Jammu, September 26
In a major setback to the militant outfits active in the state, security forces today gunned down nine militants in four different encounters in the Jammu region, whereas one Army officer was injured in the encounter.

Nine militants, including four from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit, were gunned down in different encounters in the past 12 hours.

On specific information about the presence of militants in the Ghatt area of Doda district of Jammu region, the Army along with the police cordoned off the area. The militants, holed up in the area, opened fire at security forces. The security forces retaliated and in the ensuing gun battle two militants were killed.

“The slain militants have been identified as Mohammed Shafi, alias Delta one, and Iqbal, alias Umar Gazi. Both had their affiliation with the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit,” said senior superintendent of police, Doda, Manohar Singh.

“Mohammed Shafi was the divisional commander and was active since 1995, whereas Iqbal was district commander and was active since 2000. Both were wanted for various militancy related activities in the region,” the SSP said.

Two AK 47 assault rifles, two magazines, 11 rounds and four Chinese grenades were seized from the possession of the slain militants.

In another such encounter, the Army gunned down two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in the Gool sector of Doda district, whereas two more LeT militants were killed in the Mahor area of Udhampur district.

The Army also killed three militants while they were trying to infiltrate into the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the Rajouri sector of Jammu region.

“In the last 12 hours, we have gunned down nine militants in four different encounters and have seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition. One Army officer was also injured in the encounter in Rajouri,” said the Army public relations officer, Lt Col S.D. Gosawmi.

Jammu, September 26
Bumpy and waterlogged roads, dilapidated building, spiderwebs, leaking drains, stinking toilets, garbage dumps and encroachment by hawkers. Welcome to the interstate general bus stand in the heart of the city of temples, Jammu.

The only interstate bus stand in the entire Jammu and Kashmir state controlled by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) is in a shambles and presents a bad impression to people visiting the city.

“Bus stand is the face of any state and the condition of the biggest bus stand in our state is so bad that people are not able to stand near it,” said Vikram Mehra, a local resident.

The Jammu bus stand, the only interstate bus terminal in the entire state, provides bus service to other North Indian states like Punjab, Himachal , Haryana and Delhi, apart a from huge inflow of pilgrims comings from other states to visit the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra.

“Jammu is the city of temples and the condition of the bus terminal here is so bad nobody would like to enter it for the second time,” said Ramesh Lal, a pilgrim from Delhi.

On entering the bus stand one is greeted by seepage from a roadside drain, a nullah flowing in the middle of the bus stand, leaking toilets, hawkers spread everywhere, congestion by buses, no space for passengers to move and above all graffiti made by spitted pan, stray dogs prowling inside the building and not a person from the administrative side.

Udhampur, September 26
Though members of both communities had agreed to resolve the issue amicably, yet complete shutdown was observed in Reasi town as a section of people demanded action against those who had allegedly shouted pro-Pakistan slogans after India defeated Pakistan in T20 world cup. Residents alleged instead of taking action against the culprits, the police has registered a case against those who were taking out victory procession. — TNS