J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Four militants killed in encounters
Srinagar, July 24
Six persons, including four militants, were killed and six injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. Militants shot dead two SPOs at Janglat Mandi Chowk in Anantnag this afternoon while two pedestrians were injured in a shootout, the police said. Those killed have been identified as Aijaz Ahmad Turay and Nissar Ahmad Mir.

Bhat, Wani promoted Chief Engineers
Srinagar, July 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered promotions of Mr G. R. Bhat and Mr Showkat Rashid Wani, Superintending Engineers, Electrical, as Chief Engineers. Their promotions were approved by the state Cabinet here yesterday on the recommendation of a selection committee.

Sinha visits LoC
Jammu, July 24
The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Lieut-Gen (retd) S.K. Sinha today visited Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district to review the security scenario.

2,575 more join Amarnath yatra
Srinagar, July 24
With the arrival of a fresh batch of 2,575 pilgrims from Jammu today, the total number of yatris since July 15 has gone up to about 95,000. Two more persons, including a “ponywallah,” died yesterday, raising the toll to 12. Naresh Kumar Sharma, a pilgrim from Bagrul, Jaipur, died at SMHS Hospital here yesterday.

Four militants killed in encounters
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 24
Six persons, including four militants, were killed and six injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Militants shot dead two SPOs at Janglat Mandi Chowk in Anantnag this afternoon while two pedestrians were injured in a shootout, the police said. Those killed have been identified as Aijaz Ahmad Turay and Nissar Ahmad Mir.

Two militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Lolab area of Kupwara district yesterday. They have been identified as Abu Masood and Abu Asif from PoK. Two AK rifles, nine magazines and 50 rounds were recovered from their possession.

Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Gadyan Dhar in Doda district last night. A girl was injured when caught in the cross-fire. An AK rifle and 131 rounds were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Two persons were injured by the militants in Baramula district yesterday. The injured included a surrendered militant.

A burqa-clad militant was injured in retaliatory fire by the security forces at Gunde Machar in Kupwara district yesterday.

A suspected militant of the Tehreek-e-Jehadi Islami was apprehended from the Kanjdori forest area of Bandipore in Baramula district.

Bhat, Wani promoted Chief Engineers
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered promotions of Mr G. R. Bhat and Mr Showkat Rashid Wani, Superintending Engineers, Electrical, as Chief Engineers.

Their promotions were approved by the state Cabinet here yesterday on the recommendation of a selection committee. The Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, presided over the meeting of the Cabinet. Announcing the decision of the Cabinet, the Chief Secretary, Dr Sudhir S. Bloeria said the Cabinet also approved the transfer and postings of the Chief Engineer of the Electricity Department.

Mr. G. R. Bhat, Chief Engineer Promotee, has been posted as Chief Engineer, Planning and Design, Jammu, Mr Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat, Chief Engineer, System and Operation, Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Chief Engineer, Procurement and Material Management, Jammu, vice Mr Bashir Ahmad Sheikh.

Syed Khursheed Ahmad, Chief Engineer, M&RE, Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Chief Engineer, Generation (PDC) vice Moulvi Manzoor Ahmad. Mr Showkat Rashid Wani, Chief Engineer promotee, has been posted as Chief Engineer, M&RE, Kashmir, vice Syed Khursheed Ahmad. Mr Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, Chief Engineer, Procurement and Material Management, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Chief Engineer, System and Operation, Jammu. Moulvi Manzoor Ahmad, Chief Engineer, Generation (PDC), has been transferred and posted as Chief Engineer, System and Operation Kashmir, vice Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat.

Sinha visits LoC
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 24
The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Lieut-Gen (retd) S.K. Sinha today visited Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district to review the security scenario.

The Governor interacted with Lieut-Gen Ashok Kapur at Nagrota on the security prevailing in the corps zone. He later visited Pindi Gali and Poonch to review fencing on the Line of Control and Operation Sadhbhavana projects being implemented by the Army.

The Governor showed a keen interest in a Micro Hydel project which has the ability to generate hydro electric power by adding an alternator and some minor modification to a water mill.

2,575 more join Amarnath yatra
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 24
With the arrival of a fresh batch of 2,575 pilgrims from Jammu today, the total number of yatris since July 15 has gone up to about 95,000.

Two more persons, including a “ponywallah,” died yesterday, raising the toll to 12. Naresh Kumar Sharma, a pilgrim from Bagrul, Jaipur, died at SMHS Hospital here yesterday. A “ponywallah,” identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, died at Chandanwari, police and officials said.

An official spokesman said 92,141 pilgrims had arrived in the valley till last evening. Of these, 86,634 had had darshan. A total of 66,585 visited the shrine via Pahalgam while 25,565 visited via the Baltal route.

Even as the authorities tend to restrict the number of yatris to 3,500 per day, there has been a threefold increase in arrivals every day.