Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces on Tuesday in the Ahwatoo village of Kulgam district in Jammu and Kashmir.

The terrorists were identified as Md Shafi Ganie, resident of Batpora, Kulgam and Mohammad Asif Wani alias Yawar, resident of Takiya, Kulgam. Both the terrorists were members of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist outfit.

Based on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in the village, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the area by the Indian Army along with J&K Police and CRPF at around 3.20 pm.

After security forces cordoned off the area, terrorists hiding in the target house started firing, drawing retaliation by the security forces.

During the firing, one soldier sustained a splinter/ricochet injury in the foot. The soldier was evacuated to 439 Field Hospital, Awantipura. Meanwhile, due to the indiscriminate fire by the terrorists, the gas godown in the vicinity of the target house caught fire, leading to multiple explosions.

Later, contact was re-established and two terrorists were neutralised. On search of the encounter site, two AK series rifles and grenades were recovered.

Jammu, September:

Barely a few hours after a six-month-old infant was allegedly kidnapped from the government hospital in Kishtwar district, the police rescued him and also nabbed the woman abductor, officials said.

Earlier in the day, the police announced a reward of Rs 10,000 on the abductor. She is being questioned, said Senior Superintendent of Police Shafqat Hussain Bhat.

Srinagar, Sept 28: Amid vehement protests by fruit traders against halting of fruit trucks on the Srinagar-Jammu highway which was causing them huge losses, the J&K government on Wednesday transferred SSP Traffic Highway Shabir Ahmad Malik and attached him with the police Headquarters J&K with immediate effect.

According to an order issued by R K Goyal, Financial Commissioner Additional Chief Secretary, Mohita Sharma, SP Ramban has been given the additional charge of the post till further orders.

The move comes amid protests by Kashmir fruit traders against halting of trucks on the highway.

According to fruit traders, roadwork has prevented thousands of trucks from travelling on Kashmir’s main route carrying millions of dollars worth of apples, leading to complaints from farmers as their harvest starts to spoil.

Jammu, Sep 28: Weather was dry in Jammu and Kashmir during the last 24 hours as the Meteorological (MeT) office said on Wednesday that the same conditions are likely to continue.

“Dry weather is likely to continue in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said.

Srinagar had 12.8, Pahalgam 6.8 and Gulmarg 7 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.

Drass in Ladakh had 3.3, Kargil 6.6 and Leh 4.4 as the minimum temperature.

“Dry weather is likely to continue in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said.

Srinagar had 12.8, Pahalgam 6.8 and Gulmarg 7 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.

Drass in Ladakh had 3.3, Kargil 6.6 and Leh 4.4 as the minimum temperature.

Jammu had 22.8, Katra 20.3, Batote 14.2, Banihal 11.4 and Bhaderwah 12.4 as the minimum temperature.

Jammu, September:

A day after fruit growers of Kashmir held protests over the traffic disruption on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Tuesday held a meeting to take stock of the traffic movement on the highway.

He stressed on putting in place a robust mechanism to regulate traffic of heavy motor vehicles (HMV) at critical points on the vital stretch. The meeting held in Jammu was attended by officials of the administration, the traffic police and the NHAI. The Chief Secretary instructed traffic officials to issue daily bulletin for stakeholders, mentioning travel time taken by heavy motor vehicles from Qazigund to Jakhani, loss of time due to shooting stones at Cafteria Morh, Mehar, and number of vehicles waiting to leave for Jammu.

Mehta also stressed on putting in place the robust communication and information mechanism by the traffic police so as to regulate the HMV traffic at critical points, like Qazigund- Banihal, Banihal market, Sherbibi and Panthayal.

Officials were asked to augment manpower requirement from all sources to regulate traffic in an optimal manner, besides enforcing lane discipline on the critical stretches between Ramban and Banihal.

Moreover, the Ramban administration was instructed to ensure deployment of adequate manpower and traffic management team at Banihal. Farmers as well as traders are worried as thousands of trucks carrying fruits are stuck on the highway for days. Rotting has begun, they say.

Jammu, Sep 27 (PTI) Amid a widespread crackdown against the Popular Front of India, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh on Tuesday said a comprehensive plan is in place to deal with terror and anti-national elements in the country.

The police chief further said action against the terror networks would definitely have a positive impact and there was no need to look at the country-wide raids from a communal angle.

Singh was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the award distribution ceremony of the 11th J&K Shooting Championship, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Rifle Association in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council and the National Rifle Association of India from September 20 to September 27 here.

“There is a very comprehensive kind of plan in place to deal with terror elements and also those who are anti-national. Any action against the terror networks will weaken such groups and will definitely have a positive impact,” he said.

More than 150 people allegedly linked with the PFI were detained or arrested in raids across seven states on Tuesday, five days after a similar pan India crackdown against the group often accused of being linked to radical Islam.