REGIONAL

A truck driver was shot dead after allegedly failing to stop at a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) set up by security forces in Baramulla, according to an official statement by the Army. As per the Army statement, based on specific intelligence regarding the movement of militants, a checkpoint was established on February 5. A suspicious civil truck was spotted speeding towards the post but did not stop despite multiple warnings. "Instead, it accelerated, prompting security forces to pursue the vehicle for over 23 km," the statement read. Forces fired at the truck’s tires to halt it, ultimately stopping the vehicle at Sangrama Chowk. Upon searching the truck, the injured driver was immediately evacuated to GMC Baramulla, where he was declared dead. The truck was sent to the near...

Shabir Khan Baramulla police have demolished a replica of the Kaaba built by a mentally unsound man from Waripora, Kunzer area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district. The man had been claiming to be prominent Sufi saint Sheikh Nooruddin Wali and had invited people to visit his site if they were unable to travel for Umrah. As per officials who spoke to The Kashmiriyat, the swift action was taken following concerns raised by religious scholars and local residents. Last week, Moulana Ghulam Rasool Hami had personally intervened, speaking to Razam via video call and urging him to dismantle the structure, stating that such acts have no place in Islam. However, as the structure remained intact, authorities stepped in to remove it. The police arrested the man and said that he wil...

Danishwar Hameed Amid mounting frustration over the state of healthcare in Kulgam, National Conference (NC) spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar visited the District Hospital on Tuesday. Patients and their families voiced anger over the persistent shortage of doctors and medical staff. Addressing the gathering, Dar assured them that the issue had been escalated to the highest levels of government. He also announced that the hospital would soon be linked with Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag to improve staffing and medical services. “I have already raised this issue with the Chief Minister and the Health Minister,” Dar told the gathering. “We are fully aware of the difficulties residents face here and have taken steps to escalate the matter at the highest levels of government” he sai...

Shabir Khan  A water shortage has disrupted services at Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla after a pipe was damaged in the under-construction 15-bedded critical care block. The damage, caused by ongoing construction work, has affected the water supply across the facility. "I had to wait for hours to get basic care because of the water shortage. It's frustrating, especially in a hospital where such issues shouldn't be happening. We understand there are construction delays, but patients shouldn't have to suffer because of it," said Amina Begum," patient at GMC Baramulla. According to GMC officials, the issue was promptly identified, and repair work is underway. A JCB has been deployed to fix the damaged pipe, with authorities assuring that the water supply will be rest...

Shabir Khan  A shocking case of alleged medical negligence has sparked public outrage in Sopore after a doctor reportedly removed a woman’s uterus instead of performing an ENT surgery. The incident, which occurred at Hakeem Sonuallah Hospital, has led to widespread anger, with locals demanding strict action, including a lifetime ban on the doctor’s private practice. The matter came to light after news of the botched surgery went viral on social media, prompting swift intervention from the health department. Authorities raided the hospital to investigate the claims, further fueling public anger. Residents and activists have questioned the lack of oversight in private healthcare institutions. “This level of negligence is criminal. A doctor who cannot differentiate between an E...

Srinagar, Feb 5: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) leader and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Ruhullah Mehdi on Wednesday hit out at the Union government over the "detention of over 500 people" after Kulgam attack, saying that punishing an "entire population" for the "actions of a few is not counterterrorism but collective retribution." Mehdi was responding to the reports that said that over 500 people have been detained in a massive crackdown across the valley in wake of killing of a retired soldier Manzoor Ahmad Wagay in south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Monday. His wife and niece were also wounded in the terror attack. The report said that those detained were largely relatives of Kashmiri militants based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and this measure...

Necessary legal action will be taken against those who are falsely claiming anti national posters on social media. Cyber police Kashmir on a poat on X as per news agency JKNS reads, that certain social media accounts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have been disseminating unverified claims about the presence of anti-national posters in Kashmir. Post on X reads, Some handles on X & other platforms are falsely claiming anti-national posters in Kashmir. These baseless claims are being amplified without any verification. @cyberpolicekmr is monitoring & necessary legal action being taken, it reads. (JKNS)

Jammu Kashmir has recorded substantial damage due to hydro-meteorological disasters during the year 2024-25, with 28 human lives lost, 73 cattle perished and 1,069 houses or huts damaged during the period. A cropped area of 0.02 lakh hectares was affected, the data presented in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai reads. “As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the primary responsibility for disaster management, including the disbursal of relief assistance at the ground level, lies with the respective State Governments,” he said. “In the wake of natural calamities, State Governments undertake relief measures using the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), which is already at their disposal, in accordance with the Government of I...

Jammu Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has appointed all Station House Officers (SHOs) and Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs) as Special Police Officers under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA). This move will enable them to take swift action against human trafficking and related offenses in their jurisdictions. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act is India’s primary law to combat commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking. It criminalizes activities such as running brothels, procuring individuals for prostitution, and exploiting minors for sexual purposes. The law allows police officers to raid, rescue victims, and arrest traffickers without requiring additional approvals. With this new designation, SHOs and SDPOs can now act more effectivel...

Jammu Kashmir has reported a total of 3,468 cervical cancer cases over the past five years, a data presented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Parliament reveals. The year-wise breakdown shows an increase in cases, with 656 in 2019, 676 in 2020, 694 in 2021, 712 in 2022, and 732 in 2023. As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the cases increased from 656 in 2019 to 732 in 2023, reflecting a year-on-year rise. Specifically, the number of cases grew by 3.05% from 656 in 2019 to 676 in 2020, 2.66% from 676 to 694 in 2021, 2.59% from 694 to 712 in 2022, and 2.81% from 712 to 732 in 2023. This rise aligns with a national trend attributed to factors such as an aging population, improved life expectancy, greater awareness, and advances in diagnostic technol...