INDIAN TROOPS CONSOLIDATING THEIR POSITIONS IN THE HAJI PIR PASS AREA; CROSSING BRIDGE WHICH IS SAID TO MARK CEASE-FIRE LINE; BULLDOZER WORKING ON ROAD; ARTILLERY FIRING FROM HILLSIDE IN AREA; MAKARANI KARAN SINGH, WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR, VISITING WOUNDED INDIAN TROOPS IN MILITARY HOSPITAL AT SRINAGAR.




Initials PC/V/MGV/PC



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Background: INDIAN TROOPS WERE CLAIMED ON THURSDAY TO HAVE OCCUPIED MORE POSTS ON THE KASHMIR CEASE-FIRE LINE BULGE, FOUR OF THEM EAST OF THE STRATEGIC HAJI PIR MOUNTAIN PASS FIVE MILES FROM THE LINE. INDIA CLAIMS THE PASS SERVED AS A MAIN ROUTE FOR ARMED RAIDS FROM THE PAKISTAN SIDE OF THE LINE.

MAHARANI KARAN SINGH, WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR OF KASHMIR, YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) VISITED INDIAN SOLDIERS, INJURED IN THE CONFLICT, AT THE MILITARY HOSPITAL IN SRINAGAR. SHE LEFT A SMALL GIFT FOR EACH PATIENT, INCLUDING A WOUNDED PAKISTANI SOLDIER.

(LATEST NEWS FROM THE CONFLICT AREA IS THAT INDIA TANKS AND INFANTRY HAVE FORMED UP DEFENCES AROUND JAMMU, KASHMIR'S WINTER CAPITAL, AS PAKISTANI TROOPS WERE REPORTED TO BE PRESSING THEIR ADVANCE. SOLDIERS, POLICEMEN AND CAMOUFLAGED TANKS WERE STRUNG OUT ACROSS THE FLAT GROUND SOUTH OF THE CITY AND NEAR THE KEY HIGHWAY THAT FORMS A LINK WITH INDIA'S PUNJAB STATE. JAMMU IS ONLY 25 MILES FROM THE BATTLEFRONT.)