J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Militants kill couple, ultra dies in police encounter
Srinagar, August 27
Militants gunned down a couple in Udhampur district, while a Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter with the Rashtriya Rifles and another laid down his arms today, official sources said.

Sikhs from Jammu to boycott Khalsa march
Jammu, August 27
Several Sikh organisations have appealed to people not to participate in the Khalsa march which was being carried out from Jammu to Amritsar by former Punjab minister Sucha Singh Langah in connection with the celebrations of the 400th Prakash Divas of Guru Granth Sahib.

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Militants kill couple, ultra dies in police encounter

Srinagar, August 27
Militants gunned down a couple in Udhampur district, while a Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter with the Rashtriya Rifles and another laid down his arms today, official sources said.

Unidentified militants raided Sanabagh-Kobra Dhok in the Mahore area of Udhampur district early today and shot dead 25-year-old Arshid Hussain and his wife Naseema (20), they said.

The couple, hailing from Batoyi village, had moved to Dhok for grazing their cattle, source said, adding that the motive behind the killing was not yet known.

Hizbul Mujahideen militant Tariq Ahmad Dar was killed in an encounter with the troops of the Rashtriya Rifles at Panzinara village of Sumbal in Baramula district of North Kashmir this morning, sources said.

The encounter took place when the troops cordoned the village to carry out searches following a tip-off about the presence of some militants, sources said, adding an AK rifle, four magazines, a wireless set and an Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher were seized from him.

A militant surrendered before the Rashtriya Rifles in the Ganderbal area on the outskirts of Srinagar this morning, sources said.

The militant had recently sneaked into the valley after getting training in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, they added. — PTI

Sikhs from Jammu to boycott Khalsa march
Our Correspondent

Jammu, August 27
Several Sikh organisations have appealed to people not to participate in the Khalsa march which was being carried out from Jammu to Amritsar by former Punjab minister Sucha Singh Langah in connection with the celebrations of the 400th Prakash Divas of Guru Granth Sahib.

The appeal was made at a meeting of the Sikh sangat held here today under the chairmanship of Mr Mohan Singh, president, of the Sangat.

Others who participated included Mr Karanjeet Singh Bali, Mr Janak Singh Sodhi, Mr Harbax Singh Bali, Mr Jaswant Singh Trali, Mr Kirtan Singh, Mr Onkar Singh, Prof Joginder Singh and Mr Nirmal Singh.

It was decided that large groups of people from Jammu and Kashmir would visit the Golden Temple on their own for offering prayers in connection with the celebration.

Mr Mohan Singh and others said since Mr Prakash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister of Punjab, had done nothing for the Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir and had appointed a leader of “dubious” past to lead the march they decided to boycott it and instead proceed to Amritsar on their own.”