Srinagar, Sep 19: After weeks of anxiety for Kashmir’s apple growers, the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has rolled out 55 trucks to major fruit mandis in Sopore and Shopian after weeks of crisis marked by a shortage of vehicles and soaring freight charges.

General Manager, Loads & Cargo, JKRTC, Bashir Ahmed Sofi, speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the deployment followed direct instructions from the government after persistent appeals from growers.

“The minister instructed us to ensure there is no shortage of trucks for fruit transportation. Today, we have mobilised 55 vehicles, including 14 big trailers and other small trucks, to Sopore mandi and 10 trucks to Shopian. These will carry fruit to Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and other stations,” he said.

He said concessional freight had been fixed to protect growers. “For Delhi, the charge is Rs 130 per box and Rs 120 for Punjab, compared to the usual Rs 240–250. A margin of Rs 10 has been left so that labourers can be paid directly,” GM explained.

Weeks of transport shortage and soaring freight

For the past several weeks, apple growers had struggled with no transport availability, as frequent closures of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway left thousands of fruit-laden trucks stranded. With RTC absent from the scene, private transporters exploited the situation by hiking freight abnormally. Freight to Delhi and Punjab nearly doubled, forcing many growers to sell their produce at throwaway rates or risk losses as apples piled up in mandis.

The President of Asia’s second-largest, Sopore Fruit Mandi, Fayaz Ahmed Malik @ Kaka Ji, said the relief came late but was welcome. “Thousands of apple boxes were lying stranded here with no vehicles to lift them. Private truckers were charging at will. The 40 RTC trucks that have come today will help, but our requirement is at least 200–300 trucks daily to clear the backlog”, he said, urging the government to prioritise horticulture transport the way it does during the Amarnath Yatra.

Growers speak

Orchardists voiced relief but stressed that the crisis was far from over.

“At least now there is some support from RTC. But unless trucks are deployed consistently every day, our losses will continue”, said Ghulam Rasool, a grower from Rafiabad.

Similarly, Abdul Majid, another grower, said they cannot afford highway closures. “When fruit doesn’t reach Delhi or Kolkata on time, buyers turn elsewhere, and it is the grower who bears the loss,” he said.

Daily monitoring assured

General Manager Sofi said the corporation will closely monitor the situation and increase the fleet as more vehicles become free from food supply duty.

“The minister has instructed that strict action be taken against any private trucker found overcharging. RTC will continue deputing trucks daily so that the fruit industry, which is the backbone of our economy, is not made to suffer,” he said.

Govt warns of strict action against overcharging

Private Secretary to Minister Satish Sharma, Sanjeev Sharma, said the government has issued strict directions to prevent any exploitation of fruit growers during the apple season.

He said private truckers will face action if found overcharging, particularly during highway closures when freight rates often shoot up. “The minister has made it clear that strict action will be taken against such practices,” he said.

Sanjeev said the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) will inspect trucks to ensure fair freight charges and to keep transport accessible to growers.

With apple harvest at its peak, growers have appealed to the government to ensure uninterrupted transport availability and smooth highway connectivity, warning that any delay could devastate the Valley’s horticulture economy and the livelihood of lakhs of orchardists.

Kulgam, Sep 19: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, on Friday said the biggest issue confronting the people of Jammu and Kashmir is getting back whatever was snatched from them, including the statehood.

Addressing a gathering on the sidelines of the function here, the Dy CM, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said some people expect the ruling elected regime to step down. “But the government is committed to fighting for the restoration of the rights of people that have been snatched,” he said.

Choudhary said the National Conference has always fought for the rights of the people and will continue to do so. He said that restoring statehood is crucial for J&K, not for the government, but for the people whose livelihoods and opportunities have been affected.

“Today, outsiders are getting jobs, while locals are pushed aside,” he said, vowing to continue the fight against those responsible for the removal of Article 370 and the downgrading of the state into a Union Territory.

About the National Highway closure and subsequent losses to the fruit growers, the Dy CM said the growers never faced losses when J&K was a state, but today the highway remained closed for a longer period, causing extensive losses to the growers. “Unfortunately, the Lieutenant Governor didn’t utter even a single word on it,” he said.

Choudhary said those responsible for the state’s downgrading have met the LG, but not the elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was elected by the people.

“The PDP leader (Iltija Mufti) needs to clarify why she met the LG instead of the elected government. The LG’s tenure has already ended, and she did so despite claiming that nothing is in his hands,” he said.

He said the biggest issue at present was the restoration of the identity snatched from the J&K people. “If anyone is responsible for this, it is PDP,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir has done whatever was under its domain, following the recent floods triggered by heavy rainfall.

“The Chief Minister visited almost every area affected by the floods, and the government has extended every possible support under its domain. J&K doesn’t want any healing, but wants compensation for those affected by the floods,” Choudhary said. “It is the Centre that has to provide compensation”.

Srinagar, Sep 19: In a major success against narcotics trafficking, Police seized huge quantity of poppy straw in Anantnag & Sopore and arrested 03 persons in separate operations.

A police spokesperson said that in Anantnag, acting on specific input, a police team from Police Station Bijbehara during naka at Donipora Bijbehara intercepted a vehicle (Tata Mobile) bearing registration number JK21A-3990 with two persons on board. During search, 136.3 Kgs (approximately) of poppy straw-like substance was recovered from the said vehicle. Both the accused identified as Sunil Kumar son of Dharam Pal resident of Gandhi Camp, Jalandhar, Punjab and Boby son of Balbir Das resident of Tilak Nagar, Jalandhar, Punjab have been arrested. The vehicle used in the commission of the crime has also been seized.

Similarly in Sopore, a police party during naka checking at Sofi Hamam Road Tarzoo, intercepted a load carrier bearing registration number JK04B-9881, moving from Nigli towards Chankhan. During search, 54 kgs of poppy straw were recovered from the said vehicle. The driver, identified as Javaid Ahmad Dar son of Gh. Mohi-ud-Din Dar resident of Chankhan Sopore was also arrested on the spot. He has been shifted to police station where he remains in custody. The vehicle used in the commission of crime has also been seized.

He said according cases under relevant sections of law have been registered at respective police stations, and further investigation is underway to identify the supply chain and network behind this consignment.

Shopian, Sept 19: Police in south Kashmir’s Shopian district have detained a habitual offender under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and lodged him in Udhampur Jail.

The accused, identified as Waseem Ahmad Wani, son of Abdul Aziz Wani of Ganowpora, has a history of repeated involvement in theft, house trespass and offences against women, police said on Friday.

Officials said Wani is a repeat offender, named in at least eight FIRs across different police stations. Describing him as a persistent threat to public peace and safety, authorities approved his detention under the PSA after a dossier was prepared and submitted by police.

The action was carried out by Shopian Police in coordination with Police Post Keegam, under the supervision of DySP Headquarters Shopian, Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir.

Senior Superintendent of Police Shopian, Anayat Ali Chowdhary, said the police are committed to maintaining order and protecting the dignity of citizens. “Firm and lawful action will continue against habitual offenders and those who pose a threat to peace and stability in the district,” he said.