TOKYO: India has made it clear to China that the defence exchanges suspended in July will remain on "pause" till Beijing reverts to its long-held position on Jammu and Kashmir.

The issue along with China’s new practice of issuing visa to people from Jammu and Kashmir on loose sheets instead of passport and the boundary dispute are among the matters expected to figure prominently when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in Hanoi later this week.

India has witnessed with concern the change in China’s position on Jammu and Kashmir.

As part of its changed position, China refused to give proper visa to Northern Army Commander Lt Gen B S Jaswal because he serves in ‘sensitive’ Jammu and Kashmir and instead wanted to give stapled visa to him.

This upset India, which put on hold high-level defence exchanges as part of which Jaswal was going there.

China has conveyed its keenness to resume the exchanges, but India has made it clear that these will remain "on pause" till such issues are sorted out, sources said.

The sources emphasised that it was China which had "tied the knot" and it was for it to untie it.

"Let us see how far it goes," they said.

India, though wanting all kinds of defence exchanges with China, underlined that it is in no hurry to end the pause unless China’s position changes.

The sources pointed out though defence exchanges are on hold, military interactions at lower level like border meetings are continuing.

The change in China’s position on Jammu and Kashmir is also reflected by its increasing activities in parts of the state under Pakistani control.

India has already lodged protest against this indulgement by China.

The sources said though China has been denying any change in its position the ground situation is otherwise.

On boundary question, the Special Representatives are expected to meet soon and the date could be announced after the meeting in Hanoi. (agencies)

NEW DELHI: Taking exception to the statement of Mr Dilip Padgaonkar, the Chairman of the three-member panel of interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir, expressing the need for involvement of Pakistan, the BJP today asked the Prime Minister’s Office to clarify if internationalising the issue was part of the brief given to the panel.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said here Mr Padgaonkar, on reaching Srinagar yesterday, had contended in an informal chat with the media that the panel was there to look for a permanent solution to Kashmir and a permanent solution was not possible without involvement of Pakistan.

"We wonder if this was part of the brief given by the Union government or they were expected to interact with the citizen’s group to understand ground realities in the Valley," the spokesperson asked.

"While the BJP has no objection to the panel interacting with citizens in the Valley, they would be exceeding their limits if they were to internationalise the issue. The comments were a reminder of the Pakistan’s stand on the ‘unfinished agenda’ on Kashmir and the panel seem to be arguing the Yurriyat’s angle."

"It is time for the PMO to clarify to clear the matters and tell the country if they indeed had given the brief to him," she said. (agencies)

SRINAGAR: Eminent journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, who heads the Centre’s three-member team of interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir, today said people here were sceptical of "sweet words" and "tall promises" but had a yearning for candid talk.

"It has been only one day since we arrived but our initial assessment is that people are yearning (for) talk. I am not talking about this group or that group. I am talking about a cross-section of people whom we met," Padgaonkar said.

Padgaonkar, who arrived here yesterday with two other interlocutors, said the people he had met so far were "sharp and intelligent".

"The people we have met are very sharp and intelligent. They want candid and straight talk. They are very sceptical of the person who comes with sweet words and tall promises. I think (they) had enough of that," he said.

There is a need for a "different kind of narrative, different from the beaten path," he added.

Padgaonkar said the Kashmir problem is political in nature and not economic. "We need to understand the dimensions of the problems. The problem in not economic, it is of political nature."

The three interlocutors had yesterday visited Srinagar Central Jail and talked to detenues for more than two hours.

"We were yesterday in Central jail for more than two hours meeting militants who had come from across the LoC (Line of Control). They wanted to talk to us and we will go again to meet them," he said.

On hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call for boycott of interlocutors, Padgaonkar said this team was different from those which visited in the past.

"You have to look at the statement of interlocutors from the beginning. We are the first to talk about a comprehensive solution of Kashmir (problem)," he said.

Asked if they would hold talks with militants, Padgaonkar said they will talk to everyone. "We are not going to go across the LoC (to talk to militants). That is not our mandate. But we have said we will talk to everyone who wishes to talk to us. So why leave anyone out," he said.

SRINAGAR: Eminent journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, who heads the Centre’s three-member team of interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir, today said people here were sceptical of "sweet words" and "tall promises" but had a yearning for candid talk.

"It has been only one day since we arrived but our initial assessment is that people are yearning (for) talk. I am not talking about this group or that group. I am talking about a cross-section of people whom we met," Padgaonkar said.

Padgaonkar, who arrived here yesterday with two other interlocutors, said the people he had met so far were "sharp and intelligent".

"The people we have met are very sharp and intelligent. They want candid and straight talk. They are very sceptical of the person who comes with sweet words and tall promises. I think (they) had enough of that," he said.

There is a need for a "different kind of narrative, different from the beaten path," he added.

Padgaonkar said the Kashmir problem is political in nature and not economic. "We need to understand the dimensions of the problems. The problem in not economic, it is of political nature."

The three interlocutors had yesterday visited Srinagar Central Jail and talked to detenues for more than two hours.

"We were yesterday in Central jail for more than two hours meeting militants who had come from across the LoC (Line of Control). They wanted to talk to us and we will go again to meet them," he said.

On hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call for boycott of interlocutors, Padgaonkar said this team was different from those which visited in the past.

"You have to look at the statement of interlocutors from the beginning. We are the first to talk about a comprehensive solution of Kashmir (problem)," he said.

Asked if they would hold talks with militants, Padgaonkar said they will talk to everyone. "We are not going to go across the LoC (to talk to militants). That is not our mandate. But we have said we will talk to everyone who wishes to talk to us. So why leave anyone out," he said.

NEW DELHI : Hitting out at those clamouring for dilution of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Army Chief Gen V K Singh is of the view that the Act is being used as a "beating stick" by the separatists in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are unnecessarily playing into the hands of separatists for whom this is a beating stick," Gen Singh said in a candid interview during which he spoke on Kashmir, allegations of human rights violations and security scenario in the region.

The AFSPA was being "unnecessarily demonised" although it had "nothing to do with the present unrest (in Kashmir)", he said while firmly sticking to his opposition to any withdrawal or even dilution of the Act which gives the Army vast powers to deal with insurgents.

Any move to make AFSPA non-applicable to selected areas of the state by denotifying them from the list of ‘Disturbed Areas’ also does not find favour with the General.

"It has got no meaning," he emphasised as a "person who has been involved in Kashmir for such a long time".

Gen Singh was clear that non-applicability of the AFSPA to specific areas would not do. "I don’t find any logic in all this," he asserted.

His strong opposition to any dilution of the AFSPA comes in the backdrop of demands by the Jammu and Kashmir government, separatists and others for dilution or partial lifting of the Act.

Recently, there were reports that certain districts may be removed from the list of ‘Disturbed Areas’ which would mean that the Act would not apply there.

It was clear from the General’s remarks that he was critical of the state administration’s handling of the unrest in Kashmir in recent months during which 111 people have died.

"The state administration could have been better in tackling the way things started," he said.

Analysing the unrest, Gen Singh said it owed its genesis to the Amarnath Yatra agitation of 2008 "where the efficacy of agitations was realised by the separatists."

He said, "If you analyse the period from that time onward off and on they (separatists) have engineered incidents and have taken recourse to agitation to test what now became a more sustained agitational system."

The Army Chief said, "I think, to a certain extent, administratively, probably we did not draw lessons like the separatists from the agitation. I think, administratively we should have drawn lessons as to how you are going to tackle this."

Recalling the successful elections of 2008, the Army Chief said, "We had the best elections, maximum participation. Why did it happen? Some people must reflect. It had a content which was military, had a content that was administrative and a content which was political.

"All three have to play a part, nobody can say only part achieved it... I think we should have built on that situation for better gains... We should have drawn lessons from what happened during Amarnath Yatra. I think, we would have come out better."

Rather than diluting AFSPA or withdrawing it from any place, he said if the Army is not required to operate in any area, it will not operate. "How does it make a difference? After all, situation has to be controlled by somebody, so please control it. When the situation goes bad, then you look at it."

Gen Singh was asked whether the current unrest in Kashmir reflected a situation similar to the 1990s.

Commenting on this, Gen Singh said it was a "different issue altogether" in the 1990s when the country was not prepared either politically or administratively to deal with the situation which was not the case now.

He felt that people of Kashmir were more interested in "rozi roti (living)" rather than protests but they were being forced into it by separatists and "peer pressures"

SRINAGAR : KHAWAJA SHARJEEL ;A three-member team of interlocutors, appointed by the Centre, today met detenues, including militants, in the Central Jail here and heard their views on Kashmir issue.

"We met hardened terrorists, youths arrested on charges of disturbing public order and a woman who is now jailed for three months," journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, who heads the panel, said.

The members heard the views of these people on the Kashmir issue, he said after the team visited the Central Jail for the second consecutive day.

"We impressed upon them that violence is not going to lead them anywhere. They have agreed to engage in a dialogue," Padgaonkar said.

The interlocutors had visited the jail yesterday and interacted with several detenues.

Asked if the interlocutors would reach out to separatists who have refused to meet them, Padgaonkar said he was not a person to call on someone "uninvited".

"If we are invited, we will meet anyone," he added.

Both moderate and hardline factions of the Hurriyat Conference, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani respectively, have termed the appointment of the panel as a futile exercise.

Srinagar, Oct 12:KHAWAJA SHARJEEL: Normal life was disrupted in Kashmir Valley today after authorities imposed curfew ahead of a planned march by hardline Hurriyat activists to the residence of their chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani at Hyderpora here.

Curfew was imposed last night as a preventive measure as authorities apprehended violence during the march to the residence of Geelani, who has been under house arrest for almost a month now, officials said.

They said restrictions had to be clamped keeping in mind violent clashes during such marches in the past.

Masrat Alam, the underground aide of Geelani, has given the call for the march to protest the house arrest of the Hurriyat Chairman.

A large number of security force personnel have been deployed across the city, officials said, adding curfew was strictly being implemented in civil lines areas of the city, especially areas adjoining Hyderpora.

Elsewhere in the Valley, similar restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the people in order to maintain law and order.

A police spokesman said instructions have been issued to all concerned security force personnel to treat examination admit cards of students and identity cards of the staff of the education department as curfew passes.

This has been done to ensure that examinations are held smoothly and students do not face any difficulty on account of the restrictions, he said.

The spokesman said the situation across the Valley was so far peaceful.

Srinagar, Oct 11: Authorities tonight imposed curfew across Kashmir valley to foil the proposed march to Hyderpora called by hard line faction of Hurriyat Conference tomorrow.

"Curfew has been imposed across Srinagar district," District Magistrate Srinagar Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo said.

Police vehicles, fitted with public address system, announced imposition of curfew and asked people not to violate the restrictions.

Anyone violating the curfew will be dealt with strictly, the police warned.

A police spokesman said the authorities have decided to impose Valley-wide strict curfew restrictions tomorrow following 'Hyderpora Chalo' call given by separatists.

However, security forces have been asked to allow those students appearing in the Board examinations and the concerned staff with the examinations on production of their admit cards and identity cards.

Underground separatist leader Masrat Alam has called a march to Hyderpora residence of chairman of hardline Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani who has been under house arrest for nearly one month now.

Meanwhile, a security jawan, injured in a gun battle with militants in Sopore yesterday, succumbed to injuries today even as life across Kashmir valley returned to normal but authorities imposed curfew in Shopian town as a precautionary measure following several days of stone pelting.

Lance Naik B Singh of the Army was injured in an encounter with security forces in Lathishat village of Sopore town yesterday. He succumbed to injuries at a hospital today, sources said.

One Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, identified as Ikrama alias Topiwala was killed in the encounter while his local guide Showkat Ahmad was apprehended alive. The slain militant, who was also operating under the codename of Abu Qitaal, was a Pakistani national.

Elsewhere in the Valley, life returned to normal for the day as hard line faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani suspended its strike and agitation schedule for one day. As per the calendar issued for October 6-16, Geelani had asked people to carry out normal activities today.

Srinagar city and other major towns of the Valley bustled with activity early in the morning as shops, schools, business establishments, banks, petrol pumps, Government, semi-Government and private offices opened after remaining closed for two days.

Public and private transport was back on the roads as massive traffic jams were witnessed at many important intersections in the city, especially Batamaloo, Lal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk, Dalgate, Maulana Azad Road, Hari Singh High Street and Naz crossing.

The section of the city from Dalgate to Batamaloo witnessed huge rush as it acts as a transit point between North and South districts of the Valley.

The vehicles were moving at snail's pace even on the only functional flyover in the Valley as traffic police seemed to be at wits' end due to their failure to cope up with huge rush. Many people preferred to walk instead of taking public transport as a distance of kilometer usually covered in three to four minutes took 45 minutes to one hour to traverse.

While most of the Valley was relishing the rare day of normalcy, curfew was imposed in Shopian town in south Kashmir as the stone pelting incidents have taken place there for the past several days.

The protests broke out on Friday after police arrested four local youth and booked them under Public Safety Act for their alleged involvement in fuelling street protests. However, authorities decided to impose curfew today as they apprehended that miscreants might take advantage of large gathering in the markets to incite anti-national protests.

A police spokesman said the law and order situation across Kashmir valley remained by and large peaceful. However, sources said, stone-pelting incidents were witnessed at some places including Nowgam-Natipora road in the outskirts of the city. The protestors were chased away by security forces by using batons.

There were no reports of anyone getting injured in the brief clashes.

JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was taken into preventive custody along with seven of his colleagues at Mirgund in Budgam district while he was on his way to visit Palhalan in Baramulla district.

The JKLF chairman was heading towards the highway town of Palhalan, which was one of the towns where most of the killings took place during the ongoing agitation in the Valley, to express solidarity with the bereaved families.

Vice chairman Bashir Ahmad Bhat and senior leaders Shoukat Ahmad Bakshi, Mohammad Iqbal Gandroo and Sheikh Abdul Rashid were among those detained by the police.

Oct 11: On a day of fast-paced developments, Karnataka today appeared headed for President’s rule after Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa won a controversial confidence vote in the Assembly following disqualification of 16 MLAs and the Governor recommending Central rule.

Governor H R Bhardwaj sent his report to the Centre calling the events and the vote in the Assembly as "unconstitutional" and "farce" and that the State should be brought under President’s rule.

His action came after Yeddyurappa won a confidence vote in the Assembly in a controversial manner amid pandemonium and after disqualification of 16 rebel MLAs by Speaker Bopaiah just a few hours before the proceedings.

In unprecedented scenes, police was brought into the Assembly to control the situation that went out of hands with police and marshals clashing with the legislators.

Opposition Congress and JD(S) cried foul and demanded dismissal of the Government, alleging that the Speaker had acted like "an agent of the Chief Minister".

Stepping in, the Governor sent his report to the Union Home Ministry in which he is understood to have noted that Speaker’s action in disqualifying 16 MLAs—11 of BJP and 5 Independents— was unconstitutional and had vitiated the proceedings.

The Union Cabinet is meeting tomorrow during which it is expected to consider the Governor’s report. The Union Home Ministry has expressed concern over developments in Karnataka, especially the "abuse" of the anti-defection law by the Speaker.

Sources said the Cabinet will meet in the evening tomorrow by when the Karnataka High Court may have given some view on the petition filed by disqualified MLAs challenging the action against them.

The Congress Core Group, headed by Sonia Gandhi, met at the residence of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and discussed the situation arising out of the developments in Karnataka.

Highly placed party sources said the only option for the Government appears to be that the State goes in for a spell of President’s rule in view of the clear recommendation of the Governor.

Home Ministry sources said there was no question of disqualifying Independents under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution or for that matter the dissident BJP MLAs even before the vote.

The Speaker’s decision to disqualify the dissident MLAs and ban their entry into the House came early in the morning in an apparent move to bring down the number required for the ruling party to prove its majority.

Amid scenes of pandemonium, Yeddyurappa moved the confidence vote and "won" the trial of strength vote as high marked the proceedings when Bopaiah declared the motion of confidence passed by a voice vote.

The disqualified MLAs also approached the Karnataka High Court against the Speaker’s decision. The Speaker justified his action saying according to documents available with him the Independents belonged to a "particular" political party.

He said the Independents should have remained as Independents if they were not to attract the provisions of the anti-defection law.

The Speaker ignored the opposition members who had gathered around his chair and were protesting to declare that the motion of confidence has been passed by "voice vote" with the support of 106 BJP members.

As the House plunged into further uproar, Bopaiah adjourned it sine die.

Unruly scenes were witnessed with the opposition members breaking the police cordon and entering the House. Marshals struggled to evict the five Independents— D Sudhakar, P M Narendra Swamy, Goolihatti Sekhar, Shivaraj Tangadagi and Venkataramanappa—from the House.

Several opposition members stormed the Speaker’s podium and questioned his conducting of business.

In an unusual scene, the police along with Commissioner Shankar Bidari entered the House.

Opposition Congress and JDS leaders then called on the Governor seeking his intervention and dismissal of the first BJP Government in the south.

Congress said it would parade its MLAs and also the rebels before the Governor.

CHENNAI: In the seaside village of Vadapattinam, 85km south of Chennai, education eludes most of its 3,000-odd residents consisting of fishermen, farmers and Irulas, a community of snake-catchers. There is one primary school, a dilapidated structure built in 1956 where 92 students are currently enrolled. To study further, one must walk six km to the nearest higher secondary school in Koovathur.

Idling by the sea or the small Vanchi lake is an attractive proposition for many children in the village, who often pick up harmful habits such as smoking, chewing tobacco and alcohol at a shockingly young age. Among them was a boy called Kandan (name changed), only 11 years old but known to consume. He had dropped out of school and had no parents to check him; they had died long ago and he was being brought up by his grandparents. Last Sunday, he became the villain of the village, bringing home the dangerous effect that years of social neglect can cause to a community.

Around 11 in the morning, Kandan took a seven-year-old girl, studying in Class 2, to a neem tree by the lake and tried to rape her. To make sure she did not scream, he forcefully held a piece of cloth over her mouth. As a result, the girl died of suffocation. The boy was said to be under the influence of alcholol.

When he realised that the girl was dead, Kandan picked up a thorn and poked her right leg at four places to make it look like a snake bite. Both boy and girl belong to the Irula community, which traditionally caught snakes for a living but now, since snake-catching is illegal, have taken to cutting wood.

However, doubts about his claim arose once the girl's parents found injuries on her private parts. But they decided not to raise the issue and buried the girl instead. On Monday, however, they changed their mind and lodged a complaint with the Koovathur police. Police, while visiting the spot, found a few teeth of the girl under the tree. They questioned Kandan, who eventually confessed to the crime. On Wednesday, the body of the girl was exhumed for post-mortem. Pending the report, Kandan will remain locked up in the police station.

"I left for work on Sunday around 8am. My wife took the three children to church. But since she had to cook, she came back home along with our youngest daughter. She had stepped out to the nearby forest to gather wood when that boy came home," recalled Kannaiyah, the girl's father, who is a woodcutter.

Kandan's grandfather Mani, who is also a woodcutter, said: "We don't have any sympathy towards him. He has not only tarnished our name but also that of the village."

Villagers, meanwhile, are in a state of shock. "Children who go to school regularly are unlikey to do such a thing. Access to education can prevent such crimes," said S Anathalakshmi, who has been giving vocational training to women in the village since1994.

"The incident has shaken us. We need to inculcate values in our children. We must also ensure that children do not miss classes. For long, we have been demanding upgrading of the school but it hasn't happened so far," said Vadapattinam panchayat president M Kannammal.

CHENNAI: In the seaside village of Vadapattinam, 85km south of Chennai, education eludes most of its 3,000-odd residents consisting of fishermen, farmers and Irulas, a community of snake-catchers. There is one primary school, a dilapidated structure built in 1956 where 92 students are currently enrolled. To study further, one must walk six km to the nearest higher secondary school in Koovathur.

Idling by the sea or the small Vanchi lake is an attractive proposition for many children in the village, who often pick up harmful habits such as smoking, chewing tobacco and alcohol at a shockingly young age. Among them was a boy called Kandan (name changed), only 11 years old but known to consume. He had dropped out of school and had no parents to check him; they had died long ago and he was being brought up by his grandparents. Last Sunday, he became the villain of the village, bringing home the dangerous effect that years of social neglect can cause to a community.

Around 11 in the morning, Kandan took a seven-year-old girl, studying in Class 2, to a neem tree by the lake and tried to rape her. To make sure she did not scream, he forcefully held a piece of cloth over her mouth. As a result, the girl died of suffocation. The boy was said to be under the influence of alcholol.

When he realised that the girl was dead, Kandan picked up a thorn and poked her right leg at four places to make it look like a snake bite. Both boy and girl belong to the Irula community, which traditionally caught snakes for a living but now, since snake-catching is illegal, have taken to cutting wood.

However, doubts about his claim arose once the girl's parents found injuries on her private parts. But they decided not to raise the issue and buried the girl instead. On Monday, however, they changed their mind and lodged a complaint with the Koovathur police. Police, while visiting the spot, found a few teeth of the girl under the tree. They questioned Kandan, who eventually confessed to the crime. On Wednesday, the body of the girl was exhumed for post-mortem. Pending the report, Kandan will remain locked up in the police station.

"I left for work on Sunday around 8am. My wife took the three children to church. But since she had to cook, she came back home along with our youngest daughter. She had stepped out to the nearby forest to gather wood when that boy came home," recalled Kannaiyah, the girl's father, who is a woodcutter.

Kandan's grandfather Mani, who is also a woodcutter, said: "We don't have any sympathy towards him. He has not only tarnished our name but also that of the village."

Villagers, meanwhile, are in a state of shock. "Children who go to school regularly are unlikey to do such a thing. Access to education can prevent such crimes," said S Anathalakshmi, who has been giving vocational training to women in the village since1994.

"The incident has shaken us. We need to inculcate values in our children. We must also ensure that children do not miss classes. For long, we have been demanding upgrading of the school but it hasn't happened so far," said Vadapattinam panchayat president M Kannammal.

Srinagar: At least four persons, including three MLAs, were wounded when marshals used force to prevent MLAs of Bhartiya Janta Party and Panthers Party from creating ruckus in the Legislative Assembly (LA) here on Thursday.
As soon as members arrived in the LA this morning MLAs of BJP and Panthers Party gathered in the Well of the House and started raising slogans against the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah for describing Kashmir as an international issue.
MLAs tried breaking the furniture and created ruckus following which the LA speaker called on the Marshals which led to the altercation in which four persons, including two BJP MLAs Yashpal Kundal and Durga Dass, and a Panthers Party MLA, Jugal Kishore were wounded.
One police constable, Ghulam Hassan, who was on duty in the LA complex also sustained injuries.

As President Barack Obama prepares to visit India next month, the US has hoped that India and Pakistan can address and resolve the "important" Kashmir issue bilaterally.

"This is an issue that we hope that the two sides can address and resolve, but this is obviously an important bilateral issue between the two governments," State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters at his daily news briefing.

"This is an issue between Pakistan and India. It is important. There have been successful discussions between Pakistan and India on this subject in recent years," he said.

"Some of those very fruitful discussions occurred between the former governments of India and Pakistan," as he referred to the back channel talks between New Delhi and Islamabad when the two countries, according to media reports, were on the verge of arriving at a negotiated settlement which could not take place due to the fall of the Musharraf regime.

The Obama administration has been maintaining that the Kashmir issue has to be resolved by India and Pakistan and that it does not intend to interfere.

President Obama is slated to undertake the "landmark" visit to India in the first week of November during which he is expected to travel to Mumbai and New Delhi, where he will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders on further upgrading Indo-US strategic ties.

Meanhwile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations was willing to use its "good offices" in resolving the Kashmir issue if both India and Pakistan sought the assistance of the world body.

"As far as this role of good offices is concerned, the United Nations normally takes that initiative when requested by both parties concerned," Ban told journalists during his monthly briefing at the UN Headquarters.

"India and Pakistan, they are neighbouring countries, important nations in that region - peace and security would have important implications," the UN chief said.

Kashmir Valley has been in grip of violent protests since June.

"I regret the latest loss of life. I have been calling for an immediate end to violence and urge calm and restraint by all concerned," Ban said. "That is the position of the United Nations at this time."

While India maintains that Kashmir is an internal matter, Pakistan asserts that it is on the UN docket and has been calling for international intervention especially from the United States.

Last week, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told the UN that Pakistan was sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir, and this later led to a strong exchange of words between the diplomats.

"Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, is the target of Pakistan-sponsored militancy and terrorism," Krishna had said.

On Monday, Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf said his country had trained militants to fight in Kashmir.

"They (underground militant groups to fight against India in Kashmir) were indeed formed," Musharraf told German magazine Der Spiegel.

Reacting to the statement, India said the former Pakistan President's assertion that his country had trained militants to fight in Kashmir only confirms what New Delhi had been repeatedly saying

over the years.

Srinagar: The Chairman of Hurriyat (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, accused the Government and legislators of shedding crocodile tears over the 110 civilian killings in the Assembly.
In a statement, Geelani said, “those who condole the killings of 110 martyrs in the Assembly are shedding crocodile tears to hoodwink the people.”
“The pro-India parties are trying to sabotage our movement. Kashmiris are monitoring their activities. The Government should not even try to interfere in our just cause and try other tactics to satiate their personal interests,” he said.
Geelani saluted the families of those who were killed in the ongoing unrest. “Kashmir will never forget the sacrifices of the families of martyrs. We salute these families for refusing Government’s relief. I want to make it clear that even if India gives all its wealth, still it can compensate the death of these teenagers and youth,” he said.
Geelani condemned the arrest of Aashiq Hussain and Aftab Hussain, who are the sons, of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat’s Tehsil president Sopur Abdul Ghani Bhat.

CHENNAI: When it came to her eyes, Saraswathiammal defied the process of aging. When she died on Monday morning in Vishranthi's home for aged destitute women, at the ripe old age of 110, her eyes were young enough to be donated to others.

The two corneas were harvested and sent to the eye bank, and subsequently used on two individuals who had lost vision. Saraswathiammal was a freedom fighter, says Savitri Vaithi, of Vishranthi. “She told us that her whole family had split up in the riots following Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. She apparently drifted to Andhra Pradesh, and later, to Pattukottai.”

Following her appearance on a TV show, (Visu's Arattai Arangam) where she requested that she be placed in a home, she was shifted to Vishranthi about eight years ago.

Saraswathiammal, who could speak five languages, was popular among the other residents and her associates in Pattukottai, many of whom had turned up for her funeral.

“When she came in, we were told she was 102 years old. She has some documents and we are now looking at them,” Ms. Vaithi explains in response to a question about the authenticity of Saraswathiammal's age.

She adds that it was the practice of the home to enquire with all their residents if they would like to donate their eyes. So far, about 182 pairs of eyes have been donated to Rajan Eye Care Hospital.

Mohan Rajan, chairman, Rajan Eye Care says the request came from Vishranthi to remove the corneas of an inmate who was 110 years old. “We were quite surprised to find that the corneas were very healthy. In fact, they seemed like a pair of someone who was 40-50 years. So we decided to go ahead with the harvesting for transplantation purposes.”

The corneas were used the same day on a 12-year-old boy and a 35-year-old woman who had lost eyesight due to an injury.

The child has reportedly had restoration of 70 per cent of vision and the lady has regained about 50 per cent of vision. Both of them are likely to improve in another four–six weeks, he adds

The Hurriyat Conference (G) spearheading the ongoing “Quit Kashmir Movement” has amended its protest calendar.

A Hurriyat spokesman said that transporters can ply vehicles on Wednesday (October 6) as hundreds of people from every part of the Valley would be visiting the shrine of Sheikh Noorudin Wali (RA) at Chrar Sharief in central Kashmir to observe the yearly Urs (festival).

However, the spokesman asked the shopkeepers to observe a complete shutdown.

Jammu: Police on Tuesday said two militants, including the divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, were killed in a gunfight in Jammu’s Reasi district.
“A joint party of police and paramilitary CRPF troopers of 126 battalion cordoned off Deedan Gali in Mahore and launched searches. Militants present there opened fire on the search party which was retaliated triggering an encounter,” a police spokesman quoted Senior Superintendent of Police Reasi as having said.

He identified the slain militants as Mushtaq Ahmad alias Irfan son of Jamaldin of Lar,Mahore,and Shabir Ahmad alias Abu Hamza son of Abdul Samad of Ladh,Mahore.
The SSP claimed that Mushtaq alias Irfan was active from 1999 and was functioning as a divisional commander of Hizbul- Mujahideen.

Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, on Wednesday said that situation in Kashmir Valley would not improve till Hurriyat Conference (G) keeps on issuing protest calendar.
He claimed that his government had pulled out nearly 35000 troopers from the state before the present unrest broke out. “ Due to this calendar policy more troopers have arrived,” Omar told Legislative Assembly.
He accused Peoples Democratic Party of trying to exploit the situation. “They tried their best to add fuel to the fire for their own vested interests,” Omar added

New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is learnt to have expressed satisfaction over the recent initiative undertaken by the government to bring normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
"CWC was happy to note that the initiatives on Kashmir were on the right track," top party leaders told the media on the condition of anonymity.
Two recent internal security worries - Kashmir and Ayodhya verdict took a centre stage at the meeting held on Tuesday, Oct 5.
Home Minister P Chidambaram, according to sources, spoke at length on the situation in Kashmir in the meeting attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
The government's initiative on Kashmir reportedly received the nods of CWC members as they believe that the move had, indeed, brought improvement in the conditions there.

The State Legislative Assembly Tuesday rejected No Confidence Motion against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led government.
The motion was moved by BJP and had accused the ruling coalition of NC-Congress of having failed on all fronts.
BJP members were supported only by JK National Panthers Party legislators. Both BJP and NPP members later staged walk out from the house.

SACH MONITORING : Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has admitted that Pakistan had trained underground militant groups to fight in Kashmir, the first such admission by a top leader of the country.

Musharraf’s candid remarks came days after he announced his return to active politics from London where he has been living in self-imposed exile.

"They (underground militant groups to fight against India in Kashmir) were indeed formed," Musharraf told German magazine Der Spiegel in an interview.

Asked why did Pakistan train militant underground groups to fight India in Kashmir, the former President said Nawaz Sharif’s apathy to the Kashmir issue was one of the reasons, so was the fact that the world had turned a blind eye to the dispute.

"Yes, it is the right of any country to promote its own interests... When India is not prepared to discuss Kashmir at the United Nations and is not prepared to resolve the dispute in a peaceful manner," Musharraf claimed.

"The (Nawaz Sharif) Government turned a blind eye because they wanted India to discuss Kashmir," he said.

Musharraf indicated he had no regrets for the Kargil intrusion, that led to an armed conflict with India in 1999, and argued that each country had a right to promote its national interest.

Musharraf slammed the international community, particularly the West, for persistently ignoring the Kashmir issue, and for singling out Pakistan for all blames.

"The West was ignoring the resolution of the Kashmir issue, which is the core issue of Pakistan. We expected the West—especially the United States and important countries like Germany—to resolve the Kashmir issue. Has Germany done that?" the former Pakistan military ruler asked.

Musharraf launched his political party the All Pakistan Muslim League in London and announced his intention to contest the 2013 election.

"The West blames Pakistan for everything. Nobody asks the Indian prime minister, why did you arm your country with a nuclear weapon? Why are you killing innocent civilians in Kashmir? Nobody was bothered that Pakistan got split in 1971 because of India’s military backing for Bangladesh. The United States and Germany gave statements, but they didn’t mean anything," he said.

Musharraf, who overthrew Sharif’s Government in a bloodless coup in 1999, had also as Army chief presided over the Kargil misadventure that had threatened to scale up into a full-fledged war between India and Pakistan.

Musharraf charged the international community of courting India for strategic deals, while treating Pakistan as a rogue state.

"Everybody is interested in strategic deals with India, but Pakistan is always seen as the rogue," Musharraf said.

The former Pakistan ruler also said the worst blunder of the US would be to quit in Afghanistan without winning.

"Then militancy will prevail not only in Pakistan, India and Kashmir, but perhaps also in Europe, the United Kingdom and in the United States. That’s my belief," he said.

KHAWAJA SHARJEEL : Jammu and Kashmir Government today started the process of removing 16 security bunkers from Srinagar city as part of the Centre’s peace initiatives to reach out to the people of the Valley.

The decision to remove the bunkers was taken at a meeting of the Unified Headquarters here last week as part of the Centre’s eight-point Kashmir peace initiative.

The bunkers will be removed from Anganwadi centre Wanihama, BD school Batmaloo, Sonawar, Janab Sahib Soura, Hazratbal, PHC Palpora, Magarmal crossing, Agricultural University Shalimar, DAV School Wazirbagh, SDPT Aloochibagh, Miskinbagh, Firdausabad in Batamaloo, Sazgiripora, Sumkachbal, Common Dental College Karanagar, Bone and Joint Hospital in Barzulla.

As part of its initiative to address the unrest in the Kashmir valley, the Centre had decided to appoint a group of interlocutors to hold a “sustained dialogue” with various shades of opinion, to release about 200 youth detained for stone-pelting and de-scale the presence of security personnel.

It had also requested the State Government to review the deployment of security forces in the Kashmir Valley with particular reference to de-scaling the number of bunkers, check-points etc. In Srinagar and other towns, and to review the notification of areas as ‘disturbed areas

KHAWAJA SHARJEEL : Jammu and Kashmir Government today started the process of removing 16 security bunkers from Srinagar city as part of the Centre’s peace initiatives to reach out to the people of the Valley.

The decision to remove the bunkers was taken at a meeting of the Unified Headquarters here last week as part of the Centre’s eight-point Kashmir peace initiative.

The bunkers will be removed from Anganwadi centre Wanihama, BD school Batmaloo, Sonawar, Janab Sahib Soura, Hazratbal, PHC Palpora, Magarmal crossing, Agricultural University Shalimar, DAV School Wazirbagh, SDPT Aloochibagh, Miskinbagh, Firdausabad in Batamaloo, Sazgiripora, Sumkachbal, Common Dental College Karanagar, Bone and Joint Hospital in Barzulla.

As part of its initiative to address the unrest in the Kashmir valley, the Centre had decided to appoint a group of interlocutors to hold a “sustained dialogue” with various shades of opinion, to release about 200 youth detained for stone-pelting and de-scale the presence of security personnel.

It had also requested the State Government to review the deployment of security forces in the Kashmir Valley with particular reference to de-scaling the number of bunkers, check-points etc. In Srinagar and other towns, and to review the notification of areas as ‘disturbed areas

KHAWAJA SHARJEEL : Jammu and Kashmir Government today started the process of removing 16 security bunkers from Srinagar city as part of the Centre’s peace initiatives to reach out to the people of the Valley.

The decision to remove the bunkers was taken at a meeting of the Unified Headquarters here last week as part of the Centre’s eight-point Kashmir peace initiative.

The bunkers will be removed from Anganwadi centre Wanihama, BD school Batmaloo, Sonawar, Janab Sahib Soura, Hazratbal, PHC Palpora, Magarmal crossing, Agricultural University Shalimar, DAV School Wazirbagh, SDPT Aloochibagh, Miskinbagh, Firdausabad in Batamaloo, Sazgiripora, Sumkachbal, Common Dental College Karanagar, Bone and Joint Hospital in Barzulla.

As part of its initiative to address the unrest in the Kashmir valley, the Centre had decided to appoint a group of interlocutors to hold a “sustained dialogue” with various shades of opinion, to release about 200 youth detained for stone-pelting and de-scale the presence of security personnel.

It had also requested the State Government to review the deployment of security forces in the Kashmir Valley with particular reference to de-scaling the number of bunkers, check-points etc. In Srinagar and other towns, and to review the notification of areas as ‘disturbed areas

Authorities started removing some para-military bunkers from Kashmir's main city of Srinagar today in an effort to ease tensions in a region racked by deadly protests.
"The process of removing some 16 security bunkers from Srinagar has started," Prabhakar Tripathi, a spokesman for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)said.

SSP Kathua Gareeb Dass today ordered transfer and posting of five SHOs in Kathua district. SHO Billawar Inspector Rakesh Bamba has been shifted to District Police Lines (DPL), Kathua. SHO Bashohli Inspector Raghubir Singh has been posted as new SHO Billawar police station.

Inspector Ashok Sharma has been posted as new SHO

KAWAJA SHARJEEL : 3.10.2010 .Death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir today rose to 105 as a youth injured in security forces action last month succumbed to injuries even as the Valley returned to normalcy for a day after authorities lifted curfew and separatist Hurriyat Conference called of its protests and strike. Omar Suleiman Sheikh, who was injured in security forces firing at Sangrama in Sopore area of Baramulla district on September 16, succumbed to injuries at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura here this morning. The 20-year-old youth was hit by a bullet in the thigh which had caused extensive damage to his blood vessel, resulting in loss of blood. As soon as the youth's body reached his native Potukhah area, hundreds of residents raised slogans against the killing. However, the protestors dispersed peacefully after the deceased was laid to rest at the local graveyard. With Sheikh's death, toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir valley, which began with the killing of a 17-year-old boy at Rajouri Kadal on June 11, has now risen to 105. The death of the youth was tragedy for his mother, who had lost her husband to the bullets of unidentified gunmen in 1990s. Elsewhere in the Valley, life returned to normalcy as curfew was lifted from entire Valley except Kangan area in Ganderbal district. "There will be no restrictions on movement of the people today but people cannot take out processions without permission of the concerned authority," a police spokesman said here. Official sources said curfew remained in force in Kangan town and adjoining areas as a precautionary measure, as authorities were apprehending protests over the killing of three militants in an encounter yesterday. Hard line faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, which is spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley, had yesterday announced exemption of the day from scheduled protests and strikes. Geelani said the decision was taken after Government imposed stringent curfew yesterday in the Valley despite his Hurriyat calling for normal activities. All shops, private offices, business establishments and petrol pumps across the Valley resumed their work. The markets, which were deserted in recent days, were bustling with shoppers. Public transport also returned to all the city and inter-district routes of the Valley while the rare day of normalcy saw massive traffic jams till late in the evening at many places in commercial hub of Lal Chowk and Residency Road. Government offices and schools, however, remained closed due to public holiday on account of Gandhi Jayanti. Police said law and order situation across the Valley remained by and large peaceful with no major untoward incident reported from anywhere today. However, restrictions had to be imposed in Palhalan area of Baramulla district in the afternoon following protests by the local residents over alleged harassment by security forces in the area. Reports from the highway town on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road have said that many youth have migrated from the area and are putting up with their friends and relatives due to the nocturnal raids by security forces.

Srinagar: Authorities are likely to impose restrictions in Srinagar city on Sunday, sources said.
They said that restrictions may remain imposed in the first half and may be relaxed in the afternoon. “ Restrictions will be put in place to prevent people from marching towards Varmul, the call for which has been given by Hurriyat (G),”

The 11-day Games, to be formally inaugurated jointly by President Pratibha Patil and Prince Charles, should once again see the complete domination of Australia, though India should fancy its chances better than ever before

A condellence meeting of NGFOA STATE was held under the chairmanship of state president NGFOA SHAKH ZAFRULLAH at Bhaderwah.NGFOA condole shreef Neyaz`s family for the untimely death of his brother in low Ab Rashid Rather at bhalasa Doda.Ab Rashid Rather was also PRO to Ex Power Minister................publishtry secratry NGFOA Stete Rasik waheed

Amazing facts: your finger nails grow 4 times faster than your toe nails and the Post Office delivers 167 billion pieces of mail each year

north Kashmir district on Saturday, police said. A gunfight between militants and troopers had broken out near Refugee camp Bakhtoor in Gurez sector this morning. The gunfight was on when reports last came in.

All telecom operators resume mobile services in Baramulla town yesterday evening as Government lifts ban on mobile services in the area

NEW DELHI: The United States had denied that a permanent seat for India on the UN Security Council (UNSC) was linked with the situation in Kashmir.

"I don’t see a link between the two," US Government spokesman P J Crowley said.

The statement by the Obama Administration follows similar comments by a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry that there was no link between the two.

Reports here last week quoted US President Barack Obama as saying that a permanent seat on the UNSC to India was linked with the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Sources here, while quoting Mr Crowley as telling reporters in Washington, said the United States wanted to see India and Pakistan work collectively together to resolve tensions regarding Kashmir.

Mr Crowley said India and a number of countries and the US were also interested in UN reform, including reforms within the Security Council.

"Those are conversations which are ongoing with a wide range of countries," he added.

Asked if the Security Council seat would be a big agenda item for Mr Obama when he goes to India in November, Mr Crowley said it was an issue that comes up in the Indo-US dialogue.

He, however, said he could not predict whether the issue would come up during President Obama’s India visit.

"It is an...It is an issue that comes up in our ongoing dialogue with India. I can’t predict whether it will come up in November," he said.

(AGENCIES)

Normalcy returns in Mendhar as day curfew lifted

JAMMU : Normalcy returned to the bordering Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district after day curfew was lifted in the area, official sources here today said.

“The administration today lifted a day curfew in tehsil Mendhar, which was imposed two weeks ago when three people were killed and 30 injured in police firing on a mob who attempted to set ablaze a missionary school,” official sources here said.

The mob was protesting against the alleged desecration of a Holy Quran in United States.

“The day curfew has been lifted but night curfew would remain in force,” sources said adding that Section 144 CrPC would continue as a preventive measure during the day.

Life returns to normal in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Life in Kashmir Valley today returned to normal as authorities lifted curfew and hardline Hurriyat Conference exempted the day from its schedule of protests and strikes.

Curfew was lifted from the entire Valley, except Kangan town in Ganderbal district, last night as the law and order situation across the region remained by and large peaceful yesterday, official sources said.

The sources said restrictions were not eased in Kangan town as a gunbattle was raging between militants and security forces at Chak-Akhal, 45 kms from here.

A police spokesman last night said there will be no curfew in Srinagar city today. He, however, advised people not to take out any processions without prior sanction from authorities.

Shops, business establishments and private offices opened early in the morning while public transport was plying on all routes of the Valley.

Schools and Government offices, however, remained closed on account of Gandhi Jayanti.

Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said since the Government imposed curfew on people Friday, which had been exempted by him in his protest schedule, he has decided to withdraw today’s strike so that people of the Valley get some relief.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the ongoing unrest in the Valley today rose to 105 as a youth, injured during clashes with security forces in Sopore last month, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here this morning.

20-year-old Omar Suleiman Shiekh, who was injured on September 16, died at SKIMS Hospital at Soura.

Kashmir Valley has been in a grip of violent protests since June 11 when a 17-year-old boy was killed after he was hit by a tear smoke shell during clashes at Rajouri Kadal in interior city.

NEW DELHI: The United States had denied that a permanent seat for India on the UN Security Council (UNSC) was linked with the situation in Kashmir.

"I don’t see a link between the two," US Government spokesman P J Crowley said.

The statement by the Obama Administration follows similar comments by a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry that there was no link between the two.

Reports here last week quoted US President Barack Obama as saying that a permanent seat on the UNSC to India was linked with the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Sources here, while quoting Mr Crowley as telling reporters in Washington, said the United States wanted to see India and Pakistan work collectively together to resolve tensions regarding Kashmir.

Mr Crowley said India and a number of countries and the US were also interested in UN reform, including reforms within the Security Council.

"Those are conversations which are ongoing with a wide range of countries," he added.

Asked if the Security Council seat would be a big agenda item for Mr Obama when he goes to India in November, Mr Crowley said it was an issue that comes up in the Indo-US dialogue.

He, however, said he could not predict whether the issue would come up during President Obama’s India visit.

"It is an...It is an issue that comes up in our ongoing dialogue with India. I can’t predict whether it will come up in November," he said

SRINAGAR : Opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) today ruled out taking part in the ongoing Assembly session in Jammu and Kashmir till the State Government initiated action against those responsible for killing of youths during protests in the Valley.

"Unless, this lawlessness comes to a halt, asking questions in the legislature will sound a meaningless charade," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami.

Tarigami was yesterday nominated by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Legislative Assembly to persuade the PDP leadership to end its boycott in the larger interests of the people and democracy.

"This is a serious issue and unless the Government shows some inclination to stop atrocities and initiates action against the killers of 110 innocent persons, the Assembly session will lack any seriousness and credibility," she said.

Reiterating her party's faith in democratic functioning, Mehbooba said staying away from proceedings of the House to register protest of the people was an established parliamentary practice.

She said the current crisis had seriously eroded credibility of democratic institutions in the State and the legislature was no exception.

"All the resolutions furnished by the largest (opposition) party of the State, the PDP, have been disallowed by the speaker. These resolutions pertained to revocation of AFSPA, reduction in troops on civilian duty, holding of unconditional dialogue to resolve Kashmir issue and renegotiation of power projects," she said

International Non Violence day Celebrated All Over World Today.









From
SACH NEWS network Team J&K
Editor in Chief: Maqbool V RAY
Bureau Chief Srinagar: Javid Anjum
Bureau Chief Jammu: Khawaja Sharjeel
Sub Editor: Dalbir Singh Chib

Srinagar: A day started normally after a long time in Kashmir Valley on Saturday as Hurriyat Conference (G), spearheading the ongoing “Quit Kashmir Movement,” suspended the strike for one day and authorities lifted the curfew.
Shops and business establishments reopened while traffic plied normally. However, government offices and banks remained closed in wake of a gazetted holiday on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Pertinently, authorities since Eid-ul-Fitr authorities have been clamping curfew on the days which were exempted from the strike by Hurriyat (G). However, today no curfew was clamped.

Security forces today got major successes during counter-militancy operations in Kashmir valley as eight militants were killed in separate encounters but a policeman also laid down his life while battling the ultras.

Army foiled a major infiltration bid in Machhil sector near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district and killed five unidentified militants in the operation so far, official sources said.

Troops laid an ambush at Maidan Behak in Machhil sector following information that a large group of militants was preparing to infiltrate into the Valley from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

As soon as contact was established with the infiltrators, the Army troops asked them to surrender but the militants opened indiscriminate firing on the security forces.

Troops returned the fire, triggering off a fierce gun battle between the two sides, which left five militants dead.

A huge cache of arms, ammunition, war like stores and sophisticated communication and navigation equipment have been recovered from the scene of encounter.

Identity and group affiliation of the slain militants could not be ascertained immediately as the operation was still in progress. Army troops were carrying out searches of the forest area to look out for more militants.

Army officials asserted that 300 to 400 militants are waiting on various launch pads located along the LoC on PoK side to sneak into Kashmir valley before snowfall, which will lead to closure of natural passes in the mountainous region.

Army and BSF have intensified patrolling and vigil along the LoC to foil any bids by the militants to infiltrate into the Valley

Three militants and a Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel were killed in an encounter in Kangan area of Ganderbal district which began last evening. Three other security force personnel and a civilian have been injured in the gun fight which was going on till reports last came in.

The encounter at Chak-e-Akhal began yesterday when security forces launched a cordon-cum- search operation to flush out militants hiding in the area.

"Three militants have been killed in the encounter so far while the operation is still in progress," a senior security force official said.

The identity and group affiliation of the slain militant could not be ascertained immediately.

One police man was injured in the initial firefight yesterday while two more security force personnel sustained injuries in the gun battle today. A civilian, working in his farm, was also injured when he was hit by a stray bullet.

With the fresh militant deaths, the number of ultras killed in the past 31 days in Kashmir valley has now gone up to 50.

A Defence spokesman here said the Army continued to focus on conducting relentless counter-infiltration operations on the Line of Control as well as elimination of militants in the hinterland.

He said 42 well-armed and trained, both local and foreign militants, have been eliminated in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations conducted by the Army in September this year.

"Importantly, a number of cache of arms and ammunition has also been unearthed during this period. In the successful encounters, a large quantity of warlike stores including assault rifles, pistols, rocket propelled grenades, hand grenades, Improvised Explosive Device Equipment, detonators, mines and sophisticated communication equipment have been recovered by the Army, the spokesman said.

He said the magnitude of this success in a single month has been unprecedented in recent years. The vigilant troops along the Line of Control have intercepted, engaged and eliminated 16 militants and while conducting joint operations with the SOG of J&K Police, based on actionable intelligence, in the hinterland, 26 militants were killed.

"The synergy between the security forces has resulted in these result oriented encounters. Significantly, despite the prevailing law and order situation, the counter terrorism operations were conducted with surgical precision and professionalism despite threat to own lives which resulted in no collateral damage to property or civilian lives. This is in consonance with the Army's policy of conducting 'People Friendly Operations'," he added.