J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

8 militants killed, blasts in Srinagar
JAMMU, July 26 — Eight hardcore militants were killed in the border belt of Sunderbani in Rajouri district today.

Governor: give peace a chance
SRINAGAR, July 26 — Describing the unilateral ceasefire decision of the Hizbul Mujahideen as a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, said here today that the government would react to it appropriately.

4 pilgrims die in mishaps
JAMMU, July 26 — Four pilgrims were killed in accidents at three places along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, official sources said today.

Tents to be airlifted for yatris
NEW DELHI, July 26 — To augment camping facilities for Amarnath pilgrims waiting for their turns at Panchtarni, the Centre has decided to airlift 300 tents along with accessories from Jammu.

Samiti men held for immolation bid
JAMMU, July 26 — Four activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti were taken into custody following their self-immolation bid here today. They were protesting against suspension of registration of pilgrims to Amarnath and against poor arrangements for the pilgrimage.

8 militants killed, blasts in Srinagar
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 26 — Eight hardcore militants were killed in the border belt of Sunderbani in Rajouri district today.

Defence Ministry spokesman said during the past 24 hours the troops carried out search operations after reports had been received that a group of militants were seen moving close to the LoC. This morning the group was spotted crossing over to Pakistan.

The moment militants saw troops approaching them they opened fire. The troops retaliated killing seven of them on the spot. One militant finding himself in the trap blew up himself by exploding a grenade.

The spokesman said the identity of the militants was being ascertained.

He said during the past three months troops had eliminated more than 120 militants, most of them foreign mercenaries, in Poonch and Rajouri districts.

Two policemen and a civilian were injured here in a series of explosions triggered off by militants, believed to be from groups opposing the Hizbul Mujahideen ceasefire.

A total of five blasts took place at regular intervals in the city, mostly in the tourist places of Nishat and Shalimar gardens and Nehru Park on the banks of Dal Lake, the police said.

They said the blasts were of low intensity and the explosives were hidden in bushes and dustbins.

Two policemen were injured when a grenade hurled by militants exploded at Nawakadal Chowk in downtown Srinagar around 10:30 hours today, they added.

The grenade attack was followed by bomb explosions at Shalimar and Nishat gardens on the outskirts of the city and another explosion outside a police station at Nehru Park, the police said.

A taxi driver received minor injuries when a bomb hidden in a dustbin went off outside Nehru Park police station around 1520 hours.

No one was injured when two bombs hidden in bushes exploded in the Nishat garden around 1445 hours and 1645 hours and another at the Shalimar garden around 1425 hours, the police added.

Governor: give peace a chance
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, July 26 — Describing the unilateral ceasefire decision of the Hizbul Mujahideen as a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, said here today that the government would react to it appropriately.

The Governor was talking to mediapersons on the occasion of a Kargil Vijay Divas reception held at Raj Bhavan here this afternoon. The reception was attended by ministers, bureaucrats and senior police and Army officers. Mr Saxena expressed the hope that the ceasefire decision would turn out to be a positive development in view of the changing security scenario in the state.

“I think the government will react to it appropriately. They are examining its background and its possible implication”, Mr Saxena said in reply to a question. “We welcome any changes that take place for restoration of peace”, he commented. He also commented that the decision of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit was a political development while some described it as a “tactical move”. He held that any such moves were always overplayed and overstated in “our neighbouring country”.

The Governor held that peace should be given a chance and “sincerity will have to be seen”. Such steps should be encouraged, he added. Referring to the security scenario at present as compared to the early 1990s when he held the gubernatorial post, Mr Saxena said that now there was involvement of more foreign militants. Earlier it was local-dominated as there were 98 per cent local militants. Credit went to the security forces in changing the situation as now the state was moving towards peace, he said.

4 pilgrims die in mishaps

JAMMU, July 26 (PTI) — Four pilgrims were killed in accidents at three places along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, official sources said today.

Two Amarnath pilgrims on their way to the Pahalgam base camp of holy cave shrine in South Kashmir were crushed to death by a truck at Ramban today, the sources told PTI here.

They have been identified as Ram Gopal and Bal Krishen of Patiala (Punjab). Injured, Sanjay Kumar also of Patiala was hospitalised at Ramban, the sources added.

In another road accident at the Narwal Bypass area, two pilgrims going to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple identified as Jagdish and Gopal of Chittorgarh and Bhilwara (Rajasthan) respectively died on the spot last evening, the sources said.

Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 8627 Amarnath pilgrims today proceeded to the Pahalgam base camp from Jammu, official sources said here.

The pilgrims left Jammu this morning following improvement in weather conditions along the highway, the sources said.

The Centre is rushing 300 tents for augmenting facilities for the pilgrims, a senior J and K Government official said.

The tents being procured from the Defence and para-military forces are likely to be despatched today, the official added.

Tents to be airlifted for yatris
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, July 26 — To augment camping facilities for Amarnath pilgrims waiting for their turns at Panchtarni, the Centre has decided to airlift 300 tents along with accessories from Jammu.

The airlifting of the tents and accessories is being carried out following a specific request from the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, the Additional Secretary (Home), Dr P.D.Shenoy, told reporters here today.

“These tents will be pitched at Panchtarni with the help of the local units of the BSF and the CRPF and the process is likely to be completed in a day or two,” he said.

Even as slight disruption in the yatra has been reported due to incessant rains for the past few days, around 80,000 pilgrims have so far had darshan at the Holy Cave since July 13, the day the Amarnath Yatra commenced, he said.

The Additional Secretary once again appealed to the pilgrims to abide by the instructions given by the yatra authorities so as to avoid mishaps.

“Yatris with no prior registration are also requested to delay their journey to Jammu by 10 days by which the registration is likely to be reopened”, he added.

Samiti men held for immolation bid
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, July 26 — Four activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti were taken into custody following their self-immolation bid here today. They were protesting against suspension of registration of pilgrims to Amarnath and against poor arrangements for the pilgrimage.

The police said the four activists, including vice-president of the Samiti Mr Sanjeev Bhardwaj, were taken into custody last night.

Meanwhile, over 8627 pilgrims left Jammu for Pahalgam today. The permission was given after three days. The pilgrim traffic had been suspended owing to heavy rain.

There are about 15,000 pilgrims still stranded in Jammu. The authorities said fresh registration would be started after all the stranded pilgrims reached Pahalgam.