Locals provide food, water to troops fighting militants in Jammu

Chinnor, Jammu, Aug 27 (UNI) Extending their support to the security forces fighting militancy, local people here today arranged food, water and shelter for the troops during their daylong gunbattle with a group of 'fidayeens' who struck the winter capital this morning.

A free 'Langer' was organised by the locals for army, police and media personnel engaged in anti-militancy operation.

The Coventry Day Boarding School, a private educational institution just about 300 meters away from the encounter site, was specially opened for the soldiers to take quick rest and re-energise themselves to carry on with the operation.

The soldiers were provided with lunch in the afternoon, besides refreshment, including tea, snacks, fruit and water.

Local Jammu Municipal Corporation member Sheela Handoo has been supervising the hospitality to the fighting and assisting forces during the encounter.

The Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS) also arranged food for the locals, who were shifted out of the fire-range by the security personnel to avoid collateral damage during the encounter.

All the education institutions are closed in Jammu region owing to the ongoing agitation for the restoration of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board in south Kashmir.

UNI VBH-VJ GT AS1750