‘Pak ideas on Kashmir welcome’
India, Pak need to work for new future: PM

AMRITSAR, Dec 20: Reaching out to Pakistan with his "vision" of Indo-Pak ties, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today renewed his offer of a bilateral treaty of peace, security and friendship which would be an instrument for enduring peace and prosperity.

Welcoming "new ideas" from Pakistan to resolve outstanding issues with India, he said the two countries need to work together with an "open mind" and build trust.

Underlining that the destiny of India and Pakistan is interlinked, he said they need to put the past behind and work for a "new future" and expressed confidence that this will be achieved overcoming all hurdles.

"Last week, I had read about some new ideas and thoughts expressed from Pakistan," he told a public meeting here in an apparent reference to President Pervez Musharraf’s four-point formula to resolve the Kashmir issue which included demilitarisation and joint management of the undivided State.

"We welcome all ideas as they contribute to the ongoing thought process," Singh said, adding if both sides approach issues with "open and friendly mind, and work together on resolving each of these, then it will be possible for us to resolve all pending issues through a dialogue process."

Singh, who spoke in chaste Punjabi in this area bordering Pakistan, said "I am sure that we can overcome all hurdles in our path and realise" a treaty of peace, security and friendship which he proposed here in March this year.

Emphasising that the two countries need to put "past behind us", the Prime Minister said "we need to think about our collective destiny, a destiny where both neighbours can work jointly towards a better future for their citizens.

"If our minds are determined and focussed on this goal, I am confident that this destiny can be realised."

He said a treaty of peace, security and friendship was essential as it would become the instrument for realising "our collective destiny and the basis for enduring peace and prosperity in the region."

Observing that he too has a "vision" regarding India and Pakistan, Singh said he earnestly hoped that the relations between the two countries will become friendly and generate an "atmosphere of trust".

Expressing confidence that the two neighbours can continue on the path of peace, he said "this is possible and we will make it happen. This is not a dream, it can be a reality."

Talking in context of Punjab, he said a number of initiatives have been taken with Pakistan for the benefit of the border State. In this regard, he referred to launch of bus services between Amritsar and Lahore and Amritsar and Nankana Sahib.

It has been New Delhi’s "sincere endeavour" to establish an atmosphere of peace between the two countries so that they could live in harmony, he said.

"I am confident that if we continue on this path of peace, then Amritsar can once again regain its glory as a major centre of trade and commerce. I believe that this is possible and we will make it happen. This is not a dream, it can be a reality," he said. (PTI)

Govt to shift Tosha Khana treasure to Civil Sectt

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 20: The State Cabinet, with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in the chair today, discussed the issue in detail regarding mysterious fire in the Tosha Khana at Mubarik Mandi, and decided to shift the valuables worth hundreds of crores to a strong room at the Civil Secretariat.

The Cabinet also discussed the measures to be taken for the safety of the Dogra rulers’ treasure and old weaponry of the Maharajas’ times, lying in the Tosha Khana. Several Cabinet Ministers expressed displeasure over the incident and stressed for going into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate fire incident and punish the guilty.

In the meeting, which continued for about more than an hour, the Cabinet ministers unanimously resolved to shift the entire valuables including costly ornaments to the strong room of J&K Bank in the Secretariat at Jammu under the supervision of the District Magistarte. It was also decided by the Cabinet to disclose the inventories to the media and show to valuables and other items to the Press before being shifted to the another safe and protected place.

However, it was decided that the weaponry will be kept in a suitable and safe room of the Tosha Khana at Mubarik Mandi after making some repair work. The process is being completed within a couple of days. The sources further disclosed that the Government plans to display these valuables and weaponry in the Museum in near future.

The decision came after the incident of mysterious fire on December 15 in the Tosha Khana complex of Mubarik Mandi where the treasure of the Dogra rulers’ was lying under protection of strong contingent. The valuables including gold, diamond ornaments, precious stones, utensils, decorative material and many other items were lying. The fire caused extensive damage to the complex. However, as per inventories, the valuables and other items were found safe.

Meanwhile, Government has accorded sanction to the appointment of Dr. Mohammad Deen Commissioner/Secretary Animal/Sheep Husbandry Department as Secretary to the State Finance Commission with immediate effect.

Sanction has also been accorded to re-employment of Dr Deen as Secretary to the State Finance Commission on contract basis with effect from Dec 31, 2006, the date of his superannuation, for a period of one year or till the term of the Commission expires whichever is earlier.

Pak smuggler held, heroin worth Rs 25 cr seized

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 20: Border Security Force (BSF), in a big success, nabbed a Pakistani smuggler from R S Pura area close to the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector and recovered 25 kilograms of heroin worth Rs 25 crore in the international market from his possession.

Deputy Inspector General of BSF, Jammu Sector, G S Virak told the Excelsior that alert patrol of 52nd Battalion of BSF, deployed in the Forward Post of S H Way noticed movement of a person near Zero line at around 10.30 pm during Tuesday night.

The jawans, who were on routine patrol on that side of the fencing closer to border, laid a trap and allowed the intruder to move deep into this side of IB. As soon as the intruder carrying a bag reached within the effective firing range of jawans, he was challenged and asked to surrender. Though he tried to flee throwing the bag into the bushes, yet BSF men fired some warning shots into the air and lighted the area to nab him, Mr Virak said.

The intruder was captured after a brief chase and put to immediate frisking. His bag filled with 25 packets each containing one kilograms of white substance (heroin) was also recovered from the nearby bushes. However, no incriminating document or cash was recovered from his possession.

The smuggler was taken to nearby post and later identified as Mohd Ashraf (50), son of Inayat Ullah, a resident of village Kot Korha Thand Singh, district Pasrur in Pakistan. During questioning the intruder disclosed that he had been working as labourer at a brick kiln in Pakistan. One middle aged person namely- Mallik had asked him to deliver this consignment and dump it closer to the border at a particular point in the Indian side of R S Pura. It had also been told by Mallik that somebody from Indian side will carry away the consignment and had also promised a handsome amount after the job is done.

DIG Virak said that after a long time such a consignment has been recovered at the IB in Jammu sector. In past no such incident was reported in Jammu sector. There seems to be some shift in the modus operandi of the narcotic smugglers operating in parts of Pakistan through Punjab or Rajasthan. He didn’t rule out the possibility of arrested smuggler having been involved in the trans-border smuggling of counterfeit currency. He said joint efforts of various agencies have been launched to establish the Indian link of the Pak smugglers.

The captured smuggler is being shifted to JIC. The Border Police is coordinating the investigations.

Meanwhile, seven Bangladeshis were arrested while trying to exfiltrate to Pakistan from R S Pura sector last night.

Jawans of 52nd Battalion of BSF at Kot Kuba Border Out Post (BOP) arrested a man trying to climb over the fence last night. On his disclosure, six more Bangladeshis, hiding in the bushes nearby, were also captured. They were later handed over to Border police.

Experts for tough anti-terror law

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: A demand for a tough and stringent anti-terror law to deal with threats from across the border to the country’s vital installations, including nuclear facilities, has been raised by top security experts.

"The existing laws are woefully inadequate to deal with the developing threats. Such a stance may be politically convenient but it would amount to courting disaster in the area of national security," the experts said in a signed press statement.

The police, which is the weapon of first resort against terrorism of any kind, must be adequately empowered and given full latitude in dealing with terror and its nexus with organised crime, they said.

In the absence of such measures, the "nation will continue to bleed", said the statement signed by former BSF chief Prakash Singh, former High Commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarthy, former RAW Additional Secretary B Raman and former Manipur and Nagaland Governor Lt Gen (retired) V K Nayar.

Law enforcement agencies and security forces are doing their very best to deal with terrorist threats. Officers and men are sacrificing their lives almost every day "but it has to be remembered that the war against terror requires a comprehensive strategy and a stringent anti-terror law is an essential component of that", the statement said.

They said western democracies had not hesitated in enacting such laws. In India, "however, we find ourselves hamstrung by political considerations. It is a great pity that this should happen in such an important sphere which concerns our national security", it said.

Calling on the Government to take cognizance of the threats and face them boldly irrespective of the costs involved and the sacrifices that have to be made, the security experts said "adequate safeguards could always be injected into the (anti-terror) law to prevent its possible misuse".

They said any half-heartedness in fighting the war against terror would prove very costly and "coming generations will not forgive the leadership for complacency on this front".

The experts drew attention to the recent address by Home Minister Shivraj Patil to a meeting of state Police Chiefs, wherein he referred to the threat from the Lashkar-e-Toiba to the country’s vital installations, including nuclear plants and oil refineries, and said this statement should be treated as an "eye-opener".

The terrorists have been spreading their tentacles across the country and their reach extends far and wide, including the southern most tip and remote areas of the northeast. This has been done with the objective of destabilising the country’s polity, cripple its economy and fracture its social cohesion, they said. (PTI)

NT arrested for daughter’s fake RBA certificate
GMC student’s MBBS being terminated

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Dec 20: After arresting Naib Tehsildar of Handwara for the offence of manipulating his daughter’s admission in Reserved for Backward Area (RBA) category, Handwara District Police are going to arrest the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu student, Bilquees Gani, whose training course in medicine is also being terminated by the authorities.

Wanted in case FIR No: 102 of 2006, under sections 420 and 468 RPC, dated 19-12-2006, by Police Station Vilgam, in Kupwara district, Police today arrested 57-year-old Naib Tehsildar of Handwara, Abdul Gani Mir, in Kupwara town. Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that after completion of a departmental inquiry, conducted by Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Handwara, M Y Zargar and Tehsildar of Handwara, Abdur Rasheed Shah, DC Kupwara Abdul Majeed Khanday had written to SP Handwara on December 14th to register a case of cheating and forgery against Mir. He had made it clear in his communication to SP Handwara that Mir had been found responsible for making a fake RBA certificate for the purpose of seeking his daughter’s admission in MBBS, in year 2005.

After her selection for the prestigious bachelors in medicine and surgery by Jammu & Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE), Bilquees Gani was admitted to the MBBS 1st year at GMC Jammu. Sources said that Mir’s estranged first wife and two of her daughters, namely Zahida and Naheed, who have been living in a nearby village after the Revenue official’s second marriage, lodged a complaint with the authorities that Mir had manipulated his second wife’s daughter Bilquees Gani’s admission on the basis of a fake RBA certificate. Among others, they had also submitted a complaint to Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, whose office directed DC Kupwara to conduct an inquiry.

The inquiry conducted by AC and Tehsildar of Handwara observed that the Naib Tehsildar, Abdul Gani Mir, who happens to be the resident of Gund Zoonrishi village, had shown his residence in the RBA listed village of Kalmoona and got a document forged to facilitate his daughter’s admission in the reserved category. It was on the basis of this forged RBA certificate that BOPEE selected Bilquees and subsequently a seat was allotted to her at GMC Jammu. The inquiry did not find any such file in the bona fide records and, thus, it became clear that Bilquees Gani’s RBA certificate was fake and forged. It was found to have been issued with the forged signatures of then Tehsildar of Handwara, Mohammad Hussain Mir. Hussain denied knowledge of such a certificate and claimed that he had neither signed nor issued the certificate in question.

As Mir came to know that an FIR had been registered against him at Vilgam on the basis of DC’s letter, he approached a court of law and succeeded in obtaining two anticipatory bails. Even as he displayed his twin bails, Police arrested him and detained him for questioning.

SP Handwara, Dr Haseeb Mughal, sought to make it clear that Mir had only been detained for "questioning" but added that Police would approach District & Sessions Court of Kupwara on Thursday, seek cancellation of the anticipatory bails and then arrest the accused formally. He disclosed that a Handwara Police party would also leave for Jammu on Thursday to affect the arrest of the accused beneficiary of the forged RBA certificate.

Sources said that DC Kupwara and SP Handwara were also going to approach BOPEE to seek cancellation of Bilquees Gani’s admission in the MBBS course at GMC, Jammu.

Two others get 4 years imprisonment
Court awards life sentence to Manu

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Manu Sharma, the killer of model Jessica Lall who had escaped the clutches of law with the trial court acquittal, was today given life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court which rejected prosecution demand for death sentence, saying the murder was "not intentional" and "pre-meditated".

Seven years after the 32-year-old model was shot dead while working at a restaurant here as a bartender, Justice R S Sodhi and Justice P K Bhasin while delivering the sentence in a jam-packed court room said "though the case has shaken the conscience of the society yet it cannot be held that the convict (Manu) deserved maximum punishment (death)."

Observing that the crime was committed in a heat of passion and it was "not intentional" and "pre-meditated", the bench said "we feel that justice will be satisfied under the law if the convict will be sentenced to life imprisonment."

"There is nothing on record that the offence falls under the rarest of rare category. The murder though intentional was committed without any prior motive," said the bench which had convicted Sharma, son of senior Congress leader Venod Sharma, for the murder of Jessica on Monday.

Two other convicts Vikas Yadav, an accused in the Nitish Katara murder case and son of controversial Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav, and Amardeep Singh Gill alias Tony, an executive with MNC, were sentenced to four years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 3000 each for conspiring to destroy evidence.

Sharma, who surrendered after his conviction on Monday, was also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 by the court.

Sharma, who along with other convicts was present in the court, reacted by saying "this was in my fate."

"Mere Bhagya Main Yehi Tha Taqdeer Ka Faisla Yehi Tha (this was in my fate. This was decided by destiny)," he said.

Manu’s counsel R K Nasseem said an appeal would be filed in the Supreme Court. "We are going to file an appeal. Bina Ramani has wrongly been held as an eye witness".

"She (Bina) was not presented as an eye witness even by the investigating officer Surinder Sharma before the trial court," he said.

The court also issued notices to all 32 hostile witnesses, including actor Shyan Munshi and businessman Andaleeb Seghal who is also facing probe in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam. They have been directed to appear before the court on February 1 to explain why they did not support the prosecution case.

If they are unable to satisfy the court, they might be persecuted for perjury, legal experts said.

Earlier during an hour-long argument on the quantum of sentence, prosecution demanded maximum punishment of death sentence while defence sought leniency from the court on the ground that the case did not fall in the rarest of the rare category.

However, the bench did not agree with the prosecution argument that the offence falls on the category of rarest of rare warranting death sentence. (PTI)

Musharraf may visit Delhi

ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is expected to attend the SAARC summit to be held in New Delhi early next year.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would extend an invitation to Musharraf to attend the Summit during his visit to Islamabad on January 13.

The invitation was being extended to Musharraf as he is the Executive President, Indian officials said here.

Musharraf attended the SAARC summit in 2002 at Kathmandu where he grabbed headlines with his famous handshake with the then Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee in a bid to reduce the mounting military tensions between the two sides in the after-math of the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001.

The 2004 SAARC summit, held here, was attended by former Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali and the Dhaka summit by the present Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Early this week foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam left the chances of Musharraf’s visit to New Delhi open when she was asked when asked who would attend this year’s SAARC summit. She said no decision has been taken on it yet.

The Indian invitation would provide a second opportunity for Musharraf to visit New Delhi in as many years. He had a highly publicised visit to the Indian capital in April 2005 to watch an India-Pak cricket match, during which he had an extensive interaction with the Prime Minister, media and civil society.

The invitation was extended after Musharraf expressed interest to visit New Delhi to watch the India-Pak one-day international.

Not the one to miss an opportunity to visit India, Musharraf may prefer to go New Delhi to attend the SAARC summit to provide an impetus to his Kashmir initiatives. (PTI)

3 day talks on Sir Creek

ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: Indian and Pakistani hydrographers would hold three-day talks beginning here Thursday to finalise modalities for conducting a joint survey of the Sir Creek area to enable the two countries demarcate the maritime zone.

An Indian delegation headed by Chief Naval Hydrographer, Rear Admiral, B R Rao would arrive here tomorrow to hold talks with Pakistani officials to finalise modalities for the joint survey agreed during the earlier discussions.

This would be the second survey to be undertaken by the two parties in the history of the 22-yearly-long dispute over the 12 mile marshy strip off the Gulf of Kutch whose determination would enable both countries to finalise their maritime economic zone.

Last January, a "very useful" joint survey was held and the second survey was expected to be completed by March which could help the two sides resolve the dispute with mutual compromise.

Meanwhile, President Pervez Musharraf was expected to go to New Delhi in April this year to attend the SAARC summit. An invitation would be extended to him during the visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee next month. (PTI)

Arms, ammunition seized in Valley

SRINAGAR, Dec 20 : Security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in Kashmir overnight,official spokesman said today.

Acting on specific information, a police party seized two RPG rockets along with two boosters from a militant hideout in Zabarwan hills near Dachigam on the city outskirts today.

The Army’s 190 Field Regiment lodged a report with the police at Kralapora that their unit had seized an AK 56 rifle, two magazines, 56 rounds, eight UBGL grenades and three Chinese grenades from the forest area of Kachama Meelyal.

Meanwhile, a Nepali watchman died due to gas leakage while eight people were wounded in separate accidents across the Kashmir valley, police said.

They said Khakra Ram Bahadur of Nepal, who was working as a watchman with an automobile company, died due to gas leakage in his room during night at Chanapora.

Police have registered a case and launched investigations under section 174 CRPC.

Seven passengers were wounded when a gypsy collided with a car at Chinar Colony under the jurisdiction of Sadder Police Station here. The wounded have been hospitalised. A case had been registered in this regard. Both the vehicles also suffered heavy damage in the accident.

In another accident, an Army vehicle hit and wounded Syed Mohammad Amin, a resident of Ijara Pehlipora in Uri, at the Baramulla Bus Stand.

The wounded was shifted to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura.

A case has been registered in this regard. (AGENCIES)

SGPC for control of Nankana Sahib bus

AMRITSAR, Dec 20: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today demanded that it should be given control of the biweekly Amritsar-Nankana Sahib and Amritsar-Lahore bus services.

In a charter of demands submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar outside the Golden Temple complex here, the SGPC pointed out that Sikh pilgrims were facing hardships in getting visas from New Delhi for pilgrimage to the shrines in Pakistan on the two bus services.

The charter further pointed out that added to the visas problems was the cumbersome process of security clearance by the police which at times takes a month or so.

"As a result of these problems the buses to Lahore and Nankana Sahib have not been able to attract many pilgrims ever since these were introduced in January and March respectively this year," The charter of demands said.

The SGPC said that it would provide space for a visa center inside the Golden Temple complex and pilgrims going to or coming from Pakistan could be accomodated in the ‘Serais’ (rest houses) in the Golden Temple complex.

"The SGPC can coordinate with the Indian and Pakistan authorities to make the visa process easy," the charter added.

Another demand listed in the charter was to ensure the release of all Sikhs detained in prisons across the border.

The SGPC also demanded that the Prime Minister should take up with Pakistan the long standing Sikh demand for providing a ‘corridor’ to the Sikh pilgrims from India, desirous of paying obeisance at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib which lies few meters from the International Border with Pakistan across the Ravi river in the Dera Baba Nanak sector of Gurdaspur district.

The Shiromani Committee claimed that the Pak-Government was willing to provide a ‘corridor’ on its territory to the shrine, where Guru Nanak stayed in the last few years of his life and breathed his last.

The SGPC also demanded that the ‘Kar Sewa’ of historical Gurdwaras in war-torn Afghanistan should be handed over it. The SGPC also sought the PM’s intervention to persuade the Government of Bangladesh to allow SGPC granthis (priests) and sewadars to perform religious duties in Sikh shrines in that country.

Mr Makkar during his brief interaction with Dr Singh also brought up the issue of ‘kirpans’ (swords) being carried by ‘baptised’ Sikhs on domestic and international airliners. Jathedar Makkar said that certain cases of baptised Sikhs ot being allowed to wear six-inch ‘kirpans’ on international flights was brought to his notice.

The SGPC chief appealed to the PM to take up this issue with other nations that had banned the carrying of six-inch ‘kirpans’, a religious symbol of ‘baptised’ Sikhs.

It also sought the intervention of Dr Singh to take up with France the ban imposed by the Government of that country on wearing of ‘head gears’ by school going children. The SGPC pointed out that this ban had also effected Sikh children as they too wear head gears, a symbol of their religious identity.

The SGPC also sought the PM’s intervention to halt the persecution of Sikhs in Saudi Arabia. It pointed to certain cases of Sikhs being deprived of their religious symbols in that country. (UNI)

Fresh snowfall on the first day of Challai Kalan

SRINAGAR, : The first day of the 40-day "Challai Kalan", coldest period in winter, witnes sed fresh snowfall in the Kashmir valley, including Summer capital since early today, disrupting normal life.

After night-long rains, the city experienced fresh snowfall this morning, the first day of the Challai Kalan. However, snowfall was followed by rains disrupting normal life as almost all the roads in the city were submerged under water.

The 40-day coldest period of the winter started today which will be followed by 20-day "Challai Kharud " and ten day " Challai Bacha".

During the Challai Kallan, the temperature goes down to minus five degree to seven degree. In 1986 the world famous Dal Lake got totally frozen for the second time when the minimum temperture dipped to minus 9 degree. People, mostly children, were playing on the frozen surface of the lake.

During this period of the winter, the tap get frozen causing water shortage. The people dried vegetables and fish in the past when the 300-km-long Srinagar- Jammu National Highway remained closed for months together.

The frequent closure of the highway this winter has again forced the people to store pulses and other essentials. The prices of essential commodities was up several fold when the highway remained closed for several days last week.

Traffic movement in the city, particuarly in the uptown, including Natipora, Chanapora, Rambagh, Meethan, Bemina, Banapora, Nowgam and Badshah Nagar was disrupted for several hours owing to damaged roads.

A report from Anantnag said fresh snowfall was experienced at tourist resort of Pahalgam, Deksum, Aahrabal and Shopian. About one to two feet of snowfall was also recorded at holy Amarnath cave and its Periphery, Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Panjtherni and Pissu Top.

The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg is also experiencing snowfall since early morning, much to the delight of tourists. The resort recently received about three feet of snowfall, forcing the Winter Games Association to prepone the winter games.

The worlds highest down hill skiing point Affarwat, which is connected by cable car, also experienced about one feet of fresh snowfall. Light snowfall was also recorded at Baramulla in north Kashmir. However, upper reaches had heavy snowfall.

A report said Kargil and Drass, the second coldest place in the world were reeling under severe cold as the temperature there dipped to minus 17 degree.

Zojila, the highest point on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, which has been closed for six winter months on November 15, is also experiencing snowfall since last night.

The authorities had abandoned the operation to recover the body of a Kashmiri teacher who was buried alive under a snow avalanche at zero point on the higway on November 25. The teacher was on way to Srinagar from Kargil.

About a dozen vehicles also remained stranded on the highway because of heavy snowfall. (UNI)

Traffic suspended on Srinagar-Jammu highway

SRINAGAR, Traffic on 300-km Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, was suspended today as snowfall and incessant rains led to stones rolling down the hillsides at Panthal in Doda district.

The traffic on the vital highway was closed this morning as a precautionary measure following rolling down of stones at panthal, about 150 kms from here, official sources said.

They said the authorities are monitoring the situation on regular basis and once the stones stop falling, traffic on the arterial road would be thrown open as there was no other problem.

It started snowing across Kashmir valley including summer capital Srinagar early this morning after several hours of rains but the spell lasted for a brief period.

However, it started snowing again in the upper reaches including the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, where nearly three feet of snow already exists on the slopes following snowfall last month, the sources said.

They said resorts of Yusmarg, Sonamarg, Khilanmarg, Pahalgam, Duksum, Kokernag, Verinag alongwith the case shrine of Amarnath on the outskirts of Pahalgam also received fresh snowfall.

Reports of heavy snowfall was received from the high altitude areas particularly those near the line of control in Kupwara and Baramulla districts since early today, the sources said.

In Srinagar, the minimum temperature rose to 0.7 degree celsius today after remaining below freezing point for the past several days.

The sky remained cloudy and intermittent rains disrupted normal life in the city. (PTI)