J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

5 ultras killed in encounters
Srinagar, January 8
Five militants including a self-styled district commander of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, were killed in separate encounters with security forces in the Kashmir valley since last night, a police spokesman said here today.

An Army officer explaining to war widows and ex-servicemen their rights and facilities they are entitled to at a function in Anantnag district, 55km from Srinagar, on Wednesday. — PTI

Bodies identified
Srinagar, January 8
The identity of three persons, whose bodies were found from the Aishmuqam area in Anantnag district of south Kashmir yesterday, has been ascertained. They were found to have been killed by suspected militants for being alleged police informers, and were relatives of two activists of the Ikhwan or counter-insurgents working with the security forces.

Two NC leaders join PDP
Jammu, January 8
PDP has won over two leaders of the Shia and the Sikh communities. The two leaders, Mr Sadiq Ali, a former MLA, and Mr Rangil Singh, a former Minister, yesterday joined the PDP.

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5 ultras killed in encounters
Tribune News Service & PTI

Srinagar, January 8
Five militants including a self-styled district commander of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, were killed in separate encounters with security forces in the Kashmir valley since last night, a police spokesman said here today.

The commander, a Pakistani national identified as Abu Talha, was killed in an eight-hour long gunbattle with Army jawans at Gondipora village in Budgam district of central Kashmir in the early hours today, the spokesman said.

The house of Abdul Rahman was gutted in the encounter which ended around 1 a.m. An AK rifle, five magazines and a grenade were seized from the possession of the slain militant.

In a major encounter, troops of Rashtriya Rifles shot dead three militants during a search operation at Kreeri in Baramula district of north Kashmir today, the spokesman said.

Army troops also killed a Pakistani militant of the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit in a gunfight at Walkul village in the border district of Kupwara in north Kashmir last night.

Meanwhile, miscreants threw acid on a youth at Tantray-check in Anantnag district of south Kashmir last night, causing serious injuries to him, the spokesman said. The youth has been shifted to a hospital, he added. The police seized 40 kg of explosives concealed in a milk container on the roof of a bus and arrested the driver at the general bus stand, Batamaloo, here today. A vehicle of the security forces was damaged in an IED explosion at Mendhar in Poonch district.

The security forces seized a UBGL, 12 UBGL grenades, 245 AK rounds, four hand grenades, 20 kg of RDX, five detonators and a remote control from a hideout in Banihal area of Doda district today.

Bodies identified
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 8
The identity of three persons, whose bodies were found from the Aishmuqam area in Anantnag district of south Kashmir yesterday, has been ascertained. They were found to have been killed by suspected militants for being alleged police informers, and were relatives of two activists of the Ikhwan or counter-insurgents working with the security forces.

They have been identified as 55-year old Shahbaz Ahmad Bhat and his son Tanveer Ahmad Bhat, father and brother of a former activist of the Ikhwan, the counter-insurgent group. Shahbaz Ahmad Bhat’s another son, Mohammad Ayub Bhat, alias Sher Khan, a counter-insurgent, was killed in an explosion inside a security forces camp in the area last year.

Another person was identified as Barkat Ali Khan, whose brother Ghulam Mohammed is reported to be an activist of the Ikhwan. All three victims had been abducted by suspected militants and their bodies were found from two different places near Aishmuqam.

The killing by suspected militants is part of the stepped-up attacks on the police informers in Kashmir during the recent weeks. Two alleged police informers were killed in Anantnag and Pulwama district on January 1. Farooq Ahmad Chhat was killed by suspected militants on the allegations of being a police and security forces informer in Pulwama district. His bullet-ridden body was found along with a letter from suspected militants, stating that he had been killed for being a police informer.

Two NC leaders join PDP
Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 8
PDP has won over two leaders of the Shia and the Sikh communities.

The two leaders, Mr Sadiq Ali, a former MLA, and Mr Rangil Singh, a former Minister, yesterday joined the PDP. They belonged to the National Conference. Mr Sadiq Ali won Assembly seat from the Zadibal constituency in 1996 but could not retain the seat allegedly because of manipulations by another Shia leader Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari. The Molvi and Mr Ali have been rivals.

Mr Rangil Singh’s defection to the PDP is the result of close and long association he had with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. During the past one month the Mufti is said to have renewed his contact with Mr Rangil Singh and succeeded in winning him over into the APDP.