Month: January 2025

The Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has stayed the suspension of Shifa Medical Centre and Florence Hospital under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The suspensions, issued by the State Health Agency (SHA) on January 11, 2025, were challenged on grounds of procedural lapses and denial of natural justice. Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust ordered the suspension to be kept in abeyance until the next hearing on February 7, 2025. The court directed the SHA to conduct a fresh inquiry, providing the hospitals with two weeks to respond to the show-cause notices dated December 18, 2024. The hospitals had been accused of coercing patients into paying extra charges and violating scheme guidelines. While the SHA de...

A mysterious illness in Badhal village, Rajouri district, Jammu Kashmir, has claimed 17 lives, including 13 children and a pregnant woman, since December 7. Doctors suspect the cause is toxins, ruling out bacterial, viral, protozoan, or zoonotic origins. Union Minister Jitendra Singh revealed that tests conducted by a CSIR toxicology lab in Lucknow indicate the presence of a toxin, with further analyses underway. "The absence of infection or bacteria points to toxins. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether it was accidental or deliberate," Singh said. Senior epidemiologist Dr. Shuja Qadri from GMC Rajouri stated that over 200 food samples have been sent for testing across India to isolate the neurotoxin. "The focus is on identifying toxins in food items," he said, a...

A Delhi court has directed the seizure of two controversial paintings by renowned artist MF Husain, depicting Hindu deities Hanuman and Ganesh. The paintings were displayed at the Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) in Connaught Place as part of a private exhibition showcasing Husain's work. The order, issued by Judicial Magistrate First Class Sahil Monga at the Patiala House Courts, followed a complaint by Advocate Amita Sachdev, who alleged that the artworks offended religious sentiments. Sachdev claimed she visited the gallery on December 4, took photographs of the paintings, and lodged an FIR on December 9. By her next visit on December 10, the paintings were no longer on display. The court cited a police inquiry report confirming the gallery's cooperation in the investigation, includi...

Security forces have recovered arms and ammunition from a government school in the Awantipora area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said. An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that in a joint operation of police, 42 RR & 130 Battalion of CRPF recovered arms and ammunition from government primary school Larmooh. He said that the arms and ammunition includes a grenade, UBGL, electric denotator, non-electric detonator, 10 bullets, a pistol magazine. "Further investigation in this regard is going on," the official said—(KNO)

The body of a newborn was discovered near a graveyard adjacent to Islamia College in Srinagar on Thursday, officials said. Authorities swiftly moved the newborn's body to SMHS Hospital for medico-legal formalities as part of an investigation into the incident. Hospital sources said that the body of the baby will be taken to Children’s Hospital Srinagar. Police have meanwhile taken cognizance of the incident and registered a case in this regard. [KNT]

A recent survey of Waqf properties in Uttar Pradesh reveals that a significant portion of these properties could lose their Waqf status due to provisions in the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. Currently, approximately 1,14,624 properties—comprising both Sunni and Shia endowments—are at risk. The proposed bill includes a clause that would revoke the Waqf status of properties under "Waqf By User," affecting about 4,624 properties under the Shia Waqf Board and over 1,10,000 properties in the Sunni Waqf Board. In Uttar Pradesh, approximately 1,25,000 Waqf properties are listed with the Sunni Central Waqf Board, with 1,10,000 of these categorized as Waqf by User. Additionally, the Shia Central Waqf Board holds 7,785 properties, with 4,624 listed under this category. During a meeting of th...

Three more cases of 'mysterious illness' have been reported in Badhaal area of Rajouri district of Jammu, who are being shifted for advanced medical attention. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that on Tuesday, Aijaz Ahmad a 25-year-old youth had some symptoms of the mysterious disease, who was later taken to GMC Jammu from where he was shifted to PGI Chandigarh. He said that on Wednesday, two more cases of same sickness have been reported from Badhaal and these two are also being shifted for advanced medical attention. Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar has visited Koteranka area for proper monitoring and supervision. Notably, 17 persons have so far lost their lives in the area in the last 50 days while the government is yet to asc...

A delegation of the Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU), led by its chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, is set to meet the chairman joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on Waqf Amendment Bill in New Delhi on January 24. Speaking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) secretary to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Reham said that the delegation will meet Jagdambika Pal, chairman JPC on Waqf Bill, at his residence in New Delhi on Friday. The MMU had sought time to meet the JPC chief to convey its concerns about the proposed amendments to the Waqf Bill. Reham said that the delegation, will comprise of representatives from Kashmir, Jammu, Leh, and Kargil. "It aims is to highlight reservations regarding certain provisions of the bill that will have far-reaching implications for the management and a...

An Army soldier died after falling unconscious in BB Cant Srinagar district on Wednesday, sources said Reliable sources told news agency JKNS that in BB Cant Srinagar, Army soldier fell consciousness while on duty. He was immediately shifted to 92 base hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival, source added. Meanwhile, cognizance has been taken, and further investigation is underway.(JKNS)

A man sustained injuries after being hit with a bat by unknown boys during a cricket game in Waragam, Beerwah on tuesday evening. News agency JKNS reported that the man was playing cricket when some unknown boys hit him with a bat, causing serious injuries. The injured has been identified as Abdul Gani, a resident of Dreygam Khansahab, Budgam. He was referred to DH Budgam, and was later shifted to JVC Hospital Srinagar for advanced medical care, source added. Police have taken cognizance of the incident and initiated an investigation. (JKNS)