MILITANT KILLED IN GUNFIGHT

: Security forces gunned down a militant in an encounter in north Kashmir’s Handwara after army and police’s special operation group launched an operation in the area’s forests on Sunday night.

Army spokesman confirmed the killing of a militant in the forests of Khanpora. The operation is still underway, a police official familiar with the matter said.

Meanwhile, unidentified people lobbed two hand grenades on the forces in Tral, however, both grenades missed the intended target and exploded on road. No loss of property or life was reported in the attack.

According to police, militants hurled a grenade at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) but it exploded without causing any damage.

“The second grenade was hurled at the Batagund camp of the CRPF, again in Tral. No damage was reported in the second explosion as well,” police said.

Heightened security arrangements were in place in and around Tral town on Sunday where separatists had called for a protest march on the second death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani who was killed in a gunbattle with security forces on July 8, 2016 in Anantnag district.

SRINAGAR

“I have requested the governor (N N Vohra) repeatedly to bring this state back to the condition it was when I left office in 2014. Give us the same harmony which was there from 2009 to 2014. There is a sea-difference in the situation today compared to what it was when we left the office,” he added.

He also accused the BJP of being power hungry, which can stoop to any level and has no inhibitions to stoke communal passions in lieu of power.