SRINAGAR: A gangster and an Assistant Sub Inspector of police were killed and an SPO was injured during an encounter within the premises of Government Medical College Kathua, officials said on Wednesday.

They said that based on a tip off, a police party from Ramgarh started chasing “notorious faction of gangsters-Shunoo group-led by one Vasudev” and on noticing the same, the gangsters moved their vehicle into the premises of the Government Medical College Kathua at around 22:45 hours of April 2.  The gangsters, they said, opened fire at the police party, injuring a Sub-Inspector (probationer), Deepak Sharma, and an SPO identified as Anil Kumar. The fire was retaliated and in the ensuing “cross firing”, the accused gangster Vasu Dev alias Shanu, said to be a key accused in a murder case (93/2023 U/S 302/148/149/212/120-B IPC 3/4/25 Arms Act) registered at police station Ramgarh Samba, was killed.   
In the meanwhile, they said the injured were admitted to GMC and later ASI was referred to Amandeep hospital Pathankot for further treatment.    However the ASI succumbed to the injuries today, they added.  

Also Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua, Dysp Headquarters and SHO Kathua besides other police officials reached the spot at the Medical College for first hand details. 

Confirming it, a police officer told GNS that a case has been registered with regard to the incident. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: An alleged gangster was killed while a police official sustained injuries in a shootout at Government Medical College Kathua last night. 

As learnt by GNS, police and a group of alleged gangsters exchanged fire at about 10:35 PM last night at Government Medical College premises in Kathua, resulting in the killing of a 'gangster' and injury of a PSI Deepak Sharma. 

The injured PSI was admitted in a nearby hospital for treatment, whose current condition couldn't be however ascertained. 

The circumstances leading to the incident however remain shrouded in mystery as no significant information could be made available regarding the face-off between the police and alleged gangsters. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Health & Medical Education Department, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday entrusted Incharge Principal Government Medical College Handwara with the additional charge to look after as Principal Government Medical College Srinagar in wake of superannuation of Prof. (Dr.) Tanvir Masood Bhat. 

The adjustment has been made amid enforcement of Model Code of Conduct amid upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“Consequent upon the superannuation of Prof. (Dr.) Tanvir Masood Bhat, Principal GMC Srinagar on 31-03-202, and due to the Model Code of Conduct being in place, because of General Elections to Lok Sabha – 2024 and in order to ensure patient care in Government Medical College Srinagar & Associated Hospitals, it is hereby ordered that Prof. (Dr.) Iffat Hassan, I/c Principal Government Medical College Handwar, shall look after the charge of Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, in addition to her own duties, till further orders,” reads an order, a copy of which lies with GNS. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A group of students from Kashmir studying at Government Medical College hostel were on Monday allegedly intimated by some 'outsiders' in the hostel premises, officials said. 

As per sources, several outsiders entered the hostel premises, engaging themselves and intimidating a group of students from Kashmir putting up at the GMC Jammu hostel. 

Confirming the incident, a senior police officer told GNS that they have taken cognisance into the matter where it has been reported that Kashmiri students were intimidated. "An FIR has been registered into this incident and matter is under investigation, " the officer. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A student was injured in a scuffle that broke out between students of government medical college, Jammu and outsiders in the institution's hostel. A top police officer said that a student was attacked with an iron rod & sustained head injuries with 12 stitches. SSP Jammu,Chandan Kohli told the Kashmir Scroll said that there has been an incident of scuffle between some students and outsiders in GMC Hostel, Jammu. "The police have taken cognizance of the matter and investigation is going on, " The officer added. (KS)

SRINAGAR: The Centres for Disease Control (CDC), New Delhi on Monday gave the nod for starting viral load testing for the better management of HIV and Hepatitis B, C patients at Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu,.
The SCD gave the permission after inspecting the COBAS 6800 Lab installed in GMC.
A GMC spokesman said that for solid organ transplant programMEs also, viral load testing on various viruses is a must for better patient care
The COBAS 6800 Lab of the Department of Microbiology was inspected by Dr Manoj Kumar (Senior Manager LaQSH) in collaboration with CDC New Delhi as lead assessor.
“Dr Kumar meticulously assessed the laboratory services and manpower and declared the laboratory suitable for initiation of viral load testing with an assessment score of 93.5 percent,” he added.
The spokesman said that this would be followed by training of staff and the start of viral load testing in GMC Jammu itself.
With the establishment of facility, various patients under treatment for Hepatitis under National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) and HIV under National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) will benefit.
Notably, COBAS Lab has been established under the VRDL program as a State of Art Lab. and is playing a lead role in COVID RT-PCR testing in Jammu Province.
All over India, 64 Abbott platforms and 13 COBAS 6800 have been allocated for viral load testing.
Earlier the sample of HIV viral load used to be sent to Chandigarh by NACO but with the establishment of this platform for viral load all further tests will be done in Jammu including viral load testing in Hepatitis B and C patients and transplant associated infections in immunosuppressed patients. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday sought PET scan facility at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar.

“That would help in early detection of cancer and save lives,” said DAK President Dr. Nisar ul Hassan.

“When a cancer is detected at an early stage, the chances of survival are dramatically higher than when detected at a later stage when the tumor has spread and the disease is advanced,” he said.

Dr. Hassan said positron emission tomography (PET) scan has since decades played an instrumental role in the fight against cancer through an early and better diagnosis of the disease.

“PET scan can check whether cancer has spread,” he said adding “It can assess the effectiveness of cancer treatment and find out whether cancer has come back after treatment.”

The DAK President said we have one PET scan at SKIMS hospital, but it is not able to cope with a huge burden of cancer cases in the valley.

“Patients have to wait for months for PET scans which adversely affects patient outcome,” he said.

 Dr. Nisar said GMC Srinagar and its associated hospitals cater to a large number of cancer patients and in absence of PET scans it is hard for doctors to diagnose, treat and manage cancer cases.

 “Cancer has reached epidemic proportions in Jammu and Kashmir.

As per the union health ministry figures, JK has reported an estimated 51,577 cancer cases in the last four years.

More than 22,000 people have died due to cancer during the period of 2018 to 2021,” he said. (CNS)