J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Cong plans rallies to counter self-rule formula of PDP
Jammu, October 26
The ruling Congress party is planning to hold three rallies in the Jammu and Srinagar to counter the “self-rule” slogan of its coalition partner, the PDP.

4 soldiers die, 25 hurt in mishap
Srinagar, October 26
Four Army personnel were killed and 25 others, including 19 Army jawans, injured in an accident on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway this morning.

Three Pak infiltrators surrender
Srinagar, October 26
Three militants have surrendered before the security forces immediately after their return from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), an official spokesman said.

Cong plans rallies to counter self-rule formula of PDP
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 26
The ruling Congress party is planning to hold three rallies in the Jammu and Srinagar to counter the “self-rule” slogan of its coalition partner, the PDP.

The party has chosen the three dates, October 31(death anniversary of Mrs Indira Gandhi), November 14 (Children Day) and November 19 (birthday of Mrs Indira Gandhi) for the rallies.

However, the party leadership is planning to hold a rally here on November 19 that would be clubbed with the completion of the first year of the Congress led government in the state.

The PCC president and education minister, Peerzada Sayeed, told this correspondent that functions would be organised to observe the three days in the state.

Hardly any worthwhile functions were organised by the Congress on these days in the state in the past. But falling in line with other states, chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad this time had decided to organise rallies on these three days.

Sources in the Congress said a target of bringing of 50,000 party activists from different parts of the state to the rally here on November 19 had been fixed.

The rally is being considered as show of strength following the whirlwind tour of the PDP leaders, Mufti Sayeed and his daughter, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, here during which they stressed the need of introducing self-rule which they described as the best remedy to resolve the Kashmir crisis.

The Congress has not organised any rally in the past four years, except when Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, visited here. The Congress rally at Srinagar got disturbed due to a terrorist attack.

As the Congress party draws strength in the Jammu region, Mr. Azad might also utilise the opportunity to refurbish his image that suffered a setback when he sought clemency for Afzal Guru, mastermind behind the terrorist attack on parliament, who was to be hanged on October 20.

The party hopes such functions might help it regain the ground it has lost in the Kashmir valley in the past 30 years when it remained out of power.

4 soldiers die, 25 hurt in mishap

Srinagar, October 26
Four Army personnel were killed and 25 others, including 19 Army jawans, injured in an accident on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway this morning.

Official sources said a private bus coming from Tral hit a State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) bus, coming from the opposite direction, carrying Army personnel after the driver of the private bus lost control when one of its front wheels got punctured at Lethpora around 10 am.

They said the SRTC bus turned turtle and dashed with a tree on the highway.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said 10 Army personnel, on their way to Jammu, were injured in the accident.

They were admitted to base hospital here where three of them succumbed to their injuries.

Another was still in a critical condition, he said.

Official sources said the dead included two officers. They said 19 other soldiers were wounded in the accident.

The police control room, confirming the accident, said details were awaited.

Six civilians were also injured in the accident, they said, adding that they were also admitted to hospital.

Traffic on the highway was disrupted due to the accident. — UNI

Three Pak infiltrators surrender

Srinagar, October 26
Three militants have surrendered before the security forces immediately after their return from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), an official spokesman said.

He said a group of three militants crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and entered this side of the border in the Uri sector last evening.

The militants later surrendered before the security forces along with arms and ammunition.

More than 20 militants surrendered before the security forces in the Uri sector after they infiltrated into this side from PoK this year.

About six families have also surrendered after they returned from PoK.

The militants had crossed over to PoK for arms training in different camps in PoK and Pakistan.

The militants, who returned and surrendered, said they were being mistreated in PoK. — UNI