Jammu, February 1
Two top Pakistani militants, including a self-styled divisional commander of Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami, have been shot dead by the Army in Rajauri district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here today.

Army troops launched an operation at Ghai Nar in Manjakote, Thanamandi area, in the district yesterday and shot dead the militants after a fierce encounter, they said.

Two AK-56 rifles, two magazines, 10 grenades, a wireless set and Rs 5,000 were seized.

The slain militants have been identified as Mohmmad Naseem Shah, alias Abdu Hussain, 'divisional commander' of HUJI and Farooq Ahmed Khan, 'tehsil commander' of al-Badr militant outfit, the sources said, adding that both were from Pakistan.

In another operation, security forces recovered arms and ammunition from a forest area in Poonch district yesterday.

The recoveries included one anti-tank mine, 2 kgs of explosives, one Chinese pistol with its magazines, 11 rounds, one pistol brass, two detonators, 47 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, they said.

Troops also recovered 75 rounds, a pistol and a detonator from Surankote tehsil in Poonch district last night, they added. —PTI

Jammu, February 1
As part of Operation Sadbhavana, the Army has stepped up various programmes for providing succour to civilians and to enable them to have a peep into the rich traditions in other areas of the country.

Under this programme 34 persons, in the age group of 50-70, were taken from the border area of Poonch for a tour of Jaipur and Ajmer. Lt Gen Sudhir Sharma, GOC 16 Corps, flagged off the first-ever tour for elders belonging to the remote area.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said here that these village elders would visit the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti and the famous Brahma temple in Pushkar and palaces in Jaipur.

Addressing the group, Lt Gen Sudhir Sharma asked them to pray at the Shrine of Moinuddin Chisti for speedy restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir where militancy-related violence had retarded the pace of progress.

The spokesman said under the operation, several students from various areas of the state had been sent on tour to different states and some of the tours were organised by the BSF also.

The Army also organised a medical camp at the primary health centre in Dani village in Hranagar area of Kathua district where Army medical experts treated 5,000 patients, including 1100 women and 400 children.

Besides prescribing medicines to some patients, others were provided free X-ray and clinical diagnostic tests. Maj-Gen Army Amar Aul inaugurated the camp.

Another Army Brigade organised a medical and veterinary camp at Khour block near Jammu where 1200 persons were examined by Army doctors. Free medicines were given to the patients. Free treatment and medicines were also provided to cattle owners.