Curfew remained in force in entire Srinagar district and Anantnag town on Saturday to thwart the separatists' plan to stage a two-day sit-in in the city centre even as the death toll in the ongoing unrest climbed to 56 in the Valley with the death of a youth injured in firing.
The body of Sehrai, 77, was handed over to his family on Wednesday evening and taken in a police escort to Kupwara in north Kashmir, at least 350 km from Jammu, where he would be buried at his ancestral graveyard in accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines.
The earthquake epicentred in the Hindukush mountain range in Afghanistan struck at around 2.40 pm, sending ripples across several states like Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi- National Capital Region, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.
Two officers -- Lt Colonel Mukesh Jha and Major Amardeep Singh -- are among the five injured army personnel.
There were no restrictions on the movement or assembly of people anywhere in the Valley.
Security forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive and vulnerable areas to maintain law and order.
The deceased have been identified as Major K P Rane, hawaldars Jamie Singh and Vikramjeet and rifleman Mandeep.
Eleven more people died in Uttar Pradesh as the intense cold wave sweeping north India maintained its firm grip over the region with Kargil town in Jammu and Kashmir freezing at minus 16.4 degrees Celsius.
An exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces was also reported from Keran sector.
Weapons and other incriminating material were recovered from the spot.
Curfew continued to cripple the Valley for the tenth day.
Security forces have recovered a Chinese-made M-16 assault rifle from the three militants killed Thursday during an anti-infiltration operation along the Line of Control in Uri, with the Army describing the recovery as "unusual".
The government on Monday announced service medals for 954 police personnel of various central and state forces on the eve of Independence Day.
The matter was expected to be discussed in the Security Council Consultations Room under "other matters" during closed consultations Tuesday afternoon.
The bench said the statements made by Bhim Singh may not be 'relevant judicially' but they may be 'relevant politically'.
'Ladakh too is politically paralysed and in limbo, as Rafale jets roar above Leh and Israeli arms dealers prowl the town.'
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday sought an apology from the Congress for the controversial statement by party MP that suggested a call for a separate south nation over fiscal injustice, but the opposition party's president said it stands for a united nation and will not tolerate any such call.
'Unfortunately, there is no movement towards peace in Manipur.'
The minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at a low of minus 0.5 degrees Celsius.
Considered a neighbourhood specialist, Ravi Sinha has worked extensively in Jammu and Kashmir, the North East and other countries.
The JCO was injured in the firing at around 1.30 pm and was taken to a military hospital, where he succumbed to the injuries, they said. The civilian, Mohmmad Rashid has been shifted to GMC hospital in Jammu for specialised treatment, the officials said.
He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain ultras is being ascertained.
The annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath began on Saturday with over 7,000 pilgrims trekking the 17-km northern Baltel route.
'Assam is not a dumping ground for Bangladeshi Hindu refugees,' says Assamese actor Ravi Sharma who joined the BJP in August and quit the party on December 10 in protest against the Citizenship Act.
Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Saturday said the attack on Uri camp in north Kashmir's Baramulla district was a desperate attempt by militants to disrupt the democratic process in the state.
Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength across the Valley for strict implementation of the prohibitory orders.
In a major arms haul, alert Indian army troops recovered 40 weapons from near the Line of Control in the Farkian Gali area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Saturday.
Search operations were on in the area.
The cold wave intensified in most parts of the valley and Ladakh division with Kargil town the coldest recorded place in the state. Kashmir has been going through extremely dry and cold weather conditions this winter, leading to health related problems among the children and elderly. Here's a glimpse of the snowfall.
Three unidentified terrorists were killed in a fierce encounter in north Kashmir Baramulla district on Thursday.
The encounters took place in Pulwama, Ganderbal and Kupwara districts of the Kashmir valley, a police official said.
A top commander of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayiba was on Thursday arrested and his close aide was killed in an encounter with security forces in Sopore township of north Kashmir, police said.
'Jawans are not rich and their families need succour in their time of loss.'
