4 militants, NC leader killed
SRINAGAR, Nov 2 — Four militants and a National Conference leader have been killed in militancy-related incidents in Kashmir valley since yesterday, an official spokesman said here today. BSF personnel shot dead three unidentified militants in a 12-hour encounter at Patwari village in Nowgam sector of Kupwara today, Deputy Inspector-General of BSF B.N Kabu said.

J&K to face power crisis this winter
JAMMU, Nov 2 — Jammu and Kashmir will face a harsh winter with a 13-hour daily power cut imposed by the Power Department Development in the state.

4 militants, NC leader killed

SRINAGAR, Nov 2 (PTI) — Four militants and a National Conference leader have been killed in militancy-related incidents in Kashmir valley since yesterday, an official spokesman said here today.

BSF personnel shot dead three unidentified militants in a 12-hour encounter at Patwari village in Nowgam sector of Kupwara today, Deputy Inspector-General of BSF B.N Kabu said.

Four AK assault rifles, three rocket launchers, a grenade launcher, eight grenades, eight improvised explosive devices, and a wireless set was recovered from the encounter site, he said, adding that Rs 58,000 were also found.

The special operations group of the Jammu and Kashmir police also shot dead a suspected foreign militant in an ambush at Maharajpora in Batmaloo area here yesterday, the spokesman said.

Militants shot dead National Conference block President Ghulam Hassan Beig at his house in Larnu in Anantnag district yesterday, he said, adding that the ultras escaped soon after.

A house was damaged in an encounter between militants and security forces at Bankote village in Banihal area of Doda, the spokesman said, adding that there was no casualty.

The militants escaped after the gun-battle.

UNI adds: Fifteen militants were among 16 persons killed, while forces recovered 255 kg of explosives and arrested two militants in the valley during the past 24 hours.

Security forces raided a militant hide-out at Lar Ganderbal on the outskirts of the city yesterday and recovered 200 kg of explosives. No arrests has been made so far.

Official spokesman said security forces killed two militants at Chandigam in Kupwara district, one AK rifle, one rocket launcher, 25 kg of explosives, six grenades and 95 kg of ration were recovered near the site of encounter.

He said forces also gunned down two militants at Chuntimarg and another militant was killed at Khag in the Central Kashmir district of Badgam during two different operations yesterday.

He said an encounter took place between militants and security forces at Chila-Danga village last evening during which a militant was killed. One assault rifle, three magazines, two grenades and a bayonet were recovered.

The spokesman said militants shot at and critically wounded Shamim Ahmad Sofi at Arwani in Pulwama. The injured later died at a hospital, he said.

J&K to face power crisis this winter

JAMMU, Nov 2 (PTI) — Jammu and Kashmir will face a harsh winter with a 13-hour daily power cut imposed by the Power Department Development (PDD) in the state.

"Power supply shall remain available from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. on all days in both Kashmir and Jammu provinces, besides from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the evenings in the Kashmir region and from 6 p.m. to midnight in Jammu region," a PDD spokesman said here while announcing the drastic cut in power supply which came into effect from yesterday.

Power supply will be cut during the night from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. in the valley from midnight to 6 a.m. in the Jammu region, while during the day there will be a three-hour power cut.

However, power supply to organised industrial areas will be affected by cuts only from 6 p.m. to midnight in both regions.

The government was forced to take this measure due to lack of resources to import power, he said.

The PDD owes Rs 190 crore to Central power agencies, including Rs 176 crore to the Power Grid Corporation of India.

The state government attributed the power crisis mainly to the non-realisation of the electricity tariff to the state during the years in which it was under Central rule, the spokesman added.