Jammu, January 7
The nomination of Prof Saifuddin Soz, whose one vote against the motion of confidence toppled the Vajpayee government in 1999, in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) has come as a setback to the Ghulam Nabi Azad camp.

Talking to The Tribune today, Prof Soz said he was surprised to see his name in the CWC list. “I will try my best to come to the expectations of Ms Sonia Gandhi”, he said.

He said as a member of the CWC he would function like a bridge between the party high command and the party activists in the state. His effort would be to create more understanding between the two.

Prof Soz said his effort would be to assist the Jammu and Kashmir government and settle various problems, including electricity crisis. He said the party was functioning well in the state.

Meanwhile, supporters of the Chief Minister were surprised for not appointing Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad in the CWC. They said this happened for the first time in the past few years. However, he would be a special invitee in his capacity as Chief Minister.

Prof Soz, who is an economist, came into limelight on April 17,1999, when he defied the whip of the National Conference to vote against the motion of confidence moved by the Vajpayee government in the Lok Sabha. His single vote toppled the government. Thereafter, he was expelled from the National Conference and after some time he joined the Congress.

He was among the contenders for the post of Chief Minister when the term of the PDP-led coalition government ended recently.

Srinagar, January 7
Militants struck again in the heart of the city today, attacking a security force vehicle with a hand grenade and injuring six persons, including a jawan.

Elsewhere in the state, one constable was injured, while a militant surrendered during the past 24 hours. Sources said the militants hurled a hand grenade towards a security force vehicle near a crowded bus stand this afternoon. However, the grenade missed the target and exploded on the roadside, causing injuries to five civilians and a jawan.

Traffic on the route was suspended for sometime. This was the first attack by the militants this year.

The security forces later conducted searches in the area and pedestrians were frisked.

A report from Jammu said a Pakistan-trained Hizbul Mujahideen section commander surrendered before the security forces at Bhaderwah in Doda district today.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Udhampur-Doda), Mr Satvir Gupta, said Hizbul Mujahideen section commander Aiyaz Ahmad Kemoo surrendered before senior police and Army officers with two Chinese grenades. Active since 1999, he is the fourth Hizbul Mujahideen commander to lay down arms before the security forces in Bhaderwah in less than a fortnight.

The militants also attacked a joint search party of police and security forces at Tahab Chowk in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama, causing injuries to a constable. — UNI

Jammu, January 7
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has ordered a Vigilance inquiry into the fire at a Gujjar hostel in Poonch, which destroyed earthquake relief material kept there, officials said.

Ordering the inquiry, the Chief Minister asked the Commissioner of the State Vigilance Organisation to visit the site and submit a report.

The inquiry had been ordered following reports that the fire could be the result of sabotage as irregularities might have been committed in the distribution of relief material.

The fire, which broke out in two halls of the Gujjar hostel yesterday, was brought under control after over two hours.

The district relief authorities claimed that a short-circuit had caused the fire.

The police has also registered a case. — PTI

Srinagar, January 7
Around 15,500 illegally planted trees around Dal Lake have been felled as per directions of the J&K High Court, a Forest Department spokesman said today. He said the department was trying its best to implement the orders of the court last week for the felling of trees.

J&K Forest Minister Tariq Hameed Karra also visited the lake for monitoring the implementation of the court orders. — PTI