REGIONAL

Shabir Ali The Jammu Kashmir Police has initiated legal proceedings against a medical practitioner allegedly involved in an extortion scandal linked to falsified pregnancy reports and illegal abortion offers. The accused, identified under FIR number 24/2024, faces charges of extortion and attempted offense, both classified as cognizable and non-bailable offenses. Earlier on March 5, authorities sealed the said clinic located in Bemina, Srinagar, allegedly operated by the accused doctor. Additionally, a high-level committee, led by District Health Officer Dr. Rubina, has been formed to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. The committee comprises other medical officials, including Zonal Medical Officers Dr. Sami and Dr. Shafqat, along with Dr. Parvaiz. The victim...

Amid the rise in cancer cases, hundreds of patients from South Kashmir in need of radiotherapy and other treatment facilities are suffering due to the absence of radiotherapy facilities at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag. Officials on condition of anonymity told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that around 400 new cancer patients were registered at the oncology department in GMC last year. He said that the department is currently functioning without radiotherapy facilities, CT simulator, state of art medical linear accelerator, a tele-cobalt unit, medical physics and radiation monitoring equipment, chemotherapy hood and accessories for day care chemotherapy ward. He said that poor attendants are facing challenges in transporting their patients daily to SKIMS S...

The Central government has authorized all states and Union Territories to take action against three banned groups based in Jammu Kashmir under the UAPA. The groups include Muslim conference led by  Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Muslim Conference led by Masarat Alam, and Jamaat-e-Islami. Notifications from the Ministry of Home Affairs empowered state governments and Union Territory administrations to exercise powers under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act concerning these unlawful associations. Last month, the home ministry extended the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir, for five years, citing its activities against national security and sovereignty and also banned both fractions of the Muslim conference.

The Jammu Kashmir Meteorological Department forecasts no significant weather activity until March 10th, but residents should prepare for potential light rain or snow in the coming days. According to the latest update released on March 9th, the department predicts a chance of light rain or snow at a few locations on March 11th and 12th. By March 13th, this possibility extends to widespread areas, with the likelihood of light to moderate precipitation. March 14th may see light rain or snow in select spots. Looking further ahead, from March 15th to 18th, the region anticipates generally dry weather conditions. However, amidst these forecasts, authorities issue advisories to the public, particularly those residing in hilly areas. Officials caution against venturing into avalanch...

The Election Commission (EC) on Friday held meetings with top Home Ministry and Railway officials to discuss the deployment and movement of security personnel across the country ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The EC top brass also discussed the possibility of holding assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir alongside state assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. While the Supreme Court had directed the EC to hold assembly polls in Jammu Kashmir by September 30, there was no official word on whether assembly polls in J-K can be held with Lok Sabha polls expected to take place in April-May. The terms of the state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim end on different dates in June and state elections there wil...

The Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain Friday said that peace has returned to J&K and the police force won’t allow it to derail. Addressing the culmination ceremony of All India Police Water Sports Championship at SKICC here, DGP Swain as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that they were a little bit worried about Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s visit but “everything went off peacefully.” “Peace has returned to J&K and we will not allow it to derail,” the DGP said. “The ability of an adversary has always been limited. It is not an easy task to counter the fear. We are in 2024 and the year 2025 will be self-explanatory.” Later, talking to reporters, the J&K police chief said that the water sports events will be organised at the nook and corner of J...

A 3-year-old girl died after drowning in a water pond in a village in Bandipora district on Friday afternoon. An official told news agency Kashmir Scroll that an information was received by them about the drowning of a minor Dua Zehra (3), daughter of Kifayat Hussain, of Peth Mohalla Harinara. "After initiation of a rescue operation, the minor was retrieved and taken to Trauma Hospital, where the doctors declared her as brought dead on arrival," the official said. "The minor girl has been handed over to the family for last rites," the official added. (KS)

A meeting under the guidance of Amit Sharma, Administrative Secretary of Ladakh's Transport Department, convened to discuss the implementation of a zero-emission hydrogen mobility project in Leh. The focus was on introducing five Hydrogen fuel cell buses powered by water conversion into fuel technology. Sharma led discussions on finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd and the Ladakh Transport Department. The NTPC team presented progress on hydrogen-based projects in Ladakh, detailing timelines for deploying the buses and highlighting the significance of water conversion into fuel technology. The meeting emphasized collaborative efforts between the Ladakh Transport Department and NTPC, with discussions covering asp...

The National Conference has bolstered its presence in the north Kashmir region with the addition of a former Member of the Legislative Assembly, two former chairmen of the Municipal council Baramulla to its ranks. A member of National conference confirming the development to The Kashmiriyat said that Javid Hussain Beig, former MLA and nephew of ex-deputy chief minister Muzaffar Beig joined Jammu Kashmir National Conference on Friday at Nawa e Subh. Beig, formerly a member of Altaf Bukhari's Apni Party, was a legislator from Baramulla assembly segment in 2014. After the abrogation of Article 370,  he was expelled by PDP for meeting foreign envoys who were brought in by the Centre to Kashmir. On Friday, Javid along with Haji Abdul Rashid Malla and Haji Reyaz Ahmed Nagoo, both for...

Ali Muhammad Sagar, General Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir’s National Conference, expressed disappointment over the Prime Minister’s recent visit and speech, stating that it failed to meet the expectations of the people. In a statement issued from the party headquarters, Nawa-e-Subha Sagar, Sagar remarked, “It’s the same worn-out rhetoric that Jammu and Kashmir has been hearing for the past five years, yet there’s still a lack of confidence in holding elections.” Sagar highlighted the unmet expectations of the people, including hopes for announcements regarding statehood, the promise of a democratically elected government by September, job packages for the unemployed, relief from the power crisis, and major development projects. “Unfortunately, none of these expectations were met. In...