Ex-Cong minister quits, joins NC

SRINAGAR, Sept 1 (UNI) — The Congress suffered yet another jolt today when former minister and senior leader Mirza Mehboob Beg resigned from the primary membership of the party and joined the ruling National Conference.

Mr Beg, a son of late Kashmiri leader Mirza Afzal Beg, close associate of Sheikh Abdullah, made this announcement at an election rally addressed by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah at Charar-e-Sharief yesterday.

Earlier, former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti and several others resigned from the Congress and formed the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party last month.

Three killed in accident

JAMMU, Sept 1 (UNI) — At least three persons were killed and seven injured in a bus accident in Rajouri district today.

The police told UNI that a mini bus was going to Poonch from Rajouri near Dharmashal when the driver lost control while negotiating a sharp curve, as a result of which the mini bus rolled down the road.

At least three passengers died on the spot and seven sustained injuries. The injured were hospitalised.