Srinagar, March 7
Two militants, one of them from the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, were killed in an encounter in the North Kashmir while a suspected militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen was apprehended in the South Kashmir today. A huge quantity of arms and ammunition has also been seized during search operations in Kupwara and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

A defence spokesman said acting on a specific information troops launched a search operation in the Kangurnar and Sogam areas of Kupwara district this morning. The troops assisted by the police challenged a few persons to stop. On this the militants opened fire. The security forces retaliated and in the ensuing firefight two militants were killed.

The police said those killed were believed to be of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfit. However, the locals could not identify the militants. The identity cards recovered from them identified them as Abu Shaheen, alias Shaheen Afghani, chief of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, and Tahir Saqib. Two AK rifles, six magazines and one radio set in a damaged condition were recovered from the site of encounter.

In another joint operation carried out by the police and the Army one militant of Hizbul Mujahideen Shabir Ahmad Khanday from the Awantipora area of Pulwama district in the South Kashmir was arrested today.

During search operations the security forces seized one pistol, one magazine, a wireless set, three hand grenades, one AK magazine with 61 rounds from the forest area of Khodi, Sogam in Kupwara district.

Three AK magazines, six RPGs, eight UBGL rounds, one hand grenade and 15 AK rounds were recovered at Langiote near the LoC in Poonch district yesterday, the police said.

The police and the security forces at Khanetar in Poonch district and one Pika gun busted a hideout and some edible items were recovered from the site.

Meanwhile, a CRPF jawan died under suspicious circumstances at the CRPF camp near Shiraz cinema, Khanyar, the police said. He has been identified as Showkeen Singh of 96 Bn. CRPF and the cause of death is being ascertained.

Srinagar, March 7
The Jammu and Kashmir High court yesterday directed the authorities to provide a passport to the ailing hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to enable him to undergo treatment in the USA.

Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani, in his order, said the government could impose any conditions on Geelani, during his stay abroad, Mian Abdul Qayoom, counsel for Geelani's daughter Zubaida Altaf told PTI.

Qayoom said the petition had also sought permission for Geelani's wife and son to accompany him as attendants. — PTI

Jammu, March 7
The Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officers are expected to get plum postings in the reshuffle of bureaucracy and the police that is on cards due to the creation of eight new districts in Jammu and Kashmir.

The new districts are expected to be made functional on April 1 before which the deputy commissioners, district police chiefs and other paraphernalia would be posted there by March 25.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has given an indication of large-scale transfer and posting of officers within the next few days. At present there are 14 districts in the state and the number will increase to 22 when the new ones become functional. Four new districts each in Jammu and the Kashmir valley have been created.

Many senior-level posts have fallen vacant in the secretariat as eight IAS officers have proceeded on central deputation.

Azad has indicated that many deputy commissioners of the new districts will be from the KAS and not from the IAS cadre. As many as six of the 14 deputy commissioners at present belong to the KAS cadre.

The chief minister is expected to utilise the opportunity to refurbish the police set up by increasing the number of districts in each DIG headed range to three from the existing two.

Eight SSPs will also be posted in the newly-created districts.

Search is also on for sub-divisional magistrates for the three new sub-divisions and tehsildars for the 12 new tehsils.

Azad says the new administrative set up will ensure speedy development in every nook and corner of the state. He held a meeting with the top brass here yesterday to take stock of the spade work that has been done by the nodal officers for making the new districts functional.

Chief Secretary C. Phonsung, principal secretary to chief minister Anil Goswami, secretary planning S. S.Kapoor, principal secretary finance B. B. Vyas, divisional commissioner Kashmir Basharat Ahmad Dhar, divisional commissioner Jammu Pramod Jain, secretary revenue Masood Samoon and all nodal officers were present at the meeting.

It was decided that all deputy commissioners and other requisite staff from revenue, planning and finance shall be made available in the newly-created districts by March 25.

Azad ordered that steps be taken for the construction of modern and well-equipped mini secretariat in the new districts. He asked the General Administration Department to draw up a proper plan of posting of the subordinate staff in different departments.