J&K minister quits, protests continue
Kishtwar riots: Omar orders judicial probe, curfew continues in eight Jammu districts
Jammu, August 12
The Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, under fire for his alleged inaction during Kishtwar riots on August 9, resigned today while fresh protests in Kishtwar town left at least eight more persons injured. 



Army soldiers conduct a flag march during curfew in Jammu on Monday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma

In Parliament, PC says situation ‘near normal’ 

Pak fires on 11 posts in Poonch for 9 hrs
Jammu/Poonch/Kochi, Aug 12
In the fifth ceasefire violation in three days, Pakistani troops opened heavy fire on 11 Indian forward posts for over nine hours on the intervening night of August 11 and 12 along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.

Pak ‘trying’ two-pronged attack on Indian defence
New Delhi, August 12 
Indian security agencies have assessed that the recent aggressive posturing along the sensitive Line of Control with Pakistan is the outcome of definite information of Pakistan trying a two-pronged attack on Indian defence in Jammu and Kashmir. 
BSF soldiers patrol near the Line of Control in Sabzian Sector of Poonch. — PTI

Pak wants India to ensure safety of PIA offices
New Delhi, August 12
Pakistan today asked India to tighten security at Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) offices located in Mumbai and New Delhi, claiming it had received threats of an attack on these offices.
A worker cleans the PIA office signboard in New Delhi on Monday. 

Bill moved to keep parties out of RTI ambit
New Delhi, August 12
The government today introduced in the Lok Sabha a crucial Bill that amends the Right to Information Act to keep political parties out of its purview.

Parties unite against EC’s proposed ban on freebies
New Delhi, August 12
An otherwise divided political class united yet again today to tell the Election Commission that there was no need to regulate the issue of election doles that political parties promise in their election manifestos.

Namdhari sect chief was attacked by disciple’s nephew
Ludhiana, August 12
The man who attacked Namdhari sect head Satguru Uday Singh with an axe during morning prayers at a Namdhari gurdwara at Leicester in England was also a Namdhari. The assailant has been identified as Harjit Singh Toor, nephew of Sarwan Singh Namdhari in whose house the Satguru was reportedly staying along with Mata Chand Kaur.