M A I N   N E W S

3 jawans die in blast on Amarnath yatra route
Five bodies found in Pulwama

Srinagar, June 27
Five unidentified bodies were recovered from the woods of Garwattan in south Kashmir even as militants of pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen detonated a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) on the Amarnath pilgrimage route today, killing three security personnel.

Official sources said five unidentified bodies were recovered from the woods at Garwattan in Pulwama district of south Kashmir this afternoon.

The bodies were taken away by the police for identification, sources said.

Official sources told UNI that as the vehicles ferrying security forces for ‘yatra duty’ were moving towards the cave shrine, militants detonated a powerful IED at 1030 am local time at Frisalan Chandanwari in south Kashmir, the first halting point for pilgrims.

Three security men were killed in one vehicle which was ripped apart in the blast.

Elsewhere in the state, five security personnel and as many militants killed and 26 others were wounded overnight.

In all, 16 persons were killed and 32 injured in militancy-related violence in the state.

Official sources said militants resorted to indiscriminate firing near Soura telephone exchange this evening resulting in injuries to seven police personnel and a civilian. The Al-Medina terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The injured were admitted to nearby S.K. Medical Institute.

Later Assistant Sub-Inspector Abdul Khaliq and constable Fayaz Ahamd died. Police personnel allegedly beat up pedestrians and looted shops in the area.

Official sources said militants hurled a hand grenade towards the security forces at the crowded Lal Chowk in Anantnag around 11.30 am. The grenade missed the target and exploded on the roadside, causing injuries to four CRPF personnel and 22 pedestrians. UNI

Dukhtaran declared unlawful

New Delhi, June 27
The Centre today declared the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, a Kashmiri women’s terrorist organisation, as an unlawful organisation under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) with immediate effect.

A Home Ministry notification said the organisation was involved in terrorist activities and therefore ‘’banned under POTA with immediate effect’’.

With this, the total number of such organisations banned under POTA has gone up to 29.

The Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of Faith), an all-women pro-Pakistan organisation, was established in 1987 with an aim to establish an Islamic state in Kashmir.

The outfit often protests against non-adherence to the burqa (veil) system and display of objectionable literature in the state. UNI