Srinagar, September 17
Eight persons, including seven militants, were killed and two soldiers injured while the security forces arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen militant in the Kashmir valley over night, an official spokesman said.

He said two Hizbul militants, Tariq Hussasin, alias Major, and Ghulam Ali, alias Darood, were killed by the security forces in an encounter at Semthan in Anantnag last night. Two rifles and other arms and ammunition were seized from the slain militants.

One militant was gunned down by the security forces at Bazipora in Baramula while another was killed at Arnag Gool during two different encounters last night.

He said Mohammad Yousuf, who was injured by militants at Fruit Mandi, Sopore, died in the hospital this morning.

A report from Baramula said militants attacked a security force party at Gujjar Pati during a search operation. The security forces retaliated and in the fierce clash, three militants, believed to be foreingers, were killed.

Militants attacked a patrol party at Sheikhnar Sogam in the frontier district of Kupwara late last night. The security forces also retaliated and in the encounter, two soldiers were injured. The militants however, escaped, the sources said.

The security forces arrested a Hizb militant along with two grenades and a wireless set at Dagi in Baramula last night. — UNI

Jammu, September 17
Following pressure mounted on the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohamad Sayeed, the government had to issue a fresh notification directing departmental heads and other officers to route all files meant for approval or perusal of Cabinet ministers through the ministers of state.

Several members of the Council of Ministers, holding the rank of minister of state, had complained to the Chief Minister that the Cabinet ministers would “take us for a ride and sideline us by asking the officers to submit the files directly to them.”

During a recent meeting, the Chief Minister had with 16 ministers of state, the Mufti has assured them that as far as their portfolios were concerned, he would review the matter so that there was no feeling among some junior ministers that they had been allotted minor responsibilities.

Some ministers of state had demanded that they should be given independent charge of the ministeries under them.

Two ministers of state wanted the Chief Minister to entrust those whose work had been satisfactory with independent charge.

Those from Jammu were upset over the way most of the key portfolios were in the hands of those belonging to the Kashmir valley. One of them said the Chief Minister had tried to balance the distribution of the portfolios but in the process allotted Health to Ms Suman Bhagat who is already holding an important portfolio.