NC leader hurt in attack
SRINAGAR, Dec 21 — Militants made an attempt on the life of a National Conference leader while three persons, including a militant, were killed and a woman was injured in the Kashmir valley since last evening, an official spokesman said here today.

Govt work hit in J & K for second day
JAMMU, Dec 21 — Work in the Civil Secretariat and other government offices, including hospitals and educational institutions, remained paralysed for the second day today as a result of the strike by various employees’ unions to press the immediate release of two DA instalments and wage arrears.

11-yr-old abused, missing
JAMMU, Dec 21 — Police teams have been sent to Kanthol village in Rajouri to trace 11-year-old Ratna who was subjected to abuse.

NC leader hurt in attack

SRINAGAR, Dec 21 (PTI) — Militants made an attempt on the life of a National Conference leader while three persons, including a militant, were killed and a woman was injured in the Kashmir valley since last evening, an official spokesman said here today.

The security forces smashed a militant hideout and recovered a big haul of rockets last night during search operations at Sona Pindi forest in Kupwara district. Five 107 mm rockets were seized.

Militants today fired on National Conference area President Abdul Aziz Ilahi while he was coming out of a mosque here after offering prayers. Ilahi escaped with a gunshot injury and was hospitalised.

A militant was killed and a woman, Sara, injured in an encounter at Balhama-Arin in Bandipora area of Baramulla district today.

In another incident in the district, militants barged into the house of Lassa Malik at Pahlipora in Safapora area and took his daughter Kulsuma in a separate room where they killed her after interrogation.

The police found the body of an unidentified person from Peerbagh area of Badgam district.

JAMMU: Three hardcore militants have been arrested and a huge cache of arms recovered in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu Division.

In a joint operation, troops and the Special Operation Group (SOG) nabbed top militant Bashir Ahmed, in at Choudhary Nar area of Rajouri district. Two of his accomplices were arrested.

With the capture of the three ultras, "the backbone of Harkat-ul Jehadi Islami (HUJI) has been broken in Rajouri and Poonch," official sources said.

In a combing operation, SOG and the Army recovered 442 rounds of rifle ammunition, 547 rounds of belted ammunition, four sticks of explosives, some batteries and documents from the Salwan forest area.

Govt work hit in J & K for second day
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Dec 21 — Work in the Civil Secretariat and other government offices, including hospitals and educational institutions, remained paralysed for the second day today as a result of the strike by various employees’ unions to press the immediate release of two DA instalments and wage arrears.

Several groups of employees staged demonstrations on the Secretariat premises. The Civil Secretariat and other government offices wore a deserted look. Most of the rooms in the government offices had been locked by the union leaders, preventing ministers and senior bureaucrats from carrying out their normal work.

Work in government offices in the Kashmir valley too was affected. Several trade unions and political parties, including the Congress and the CPM, have supported the demands of the employees. They have criticised both the state and Central Governments of having failed to fulfil the commitments made to the employees, with the result that the state had been gripped by serious administrative crisis.

Reports from several district and tehsil head quarters indicated that all categories of employees had responded to the strike call, affecting work in hospitals and dispensaries. Teaching work in educational institutions too was affected.

The employees will remain on strike for two more days. They have decided to go on an indefinite strike if their demands are not accepted by January 4.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, had brief discussions with several Central leaders in Delhi yesterday where he requested them to release additional funds to the state for meeting the demands of the employees. He had informed the Contre that without financial assistances from it the cash-starved state government would not be in a position to concede the demands of the employees.

11-yr-old abused, missing
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Dec 21 — Police teams have been sent to Kanthol village in Rajouri to trace 11-year-old Ratna who was subjected to abuse.

Ratna’s father, Kripa Ram, lodged a report with the police station in Rajouri on December 14 alleging that Kashmira Singh had five years ago offered to take his daughter with him to be employed as domestic help in his sister’s house. He also promised to arrange for her abduction and marriage later.

Kripa Ram willingly agreed to the proposal. In November he received information that his daughter was pregnant. As per the FIR, Ratna was taken to an unknown place where she delivered a baby.

Kripa Ram, who belongs to Dalhori village in Rajouri district, moved from one village to another in search of his daughter. When he could not find any clue to her whereabouts, he approached the DIG, Rajouri Range, who directed the SHO of the Rajouri police station to file a report and investigate the matter.

The police has taken Kashmira Singh and one of his accomplices into custody. Two police teams have been sent to Kanthol and adjoining areas to trace the girl. The police said this was the worst case of child abuse in Rajouri reported so far.