J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Four militants among 6 killed in J&K
Srinagar, September 14
Six persons including four militants, have been killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. Three militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with the police and security forces at Onagam, in Baramulla district last night. A security forces jawan was injured in the encounter, the police said.

Govt ‘overlooks’ liquor shops near schools, temples
Jammu, September 14
In a blatant violation of norms, a number of liquor shops have been allowed to be opened near educational institutions and religious places here. This has virtually turned the ‘city of temples’ into a boozers’ paradise.

Panun Kashmir women activists in a rally on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Martyr's Day in Jammu on Tuesday. — PTI

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A rare sixth century sculpture of Mahakaleshwar Siva, known as "Ekh Mukha Linga," which was recovered during excavation  at Kasbhayar in south Kashmir's Pulwama district recently. The sculpture was brought to the SPS museum in Srinagar on Tuesday. — PTI

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Four militants among 6 killed in J&K
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 14
Six persons including four militants, have been killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Three militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with the police and security forces at Onagam, in Baramulla district last night. A security forces jawan was injured in the encounter, the police said.

Three AK assault rifles were recovered from the site of the encounter, while a cowshed was damaged in the night-long encounter.

Acting on a specific information about the presence of militants, the security forces cordoned off a cluster of houses in Onagam village last afternoon. The hiding militants were asked to surrender, which they refused leading to an encounter. The encounter started last evening and continued throughout the night leading to the death of three militants.

Another militant of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen was killed in an encounter with the security forces in the forest area of Sogam in Kupwara district yesterday.

Some militants kidnapped and shot Mohammad Rafiq Naik dead in the Banihal area of Doda district yesterday.

One security forces jawan was killed when militants fired upon a patrol party near Malhar village in Kathua district yesterday.

The security forces recovered a rocket, hand grenade, anti-personnel mine and three packets containing RDX from Kotli village in the Manjakote area of Rajouri district, the police said. 

Govt ‘overlooks’ liquor shops near schools, temples
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 14
In a blatant violation of norms, a number of liquor shops have been allowed to be opened near educational institutions and religious places here. This has virtually turned the ‘city of temples’ into a boozers’ paradise.

A couple of liquor shops are doing roaring business just next to schools where the students are bound to be affected by the trade that they witness every day.

Pleas by various social and religious organisations to get these shops closed or shifted elsewhere have fallen deaf ears as the authorities have been unable to take any action because of alleged political pressure.

A couple of liquor shops have come up in the vicinity of the famous Raghunath Temple also.

It is estimated that atleast two dozen liquor shops are located at places where these should not have been allowed.

The successive governments have blatantly defied the norm of not allowing a liquor shop within 500 metre of a religious place or educational institutions.

A senior officer claimed that licences for such shops had been given long ago when there was no restriction on this.

However, a number of senior citizens have contested the claim. They point out that such restrictions have been in force since long.

However, a number of shops have been allowed to be opened near schools, colleges, religious places and railway station. Many liquor shops of the government are located on the national and state highways.

A liquor shop is located on the main road just next to co-education school in the Kachhi-Chawni chowk area in the heart of the city.

The road leads to the Raj Bhavan, the police headquarters. A number of ministers and top officers drive through the place as the Secretariat is also located at a short distance.

Liquor shops have also been allowed to be opened just near temples and Gurdwaras.

Consumption of liquor has increased here manifolds during the past couple of years and the government is earning a lot of revenue from it. The state government is reportedly under a constant pressure to grant more licences for liquor shops.

The court has stayed opening of a considerable number of new liquor shops for which the government had decided to issue permits a few months ago.