M A I N   N E W S

4 hurt in rocket attack

Jammu, July 26
Unidentified militants fired a rocket last night in Rajouri in which at least four civilians, including two minor girls, were injured. The injured were out of danger.

A rocket was fired last night at about 2200 hours from the side of Chowdhary Nar area. The target probably was the Army battalion headquarter in Rajouri Fort, sources said. The rocket missed the target and fell in the nearby civilian area.

At least four civilians, Tariq Hussain, Mohammad Shabir and his two minor daughters, Shazid Khatun and Khatida Begum were injured. They were provided with medical aid at the Rajouri hospital.

The Army foiled two attempts by armed militants to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir where 11 persons, including eight militants and two securitymen, were killed since yesterday.

An official spokesman said the infiltration attempts were scuttled by Army personnel in Tengdhar-Karnah and Machil Sectors of north Kashmir when they challenged the intruders after they sneaked into Kupwara and Baramula Sectors from across the border.

The intruders opened fire at both places and in the ensuing gunbattle, four militants were killed. A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from them.

In another major encounter, the security forces shot dead two unidentified militants at Chak-i-Razak Khan in Mirgund area of Pattan in Baramula district.

A special police officer was killed and three, including two Army personnel, were injured in the shootout. An Army jawan injured in a gunfight with militants at Hushroo in Chadoora area of Badgam district last evening succumbed to his injuries later.

The Special Operations Group (SOG) of local the police shot dead a militant during an ambush at Batapora-Zakura on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Two persons were injured in an explosion at Behak-Khudwan in Anantnag district last evening. The Army apprehended three militant guides from Dardpora in Kupwara. The trio were guiding the militants up to Nagabal Galli. PTI, UNI

Ban on use of word ‘widow’

Srinagar, July 26
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has banned the use of the word “widow” in official records while referring to a woman who has lost her husband.

In compliance with the directives of the National Human Rights Commission , the state government has asked all government offices, including revenue agencies, to henceforth use the expressions “wife of late”, “zauja marhoom” or “dharampatni swargiya” in place of “widow” in official records, official sources said. PTI