J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

LeT ‘distt commander’ killed in encounter
Srinagar, March 4
In two separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, three Lashker-e-Toiba militants, including a self-styled district commander, were killed in an encounter and nine persons, including three policemen, were injured in the city today after ultras lobbed a grenade at a police party.

5.32 lakh pilgrims visit Vaishno Devi
Jammu, March 4
Over 5.32 lakh pilgrims from across the country have visited the cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu since January this year, officials said here today.

LeT ‘distt commander’ killed in encounter

Srinagar, March 4
In two separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, three Lashker-e-Toiba militants, including a self-styled district commander, were killed in an encounter and nine persons, including three policemen, were injured in the city today after ultras lobbed a grenade at a police party.

LeT ‘district commander’ for Rajouri Abu Katad, IED expert Abu Mazan and Abu Murtaza were killed in a encounter with security forces at Nakal under Gursai police station in Poonch district, a police spokesman said here.

An Army jawan was also injured in the encounter which began last evening and ended early this morning and has been admitted to the Command Hospital at Udhampur, he said.

The recoveries included three Ak rifles, six magazines, 180 rounds, two wireless sets, a phone and some explosive material, the spokesman said.

In the other incident, nine persons, including three police personnel, were injured when militants hurled a grenade at a police party at Kathi Darwaza in the Rainawari area of Srinagar today.

All the injured have been hospitalised and their condition was stated to be stable, he said.

Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed the responsibility for the grenade attack.

Meanwhile, the police arrested six suspected ultras from the Sangla area of Poonch district yesterday, defence sources said.

The suspected militants have been identified as Mohammad Afzal, Mohammad Altaf, Mishrad Ahmad, Farooq Ahmad, Rashid Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad — all belonging to Sangla village. — PTI

5.32 lakh pilgrims visit Vaishno Devi

Jammu, March 4
Over 5.32 lakh pilgrims from across the country have visited the cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu since January this year, officials said here today.

During the corresponding period last year, only 4.18 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine, they said, adding that in February alone this year, over 2.49 lakh devotees had paid obeisance there.

Presently, 7,000 to 8,000 pilgrims were daily reaching the base camp in Katra town for their onward journey to the shrine, they said.

Adequate arrangements had been made available en route the holy cave and at other places by the shrine board for the convenience of the devotees.

Visitors coming from outside the state also visited several other pilgrim spots like Shiv Khori at Ransoo in Reasi tehsil, Aghar Jitto, Dera Baba Bandha Bhadur, Sudhmahadev, Bawa-e-Wali Mata, Sukarala Devi, Mansar and the historical Raghunath temple in Jammu division. — PTI