Following the recent upsurge in violence in the Kashmir Valley, the Unified Headquarters met in Srinagar on July 22 under the chairmanship of Governor N. N. Vohra. Mr. Vohra called for a close synergy among various security agencies engaged in the counter-insurgency operations. He also called for the strengthening of the security grid in view of the forthcoming elections in the state1.

Meanwhile, five people were killed and 18 others wounded when unidentified terrorists hurled a grenade at the crowded Batmaloo bus stand in Srinagar on July 25. The victims belonged to a family of migrant labourer. Separately, in Doda district, unidentified Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants shot dead four members of the family of a surrendered militant2.

Elsewhere, on July 23, a youth protesting against the cancellation of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) died after consuming poison. He was protesting against the remarks of the National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in Lok Sabha on July 22 that the land to the Board will be returned only over dead bodies of the Kashmiris. Following the incident, protestors went on a rampage in and around Jammu City during which some 18 people were injured3.

• 1. “Governor calls for close synergy among CI agencies,” Kashmir Times, July 23, 2008, at http://kashmirtimes.com/news6.htm
• 2. “Five of family killed in grenade blast in Srinagar,” The Hindu, July 25, 2008, at http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/25/stories/2008072560601200.htm
• 3. “Youth sacrifices life over land row,” Daily Excelsior, July 25, 2008, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/08july24/news.htm#1