J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

10 injured in grenade blast
Srinagar, July 14
Ten persons, including a girl, were injured when a grenade hurled by militants at security forces missed the target and exploded at Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway this afternoon, official sources said here. The militants threw the grenade towards a road opening party of security forces on the highway, about 30 km from here, which exploded on the road injuring 10 pedestrians.

2 hurt in firing along LoC
Jammu, July 14
A father and child sustained minor injuries in Pakistan firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu region last night. No loss of life or property has been reported in the firing that has been going on for a few days now along the LoC and the international border.

Kashmiris watch the live coverage of Pak President's visit to India. Kashmiris have pinned high hopes on the summit, longing for an end to the turmoil. — PTI

A new recruit to the Border Security Force in his ceremonial dress commands his troops during a parade at a garrison in Humhama, on the outskirts of Srinagar, on Saturday. As many as 263 new recruits were inducted into the force after completing a rigorous 40-week training programme in anti-terrorist, anti-insurgency operations and respect for human rights.
— Reuters

10 injured in grenade blast

Srinagar, July 14
Ten persons, including a girl, were injured when a grenade hurled by militants at security forces missed the target and exploded at Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway this afternoon, official sources said here.

The militants threw the grenade towards a road opening party of security forces on the highway, about 30 km from here, which exploded on the road injuring 10 pedestrians.

The injured have been hospitalised where the condition of one of them was stated to be serious, they added.

Security forces averted a major tragedy by detecting a powerful IED in Jammu and Kashmir, where six persons, including three militants, were killed in militancy-related incidents, official sources said today.

The sources said that security forces during a routine patrol found a tin container lying on the road near Thanamandi in Rajouri district yesterday. A bomb disposal squad was called which found that the container was carrying an IED with 12 kg of RDX, which was later defused.

Militants also triggered an IED near a culvert on the Thanamandi-Dera Gali road damaging it, he said.

Meanwhile, a joint team of the police and the Army raided the house of a medical practitioner Dr Rafiq at Ghambir-Muglan village in Poonch district yesterday and seized a cache of arms and ammunition.

The sources said that during a search of his house, they came across a militant hideout, which was connected by a small tunnel behind a cupboard, and recovered 440 rounds of ammunition box, five UBGL grenades, 12 detonators and 12 kg RDX.

The doctor was not present at the time of the raid.

Militants also attacked a police station at Manjankote in Rajouri district last evening forcing the police and security forces to return the fire, the sources said, adding that no loss of life was reported.

Meanwhile, an official spokesman said that a girl was killed along with another civilian when they were caught in a shootout between militants and security forces near Kulgund in Anantnag district in South Kashmir this morning.

The Army sealed the entire area, but residents of the area held protest demonstration forcing the troops to withdraw.

The residents alleged that the two civilians were killed by the Army after the militant attack, reports reaching here said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Muneer Khan had rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation, the reports said, adding that the situation in the area was tense as people refused to disperse.

The spokesman said two unidentified militants were killed by the Army during search operations at Neera Post in Baramula district last night.

Two pistols with two magazines, eight grenades and five wireless sets were seized from the ultras.

Another unidentified militant was shot dead by the Army in an encounter at Hangus Gali in Kupwara district on Thursday, the spokesman quoting a delayed report said.

Militants also shot dead a former militant, Mohammad Rafiq Lone at Gogji Pathri in Badgam district, he said. PTI

2 hurt in firing along LoC
Tribune News Service and agencies

Jammu, July 14
A father and child sustained minor injuries in Pakistan firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu region last night.

No loss of life or property has been reported in the firing that has been going on for a few days now along the LoC and the international border. BSF sources said Pakistan troops resorted to intermittent firing in Jammu and Rajouri districts during, the past few days, but dismissed it as “routine.”

The father-daughter duo was injured at Kanachak in the Jammu sector. The fire was exchanged at various places along the border and LoC a few hours before Pakistan President began his visit to India.