8 militants killed in encounter
JAMMU, Aug 27 — In a major success in anti-militancy operations, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir today shot dead eight militants following a fierce encounter at Mattan in Anantnag district of Kashmir, police said here.

APHC marchers teargassed, lathicharged
SRINAGAR, Aug 27 — The police today prevented All-Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders from holding a public meeting here, as top leaders of the APHC were kept under house arrest.

NC to work for more autonomy
SRINAGAR, Aug 27 — Blaming some "powerful elements in the corridors of power" at the Centre Jammu and Kashmir National Conference here today vowed to work for the fulfilment of its promise of greater autonomy to the state.

2 withdraw papers from Jammu
JAMMU, Aug 27 — Twentytwo and 16 candidates were left in the fray for the Jammu and Udhampur Lok Sabha seats, respectively after three persons withdrew from the electoral contest today.

8 militants killed in encounter

JAMMU, Aug 27 (PTI) — In a major success in anti-militancy operations, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir today shot dead eight militants following a fierce encounter at Mattan in Anantnag district of Kashmir, police said here.

Deputy Inspector General (Jammu-Kathua range) S.P. Vaid told PTI that an operation launched by special operation group (SOG) jointly with the Rashtriya Rifles in Gopalpar area, near Mattan, led to the five-hour encounter and killing of the militants.

Bodies of six militants were recovered, he said adding details were awaited.

Further reinforcements have been sent to the spot to help the party in operations, Mr Vaid said.

APHC marchers teargassed, lathicharged

SRINAGAR, Aug 27 — The police today prevented All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders from holding a public meeting here, as top leaders of the APHC were kept under house arrest.

Teargas shells were lobbed at Maisuma, when a procession led by Hurriyat leaders, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Javed Ahmad Mir took to streets after Friday prayers. They were raising slogans like "no election no selections". The police to stop them from moving towards Lal Chowk area lobbed teargas shells. A cameraman of ANI, S. Tariq was injured and his camera broken when it was hit by a teargas shell in the area. Later Mohammad Yasin Malik, Javed Ahmad Mir and 12 others were held by the police.

The APHC chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the former chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were kept under house arrest. The police was deployed at the Hyderpora residence of Syed Ali Shah Geelani since yesterday and he was not allowed to move out. The Mirwaz also was kept under house arrest today, after he escaped the police net yesterday at his Nageen residence. Later he had addressed a press conference at the head office of the Awami Action Committee (AAC) of which he is the chairman. Two other leaders of the APHC Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi and Ashraf Sehrai were held here yesterday in the attempt of the police and civil administration to prevent the APHC from holding its anti-election public meeting in the city today.

Senior separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah was already held here yesterday after he was kept under house arrest. His supporters at the main office of his Peoples Democratic Freedom Party (PDFP) at Rajbagh were held today after they marched in procession and were going to Sher-e-Kashmir Park, the venue of today's meeting to be addressed by the APHC leaders. The police had been deployed till the evening at the offices of the APHC and the PDFP here today.No leaders were allowed to converge at these offices.

Tight security arrangements were also made around Sher-e-Kashmir Park in the Civil Lines area where the APHC had planned to hold today's meeting. No entry was allowed into the park today. Today's meeting was to formally intensify the APHC anti-election campaign.

UNI adds: The police arrested more than 20 leaders and workers of the APHC and burst teargas shells to disperse anti-election campaigners at several places in the city today.

The police burst teargas shells and lathicharged in Maisuma at Budshah Chowk near here and Nigeen and the historic Jamia masjid to disperse hundreds of APHC supporters who were trying to march towards Sher-e-Kashmir park.

Outlawed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik, Javid Ahmad Mir and 18 other APHC leaders and workers were arrested from these places.

Six persons were injured in the stone-throwing and teargassing, official sources said.

Fierce encounter in Anantnag

SRINAGAR, Aug 27 (PTI) — Two militants and policeman were killed and six others wounded in separate militancy-related incidents, while ultras abducted a person in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Troops picked up five suspects, smashed an ultra hideout and seized some explosives material and arms in the state during the period, an official spokesman said here today.

Meanwhile, a fierce encounter between militants and the security forces was reported from Gopalpora village in the Mattan area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir.

The encounter broke out last evening when a joint party of the police assisted by the security forces raided a house in the area to flush out hiding militants. The encounter was still in progress when reports were received today, the spokesman said, adding that further details were awaited.

Mr Ali Mohammad Din, an ex-serviceman, was injured in the shootout and was shifted to Srinagar for specialised treatment, the spokesman said.

He said two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with troops at Jhangar village in Rajouri district last night. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized from them.

Constable Tariq Ahmad of the Jammu and Kashmir police was shot dead by militants who raided his house at Parhander in the Banihal area of Doda district late last night.

Four persons, including two jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), were injured as militants struck in the heart of Srinagar and exploded a grenade outside the main branch of the State Bank of India (SBI), the spokesman said.

JAMMU: Two Pakistani intruders were killed in an exchange of fire on Friday between Indian and Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Bhawani area of Sunderbani sector, official reports reaching here said.

Intermittent exchange of fire between the two sides was continuing along the loC at Bhawani and Laam area when last reports came in.

Meanwhile, Pakistani troops targeted at least 25 Indian posts in R. S. Pura, Samba and Akhnoor sub-sectors since Thursday evening, the reports said, adding that Border Security Force (BSF) troops guarding the front line retaliated effectively.

The posts targeted by Pakistani Rangers included Nanga, Kandral, S. M. Pura, Narazanpur and Dudhwar. However, there was no damage or loss of life on the Indian side, the reports said.

In another related development two Indian villagers were injured when Pakistani Rangers fired across the international border in Suchetgarh and Gujjar-Chak. Both of them were admitted to hospital, the reports said.

NC to work for more autonomy
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 27 — Blaming some "powerful elements in the corridors of power" at the Centre Jammu and Kashmir National Conference here today vowed to work for the fulfilment of its promise of greater autonomy to the state.

This formed the major thrust of the 14-point election manifesto released by the party general secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed here this afternoon. Several other senior leaders of the ruling National Conference and ministers, including Mr Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah, Pyare Lal Handoo, Ali Mohammad Naik, Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar and Mohammad Yusuf Teng were present on the occasion. The party general secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad expressed concern over the untimely dissolution of the Lok Sabha which plunged the nation into yet another election the third time since 1996.

Replying questions the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Pyare Lal Handoo said, that the party was not a part of the BJP alliance, as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was different from the BJP. Mr Handoo pointed out that the BJP-led government at the Centre for the past 13 months "totally believed in decentralisation of power". He said that various political parties which came to power in Jammu and Kashmir (particularly the Congress) had eroded Article 370. The NC required much more time to undo the misdeeds done during the 22-year-old rule of other parties between 1953 and 1975. During this period the founder leader of the NC, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was in jail and finally came to power in February 1975. Following his death in 1982, and the situation that prevailed in the state since 1990, things had turned reverse, Mr Handoo claimed.

Referring to the grant of autonomy the NC leaders said that the reports of the two committees set up by the National Conference government soon after it took over in 1996, were yet to be discussed by the state legislature. These measures can ensure unity and integrity of the state and continue unhindred harmonious relationship of the state and the Union.

In its 14-point manifesto, the National Conference pledged to strengthen the secular democratic forces in the country, and struggle for the return of Kashmiri Pandits. It said that a comprehensive relief package was already sent to the Centre and its MPs would stress the need to expedite the payment of this package.

The manifesto seeks to demand from the Government of India that the formula of 10 per cent loan and 90 per cent grant may be granted to the state prior to 1991. "Before 1991 the formula applied to the State envisaged a loan of 70 per cent and grant of 30 per cent unilaterlly and unjustly. Thus Centre owes the state an amount of 1275 crore of rupees. We will struggle to get this considerable amount. The amount when secured will be utilised to revitalise our financial system and support many a welfare schemes," the manifesto stated. It also pledged to urge the Centre to reimburse its security related expenditures.

Referring to the Indus Water Treaty, the election manifesto stated that the party would strive for compensating this state for the losses as the state was not in a position to utilise the water resources of Chenab and Jhelum. The compensation thus received would be invested in generating more power and strengthening the industrial base of the state.

The NC seeks to get share of jobs from the Central agencies to adjust the unemployed educated youth of the state. The Central agencies, according to the NC manifesto, recruits thousands of young men every year, but J&K has got a negligible share in these quotas. "We will seek a reserved quota in this behalf for ten years," it added.

The NC manifesto further seeks the establishment of appropriate industries in all the regions of the State.

2 withdraw papers from Jammu

JAMMU, Aug 27 (UNI) — Twentytwo and 16 candidates were left in the fray for the Jammu and Udhampur Lok Sabha seats, respectively after three persons withdrew from the electoral contest today.

Two candidates withdrew their nominations in Jammu and one pulled out of the contest in Udhampur. The papers of three candidates were rejected during scrutiny in Jammu.

The contest in both the constituencies is mainly between the National Conference, the BJP and the Congress.