Three security forces jawans were also injured. “It is learnt that a few more bodies of the terrorists are likely to be found”, a defence spokesman stated here this evening. He said a large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the site. A spokesman of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit had here yesterday stated that 14 of its militants were killed in the encounter, where a meeting of its commanders was going on. “According to information available, 14 militants have been killed in the encounter. A number of troops have also been killed”, the spokesman of the outfit told a local media agency here yesterday. He also gave out the list of the names of all those militants killed in the encounter, who were reportedly from different parts of the valley.

Elsewhere, one militant and a security force jawan were killed and four others injured in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. A Pakistan militant, Abu Askari from Karachi, was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Surankote area of Poonch district yesterday. One AK rifle, three magazines, 35 rounds and one handgrenade were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Four persons, including two civilians and two security forces personnel were injured when militants hurled a grenade at Hathishah, Sopore in Baramula district, today. A jawan of the security forces who was injured in an encounter with militants in Kalakote area of Rajouri district yesterday, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital today. The police and security forces busted a hide-out of militants and seized two AK rifles, in Gool area, Udhampur district, last night, two bayonets, 187 pika rounds, one binocular, one wireless set, two RPGs, 10 m of cordex, three grenades, one claymore mine and one IED.

Jammu, May 6
To prevent the defacement of the walls here, the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has come out with a novel idea of getting these painted with pictures depicting the art and culture of the state. A number of students of the institute of music and fine arts are engaged in painting miniatures depicting the lifestyle of various communities and the art and culture of the state these days.

A visitor to the city can see these paintings on both sides of the road near Gandhi Nagar. Various political parties and trading houses had pasted posters and painted slogans, defacing these walls. However, the area now presents a pleasing environment, but it is to be seen as to how long these paintings are allowed to survive by the miscreants.

The project is the brainchild of the new vice-chairman of the JDA, Mr K.B. Jandial, who has to his credit a number of innovations that he put into practice to keep the town clean and tidy when he was administrator of the Jammu municipality. Paintings depicting the traditional art and culture of the state, village life and portraits have replaced the slogans on these walls.

Mr Jandial said initially 1000 square ft. of walls were being painted. So far more than 35 paintings have been sketched on these walls. The JDA is giving some pocket money to the students who are engaged in the work. Mr Vijay Saraf, a renowned artist, is functioning as the chief coordinator of the project under which the city walls are being beautified. Mr Saraf said it generally took 10 days to complete a wall panel. As many as 22 students were initially engaged in the work. Mr Jandial said once the work was completed on the main roads, areas around the Parade Ground would be beautified.

Srinagar, May 6
A task force would be set up by the RBI for Jammu and Kashmir to identify areas where nationalised banks could help the state advance loans for self-employment projects. This assurance was given by RBI Governor Y.V. Reddy during his meeting with the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here yesterday. 

Accompanied by the Regional Director, Mr M.D. Dassari, the RBI Governor discussed with the Chief Minister the role of nationalised banks in the state’s economic sector and the extent of help the RBI could provide. A standing task force of about four banks, including the RBI, would be set up to monitor the advancement of loans for self-employment projects.