J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

12 militants shot dead
SRINAGAR, July 21 — At least 12 militants, eight of them foreigners, were killed in separate incidents of violence while the security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Yatra stopped at Jammu
SRINAGAR, July 21 – Amarnath yatra was stopped at Jammu this morning. However yatris at Chandanwari, Baltal were allowed to proceed to the cave shrine today. About 7,000 pilgrims are stranded at Pahalgam.

Kidnapped German spotted
SRINAGAR, July 21 — German trekker Harfurth Rof was spotted along with five foreign militants in Marwah-Wadhwan area of Doda district on Monday, six days after he was kidnapped from the Zanskar area of Kargil district. He was reportedly taken away by five armed militants responsible for the killing of three Buddhist monks at Rungdum monastery near Panikhar in Kargil district of Ladakh region on July 11.

Drinking water shortage in valley
SRINAGAR, July 21 — Water tankers have been pressed into service to supplement drinking water supply in Kashmir which is facing acute dry spell, an official spokesman said.

12 militants shot dead
60 kg of RDX seized
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, July 21 — At least 12 militants, eight of them foreigners, were killed in separate incidents of violence while the security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Four militants, including three foreigners, were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Dadri Gali in Machil sector of Kupwara district yesterday. Three rifles, 12 magazines with 204 rounds of ammunition, a pistol, 14 grenades and a RPG booster were recovered from the site of the encounter, the police here said.

The foreigners were identified as Ghulam Mohammad from Faisalabad, Pakistan, Mohammad Ashraf from Muzaffarabad, PoK, and S.S. Major Sidiq from Gujarat in Pakistan. The local militant was identified as Khalid Manzoor of Bandipore in Baramulla district.

Three foreign militants, including chiefs of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Al-Badr, were killed in another encounter with the joint operations group of the Jammu and Kashmir police and the security forces at Kahshora forests in Kupwara district.

They were identified as Abu Khalil Ayubi of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Sher Dil of Al-Badr from Muzaffarabad, PoK, and Abu Bilal of Al-Badr from Sialkot in Pakistan.

The forces recovered two rifles, 10 magazines, an RPG, eight hand grenades, six rifle grenades, 180 rounds of ammunition and four rocket boosters from the site.

In another encounter, an unidentified militant was killed at Poshwani in Machil sector of Kupwara district. Two magazines, 25 rounds, a bomb and a wireless set were recovered from the site.

Two foreign militants were killed in Borewani forests in Kreeri Pattan area of Baramulla district yesterday. A jawan was also injured in the incident. Two rifles, three magazines with 25 rounds of ammunition and a hand grenade were recovered from the site of the encounter. The police said the encounter ensued when the police and security forces raided a militant hideout in the forests on specific information.

Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the forces at Bagala village in Buffliaz sector of Poonch district of Jammu region.

The police and security forces apprehended two militants in Srinagar district.

The recoveries made at Bimla Wali forest area of Kupwara district included 50 rifle grenades, 50 anti-tank grenades, a rocket, 35 anti-personnel mines, 750 rounds of ammunition, two rounds of RPG ammunition, 60 kg of RDX, 30 detonators, 20 metre of cordex wire, 10 time fuses, 17 IED cylinders, 10 plastic IED boxes and four remote-control devices.

A militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen was apprehended from Kekanwari of Ganderbal area near here from whose possession a pistol, a magazine, eight rounds of ammunition and four hand grenades were recovered.

Yatra stopped at Jammu
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, July 21 – Amarnath yatra was stopped at Jammu this morning. However yatris at Chandanwari, Baltal were allowed to proceed to the cave shrine today. About 7,000 pilgrims are stranded at Pahalgam.

According to an official spokesman, the total number of yatris till yesterday has risen to 62,424. So far 43,804 devotees have had darshan. A total of 37,000 yatris returned to their homes till this morning.

The authorities are facing a lot of problems as a large number of pilgrims beyond the fixed quota are arriving every day. Many of them are either un-registered or carry fake registration slips. Some having registration for later dates, adding to congestion at Jammu and Pahalgam. Over 15,000 pilgrims are also stranded at Jammu, the spokesman said.

As per the Nitish Sen Gupta Commission report, yatra quota was allotted to each State and registration made accordingly by the registration counters set up in different parts of the country. There is a provision for registration of 1200 pilgrims daily at Jammu. Against these, thousands of pilgrims have arrived.

The authorities have also received reports that some state governments were registering people for Amarnath yatra which were not valid.

He said the Director, Tourism, Jammu, Mr S.S. Bhalla, has seized 70 fake registration slips. While similar fake slips were seized by the Assistant Director, Tourism, New Delhi, Mr Sonam Dorjay, an FIR has been lodged with Connaught Place Police Station in this regard.

Kidnapped German spotted
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, July 21 — German trekker Harfurth Rof was spotted along with five foreign militants in Marwah-Wadhwan area of Doda district on Monday, six days after he was kidnapped from the Zanskar area of Kargil district. He was reportedly taken away by five armed militants responsible for the killing of three Buddhist monks at Rungdum monastery near Panikhar in Kargil district of Ladakh region on July 11.

Police sources said the German tourist along with the five militants was seen moving in the higher reaches of Marwah-Wadhwan of Kishtwar area in Doda district of Jammu region. The area is linked to Kargil district of Ladakh region where the kidnapping took place, Kishtwar area of Doda district where the missing tourist was spotted, and Anantnag district of Kashmir region, through which the essential supplies to the landlocked area are sent.

The police assisted by the Army have intensified search operations in the area to seek the safe release of the German tourist. Harfurth Rof was reportedly taken away by the militants after the killing of the Buddhist monks at Rangdum Monastery on July 11. This was confirmed during interrogation of four persons, including a truck driver of Nunnar, Ganderbal near here, whose truck was used by the militants. It is reported that the monks check all vehicles passing through the area to check the smuggling of cowdung and timber. When the militants offered resistance, the monks objected which led to the firing. Lama Tashi Morav, lama Zupthay and lama Tashi Kochak were killed in the firing.

Three officials of the German Embassy who had arrived here on Tuesday returned to New Delhi after the police briefed them on the latest development. A senior police officer said the German had been identified through a diary recovered from his baggage which was left in the truck which was impounded. The police had got a photograph of the German, the sources said, adding that it would help in the investigations.

Drinking water shortage in valley

SRINAGAR, July 21 (PTI) — Water tankers have been pressed into service to supplement drinking water supply in Kashmir which is facing acute dry spell, an official spokesman said.

People have been advised to buy Indian Standards Institute mark pump sets from the open market and can claim 50 per cent subsidy from the Irrigation Department, he said.

The Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly, reviewed the implementation of the contingency plan formulated to meet the irrigation and drinking water requirements in the Kashmir valley at a meeting here last evening.

Jaitly said a campaign should be launched to motivate people to instal hand pumps in their premises to meet water requirements in rural areas and optimal utilisation of available water resources be made for irrigation purposes.