FIERCE BATTLE ON AS ARMY TRIES TO REGAIN POSTS AT LOC

NEW DELHI: The fierce gunfight in Kashmir’s Keran sector that looked like a massive infiltration attempt 10 days ago has now snowballed into a battle for “territorial control” between the Indian Army and Pakistanbacked terrorists, government sources have told HT.

“The sheer force of firing by a group of about 40 well-trained terrorists, being helped by Pakistan’s special forces, has forced the army out of some of vantage positions,’’ the source said.

The intrusion in the frontier district of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir has been reported within days of India and Pakistan agreeing to resolve tension along the Line of Control, which has seen a spike in ceasefire violations this year.

The army admitted that the terrorists were on Indian soil but denied being pushed out of its posts. “There is no report regarding our troops having had to vacate their posts, but yes they are in our territory,” the army’s spokesperson told HT.

Indian troops are locked in a major gun battle with about 30-40 terrorists and suspected Pakistan army special forces since September 23. NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday cleared the blueprint to carve Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, brushing aside protests that reached the PM’S doors and voices of dissent from two central ministers from the southern state.

The development triggered a spate of resignations by antitelangana leaders from the Congress. Tourism minister K Chiranjeevi and four MPS were reported to have put in their papers. “More are going to resign,” said A Sai Prathap, who quit the party and Lok Sabha.

At the cabinet meeting, textiles minister KS Rao and HRD minister MM Pallam Raju — both from Seemandhra — protested the decision.