2 militants killed in encounter in J-K's Pulwama district
Srinagar: Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said.
Based on inputs, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Braw Bandina area of Awantipora in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, a police spokesman said.
As the forces were conducting searches in the area, the militants fired upon them, he said, adding that the forces retaliated.
The slain militants were identified as Irfan Ahmad Degu alias Abu Zarar, a resident of Naina Litter Pulwama, and Tasaduk Amin Shah of Kadlabal Pampore, the spokesman said.
Both of them were affiliated with proscribed outfit LeT and were wanted by law for their complicity in terror crimes, including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities, he said.
"According to police records, Degu was part of groups involved in planning and executing series of terror attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities. He was involved in a case pertaining to attack on security forces in Ellahibagh Pulwama in which one jawan was killed, the spokesman said.
"Shah was involved in killing of a civilian. Several terror crime cases were registered against both of them," he said. Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were seized from the site of the encounter, he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
KSDL invites innovative technology to check sandalwood theft
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has invited farmers, scientists and organisations to come up with innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft in the state.
The state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which manufactures Mysuru Sandal Soap has also planned sandalwood cultivation, state Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil said on Thursday.
"In a bid to promote sandalwood cultivation, the KSDL has planned a major initiative. As part of it, farmers, scientists, and organisations possessing information on advanced equipment or innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft have been invited to approach KSDL and share the details," Patil said in a statement.
Those interested in this initiative will be given an opportunity to demonstrate such technologies before the organisation, the minister said, adding if the proposed solutions are found suitable and effective, steps will be taken for consideration and implementation.
Patil stated that the cost involved in deploying technologies aimed at preventing sandalwood theft would be borne by KSDL.
Further, with a view to encouraging sandalwood cultivation, four farmers who have supplied the highest quantity of sandalwood to KSDL will be honoured with awards on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar on June 4, he said.
On the same occasion, police personnel and forest officials who have made notable progress in apprehending sandalwood thieves and registering cases, along with members of the public who have provided credible information leading to such action, will also be recognised and rewarded, the minister added.
Patil observed that farmers cultivating sandalwood trees on their lands have been facing increasing threats due to theft in recent years. Illegal felling and theft of sandalwood trees have continued for decades.
Although stringent laws are in place to curb such activities, the number of cases resulting in convictions remains very low, he noted.
"In this context, it becomes the responsibility of the organisation to extend both legal and technical support to farmers and encourage them to take up sandalwood cultivation on a larger scale," he said.
According to him, over the past three years, KSDL has procured 174.5 metric tonne of sandalwood directly from farmers across the state and transferred Rs 6.08 crore to their respective accounts.
