Jammu and Kashmir

According to the officials, over 24,000 yatris had ‘Darshan’ on Monday after pilgrims from the two base camps were allowed to move towards the cave shrine as the weather improved in the Kashmir Valley. The movement of yatris was halted for three days due to the closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway as a result of inclement weather. 

The earlier practice of daily hartals, strikes, stone pelting and bandhs are things of the past now. For the first time in its history, a duly elected three-tier panchayati raj system has been established in Jammu and Kashmir. Elections for the members of the District Development Councils were held in Jammu and Kashmir in November-December 2020.

"One local terrorist neutralised. Identification and affiliation being ascertained. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered. Search going on," officials said. The firefight started after a joint team of police and security forces got an input about the presence of terrorists in the area.

"In the recent past, a large number of intelligence inputs were received from various intelligence agencies about likely infiltration of terrorists from across Line of Control. On June 15, a specific intelligence input was received of likely infiltration along Jumagund Nar from JK Police," the army said.

"Today, at around 3 p.m., an army vehicle was fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area," the army said. The army said the vehicle caught fire due to likely use of grenades by terrorists. "Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles Unit deployed for Counter Terrorist operations in this area, have unfortunately lost their lives in the incident," the army said.

IAF chief V.R. Chaudhary said on Tuesday that the 2019 air strikes in Balakot demonstrated that if political will is there, aerospace power can be effectively used in a  no war, no peace' scenario, under a nuclear overhang without allowing the situation to escalate into a full-blown conflict. He also said that future wars would need the capability of  seeing first' followed by the ability to  strike first' and then  striking the farthest'.

Army sources said that a search operation is underway in the area. Further details were awaited. There has been a significant drop in ceasefire violations by Pakistan since a renewed ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan in 2021. But infiltration attempts keep on taking place from time to time.

One army soldier has also been killed in action in the gunfight. The killed terrorist has been identified as Aqib Mustaq Bhat of Pulwama (A category). He initially worked for HM terror outfit, nowadays he had been working with TRF. Killer of late Sanjay Sharma neutralised," Jammu and Kashmir Police quoting Additional Director General Police (ADGP) Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar tweeted.

"Traffic movement stopped from both sides on Jammu Srinagar NHW due to shooting stones and snowfall between Ramban and Banihal," Jammu and Kashmir Traffic police said. The highway is the lifeline of the Kashmir valley and the main road link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country.

Police said on its Twitter page, "On specific input, the joint area domination party of Army & Police tried to stop one suspected vehicle, terrorists fired upon and in retaliation two terrorists were killed. Arms/ammunition recovered. Details shall follow".