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4,000 cross over highway on foot

Jammu, February 26
As the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the seventh day today, over 4,000 stranded passengers crossed over the eroded 300-metre stretch at Panthal on foot, officials said here Passengers walk on foot to reach their destinations due to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Khuni Nullah, about 170 km from Jammu, on Monday.

Passengers walk on foot to reach their destinations due to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Khuni Nullah, about 170 km from Jammu, on Monday. — PTI photo

Jaish commander, 2 LeT militants killed
Srinagar, February 26
Three militants, including a commander, of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed and one person was injured in the Kashmir valley today.

17 die in mishap
Jammu, February 26
At least 13 Army men and four civilians died and seven others were injured when a bus in which they were travelling fell into a khud at Ganjot Mor, 12 km from Mahore Army quarters in Udhampur district this evening, a police spokesman here said.

16 injured in mini-bus accident
Jammu, February 26
At least 16 persons were injured in a mini-bus accident near Doda here today, police sources said. A mini-bus, going to Bhagwah from Doda, skidded off the road while negotiating a turn at Golbagh, 10 km from Doda, and fell into a deep gorge, the sources said.

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EARLIER STORIES

	Highway blockade spells misery for stranded passengers February 26, 2007
	15 more police battalions sought February 25, 2007
	Canada positive on SAARC February 24, 2007
	PDP’s demand for special Cabinet meeting turned down February 23, 2007
	Panel for women sans chief for four years February 22, 2007
	2 CRPF men shot dead February 21, 2007
	PDP hails Indo-Pak peace process at world forum February 20, 2007
	PDP releases draft of self-rule concept February 19, 2007
	Custodial death: police, villagers clash February 18, 2007
	Strike hits life in valley February 17, 2007
	Vigilance unearths furniture scam February 16, 2007
	Police starts compiling data of missing persons February 15, 2007

4,000 cross over highway on foot

Jammu, February 26
As the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the seventh day today, over 4,000 stranded passengers crossed over the eroded 300-metre stretch at Panthal on foot, officials said here.

"The highway remaiend closed for the seventh day today. Despite this, 4,000 stranded passengers crossed on foot the 300-metre damaged and eroded road at Panthal to reach their respective destinations in Jammu and Srinagar," the officials said.

Nearly 2,300 stranded passengers were shifted from Jammu bus stand to Panthal in over 45 vehicles to the other end of the highway's damaged portion and they later crossed to Kashmir on foot. Another 1,700 crossed from the valley to this side on foot, they said.

The vehicles left Jammu between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. to ensure the passengers cross the Panthal stretch before evening, they said, adding elaborate arrangements were in place to ensure their smooth passage.

Ramban additional deputy commissioner Ajit Kumar Sahu said that passengers would continue to cross the road from both sides till the reopening of the highway. — PTI

Jaish commander, 2 LeT militants killed

Srinagar, February 26
Three militants, including a commander, of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed and one person was injured in the Kashmir valley today.

Official sources said the Jammu and Kashmir police and Rashitriya Rifles (RR) launched a joint operation at Gujjar Patti, Sogam, in the frontier district of Kupwara early this morning following information that some militants were hiding there.

However, when the troops were sealing the area, militants opened fire and hurled hand grenades. The security forces also retaliated and in the fierce clash the militant was killed.

The slain militant was later identified as Mohammad Iqbal, alias Billa, a resident of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Billa was a close associate of top commander of JeM Pasha.

Handwara superintendent of police Haseeb Mughal said that a tip-off was received last night that some militants were hiding in the house of Ghulam Nabi Khan at Khansodan Magam.

He said with the first light, the entire area was cordoned off and after all the residents in the nearby houses were taken to safe place, troops of RR and the police moved towards the particular house.

However, militants opened fire which was returned by the security forces. One militant was killed when he tried to escape, while another was shot dead in a nearby shed. — UNI

17 die in mishap
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 26
At least 13 Army men and four civilians died and seven others were injured when a bus in which they were travelling fell into a khud at Ganjot Mor, 12 km from Mahore Army quarters in Udhampur district this evening, a police spokesman here said.

The private bus, which was carrying the Army men and some volunteers of an NGO working for artificial limbs project, met with the accident at 5.10 pm.

An Army spokesman said the bus was part of the Army convoy which was going from Reasi to Mahore.

16 injured in mini-bus accident

Jammu, February 26
At least 16 persons were injured in a mini-bus accident near Doda here today, police sources said.

A mini-bus, going to Bhagwah from Doda, skidded off the road while negotiating a turn at Golbagh, 10 km from Doda, and fell into a deep gorge, the sources said.

All the passengers were state government employees and were going to their respective offices, they said.

The injured, including the driver and the cleaner, were immediately shifted to the district hospital, Doda. — UNI