Srinagar, Oct. 11 : Annual milk production in Kashmir Valley has touched a record mark of 8.78 lakhs of metric tonnes, an increase of 28,000 metric tonnes over the previous year, courtesy the formation of new milk co-operative societies and commissioning of modern processing units.

Milk production in Jammu and Kashmir valley increased tremendously in the past couple of years. It has shot up by 300 per cent over the last six years.

Srinagar, Oct 10 : A top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander was on Friday killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to reports from Srinagar, LeT commander Moeen was killed following a gun battle with police assisted by paramilitary forces in Khillar village.

Moeen was active in the south Kashmir area for quite sometime and was wanted in many terrorism-related incidents, including killing of two CRPF personnel in an attack in Pulwama town earlier this year.

Srinagar, Oct 10 : Violent protests led by separatists rocked Srinagar on Friday ahead of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh''s scheduled visit to the valley to inaugurate the Anantang Srinagar Rajwansher new railway line on Saturday morning.

On Saturday, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the first ever train service in the Kashmir Valley by flagging off the train at Nowgam Railway Station.

Protesters carried an effigy and chanted slogans in the streets in the city in protest against Dr. Singh''s visit.

New Delhi, Oct. 10 : Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta has told the three-member Election Commission that the Central Government is ready to hold Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir next month in three to four phases.

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami made an assessment of the situation for holding polls in the sensitive state when Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta met the full Election Commission.

During the meeting, the availability of central forces was discussed in detail considering the militancy situation in the state.

Srinagar, Oct 10 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will arrive in Jammu and Kashmir on a two-day visit today.

During his visit, Dr. Singh is scheduled to inaugurate the 450 MW Baglihar Hydro Electric Power Project in Ramban district.

This is the third power project commissioned in the border state on river Chenab.

The Baglihar Project has been completed at a cost of Rs. 5200 crores and will generate 2800 million units of electricity every year.