Cop, civilian among 4 killed in J&K gunfight

Vartha Bharati | 22-06-2018 | 10:36:00 IST

Srinagar, June 22 : Two militants, a civilian and a policeman were killed on Friday in an ongoing gunfight between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.

Police sources said the civilian was identified as Muhammad Yusuf, the house owner where the militants were holed up. The gun battle is on in Khiram village of Srigufwara area.

"Hafeeza, the wife of the slain house owner has also sustained gunshot injury. She was shifted to hospital for treatment," police said.

Other than this, a member of the special operations group (SOG) of the state police was also killed during the ongoing operation, while three other security personnel were injured.

Earlier, the security forces laid a cordon around the village following specific information about presence of four militants hiding in the house.

"As the cordon was tightened, the militants fired, triggering the encounter, which is still underway," a police officer said. Friday's is the first gunfight after the state was put under the Governor's rule.

Dozens of youth have started pelting stones at the security forces some distance from the encounter site.

Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in the district to check spread of any kind of rumours.

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First-ever life-size Vivekananda statue in US unveiled in Seattle

12-04-2026 ¦ 12-04-2026 IST

Photo: PTI

New York (PTI): The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.

The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the US, officials said.

Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta.

"From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle's skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle," the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post.

Addressing the event, Wilson said the monument reflects Seattle's inclusive spirit and strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest.

The statue has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity", the Indian mission in Seattle said in a statement.

The unveiling of the statue was held on the occasion of the celebration of ICCR Day and is part of India's broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the US Pacific Northwest, the Consulate said.

Located at the bustling Westlake Square, which sees over 400,000 visitors daily, the monument stands near prominent landmarks including the Amazon headquarters ‘Spheres’, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Seattle Centre Monorail.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by several local leaders, including mayors from cities in the Greater Seattle area, community representatives and members of the Indian-American diaspora.

Swami Vivekananda had delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hindu philosophy to a global audience.