J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

9 militants killed
SRINAGAR, July 25 — Nine militants had been killed in separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday while the security forces foiled an infiltration bid by ultras from across the border in the Jammu region.

Amarnath Yatra resumes
SRINAGAR, July 25  — Pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath resumed today after five days, an official spokesman said.

Police alerted on immolation threat 
by Hindu Samiti men
JAMMU, July 25 — The state government has directed the police and security agencies to prevent activities of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti from committing self-immolation in Jammu tomorrow.

A Kashmiri woman walks past a jawan  in Srinagar on Tuesday. The news of ceasefire by the frontline Hizbul Mujahideen militant group came as a surprise for residents in Kashmir. It is hoped the ceasefire may lead to a peaceful solution to the Kashmir problem. — Photo by Fayaz Kabli

9 militants killed

SRINAGAR, July 25 (PTI) — Nine militants had been killed in separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday while the security forces foiled an infiltration bid by ultras from across the border in the Jammu region.

The intrusion attempt by a group of three armed militants was scuttled at the Mandyal-Chadwal sector in Kathua district of the Jammu region early today when the security forces arrested them shortly after they sneaked into the Indian side from across the border, an official spokesman said.

The militants were arrested along with some lethal weapons and over Rs 20,000 in Indian currency.

In a major offensive against militants in north Kashmir, joint troops of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Army were engaged in a fierce encounter with ultras in Papachan forest in Bandipora for the past two days, he said.

Five militants, yet to be identified, had been killed in the operation so far, he said adding the fighting continued when last reports were received.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition had been seized.

A Pakistani militant was killed in an encounter with the police at Tulabagh in Pulwama district in south Kashmir last night. The police shot dead an unidentified militant at Gundthal Dara on the outskirts of Srinagar last night.

Two militants were blown up while planting an improvised explosive device (IED) near a foot bridge at Faisalabad of Poonch district yesterday.

Rashtriya Rifle troops along with the police laid an ambush on receipt of information that militants were planning to blow up a foot bridge at Faisalabad and opened fire. The bullets hit the IED which blew up the militants, the spokesman said.

Four hand grenades and a remote control device was recovered from the bridge, the sole lifeline of local population living in villages of Faisalabad and Chittibitti.

Amarnath Yatra resumes

SRINAGAR, July 25 (PTI) — Pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath resumed today after five days, an official spokesman said.

Though the weather was cloudy, authorities today allowed a fresh batch of 2,959 yatris to proceed onwards on the Baltal route. Necessary arrangements for their safety have been made, he said.

He said 10,200 more pilgrims who had got stranded at Chandanwari on the Pahalgam route were also allowed to proceed towards the holy cave and return despite intermittent rains.

However, no fresh batch of yatris was allowed from the base camp Pahalgam today, the spokesman clarified and said about 3,500 pilgrims were stranded at the base camp.

He said the authorities also did not allow any more pilgrims from Jammu today. Once the weather improves and the rush of stranded yatris cleared, pilgrims will be allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine, he added.

Meanwhile, intermittent rain continued in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir valley for the fourth consecutive day today, raising the water level in rivers and lakes.

“Intending yatris, who have not yet registered themselves with the State Tourism Department, are advised not to come to the winter capital as quota of entire Amarnath Yatra has been exhausted,” the Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the State Government, Tourism Department, Mr Parveez Dewan said.

He also advised yatris having valid J&K Government registration slips not to advance their visit, and reach Jammu only five days in advance from the date of darshan indicated in their slips.

Those arriving at Srinagar by air should not reach Pahalgam more than three days and Baltal more than two days before the date given on their registration slip, Mr Dewan said.

Police alerted on immolation threat by 
Hindu samiti men
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, July 25 — The state government has directed the police and security agencies to prevent activities of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti from committing self-immolation in Jammu tomorrow.

Police sources said instructions had been received that in case the samiti activists refused to abandon their plan of self-immolation they should be taken into custody.

The samiti vice-president, Mr Sanjeev Bhardwaj, said here today that three activists would resort to self-immolation at three places in the city tomorrow in protest against the suspension of registration of Amarnath pilgrims, the police lathi charge, and poor arrangements for the pilgrims.

He said five activists were on an indefinite fast here since yesterday and no senior government functionary had come to discuss the problem with the samiti members.

The Department of Tourism has stopped fresh registration of pilgrims. The pilgrims have been prevented from proceeding from Jammu to Pahalgam because already more than 20,000 yatris are stranded at the base camp following extensive damage caused to the Pahalgam-cave mountain route due to heavy rain.

Several hundred pilgrims have left Jammu for their home states as they could not make it to the holy cave because of rain.

A number of pilgrims interviewed said hotel owners and even food stall owners had resorted to overcharging during the last one week. They said there was no state government agency present to check these malpractices.

Reports from Pahalgam said the state agencies were able to repair the damaged mountain track but large groups of pilgrims were not being allowed to proceed to the cave because of heavy rain. Once the weather improved the pilgrimage would be resumed.

A police spokesman said all yatris stranded between Pahalgam and the cave were safe. Some 3,000 pilgrims had reached Pahalgam yesterday after performing pooja at the cave.