J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

3 militants among 6 killed
Srinagar, November 24
Six persons, including three militants and a village head, were killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, where ultras made an abortive bid to target a BSF picket in Baramulla district injuring three pedestrians this afternoon, a police spokesman said.

17 hurt in grenade attack
Jammu, November 24
Seventeen persons were injured when suspected terrorists threw a grenade in the busy Indira Chowk in the heart of the city here this evening.

Striking staff skip NIT convocation
Srinagar, November 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Lt-Gen. S.K. Sinha, here today exuded confidence about the National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, growing into a full-fledged prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, saying that a more level-playing field had to be created for students to compete with others.

2 killed as truck rams into bystanders
Jammu, November 24
Two women were killed and five others wounded after a speeding truck rammed into them at Sarthian near Hiranagar, about 70 km from here on the Jammu-Pathankot stretch of the national highway, this afternoon.

Philatelic exhibition today
Jammu, November 24
A three-days state-level philatelic exhibition will begin here tomorrow. It is after 23 years that the exhibition is being organised by the Department of Posts.

3 militants among 6 killed

Srinagar, November 24
Six persons, including three militants and a village head, were killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, where ultras made an abortive bid to target a BSF picket in Baramulla district injuring three pedestrians this afternoon, a police spokesman said.

The grenade was lobbed by unidentified militants towards the BSF picket at Sopore around 1.45 PM today, but the device missed the intended target and exploded on the road, he said.

He said three civilians identified as the Junior Engineer, Road and Buildings, Mr Shabir Ahmad Shah, textile employees Nissar Ahmad Shagoo and Ghulam Hassan Pir were injured in the explosion and were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the incident.

Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with security forces during search operations at Dharosh near Dessa in Doda district today, the spokesman said.

He said security forces killed another militant, Talib Hussain, during house-to-house searches at Kanthidhar in Gandoha area of Doda district last night.

One AK rifle, three magazines and 12 rounds were recovered from him.

The spokesman said the body of a village Numberdar identified as Mohammad Hussain was fished out from a nallah near his village in Shahdra Sharief area of Rajouri district last
night.

Hussain, a resident of Pangai village, had been kidnapped by militants on November 18 and later killed in captivity, he said. — PTI

17 hurt in grenade attack
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 24
Seventeen persons were injured when suspected terrorists threw a grenade in the busy Indira Chowk in the heart of the city here this evening.

The ultras, who were reportedly moving on a two-wheeler, threw the grenade from a flyover. However, the grenade burst in midair but the splinters injured more than 17 persons, who have been admitted to Medical College Hospital. 

Striking staff skip NIT convocation
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Lt-Gen. S.K. Sinha (retd), here today exuded confidence about the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, growing into a full-fledged prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, saying that a more level-playing field had to be created for students to compete with others.

Addressing the first convocation of NIT at SKICC here today, the Governor said job-oriented education was needed to make Kashmir shine. He reposed confidence in NIT students and said during their interaction with the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in Srinagar, he was much impressed by their talent. The Regional Engineering College at Srinagar became a National Institute of Technology in 2003.

The Governor expressed happiness over the launching of postgraduate classes in NIT, a deemed university, wherefrom students would acquire postgraduate degrees from next year.

The convocation was, however, marked by the absence of most faculty members and administrative staff of NIT who have been demanding “an end to mismanagement and irregularities” allegedly rampant in the institute. The striking teachers and employees of NIT said there were financial irregularities and non-implementation of rules and regulations.

The students also alleged that examinations were not being conducted regularly. The students and employees have been observing a strike since last week in support of their demands.

Mr M.K. Kaw, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NIT, said a section of the employees were disgruntled over certain issues, that were being sorted out.

He, however, evaded queries over the measures to end the over month-long agitation at the earliest.

The Director, NIT Dr (Mrs) S.K. Pandey in her report said efforts were on to change the face of NIT into IIT.

2 killed as truck rams into bystanders

Jammu, November 24
Two women were killed and five others wounded after a speeding truck rammed into them at Sarthian near Hiranagar, about 70 km from here on the Jammu-Pathankot stretch of the national highway, this afternoon.

The police said the truck rammed into the bystanders, who were standing near a roadside passenger shed.

Dolly and Raj Kumari were killed on the spot while five others were wounded and sustained multiple fractures in their legs, the police added.

The injured were hospitalised. The police said after hitting them, the truck crashed off the roadside parapet and plunged into a gorge. —UNI

Philatelic exhibition today
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 24
A three-days state-level philatelic exhibition will begin here tomorrow. It is after 23 years that the exhibition is being organised by the Department of Posts.

The Chief Post-Master General of J&K Circle, Mr S. Samant, said the long gap in holding the exhibition was due to militancy and lack of infrastructure.

He said tomorrow would be celebrated as Jammu Day, followed by Ladakh Day on November 26 and Kashmir Day on November 27, when a special cover wold be released.