Srinagar, October 2
At least 10 persons, including six militants, one of them a District Commander of LeT, and an activist of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Security forces also recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition during searches, while a Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen was injured in an exchange of fire with the security forces in Doda district.

The Border Security Force (BSF) claimed to have averted a major tragedy with the recovery of 60 kg of explosive and apprehended two persons, Mohammad Ashraf and Mohammad Maqbool Dar, from the Sumbal area of Baramulla district today. Two scooters that were being used to carry the explosives have also been seized.

Three militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Magam Sonabrari in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district of south Kashmir today. Two of them were identified as Riyaz Bhat, District Commander of the LeT, and Aijaz Naikoo. Two AK rifles, seven magazines, 207 rounds, one pistol and a wireless set were recovered from the site of the encounter.

The police recovered the body of Ghulam Mohiuddin Chechoo, an activist of the ruling PDP and a member of Gujjar and Bakerwal Board from Hard Kichloo, Aishmuqam in Anantnag district today. Chechoo, alias Gaffoor, had been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from his house last night, the police here said.

Two persons, including a Pak militant, Ali Hassan, alias Imran, and a civilian were killed in an exchange of fire between the militants and security forces at Litter in Pulwama district today. A civilian, Ghulam Mohiuddin Wani, 55, who was injured in the exchange of fire, succumbed to his injuries in a hospital here.

An unidentified militant was killed in a retaliatory fire by the police and security forces in the Dessa area of Doda district yesterday. The incident took place when the militant hurled a grenade on the patrol party in the area.

Head Constable Ashok Kumar and SPO Jan Mohammad were killed while another SPO got injured in an encounter with the security forces in the Arnas area of Udhampur district yesterday.

The police recovered the body of a militant, Abdul Rahman, of Anantnag district from the Jagrota Bani area of Doda district today. The police said the militant was injured and had escaped in an encounter with the security forces on Thursday last.

Three kg of RDX, 2 litres of liquid gelatin and 18 AK rounds were recovered from a residential house in the Dessa area of Doda district yesterday.

Srinagar, October 2
The House Committee of Legislators on Environment will meet the Union Ministers of Finance and Environment and ask them to expedite the release of funds for conserving the world famous Dal Lake and other water bodies in the Kashmir valley.

This was disclosed during an extensive tour of the Dal Lake area by members of House Committee headed by its Chairman, Mr Mubarik Gul, yesterday to take stock of various ongoing works for conserving the lake and other water bodies.

The committee asked officers of LAWDA to speed up its pace and restore the glory of the lake.

The committee directed LAWDA to take up the issue of second phase of rehabilitation of those persons being shifted from the Dal Lake area with the Central Government and initiate action on identified areas.

Simultaneously, it directed LAWDA to ensure that the dislocated persons were rehabilitated suitably and all basic facilities provided to them.

The members also directed the officers of LAWDA to complete the construction of colonies already in hand, for the people who were being shifted from the Dal Lake, so that they might not face any hardship.

While briefing the committee members, the Chairperson of LAWDA, Mrs Tanveer Jehan, said the authority had already taken a number of measures through its detailed project report, which was soon expected to be approved by the Central Government. She said that de-weeding through manual and mechanical means was being done on a regular basis.

As much as 20,000 cum of wet weed was being removed annually.

By marginal dredging of the Hazratbal basin of the Dal Nageen Lake an area of 0.85 sq km had been retrieved till date, 20 lakh cum of land masses (1450 kanals) had been dragged out thereby removing about 70 ton of phosphorus and 281 ton of nitrogen from lake nutrients deposits.

Ms Jehan said sewer lines and pumping stations from Centaur Lake view hotel to Brari Nambal STP had been completed. Sewerage in front of Hazratbal shrine complex, secondary drains around Habak, Nishat area was in progress and 5,465 meter pipe work had been completed so far. Also the houseboats would have floating septic tanks which was mandatory and would be available on subsidy. She informed that 600 illegal structures had been brought down.

Out of total encroachments on 2201 kanal, 1281 kanal have been cleared. Treatment of Boutkul channel had already been completed. Clearance of 700 metre of the Jogi Lanker channel by way of de-silting and removal of solid mass was taken up first time and had been completed, the chairperson added.

The committee, according to an official spokesman, also inspected the newly constructed water channel at Shalimar area and asked it to be redone at the earliest so that the stagnant water may fowl in a natural way.

During the day-long tour, the committee also had a close look at the drainage treatment plants constructed at various places. It also inspected the pumping station at the Jogi Lanker area which has been completed at a cost of Rs 1.85 crore that would cover the Jogi Lanker and adjoining localities.

The committee was informed that four more such dewatering pumping stations were being constructed by LAWDA at critical localities so that no drainage water might flow into the Dal Lake. The committee also instructed the officers concerned to undertake construction of a park near Vishva Bharti Temple (Saraf Park) at Jogi Lanker for the benefit of the local people.

The committee asked LAWDA to take long term measures for tackling the problem of solid base from the Dal Lake. It also stressed on creating general awareness amongst the Dal Lake dwellers and people living around the peripheries of Dal.

Experts should also personally monitor the drainage system so that the possibility of any pilferage was avoided, said the committee.

Srinagar, October 2
Ten persons, including two women, were killed in a road accident on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway today, official sources said.

A Sumo vehicle, on way to Anantnag from Srinagar, had a head-on collision with a truck coming from opposite direction at Chachakote near Awantipora on the highway.

Six persons, including bank manager Ghulam Mohammad and driver of the Sumo, were killed on the spot and six others were wounded.

The injured were admitted to S K Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura where four, including two women, succumbed to their injuries. — UNI