Suvidha shopping complex opened
JAMMU, Sept 21 — As part of its innovative welfare projects, the Army Wives Welfare Association opened Suvidha shopping complex at Damana, near here, today.

Militants kill couple, 2 others

SRINAGAR, Sept 21 (PTI) — Militants shot dead four persons, including a couple belonging to Bakerwal tribe (nomad), while security forces averted a tragedy and arrested two militants in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Meanwhile, the fate of two special police officers, who were kidnapped by militants after overrunning their picket at Diver-Tral in Pulwama district of south Kashmir yesterday, remained unknown despite a hunt by the security forces.

The picket set up to safeguard the minority community was attacked by a group of heavily-armed militants yesterday. All seven policemen manning the post were taken away by the militants to an unknown destination after looting their weapons. However, five of the kidnapped cops were set free by the militants yesterday itself, official sources said.

Militants also fired at another police picket at Achan in Pulwama district last night. However, police guards returned the fire and repulsed the militant attack. No one was injured in the shoot-out, an official spokesman said here today.

The spokesman said militants shot dead a couple belonging to Bakerwal tribe in Dagwan pasture in Nishat forests on the outskirts of Srinagar last night.

Militants also shot dead two persons at Kathapora-Hajin in Baramula district last night, he said.

Farooq asks Press to be objective

JAMMU, Sept 21 (PTI) — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today asked the Press to be objective and responsible while reporting incidents in insurgency-hit state as elements inimical to India’s interests confront it in the international fora on the basis of "misleading" newspaper reports.

"My government believes and has full faith in the freedom of the Press and would expect the media to report incidents after verifying facts", he said at a function organised by local English daily, The Himalayan Mail on completion of its two years of publication.

Mr Abdullah said he would welcome constructive criticism of his government as it helps in rectifying mistakes.

But it is intriguing that a section of the Press concentrate only on our so-called failures and shut the eyes to our successes.

This would also lead to doubts on genuineness of their criticism, he said.

Taking exception to motivated criticism, the Chief Minister recalled that recently a magazine carried a report on situation in Jammu and Kashmir but surprisingly it did not consider it appropriate to meet any law and order authorities like corps commander, Director-General of police, and Chief Secretary.

He asked the media not to fall a prey to the temptation of sensationalising events for small gains. It might help them in selling their newspapers, but in the long run they would lose their business and credibility.

ANC for sack of Farooq government

JAMMU, Sept 21 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference (ANC), headed by former state Chief Minister G.M. Shah, today demanded application of Article 356 of the Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir and dismissal of the state government.

Senior ANC leader Muzaffar Shah told reporters here before taking any action on the Bihar government, led by Mrs Rabri Devi, under Article 356 of the Constitution, the Jammu and Kashmir government should be dismissed as the security scenario in this border state was worse than that of Bihar.

Muzaffar Shah, who is also son of former state Chief Minister, criticised the Farooq government for its alleged failure on political, economic and law and order fronts.

He alleged innocent people continued to be killed in the state and more than 70,000 persons, including militants, security forces and civilians, had lost their lives during last nine years of militancy.

Suvidha shopping complex opened
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 21 — As part of its innovative welfare projects, the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) opened Suvidha shopping complex at Damana, near here, today.

Inaugurating the complex, Mrs Meena Singh, president of AWWA, Tiger division, highlighted various projects and welfare measures undertaken by the organisation for the welfare of serving and retired soldiers and their families.

Suvidha shopping complex will cater to more than 1200 families of serving and retired jawans, JCOs and officers of the station.

Unique feature of the complex is the quality of products that it will provide. Special care has been taken to keep only unadulterated edible items like spices, vegetable oil, pulses, etc.