Srinagar, July 5
At least eight militants, including four infiltrators, were killed in separate encounters with security forces in Kashmir valley since yesterday, while two schoolchildren died when they were fiddling with an explosive device in Kupwara district today.

Four infiltrators were killed in an encounter with security forces near LoC at Tilpathri in the Gogaldara area of Trehgam in Kupwara district today, the police here said.

Three militants were killed in an encounter with the police and security forces at Saloora in Ganderbal area here after a 10-hour- long encounter last evening.

Acting on a tip-off, the police and security forces launched a search at Saloora, Ganderbal, 30 km from here yesterday.

The hiding militants opened fire on the search party leading to an encounter in which three militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen were killed, the police here said.

Those killed were identified as Umar Rashid Tantray, Yusuf Zia alias Iqbal and Javed alias Saifullah, all of them from the Ganderbal area.

The recoveries made from the spot included three AK rifles and 12 magazines, 276 rounds of ammunition, one UBGL with cleaning tools, one UBGL grenade, three hand grenades and one Kenwood radio set with antenna, a Defence spokesman said.

One militant of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen was killed in an encounter with the police and Army at Kursan in Kupwara district today, the police here said.

Two schoolchildren were killed when an explosive device they were fiddling with exploded at Kuligam in Kupwara district today. They have been identified as Sarfaraz Ahmad Kataria and Farooq Ahmad Kataria.

Srinagar, July 5
Tension gripped Kangan township, 40 km from here on the Srinagar-Sonmarg road this afternoon following reports of alleged attempt to rape of a girl by two Army personnel on duty.

A jawan and a civilian were killed while two persons were injured in the firing on a mob protesting against the security personnel leading to the blockade of traffic on the Amarnath yatra route.

The trouble started when two Army personnel allegedly attempted rape on a girl from the Safapore area.

An FIR under Section 302 of th RPC has been lodged in the police station.

The situation was brought under control after the police and civil administration intervened.

Srinagar, July 5
Coming from Chief Minister of the state Ghulam Nabi Azad the statement surprised and shocked many here at the University of Kashmir (KU).

He said corruption had become so endemic in Jammu and Kashmir development works had almost come to a standstill.

He said, he had said no to the loot of the treasury by bureaucracy and politicians.

"The money I have managed from the central government is unprecedented in the state's history, but if the progress is still not visible it is because nobody wants to work without their cut," Azad said during the inauguration of the KU's spacious convocation centre yesterday.

In a straightforward speech laced with his memory of the state's journey since his days as a student in KU, Azad said the culture of deceit and corruption in polity had risen since the violence broke out in the valley.

"When I ask my colleagues and officers why some project was not getting finished, they say it is because of little scope of making money by those who have to do it," he said.

The Chief Minister asked the youth, hundreds of whom had assembled, to help him fight the all-prevalent corruption.

Though Azad's candour drew some applause, Farooq Abdullah, a former Chief Minister and patron National Conference, had some brickbats from the audience in store.

A member in the audience, who later identified himself as a faculty in the KU's law department, rose in protest when Abdullah said political standard had hit an abysmal low, but he had always endeavoured to throw out "thieves and crooks" from his party. The security personnel had to stop him as he blamed his party for the state's turbulence.

"We all commit mistake, and I am no god," the former CM said, exhorting the students to help steer the state out of abyss as they were the future.

The bonhomie between the CM and the opposition leader was apparent, something which had long been annoying Azad's coalition partners in the PDP, as Abdullah nodded in approval to the remarks of the CM.

Azad said he had managed Rs 5,000 crore from the central government, largely because of his personal equations with Congress leaders.

Jammu, July 5
Birth anniversary of sixth Guru Hargobind was celebrated with enthusiasm in Jammu and Kashmir today.

Main function was held at Gurdwara Chhati Padshahi in Srinagar. The gurdwara was built in memory of Guru Hargobind.

A function was held in Digiana ashram near here in which Shabad kirtan was recited in the presence of a large number of devotees. The day was also celebrated in gurdwara on the canal here.

Rajouri, July 5
At a time when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has upped the ante for demilitarisation in the Jammu and Kashmir, a high-level Defence Ministry team headed by defence secretary Shekhar Dutt had a meeting with senior Army cmmanders and the district administration officials here to review the situation for taking a decision for troop reduction in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of the security meeting, Shekhar Dutt citing the reduction in incidents of violence in past some years ,claimed the situation in the state is improving.

"Last year incidents of violence were more, previous year they were much. This year the incidents of violence have decreased, so I think situation is improving", Dutt said.

"Also I would like to point out that there is great deal of people's participation in finding a solution and the best solution is actually what comes out of people's participation".

IT to monitor development activity in Doda dist
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, July 5
To provide modern infrastructure in the militancy- plagued Doda district, the state government has decided to introduce information technology in big way in the most backward area of Jammu and Kashmir.

Various projects pertaining to information technology, including functioning of the CICs, video conferencing facilities, Internet facilities, local area network, compiling the data of compassionate appointments, relief monitoring, Haj pilgrims, electoral rolls computerisation have been already launched in the district.

Further new techniques, with the help of information technology, are being introduced for streamlining development works monitoring system.

This was revealed by the district administration during the visit of principal secretary to government, information technology A S Sidhu to the district to review information technology related activities.

The visiting officer was informed serious efforts had been taken to promote IT culture in the district.

It was said out of 19 rural development blocks, 16 were equipped with CICs which have been functioning properly and generating revenue for sustainability.

Sidhu lauded efforts of the district administration and officers of the National Informatics' Centre; Doda for managing ITI- related activities for the benefit of the administration.

He said at present scenario Information Technology plays a pivotal role in the management of various projects thereby assisting the district administration in completing time- bound developmental activities.

Earlier, the district informatics officer, Doda gave a presentation of the various IT- related projects implemented and rolled out so far.

He also apprised about the functioning of the all community information centres in the district besides the establishment of CIC at remote and inaccessible blocks Marwah, Worwan and Dachhan now in Kishtwar district.

He also inaugurated citizens facilitation counter in the premises of the DC office complex. The centre is intended to provide citizen- centric services in the district and would be streamlined shortly for the benefit of general masses.