J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

PDP leader among 5 killed in Kashmir
Srinagar, February 8
A ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and two militants were among five persons killed, while security forces captured two militants in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours. An official spokesman said two Hizbul Mujahideen militants escaped from police station Shergari, while militants also kidnapped a contractor in the valley during the period.

BJP ridicules Cong win in civic poll
Jammu, February 8
State BJP vice-president and spokesperson Prof Hari Om today ridiculed the statement of state Congress (I) president and Minister for Rural Development Peerzada Mohd Sayeed that the victory of the Congress in 77 wards out of a total of 201 in Jammu and Kathua districts is a victory of the Congress policies.

A view of snow covered house-boats and houses in Srinagar on Monday. — PTI

Varsity to start admission process next week
Jammu, February 8
The newly set up Baba Ghulam Shah University here which is the third Muslim university in the country will start admission process for its science and technology courses next week. This was stated here today by Vice-Chancellor of the university, Masood Chaudhary.

Lawyers’ stir enters 2nd day
Jammu, February 8
Work in the High Court and other lower courts was paralysed for the second day today as over 1300 lawyers went on strike in protest against the government’s delay in establishing a lawyers’ chamber within the court premises.

PDP leader among 5 killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, February 8
A ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and two militants were among five persons killed, while security forces captured two militants in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours. An official spokesman said two Hizbul Mujahideen militants escaped from police station Shergari, while militants also kidnapped a contractor in the valley during the period.

He said militants shot dead PDP leader Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir, alias Mnager, at Check Mirpora in the central Kashmir district of Badgam today.

Mir was contesting civic polls for Beerwah.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) activist Zahoor Ahmad, who was injured in a firing incident at Magam on Sunday, died in the hospital last evening.

Security forces killed a militant in an encounter at Shaltang in Srinagar late last night.

Sources said the encounter followed after a search operation at Shaltang, about 10 km from here, on the Srinagar-Baramulla road. Some arms and ammunition were also recovered from the slain militant, a resident of Pakistan.

However, residents alleged that the youth was killed in a fake encounter.

The spokesman said in a firing incident at Khonmoh on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, one Wali Mohammad Khan, a resident of Lalpora Baramulla was killed today.

He said security forces killed Jaish-e-Mohammad militant Mohammad Furqan at Hamuta Bakerwal Mohalla last evening. One AK rifle, one magazine, 12 rounds, six matrix sheets, one wireless set and two hand grenades were also recovered from the slain militant.

He said two Hizbul Mujahideen militants Zahoor Ahmad Waza and Ghulam Hassan Khan, residents of Palhalan Pattan in North Kashmir escaped from the police lock-up at police station Shergari here last evening.

A manhunt has been launched by the police to arrest them, the spokesman said.

Jammu and Kashmir Police apprehended two people from Shalimar Garden and recovered two pistols from them.

He said militants kidnapped one Abdul Rehman Mir, a contractor, from his Yaripora Kulgam house.

Mir was let off in an injured condition some distance away from his house. He was hospitalised.

He said security forces rescued one Sarfaraz Shah from militants after a brief encounter at Ranthal in Rajouri district of the Jammu region last evening. However, the militants later managed to escape. — UNI

BJP ridicules Cong win in civic poll
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 8
State BJP vice-president and spokesperson Prof Hari Om today ridiculed the statement of state Congress (I) president and Minister for Rural Development Peerzada Mohd Sayeed that the victory of the Congress in 77 wards out of a total of 201 in Jammu and Kathua districts is a victory of the Congress policies.

He said the very fact that it has not won even half of the seats in Kathua and Jammu districts is a clear proof that the Congress is becoming unpopular and that the days are not for when the BJP would become the chief political factor in the Jammu region. He said the massive defeat of the Congress in Basohli and Akhnoor and its failure to win a majority of seats in the Kathua Municipal council and Nagri Parole municipal committee should leave no one in doubt that the people of these areas have rejected the Congress.

Professor Hari Om said the BJP is neither down nor out and asserted that by winning 47 seats in different areas of these two districts, it has established beyond any shadow of doubt that it is on winning spree.

Prof Hari Om said anti-Congress wave is blowing across Poonch district as well. He condemned the Congress for its “anti-Jammu,” “anti-democratic” and “militant-friendly” policies.

Varsity to start admission process next week
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 8
The newly set up Baba Ghulam Shah University here which is the third Muslim university in the country will start admission process for its science and technology courses next week. This was stated here today by Vice-Chancellor of the university, Masood Chaudhary.

The university is based in the border district of Rajouri. After the Jamia Milla Islamia and Aligarh University, this is the third Muslim university in the country.

Mr Chaudhary said the syllabus had been approved by the academic council and courses in MCA, MBA and B.Sc (information technology) would start during the current year without waiting for the entire campus to come up.

He said initially the classes would start functioning in the pre-engineered structures that have been approved by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and simultaneously buildings for other faculties would be constructed. Within a month, the teaching staff would be appointed.

The pre-engineered structures would be erected within three months so that the classes could be started by August.

Mr Chaudhary said an additional reservation of 25 per cent seats has been made for the students of Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Lawyers’ stir enters 2nd day
Our Correspondent

Jammu, February 8
Work in the High Court and other lower courts was paralysed for the second day today as over 1300 lawyers went on strike in protest against the government’s delay in establishing a lawyers’ chamber within the court premises.

Wearing black courts, lawyers staged a demonstration outside the court complex shouting slogans against the government.

The Bar Association, which is spearheading the agitation, announced that the lawyers would gherao the residence of Power Minister, Sharief Niza here tomorrow and prevent him from attending his office.