Shopian, May 17: Batapora Sports Stadium in south Kashmir’s Shopian town was a riot of colours, noise and raw energy on Sunday as Kulgam Hurricanes locked horns with Anantnag Spartans in the final of the South Kashmir Volleyball League.

Amid deafening cheers, whistles and nonstop chants, Kulgam Hurricanes produced a commanding performance to outclass their rivals in straight sets, sealing a 3-0 victory to lift the title in style.

The four-day league, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on May 14. Featuring teams from Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Poonch and Rajouri, the trans-Pir Panjal tournament showcased the growing volleyball culture across the region.

Ashiq Hussain, coach of Kulgam Hurricanes, told Greater Kashmir that the team’s disciplined approach and months of hard work paid off in the final. “The players showed tremendous coordination and commitment throughout the tournament,” he said.

He said five national-level players — Pankaj, Asghar, Amar, Vipin and Shakir — were part of the 14-member title-winning squad, adding depth and experience to the side.

MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay, who was the chief guest on the occasion, congratulated the winning team and urged youngsters to stay away from drugs and embrace a healthy lifestyle through sports. “Sports is the best platform to channel the energy of youth in a positive direction and build discipline, confidence and unity,” he said

He also appreciated the Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council for organising such tournaments and creating opportunities for youth to participate in different sporting activities across the region. He said sporting events not only help identify talent but also promote discipline, teamwork and a spirit of healthy competition among youngsters.

Members of the Shopian civil society, including Mitha Gatoo and Mansoor Magray, were also present on the occasion. They too lauded the efforts of the Sports Council and local organisers for successfully conducting the tournament and providing a vibrant platform for aspiring athletes from across the Pir Panjal and south Kashmir regions.

Srinagar, May 17: Analogue and fake cheese is in food chain of consumers in J&K and across India, a reality people are mostly unaware of.

On the other hand, a growing number of food businesses are using analogue cheese in their preparations, and also selling it as ‘natural paneer’. While, Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) has issued an alert, J&K has had its own cheese scandal, necessitating continued monitoring.

In September, laboratory testing exposed significant adulteration in staple dairy products.

The J&K administration took exemplary action and banned loose paneer containing foreign fats.

In addition, it also prohibited nine popular desi ghee brands.

J&K prohibitionary notice was replicated in other states, however, food safety experts and consumer advocates believe sustained, regular testing drive across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions must be regular.

“Consistent surveillance would uncover far more violations in the diary based sector,” a senior official in Health and Medical Education Department said.

The FSSAI West issued a public notice in April “directing all centrally licensed manufacturers and Food Service Establishments in particular, and other Food Business Operators in general, to strictly comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules and Regulations made there under in respect of Cheese Analogue”.

The notice said, cheese analogue sold as paneer amounts to a “grave violation of the law and must cease immediately”.

The manufacturers of cheese analogues were directed to ensure accurate and unambiguous product naming and labeling to avoid consumers being taken for a ride.

Cheese analogue is a cheese-like product made from vegetable fats and oils instead of milk fat.

It looks and feels like real paneer.

For J&K, the scenario has been worse.

Reputed labs including the National Food Laboratory in Ghaziabad, FRAC FICCI New Delhi, and the Food Testing Laboratory in Srinagar found the presence of Beta-Sitosterol in samples from market.

Beta-Sitosterol is a plant sterol marker proving adulteration with vegetable oils.

Many consignments were transported in unhygienic, non-refrigerated conditions, with questionable documentation or traceability, thus rendering them unsafe.

The samples were collected during a special enforcement drive in September 2025, ordered by then Commissioner Food Safety, Smita Sethi.

Following the lab reports, authorities imposed an immediate ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution, import, and transportation of loose paneer containing foreign or vegetable fats.

Seizures of 21 quintals of synthetic cheese and more cheese-based products followed.

In addition, in November 2025, nine desi ghee brands were banned after failing multiple quality and safety parameters.

The labs confirmed adulteration with vegetable and foreign fats, presence of Beta-Sitosterol (non-dairy marker), and significant deviations in Reichert-Meissl (RM) Value (below prescribed limits), Iodine Value, Saponification Value, and fatty acid profile.

Many batches, mostly from Jammu region, were found unsafe for consumption.

Stakeholders are now urging long-term, structured testing drives focused on milk and milk products, with transparent and expedited testing.

In addition, stricter inter-state checks, and public awareness campaigns are then the need of the hour.

Srinagar, May 17: Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Dr Mehboob Beg on Sunday said that the people of Kashmir have shown resilience from time to time and asserted that the party would continue to stand with them.

Addressing a PDP rally at S K Park Srinagar, Dr Beg, former Parliamentarian and Cabinet Minister, appreciated the people of Srinagar for their resistance and support.

“It is because of your resistance that we the people of Kashmir are existing and our party is determined to stand by you,” Mehboob Beg told the gathering.

He said the opposition has a responsibility to make the ruling party accountable.

Questioning the ruling party, Dr Beg asked why the issue of abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A was not discussed in the Legislative Assembly despite a unanimous resolution seeking their restoration.

“Why is it that the ruling party chose not to discuss abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A in the Legislative Assembly and unanimously passed a resolution saying that Article 370 and 35-A should be restored,” he questioned.

Dr Beg also questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over promises mentioned in the party manifesto.

“Why is Omar Abdullah Sahab making fun of his own manifesto which talked about free gas cylinders, a big no to smart meters and giving government jobs to unemployed youth, including one lakh jobs in one year,” he said.

Beg asked the government not to make liquor and drugs available to the youth, and instead provide them jobs as promised by the party.

Srinagar, May 17:  Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday made a strong pitch for the release of prisoners ahead of Eid, calling it the “first real confidence-building measure” to ease tensions in the Valley, while asserting that the solution to Kashmir lies in dialogue within the framework of the Constitution.

Addressing a gathering at Sher-e-Kashmir Park, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president said Delhi will have to listen to the voice of Kashmiris. “We believe in engagement and talks. We seek peace with dignity,” she said, emphasising that development alone is insufficient without meaningful political outreach.

In a veiled reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s past attempts to engage with Pakistan, Mehbooba Mufti said New Delhi’s outreach efforts did not receive an “appropriate response” from the other side. She called on Pakistan to respond positively to India’s initiatives, while appealing directly to the Prime Minister to seize the moment. “Talks can make you a statesman for peace in the region and South Asia. Peace in Kashmir can show the way forward,” she said.

PDP President also took aim at the atmosphere of silence and fear in the Valley, demanding that it end immediately. “Hate must end,” she said, adding that the message of peace spoken about by RSS leaders must reflect on the ground. Freeing prisoners ahead of Eid, she asserted, would send a strong message of reconciliation and healing to the people of Kashmir.

Mehbooba Mufti said her roadmap for Kashmir is based on opening doors with all neighbouring regions and countries through dialogue, trade and travel. “Our roadmap is to open the gates of Kashmir with all neighbours. We want freedom of trade and travel,” she said, stressing that greater connectivity and people-to-people contact are essential for lasting peace.

She made it clear that her objective was never to seek the handover of Kashmir, push for a referendum, or pursue any secessionist agenda. Instead, the focus must be on creating economic opportunities and building bridges across the region instead of deepening divisions. “Peace and engagement are the only sustainable path forward for Kashmir and South Asia,” Mufti added. (KNS)