REGIONAL

The District Hospital in Kulgam has been grappling with technical woes as both its digital X-Ray and analyzer machines are lying defunct, causing immense hardships to the patients in need of critical diagnostic services. A staff member of the hospital told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that both the Digital X-ray and Analyzer machines at District Hospital Kulgam have been non-operational. Regarding the X-ray machine, he said it has been lying defunct for the past two days due to technical issues. “The Analyzer machine, on the other hand, is a decade old and frequently malfunctions, with occurrences happening as often as 3 to 4 times per month. These machines play a vital role in the hospital due to the high patient volume it serves,” the employee said. Ghulam Moha...

Police on Friday arrested two nonlocal residents and recovered a large quantity of contraband substances from their possession in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district. A police spokesperson in a statement that a police patrolling party at police station Qazigund noticed two persons roaming in suspicious condition along with luggage bags. “After noticing the police party, both tried to flee the spot but were chased and apprehended tactfully.” “During the checking of their luggage bags, 19 kg of poppy straw-like contraband substances were recovered from them. The duo has been identified as Balwinder Singh, a resident of Shairiwala Ludhiana, Punjab, and Harvinder Singh, of Walipor Khurad Ludhiana, Punjab,” it said. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act...

At least eighty-four goats and sheep were charred to death in a fire that broke out in the cattle shed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said. Official sources said that fire engulfed a tin shed of Lala Chopan in the Dachan area of the district on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. The tin shed was completely damaged in the fire incident and the charred bodies of 74 goats and sheep were recovered from the debris. However, there was no loss of human life or injury to anyone in the incident. Meanwhile, police have registered a case to ascertain the cause of the fire. (KNT)

Unidentified criminals have stolen over half a dozen manhole covers, all made of iron cast in Habba Kadal area of old Srinagar city. The locals from Babapora Habba Kadal told the news agency KNT that they were shocked to find uncovered manholes early Thursday morning. The thieves possibly drug addicts or bootleggers stole the manhole covers during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday,” locals said. They said manhole covers made of cast iron must be fetching a good price in the grey market for petty thieves and drug addicts. “We request the police to take cognizance of the incident and question the different scrap dealers. Finally, these thieves or drug addicts will sell these manhole covers to scrap dealers,” the locals said. Stealing manholes or other stuff is not unco...

Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Wednesday said that 400 locals have been identified who are presently in Pakistan and Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK) working to fuel militancy in UT through their supporters. “We have identified some 400 locals from J&K who are present in Pakistan and PoK. These people are involved in running militancy here through various means. These people work for various militants outfits. We have decided to zero in on their handlers and supporters here,” the DGP told reporters during his visit to the Bhalesa area of Doda, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). He said that very soon these people will feel isolated and won’t be able to carry out their “nefarious designs.” Replying to a query, he said that milita...

An army man was severely injured in a landmine blast along Line of Control in Rajouri district, officials said on Wednesday. Officials said that Naik Dheeraj Kumar Magrati, was injured after he accidentally stepped on a landmine, while on a patrolling duty in the forward area of LoC in the Nowshera sector. The injured army man was airlifted to Northern Command hospital Udhampur for immediate treatment, they further said. (GNS)

A youth was found dead mysteriously under a car in Maloora area of central Kashmir's Srinagar district on Wednesday, officials said. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the body of the youth identified as Mohd Asif Khan, son of Ashiq Ahmad Khan of Pattan, was found under a vehicle near JK Bank Maloora. He said that upon discovering the body, locals promptly informed the police and the body has was taken to hospital for medico-legal formalities. The official said that further investigation into the matter is going on—(KNO)

A day after tout fish worth lakhs died due to the negligent approach of a walnut businessman, the Department of Fisheries in South Kashmir’s Anantnag not only confiscated walnut peeling machinery of the accused but also directed the officers to immediately halt the operation of these machines along the banks of water bodies. The machinery was confiscated under the supervision of Deputy Director Fisheries Anantnag Muhammad Sidiq. Pertinently, at Dalseer Wahdhan area near the health resort Pahalgam, Trout fish worth 20 lakhs suffocated to death due to the intermingling of Walnut Green Husk extract with the water of a stream that was a source of water for the trout units. Most of the people doing walnut business have installed machinery on the banks of streams and the husk of walnuts af...

Security Forces on Tuesday apprehended four suspects along with arms and ammunition in central Kashmir's Budgam district. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that based on a specific inputs, on the intervening night of 25-26 in Beerwah area of Budgam district, four suspects were arrested. He said that they were apprehended along with arms and ammunition including three Pistols and other war like stores. Chinar corps In an official tweet on X formally Twitter said that, ‘’OP BEERWAH, #Budgam; In a Joint Operation launched by #IndianArmy, @JmuKmrPolice & Int agencies on the intervening night of 25-26 Sep in Beerwah, #Budgam, four suspected individuals have been apprehended. 03xPistols & other war like stores recovered. Investigation in progress:" the...

A fire broke out in Srinagar's Maisuma area near Palladium Lane on Monday, officials said. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a fire broke out near old Palladium Cinema in Srinagar's Maisuma this evening. He added that the fire engulfed two shops in a three-story building, which has now been brought under control while the F&ES personnel are on the job. He added that no loss of life or any injury was reported in the incident while the firefighting operation is still going on at the site—(KNO)