NC MLA dies of heart attack
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 15 — Mr Abdul Jabbar, a National Conference MLA, who represented Wachi constituency in Pulwama district, died of heart attack here this morning.

He was 45. Abdul Jabbar was also the Zonal president of the Shopian area of the ruling National Conference.

The MLA was taken ill at his residence here early this morning and was immediately shifted to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura here. He was declared dead due to cardiac arrest.

With the death of the MLA, third constituency in the 87-member State Assembly has now fallen vacant. Another NC MLA from Langate in Handwara area of Kupwara district was shot dead by unidentified militant early May this year. Ms Mehbooba Mufti, then Cong MLA from Brijbehara resigned and floated a new party PDP with her father before joining the election fray. She is a PDP candidate for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency.

PTI: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah described Mir as a "sincere and dedicated social worker" and said he always championed the cause of the downtrodden and the poor.

In a condolence message to Mir’s wife, three sons and two daughters, Abdullah said with his death the National Conference as well as the people of Wachi, which Mir represented in the Assembly, have lost an outspoken and dedicated young legislator.

3 cops guarding ballot boxes die in bus mishap
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA, Sept 15 — A police Sub-Inspector and two constables were killed and nine others were injured when a mini bus carrying ballot boxes collided head-on with a truck near Logate Morh on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway this afternoon.

The mishap took place when the mini bus (JK 02H/7849) was on its way to Kathua from Doda. The vehicle was carrying ballot boxes to Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency headquarters with police escorts. Constable Deputy Lal was killed on the spot while SI Surjit Singh and constable Balwinder Singh succumbed to their injuries while being shifted to hospital. The boxes were transported to Degree College Kathua in another vehicle. The Returning Officer of the constituency, Mr Chaman Lal, also rushed to the spot after receiving information. He expressed shock over the mishap. The nine injured cops were shifted to the Kathua hospital and then referred them to GMC hospital, Jammu, in two ambulances. The injured persons are Ajay Kohli of Krishna Colony, Nar Singh of Dhanni Bhakhta, Sukhdev Singh, S.K. Sharma Sarbjeet Singh, Pawan Kumar, Kewal Krishan, Ashok Kumar and Krishan Chand.