Srinagar, Dec 02: After four years, People’s Democratic Party leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, accused in a terror conspiracy case, was granted permission to travel within the country by the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on Tuesday.

Para was granted bail by a division bench of the High Court in May 2022 on a surety of Rs 1 lakh with directions to be present before the investigating officer as and when required, and to surrender his passport and not leave the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir without the prior permission of the trial court.

Para had moved an application for allowing relaxation of the condition for travel outside Jammu and Kashmir.

On Tuesday, a bench comprising Justices Vinod Chatterji Koul and Sanjeev Kumar allowed him to travel within the country after informing the trial court.

“…the petitioner (Para) shall be entitled to leave the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and move within the country after intimating his location and purpose of visit to the trial court,” the High Court said in its two-page order.

Advocate Shariq J Reyaz submitted before the court that Para was an MLA and has to move out of the Union Territory time and again in connection with his official and other duties, and this bail condition is creating a lot of hardship and inconvenience to him.

The court said in its order that “…we are of the considered opinion that it would be in the interest of justice to modify the condition…”

Para was arrested by the NIA in November 2020 in connection with a case for allegedly supporting the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit, a charge denied by the PDP, which had termed his arrest as “politically motivated”.

He got bail in January 2021, but before he could walk out of jail, the Jammu and Kashmir police arrested him.

While granting him bail in 2022, the High Court had said that the evidence assembled by the investigating agency and relied upon by the prosecution to prosecute him “is too sketchy to be believed prima facie true”.

Srinagar, Dec 02, KDC: Foreign medical graduates in Jammu and Kashmir are currently facing prolonged delays in obtaining the provisional registration certificates required to begin their Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship (CRMI).

According to the affected candidates, the delay has been attributed to the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Council (JKMC), leaving 173 qualified individuals unable to commence their practical training despite completing all other required formalities.

The graduates said that the difficulties began following a JKMC notification issued on October 1, 2025, which invited online applications for the CRMI.

“Following the release of a provisional merit list on October 30 and a final list on November 7, a condition was applied stating that all seat allocations required approval from the Health and Medical Education Department,” they said.

According to the candidates, while the government acknowledged that the JKMC submitted the approval request on October 17, the file reportedly saw little progress for several weeks.

“Approval was finally granted on November 26, nearly 40 days later, which the graduates claim was secured only after persistent follow-ups on their part. Even after this clearance, the provisional registration certificates have not yet been issued, preventing the graduates from joining internships across government medical colleges and affiliated institutions,” they said.

The students described the delay as “mentally draining” following years of preparation for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE). They said that other states, such as Jharkhand and Uttarakhand, have already commenced their internship batches, placing the J&K candidates at an academic disadvantage.

The affected graduates have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, the Health Minister, and the Chief Secretary, urging intervention to expedite the registration process and prevent further academic setbacks, reported news agency Kashmir Dot Com.

According to the graduates, the JKMC, in response, has stated that it will issue the provisional registration certificates once the comprehensive verification of each candidate’s academic and professional credentials is complete.

As per the students, this process involves confirming Class 10 and 12 certificates with the Board of School Education, checking the Eligibility Certificate with the National Medical Commission, validating FMGE results with the National Board of Examinations, and authenticating foreign degree certificates and marks cards through the respective embassies and high commissions in New Delhi. (KDC)

Baramulla, Dec 1: A choked drain at Kanispora on the Srinagar–Baramulla highway has turned into a serious hazard, with rainwater overflowing onto the road and posing grave risks to commuters and residents.

Residents say the constant flow of drain water onto the highway has narrowed the motorable stretch, making the area prone to accidents. They describe the situation as a “death trap.”

“The accumulated water reduces the space for vehicles. Drivers often swerve to avoid the water, causing their vehicles to tilt, which has led to many accidents—some of them fatal,” said Bashir Ahmad of Kanispora.

Ahmad said Kanispora is a residential area on both sides of the highway, yet the choked drain continues to be ignored by the authorities, even though officials pass through the stretch daily during travel between Baramulla and Srinagar.

Musharaf Bhat, another resident, said the problem has persisted for more than five years despite repeated pleas. “Crossing the highway has become extremely difficult for locals, especially students. Several mishaps in the past have resulted in fatalities,” he said.

Locals also highlight that Kanispora lies on uneven terrain, with one side of the highway at a higher elevation. As a result, the overflowing drain water moves into the low-lying residential areas, causing further hardship.

“The water flows straight into our colony, creating huge problems for us. No one is listening. We appeal to the LG administration to intervene immediately and address this long-pending issue,” said Harminder Singh, a resident.

Residents say the continued neglect of the choked drain is not just an inconvenience but a serious threat to public safety that demands urgent attention.

Pulwama, Dec 02: In its persistent drive against drug trafficking, Pulwama Police recovered a significant quantity of contraband during a naka checking operation at Koil Pulwama near the bridge, police said.

A police spokesperson said in a statement that a police team from Police Station Pulwama intercepted a suspect and recovered 1.190 kilograms of an alleged charas powder-like substance from his possession.

Police identified the accused as Tariq Ahmad Rather, son of Mohd Sabir Rather, resident of Lajoora Pulwama.

A case has been registered at Police Station Pulwama under FIR No. 279/2025, invoking Sections 8 and 20 of the NDPS Act, with investigations underway.

Pulwama Police reaffirm its commitment to curb drug trafficking and requests citizens to cooperate by sharing any information related to drug peddling or other unlawful activities to help safeguard the community.