J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Two militants among four killed in J&K
Srinagar, December 27
Four persons, including two militants, were killed while two houses were damaged in a blast in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours. An official spokesman said security forces gunned down two militants in an encounter at Dessa in Doda district of Jammu region last night.

Soldier dismissed from service for misconduct
Srinagar, December 27
The Army authorities have dismissed a soldier from service, accused in the alleged rape of a 60-year-old woman in south Kashmir reportedly on December 20 last year.

Pakistani Kashmiris in the foreground communicate with their Indian relatives across the Neelum river in the Tethwal sector, 60 km north-east of Muzaffarabad, on Sunday. — PTI

6 millionth visitor to shrine honoured
Jammu, December 27
Mr Takkar Chakraborthy from Kolkata today became the six millionth pilgrim in the current year to pay obeisance at the shrine of Vaishno Devi.

Cable car project to be commissioned  in February
Srinagar, December 27
The second phase of the 2.65 km Gulmarg Gondola cable car project, connecting Kongdori with Affarwat at a height of 13,500 ft will be commissioned in February next year, making it Asia’s longest ropeway.

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Winters bring boom time for flower growers. (28k, 56k)

Two militants among four killed in J&K

Srinagar, December 27
Four persons, including two militants, were killed while two houses were damaged in a blast in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman said security forces gunned down two militants in an encounter at Dessa in Doda district of Jammu region last night. One AK rifle, one magazine, five rounds, two wireless sets and one shotgun were recovered from the slain militants.

Two security personnel were injured in the encounter. The security forces arrested a militant along with one pistol at Sungli Bhaderwah last night.

He said Khurshid Ahmad, who was injured in a grenade blast near the shrine of Pakherpora in the central Kashmir district of Badgam on December 24, died in the hospital today. With this the toll in the blast has risen to three killed and 26 injured.

Militants shot dead one person at Sumlar and two, including a woman, were injured at Sumlar Bandipora last night. The injured were hospitalised.

An explosion took place in the house of Bashir Ahmad Ganai at Zainapora in Pulwama district last night causing damage to it and another adjacent house. No one was injured. — UNI

Soldier dismissed from service for misconduct
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 27
The Army authorities have dismissed a soldier from service, accused in the alleged rape of a 60-year-old woman in south Kashmir reportedly on December 20 last year. The soldier has been handed over to the civil authorities for execution of the sentence and would also undergo a rigorous imprisonment of one year in a civil jail.

The action has been taken for the misconduct while the rape allegations are found to be false and mala fide, according to the Defence spokesman.

The spokesman said the Army took a serious view of the misconduct, and the soldier was tried by a Summary Court Martial as stipulated under the Army Act. Within a week’s time of the receipt of the complaint, all legal proceedings were carried out and the soldier was dismissed, he added.

The enquiry had been conducted in the allegations of rape of a 60-year-old woman, of Shekhpora, Sallar, near Pahalgam in Anantnag district on December 20 last year. This led to protests by the residents.

The findings of medical examination of the victim conducted in Anantnag District hospital and the enquiry ordered by the Army conclusively proved that the allegations of rape were false and mala fide, the spokesman said.

However, there was sufficient prima facie evidence to prove that the soldier had indulged in misconduct which was not in keeping with the traditions and ethos of the Army and was in violation of the Army’s code of conduct enunciated by the Chief of army staff, the spokesman stated.

6 millionth visitor to shrine honoured
Our Correspondent

Jammu, December 27
Mr Takkar Chakraborthy from Kolkata today became the six millionth pilgrim in the current year to pay obeisance at the shrine of Vaishno Devi.

Mr Rohit Kansal, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said that during 2000, 2002 and 2003 more than 50,000 pilgrims had visited the shrine and the six-million figure reached when Mr Chakraborthy entered the holy cave.

Mr Chakraborthy was presented an idol of the goddess along with a memento and the traditional chuni. Mr Kansal, while welcoming Mr Chakraborthy, announced that he would be treated as a guest of the Board. He would be given complimentary accommodation, besides other facilities, including the special darshan facility.

Mr Kansal said a 700- bedded dormitory had been built for the benefit of the pilgrims. More yatri bhavans were being constructed and the route between Katra and the holy cave was being widened to avoid any inconvenience to the devotees.

Mr Kansal said that in view of the swelling pilgrim traffic, the board had computerised its installation. It had envisaged the adoption of biometric system (use of finger prints and plastic identity cards), which will not only upgrade security but also help the devotees in planning their yatra.

Cable car project to be commissioned in February

Srinagar, December 27
The second phase of the 2.65 km Gulmarg Gondola cable car project, connecting Kongdori with Affarwat at a height of 13,500 ft will be commissioned in February next year, making it Asia’s longest ropeway.

When the second phase of the cable car project gets completed, there are plans to host the Asian Skiing Championship in February, said the Chief Executive Officer, Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA), Mr Farooq Ahmad.

Mr Farooq Ahmad said Affarwat, offers skiing at lesser rates compared to European countries. The health resort has the facilities of skiing lifts, snow beaters and ice rinks necessary for the holding of skiing events. — TNS