Srinagar, October 10
Transport minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen here today pleaded innocent and blamed a political party for conspiracy to involve him in the sex scandal case taken up by the state high court on Tuesday.

PDF chairman and J&K transport minister Hakeem Mohmmad Yaseen addresses supporters at his residence in Srinagar on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War

After return from abroad here today afternoon the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) chairman, without identifying the party, blamed a constituent group of the coalition government for involving him in the case.

The court yesterday had asked the CBI, investigating into the case, to file report of evidence against Hakeem, two other former ministers and legislators apart from some police officers. Hakeem Yaseen held a constituent party had been involved in the conspiracy against him. He alleged the party had been trying for his ouster from the Cabinet. "Let the law take its course", he said.

Udhampur, October 10
As the authorities failed to remove encroachment on the school premises, students of higher secondary school in the remote area of Kishtwar district came forward to remove it.

Reports here said two influential persons had encroached on a large portion of land belonging to the school. The encroachers had reportedly erected a structure on the encroached land.

The authorities were hesitant in taking action against the culprits. For the past two months, students and locals had been approaching the officials to remove the encroachments, but to no avail. At last students of the school decided to remove the encroachment.

Students removed the unauthorised construction from the premises of the school. Before the police reached the spot, students had virtually removed the encroachments.

The decision of the students to remove the encroachments triggered tension in the area. Land grabbers along with some anti-social elements reached the spot to stop anti-encroachment drive of the students. On the one hand, students gathered on the premises of the school, on the other side land grabbers, along with some goons, were gathering outside the school.

As the situation was tense, the police was deployed in the area. Senior police and civil officers reached the spot. —TNS

Srinagar, October 10
Three militants were killed in encounters with the police and security forces in Pulwama district today.

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an encounter with the police and security forces at Sugan village in the Zainpora area of Pulwama district. One of them was identified as Farooq Ahmed War, the police here said.

One militant was killed in an encounter with the police and security forces at Chak Cholan. He was identified as Sabzar Ahmed Mir code Motisim battalion commander of the LeT.

Meanwhile, a suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba militant, identified as Shahnawaz alias Zubai Sani was apprehended in the Alamganj area of Pulwama district today.