M A I N   N E W S

Nine ultras, 2 jawans killed

SRINAGAR, Sept 9 (UNI) — Nine militants, most of them foreigners, and two securitymen were among 13 killed in militancy-related incidents all over the state during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman said two militants were killed in an encounter at Dudkul Kokernag in Anantnag district late last night. Two rifles and some ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

An encounter took place between militants and the security forces during a search operation at Vilgam in the frontier district of Kupwara last evening. Mohammad Aayub, a self-styled district commander, and Mushtaq Ahmad of the Muslim Jehad Force were killed. Two rifles, five magazines, 15 rounds and six grenades were recovered from the site.

Another militant was gunned down at Chogal Handwara in the same district late last night.

Militants shot at and wounded two counter-insurgents at Kulgam Bazar in south Kashmir last evening. One of the injured, Manzoor Ahmad Hajam, died in hospital this morning.

The body of Mohammad Yousuf Ganai was recovered from Hukh-Liter in central Kashmir this morning.

An encounter took place at Charalan village in Poonch district of Jammu region last evening in which a militant believed to be a foreigner was killed. Two securitymen also died. One was injured.

The security forces shot dead two militants at Lam village while one was killed at Madoon-Pathan Dhok last evening. A large cache of arms and ammunition, including two rifles, five magazines, a rocket launcher, nine grenades and 55 rounds were recovered from the slain militants.

TNS adds: Senior separatist leader and President of the Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Shah was held by the police along with over 12 of his supporters while proceeding to submit a memorandum at the UNMOG office here this morning.

The police used batons to stop the JKDFP leader and his supporters from proceeding towards the office of the United Nations Military Observers Group at Sonwar here. The leader was on his way to submit a memorandum addressed to the UN General Secretary, Mr Kofi Annan, urging him to play its “constitutional role in resolving this (Kashmir) conflict” for restoration of peace in South Asia.

5 English, Pak cricketers implicated?

LONDON, Sept 9 (PTI) — two unnamed English players and three Pakistanis have been implicated in the CBI interim report on match-fixing scandal expected to be released on September 29, the Daily Telegraph reported today.

“It emerged yesterday that the Delhi police will release an interim report before the end of this month into an exhaustive picture of corruption that implicates two England players,” said the daily.

The players along with three Pakistanis, have apparently been uncovered by the CBI, it said.

“It was the Indian police which came across Hansie Cronje’s skulduggery, when they recorded telephone conversations the then captain of South Africa had with bookmakers close to the game and they have made the running since, as they have sought to bring criminal charges against Cronje,” the Daily wrote. 

Doctor’s clarification

Apropos of a news report “Doctor held guilty of fraud” that appeared in The Tribune dated September 2 Dr M. P. Devgan, District TB Officer, TB Clinic, Amritsar, has contradicted the news and said the “enquiry report” of Dr Lakhbir Singh, Senior Medical Officer, Ajnala, was “false and baseless” as the enquiry against him (Dr Devgan) had not been completed and was still in progress. Dr Lakhbir Singh was no more a member of the enquiry committee and had, therefore, no authority to submit a report. The CMO had already entrusted the enquiry to Dr Surinder Singh Bedi, Senior Medical Officer, Sursingh, prior to submission of the interim enquiry report. The embarrassment or hurt caused to Dr Devgan, owing to change of enquiry committee member and the consequent confusion, was unintentional and is regretted.