Militants gun down forest guard
SRINAGAR, Dec 16 — A forest guard was killed and two civilians injured in two incidents here today.Forest guard Mohammad Afzal Bhat, was gunned down by unidentified militants in interior Srinagar in the afternoon, the police said adding the motive behind the killing was not immediately known.

Ganderbal to have Islamic university
SRINAGAR, Dec 16 — Eminent Islamic scholars will be associated with the setting up of Islamic University in Kashmir under the aegis of the Muslim Auqaf Trust (MAT), looking after the mosques and shrines in Kashmir.

Militants gun down forest guard

SRINAGAR, Dec 16 (PTI, UNI) — A forest guard was killed and two civilians injured in two incidents here today.

Forest guard Mohammad Afzal Bhat, was gunned down by unidentified militants in interior Srinagar in the afternoon, the police said adding the motive behind the killing was not immediately known.

Two civilians were injured when militants exploded a grenade outside the district Police Lines in Anantnag yesterday.

The device was aimed to blow up the Police Lines but fell short of target.

The Jammu and Kashmir police and security forces killed a militant during a joint search operation at Arwani in Anantnag today. One AK rifle and three magazines were recovered during the operation which was still going on.

Mohammad Yaseen Chicken, a resident of Fateh Kadal was killed during an encounter between militants and police at Asthan Mohalla Nishat on the banks of Dal Lake today. However, his family members and residents alleged that he was arrested on December 13 night and later killed in custody.

Two bulldozers of BEACON project were damaged after militants detonated two improvised explosive devices at Barsoo Ganderbal late last night. However, none was hurt in these blasts.

JAMMU: Six persons, including two Army jawans and three militants, were killed and a Major injured in separate encounters in Doda, Udhampur and Poonch districts of Jammu division since yesterday, official sources said here today.

Two jawans of the Rashtriya Rifle were killed in an encounter with militants in the Barashala area of Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district last night and Army Major Suresh Babu was injured in the clash.

In another encounter, two foreign mercenaries were killed by the SOG of the state police in the Changa area of Gandoh tehsil of Doda district.

Some ammunition, including two AK-56 rifles, was seized.

Another top militant was killed by security forces in the Surankote area last evening who has been identified as Sher Khan, commander of ‘313 Brigade’ of the Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjal group, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the security forces seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition in the Lassana-Surankote area in Poonch district comprising a Russian-made missile (82 mm) motor bombs of China make, 14 magazines, 1300 rounds of AK-type rifles, two packs of explosives, eight grenades and five boxes of fuse.

One RPG, eight hand grenades and one wireless set were recovered from the Shatroo-Kishtwar area.

7 children die of measles
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Dec 16 — Seven infants in the age group of two to four years have died of measles and at least 80 others taken ill in the Lolab area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir.

Some of the children have been shifted to Srinagar for treatment. The condition of over 10 of them is stated to be critical. However, arrangements are being made and steps taken to check the further spread of the epidemic in the Sogam area, about 20 km from Kupwara town in north Kashmir. The cluster of hamlets around Apran and Varnu near Sogam affected by the epidemic include Rang Batabagh, Himli, Chak and Mukhula.

Five children who died of measles have been identified as Jamsheeda, Mehmooda, Haleema, Reena Bano and Rubia Bano, Bashir Ahmad and Gayasuddin, all in the age group of two to four years.

According to reports reaching here the epidemic hit the cluster of hemlets near Sogam, 20 km from Kupwara, few weeks ago. Adhering to the traditional and mythical belief, the peasants did not report to the health officials and villagers around.

The spread of the epidemic, according to reports reaching here, was brought to the notice of the Chief Medical Officer, Kupwara, on December 13. A medical camp has been established in the area for necessary emergency services to the victims. Senior officials of the Health Department have also visited the area in the past four days.

This is the first such incidence of spread of an epidemic in the area, about 100 km north of Srinagar in the recent past.

Ganderbal to have Islamic university
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Dec 16 — Eminent Islamic scholars will be associated with the setting up of Islamic University in Kashmir under the aegis of the Muslim Auqaf Trust (MAT), looking after the mosques and shrines in Kashmir.

"Ulema (scholars) of Darul-Uloom Deoband and other Muslim religious institutes of the country will be consulted to prepare a concept paper for the proposed university’, said Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who is also chairman of the MAT, here yesterday. While chairing the general body meeting of the trust.

The meeting was attended by other trustees including, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Works Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, Revenue Minister Abdul Qayoom, General Secretary of the National Conference Sheikh Nazir Ahmad and imams and caretakers of various mosques and shrines administered by the trust.