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Three militants among seven killed in Kashmir violence (Roundup)
Srinagar, May 5 (IANS) Three militants, three civilians and a policeman were killed in fresh violence in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday as authorities imposed strict restrictions and snapped mobile phone Internet services following protests near a gunfight site in an old Srinagar neighbourhood.
Police said three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed and four security personnel injured in the shootout in Chattabal, few kilometers away from city centre of Lal Chowk.
The gunfight triggered stone-pelting protests by local residents, who tried to help the holed-up militants escape from a hideout in a semi-constructed building in the densely populated locality of downtown Srinagar.
A protester was killed after he came under a police vehicle in the nearby Noorbagh area. Police said a case has been filed against the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident.
The gunfight erupted in Chattabal area on the banks of Jhelum after security forces received a tip off about the presence of militants there.
As the search by a joint team of CRPF-police began, the militants opened fire at them.
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief S.P. Vaid said the shootout in Chattabal Srinagar ended. “Three bodies of terrorists recovered in a clean operation by J&K Police and CRPF. Well done boys!”
One of the slain militants was a local while the other two appeared foreigners, a police officer said.
Police said the militants were planning a major attack in Srinagar. They claimed some AK 47 rifles, magazines, UBGL grenades, wire cutter, medical kit and matrix sheets were recovered from the shootout site.
Three CRPF personnel and a Special Police Officer were injured in the gunfight. Their condition was stated to be “stable”.
Earlier, as soon as gunshots were heard, people in the nearby areas came out of their houses and tried to disrupt the operation and threw stones at security forces.
Police dispersed the protesters by firing tear smoke shells and in the mellee when Adil Ahmad Yadoo, a local resident, was crushed by a vehicle driven by a policeman.
He was taken to the nearby S.M.H.S. hospital where he was declared brought dead.
A police spokesman said an FIR has been lodged in Safa Kadal Police Station against the driver.
Protests were also staged at the hospital where some people tried to take possession of Yadoo’s body in an attempt to organise mass funeral for him.
As police resisted, people threw stones at them, triggering more protests. Three photojournalists were said to have been injured in the chaos at the hospital.
Separatist groups called for a strike on Sunday to protest against the incident. Schools and colleges suspended class work as tension spread in the city. Markets and other business shut down.
Authorities suspended mobile Internet services in Srinagar district and brought down the speed of fixed line broadband connections.
In more violence, militants shot dead a man and his nephew in north Kashmir Bandipora district. Ghulam Hassan and Bashir Ahmed were abducted from Shahgund village of Hajin area on Friday night.
“The bullet ridden bodies of the victims were found near a mosque in Shahgund village on Saturday morning,” police said.
A Special Police Officer (SPO), Showkat Ahmad, was killed by militants in south Kashmir Pulwama district, officials said.
The SPOs are engaged in Jammu and Kashmir on a fixed monthly package to fight militancy. They do not undergo a regular training in handling weapons.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.