Kashmir’s pickle king to set benchmark

While meandering through the narrow alleyways in Habba Kadal, a buzzing downtown in Kashmir's capital, you come across a pickle shop owned by a man who has beaten the record, by preparing one hundred varieties of these delicious, spicy pickles.

As you step inside the shop, you are greeted by the enticing aroma of spices wafting through the cold December air. 

Haji Ghulam Qadir Sunoo and his pickles are the talk of the town. The buzz around these pickles has spread far and wide, even outside Kashmir. 

Ghulam Qadir Sunoo has much deservedly earned the title Pickle King of Kashmir. He serves a whole range of pickles with wide varieties, each with a different flavor. 

Qadir took to pickle-making business in late 1980s after he suffered heavy losses in transport business. He lost his wife and two children during two decades of conflict in this disputed region. 

Qadir's varieties of pickles include chicken, mutton, vegetable, fish, mango, garlic and cherry. The non-vegetarian ones are hot sellers, particularly during winters. People come to his shop from different regions to relish the delicious pickles. Qadir says that many of his pickles have health benefits and help in preventing many diseases. 

Qadir is planning to add more varieties to the list. 

Experts say that regular eating of different pickles is beneficial for patients suffering from heart diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol, and respiratory problems. 

Known for their distinctive flavor and sophisticated preparation, Ghulam Qadir's pickles have always been in the news. He wants to set a benchmark for new generation of pickle makers in this part of the world. 

Kashmir's ski resort opens for winter sports

Winter is the exciting time to be in Indian-administered Kashmir. Enveloped by dense carpet of snow, most of the hill resorts in this Himalayan region present a delightful picture at this time of year. Winter is also the time for games and sports related activities on high slopes which attract visitors from across the world.

Often described as the 'heartland of winter sports in India', this year again, Gulmarg is being thronged by record number of tourists for the snow festival. 

The week-long festival on the breathtaking slopes of this world-famous picturesque hill resort kicked off on Tuesday, coinciding with Christmas celebrations. 

Gulmarg resort is one of the best ski destinations in Asia. It attracts thousands of visitors and ski lovers from different parts of the world for the week-long sports carnival. 

Among the main attractions this year will be snow cycling, ice skating, sledge race, snow rugby, and night skiing, which is rare in this part of the world. 

Gulmarg offers best slopes for amateur and professional skiers, who weave their magic on ice much to the delight of spectators. 

Situated at an altitude of 2730 meters above sea level, Gulmarg boasts of the world's highest ski lift in the world at dizzying 4,120 meters. 

Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering has also started its skiing courses in which hundreds of students will be trained ever year. 

Gulmarg has been declared the Winter Games Capital of India by Winter Games Federation of India. 

Kashmir's Tourism department is expecting a massive rush of visitors and sports buffs as the festival progresses. 

The people associated with tourism industry are expecting to reap rich dividends from the festival this year. 

Kashmir mass uprising leaves many disabled

Indian-administered Kashmir was rocked by widespread anti government protests between 2008 to 2010, which left more than 200 people dead, most of them youth and many more maimed for life.

Family members of these youth say they face a real challenge as it is extremely difficult to bear the medical expenses. 

18-year-old Mohammad Javed Pathan was hit by a live bullet on his leg. After undergoing seven operations, his leg was finally amputated. 

The only son of his parents, Javed was a promising sportsman. He says the bullet has shattered his dreams for ever. 

Javed's father is a manual labourer. His mother says they are facing lot of hardships to meet Javed's exorbitant medical expenses. 

Javed's is not the isolated case. There are scores of teenagers who have suffered nervous breakdown and have been rendered disabled. 

Yawar Ibrahim was hit by a teargas shell on his head. He is disabled now. He needs someone to feed him and to hold him while walking or going to washroom. He can not speak properly, and vaguely recalls the incident that changed his life forever. 

She says the family has sold out almost everything to bear the expenses. 

Doctors say he will remain paralysed for life from one side of his body, and would even lose the ability to speak. 

Having been rendered disabled for life, the going is getting extremely tough for these victims who suffered critical injuries during the anti-government mass uprising between 2008 and 2010. Families are finding it difficult to bear their exorbitant medical expenses, and no help seems to be coming their way.

Kashmiris eat Harissa as winter specialty

As mercury takes a dip and cold wintry waves sweep across Indian administered Kashmir, there are many different ways people in this Himalayan region try to keep themselves warm.

With the onset of winters every year, people here turn to traditional spicy meat porridge called "Harissa" to beat the freezing cold. 

Harissa shops are thronged by people particularly in early mornings hours. 

These shops are mostly dark and smoky. Some people prefer to order it home, while many others believe that the real taste of Harissa can be relished sitting next to the traditional cylindrical clay oven from which it is served. 

Harissa is usually made during the cold winter months. People say because of its unique blend of Kashmiri spices, this delicious recipe helps them stay warm. 

Preparing Harissa is a hard work. The mutton is first cooked under mild temperature, and bones are then separated from it, the boneless mutton is then mixed with rice and varied spices. This mixture is stirred constantly till it is thick. Hot oil is then poured on top and served with fresh bread. 

Besides being a sumptuous fast food, Harissa has health benefits as well. Experts say that this winter specialty prevents hypothermia in harsh winters, and is highly appetizing for the stomach.

Amnesty International calls for independent probe into HR violations in Kashmir

Reacting to the recently released report by Kashmir's human rights activists documenting gross human rights abuses over the past two decades in Kashmir, international human rights watchdog - Amnesty International - has called for an impartial probe into the allegations against Indian security forces accused of committing gross human rights violations in Indian controlled Kashmir.

Amnesty International expressed concern that even the exhaustive compilation of evidence by International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice would fail to lead to prosecution as government of India has been reluctant to grant sanctions to prosecute. 

The report prepared by veteran human rights activists and lawyers lists more than 200 pending cases of rights violations in Kashmir and seeks to identify the role of 500 alleged perpetrators including army and police officers, in these violations. 

Human rights observers in Kashmir have welcomed Amnesty International's statement calling upon Indian govt to order investigations into the human rights abuse cases in Kashmir, but they are not sure if it will drastically change the situation on ground, which continues to remain volatile. 

Political analysts believe that Armed Forces Special Powers Act has emboldened the security forces operating in Kashmir and the law has fostered a culture of impunity in this region. 

Even as the clamour grows and Amnesty International also chips in to demand an impartial probe into the allegations of human rights abuses in this restive Himalayan region, the authorities continue to remain tight-lipped over the issue.

Kashmiris slam alleged rights violations by Indian forces

Braving the December chill, people in Indian-administered Kashmir have staged a sit-in protest, ahead of the International Human Rights Day, demanding strict action against the security forces accused of kidnapping their missing relatives.

Seeking the whereabouts of their relatives and friends subjected to custodial disappearances, protesters called upon the federal government of Kashmir to form an independent commission to probe the complaints of enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings, torture, rape and other human rights abuses allegedly committed by Indian security forces over the past two decades. They criticised government of India for denying justice to the families of missing persons. 

Rukhsana's father was arrested more than a decade ago when she was only 11. She has traveled about 40 miles to join the protest. 

Human rights groups claim that around 8000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearance by Indian security forces in this Muslim-majority region. 

International human rights watchdog bodies including United Nation Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and Amnesty International (AI) have repeatedly castigated India for its poor human rights record in Indian-administered-Kashmir. 

State-run human rights commission has received about 6000 complaints in last 15 years that speaks volumes about the rampant human rights abuses in this restive region. 

Political observers believe the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is the root cause of the human rights abuses happening with sheer impunity. The law gives sweeping powers to security forces to kill, arrest, or destroy property on mere suspicion. 

Human rights groups have long been demanding revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, but the government says that time is not yet ripe for the withdrawal of the law. Indian government has called for zero tolerance regarding human rights abuses in this region. 

Regional and International human rights bodies have time and again criticised India over its horrible human rights record in Kashmir. Ahead of International Human Rights Day, people of Kashmir are yet again protesting against what they call travesty of justice in the largest democracy.

Life sentences to Kashmiri prisoners spark protest

People in Indian-administered Kashmir have demonstrated to voice serious concerns and express their umbrage against the life sentences awarded to Kashmiri prisoners by Indian courts for killing officer of the Indian border security force.

Hundreds of people took to streets in Kashmir's summer capital after Friday prayers to protest life sentences awarded to the long detained political prisoners, calling it a travesty of justice and a desperate attempt to subvert the will of the people of Kashmir. Police used heavy tear gassing and cane charge to break up demonstrators who retaliated with stone pelting. 

Police arrested dozens of protestors, including chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, Mohammad Yasin Malik, during the demonstration. 

According to reports, at least 20 Kashmiri youth facing sedition charges have been sentenced to life in the past 18 months alone. 

Pro-independence groups claim that in some cases, sentences have been awarded to prisoners who have already spent more than a decade in prison. 

An all-women pro-independence group also staged a protest demonstration to demand the release of Kashmiri detainees. 

According to human rights observers, hundreds of Kashmiris are suffering in different jails across India. 

Imroz says that detainees’ are harassed and maltreated by the jail authorities. 

The long-standing debate over the fair trail of detainees and dispensation of justice in this Himalayan region has got a fresh impetus as more Kashmiri detainees lodged in various Indian jails get life terms. Ironically, some of them have already spent more than a decade behind bars.

Kashmir Muslim panel appeals for calm

There has been no let up in the protests and clashes that have rocked the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir over sacrilegious inscriptions on footwear.

Fresh clashes erupted in parts of Srinagar, forcing authorities to re-impose curfew in these areas. Barbed wires have been stretched across roads leading to old Srinagar city. Security forces have been deployed in strength to in sensitive areas to maintain law and order. 

As the storm brews over the religious inscriptions on a footwear of a foreign brand, religious leaders in Kashmir see the hand of foreign elements having links with US and Israeli agencies. They have cautioned people to remain vigilant against divisive and anti-Islam forces to defeat their sinister plots. 

A joint panel of religious and pro-independence parties met in central Kashmir to discuss the issue. The meeting was attended by heads and representatives of all the Islamic schools of thought in Kashmir. 

Mirwaiz said that enemies of Islam are trying to divide Muslims as part of a global conspiracy. 

Cutting across religious and political lines, leaders in this disputed region have strongly condemned the deplorable bids attempting to threaten traditional Muslim unity in Kashmir.

Kashmir witnessing unprecedented tourist rush

After a long time, Indian administered Kashmir is witnessing unprecedented rush of tourists with hotels and resorts flooded with visitors. Over 150,000 tourists have visited Kashmir in last two months alone. The authorities are expecting the figure to pick up during winter season.

According to tourism officials, so far over one million tourists have visited Kashmir this year. 

With United Kingdom having lifted the two-decade old advisory for its nationals against travel to this disputed Himalayan region, people involved in tourism industry are expecting a good winter season ahead. 

Despite the massive influx of tourists, the situation on ground continues to remain fragile. Kashmir's top pro-independence leader Syed Ali Geelani recently threatened to launch a statewide agitation over government's proposal to build a concrete road to a Hindu cave shrine, which is flocked by half a million each year. 

Pertinently, a massive public uprising had crippled normal life in Kashmir in 2008 when tourism industry was witnessing boom time. The pro-independence leaders had alleged that the authorities had allotted a portion of land to the Hindu shrine. 

However, this time around, the authorities are taking no chances. They have restricted the activities of pro-freedom leaders to foil their agitation plan.

As winter sets in, cooking gas crisis worsens in Kashmir

As winter sets in and people shiver in the sub-zero temperature, Kashmir is facing acute shortage of cooking gas. The crisis, triggered by Indian government's decision to restrict the number of subsidised LPG cylinders to six per year on authorised connection has affected the middle class most. According to official figures, Kashmir has almost one million LPG consumers.

People say that rigorous verification process for procuring LPG connections results in unnecessary hardships. Large queues of people outside the gas outlets have become a common sight in Kashmir these days. 

Abulhassan has been waiting since morning to get his gas connection verified. He says oil companies and the government are taking people for a ride. 

Members of civil society, political parties, and trade unionists have been strongly protesting against the cap on subsidized LPG cylinders. The crisis has already resulted in one casualty. A 63-year man died of cardiac arrest two days back while waiting for his turn to get his gas connection verified. 

The energy analysts opine that Kashmir being a cold high altitude region needs more cooking gas supply to meet the demands. 

Sensing the gravity of the situation, the state government says it is treating the matter as a top priority. 

The crisis is likely to escalate further when the only road connectivity to the region gets blocked due to snowfall, and the essential supplies to this region get choked. 

The local political leaders have sounded the alarm bells, warning New Delhi that the LPG crisis may fuel another spell of unrest in Kashmir, which is witnessing uneasy calm these days.

Kashmir’s meadow narrates tale of death, destruction

Kashmir is bestowed with breathtaking locales and enchanting meadows.

Every meadow has a fascinating story to tell, but there is one meadow in central Kashmir’s Budgam area, which has not been as popular for its beauty, as for its dubious reputation of being a killer-field. 

Located at an altitude of 14,000 feet and spread over a sprawling area of more than 8 square kilometers, the alpine meadow of Tosa Maidan is one of the biggest meadows in this Himalayan region. 

In the year 1962, the state government leased out a portion of this meadow to security forces, who have been conducting artillery drills in the area for the past five decades, posing a serious threat to the lives and property. 

In the summer, the meadow turns into a firing range for airforce and military and resonates with gunfire and explosions for six long months - day in and day out. 

The residents of nearby hamlets say that more than 500 people have died and scores have been rendered permanently disabled after coming in contact with the live, unexploded shells.

Being kashmir’s biggest green pasture, the residents of nearby villages come here for livestock grazing and for fetching firewood. 

Bilal Ahmed was 12 when he stepped on an unexploded shell and it blew off his leg. He says no action was taken by the authorities on the FIR lodged by him against the security forces. Now 28, Bilal runs a tailor shop to earn his livelihood. 

Bilal strongly opposes the military drills conducted by the army in the area, and says the place should be developed as a tourist spot to save the lives of people. 

In 1993, three children of a family were killed when they were fiddling with a live shell and it went off, blowing all of them into pieces. 

Nazir says that the firing range poses a risk to their lives and livestock. 

Nazir and many other locals who have been at the receiving end are now wary of venturing in that area, as the specter of fear looms large. 

As the 50-year-old lease between the federal government in Kashmir and security forces expires in December this year, there is a growing clamour from people against the lease extension to ensure the safety of their lives and to bring an end to years of violence and mayhem.

Kashmir Lolab area home to mass graves

Three and a half hour drive through alpine forests, autumn meadows, beautiful orchards, overlooking snow-capped mountains, leads us to one of the most exotic places in Indian-controlled Kashmir - Lolab.

However, there is an ugly truth hidden few feet under the earth beneath. The horrible story of one of the world’s longstanding conflicts. 

Situated close to the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan, Lolab has a graveyard where scores of unidentified bodies lie buried. Most of the graves remain unmarked. Interestingly, there are many graves with tin plates erected on them, giving numbers and details of identification of the dead buried inside. 

The graveyard hogged the headlines in 2010 when three youth who were dubbed as militants and killed near the ceasefire line and buried in this graveyard, were identified by their relatives after their pictures appeared in the press. The bodies were later exhumed. 

According to the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir, there are more than 60000 graves dotting the Kashmir landscape and every grave has a story - a tragic story - to tell. 

In 2011, state-run human rights commission confirmed the presence of scores of unmarked mass graves across 55 villages of north Kashmir, carrying over 2000 unidentified bodies. 

The authorities claimed that the graves carry the bodies of foreign militants killed in counter unrest operations. However, the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice (PTHRJ), in its report, rebuffed the government version and said the graveyards investigated carried mostly the bodies of those mowed down in fake encounters between 1990 and 2009. 

Despite incessant pleas by the commission, the government authorities in Kashmir turned down the demand for wide-scale DNA testing of bodies in these unmarked graves. 

With alleged government indifference, critics say the human rights violations continue unabated in this disputed Himalayan region and the people are now demanding their right to self determination and independence from India.