Earlier, the Abdul Ahad Guru Clinical Scholars program had sponsored 20 scholars from Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Government Medical College, Srinagar and SKIMS Medical College (JVC), the statement said, adding that the scholars will take advanced skills back to their home institution to improve clinical care in the Kashmir Valley.

Guru Charitable Foundation (GCF) is a non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of education and medical care in Kashmir, the Foundation’s Facebook page says. 

Dr Abdul Ahad Guru was one of the leading Srinagar Physician and the founder of a Medical College. He was abducted on 1 April 1993 by unidentified gunmen while heading back to his home from SKIMS hospital, Soura.

However, Wajahat  Habibullah, former Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir & Chief Information Commissioner of India in his book. “My Kashmir Conflict and the Prospects of Enduring Peace”, identified the unidentified men as police-hired gunmen.

He wrote, “The Police made an arrangement with the terrorist Zulkarnain, then in custody, who agreed to kill Guru in exchange for his release. But to ensure that this collusion remained secret, Zulkarnain was killed shortly thereafter and the Director General of Police, B.S.Bedi, trumpeted his death as a triumph for the security forces, who had killed a dangerous terrorist in an armed encounter. But the truth was somewhat different. Instead of killing Zulkarnain in an armed encounter, the police stormed the home where, under the mistaken presumption that he was safe after having fulfilled his end of the bargain, he was consorting with a lady friend.”