Kangan/Srinagar, Oct 3 : In one of the longest gunfights in recent times, Indian army gunned down all thirteen militants in a fierce five-day encounter in Kangan area of Jammu and Kashmir.

Acting on a tip-off, the army decided to take on the militants who were hiding in the hilly terrain of Chhamarsar area, between Bandipore and Kangan regions of the valley.

The encounter, which began late night on September 27 and ended on October 01, took place at an altitude of 15, 000 feet. The militants were holed up inside a cave in the mountains.

Srinagar, Oct. 2 : Markets were abuzz with Muslim residents going on a marketing spree on the occasion of Eid.

Locals as well as people from far and near thronged the markets to shop amidst the rush of jostling and haggling for a bargain price.

Clothes, food items including meat, chicken, vegetables and confectionery besides toys for children were high in demand of almost every other family.

Srinagar, Sep. 29 : These days the Kashmir valley is witnessing a high demand for Nadru, the lotus stem, as during the holy month of Ramadan most of the devout Muslims, who remain on dawn to dusk fasts, relish it a lot.

Kashmiri Nadru (lotus stem), which are found beneath the water of Dal Lake and the Walur Lake, attract huge demand during this ongoing holy month.

Bland in taste with a texture somewhere between that of a potato and Sinagara(water chestnut), Nadru is rich in dietary fiber and vitamin C, among other nutrients, as well as low in fat.

Srinagar, Kashmir  - Indian security forces recovered bodies of two suspected Muslim militants Monday, taking the death toll to nine from an operation to hunt rebels in high-altitude areas of India-administered Kashmir, officials said.

A soldier from the Indian Army was also killed in the shootout in the Lanzkangan area, about 45 kilometres north of the state capital Srinagar.

Srinagar, Sept 28 : Seven militants, including six foreigners, and an Army jawan were killed and twelve others injured in three separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir.

Following a tip-off that a group of militants were moving in high altitude region between Bandipora and Kangan, the Army launched combing operations on Saturday.

Four foreign militants, whose identity and group affiliation are yet to be established, were shot dead during the operation. An Army jawan was also killed in the gun battle in the area.

In a separate encounter, security forces shot dead two militants including a Pakistani national at Kenigam village in Rajpora area of Pulwama District

Srinagar, Sept 27 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday welcomed the agreement between India and Pakistan for exchange of trade through Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir valley.

She asserted that this agreement was a major step toward self-rule for the people of the valley.