M A I N   N E W S

Mayawati to prove majority on May 17
Our Correspondent

Lucknow, May 4
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Ms Mayawati, will prove her majority on the floor of the House on May 17. The decision in this regard was taken at the maiden Cabinet meeting held here today. The meeting, which was attended by all 20 Cabinet Ministers who were sworn in yesterday, decided to recommend to the Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, to summon a five-day Assembly session from May 13.

According to the itinerary suggested by the Cabinet, on May 13 and 14 the new members will be administered oath by the protem Speaker. On May 14, the new Speaker is likely to be elected.

On May 17, Ms Mayawati will prove her majority.

Hizb ultras gun down 5 villagers
Tribune News Service & Agencies

Jammu/Srinagar, May 4
Militants killed nine civilians, including two brothers, and tried to blow up vehicles of security personnel with an improvised explosive device (IED) in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, a police spokesman said today.

Five civilians were killed by Hizbul Mujahideen militants in three villages of Doda district late last night, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged heavy fire for the third consecutive day along the LoC and the international border in the Jammu-Poonch sector, where nine persons were injured in shelling from across the border since last night, official sources said today.