Srinagar, May 23
A tourist from Madhya Pradesh and three militants were among seven persons killed in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said.

They said Kanya Lal, a tourist from Ratnam, Madhya Pradesh who was injured in a grenade attack at Soura last night, died in the hospital in the early hours today. Three other tourists — Murli Dhar, and his wife Saroja Dhar and Kavita, daughter of Kanya Lal were injured in the incident. The tourists were on their way to Srinagar from Sonmarg.

Another person, Mirza Tanveer, who was injured in a grenade blast at Fateh Kadal in the down town city yesterday afternoon, also died in the hospital.

Security forces gunned down two militants in an encounter during a search operation at Hari Versun forest in the frontier district of Kupwara today. Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Sources said a militant was also killed and two civilians identified as Mohammad Azhar, a local priest and Sajjad Ahmad were injured in a night-long encounter at Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara.

The encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants. One AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Sources said people at Cherkote Lolab took to streets this morning in protest against the alleged killing of a villager, Ali Mohammad Dar, by security forces.

The demonstrators alleged that Dar was on his way to his field when security forces shot him dead without any provocation. However, sources added that the villagers was killed due to mistaken identity.

Sources said militants abducted one Tariq Hussain and later killed him at Thanala Bhaderwah in Doda district of Jammu region today.

Security forces recovered 10 UBGLs and four hand grenade from a bathroom of bus stand at Sopore last night. However, no one was arrested.

Militants today hurled a hand grenade towards Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) picket near SMHS hospital. However, it did not explode and was later defused. — UNI

Jammu, May 23
The Jammu Mukti Morcha has accused the separatists, especially the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), for boycotting the second roundtable conference being held in Srinagar from tomorrow, which indicated, that they were not “interested in the restoration of Peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Morcha Chief, prof Virender Gupta told reporters here today “We are of the opinion that second roundtable conference will be a futile exercise in view of the boycott of the separatists and in the light of the old stand being pursued by the National Conference and the PDP.” Prof Gupta alleged that by favouring self-rule and restoration of greater autonomy both the PDP and National Conference were directly or indirectly pursuing an agenda which could help Pakistan.

The Morcha chief called upon the Government of India to continue its peace process whether separatists and militants joined the exercise or not. He said those who had been invited to the conference continued to stick to their old stand without realising the ground realities.

Prof Gupta said there was need for the peace process to continue and the Government of India should not attach undue importance to separatists. He said that whatever solution or arrangement was arrived at in conferences should meet aspirations of people of Jammu, Ladakh and the Kashmir regions.

He said for the restoration of peace and for resolving the Kashmir problem there was need for ensuring good governance. He felt upset over the way the Centre had been attempting to sideline leaders of various political and ethnic groups in the Jammu region. He supported Omar Abdullah’s statement that his party would boycott the roundtable meet if the Prime Minister agreed to meet Hurriyat leaders on the sidelines of the conference.

Srinagar, May 23
The stage is set for the second round-table conference to be presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the leaders of different mainstream political parties to discuss Kashmir that begins here tomorrow.

Like the first round-table conference, which was held in New Delhi on February 25, no separatist political organisation would be participating in the conclave claiming that it was a “futile exercise without any solution” of the Kashmir problem. The conference is being held under unprecedented security in the backdrop of militant attack on a Congress rally killing seven persons and injuring several others on Sunday. The incident was followed by a series of grenade explosions that rattled the capital city killing at one person and injuring at least 30 others yesterday.

During his stay here, the Prime Minister would also head a high-level meeting to review the security scenario in the state. The conference being held as a follow-up to the last meeting in New Delhi would focus on various issues, including a review of the Prime Minister’s Rs 24,000-crore package package announced last year. The main coalition partner, the PDP, according to sources here, would be focussing on its agenda of self-governance and reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir.

As a second step towards reducing armed forces, it has demanded the rollback of “laws that give unbridled powers to the armed forces in certain areas of the state”.

The National Conference (NC) would be reiterating its demand of the restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir as the only “workable solution”, which had already been put forth in the first round-table conference. It would look forward for the Prime Minister’s assertions at the second round-table conference, Mr Omar Abdullah, NC president, told the Tribune here today.

Mandi, May 23
In a drive launched by the Mandi police with the help of the Forest and the Revenue Departments last week, a team of 80 personnel destroyed poppy crop cultivated illegally on 623 bighas of private and forest land in the Chauhar valley in the district.

The Mandi SP, Mr Ajay Yadav, said the team destroyed illegal poppy crop and booked 45 villagers in 13 cases under the NDPS Act in over  65 villages in the valley.

“At many places, the villagers themselves took initiative and destroyed poppy crop in over 105 bighas,” he claimed. Three cases related to the cultivation of poppy on the forest land, he added.

He said the team destroyed poppy crop in Tikker, Karshad, Dhanwahan, Dhangyan, Gahang, Latran, Tarswan, Uperla and Nichla Ropa.

He said the Home Department, along with the Horticulture and Agriculture Departments would sensitise villagers on cultivating alternative crops like vegetables and fruits.

Srinagar, May 23
The advance booking for the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath begins on May 25 through the designated branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank across the country. The yatra is scheduled to commence on June 11 simultaneously via Baltal and Pahalgam routes in Kashmir.

The Chief Executive Officer, Amarnath Shrine Board and Principal Secretary to Governor, Dr Arun Kumar, said here this afternoon that persons desirous of the pilgrimage could make advance booking from May 25 as per the practice followed in previous years. — TNS