Another militant gunned down by security forces in Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu: Security forces gunned down one more militant in Poonch district, taking the total number of ultras killed in the operation, which is still underway, to four. “One more militant has been eliminated. With this, the number of total militants killed in the encounter since Sunday has gone up to four,” a Defence spokesman said today.

Three militants and a policeman were on SUnday killed and six others, including a police officer, were injured in twin encounters between security forces and four terrorists in Poonch town. The cop was cremated on Monday in Poonch town.

Meanwhile, Kashmir is staring at a subdued Id-ul Azha festival on Tuesday in view of the ongoing shutdown sponsored by the separatists, which has been paralysing normal life in the Valley since July 9.

“Our Eid would be on the day Kashmir becomes free,” said Adnan, one of the dozens young Kashmiris lying in beds at the Ophthalmology ward of Srinagar’s Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital.

For the first time in many years, all 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley will be under curfew on Id to prevent any outbreak of violence. The Army, which has been asked to be on standby, will step in if there is fresh outbreak of violence in the Valley, which has been witnessing widespread unrest for over two months leading to death of over 78 people so far, official sources said.

The fresh protest calendar issued by the separatists’ alliance has also asked people to continue to hold ‘aazadi’ rallies, marches and sit-ins ahead, during and after the Id festival. One of the planned marches would be on the summer headquarters of the UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan in Srinagar’s posh Sonawar area.