The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir administration has notified a consolidated framework for payment of ex-gratia relief to civilians, security personnel, government employees and others affected by law-and-order disturbances, with compensation ranging from ₹500 for minor injuries to ₹25 lakh for the death of a J&K domicile defence or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.

According to the news agency KNO, the General Administration Department (GAD), in an order, superseded its earlier order dated December 3, 2025, and issued revised guidelines for sanctioning relief under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme.

Relief for civilians

Under the new framework, the next of kin of a civilian killed in circumstances covered under the order will be eligible for ₹1 lakh. The same amount will be provided in cases involving deaths on the International Border (IB) or Line of Control (LoC), as well as surrendered militants and militants who had turned informers.

Ex-gratia relief has been fixed at ₹75,000 for permanent disability, ₹5,000 for injuries requiring hospitalisation for more than 24 hours, ₹1,000 for hospitalisation of less than 24 hours, and ₹500 for minor injuries.

The order clarifies that relief for persons other than government employees will be admissible only when victims were not directly or indirectly involved in actual violence or its instigation and were killed, disabled or injured innocently.

Relief for police, defence and CAPF personnel

For police personnel, ex-gratia compensation for death has been fixed at ₹5 lakh, including in the case of Special Police Officers (SPOs). The death of an ex-serviceman will attract ₹2 lakh, while permanent and partial disability will be compensated with ₹75,000 and ₹10,000, respectively.

Police personnel killed or completely or partially disabled in militancy-related incidents while on duly sanctioned leave will also be eligible for relief under the applicable provisions.

For defence personnel and CAPFs, the government has prescribed ₹5 lakh for a non-domicile killed in J&K, while the death of a J&K domicile personnel will attract ₹25 lakh, irrespective of whether the death occurs within or outside the Union Territory. Permanent disability of such personnel in J&K will attract ₹75,000, while partial disability will be compensated with ₹10,000.

Relief for government employees

The administration has also prescribed separate relief for government employees other than police personnel. The next of kin of a magistrate killed in circumstances covered under the order will receive ₹2 lakh, while the death of other government employees will attract ₹1 lakh.

Permanent disability will qualify for ₹75,000, while serious injuries requiring hospitalisation for more than 24 hours will attract ₹5,000. Injuries requiring hospitalisation for less than 24 hours will qualify for ₹1,000, and minor injuries for ₹500.

Provisions for missing persons

The order also provides for cases where there is no direct or conclusive evidence of death but a person is reported missing or the body has not been identified.

In such cases, relief may be sanctioned after a personal inquiry by the District Magistrate into the circumstances in which the person's death can reasonably be presumed to have occurred. The recipient will have to furnish an indemnity bond and surety bond undertaking to refund the relief if subsequent evidence establishes that the person had not died.

Property damage compensation

The administration has further laid down provisions for compensation for property damaged during counter-terrorism operations.

For damage to movable and immovable property caused during counter-terrorism operations undertaken by CAPFs or the Army, relief will be capped at ₹10 lakh or the actual assessed loss, whichever is less, subject to verification by the District Level Screening Committee. Of this amount, the ceiling has been fixed at ₹7 lakh for immovable property and ₹3 lakh for movable property.

For damage caused by shelling or firing from across the IB or LoC, relief will be 50 per cent of the assessed loss or ₹1 lakh, whichever is less. In cases of damage to immovable property caused by a bomb blast or other act of sabotage, relief will similarly be limited to 50 per cent of the assessed loss or ₹1 lakh, whichever is less.

Sanctioning authority

The Deputy Commissioner concerned will sanction relief for eligible persons other than police personnel, while relief for police personnel will be sanctioned by the Director General of Police. Cases involving defence personnel and CAPFs will be sanctioned by the Government's Home Department.

A person aggrieved by the Deputy Commissioner's assessment of damage to immovable property may appeal before the concerned Divisional Commissioner within 30 days from the date of the order, the government said.

SRINAGAR — The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), in collaboration with SKIMS Soura and SKIMS MCH, Bemina, organised an awareness and screening programme on Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS/PMOS) at the University's main campus.

The programme was organised by the University Health Centre in association with the Offices of the Dean of Students and Dean Outreach, IUST, with a focus on raising awareness about the condition and promoting holistic management.

Chief Guest Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister of J&K, attended the programme. Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo, Vice Chancellor, IUST, was the Chief Patron, while Prof. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, Director, SKIMS Soura, and Prof. Fazul ul Qadir, Principal, SKIMS MCH, Bemina, were the Guests of Honour.

Addresses by dignitaries

Wani appreciated IUST for consistently taking up issues of public concern and called for a change in how PCOS/PMOS is perceived and discussed in society. He also expressed hope that IUST would establish a medical college in the future, acknowledging its achievements in health sciences and nursing education, and expressed the aspiration that IUST would one day emerge as "Kashmir's Stanford."

Romshoo called for making health-awareness programmes a regular feature of educational institutions. Referring to the University's student clubs and expanding School of Health Sciences, including its nursing colleges and other centres, he stressed the importance of creating more platforms for health awareness and community engagement.

Delivering the keynote address, Ganie highlighted key milestones in the history of research on PCOS/PMOS and emphasised the need for a stronger research base. He noted that the terminology surrounding the condition continues to evolve and drew attention to the growing burden of metabolic diseases, particularly in low-income societies. He also said the underlying causes are not yet fully understood, observing that the condition involves metabolic disturbances that can affect men as well.

Prof. Shameem Ahmad Shah, Registrar, IUST, highlighted the significance of organising such programmes, particularly given the substantial number of female students at the University. He emphasised the need to strengthen institutional collaboration with SKIMS and expressed hope for a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the institutions.

Dr. (Prof.) Ashfaq-ul-Hassan, Professor and Head, Anatomy, SKIMS MCH, highlighted the importance of bringing medical experts and students together for meaningful discussions. Qadir introduced the participating medical experts and expressed gratitude to the dignitaries and participants. Prof. Ejaz Rather, Associate Dean, Academic Registrar and former Head of Surgery, SKIMS, highlighted the strength of SKIMS in bringing multiple specialised departments under one roof and emphasised the need to further strengthen endocrinology-related services.

Technical session

The inaugural session was followed by a technical session by medical experts. Dr Anjum Malik, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, spoke on the role of gynaecology in the diagnosis, hormone regulation and management of PCOS. Prof. Farah Sameem, Professor of Dermatology, discussed the dermatological manifestations of PCOS and their diagnosis and management, while Dr Afiya Shafi, Professor and Head of Pathology, discussed the pathophysiological mechanisms and endocrine disruptions associated with the condition.

The programme concluded with a student perspective session with Dr Musharraf and Dr Sajjad Hamid, followed by an interactive question-and-answer session. The welcome address was delivered by Dr Monisa Qadri, Dean of Students, IUST, while Dr Zahida Rasool, Medical Officer, IUST, presented the vote of thanks. A screening and consultation session for female students and staff was also conducted.

PULWAMA — Pulwama Police have registered an FIR against Showkat Gayoor following a complaint alleging repeated demands for money, threats, obstruction of vehicles and harassment of a man engaged in extraction and transportation of soil for work being undertaken for Gurudwara Parbandhak, Barthana.

According to FIR No. 0145/2026, registered at Police Station Pulwama on August 10, the complainant, Mohammad Yaseen Ganie of Suthsoo BK Pora, Budgam, alleged that Gayoor had been repeatedly interfering with the work despite the complainant claiming to possess permission from the competent authorities for extraction and transportation of soil.

The FIR states that the accused allegedly demanded ₹5 lakh from the complainant and threatened to prevent him from continuing the work if the demand was not met.

Alleged obstruction at work site

The complaint further alleges that on August 8, at around 10:50 am, Gayoor reached the work site at Parigam and placed his personal vehicle in front of the complainant's vehicles, allegedly preventing them from moving.

The complainant alleged that the accused subsequently abused and threatened drivers and workers at the site and recorded videos on his mobile phone while accusing them of carrying out illegal work.

According to the complaint, when the workers questioned the alleged obstruction, the accused threatened them with action under the Public Safety Act, allegedly telling them he would "book them under PSA." The complainant further alleged that the accused had repeatedly invoked the threat of PSA action against him in an attempt to pressure him into meeting the alleged monetary demands.

Alleged prior payments

The FIR also contains an allegation that ₹54,000 had already been paid to the accused under alleged pressure. The complainant stated that ₹50,000 was paid on November 21, 2025, followed by another payment of ₹4,000 on November 22, 2025.

The complainant alleged that the payments were not voluntary and were made amid what he described as continuous threats, intimidation and obstruction of his lawful work.

Police have registered the case under Sections 126(2), 351(2), 308(2) and 308(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The FIR identifies Bashir Ahmad Dar, Assistant Sub-Inspector, as the investigating officer.

The complaint has also sought verification of the alleged payments, examination of drivers and workers present during the incidents, and investigation into whether similar demands were allegedly made from others.