The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir administration has imposed restrictions on goods carriers along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) on October 31 and November 1 to facilitate the movement of Secretariat employees relocating from Srinagar to Jammu, officials said on Thursday.

A senior traffic officer told news agency KNS that the upward movement of heavy and medium motor vehicles (HMVs/MMVs), including goods carriers, from Jakheni in Udhampur towards Srinagar will not be allowed on Saturday and Sunday.

The officer said goods carriers will also be barred from proceeding from Jakheni towards Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar, and from Qazigund towards Banihal, Ramban and Udhampur after 2 am on October 31 and November 1.

However, heavy motor vehicles travelling downwards from Qazigund towards Jammu will be allowed to move in a regulated manner, the officer said.

Officials have advised operators of goods carriers, including heavy and light motor vehicles transporting fresh and perishable goods and livestock, to load their vehicles accordingly and plan their movement in view of the restrictions.

JAMMU — The Special Crime Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has filed chargesheets in eight cases involving the alleged unauthorised stay of Pakistani nationals in four districts of the Jammu division, bringing 65 people on record, including 15 who died before the chargesheets were filed.

According to officials, the cases concern Pakistani nationals, including residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who entered India on valid travel documents from the late 1970s onwards but allegedly continued to reside in the country beyond their authorised period of stay.

The investigations covered Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri and Kathua districts.

The Crime Branch alleged that some individuals obtained Indian identity documents by concealing their foreign nationality, while others allegedly secured government employment using forged documents.

The investigation was conducted by a Special Investigation Team following the registration of FIR No. 16/2024 at the Special Crime Wing police station.

Indian spouses, family members and other individuals allegedly involved in the cases have also been named in the chargesheets, officials said.

Of the 65 people named in the proceedings, 50 are living accused who have been charge-sheeted, while the involvement of 15 deceased persons was recorded in the proceedings.

The cases are now before the competent courts.

KUPWARA — Postgraduate resident doctors at Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara staged a peaceful protest demanding an increase in their stipends, citing a disparity between their payments and those received by postgraduate residents in other states.

“If PG residents in other states are receiving more than ₹1 lakh, why are we being paid significantly less?” the protesting doctors asked, urging the government to address their concerns.

The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) extended its support to the protesting residents, calling for equitable stipends for postgraduate doctors across Jammu and Kashmir.

AIMSA president Dr Mohammad Momin Khan urged the government to address the doctors’ demands without further delay.

He warned that postgraduate residents from other government medical colleges in the Union Territory could join the agitation if the issue remained unresolved.

AIMSA said it would continue to support the residents’ demand for fair stipends, citing their responsibilities and contribution to the healthcare system.