J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Kashmiri schoolchildren with guns, belonging to Army personnel, on Wednesday, before proceeding for an Indian Army-sponsored goodwill tour. — PTI photo

NC leader killed in valley
SRINAGAR, March 1 — A ruling National Conference leader and a police constable were among the three persons killed while 18 others were injured in two blasts in the valley since last evening.

Transporters' stir hits life
JAMMU, March 1 — Life was paralysed today when transporters went on a strike in protest against the killing of five operators by militants near Khannabal in South Kashmir yesterday.

Farooq to attend Chautala's swearing in
(Haryana page)

NC leader killed in valley

SRINAGAR, March 1 (UNI, PTI) — A ruling National Conference leader and a police constable were among the three persons killed while 18 others were injured in two blasts in the valley since last evening.

An official spokesperson said militants barged into the house of a ruling National Conference leader at Shalal Handwara in Kupwara district late last night dragged him out and shot him dead. Another person Ghulam Nabi Ganai was injured in militant firing.

Militants kidnapped and later killed one Farooq Ahmad Wani at Chewan Keller in Pulwama last evening while a police constable was shot dead by militants at Dachin Gool, he added.

At least two special police officers (SPOs) and a civilian were injured when an explosive went off near the hospital at Tral this afternoon.

Militants hurled a grenade at a security force vehicle at the Banipora main chowk in north Kashmir at around 2.15 p.m it missed its target and exploded on the roadside, injuring 15 persons including a security jawan. The injured have been hospitalised.

Security forces captured three militants and recovered some arms and ammunition during overnight operations across the valley, the spokesperson added.

The injured SPOs were admitted in hospital where their condition was stated to be stable.

The police apprehended a militant of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen, Abdul Majid Dar. An AK 56 rifle and its magazine were seized from a hide-out in frontier district of Kupwara last evening.

Another militant of the same outfit, Mohammad Syed Wani, was arrested by the Special Operations Group of local police during a raid on his hide-out in Kupwara last night, he said.

The police also nabbed a militant of Al-Fateh outfit, Mushtaq Ahmad Sha from in downtown Srinagar, the spokesman said.

He said unidentified gunmen entered the homes of Ghulam Nabi Bhat and Ghulam Hassan Bhat in Anantnag district last night and forced them to accompany them to an unknown destination.

Transporters' stir hits life
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 1 — Life was paralysed today when transporters went on a strike in protest against the killing of five operators by militants near Khannabal in South Kashmir yesterday.

The transport services on the inter-district and inter-state routes remained off for the full day. Goods transport services remained suspended and several trucks loaded with essential commodities were not allowed to leave for Srinagar.

As a result of the transporters strike work in Government offices, educational institutions and hospitals was badly affected as the employees could not reach their offices.

In Transport Nagar and warehouse offices of several transport companies had closed their establishments.

Several transport companies have threatened to suspend their services to Srinagar in case they were not given security cover while travelling on the national highway.

The killing of five transporters and five other civilians in Harni village figured in the State Assembly today. Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, made a statement just before the beginning of question hour. He condemned these killings. He said criminals and killers had no religion. He said the killing of innocent persons was unislamic. He expressed deep shock over the continued killing of people. Later members present in the House adopted two minutes silence to mourn the killing of innocent people.

During question hour in the Assembly the matter of shortage of doctors and para-medical staff was raised for the second day today. Members complained that work in various primary health centres, dispensaries and hospitals suffered because of lack of manpower. The Minister for Health, Mian Altaf, assured the House that he had taken up the matter with the Public Service Commission requesting it to expedite selection of doctors. He announced in the House that the Government was going to appoint doctors and para-medical staff on ad hoc basis shortly.

At one stage the members burst into a peel of laughter when National Conference member Mohd. Syed Akhoon and Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil exchanged pleasantries. Mr Akhoon spoke about lack of facilities in mental hospital and the Speaker suggested to him not to visit the hospital daily. Mr Akhoon shot back "the patients are remembering you".