J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Four militants killed in Kashmir
Srinagar, December 24
Seven persons, including four militants and a counter-insurgent, were killed while a Hizbul Mujahideen ultra was nabbed in the Kashmir valley overnight.

51 self-help groups formed
Kathua, December 24
Under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana 51 self-help groups have been formed in four non-command blocks of the district during the first eight months of the current financial year.

Paramilitary troopers patrol a lane in Srinagar on Monday.  — Reuters

An Indian Army patrol in the woods of Rajwar during a cordon and search operation in north Kashmir on Monday. — Photo Amin war

Video: Security forces kill Lashkar deputy chief Saifullah in an encounter in Baramula district of Jammu and Kashmir. (28k, 56k)

Four militants killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, December 24
Seven persons, including four militants and a counter-insurgent, were killed while a Hizbul Mujahideen ultra was nabbed in the Kashmir valley overnight.

An official spokesman said an encounter took place between militants and a joint search party of the Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police at Sheikhnar Sogam village in the frontier district of Kupwara this morning.

During the two-hour-long encounter, foreign militants Zubair Sidiqi alias Abu Abida and Ganai Rehman alias Abu Latief were killed. Two AK rifles, nine magazines, 71 rounds and six grenades were recovered from the slain militants.

An encounter took place between militants and security forces at Asham Sumbal last night during a search operation in which two ultras were killed.

A counter-insurgent Ghulam Wagay, who was leading the security forces also lost his life in the exchange of fire.

Militants shot at and critically wounded Bashir Ahmad Tantraya, a carpet weaver, at Pattan in Baramula district last night. He died in hospital this morning.

The body of Abdul Rashid Sofi was recovered from Shalimar this morning, he said. Army and SOG arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Abdul Rashid Bhat along with a pistol, two magazines and eight rounds at Magam last evening.

Militants attacked a police post guarding the minority community at Panzer Shopian village last evening. The guards also retaliated but the militants managed to escape. No one was hurt in the exchange, the spokesman said. UNI

51 self-help groups formed
Our Correspondent

Kathua, December 24
Under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana 51 self-help groups have been formed in four non-command blocks of the district during the first eight months of the current financial year.

This was revealed at the governing body meeting of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Kathua, here today. The District Development Commissioner, Mr B.D. Sharma, who is also the Chairman of the DRDA, presided over the meeting.

During their fiscal the Agency proposes to form 50 self-help groups in each block, besides assisting 105 self-employed persons in establishing their own units. Under the yojana the Agency has spent Rs 10.44 lakh during the first eight months of the fiscal. Of this Rs 7.16 lakh was provided as subsidy to individuals while Rs 1.68 lakh was spent on the infrastructure development. On training Rs 80,000 was spent and Rs 80,000 was utilised as revolving fund.

Giving details of the last year’s achievements, the Project Officer, DRDA, Mr K.L. Kakkar, said 14 self-help groups with total membership of 140 were formed and 69 self-employed persons were provided assistance. During the period over Rs 20 lakh was spent under the yojana. Of this, Rs 6.35 lakh was incurred on infrastructure development while Rs 3.14 lakh was spent on training. A subsidy of Rs 8.92 lakh was provided last year and Rs 1.70 lakh was utilised as revolving fund.

The Deputy Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Malik Gulam Hyder, suggested that the targets for various activities should be fixed after examining their viability in relation with the particular areas. And for achieving the targets thus fixed the implementing agencies should maintain close coordination, he said. He also suggested that the lists of the beneficiaries of the scheme should also be provided.

Mr Hyder said several areas in the district had good potential for fish farming, vegetables farming, manufacture of furniture and horticulture. The DRDA should consider incorporating these in the yojana, he added.

Mr Lal Singh, MLA, said the Agency should take care that the units formed under the yojana achieved objectives for which these were set up. He said families falling under the BPL category should be identified and included in the list so that they also get the benefits of the government schemes.

Mr Sharma said poverty alleviation was the main aim of the yojana. He asked the concerned Block Development Officers to oversee the functioning of the self-help groups and interact regularly with the members of these groups and the bankers. The members of these groups should be guided in the maintenance of their accounts, he added.