There is hardly any tourist place in the country --- perhaps the world --- which is free from sharks who sell products and services of dubious variety. Their solitary motto is to make a fast buck. They are aware that their dirty tricks can't be easily and timely detected when a huge crowd is there frantically exploring the market for goods with reasonable prices. This is not surprising, therefore, that the State Tourism Department has an "enforcement wing" headed by a Superintendent of Police on deputation to look into the complaints of visitors against their harassment. According to the Department's official website, "for cases requiring prosecution, written complaint of a tourist is admissible as evidence even if he may have left the State." We also have a special force called the "tourist police" which is supposed to be posted at all important resorts including in this city, Katra and Patnitop on this side of the Pir Panjal. Is this mechanism effective? One does not have a record readily available to make a categorical comment.

By and large, however, it is a matter of satisfaction for us that an overwhelming majority of millions of pilgrims to the sacred Trikuta hills go back without grumbling about any problem. Their approach may partly be attributed to their immense faith in the deity. At the same time it can't be denied that many of them are conscious of their right to raise their voice if they don't get a suitable response from vendors in particular in commensurate with the money they are called upon to pay. The gradual return of sightseers to the Valley is also resulting in the revival of the hospitality trade which everyone hopes touches its past glory sooner rather than later. What is, however, galling is that a couple of bad fishes threaten to spoil the entire pond.

It is rarely that one comes across two reports about them on the same day as it has happened recently. According to one of these accounts, three persons have been arrested in Pulwama district for manufacturing fake saffron. Indeed, it is alarming that an enormous quantity of 90 kilograms of spurious item and 250 kilograms of raw material used in the wicked operation have been seized apart from the tools employed for the unlawful purpose. The bogus saffron was being made of dyed corn fibre and marigold flower petals mixed with numerous chemicals. The apprehension that many of our gullible guests may have already been taken for a ride can't be dismissed lightly. Will they ever find out their having paid a hefty price for a forged article? One way they can make the distinction is by dipping the commodity in a water container. The counterfeit product will literally reveal its true colours! This is the opinion of the experts.