Militants gun down 3 of family
SRINAGAR, March 12 — Three members of a family including two girls were killed and three other members injured when militants intruded into their house in Baramula district last night. The security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition while a militant was apprehended and another surrendered before the police today.

Militants gun down 3 of family
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, March 12 — Three members of a family including two girls were killed and three other members injured when militants intruded into their house in Baramula district last night. The security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition while a militant was apprehended and another surrendered before the police today.

The police said unidentified militants intruded into the house of Abdul Aziz Pandit at Kralpora near Matrigam in the Bandipore area of Baramula district last night, and opened fire on the inmates. The only male member, Abdul Aziz Pandit, a mate in the Beacon Project of the Border Roads Organisation was killed on the spot. His two daughters, Afroza and Rukhsana were also killed on the spot.

The wife of Abdul Aziz Pandit, Ms Mumtaza, and their two daughters, Maryam and Kulsum were injured in the attack. The police had registered a case.

Elsewhere five militants and four securitymen have been killed in encounters in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Four militants and an equal number of security personnel were killed in a major encounter at Dharni-Palma village in the Kalakote area of Rajouri district in Jammu region, yesterday.

A civilian also lost life in the encounter which lasted for nearly 15 hours.

In another encounter in Rajouri, one militant was killed by the security forces at Chingas last night.

Militants shot dead an unidentified person at Trikulnar in Doda district last night.

During search operations at Rangath Gali in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, security forces recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. These included 2250 rounds of Pika ammunition, six RPG rockets with boosters, one 107mm rocket, 25 hand grenades and 35 kg of explosives.

A militant belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen surrendered before the police at Achchabal in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. He also laid down a pistol, some magazines and ammunition.

Acting on a tip-off, the security forces apprehended a self-styled section commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen at Karan Nagar locality here today.

ABVP plea on varsities
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, March 12 — The ABVP has urged the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, to intervene and ensure early establishment of Vaishno Devi University and a separate agricultural university here.

In a memorandum submitted to the Governor by an ABVP delegation led by Mr Ramesh Pappa, national secretary. The ABVP alleged the state government was creating hurdles in setting up the two universities.

The ABVP also requested the Governor to institute a high-level inquiry into the functioning of Jammu University following reports of gross irregularities which had led to deterioration in standards of academic culture. The memorandum alleged the university had become a sanctuary for anti-national elements.

The memorandum also alleged misuse of funds by senior functionaries of the university. It also accused the university authorities of violating UGC recommendations and rules in the appointment of teachers and in the purchase of equipment.

It appealed to the Governor to bring to a logical conclusion the findings of a committee that probed into various issues relating to breaking of locks of the certificate section and smuggling of blank answer sheets.