Srinagar, Aug 10: The anti-terror operation in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir entered its 10th day on Sunday as security forces tried to squeeze the cordon around the terrorists.

“The operation is still in progress. The security forces are trying to close in on the positions of the hiding ultras,” an official said.

He said the terrorists seem to be highly trained in jungle warfare and are taking advantage of dense foliage to evade detection by drones.

Two Army soldiers have been killed while nine others have been injured since the encounter began on August 1 in Akhal forest area of Kulgam This is the longest anti-terror operation in Kashmir valley in recent years.

Two terrorists have also been killed in the encounter. The identity and the group affiliation of the slain terrorists have not been ascertained so far.

Senior police and Army officers, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat, and the Army’s Northern Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, are closely monitoring the operation round-the-clock, officials said.

Security forces have pressed drones and helicopters into service to track the terrorists down in the forest area. Para commandos were also assisting the security forces in neutralising the hiding ultras.

Srinagar, Aug 9: The Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), which runs the De-Addiction and Treatment Centre (DTDC) at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar every day, sees a beeline of people who have taken the bold step of getting treated for addiction, rather than letting drugs destroy their lives and families.

The stories of de-addiction are more than what the numbers show.

For Mustafa (name changed), the centre has become the saviour, the kind that saved his life.

Mustafa had lost his business, his family’s valuables, including a car and his wife’s ornaments to his heroin addiction.

When he saw his family crumbling under his addiction, and the day he did not have money to take his son to a doctor, he decided to get admitted to the centre.

He remained admitted for over a month in March this year, and now visits every week for a follow-up.

“I am on regular treatment and counselling and have changed my residence to remain away from the bad influence that destroyed my life,” he says, his three-year-old son and wife accompanying him.

Such stories of triumph and determination are written every day by people addicted to drugs and stepping forward to get treated.

With 9000 patients currently enrolled for addiction treatment, IMHANS Kashmir is the cornerstone of recovery in the drug-ravaged Kashmir.

In 2023, the institute recorded 55,443 visits for addiction treatment, with each of the enrolled visitors visiting multiple times for regular, successful assistance to a drug-free life.

In 2024, a total of just over 80,000 visits were recorded.

During the first six months of this year, 32,638 follow-up visits were recorded at the facility.

The new patients do not flood the hospital, but trickle steadily.

Every day, 7 to 10 people enter the doors of the facility, traverse the beelines of patients, and stand in front of the doctor, their fears and hopes interplaying.

In-Charge DTDC, Dr Yasir Hussain Rather, said addiction treatment was a protracted one, and requires immense will power from the patient, a support system, and a qualified team to make the journey successful.

“It is a battle fought on many fronts,” he said.

Certified De-Addiction Specialist at IMHANS, Dr Fazl-e-Roub, said that it was important that people follow the right and approved de-addiction treatments from a centre that is approved by the government.

He said many people seek treatment from places that have no expertise in treating addiction.

“Such practices only worsen the outcomes,” he said.

With the number of people addicted to drugs estimated to be over 10 lakh as per government sources, the number of people seeking treatment is minuscule. However, doctors believe the numbers are rising every year, as the optimism about getting treated spreads among the users.

Srinagar, Aug 9: The School Education Department (SED) has started mass Parent Teacher Meeting (PTM) in government schools in a bid to regain missing public ownership for the schools. As per the officials, the PTMs will bridge the missing link between the schools and the parents and will ensure proper communication with the stakeholders.

In this regard, circular instructions have been issued by the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) to all the CEOs to ensure PTMs are organised at Cluster level throughout Kashmir. “To further strengthen community involvement in education and foster a vibrant school environment, mass Parent Teacher Meeting will be organised at the cluster level from August 9 of 2025,” reads a circular issued by Director School Education Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Itoo.

The initiative aims to facilitate broader engagement between parents and teachers, discuss student progress, and collectively address areas for improvement. In this regard, the Cluster Heads and Head of Institutions have been directed to undertake meticulous advance planning in consultation with the relevant stakeholders including School Management Committee (SMC).

“The focus should be on making the PTM an outcome-based event, ensuring meaningful interactions and actionable feedback.

The Directorate has decided to reward the best performing cluster in organising the Mass PTM. Besides PTMs, the department has also decided to celebrate Alumni Day at Cluster level.

“All Higher Secondary Schools (HSS) will observe Alumni Day on September 5,2025. This day provides an excellent opportunity to reconnect with former students, celebrate their achievements, and harness their experience for the benefit of current students.” the circular reads.

As per the circular instructions, schools have been asked to consider combining their Alumni day celebration with the Alumni meet to a more integrated and grand event.

“Heads of the schools and cluster heads must plan these events comprehensively, involving stakeholders and SMCs to ensure their success and impact,” it reads.

The initiative comes at a time when the government run schools lack the community involvement due to which the schools lack the public ownership.

“The aim of PTM used to be a routine matter but it doesn’t happen in schools these days. So the department has again taken this initiative to regain public involvement so that the parents whose kids are enrolled in the schools, become part of the institutions,” Joint Director (north) education, Hakeem Tanveer Ahmad told Greater Kashmir.

He said besides parents, other stakeholders should also become part of the PTMs which will do away with the trust deficit prevailing within the system.

“We hope that the parents and other stakeholders will show their ownership towards the schools and make PTM a successful initiative,” he said.