Srinagar, November 16
Two persons, including a woman, were injured when militants hurled a grenade at a CRPF picket here today, an official spokesman said.

Militants also set off an improvised explosive device in Baramula district this afternoon, but there were no casualties.

The ultras carried out the grenade attack at the security picket at Rajouri Kadal, outside the headquarters of the Awami Action Committee headed by moderate Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, in downtown Srinagar at around 10 a.m., the spokesman said.

The device missed the intended target and exploded on the road, causing splinter injuries to two pedestrians, including a woman, who were hospitalised.

The Islamic Front and Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen outfits separately claimed responsibility for the attack.

In another incident, militants set off an IED on the Gupan Nall-Hanjiveera road in the Pattan area of Baramula district, targeting a security vehicle.

However, no one was hurt in the blast which missed the intended target, the spokesman said.

Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the incident. — PTI

Jammu, November 16
Governor S.K. Sinha yesterday welcomed resumption of the dialogue between India and Pakistan.

In an hour long interaction with Mr Sebastian Edathy, a member of the German Bundestag (Parliament) and Mr York Schueqraf, political counsellor in the German Embassy in India, here the governor said the violent incidents in Kashmir appear to have been timed to coincide with the Foreign-Secretary level talks between the two countries.

The governor pointed out that neither President Musharraf nor political parties supporting the demand for self rule had spelt out its contours. The question of introducing self rule on this side of Kashmir does not arise as it is already existing in a greater measure here than in any other state of the country.

He elaborated on the need for self rule in Pakistan and observed that democracy had been derailed not only in Pakistan, but in PoK and northern areas as well. No Bill passed by the PoK parliament can become law unless approved by the Minister in charge of Kashmir Affairs in Pakistan.

The Governor said as for the Northern Area, it is the only surviving colony in the world with the people having no voting rights.

He explained to the foreign dignitaries that Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed more self rule than any other state in the country.

Jammu, November 16
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad yesterday ordered the health authorities to prepare the detailed project reports for the two super-specialty hospitals at Jammu and Srinagar within a fortnight.

Mr Azad was reviewing progress in respect of construction of the two hospitals coming up at a cost of Rs 120 crore each.

He stressed on the need to formulate detailed project reports and completing other pre-construction formalities for both the prestigious hospitals so that the work could progress smoothly.

The Chief Minister said that both hospitals should come up within 18 months.

He also took stock of the progress made in construction of the 200-bed paediatric hospital in the SMGS Hospital complex here and the 30-bed paediatric surgery wing.

Health Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, Principal Secretaries SS Kapoor, and Anil Goswami, Secretary Health KB Jandial and other senior officers were present at the meeting.