Srinagar, September 25
The PDP president, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, has said the self-rule proposal has become a rallying point for an amicable solution of the Kashmir problem. She also urged the Prime Minister to consider reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a public meeting at Kargil in Ladakh region today, Ms Mufti welcomed the Prime Minister’s statement that the proposal was being discussed as one of the solutions. She said the Prime Minister’s pronouncement indicated seriousness and sincerity of the purpose with which the leadership of the country was approaching the Kashmir problem to find a solution to the satisfaction of all concerned.

“I am sure that self rule only takes care of these intra-regional concerns,” she said, enlisting support of the people in Kargil region for the proposal. Saying that time was appropriate for complete cessation of hostilities within the state, Ms Mufti urged the Prime Minister to consider measured and systematic reduction of troops from internal security duty as was announced by him in 2004.

She said this would go a long way in consolidating people’s trust in the political means.

Ms Mufti said reduction of troops from the internal security duty could be supplemented with strengthening of the state police by raising of few more battalions involving personnel from all regions of the state.

Such a move, she said, would help the state government to tackle unemployment.

She advocated the opening up of the Kargil-Skardu road for movement of people on the pattern of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads. 

Srinagar, September 25
Seven persons including a woman police constable, were killed and an equal number injured in various incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

The police here said a constable of women’s police station, Rambagh, was killed and six others injured when militants hurled a grenade at a police gypsy at the Naaz crossing here today.

The constable, Ms Gulshana, died on the spot while three others ,including another woman constable and three civilians, were injured in the explosion. The grenade exploded inside the vehicle, the police said.

A CRPF jawan was injured when militants hurled a grenade towards their picket at Gadhali Chowk in Doda district of Jammu region.

Elsewhere, militants shot dead six persons in the state. Mohammad Ashraf Khan was shot dead after militants kidnapped him from his house near Sanglan in Anantnag district last night.

Nazir Ahmad Wani, village head of Hushangpor, Zainpora in Pulwama district, was shot dead by militants yesterday.

Two persons, Jana Begum and Abdul Hamid were shot dead in their houses at Jwari Sumber in Ramban area of Doda district last night, the police here said.

Suspected militants shot dead Mohammad Ashraf of Kukadwas Duloo in Marmat sector of Doda district yesterday.

A medical assistant, Mohammad Rafiq, was also shot dead by gunmen yesterday.