After AK-47 recovery, Kashmir hospitals order audit of doctors’ lockers

Several government hospitals in Kashmir started a drive on Tuesday (November 11, 2025) to identify unclaimed lockers and issued directions to the staff to properly label those that have been allotted to doctors. The action comes days after an AK-47 rifle was recovered from the locker of a former doctor at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Anantnag.

In an official communiqué, the Medical Superintendent of GMC, Anantnag, directed all heads of departments “to identify lockers and almirahs in their respective departments and wards and to label them with the names of the staff members to whom they are allotted”.

The order also called for reporting any unidentified locker or almirah not owned by any staff member for necessary action. The directive emphasises accountability and aims to prevent misuse of unclaimed storage spaces within the hospital and college premises, officials said.

In a similar order, the Government Medical College in Srinagar also directed all faculty members, paramedical staff, and students to identify and label their lockers with their name, designation, and code by November 14.

The move aims to remove unclaimed and surplus lockers occupying hospital and college corridors at GMC, Srinagar and SMHS Hospital, officials said.

The order warned that employees would not be issued the last pay certificate, no-objection certificate, or service books during transfers “until their lockers are properly handed over”.

On November 7, an AK-47 rifle was recovered from a former doctor’s locker at the Anantnag Medical College. The doctor was identified as Adeel Ahmad Rather, a resident of Kulgam. The doctor, now in police custody, had left the college after serving as a senior resident until October 24, 2024.

The police lodged a first information report under Sections 7 and 25 of the Arms Act and Sections 13, 28, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case.