Srinagar, March 25
Three persons, including two militants, were killed and two others injured in Jammu and Kashmir where one person was kidnapped and a militant laid down arms since last night, a police spokesman said today.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant identified as Mohammad Ashraf Padder was killed in an encounter with the security forces during search operations at Lahan-Langanbal in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district, the spokesman said.

He said the security forces killed another militant at Rai Chak in Udhampur district last night and seized a pistol and some ammunition from him.

The bullet-riddled body of Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat was recovered from his village at Dadsar in Pulwama district early today.

Residents of the village took to streets and clashed with police alleging that Bhat was shot dead by the security forces during patrolling outside his house without any provocation last night.

Militants shot at and injured Abdul Rashid Sheikh near his house at Chajhama in the Rafiabad area of Baramula district, the spokesman said.

He said a mine blast occurred at Makri near Line of Control in Rajouri district last evening, causing injuries to Satpal Dass who was shifted to Government Medical College, Jammu, for treatment.

Militants kidnapped Bashir Ahmad Mir, a technician in the Health Department, from his house at Waripora in Anantnag District late last night, the spokesman said.

Militants sprinkled petrol on three panchayat huts at Pahalgam in Anantnag and set them afire. One of the huts, housing Kendriya Vidyalaya, was gutted in the fire, while the two other huts were saved by police and fire services personnel.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant surrendered before the security forces at Chassana in Udhampur district and handed over one AK rifle, its magazine and three grenades to the authorities, the spokesman said. — PTI

Jammu, March 25
The Governor Lieut Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), has said that with significant headway in combating terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir is looking towards to a new era of peace, progress and development. Militancy has been contained to a large extent, situation is improved and the day is not far when complete normalcy and peace will dawn upon the state, he said.

Interacting with a group of 30 sarpanches of Udhampur and Rajouri districts in Raj Bhavan last evening, the Governor said that average killings per day had come down from 10 in 2003 to seven in 2004 and in recent months this had further reduced to three per day. More terrorists were getting killed than the combined total of civilians and security forces, he said.

Describing Kashmiriyat as the real strength of Kashmir for which the valley had attained an enviable place in the country, the Governor said that it was a strong weapon to fight terrorism and bring about peace.

Appreciating the Army for organising conduct tours of students, village elders and elected representatives like sarpanches, the Governor enumerated the role of the Army and the Indian Air Force in the recent snow-tsunami.

He made a mention of one day’s ration donated by the Northern Command weighting 250 tonnes for the people in affected areas and airlifting 30,000 stranded people and dropping of over 200 tonnes of milk, vegetables and other essentials by over 700 sorties.

Jammu, March 25
Amid pandemonium and slogan-shouting by Opposition members, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned for 30 minutes today on the question of holding fresh elections for panchayats.

There was din in the House during question hour when the Minister for Rural Development, in reply to a question by Mr Abdul Gani Malik (NC), said the government intended to hold fresh elections for the panchayats in the state.

The reply triggered protests from the Opposition members who accused the Mufti-led coalition government of functioning in a dictatorial manner.

The NC members got further provoked when the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, intervened to say that the elections were the most important component of the peace process.

He said when the government was empowered to get the Assembly dissolved, then why not panchayats. He clarified that the ruling party did not want to capture the panchayats, but this was being planned with a view to providing reservation to all categories.

Mr A. R. Rather, leader of the Opposition, alleged that the government was trying to throttle democracy.

Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar (NC) said the government had failed to protect the lives of six newly elected councillors of the civic bodies in the valley where they were gunned down recently and fresh elections would result in more violence. He said the atmosphere was not congenial for elections.

The NC members said instead of dissolving the panchayats, the government should hold elections for 1,007 panchayats that had not gone to the polls earlier.