Kupwara, December 19

To address the problems of students, especially girls, at Government Middle School, Zoonreshi, a remote village in Kupwara district, the Army today handed over three toilet blocks constructed by it to the school and the locals.Locals, especially parents and schoolchildren, thanked 19 Maratha Regiment for providing them the facility. “It is a great move indeed by the Army. Our girls were forced to defecate in the open in the absence of toilets in the school. On behalf of villagers, I thank the Army for providing the much-needed facility,” said Mohammad Yaseen Mir, Zoonreshi sarpanch.At least 200 children are enrolled in the school. A senior Army officer said that in line with the PM’s call to provide dignity to women in villages and remote areas, the Army had built a toilet block in the school. — OC

Militant hideout busted in Ramban

Jammu, December 19

Security forces today claimed to have busted a militant hideout in Ramban district from where they recovered a rich haul of arms and ammunition.“Soldiers of Delta Force along with Jammu and Kashmir Police busted a terrorist hideout in the dense forest of the Kumet area of Ramban district and recovered a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and war-like stores,” said a Defence spokesperson.The joint operation by troops of Delta Force and police was launched yesterday and continued till this afternoon, he added.“Following an input a massive search and combing operation was launched in the area for over two days in extreme inclement weather conditions,” he said. — TNS