J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

7 militants, nurse killed in J & K
SRINAGAR, Nov 16 — Twelve persons, including seven militants and a nurse, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours. Official sources said one civilian was killed and another injured as militants fired about half-a-dozen rockets towards a house occupied by security forces at Handwara in North Kashmir early this morning.

Bukhari may go to Srinagar
NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari today had a telephonic conversation with Pakistan-based Supreme Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin after which he said he planned to visit Kashmir valley on a “peace-mission”.

Disaster management steps reviewed
SRINAGAR, Nov 16 — The disaster management committee for the 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway reviewed arrangements for the smooth passage of traffic. The meeting was presided by the District Development Commissioner, Anantnag, Mr G.A. Peer, yesterday, an official spokesman said here today.

Literacy rate up in Jammu 
JAMMU, Nov 16 — The literacy percentage in the district has risen from 60 per cent to 68 per cent during the last four years. This has been achieved due to the efforts of the Education Department in implementing various programmes launched by the government. Stress had been laid on elementary education, operation black board and distance education.

7 militants, nurse killed in J & K

SRINAGAR, Nov 16 (UNI) — Twelve persons, including seven militants and a nurse, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

Official sources said one civilian was killed and another injured as militants fired about half-a-dozen rockets towards a house occupied by security forces at Handwara in North Kashmir early this morning.

Security casualties were, however, not immediately by known, but the house was destroyed in the attack.

Sources said security forces gunned down two foreign militants in an encounter at Pushnoor Machil in North Kashmir late last night.

Militants abducted and later killed one person at Vilgam in Kupwara district. They said an unidentified body was found at Batamaloo this morning while another body of a woman was recovered at Nagri in Kupwara.

Sources said militants shot at and critically wounded a nurse, Hassan Bano, at Pattan. She later died in the hospital.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said here that based on a tip-off, a joint team of the Army and police conducted a search operation at Naddian village in the Thanamandi sector of Rajouri district last evening. In the subsequent three-hour encounter, four militants, suspected to be members of the Hizbul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment, were killed while two jawans were injured. Four AK assault rifles, six hand grenades, a pair of binoculars, a wireless set and 123 rounds of AK ammunition were seized from the encounter site.

Official sources said security forces killed a Pakistani militant, Abu Abass, during an encounter at Thandasu-Shakari in Udhampur district last evening. An AK-47 rifle with five magazines and 140 rounds, one wireless set and a compass were seized from the slain militant.

Bukhari may go to Srinagar

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (PTI) - Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari today had a telephonic conversation with Pakistan-based Supreme Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin after which he said he planned to visit Kashmir valley on a “peace-mission”.

“Yes, I talked to Salahuddin...I have been talking to various other groups, including the Hurriyat Conference. I might be going to Kashmir as I want to see peace back in the valley,” Bukhari told PTI here.

Disaster management steps reviewed

SRINAGAR, Nov 16 (UNI) — The disaster management committee for the 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway reviewed arrangements for the smooth passage of traffic.

The meeting was presided by the District Development Commissioner, Anantnag, Mr G.A. Peer, yesterday, an official spokesman said here today.

The meeting decided to stock essential commodities in bulk at different locations on the national highway, the spokesman added.

A joint control room has been set up at Qazigund to monitor and supervise the rescue operations, a medical cell has been stationed at Zing Neer, Lower Munda to provide, medicare facilities to stranded passengers.

Rescue committees have also been constituted in villages adjacent to the national highway between Vesu and Lower Munda.

The meeting also decided to utilise educational institutions between Qazigund and Lower Munda to accommodate the stranded passengers.

Literacy rate up in Jammu 
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 16 — The literacy percentage in the district has risen from 60 per cent to 68 per cent during the last four years.

This has been achieved due to the efforts of the Education Department in implementing various programmes launched by the government. Stress had been laid on elementary education, operation black board and distance education.

As many as 53 new schools were opened and 755 schools upgraded in the district. Special programme like “Rehbar-e-Taleem” was introduced by the government to make all the defunct schools functional.

The Education Department provided merit-cum-poverty scholarships to 5,536 school students. In addition 1,062 lakh students were provided free uniforms. Free textbooks were provided to 45,000 students by the department during the period.