J&K

Srinagar, Nov 25 (PTI) Six Kashmiri militants and a soldier were Sunday killed in an encounter between ultras and security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence official said here.

The six were killed in an encounter at Hipura Batagund village in Kapran area of Shopian district of south Kashmir, Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said.

He said a soldier also lost his life in the operation.

Col Kalia said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained.

Jammu, Nov 24 (PTI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M Y Tarigami Saturday demanded an immediate end to civilian killings in the Kashmir Valley.

"The unabated civilian killings in Kashmir must be a cause of concern for every right-thinking person in the state and the country," Tarigami said.

Three civilians, including a 14-year-old girl, were killed in Kashmir in the last three-days.

Expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, he said the killings were "highly condemnable".

Srinagar, Nov 23 (PTI) Political parties on Saturday condemned the killing of a civilian in a firing incident near an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district and called for a probe into the incident.

Ishfaq Ahmad Ganaie was injured in the firing near the camp of the 50 Rashtriya Rifles at Chattergam area of Budgam in central Kashmir on Friday. He succumbed to injuries at a hospital here on Saturday morning, police said.

Srinagar, Nov 23 (PTI) Security forces shot dead six Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants during an encounter in forest area of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

"In one of the most successful operations this year, six Lashkar militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Wagahama area of Bijbehara in Anantnag district," a police spokesman said.

The security forces had launched an operation in the foothills of Wagahama Suktipora on Thursday night following information about presence of militants at a hideout there, he said.

Srinagar, Nov 22 (PTI) The decision of Governor Satya Pal Malik to dissolve Jammu and Kashmir assembly was taken in haste and not keeping in mind the constitutional spirit, CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami said here on Thursday.

The governor abruptly dissolved the state assembly Wednesday night, hours after the PDP staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival NC and the Congress.

Srinagar, Nov 21 (PTI) The PDP, National Conference and Congress have agreed to join hands to form a new government in Jammu and Kashmir, senior PDP leader Altaf Bukhari said here on Wednesday.

The businessman-turned-politician said around 60 MLAs were supporting the proposed alliance in the 87-member House.

"The leaders have agreed to form an alliance. The PDP, NC, Congress at the leadership level have agreed. What are the contours of the alliance, it has not come down to MLAs. I am an MLA and I have been told only this much," Bukhari told reporters here.

Srinagar, Nov 18 (PTI) Two militants belonging to the Al-Badar outfit were Sunday killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Based on a credible input about the presence of militants, a cordon and search operation was launched by security forces at the crack of dawn in Rebban area of Zainapora in the south Kashmir district, a police spokesman said.

He said as the search operation was going on, the search party was fired upon by the hiding militants.

Pathankot, Nov 15 (PTI) The family of the eight-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Kathua has removed lawyer Deepika Rajawat as their advocate on record, saying she seldom appeared for hearings in the case, officials informed Thursday.

The plea was moved Wednesday by the family before the court of district and sessions judge here which is hearing the case day-to-day following directions from the Supreme Court.

Jammu, Nov 15 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has called for expeditious completion of all necessary infrastructural and other facilities to ensure that the five new medical colleges in the state start functioning from the next academic session.

The five new medical colleges are coming up at Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Anantnag and Baramulla for which the Centre has sanctioned Rs 189 crore each.

Jammu, Nov 12 (PTI) An Army soldier was killed and another injured Monday by a Pakistani sniper along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesperson said.

Two Army personnel fell to sniping in Sunderbani and Noushera sectors of Rajouri district on Saturday and Sunday, while an Army porter lost his life in a similar attack in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district a day earlier.