Srinagar, March 7
Life was affected here today in response to the strike call of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry to protest against the massacres in Gujarat. A bandh call following the detention of 18 lawyers of the high court protesting against the Gujarat incidents had not evoked any response here on Saturday.

All shops and business establishments were closed and passenger transport service was also disrupted on most city routes. Educational institutions, banks and government offices remained closed, though there was thin attendance in some of the institutions. Some of the examinations being conducted by the University of Kashmir were conducted as per schedule.

Some major towns of the valley also observed a complete bandh. The chamber condemned the continued incidents of killings in Gujarat targeted at a particular community and alleged that the government had failed to check them.

A decision to this effect was taken here at a meeting of the representatives of all associations convened by chairman Rouf A. Punjabi on Monday. The meeting also condemned “harassment and ill-treatment meted out to Kashmiris working and studying outside the valley”. The Chairman expressed surprise over the government inaction during “communal riots”.

Meanwhile, seven persons, including six militants, were killed and four others injured in separate incidents in the valley since yesterday. One militant surrendered before the security forces while another was held and a large quantity of arms and ammunition recovered during the search operations.

The police averted a major tragedy today with the timely detection of an IED at Safapore in Baramula district.

With the recovery of two more bodies of suspected militants from the debris at an encounter site in Sherwani Colony near Baramula the death toll has gone up to five. The body of a suspected militant was recovered on Tuesday, while two others, including a civilian and a policeman, were killed in the 30-hour long encounter between the security forces and holed up militants, which began on Monday. Three houses were also damaged in the encounter which concluded on Tuesday evening. Three AK rifles, 17 AK magazines, 308 AK rounds, two UBGL grenades and a wireless set were also recovered.

Two militants of the Ansar-ul-Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Beerwah area of Budgam district near here today.

The security forces killed two militants Mohammad Ashraf Khan and Bashir Ahmad Bhat at Vilgam in Kupwara district yesterday. One residential house, two granaries, a cowshed and a shop were gutted in the exchange of fire, while some cattle head were also burnt, the police here said.

In another encounter with the security forces at the Surnar forests, one militant of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen was killed in Kupwara district.

A jawan was killed when their patrol party was ambushed by militants in Dangiwacha area of Baramula district yesterday.

The police today recovered the body of Abdul Rashid Khatana from Kokernag are of Anantnag district. He had been kidnapped by militants on Sunday.

Two pedestrians and an Ikhwan activist were injured when militants hurled a grenade at Ikhwan activists or counter-insurgents near Shangus in Anantnag district yesterday.

A jawan was injured in an encounter with the militants at Dareshpora, Handwara in Kupwara district yesterday.

The security forces gunned down two militants at Phagla village in Poonch district late last night. Two AK rifles and four magazines were recovered from the slain militants.

Prohibitory orders have been promulgated in Badgam district of Central Kashmir to prevent obstructions and incidents of riots, official sources said today.

The orders, which were issued yesterday by the District Magistrate, shall remain in force for a period of two months, they said.

JAMMU: Pakistani troops resorted to heavy mortar shelling and intermittent firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border in Jammu division since Wednesday, official sources said on Thursday.

The Pakistani troops fired several mortar shells from across the LoC in Bhawani sector of Rajouri district from 12.30 a.m. yesterday.

Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for some hours, they said, adding that any casualty on the Pakistani side could not be ascertained.