Mendhar, Jan 7 : The gun battle between army personnel and militants here continued for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday.

According to defence sources, an intense gun battle continued with army troops firing rockets and mortars targeting the militants'' cave hideouts in Bhati Dhar forest area.

Security forces have cordoned off the area around the forest while the search operations have been partially hindered due to the dense forests.

Thick forests, terraces and a number of natural caves, are providing hideouts to the militants.

Jammu: 38 year old Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir at a sparkling swearing-in ceremony here yesterday. In the presence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Governor NN Vohra administered Omar the oath of office and secrecy at the General Zorawar Singh Auditorium on the Jammu University campus.

Omar is the third generation leader of the J& K National Conference (NC). He is the son of former chief minister Farooq Abdullah and grandson of Sheikh Abdullah, another chief minister of the state.

On Monday the gunbattle between security forces and terrorists entered its fifth day in Poonch.

For the last 15 hours there’s been continuous firing between security forces and a group of terrorist.

The operation to find nearly six to eight terrorists hiding in the forests near the Line of Control commenced on Sunday. Furthermore, in order to prevent the terrorists from escaping, the area has been cordoned by the security.   

Jammu, Jan 5 : National Conference party chief Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister today.

State Governor N N Vohra administered the oath of office and secrecy to Omar at General Zorawar Singh auditorium in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Omar will continue to be the Chief Minister during the entire tenure of the NC-Congress party coalition government.

National Conference won 28 of the Assembly''s 87 seats, the Congress 17, the People''s Democratic Party 21, Bharatiya Janata Party 11 and other parties and independents won 10 seats.

Mendhar (J-K), Jan 5: The fierce gunbattle between security personnel and militants continued for the fifth consecutive day today in Bhati Dhar area in Mendhar sector of Poonch district.

Four militants, one policeman and two soldiers have so far died in the encounter, which began on Thursday.

Jammu, Jan 5 : National Conference party chief Omar Abdullah will take oath as the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir along with five or six ministers here today.

Omar Abdullah will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by the State Governor N N Vohra at Zorawar Auditorium in Jammu University.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.