2015, India’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index was 91st, and today it has reached 38th. The Home Minister expressed confidence that within the next three years, India will rank among the top ten countries in the Global Innovation Index and, in the coming years, will lead global innovation.

NEW EDUCATION POLICY OPENED TREASURE TROVE FOR INDIA’S YOUTH

Shah said that Prime Minister Modi, through the New Education Policy, has created a vertical for research and study on the Indian Knowledge System, opening this treasure trove for India’s youth. By leveraging this knowledge, young Indians can conduct world-class research.

The Union Home Minister said that in the 11 years of the PM Modi led government, significant transformations have been witnessed in the country, with efforts made in every sector to expand the startup ecosystem.

The credit for this expansion goes to the ecosystem created by Prime Minister Modi, as well as to students and youth. He highlighted that the number of startups has grown from 500 in 2014 to 1.92 lakh today, a 380-fold increase. Similarly, the number of unicorn startups has risen from just 4 in 2014 to over 120 today, with a total valuation exceeding $350 billion. Shri Shah emphasized that this demonstrates how, by leveraging the ecosystem created by Prime Minister Modi, talent can be harnessed to create unicorn startups. He urged industry stakeholders to collaborate with startups to expand in every dimension.

STARTUP ECOSYSTEM HAS PROVIDED SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT TO 17.9 LAKH PEOPLE

Amit Shah said that India currently has 21,000 startups in the IT sector and 17,000 in healthcare. Moreover, there are 11,000 startups each in agriculture, the service sector, and education. He added that startups have expanded their reach to 770 districts in India, showcasing the strength of India’s startup ecosystem. Furthermore, 48% of startups are founded by women, and 900 startups in the Northeast are led by women. Shah stated that the startup ecosystem has provided sustainable employment to 17.9 lakh people so far.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created a supporting environment for startups and provided financial, policy, infrastructure, banking, and industry support for their growth. He said that a Fund of Funds of ₹10,000 crore has been established, a Startup India Seed Fund with a corpus of ₹945 crore has been launched, the maximum loan limit has been increased from ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore, support of up to ₹20 lakh has been approved for Proof of Concept, and funding of up to ₹50 lakh has been approved for prototype development. He further said that Prime Minister Modi launched Make in India, introduced PLI schemes in 14 key sectors, removed over 40,000 compliances, and removed more than 3400 laws from the category of criminal laws.

APART FROM PM MODI NO ONE ELSE COULD HAVE SIMPLIFIED, REFORMED GST

Amit Shah said that apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no one else could have simplified and reformed GST. After a long time, the country has seen a leader like Prime Minister Modi in whom both taxpayers and the public can place their trust.

He noted that Prime Minister Modi, with great courage and by taking all states along, successfully implemented GST.

GST collections began at ₹80,000 crore and today have crossed over ₹2 lakh crore.

Shah added that under GST reforms, Prime Minister Modi reduced the prices of many items by half, by one-third, and even to zero in some cases. Through GST reforms, Prime Minister Modi has shown the public that the government’s purpose is to raise revenue to run the country, not to exploit the people.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that since India’s independence, the public is witnessing such a massive tax reduction for the first time. He stated that GST reform is a bridge of trust between taxpayers and the government.

Shah recalled that when the Modi government came to power, income up to ₹2.5 lakh was tax-exempt, but today income up to ₹12 lakh is taxed at zero.

These two examples, he said, demonstrate that the government levies taxes not for exploitation, but for the people, for the country’s development, and for self-reliance. Shri Shah said that his move will serve as a bridge of trust between taxpayers and the Government of India for decades to come.

STARTUP CONCLAVE 2025 WILL DELIBERATE ON PM MODI’S MISSION TO ESTABLISH INDIA’S IDENTITY IN STARTUP WORLD

Referring to the objective of the Startup Conclave 2025, Shah said, “It will deliberate on all aspects of Prime Minister Modi’s mission to establish India’s identity in the startup world and find solutions to challenges.”

Pertinently the conclave has been organized on the theme of three mantras: innovate, elevate, and accelerate.

Shah said that over two days, discussions will be held in seven sessions on various topics, providing a significant platform to connect emerging startups with investors and realize Prime Minister Modi’s mantra of “mind to market.”

He highlighted that the compilation of the Indian Knowledge System was also launched during the event. “This system encompasses the finest knowledge from around the world in fields such as Ayurveda, classical arts, architecture, mathematics, philosophy, science, space, and the environment.” (KNO)

Cabinet recommends convening autumn session of Assembly from October 13

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: The cabinet on Wednesday recommended to the Lieutenant Governor that the Assembly be summoned on October 13.

Sources told KNO that the cabinet meeting, which began this morning, was chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and attended by all ministers.

During the meeting, the cabinet decided to recommend to the LG that the Assembly be convened on October 13.

“The session is likely to be brief and may span seven days, from October 13 to 20,” sources disclosed.

Kashmir News Observer had exclusively reported on Tuesday that the cabinet would meet on Wednesday morning to decide on holding the autumn session of the J&K Assembly.

As per the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, there must not be a gap longer than six months between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next.

“The Lieutenant Governor shall, from time to time, summon the Legislative Assembly to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session,” reads the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Since the last sitting of the previous session was held on April 29, and given the rule that no more than six months should pass between sessions, the next session must be held by October 28.

The issues of statehood and reservation are expected to dominate proceedings in the House.

In the last Assembly session, three resolutions on statehood lapsed due to disruptions caused by the National Conference, following the rejection of an adjournment motion brought by its legislators on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The issue of reservation also surfaced repeatedly during discussions in the House, with PC President and MLA from Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, strongly criticizing the government over the matter. (KNO)

CRPF stands with people of Kashmir in every situation: DG GP Singh

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Director General (DG) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), GP Singh Tuesday said that the CRPF stands with the people of Kashmir in every situation.

The DG flagged off the third edition of the Yashasvini High-Altitude CRPF Bike Expedition 2025 from the beautiful Lal Chowk in Srinagar.

Paying tribute to the martyrs of the 2001 Parliament attack, DG Singh said, “I salute the martyrs and those honoured with the Ashoka Chakra, the nation’s highest gallantry award.”

He greeted all the CRPF women riders, who are set to undertake a seven-day, high-altitude expedition from Lal Chowk to Pangong Tso and back, covering approximately 1,400 km via Khardung La (high mountain pass in the Ladakh region of India).

“I extend my greetings to all of you moving forward with courage. You are torch-bearers of CRPF and deserve special appreciation and gratitude,” Singh said, as per KNO.

Acknowledging the officers leading the expedition, he added, “DIG Balav Sharma, Brigadier SP Rai, and DK Singh are guiding the team. The journey will reach altitudes of nearly 18,000 ft, face sub-zero temperatures, and living conditions will be tougher than imagined. Despite these challenges, the team is moving forward, and I extend my greetings and best wishes to all participants,” he said.

Describing the symbolic importance of the expedition, Singh said, “This high-altitude mission reflects CRPF’s contribution to India’s internal security over the past sixty-six years. Flagging it off from Kashmir’s historic Lal Chowk fills me with immense happiness, pride and honour.”

He thanked the citizens present, especially the locals of Lal Chowk, saying, “Your encouragement inspires us and strengthens our resolve to serve and protect.”

It is important to mention, the Yashasvini High-Altitude CRPF Bike Expedition 2025 is the third edition of the exclusive Mahila Bike Expeditions series aimed at instilling pride and testing physical and mental endurance.

Moreover, the first edition was held in March 2023 from Delhi to Jagdalpur, and the second in September 2023 from Srinagar, Shillong, and Kanyakumari to Kevadia. (KNO)

‘Facing toughest season’: Apple growers struggle as cold storage slots booked, freight costs soar

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: With the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway witnessing frequent closures, coupled with low demand and soaring freight charges, hundreds of apple growers in Kashmir have been turning to cold storage facilities to save their produce.

However, much to their frustration, all cold storage units across the valley are already booked in advance, leaving them with no option but to sell at distress rates.

Speaking to KNO, growers from Shopian, Pulwama and other areas said they are facing one of the toughest seasons in recent memory. They said the traditional supply chain has been disrupted due to highway blockades triggered by landslides, and whatever produce reaches outside markets is being sold at a lower price because of its deteriorated condition.

“We had pinned our hopes on cold storage facilities this year so that we could wait for the right market rates. But when we approached the units, they told us all slots were pre-booked months ago,” said Abdul Rashid, an orchardist from Pulwama. “This means small and middle-class growers like us are left helpless. Big traders who can book storage space in advance are safe, but the ordinary grower is left to suffer.”

Another grower from Shopian, Ghulam Ahmad, said the government should step in immediately. “Every time there is a crisis, we are told to make use of cold storage. But the reality is different—there simply isn’t enough capacity. If new units are not built, this crisis will keep repeating year after year,” he told KNO.

Fruit growers’ associations also raised concerns about high freight charges. They said that even when trucks are available, transporters demand nearly triple the usual rates, further eating into growers’ earnings.

“Imagine the plight of a grower—he can neither send his produce outside due to high freight costs, nor can he store it in cold storage due to advance bookings. What option is left except to sell apples at throwaway prices?” asked Bashir Ahmad, a fruit dealer at Jabli Pora Mandi

The growers appealed to the administration to address the dual issues of transport shortage and lack of cold storage capacity. “Without immediate government intervention, Kashmir’s apple industry—which sustains lakhs of families—will continue to bleed,” they said.

Cold storage unit owners explained that growers, after earning handsome returns from their stored produce in controlled atmosphere (CA) units, had already booked slots months before the season began.

They added that since all slots are now fully booked, allowing others to reserve or store produce is not feasible. (KNO)

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