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.

Javaid Anjum Militant killed at Thune Kangan of Gbl Distt in encounter with police & army identified as Ajaz Ahmad @ Amir@Umer of Basant Lahore Pakistan Claims Police

New Delhi: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has ordered that the disputed holy site in Ayodhya be divided into three parts: one-third for Hindu Mahasabha, one-third for Sunni Waqf Board and one-third for the Nirmohi Akhara.
The three-member bench of the Allahabad High Court, comprising justices SU Khan, Sudhir Agarwal and DV Sharma today delivered a split verdict in 60-year old Ayodhya title suit.
The majority ruled that the disputed land in Ayodhya was a joint property, held by all the three claimants namely Hindu Mahasabha , Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Central Waqf Board. Justice SU Khan said that the mosque was built by Babar, not by demolishing a temple , but on the ruins of a temple.
According to Chief Standing Counsel of the UP Government, Devendra Upadhaya, the two judges namely Justices Khan and Agarwal ruled that the disputed property should be equally divided ( One third each) among the three parties. Justice DV Sharma has been categorical that the land belongs to Hindus and has rejected the claim of the Sunni Waqf Board.
However, the entire bench is of the view that the central dome of the disputed structure goes to Hindu Mahasabha, where the idols were installed in 1949 and again in 1992 after the demolition of the Babri Mosque. The Sita rasoi and ram chabootara have been given to Nirmohi Akhara.
The bench has also directed maintenance of status quo for three months and invited suggestions from all the parties for demarcation of the land.

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SRINAGAR 30 : Barring Pulwama and Shopian district towns in south Kashmir, curfew was reimposed in all major towns of the Valley including Srinagar today.

Although no reason was given for the reimposition of curfew in the Valley, sources said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure in view of the Allahabad High Court’s verdict in the Ayodhya title suit case.

A police spokesman said there was no report of any untoward incident in the Valley, where barring Srinagar, the curfew was lifted from other major towns in a phased manner over the past few days.

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city on September 12 and was extended to the entire Kashmir Valley the next day following widespread violence.

“There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere so far,” the spokesman said.

Besides Srinagar, he said curfew was clamped in Budgam town along with Hyderpora, Peerbagh, Humhama, Sheikhpora, Ompora, Choon, Safdan, Magam, Chadoora, and Charar-i-shrief areas in central Kashmir.

Ganderbal district town along with Kangan town, Anantnag district town along with Bijbehara and Mattan areas, Awantipora, Tral and Pampore townships of Pulwama district, Baramulla district town along with Pattan, Sopore, Kunzar, and Tangmarg areas were also brought under curfew afresh, the spokesman said.

He said curfew was also imposed in Kupwara district town and adjoining Trehgam, Kralpora, Handwara, Kulangam, and Chotipora areas, Bandipora district town and adjoining Sumbal.

However, the authorities later relaxed the curfew restrictions for six hours in the curfew bound areas of Kupwara from 9 AM to 2 PM. The relaxation was later extended upto 4 PM, the spokesman said.

Kashmir Valley has been in 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.

The unrest has so far claimed 104 lives.