Srinagar, Nov 8: Three Pakistani militants were killed while four soldiers, including an officer, also died during an encounter along the Line of Control (LoC) in Machil sector in the frontier district of Kupwara in the wee hours of Sunday, a defence ministry spokesman said.

A BSF spokesman said a constable Sudip Sarkar died in the initial exchange of fire.
Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia giving details about the encounter said troops guarding LoC noticed suspicious movement of three militants near LoC fence in Machil sector in Kupwara at 0100 hours on Sunday.
However, when challenged and asked to surrender, the militants opened fire with automatic weapons, he said adding the fire was retaliated and in the ensuing encounter a militant was killed.
He said one AK rifle and two bags were recovered from the slain militant.
BSF spokesman said constable Sudip Sarkar who continued fighting despite being injured succumbed before he could be shifted to hospital.
He said troops from 15 Corps also joined the operation which was going on when the reports last came in.
Colonel Kalia said two more militants were killed in the encounter. However, he said three soldiers, including an officer also died while two others were injured, who were evacuated to hospital.
He said the operation was going on when the last reports came in.
Meanwhile, senior Army officers and Director General of Police (DGP) have said that there are large number of militants in launch pads at LoC in other Kashmir and are waiting to sneak into this side before the infiltration routes are closed due to heavy snowfall. However, they said, security forces guarding the LoC are already on high alert to foil any such infiltration attempt.

New Delhi, Nov 8: India and China have agreed to ensure their frontline troops exercise restrain, avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, where forces of two countries are engaged into border standoff since early May.
“The two sides had a candid, in-depth and constructive exchange of views on disengagement along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of India-China border areas,” according to joint statement issued by India and China on Sunday.
The 8th round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held in Chushul on Friday to discuss ways to disengagement and de-escalation of troops and weapons along the LAC. The talks began at 9.30 am and ended at about 7 pm.
This was the first round of talks led by the new 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen PGK Menon. The latest talks took place nearly a month after the previous round.
India has been pressing for withdrawal of soldiers and equipment from all friction points in eastern Ladakh while the Chinese side first want disengagement and de-escalation from south of Pangong Tso.
“Both sides agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, ensure their frontline troops to exercise restraint and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation,” the joint statement said.
Both sides agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, and, taking forward the discussions at this meeting, push for the settlement of other outstanding issues, so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas, it added.
The Corps Commanders also agreed to have another round of meeting soon.

Death toll rises to 1536, case tally at 98892
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Nov 8: Jammu and Kashmir reported five more COVID-19 deaths in last 24 hours, while 555 more people tested positive for the virus across the union territory, officials said on Sunday.
They said that the fatality count due to COVID-19 in J&K has mounted to 1536 and 98892 people have tested positive for the pestilence till date.
Giving details of the causalities, the officials said that victims include
one each from Srinagar and Kupwara while three others belong to Jammu division.
The victim from Srinagar was a 70-year-old man from Habbak Naseembagh Srinagar who died five days after he was admitted to SKIMS Soura. Those who died in Jammu region belonged to J&K’s winter capital.
With these deaths, the fatality count has reached 1536 in J&K—1017 in Valley and 519 in the Jammu region.
Srinagar district with 375 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (269), Baramulla (148), Budgam (94), Pulwama (83), Kupwara (74), Anantnag (76), Rajouri (48), Kulgam (48), Bandipora(47), Doda (48), Shopian (35), Ganderbal (35), Udhampur (32), Kathua (33), Samba (25), Poonch (23), Ramban (18), Kishtwar(15), and Reasi (8).
J&K reports 555 new cases, total 98892
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir reported 555 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours, officials told GNS on Sunday.
They said Srinagar reported 122 cases, Baramulla 42, Budgam 40, Pulwama 19, Kupwara 13, Anantnag 17, Bandipora 24, Ganderbal 46, Kulgam 12, Shopian 7, Jammu 95, Rajouri 7, Udhampur 20, Doda 16,
Kathua 15, Poonch 21, Samba 13, Kishtwar 13, Ramban 7 and Reasi 6.
A number of these cases were confirmed at SKIMS and CD hospital’s diagnostic laboratories and includes from nine army men from BB Cantt Srinagar and six BSF soldiers.
The CD cases include female (57) and male (59) from NA, female (14) from Hyderpora, male (60) from Safakadal, nine males (25, 44, 27, 25, 35, 23, 52, 44, 46) from BB Cantt Srg, female (25) from Rajbagh, male (37) from Elahibagh, male (40) from Eidgah Srg, female (45) from Chattabal, male (38) from Srinagar, male (26) from Eidgah Srg, male (60) from Shivpora, six males (70, 70, 65, 48, 75, 55) and four females (72, 72, 72, 75) from NA, male (60) from Hawal, female (50) from Padshahi Bagh, female (32) from Gulposh Colony, female (58) and two males (65, 35) from Rajbagh, male (52) from Ahmadnagar, female (40) from Budgam, female (22) from Hawal, female (22) from Hyderpora, male (22) from Soura, two females (18, 16) from Chattabal, female (37) from Bemina, two males (31, 58) from Chanapora, male (16) from Gojwara, two females (27, 55) from Gogjibagh, male (30) from Chattabal, female (47) and male (22) from Rajbagh, male (60) from Chattabal, male (85) and two females (78, 09) from Nawabazar, male (33) from Kanimazar, male (60) from Nowpora, male (52) from SMHS Srg, male (68) from Batwara, two males (51, 14) and three females (15, 12, 50) from Bemina, female (65) from Harna Budgam, male (13) from Buchpora, male (NA) from Nawakadal, two males (NA, 26) from Srinagar, male (62) and female (NA) from Tulsibagh Srg, male (56) from Lethpora Awantipora, male (NA) from Bemina, male (56) from Kupwara, four males (42, 48, 50, 18) and two females (16, 50) from Zoonimar, female (75) from Lal Bazar, female (NA) from The BSF cases include six males (53, 53, 36, 52, 55, 35) from Ch BSF Humhama Srinagar.
The Budgam cases include male (65) from Lasjan, male (55) from Ladden, male (45) from Shrine Charisharief, male (21) from Talabikalan, male (44) from Sozeith, male (56) from Rathsun, male (72) from Aripanthan Beru, male (18) from Palpora Magam, male (35) from Nowgam Naik Bagh, male (60) from Chrali Pora Nowgam, female (35) from Sheikhpora Chattergam, male (30) from Dangerpora Chattergam, male (30) from Baghi Mehtab Budgam.
The Ganderbal cases include female (33) from Barwulla, two males (54, 28) and female (58) from Kangan, two males (85, 12) and two females (83, 35) from Waskura, female (70) and three males (75, 28, 70) from Ahan, male (86) from Malshahibagh, male (56) from Search, female (33) from Fatehpora, female (33) from Saloora, male (82) from Ganderbal, female (27) from Saloora, female (50) from Saloora, female (42) from Takya Khalamulla Alusteng, male (60) from Nunner, female (85) from Gund, female (48) from Kurhama, male (45) and female (42) from Lar, male (58) from Chundina, male (33) from Kangan, male (60) from NA Ganderbal, male (60) from Choont, female (65) from Kangan Ganderbal.
The Srinagar cases include male (36) from Wanabal Rawalpora, two males (30, 60) and female (30) from Nowhatta, male (30) from Kullmulla, female (60) from Hajibagh, male (62) from Lal Bazar, male (62) from Eidgah, female (60) from Buchpora, male (40) from Lal Bazar, two males (28, 28) from Soura, male (58) from Batamaloo, male (65) from Alamgiri Bazar, female (65) from Nowshera, male (28) from Lal Bazar, female (28) from Alamgiri Bazar, male (65) from Jawahar Nagar, male (67) from Hawal, male (28) from Hyderpora, male (70) from Soura, male (50) from Dalgate, female (70) from Buchpora, female (44) from 90feet Road, female (55) from Rainawari, female (75) from Kawdara, female (68) from Nowshera, male (55) from Dalgate Srinagar. The Baramulla cases include male (25) from Sopore, male (60) from Fatehpora Baramulla. The Poonch cases include male (40) from Sorankote Poonch.
Moreover, they said, 456 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals— 171 from Jammu Division and 285 from Kashmir Valley. (GNS)

New Delhi, Nov 8: India’s COVID contagion tally on Sunday surged past the 85 lakh mark after the nation clocked a single day spike of 45,674 fresh infections during the past 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry update said here.
The case count of the country has now surged to 85,07,754 after the rise registered in cases, while the death toll has mounted to 1,26,121 after 559 more lives were claimed by the virus since Saturday.
Active case-load on the country has further come down by 3,967 on Sunday and now the country houses 5,12,665 active patients of COVID 19.
Meanwhile, the recoveries have now reached 78,68,968 after 49,082 patients were cured in the past one day time.
In percentage, active cases presently stand at 6.03 per cent of the total case count till date, the cured at 92.49 per cent and the deaths at 1.48 per cent, as per the government data.
According to the Indian Council for Medical Research, till date 11,65,42,304 COVID tests have been done so far in the country.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Nov 8: Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Sunday said that Jammu and Kashmir Police is making every effort to strengthen the bond with its people especially the youth and will continue to do so in future too .
DGP Singh, who was the Chief Guest on the medal and prize distribution ceremony on the occasion of Kathua Half Marathon “Run for Unity & Run against Drugs” event organized by Kathua Police under the aegis of Jammu and Kashmir Police Headquarters, appreciated the efforts of Kathua Police especially SSP Kathua Dr Shalinder Mishra and other sponsors for organizing such a successful event.
DGP Singh advised youth to stay away from drugs and exhorted upon them to adopt good habits in making their surroundings a better place. He appreciated the female participants for making the event more significant and hoped that their participation will encourage other females in taking part in such events in future.

The DGP said that police are working with the people especially youth and their cooperation, J&K Police and other forces have maintained the peaceful situation in the Union Territory. He said that upcoming Panchayat, BDC and DDC elections will be conducted in a secure environment with the support of the general people.

He said that J&K Police have met every challenge in the past and hoped that along with other security forces we will hold the elections successfully. The present security situation in the whole of Jammu and Kashmir is much secure and every attempt shall be made to make it more secure, he added.

Jammu, Nov 8: The Civil Secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir administration, will open here on Monday after functioning in summer capital Srinagar for six months as part of the nearly 150-year-old practice known in the Union Territory as ‘Darbar Move’.
Adequate arrangements, especially those related to security, have been put in place to ensure smooth functioning of the civil secretariat and other move offices including the Raj Bhavan and police headquarters in Jammu, officials said.
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the Darbar Move from Jammu to Srinagar this summer. The Civil Secretariat and other move offices, which observe a five-day week, closed in Srinagar on October 30, while the offices observing a six-day week closed the next day.
All the offices are reopening in Jammu on November 9.
The practice of ‘Darbar Move’ — under which the administration functions in Jammu during six months of winter and in Srinagar during summer — was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 to escape extreme weather conditions in the two regions of the state.
However, the practice was continued even after Independence with the aim of providing governance benefits to both Kashmir and Jammu regions for six months by turns.
Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh chaired a meeting on Thursday evening to review security arrangements for the opening of the move offices and directed his officers to ensure elaborate security measures in the entire Jammu district, including border areas.
Singh also asked the officers to ensure adequate security in and around the Civil Secretariat, Raj Bhavan and at various roundabouts, junctions and other important areas in the city.
The IGP directed the officers about various challenges, especially those posed by striking daily wage employees, and called for alertness to deal with any law-and-order situation arising due to any protest.
The officers were also directed to thwart any nefarious designs of anti-national elements and their mentors across the International Border and Line of Control, the officials said.
The winter capital Jammu has been given a facelift ahead of the darbar move with administration sprucing up the roads and pedestrian walkways with repair and paint works. Several roads in the city have been macadamized, potholes being repaired and a fresh coat of paint put on the footpath, they said.
Official residences and government quarters of top bureaucrats, senior officers and move employees have been renovated.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma visited the Civil Secretariat and residential government quarters of move employees at Panjtirthi, B C Road, Sarwal, Janipur and Company Bagh and took stock of works and the arrangements.