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51,000 Cancer Patients in J&K; Free Medicines for BPL, AAY Beneficiaries

Srinagar, Sep 22 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir has around 51,000 cancer patients and the government is strengthening screening, early diagnosis and specialised treatment facilities across the Union Territory, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo informed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Replying to a question by MLA Mir Saifullah, Itoo said two State Cancer Institutes are functioning in J&K, one at SKIMS Soura and another at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu.

The institutes were established with financial and technical assistance from the Union Health Ministry under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), she said.

The government is working to further strengthen infrastructure, equipment, manpower and specialised oncology services at the two institutes, according to the minister.

Itoo said greater emphasis is being laid on early detection as a significant number of cancer cases are detected at advanced stages.

Screening services are being taken closer to the population through community-level and doorstep screening, with suspected cases being referred for further diagnostic evaluation and treatment, she said.

The government said gastrointestinal, lung and breast cancers constitute a significant share of reported malignancies in the region.

An Apex Committee has also been constituted to guide and formulate measures for cancer prevention and control, with the Director, SKIMS designated as the nodal officer for the coordinated response.

The mechanism is aimed at improving coordination in prevention, screening, early diagnosis, referral and treatment, the minister said.

On the financial burden of treatment, Itoo said eligible beneficiaries can avail themselves of cashless or free treatment under Ayushman Bharat at empanelled government and private healthcare institutions, subject to applicable eligibility criteria and guidelines.

Cancer medicines are also being provided free of cost to BPL and AAY beneficiaries, she said.

Poor and needy cancer patients requiring additional financial assistance can receive support under the Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor (CTMFP), subject to eligibility criteria, guidelines and availability of funds.

The minister further informed the House that cervical cancer vaccination has been started in Jammu and Kashmir.

The government is also focusing on breast and cervical cancer along with other major cancers, while expanding awareness and screening programmes, she said.

Itoo said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has held meetings on cancer and treatment facilities in J&K and assured that suggestions made by legislators for strengthening cancer-care infrastructure and services would be examined.

She urged people to participate in awareness, prevention and screening programmes and stressed the importance of timely detection and treatment.

The response was given during the ongoing session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.—(NVI)

NC MLA’s Holiday Remark Triggers BJP Protest in J&K Assembly

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Srinagar, Sep 22 (NVI) :The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed noisy scenes on Tuesday after National Conference (NC) MLA Abdul Majid Larmi demanded restoration of a holiday on Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah’s birth anniversary or cancellation of the holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.

Larmi’s remarks drew strong protests from BJP legislators, who accused the ruling party of disrupting the proceedings of the House.

“How can they talk about cancelling a holiday?” BJP MLA R S Pathania said during the protests.

BJP members also raised slogans in favour of Maharaja Hari Singh, with MLA Devyani Rana chanting, “Maharaja Hari Singh Amar Rahe”.

Amid the uproar, NC legislators Mubarak Gul and Shamima Firdous demanded restoration of the holiday on Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary.

PDP MLA Waheed Para backed the demand and also called for restoration of the Martyrs’ Day holiday.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather urged the protesting BJP members to maintain order and said the proceedings of the House would be conducted as per rules.

The BJP legislators subsequently staged a walkout from the Assembly.—(NVI)

Amid security concerns, DIG conducts extensive patrol across J&K’s Udhampur

Shivam Bakshi

Udhampur, Sep 21 (NVI) : Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma on Monday conducted an extensive foot patrol and area domination exercise across major hubs of Udhampur town amid the prevailing security scenario, officials said.

Accompanied by SSP Udhampur Amritpal Singh and other senior police officers, Sharma inspected areas including Gole Market, Lambi Gali, Salain Talab, Ramnagar Chowk, the main bus stand and Town Hall, they said.

During the patrol, the DIG interacted with shopkeepers, commuters and members of the public to assess the security situation and traffic management, while assuring citizens of a safe environment, officials said.

He directed officers to remain extra vigilant and maintain a high level of alertness, besides intensifying patrolling in crowded and vulnerable areas to prevent any anti-social or anti-national activity, they said.

The police appealed to citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious movement or objects to the nearest police station or through the emergency helpline 112.—(NVI)

J&K govt dismisses Kishtwar teacher in POCSO case

Shivam Bakshi

Srinagar, Sep 21 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has dismissed a Teacher Grade-II from service in connection with a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act involving a minor girl in Kishtwar district, officials said on Monday.

The School Education Department issued Government Order No. 388-JK(Edu) of 2026 on September 21, imposing the major penalty of dismissal from service with immediate effect under Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution, read with Rule 30(vii) of the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.

The order also disqualifies the teacher from future employment in the government service of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the order, the teacher was posted at Government Middle School, Bumalpora, Gurinalla, in Zone Inderwal of Kishtwar. He was under suspension and in judicial custody in connection with FIR No. 34/2026 registered at Chatroo police station.

The FIR was registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Sections 4, 6, 8, 10 and 17 of the POCSO Act.

The government order said the competent authority, after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and material available on record, was satisfied that the teacher’s conduct warranted imposition of a major penalty.

It said a departmental inquiry was considered “not reasonably practicable” and Article 311(2)(b) was invoked to dispense with such an inquiry.

The government said the case fell within the category of rare cases and that continuation of the teacher in government service would be detrimental to the interests of the administration and erode public trust in government institutions.—(NVI)

ONGC strikes gas in Mahanadi Basin

Officials of ONGC at its facility in Mahanadi basin

New Delhi, Sept 21 (NVI) India’s State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited today said it has struck gas in deep waters of Mahanadi Offshore Basin, which can benefit the country towards meeting the energy requirements.

The well was perforated on September 18 following evaluation of subsurface data. It is currently flowing with a good gas rate and healthy reservoir pressure, ONGC said.

MDW-28, the maiden well of ONGC’s current deepwater campaign in the Mahanadi Basin off the coast of Odisha, is flowing gas with encouraging rates and sustained reservoir pressure, it said in a statement.

The well, drilled to a target depth (TD) of 1,623 metres, recorded the gas strike at 1,441–1,452 metre interval, it said.

The well is located approximately 43 km off Konark and is the first well in the Mahanadi Basin under the campaign.
Its relative proximity to the coast offers potential for early monetisation, subject to further appraisal, and commercial evaluation, the ONGC said.
The well is flowing gas with encouraging flow and reservoir pressure for last three days.
“The discovery strengthens ONGC’s deepwater exploration programme and India’s efforts to expand its indigenous hydrocarbon resource base.
“This find, along with other discoveries in the area, can be a candidate for development through shared facilities enabled by the PNG Rules, 2025, bringing deepwater resources onstream,” it said.

 

ONGC will continue to push into deep and ultra-deepwater frontiers in the search for hydrocarbons, and towards India’s goal of energy security, it added. (NVI)

Pakistani military on losing track in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & Balochistan
This year has been the deadliest so far for the Pakistani armed forces

21 Pakistani security personnel killed in an attack on a military camp in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
Coffins of Pakistani security personnel killed in last night's attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

By Ajay Kaul

The Pakistani military, portrayed as a powerful force, has lost its grip on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Balochistan.

This is evident from the spurt in the brazen attacks on the military personnel in the two regions, in which scores of soldiers have been killed and hundreds injured.

There has been a substantial increase in frequency and intensity of attacks on Pakistani forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which is reportedly causing demoralization among the military personnel deployed in these regions.

In this month alone, so far, over 250 soldiers have been killed and more than 300 injured in scores of attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The biggest among those was the suicide attack on Police headquarters in Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on September 17, where a mosque was also situated.

The 24-hour-long assault by a group of 8 heavily-armed men left 31 personnel killed and over 150 injured. This is the official figure given by the Pakistani military. The unofficial count is said to be higher.

Two days later, a military convoy was attacked in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in which 6 soldiers were killed and several others were injured.

At least 100 soldiers were killed in scores of other attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by TTP and other groups since September 1.

In August, Wali Mehsood-led TTP alone claimed to have killed 294 Pakistani soldiers and injured 352 in 404 operations. Other factions also killed and injured many other personnel of the Pakistani forces.

In Balochistan too, more than 100 soldiers have been killed and many others injured in umpteen attacks by Baloch freedom-seeking outfits like Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and Baloch Republican Guards (BRG).

The Baloch freedom fighters have also been increasingly seizing control of various cities and towns of Balochistan from the occupying Pakistani forces, shocking and mocking the Pakistani regime.

Lately, the Baloch freedom fighters have also started disrupting the loot of Balochistan’s rich mineral resources, like Lithium, by Pakistan and its surrogate companies. The Baloch rebels have been intercepting and setting ablaze the vehicles transporting such stuff out of Balochistan.

According the data collated by a Pakistani think tank, there were 3,145 attacks in the country this year till July end.

The frequency and intensity of the attacks has grown significantly compared to the previous years.

Deadliest Year for Pakistani Forces

As per an analysis, Pakistan has been experiencing the deadliest year since 2013 in terms of attacks on its forces, with the month of July alone accounting for over 600 deaths.

According to assessment made by Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) in August, July of 2026 saw the highest monthly death toll for Pakistani security forces since 2023.

Since then, there has been further increase in frequency and intensity of attacks on Pakistani forces.

In August, Pakistani military spokesman Lt. General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said 3,145 “terrorism incidents” had been recorded since the start of this year.

Attacks consist of suicide bombings, kamikaze drones, small arms ambushes, or any combination of the three.

New Dimension

The problems for Pakistani forces are escalating as TTP is increasingly using latest weapon systems like drones and snipers against them.

In this month alone, there have been at least 20 attacks where TTP used drones to target military camps and posts, causing a lot of human and material losses to the Pakistani forces.

Many of the recent attacks audaciously target security forces at police stations, police checkpoints, and military convoys along highways.

For instance, TTP attacked a police checkpoint in Hangu district on July 30 with drones fitted with explosives, and followed it up with assault using latest assault rifles, eventually leaving 11 police officers dead.

TTP has also been extending its reach from Kyher Pakhtunkhwa in northwest to Balochistan, located in the southwest of Pakistan.

On July 6, TTP fighters ambushed a military position at the Mangi Dam project in the Ziarat district of Balochistan, killing 9 police officers and abducting 18 others.

Two days later, the abducted personnel were executed by TTP after Pakistani forces encircled them.

These brazen attacks highlight the TTP’s strategy of stretching the limits of Pakistani security forces with the aim of demoralising their personnel.

There have been reports of local police personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa quitting their job or refusing to participate in anti-TTP operations.

The Pakistan Army and paramilitary forces are hugely hated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as a result of which they face anger from the locals.

From time to time, Pakistan Army has been conducting large-scale operations against the rebel groups but those have miserably failed to produce the results the Pakistani establishment desired.

The rebel groups, particularly TTP and BLA, continue to get deadlier for the armed forces of Pakistan, who are their prime targets.

In view of this, the situation is precariously poised for Pakistan and speedily going out of its hands. (NVI)

J&K: ACB Books Grameen Bank Official Over PMEGP Irregularities

Srinagar, Sep 21 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against a former branch head of J&K Grameen Bank and a business correspondent over alleged financial irregularities and premature release of capital subsidy under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), officials said on Monday.

The FIR has been registered against Arvind Saini, the then branch head of the bank’s Reban branch in Sopore, and Firdous Ahmad Sheikh, a business correspondent, among others, for allegedly misusing their official positions and causing financial irregularities during 2021-2023, the ACB said.

According to the anti-graft agency, Saini allegedly released or reversed capital subsidy amounting to Rs 41.17 lakh in 25 PMEGP loan accounts before the expiry of the mandatory lock-in period.

The subsidy was allegedly released without the requisite authorisation or adjustment letter from the implementing agency, in violation of PMEGP operational guidelines adopted by the bank, it said.

The ACB alleged that the premature adjustment of the subsidy facilitated the unlawful closure or adjustment of the concerned loan accounts. Six of the accounts were sanctioned in favour of Sheikh and his family members and were allegedly closed prematurely through adjustment of the subsidy.

During verification, the ACB also found that business units were not existing at the time of physical verification in 46 PMEGP units financed by the branch, involving a total sanctioned and disbursed amount of Rs 1.66 crore, it said.

The agency said the findings indicated possible diversion of loan funds and subsidy and alleged that the scheme’s objective had been frustrated in connivance with the beneficiaries.

A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and relevant provisions of the IPC. Further investigation is underway, the ACB said.—(NVI)

India, Mongolia Begin Major Joint Military Exercise in Uttarakhand

New Delhi, Sep 21 (NVI): India and Mongolia on Monday commenced the 18th edition of their joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, with the two sides focusing on enhancing interoperability and operational capabilities in counter-insurgency operations.

The opening ceremony of the exercise was held at the Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh, the Army said.

The exercise is being conducted from September 21 to October 3 and aims to enhance the joint military capability of the two armies to undertake counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.

It will also facilitate the exchange of best practices, refinement of operational drills and greater interoperability between the participating forces, the Army said.

The joint exercise will include training in cordon and search operations, room intervention drills and special heliborne operations.

The troops will also undergo training in cyber security and the employment of drones and counter-drone systems, it said.

The exercise provides an opportunity for the Indian and Mongolian armies to share operational experiences and strengthen bilateral military cooperation.—(NVI)

IGP Kashmir Reviews Srinagar Security Grid, Traffic Management

Srinagar, Sep 21 (NVI) :Kashmir Police chief Sujit Kumar on Monday reviewed the security grid and traffic management arrangements in Srinagar city, directing officials to strengthen entry and exit checkpoints while ensuring smooth movement of vehicles.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, chaired a security-cum-traffic management meeting at the Police Control Room (PCR), attended by senior officers from the police, CRPF and Traffic Police.

During the meeting, officers briefed Kumar about the prevailing security situation in their respective areas and discussed measures to address gaps in the existing arrangements and improve traffic management.

The security grid and deployment of personnel across Srinagar were reviewed, with emphasis on realigning naka points wherever required to improve security coverage and reduce traffic congestion, officials said.

Kumar directed officials to implement security arrangements across intra-zone, inter-zone, inter-district and peripheral areas.

He also called for strengthening checkpoints at the entry and exit points of Srinagar and stressed seamless coordination and real-time information sharing among the Traffic Police, District Police and naka points for effective monitoring and swift response.

The IGP further emphasised greater use of technology for traffic regulation, surveillance, coordination and information sharing.

The meeting concluded with directions for continuous review and close coordination among all stakeholders, with focus on public safety and minimising inconvenience to commuters, officials said.—(NVI)

MoD Signs Major Rs 586-Crore Contract to Strengthen T-72, T-90 Tank Fleet

New Delhi, Sep 21 (NVI) : The Ministry of Defence on Monday signed a Rs 586-crore contract with Accurate Industrial Controls Pvt Ltd for procurement of indigenously developed Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for the Army’s T-72 and T-90 tanks.

The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi.

The APU serves as an alternate source of electric power for critical tank systems, including the fire control system, firing circuit and gun stabilisation system, besides other ancillary equipment, the ministry said.

The induction of indigenous APUs is expected to enhance the operational readiness, reliability and sustainability of the Army’s mechanised formations, it said.

The procurement is also aimed at promoting indigenisation of critical sub-systems used in armoured platforms and reflects the industry’s role in research and development under the Make-II category.

The ministry said the contract marks a step towards translating indigenous innovation into production and induction, in line with the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and its push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing.—(NVI)

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