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Troops on high alert in J&K
TNS and PTI

Jammu, July 13
Army troops have been put on “high alert” in sensitive areas of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Jammu division, to thwart any attempts by militants to strike during the Agra summit, a top Army official said here today.

“Troops are put on high alert in the sensitive and remote areas of Jammu division to prevent militants strike during the summit, commencing from tomorrow”, Brigadier General Staff (BGS), 16 Corps Headquaters, Brig P.C. Das told PTI over the telephone from Nagrota.

“We will not allow them to strike anywhere in our operational area, even as they are desperate to make major news”, Brigadier Das said.

“Security has been tightened all along the Line of Control (LoC) to foil any type of infiltration of Pakistani-sponsored mercenaries”, he said.

Meanwhile a newly elected village head and two women were killed in separate militancy related incidents in Doda and Rajouri districts of Jammu division, official sources said here today. The sources said that militants shot dead the sarpanch at Dharam-Gool area of Doda district last night.

Two women were also killed when an improvised explosive device planted by militants to target the security forces exploded on the road at the Ghambir Mughlan area in Rajouri district yesterday, the sources said.

Life in Srinagar remained crippled today by a general strike called by the All-Party Hurriyat Conference in memory of 21 freedom fighters while senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah was placed under house arrest since last night to prevent him from leading a procession to the martyrs’ graves.

The police fired several rounds in the air and burst tear gas shells to disperse a stone-pelting and slogan-shouting mob at Nowhatta in the downtown area immediately after Friday prayers concluded at the Jama Masjid.

Several persons were injured in the pitched battle that went on for about two hours.