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  • In Lala Sheikh’s Demise, An Era Ended

    In Lala Sheikh’s Demise, An Era Ended

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    by Raashid Andrabi

    SRINAGAR: The historic Hotel Lala Sheikh on Residency Road in Srinagar may be small and unassuming, but it serves up more than just a fine cup of tea. Lala Sheikh, the face behind this historical tea shop on Wednesday lost his life to cardiac arrest.

    With a history that spans over 133 years, this quaint tea shop survived as a cultural icon that has stood the test of time. Despite the challenges of time and family divisions among its inheritors, Hotel Lala Sheikh remains the preferred choice for all seeking a taste of history and a delicious cup of tea.

    The shop has a huge history envisaging migration of a worker from city periphery and making it big within Srinagar at a time when situations and system were not supportive of a “start-up”.

    Lala Mohammad Sheikh, a young man from the Budgam village of Handjan, founded the shop and quickly gained a reputation for its bakery items. Presently, fourth generation of Lala Sheikh that include three brothers namely Sheikh Altaf, Sheikh Javeed and Sheikh Mehboob Ali are running the shop.

    The bakery was very popular for its pastries and chicken patties, with many people visiting the shop, especially during the time when an English Resident lived at the Residency – now the Emporium Garden. It was this residency that made the road Residency Road. Politicians and foreigners also used to visit the shop to taste the bakery items. Lala has been serving customers since 1890 and has become region’s iconic restaurant.

    WhatsApp Image 2023 05 10 at 3.17.37 PM

    Besides, serving delicious patties and fine tea, the restaurant has witnessed some of the fiercest literary, political and journalistic discussions in Kashmir. The cafe’s history and popularity have made it a must-visit destination for those who want to learn about Kashmir’s oldest tea room.

    According to popular belief, the likes of Dina Nath Nadim, Bansi Nirdosh, Mirza Arif, Akhtar Mohiuddin, Amin Kamil, Pran Jalal, and other notable writers would congregate at Lala Sheikh in the evenings, engaging in discussions on poetry and politics while sipping endless cups of tea. Sometimes, these conversations would continue until past midnight.

    Additionally, due to its proximity to the Doordarshan TV station and Radio Kashmir, famous singers such as Raj Begum and Ghulam Ahmed Sofi, as well as prominent broadcasters like Makhan Lal Saraf and Prana Shunglu, would frequent the establishment in the evenings.

    Kashmir’s noted raconteur Zareef Ahmed Zareef attributes cafe’s success to the dedication and passion of its founder, Lala Sheikh. “This place always served pure food and that too with love. As I worked around that shop only, I used to regularly visit the shop. Lala never compromised on the quality of food” Zareef recalls. “They maintained their fame till today with its food filled with love.

    Zareef said he was particularly fond of the restaurant’s tea and butter toast, which he describes as unmatched in their flavour and texture.

    While the restaurant may have changed in some ways over the years, its commitment to serving delicious food with a side of history remains as strong as ever.

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    #Lala #Sheikhs #Demise #Era #Ended

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Kashmir’s AIIMS Scientist Leads Major Cancer Breakthrough

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    by Faiqa Masoodi

    SRINAGAR: In a major breakthrough, a Kashmiri scientist along with a group of European scientists has discovered a new potential drug for the treatment of metastatic hypoxic cancers. The drug is currently in an advanced stage of further investigations post-animal trials.

    Dr Musadir Nabi Peerzada
    Dr Musadir Nabi Peerzada (AIIMS)

    Hailing from Muqami Shahwali in Kupwara’s Drugmulla belt, Dr Mudasir Nabi Peerzada led a team of eminent European scientists and co-workers to discover a new drug for the treatment of various metastatic hypoxic cancers.

    Dr Peerzada who is currently working as a C-Level scientist at AIIMS New Delhi, has completed his postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Pathology. He was awarded a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of health research, Government of India.

    The discovery is believed to help in silencing the HIF-1 factor-controlled human CAIX and CAXII activity in cancerous cells. The hCAIX and hCAXII are overexpressed in the renal, pancreatic, gut, oral, brain, lung, and ovarian cancers, therefore the drug could be significant in treating multiple cancers with greater efficacy.

    Dr Mudasir said that he and his team strenuous efforts for many years to make this path-breaking discovery. The drug has shown satisfactory results in various tumour models and is currently undergoing advanced investigations.

    “This discovery took us years of tests and trials. We tested it on animals before going ahead,” Dr Peerzada said, adding that the drug is undergoing advanced clinical trials for further investigation.

    The study was published in ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters entitled Discovery of Novel Hydroxyimine-Tethered Benzenesulfonamides as Potential Human Carbonic Anhydrase IX/XII Inhibitors was published on May 8, 2023.

    He said that the new findings are remarkable in curing hypoxic cancers and will be a boon for cancer-related research.

    The other scientists who are part of this invention include Dr Alessandro Bonardi, Dr Niccolò Paoletti, Dr Daniela Vullo, Dr Paola Gratteri, Dr Claudiu T Supuran, and Dr Amir Azam

    Dr Peerzada is working on the development of anti-cancer therapeutics discovery taking into account the ATP binding site of kinases, hCAIX, hCAXII activity, cycle arrest at the G2/M phase of mitosis, prevention of HER2 dimerisation to deregulate PI3K/AKT and MAPK cell signalling pathways.

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    #Kashmirs #AIIMS #Scientist #Leads #Major #Cancer #Breakthrough

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • KPDCL Negligence Turns Fatal In Two Cases

    KPDCL Negligence Turns Fatal In Two Cases

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    by Babra Wani

    SRINAGAR: The Kashmir power distribution corporation limited Kashmir (KPDCL) is making headlines again, though for all the wrong reasons.

    The recent incidents of Soura (Srinagar) and Lidroo, (Pahalgam) resulted in two deaths and raised some serious questions on the corporation’s ground zero operations. While the corporation is working on installing smart meters in some areas, people from other areas are crying to the authorities for their pleas to be heard.

    Soura Incident

    In the Mir Mohalla, Awanta Bhawan, Soura area, which is located in the city outskirts a man lost his life to the negligence of the power department, the residents of the area alleged. The residents told local media that the power department had snapped the electric connection in the locality after some residents protested against the installation of smart meters.

    Residents said the deceased man was on oxygen support and the snapping of power lines disrupted the air supply.

    The residents alleged that the man, Muhammad Aslam Mir, was on oxygen concentrator support, and passed away due to the lack of oxygen supply when the power department snapped the electricity to the area after protests against installation of smart meters.

    The locals have protesting against the KPDCL and are seeking action against the officials who snapped the power supply.

    “My sympathies are with the family, if there was any such medical emergency, there should have been necessary alternatives or arrangements made,” a senior KPDCL official said. “Yes, the electricity was snapped to the area as the people did not allow the installation of smart meters.”

    Lidroo incident

    Located in South Kashmir’s Anantnag, residents of a small village Lidroo started panicking when a high-tension wire fell on a cow shed. The incident left four people injured among which one Mehraj ud din Reshi, a resident of nearby village Virsaran, succumbed to his injuries.

    The injured were identified as Mubeena Bano wife of Sajad Ahmed Bhat, Naseema Bano wife of Nazir Ahmed Bhat and Nayeem Ahmed Bhat son of Sajad Ahmed Bhat all residents of Lidroo.

    The injured were shifted to District Hospital Anantnag in Janglat Mandi where the two women were discharged yesterday and Nayeem who is a student is still undergoing treatment for his injuries. He has suffered some serious injuries and burns to his face. The doctors have asked him to consult plastic surgeons in SKIMS Soura for further treatment.

    The villagers of Lidroo told this reporter that the wire was hanging for the past twenty years. According to village elders they had time and again requested the authorities to change the location of the power transformer, which is located on the roadside as there were houses nearby and people and cattle often pass by it, but their pleas were not heard.

    Recalling the incident the residents said that the high-tension wire passed over the top of the cowshed. The wire somehow came in contact with the cow shed which resulted in a fire. And that is when the unfortunate incident took place. Eye witnesses said that when the fire broke out in the shed, the deceased Mehraj went to extinguish it but got stuck. The two women and the young student went to save him and got injured in the process. All four of them were immediately taken to the hospital where Mehraj lost his life.

    The residents have requested the authorities to take the matter seriously, “For the sake of the Almighty kindly relocate the electric transformer and fix the electric poles, so that no other such incident takes place,” a local Farooq Ahmed on behalf of the residents said.

    A KPDCL official stated that the concerned authorities are unavailable at the moment and will be able to talk after a few days.

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    #KPDCL #Negligence #Turns #Fatal #Cases

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Army Likely To Use ‘Jet Packs’ For Aerial Surveillance On Borders

    Army Likely To Use ‘Jet Packs’ For Aerial Surveillance On Borders

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    by Insha Shirazi

    SRINAGAR: The Indian Army is gearing up to turn their soldiers into real-life ‘Iron Man’ with the help of jet pack suits that will provide them with enhanced surveillance capabilities at the country’s borders with China and Pakistan, as well as in the conflict ridden region of Jammu and Kashmir, The EurAsian Times reported.

    These suits are propelled by engines running on gas or liquid fuel and can carry a person weighing at least 80 kilograms while flying at a speed of at least 50 kilometers per hour for a minimum of eight minutes. The Indian Army recently got a demonstration of the technology from the UK-based company, Gravity Industries, owned by ex-marine and innovator Richard Browning.

    Quoting an Indian Army official, The EurAsian Times reported that the jet pack suits are coming as an aerial surveillance platform, and their effectiveness will vary depending on the terrain, wind factor, and vegetation. However, the army is also exploring the possibility of equipping soldiers with infrared goggles to scan through thick vegetation to identify enemy combatants.

    The Indian Army’s requirements for the purchase specify that the equipment should be suitable for desert, marine, and mountain warfare. Military strategists are also considering the use of jet pack suits as another significant disruptor in the tactical battle space, similar to drone technology on the battlefield.

    The technology can be used as a force multiplier to counter terrorists in urban and semi-urban settings. According to Gravity Industries, the military version of the jet suit is powered by five gas turbine engines that generate more than 1,000 horsepower and produce 144 kilograms of thrust, allowing vertical lift of up to 12,000 feet.

    The Indian Navy’s marine commando (MARCOS) also sees potential in the jet pack suits as a mode of insertion, allowing soldiers to gain vantage points for reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, or placing a sniper. Additionally, the suits can be used for quick exhilaration.

    The UK’s Royal Navy and the US Marine Corps already use these jet pack suits in various limited roles. The Indian Army’s interest in this innovative technology comes in the backdrop of skirmishes with the People’s Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control between India and China.



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    #Army #Jet #Packs #Aerial #Surveillance #Borders

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • India’s Minimum Import Price For Apples Saves Kashmir’s Orchard Owners

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    by Raashid Andrabi

    SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s apple growers can finally take a deep breath of relief as the Indian government has implemented a Minimum Import Price (MIP) for apples, which puts an end to the influx of cheap imports from Iran and Afghanistan.

    This policy mandates that any apple costing less than Rs 50 per kilogram cannot be imported, providing a much-needed boost to the local apple industry. With over 35 lakh people, both directly and indirectly, depending on the apple industry for their livelihood, the move is expected to have a significant impact on the Kashmiri economy, which currently accounts for around 8% of the country’s GDP.

    The announcement of this decision was received with open arms by the Kashmiri apple growers, who have been struggling for years with declining prices due to the cheap import of apples from neighbouring countries. The drop in apple pricing caused losses for local producers, leading to many switching their apple orchards for non-agricultural purposes. The new policy is expected to ensure that the local apple industry obtains a higher market share.

    According to Majid Aslam Wafai, President of JKPICCA, “We have been lobbying for this for a long time, and we hope that this measure will protect farmers whose input costs for growing apples have gone up manifold in recent years.” He further added, “We will have a stable price now during the harvest season, beforehand the Iranian apples were sold at lesser prices here which impacted us.”

    The MIP is an import price ceiling that safeguards the interests of the country’s apple growers. The import policy remains “Free” for those apples costing above Rs 50 per kilogram. However, an exception has been made for India’s neighbour Bhutan, which has been kept out of the new restrictions.

    This decision by the Indian government is expected to have a significant impact on the Kashmiri economy. In Jammu and Kashmir, over 3.37 lakh hectares of land is being used for the production of fresh and dry fruits, and more area is added each year. Apples are grown on 1.68 lakh hectares of land, accounting for a significant portion of the region’s horticultural industry. Pears are cultivated on 14,161 hectares of land in the Valley.

    The move is expected to safeguard the interests of local apple growers and ensure that the industry obtains a higher market share. The local farmers, who have been eagerly awaiting such a decision, are now optimistic about the future of the apple industry. One such farmer, Shabir Ahmad, said, “This decision has come as a huge relief for us. We were struggling to compete with the cheap imports from Iran and Afghanistan. Now, we can expect a fair price for our produce.”

    The decision to impose an MIP for apples is a welcome move, particularly for the small-scale apple growers in the region. Many of these farmers have been struggling to make ends meet due to the lack of a proper support system. The new policy is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the local apple industry, which has been facing tough competition from cheap imports from neighbouring countries.

    The Kashmiri apple industry has been a significant contributor to the region’s economy for decades. The implementation of this new policy is expected to help this industry regain its position as one of the leading horticultural industries in the country. It is also expected to provide a much-needed source of income for the local farmers who depend on the industry for their livelihood.

    Overall, the decision to implement an MIP for apples is a positive step towards supporting the local apple industry in Kashmir. With this new policy in place, local farmers can finally breathe a sigh of relief and hope for a better future.

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    #Indias #Minimum #Import #Price #Apples #Saves #Kashmirs #Orchard #Owners

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • What Is Happening In Manipur?

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    by Syed Shadab Ali Gillani

    SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the centre and the state of Manipur to take the required actions to improve security and provide aid and rehabilitation to those affected by ethnic violence in the northeastern state. Besides, the apex court asked the Centre and the Manipur government to file a status report in ten days and posted the matter for hearing on May 17.

    Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said the top court is concerned deeply about the loss of life and property because of the violence in the state. “Our immediate goal is to protect, rescue, and rehabilitate people,” the Supreme Court observed, asking the Centre and the state government for information on relief camps. “They must be returned to their homes safely and religious sites must also be safeguarded.”

    Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General, represented both the Centre and the Manipur government. He notified the Supreme Court panel of the efforts the government had taken to address the violence. He informed the court that 52 companies of the Central Armed Police Force, as well as Army and Assam Rifles contingents, had been deployed in the conflict zones.

    Mehta told the division bench, which also included Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala, that flag marches and peace meetings are being organised in areas of violence.  The Supreme Court ordered that all necessary steps be made to rehabilitate people who had been displaced.

    Earlier, clashes have erupted between Meiteis, the predominant community in Imphal valley with over 53 per cent of the entire state population, and tribal populations, particularly Kukis, who live in the hill regions, since Wednesday. The plan to add Meiteis to the scheduled tribal category was the direct cause of the violence.

    More than 50 people have reportedly been killed in violent clashes between the tribals living in the Manipur hills and the majority Meitei community residing in the Imphal Valley over the latter’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. More than 23,000 people have been rescued and sheltered in military garrisons and relief camps, Orissa Post reported.

    Shashi Tharoor, the senior Congress politician, took to Twitter to condemn the BJP government over the violence in Manipur. “As the Manipur violence persists, all right-thinking Indians must ask themselves what happened to the much-vaunted good governance we had been promised. The voters of Manipur are feeling grossly betrayed just a year after putting the BJP in power in their state. It’s time for President’s Rule; the state Govt is just not up to the job they were elected to do,” Tharoor tweeted.

    Earlier today Assam Rifles tweeted that, “Modi Battalion of #AssamRifles on 07 May, organised an interaction programme for the community leaders of Kuki and Meitei & CSOs of Pallel. The focus was to come together and maintain peace & tranquillity in the times when Manipur state has seen unprecedented violence.”



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    #Happening #Manipur

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Tourist Hotspot Gulmarg Hit by Alarming Surge in Fraud and Counterfeit Tickets

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    by Syed Shadab Ali Gillani

    SRINAGAR: In the Kashmir division of the UT, cases of cybercrime and online fraud have been surging with great intensity, causing distress to not only individuals but also organizations and sectors.

    In a shocking incident, 11 tourists from Gujarat were apprehended in Gulmarg, the globally acclaimed ski resort located in North Kashmir, as they attempted to sneak through the cableway Gondola using counterfeit and altered tickets.

    The authorities were previously stunned when they caught 28 tourists from Mumbai in April, who were found with bogus Gondola tickets in Gulmarg. It was later revealed that these tourists were provided with fake tickets by their tour operator in Mumbai.

    In an official statement, a spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) said that the ticket scanning team of Gulmarg Gondola Project caught a group of 28 passengers from Mumbai at the scanning point of Gulmarg Gondola station. “These passengers were carrying edited fake tickets through their tour Manager Makrand Anand Ghanekar S/o Anand Ghanekar of Mumbai,” reads the statement.

    Miscreants sell fake Gondola tickets aiming to ruin the reputation of the tourist site, affecting citizens involved in Gulmarg tourism. Locals now want the ticketing system converted back to offline mode to limit illegal sales.

    President Guide Association Gulmarg, Manzoor Lone, said that online tickets affected 80 percent of the livelihood of tourist guides in Gulmarg. Lone said that online ticketing has hampered their ability to support themselves. People working as tourist guides in Gulmarg and at ticket counters, who were accommodated by offline ticketing, are now facing the consequences.

    “Earlier we used to have 30% of the quota, but when the system was switched to online mode, the quotas were removed, which resulted in many problems,” he claimed, “that when the system was converted to online one, we were not taken into account.”

    Presently, there are 918 people who are all enrolled members of the Gulmarg Guide Association. “As of now, offline ticketing is also happening, although Gulmarg officials have been referring to it as VIP quota. There are 400 offline ticket reservations. Due to their inability to cope up with the situation and make a living out of it, some guides have been compelled to engage in black marketing of tickets, though we are against them and don’t support such acts,” stated Lone.

    Manzoor claimed that though this issue has been discussed with the higher authorities of the J&K UT, no action was taken.

    A tourist guide, on grounds of anonymity, said, “I and many other guides like me, we are facing the brunt of the online ticketing system, and we want the government to look into this matter as soon as possible.”

    Despite multiple calls, Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, CEO of the Gulmarg Development Authority and Managing Director of the JK Cable Car Corporation, did not respond.

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    #Tourist #Hotspot #Gulmarg #Hit #Alarming #Surge #Fraud #Counterfeit #Tickets

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Rampant Dog Attacks In Kashmir Cause Alarm And Psychological Distress, Children Being The Most Vulnerable

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    by Syed Shadab Ali Gillani

    SRINAGAR: A little girl’s playful afternoon turned into a nightmare when she was viciously attacked by a group of stray dogs in the south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. In her desperate attempt to escape, she fell into the water and suffered life-threatening injuries. She was shifted to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SHMS) Hospital where she is battling for her life.

    Dr Salim Khan, the head of Community Medicine at GMC Srinagar, took to Twitter to express his sorrow regarding the recent dog attack. He wrote, “Another dog-bite victim, a 7-year-old girl from Kulgam under intensive care at Children Hospital Srinagar, having septicemia as she fell in water while running away from attacking stray dogs.”

    The alarming rate at which the dog population is increasing in Kashmir has resulted in frequent incidents of dog bites and attacks. Over the past few years, a large number of such incidents have occurred, with children under 10 years of age being the most vulnerable group. As a result, there has been a significant increase in anxiety disorders among children, which has had a direct or indirect impact on the quality of life of the Kashmiri population.

    According to the records from SMHS in Srinagar, an average of 30 to 35 cases of dog bites are reported daily to the anti-rabies center. Shockingly, the Kashmir valley recorded a staggering 6,800 animal bite cases between April 1 last year to March 31, with more than 80% of them being caused by stray dogs. This is the highest number in the past three years, and it has raised concerns among experts who question the delay in completing the much-awaited animal birth control (ABC) centers in Srinagar city.

    The Anti-Rabies Clinic at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar’s SMHS, has treated 6,855 animal bite cases from across the valley during this period, with 4,912 of them being reported from the city alone. The number of cases in 2021-22 was 5,629, and it was 4,798 in 2020-21. Over the past six years, there have been 37,467 animal bite cases in the Kashmir valley, with 72% or 26,742 cases occurring in Srinagar alone.

    Speaking to Hindustan Times, Dr. Mohammad Salim Khan revealed that out of the 6,855 animal bite cases treated at SMHS; approximately 5,700 of them were caused by dogs. Recent data from the Anti-Rabies Clinic at the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital indicates that from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, there were 4,695 dog bite cases in Kashmir. Srinagar alone reported 2,890 cases from January to December, with Ganderbal district reporting 269 cases, Budgam 218, Baramulla 131, Bandipora 126, Kulgam 10, Pulwama 106, Shopian 107, Kupwara 64, and Anantnag 43.

    According to a recent study conducted by the Department of Community Medicine GMC Srinagar, dog-bite victims in Kashmir are not only physically injured but also suffer from profound psychological and emotional instability. Many of them experience depression, feelings of defeat, and social disgrace. The study, titled ‘The Lived-In Experience and Psychological Recount of Dog Bite Victims Visiting the Anti-Rabies Clinic in Kashmir: A Qualitative Study,’ sheds light on the emotional toll of dog attacks on victims.

    The study aims to draw the attention of policymakers and planners towards the importance of implementing low-cost mass dog vaccination programs in order to reduce the incidence of dog bites and prevent the psychological distress faced by the victims.

    The study further states that there is a need to pay attention to the dog bite victims’ lived experience, and health care professionals need to support them through education, and counselling. “The policymakers should devise other supportive programs to minimize the psychological trauma caused by the dog bites, apart from enhancing measures towards elimination of dog mediated human rabies,” States study.

    Srinagar Municipal Corporation’s Veterinary Officer, Dr Tawheed, said, “We have to function according to the law. We cannot kill dogs nor can we shift them from one place to another. We are following the Animal Birth Control and Anti-rabies Vaccination Programme (ABC&ARV), under which we are sterilizing stray dogs and giving them anti-rabies vaccines as well.”

    The sterilization facility at Shuhama, which is running in collaboration with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST), is functional. “We are performing 10-12 sterilizations a day at the Shuhama centre, and our second ABC centre in Srinagar at Tengpora, with more than 200 kennel capacity, is also completed and will be operational soon. Our ABC centre at Chattarhama is also under construction,” said Tawheed.

    He further remarked that those involved in the meat and poultry industry engage in irresponsible disposal of waste, despite the fact that SMC offers free waste management services.

    The alarming increase in dog bites and attacks in Kashmir has become a major concern for the local population, especially children who are the most vulnerable group. The emotional and psychological distress experienced by dog-bite victims has highlighted the need for policymakers to implement low-cost mass dog vaccination programs and supportive programs for victims. While the Srinagar Municipal Corporation has initiated an Animal Birth Control and Anti-rabies Vaccination Programme, it is imperative to promote responsible waste disposal practices and create awareness among the public to ensure the safety and well-being of the Kashmiri population.

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    #Rampant #Dog #Attacks #Kashmir #Alarm #Psychological #Distress #Children #Vulnerable

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Fiancé Stabber Sent to Six Day Police Remand

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    by Syed Shadab Ali Gillani

    SRINAGAR: A Srinagar Court has sent a young lady to six days police remand. She was arrested after she stabbed and injured her fiancé on Tuesday.

    “Asifa Bashir, who stabbed her fiancé, Adil Ahmad Kaloo of Bemina, in the Chattabal area of Srinagar yesterday and is presently lodged in women’s police station, Rambagh under IPC 307 and 323 with FIR No 57/2023 in Safakadal PS, has been put on six-day remand by the court for further investigations,” said a police officer.

    The stabbing shocked Kashmir as this is perhaps the first case in which a young lady stabbed her fiancé.

    The family of the victim claimed their son received a call from Asifa Bashir who is his fiancé and he went to meet her. “She sought lift from him and he went to drop her. Asifa got a call and he inquired about the caller. The argument between them turned ugly when the woman stabbed him in his abdomen,” said family

    Family sources said the nikkah of the two was outcome of the love affair. The nikkah has already taken place.

    There was also a viral video on social media showing an injured Adil seeking help after the attack with blood seeping from his lower abdomen. Passers-by assisted him in transporting the man to the SMHS hospital, where his condition is said to be stable.

    The lady, who is being projected as ‘social media influencer’ has been running a social media page. Her page indicates that she has interviewed a number of Kashmir politicians and bureaucrats. She also claims to have earned the Maharashtra National Women Achievers Award. A photograph in circulation shows she being honoured.

    One of the relatives of the victim told local news gatherer KNT that the accused was always carrying a ‘mike-logo’ with her and was running a FB page named: ‘Kashmir Dastan News Network’.

    Last month, Asifa Bashir made headlines when she claimed that the proprietor of a pet store was responsible for the death of her pet.

    The proprietor of the pet store, Abrar Baba, has filed a defamation case against her. “I have filed a defamation lawsuit against her. Later, few people pestered me to drop this case, but I was steadfast in my decision. My store has been closed for more than a month now,” Abrar said.

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    #Fiancé #Stabber #Day #Police #Remand

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Lancet Paper Suggests Scaling Up Tele-psychiatry to Bridge Kashmir’s Mental Health Burden

    Lancet Paper Suggests Scaling Up Tele-psychiatry to Bridge Kashmir’s Mental Health Burden

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    by Khalid Bashir Gura

    SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has a huge mental health burden according to mental health experts. The authorities have tried to address and reduce the mental health treatment gap by increasing the number of trained mental health professionals and exploring the potential of telepsychiatry, a new study reveals.

    Psychiatry 2
    This is the core team that literally rebuilt the Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital Srinagar which is now known as IMHANS.

    The paper titled Reducing the mental health treatment gap in Kashmir: scaling up to maximise the potential of telepsychiatry published in the latest issue of The Lancet, authored by Arshad Hussain and others suggests scaling up telepsychiatry especially in Jammu and Kashmir to fill the gap.

    To tackle mental health morbidity, the study suggests scaling up telepsychiatry.

    “It is especially relevant in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir that have faced political conflict and natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and including impacts from the ongoing Covid19 pandemic,” the study reveals.

    A professor and psychiatrist at IMHANS, Hussain writes in the paper that policymakers have also initiated the Tele MANAS centre in Kashmir, where mental health needs are being prioritised by introducing more professionals who can provide services in local Kashmiri and Urdu languages.

    The other co-authors of the April 26, 2023 research include Bhupinder Kumar, Manasi Kumar, and Fazle Roub.

    Dr Arshad Hussain Psychiatry 2
    Dr Arshad Hussain (Psychiatry)

    A nationwide initiative, the provision of free round-the-clock telepsychiatry services via Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Nationally Actionable Plan through States (Tele-MANAS) and a mobile app called MANAS Mitra, has been successful.

    “Since its launch on 4th November 2022, the centre has received 4000 calls as people with mental illness from every district of the Union Territory are seeking professional help,” the paper reveals.

    According to the study, these numbers convey the enormous demand and needs but also show that TELE Manas is acceptable to people and they are initiating contact with mental health providers.

    “Every Tele MANAS centre would have the facility of trained psychiatrists and counsellors who would refer the patients in acute psychological distress to locally available Government runs mental health centres in case the need arises so,” according to the study.

    “The current step is expected to ensure cost-and-time-effective and comprehensive services for the poorly served population of the region, strengthening mental health, an area that has been historically neglected in Jammu and Kashmir,” according to the study.

    Mental health across the country remains a major concern because of myriad of challenges such as poor awareness of mental illness, stigma, high treatment gap and shortage of mental health professionals to manage widely prevalent mental illnesses.

    The National Mental Health Survey of India reported that the point prevalence of any mental illness was 10.6 per cent while 5.1 per cent of the adult population was estimated to have some level of suicidality.

    “Between 2012 and 2030, mental illnesses would cost India 1.03 trillion US dollars. The scenario is complicated by a very high treatment gap of 83 per cent along with only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 population, even though the WHO desires at least three psychiatrists per 100,000 population,” the study predicts.

    Similar efforts are made by WHO special initiative for mental health (2019–2023) which is targeting Bangladesh, Jordan, Paraguay, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe, the study reveals.

    On the flip side, the paper’s lead author, a senior psychiatrist, has celebrated the publication of his paper in the prestigious Lancet. Though more than 100 of his papers have been published on different aspects of the mess he and his team have been tackling, this is the first that Lancet published.

    “When I joined Psychiatry Lancet seemed stones through, I was on the path to full fill my dream, I got a Fogarty Fellowship at St Louis Washington Med School, Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology Fellowship and many travel Bursaries based on my research ideas, but destiny had other plans,” Arshad wrote on his Facebook. “I was challenged with changing the face of psychiatry in Kashmir with my colleagues and teachers we turned a burnt asylum into the Institute of Mental Health from the smallest department in GMC to one of the largest departments, it took some doing and always makes me feel accomplished, credit for this goes to every psychiatrist who worked there with zeal and enthusiasm.”

    He added: “I did publish 100 odd papers but that never gave me a thrill because I never saw my name in Lancet. But today it happened even though nothing great, but the child within me is excited.”

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    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )