One jawan martyred as Army foils infiltration bid in Kupwara, curfew lifted from parts of Valley

A soldier was killed in J&K`s Kupwara as the army foiled an infiltration bid from across LoC today.

Srinagar: A soldier was killed on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir`s Kupwara district as the army foiled an infiltration bid from across the Line of Control (LoC), defence sources said.

Defence sources here said alert troops had noticed suspicious movement on the LoC in Kupwara district during the night.

"When challenged, the group of heavily armed infiltrating terrorists fired at the troops, resulting in injuries to a soldier who later succumbed.

"The infiltrating group of terrorists was forced to flee back into the Pakistan side," said the source, adding search operations are still going on in the area.

On the other hand, curfew was lifted from four districts of Kashmir and parts of Srinagar city today in view of the improving situation in these areas but remained in force in the rest of the Valley as a precautionary measure.

"Curfew has been lifted from Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts and some parts of Srinagar city in view of the improving situation in these areas," a police official said.

The official said, however, restrictions on assembly of four or more people under Section 144 CrPC will continue in the areas where curfew has been lifted.

He said curfew remained in force in Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian districts of the Valley and eight police station areas of the city.

The situation across the Valley is peaceful so far.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to arrive here on a two-day visit later in the day, official sources said.

They said Singh will hold a meeting with the officials of the state soon after his arrival and meet civil society, political leaders and members from trade fraternity later in the afternoon.

The Home Minister has more meetings scheduled tomorrow morning before he flies back to New Delhi, the sources said.

Life in Kashmir has been paralysed since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.

Fresh clashes broke out between protestors and security forces in Kashmir yesterday after Friday prayers killing one youth.

As many as 45 persons have been killed and over 3400 others injured in the violent clashes between protestors and security forces following Wani's killing. 

(With agency inputs)