Srinagar, February 17
A top commander of Pakistan based Al-badr was among two militants killed by the security forces in the Kashmir valley overnight, official spokesman said today.

He said troops of 5 Rashtriya Rifles killed a militant in an encounter at Ganderbal early this morning.

The encounter followed after a search party was attacked by the militants. One AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant.

Troops also gunned down militant Ajaz Ahmad at Tral in south Kashmir district of Pulwama last evening.

A spokesman of the Al-badr told local mediapersons that Ajaz, a district commander of the outfit, was active in the area for the past four years.

He claimed eight security personnel were killed or wounded in the encounter which continued for four hours.

Jammu: Security forces today busted a cave type militant hideout and recovered from it some arms and ammunition in Rajouri district, a defence spokesman said here.

Security forces, on specific information, launched search operation in Khooni Nullah of Rajouri district this monring and busted a hideout there, he said.

The recoveries from the hideout yielded one rocket propelled grenade launcher along with its two shells and five metres of cordex wire, the spokesman said, adding however the militants had fled from the spot before the arrival of troops.

Later, the security forces smashed the hideout, he added.

Baramula: Two persons, including a fire service employee, were wounded in a grenade blast near Sopore in this district today.

Official sources said militants hurled a hand grenade towards a security forces patrol party near the fire station in Sopore at 4 pm this afternoon.

However, the grenade missed the target and exploded on the roadside causing injuries to two persons, the sources said.

The wounded have been identified as Mohammad Shafiq, a fire service personnel, and Farooq Ahmad, they said, adding the injured have been evacuated to a hospital.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility of the blast.— UNI, PTI

Waltengoo (Qazigund), February 17
Rendered homeless by a snowstorm on February 18 last year, survivors of 128 families are yet to get a home, even as 68 families have been shifted to 34 newly constructed hutments by the government.

At least 175 persons had lost their lives in the snowstorm. The first phase of the three-phase Rs 4.66 crore project for the houses has been completed with the construction of 34 houses.

The remaining will be completed by the end of the year, according to officials.

However, those who have shifted are under constant threat of their houses sliding down.

“A little rain or snowfall leads to the sliding of slopes along the houses”, said Mir Hussain, who has shifted to this place, along with the 68 families. “One house developed cracks and had to be repaired immediately”, he said.

The others sear that the houses may collapse during the rains.

Residents point out that basic facilities like drinking water, electricity and roads were yet to reach their houses near Qazigund in Anantnag district.

“We have completed the construction of 34 butments, rather full-fledged houses, for the Waltengoo survivors in a record time of 45 to 50 days in the first phase,” said Mr Baseer Ahmad Khan, District Development Commissioner, Anantnag. The remaining houses would be completed by November-end. There had been a delay in taking up the construction due to the identification of land for rehabilitation, he said.

Out of Rs 4.66 crores for the rehabilitation, Rs 53.32 lakhs had been spent so far, he the added.