Srinagar, Feb 13: In its continued crackdown against drug menace, Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered a significant quantity of contraband substance from a residential house in Khudpora, Shopian.

Acting on specific information, Police Station Shopian registered a case under FIR No. 11/2026 of NDPS Act and, subsequently a team from Police Station Shopian accompanied by the Executive Magistrate, raided the house of Danish Maqbool Malik, resident of Khudpora Shopian. During the search, 3.072Kgs of poppy straw-like substance was seized and further investigation initiated. However, the accused managed to flee from the spot and efforts are on to nab him.

Police reiterated its commitment to eradicate the menace of drugs from society and urged the public to extend cooperation.

They also said that information regarding drug abuse/peddling can be shared on helpline 9596768831 (PCR Shopian), and added that the identity of informers will be kept strictly confidential.

Jammu, Feb 13: Former Forest Minister and former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Qazigund, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah, passed away in Jammu on Friday afternoon after a prolonged illness. He had been undergoing treatment for some time and breathed his last in Jammu.

As per news agency Kashmir News Corner—(KNC) Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah was a respected political figure in the Qazigund constituency and was widely known for his public outreach and contribution to social and political affairs in the region. During his tenure as MLA, he worked on various developmental initiatives and public welfare issues concerning his constituency. As Forest Minister, he played a significant role in matters related to forest conservation, environmental protection, and administrative reforms within the department.

He was the uncle of the sitting MLA from Qazigund, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad Shah. The news of his demise spread across the constituency and adjoining areas, with political leaders, party workers, and local residents expressing deep grief and extending condolences to the bereaved family.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow over his passing and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Office of Chief Minister, J&K said on X: “Chief Minister has expressed deep sorrow over the passing away of Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah, former Minister.

The Chief Minister recalled his contribution to public life and service to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family”.

Srinagar, Feb 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday acknowledged that the Achan garbage dumping site in Srinagar poses environmental and public health concerns but said immediate closure of the landfill is not technically or legally feasible in the absence of an alternative facility.

Replying to starred Assembly Question No. 908 tabled by MLA Shamima Firdous, the government said the Achan site has served as Srinagar’s municipal solid waste disposal facility since 1986.

Due to accumulation of legacy waste over several decades, environmental and health concerns have been reported from time to time, it said.

The government said the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has initiated scientific interventions in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

These include biomining and bioremediation of legacy waste, operation of a leachate treatment plant, continuous environmental monitoring, odor control measures and development of a green buffer zone to mitigate environmental and health impacts.

Responding to concerns raised by local residents demanding closure of the site, the government confirmed that public representations have been received and are being considered.

However, it said shutting down the landfill immediately is not possible without a fully operational alternative waste disposal facility for a city the size of Srinagar.

Instead, the government has adopted a policy of phased closure through scientific remediation rather than abrupt relocation.

It said SMC has begun biomining and bioremediation of approximately 1.1 million metric tons of legacy waste and scientific capping of old waste cells.

The administration is also developing integrated waste processing infrastructure under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and CITIES 2.0, aimed at minimizing landfilling and transitioning to engineered sanitary landfill practices.

On the question of identifying an alternative location, the government said no suitable land is currently available within the jurisdiction of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation for establishing a new municipal solid waste disposal facility.

It added that the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar has taken up the matter with all tehsildars in the district to identify suitable state land for the purpose.

The Achan landfill has long been a flashpoint for residents living in its vicinity, who have repeatedly raised concerns over foul odour, groundwater contamination and rising health issues.

Srinagar, Feb 13: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday attached property worth Rs 1.5 crore of an alleged drug peddler in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

According to a police spokesperson, the assets comprise six shops, five godowns, a tin shed, and a plinth located in Manigam village.

These properties belong to Mohammad Ashraf Khanday, a resident of the Nipora area in Kulgam, who is allegedly involved in extensive drug trafficking.

The action was taken under Section 68-F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, after establishing that the properties were proceeds of crime acquired through illegal drug operations.

The market value of the seized property is approximately Rs 1.5 crore, the police spokesperson said.

This move is part of the ongoing efforts by the Kulgam police to dismantle the financial networks of drug traffickers, they added.

Jammu, Feb 13: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed uproar on Friday after BJP member Vikram Randhawa claimed that people hailing from Kashmir valley have encroached land in Jammu city.

Replying to a question by Randhawa during Question Hour in the Assembly, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo said that, according to available records, land measuring 688 kanals (8 kanals is 1 acre) and 17 marlas (160 marla is 1 acre) in Tehsil Bahu and 579 kanals in Tehsil Jammu South is under illegal encroachment.

“These encroachments are old and are being removed as per the provisions of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act and other relevant laws,” Itoo, who was replying on behalf of the chief minister, said.

The minister noted that since January 2025, a total of 34 anti-encroachment drives have been carried out in Tehsils Bahu and Jammu South, leading to the retrieval of 140 kanals and 11 marlas of land belonging to the Jammu Development Authority (JDA).

Randhawa alleged that habitations of people from the valley have come up on encroached land belonging to the JDA and the government, and that the authorities have failed to remove the encroachments.

He claimed that 90 per cent of these habitations are that of people hailing from Kashmir valley.

“Let the government probe it and take action for the removal of encroachments from my constituency. There are over 16,000 kanals of JDA land under encroachment in Jammu,” he said.

“We have no problem if Kashmiris purchase land and construct their houses in Jammu, but they should not construct houses on government land,” he added.

Randhawa’s claims did not go down well with the ruling NC members.

Itoo rejected the allegations and said encroachment issues should not be viewed through a regional lens and Jammu and Kashmir should not be divided on such grounds.

Randhawa then walked towards the well of the House with some papers in his hands, demanding immediate removal of the encroachments.

Earlier, the minister said that fencing and signboards have been installed to prevent future encroachments and to safeguard the retrieved land.

“Teams comprising junior engineers, patwaris and other field staff regularly visit the areas under their jurisdiction and immediately report any attempt to encroach upon JDA land,” she said.

The minister said that the JDA has sufficient manpower and, whenever required, the Jammu Municipal Corporation, the Revenue Department and local police extend full cooperation during eviction and anti-encroachment drives.

On action against erring officials, Itoo assured that appropriate measures, including issuance of warnings, initiation of departmental proceedings, red entries in service books, suspensions and withholding of increments have been taken against delinquent officers and officials of the JDA.

“Red entries have been made in the service books of Pankaj Sambyal and Romesh Kumar for their alleged involvement in encroachment of JDA land in Tehsil Jammu South,” she added.

She asserted that responsibility is fixed strictly in accordance with the law after due verification and following the prescribed procedure.

Later, talking to reporters outside the House, he alleged that the government is hiding the list of encroachers as they belong to the Valley.

“Why has the government failed to provide me with the list?” he asked.

Srinagar, Feb 13: State Cancer institute takes the major burden of cancer cases in J&K, functions on staff borrowed from SKIMS Soura, the Government said today. In the past three years, over 17000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed at State Cancer Institute Kashmir and Jammu.

The details exposing the cancer infrastructure and manpower in J&K were revealed by Government in response to questions raised by legislator Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed Pardesi. The starred A.Q. No. 113 demanded clarification as to why the State Cancer Institute was set up without adequate medical, paramedical, and technical posts. The shortfalls, Pardesi has said, is leading to inconveniences for patients and compromising cancer care.

The Health and Medical Education Department has said the number of cancer cases is rising at 7.49%, and attributed the rise to “improved diagnostics”. “The rise cannot be interpreted as the actual rise in cancer cases,” the reply states. The department has said that epidemiological research is required to establish causality.

In the past three years, 2023-2025, 17296 people have been diagnosed with cancer. Of these, 10754 cases have been detected in Kashmir division and 6542 in Jammu division.

The Government has said the 100-bedded State Cancer Institute at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, was established with central funding under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). It received a sanctioned grant of Rs. 120 crore exclusively for infrastructure. Although it was commissioned on December 5, 2020, the development remains ongoing.

The Government has acknowledged that approximately 80% of the SCI Kashmir is currently functional through manpower deployed from the main SKIMS Soura hospital. It said that a proposal for dedicated staff, including doctors, nursing, paramedical, technical, and supportive roles is under active consideration by the government. “It will be modeled after the State Cancer Institute in Jammu,” the Government said.

In order to manage the growing patient load and reduce waiting times, the government has said it was actively expanding services. It has provided “substantial rise in PET scans at SKIMS, from 1,410 in 2024 to 2,250 in 2025” as evidence of the expansion.

It has also said that GMC Srinagar is providing comprehensive cancer treatments, including therapies, surgeries, and essential tests like MRI, CT, and USG. The administrative approval for procuring a new PET Scan machine for GMC Srinagar at an estimated cost of Rs. 16.00 crore through the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) has been applauded as a step to mitigate suffering of cancer patients.