Militants gun down 7 in valley
SRINAGAR, Aug 31 — Militants gunned down seven persons, including an imam of a local mosque, a woman and her baby, in separate attacks while security forces have arrested five ultras in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.A group of militants barged into a house and killed a woman and her baby at village Balgrand in Doda district of Jammu region last night, an official spokesman said here today.Bodies of two more persons were recovered from Kupwara and Baramula districts today.

Why panchayat poll was deferred
JAMMU, Aug 31 — Despite being in power for 23 months the National Conference has failed to fulfil its commitment of holding panchayat and civic elections in November.

More troops deployed in North Kashmir
SRINAGAR, Aug 31 — More troops have been deployed in border districts of Kupwara and Baramulla following an infiltration of militants from across the Line of Control over the past one month.

Pak firing kills lineman, student
SRINAGAR, Aug 31 — In fresh incidents of firing from across the border in Kargil and Gurez sectors, two persons have been killed and three others wounded since yesterday.

Militants gun down 7 in valley

SRINAGAR, Aug 31 (PTI) — Militants gunned down seven people, including an imam of a local mosque, a woman and her baby, in separate attacks while security forces have arrested five ultras in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

A group of militants barged into a house and killed a woman and her baby at village Balgrand in Doda district of Jammu region last night, an official spokesman said here today.

The spokesman said the imam of Dardpora-Kralpora mosque was shot dead by militants while he was coming out from the mosque after offering evening prayers in frontier district of Kupwara yesterday.

The bodies of two more persons were recovered from Kupwara and Baramula districts today. They were killed by militants.

Two securitymen were killed when militants ambushed a Border Security Force (BSF) party at Shadipora in Baramula district last night.

The security forces returned the fire but the militants fled. A hunt has been launched to capture them.

A powerful improvised explosive device (IED) having been planted by militants to kill securitymen was detected by troops on the Tral-Khalil road in Pulwama district yesterday. The IED was defused by the security forces, the spokesman said.

One militant each was arrested in Baramula, Kupwara, Kathua, Srinagar and Poonch during combing operations.

Two rifles, a grenade launcher, two revolvers, a pistol, 13 grenades, 13 kg of explosives and some ammunition were seized during search operations in parts of Srinagar during the period.

Why panchayat poll was deferred
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Aug 31 — Despite being in power for 23 months the National Conference has failed to fulfil its commitment of holding panchayat and civic elections in November.

After preliminary exercises were initiated the government announced postponement of the elections.

In fact neither the panchayat elections nor the civic bodies elections have been held in the state for the past 18 years. The last panchayat poll was held in 1978 and those of the municipal and town area committees in 1980.

Three factors motivated the government to postpone the panchayat elections.

First, the government claimed the electoral rolls were not ready. If this was the situation how did the Chief Minister announce in July and August that the panchayat poll would be held in November?

Second, National Conference legislators, particularly from the Jammu region, are said to have conveyed to the Chief Minister that in view of the disturbed situation in Doda, Poonch, Rajouri and parts of Udhampur districts panchayats poll could neither be fair nor incident free.

Third, legislators, including those of the Opposition parties felt constitution of panchayats, there are more than 2600, as a loss of their supremacy in their Assembly constituencies as development works were concerned.

Above these factors was the fear of losing in the polls. Moreover the ruling party hadn't prepared itself for the statutory provision of 33 per cent nomination to women in panchayats.

More troops deployed in North Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Aug 31 — More troops have been deployed in border districts of Kupwara and Baramulla following an infiltration of militants from across the Line of Control (LoC) over the past one month.

Mr Gurbachan Jagat, Director General, Jammu and Kashmir Police, said security forces have pinned down most of the militants in these two border districts in North Kashmir. He was talking to a group of mediapersons after taking the salute at the passing out parade of 135 new recruits at the Subsidiary Training Centre (STC) of the Border Security Force (BSF) here this morning.

The Director General of Police said some of Army units in Baramulla and Kupwara have moved to forward areas. Units of the BSF have been sent on their posts. He said many militants had failed in entering these districts.

Mr Jagat said there were about 60 per cent foreigners among around 1500 militants presently operating in the valley. The same number of militants was operating in Doda, Poonch, and Rajouri districts. The DGP said a negligible number of locals was joining the militants.

Three fresh recruits were presented with awards. They included Recruit Constable Manohar Singh, all-round first, Recruit Constable Ved Kumar, all-round second and Parade Commander Riyaz Ahmad, first in drill.

Of the 135 new recruits three were from outside the state and 20 were the surrendered militants, the Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF) said. With this the total number of recruits from among the surrendered militants has gone up to 350.

Pak firing kills lineman, student
Tribune News Service and PTI

SRINAGAR, Aug 31 — In fresh incidents of firing from across the border in Kargil and Gurez sectors, two persons have been killed and three others wounded since yesterday.

The police here today said that two persons were killed as a result of the shelling by Pakistani troops in Kargil sector. They have been identified as Ghulam Jaffar, Line Technician in Electricity Department and Ghulam Mohammad, a student, both of them residents of Bhambat, Drass in Kargil district.

The police said that the truck bearing No: 2095/PBO (81 R) carrying cement from Srinagar to Kargil was hit by shelling near Danga Moud at Chani-Gund, yesterday. Three others were injured in the shelling.

Reports of firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) also came from Gurez sector, where the Pakistani troops resorted to firing at Nanak Post, Tulel. However, there were no reports of any damage, the police here said.

Elsewhere, six persons, including an infant and a woman were killed in separate incidents of militancy. Militants intruded into the house of Daulat Ram at Balgrad village in Doda district and fired indiscriminately on the inmates.

His wife, Giana Devi and an infant were killed in the firing, the police said.

Two jawans of the security forces were killed when militants fired upon a patrol party in Shadipora, Baramula. The hiding militants fired upon a patrol party. The fire was returned and in the exchange of fire two security jawans were killed.

Militants shot dead Iyaz Ahmad Zargar of Harhundpora, Wanigam in Baramula district. He was a surrendered militant. Another surrendered militant was killed at Dardpora, Kralpora in Kupwara district. He has been identified as Khazir Mohammad Pir.

Official sources said shelling continued and Kaksar area near Drass suffered much damage. The sources said that Pakistani troops were trying to damage the Drass-Kargil highway to snap the supply line from Srinagar to Ladakh region.

Also heavy but intermittent shelling has been resorted to provide a fire cover to the militants and foreign mercenaries to sneak into the Kargil area. In Pakistani shelling registered 15 days ago over 160 militants are said to have infiltrated into Kargil sector and the result was that the infiltrators had carried out two IED explosions in which two vehicles were damaged and three Army personnel including one Major were killed.

Reports said that the Indian troops retaliated to silence the Pakistani guns.