Srinagar, Sep 13: National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the April 22 incident dealt a heavy blow to Kashmir’s tourism industry, but stressed that restoring public confidence and reviving tourism remain vital for the valley’s economy.

Speaking to news wire PTI, Dr. Farooq, “Since the April 22 episode, tourism has suffered a severe setback. Tourism is essential for Kashmir’s economy. The poor and the well-off alike depend on it.

Winters shut us down for six “months; all the income is earned in the summer months and spent during winter. That’s why, after April 22, we have tried hard to remove fear among the people of the valley.”

The incident on (22 april) happened it was not our doing but all of Kashmir stood against it.”

Noting efforts to bring visitors back, he welcomed initiatives aimed at projecting normalcy. “It is good that our friends are promoting events they even organised the gold tournament so a message goes out at all times that conditions here are improving. Come and enjoy our hospitality,” he said.

On the long-standing demand for restoration of statehood, Dr. Farooq expressed cautious optimism. “God willing, we hope this will happen. Delhi will pay attention to it. The Prime Minister will see the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to have their statehood restored,” he told reporters.

When asked about periodic disruptions that follow phases of calm citing controversies around waqf and the Doda incident Dr. Farooq observed that such incidents have been part of the region’s troubles for decades.

“These things will continue to occur; we have suffered since 1947. This is not a new phenomenon, but we must come out of it. Nothing is static. I hope conditions improve here. Our leaders must understand that to make things better we must also pay heed to the aspirations of our people,” he said. (KNC)

Srinagar, Sep 13: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Srinagar Zone, has dismantled a major narcotics smuggling network in South Kashmir with the arrest of three persons, including a key supplier and two habitual offenders.

Officials said the operation was carried out on the basis of specific intelligence inputs in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district on 19 August. The raid resulted in the recovery of about 10.735 kilograms of charas, one of the largest seizures of the current year, and the arrest of three accused: Firdous, a resident of Bijbehara, Jan Mohammad Baba of Lal Bazaar, Srinagar, and Mohammad Lateef of Srigufwara, Anantnag.

Verification of their background revealed that Firdous had previously been booked under the NDPS Act in cases registered at Police Station Bijbehara and NCB Jammu, while Jan Mohammad Baba was also earlier involved in a case registered by NCB Jammu. Investigations further established that the seized consignment was procured from Mohammad Lateef, who was facilitating its inter-state transportation through illicit channels.

The establishment of the NCB office in Srinagar, officials said, is part of the Union Government’s wider strategy to strengthen anti-narcotics enforcement in Jammu and Kashmir. They added that NCB remains committed to disrupting the drug trade, protecting youth from its harmful impact, and ensuring stronger coordination among enforcement agencies across the Union Territory.

Authorities have appealed to citizens to cooperate in the fight against drug trafficking and share information about narcotics activities through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline number 1933, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential. [KNT]

Sopore, Sept 13: Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi, located in Sopore, witnessed a peaceful protest today as hundreds of fruit growers and traders gathered to express deep concern over the massive losses incurred due to the continuous blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Addressing the media, President of the Sopore Fruit Mandi Association, Fayaz Ahmad Malik, painted a grim picture of the crisis. He revealed that thousands of fruit-laden trucks have been stranded for days on the national highway, resulting in estimated losses ranging between ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 crore. “The perishable nature of the produce means every hour of delay is causing irreversible damage to the livelihood of thousands of growers,” Malik said.

In a fervent appeal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Malik urged the administration to immediately provide a two-day exclusive traffic clearance window for fruit-laden vehicles heading toward Jammu. He stressed that such a measure is essential to prevent the situation from spiraling further out of control.

Malik also called for the urgent restoration of train services from Sopore, arguing that rail connectivity could act as a lifeline for the Valley’s fruit industry. “Kashmir is a major exporter of apples and other horticultural produce. Without reliable transportation, the entire sector is collapsing under financial stress,” he added.

The protesting growers lamented that this season has been one of the worst in recent memory, as repeated disruptions in transportation have left them battling heavy losses and mounting debts. They appealed to the government to step in without delay, warning that any further negligence could cripple the horticulture sector, which is the backbone of the local economy.

The protest concluded peacefully, but with a clear message: unless immediate action is taken, the crisis in Asia’s second largest fruit mandi may snowball into a catastrophe for Kashmir’s agrarian community

Jammu, Sep 13: Residents along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the initiative of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to get the new houses constructed for families affected by Pakistan shelling,’ the recent floods and terrorism.

The High-Range Rural Development Society (HRDS) India in collaboration with the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir will build more than 1500 houses for the victims of Pakistan shelling, recent floods and the terrorism.

“We lived for years amid rubble and fear. The news of new houses being built feels like a sunrise after a long, dark night, giving us hope for the future,” residents of frontier areas told KNO over phone.

“Cross-border shelling destroyed walls, roofs, and the peace we once had. Hearing that new houses will be constructed for those affected by Pakistan shelling gives us hope that our children can grow up without fear of the next attack,” said Fatima Bano from Poonch.

Residents in Poonch, Uri and Karnah Tangdar welcomed the announcement.

Mohammad Iqbal from Poonch, whose home was damaged during the cross-border shelling in May, said, “Finally, we will have a safe home for our children after all these months of living in temporary shelters.”

“We hope the government begins construction of these houses soon. This is a much-needed relief for border residents who lost their homes during shelling,” he said.

Mehar Bano from Uri said, “Our house was partially destroyed by Pak shelling. This project gives us hope that we can start afresh without fear of the past returning.”

Rashid Ahmad from Karnah Tangdar said, “We have waited for months for support. Many houses in our area were damaged, and some residents lost relatives during the shelling. No compensation was provided earlier, so the announcement that new houses will be constructed for sufferers is a welcome step for us and will help us rebuild our lives with dignity.”

Suhail Ahmad, another resident from Poonch, said, “The monthly health check-ups and digital connectivity will improve our standard of living. It is not just a house but a complete support system.”

Officials said the initiative is expected to be completed in phases, prioritizing families who suffered the most damage. The project has been welcomed as a major step toward restoring normalcy and security for those living along the LoC.

Pertinently, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday presided over the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HRDS India and the divisional administrations. “Construction of houses is more than just putting up structures. It is about building dreams and providing a fresh start for affected families,” he said, adding that the initiative aims to support families whose homes were damaged by natural calamities and unprovoked shelling on civilian populations.

The HRDS India will provide three-bedroom “Smart Houses” with modern features ensuring comfort and safety.