Srinagar, May 31 -- The hospital called it a complication. His family called it negligence. Outside the hospital gates, neighbours and relatives gathered in protest, shouting for justice. Some wept, others demanded answers.

Soon after, the Chief Medical Officer of Srinagar suspended eight staff members, including senior surgeons, anesthetists, ICU staff, and an operating theatre technician. None of them were allowed to work until the official investigation ended.

But what shocked many was that one of the doctors named in the suspension order hadn't worked at the hospital for eight months.

Dr. Shah Naveed had resigned from Paras Hospital on October 1, 2024. By May 2025, he was working at Ujala Cygnus Superspeciality Hospital, just a few...