4 hurt in blast near NC office
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Nov 23 — At least four persons, including two policemen, were injured and a number of vehicles damaged in an IED explosion in front of the ruling National Conference headquarters near Zero Bridge in the high security zone here this morning.

Police said that the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) was planted by suspected militants in a scooter parked outside the main gate of the Nawai Subh complex, which houses the head office of the ruling National Conference. Around 11-20 a.m. the IED was detonated.

Those injured included two policemen posted at the gate of the National Conference office and two civilians. The police did not disclose the identity of those injured.

The Nawai Subh complex is adjacent to the Srinagar Doordarshan and Radio Kashmir Srinagar complexes in the high security zone here near Amar Singh Club, in which a number of ministers reside.

This is the first such attempt by militants after a suicide squad of Lashkar-e-Toiba attacked Badami Bagh Cantonment in the same area early this month. Seven Armymen, including Major P. Purushottam, Defence PRO, were killed in the attack.

The militants today hurled grenades on security forces pickets at Khanyar and Dal Gate, injuring over a dozen civilians and at least four securitymen. Two civilians including one Abdul Aziz Malik were injured when unidentified militants hurled a grenade on a picket of the security forces at Khanyar. Several others were injured in another grenade explosion at a security picket near Badyari Crossing at Dal Gate this afternoon.

A joint operations group of the police and BSF killed one militant at Haigam, Sopore in Baramulla district. The police said that the militant was identified as Bashir Ahmad Mir, a battalion commander of Hizbul-Mujahideen. One pistol, and a wireless set were recovered from the site of the encounter.

A top militant of Al-Badr outfit, identified as Javed Ahmad Najar alias Javed Kachroo, alias Maqbool was arrested by a joint operations group of BSF and the police. He was reported to be involved in a number of militancy related incidents, which included killing of two block presidents of the ruling National Conference, Abul Rehman Tramboo and Mohammad Shari Sofi both of Reshi Mohalla here, a wireless set, one grenade and some documents were recovered from his possession, police said.

A security officer was killed in a bomb blast at Batiyaas village.

Militants shot at and wounded a shopkeeper at Chinkral Mohalla in the old city last evening, the spokesman added.

Expedition from Jammu to Kanyakumari
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 23 — As part of its Raising Day celebrations, the CRPF has prepared a 20-member team, which includes three women constables, that will cover 8,000 km on their motor cycles from Jammu to Kanyakumari.

The team will cover the foothills of the Himalayas and reach Calcutta from where it would go along the eastern coast up to Kanyakumari.

The team will leave Jammu on Thursday.

Youth run over by train
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA: A 27-year-old unemployed youth committed suicide by jumping in front of a train this morning. The deceased has been identified as Jaswant Singh, son of Ishwar Singh of Barwal in Kathua tehsil. His body was found on the railway track.

The youth was allegedly frustrated because of his failure to find employment.

The police has registered a case.