An AK-47 rifle was recovered from the personal locker of a former senior resident doctor at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, in a startling discovery that has triggered a high-level investigation into possible militant or criminal links. The Srinagar Police, assisted by the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) Anantnag, conducted the operation that led to the seizure of the weapon on Friday.
The accused has been identified as Dr. Adeel Ahmad Rather, son of Abdul Majeed Rather, a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag. Officials confirmed that he served as a senior resident doctor at GMC Anantnag until October 24, 2024. The recovery of the automatic assault rifle from his locker has raised serious questions about how such a weapon was brought into a high-security medical institution.
Police sources said the rifle was found during a search operation in the hospital premises after intelligence inputs suggested the possible concealment of arms or contraband material. The discovery was made inside Dr. Rather’s assigned locker in the staff section of the hospital, prompting his immediate detention for questioning.
Both the weapon and the accused are currently in the custody of Srinagar Police. Officials said a formal case has been registered under Sections 7/25 of the Arms Act and Sections 13, 28, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which pertain to possession of illegal arms and links to unlawful or terror-related activities.
Investigators are now probing multiple angles — including whether the doctor had any connection to militant groups, acted as a courier or facilitator, or if the rifle had been stored on behalf of someone else. A senior officer said, “The focus right now is to determine how the rifle was obtained, how it was stored inside a hospital locker, and whether the accused has any organisational links.”
The police have not yet disclosed how the weapon entered the premises or whether additional persons are suspected of involvement. The Srinagar Police and JIC teams are examining phone records, social media communications, and financial transactions related to Dr. Rather.
Officials added that all standard legal procedures are being followed, and the suspect is being interrogated to establish any cross-border or local terror connections. Forensic analysis of the rifle, including serial number tracing, has been initiated to determine its origin.
A senior police source confirmed, “Adeel and the AK-47 are with Srinagar Police. Further investigations are underway to uncover the full chain of events leading to this recovery.”
The incident has caused considerable alarm within the medical community and the broader region, given the sensitivity of arms being discovered in a public healthcare facility. Police say more information will be released as the investigation progresses and linkages are verified.
