Bandipora, May 5 -- Suhail Rather

Rising public anger over the functioning of the District Hospital here in north Kashmir's Bandipora district has prompted demands for a major reshuffle of long-serving paramedical and administrative staff, with allegations of an 'internal lobby system' and overstay of personnel compromising patient care.

Speaking to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) locals, including civil society members and traders, alleged that the prolonged tenure of certain employees has led to "ulterior motives and vested interests" in procurements and other matters, affecting the premier institution's functioning, they claimed.

"Is the transfer policy not applicable here?" asked Rafeeq Ahmad, a local trader, pointing to the...