Minister unhurt in attack
SRINAGAR, Sept 23 — Jammu and Kashmir Minister of Haj and Auqaf Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad and a senior Congress leader Peerzada Mohammad Syed escaped an attempt on their lives while six foreign militants and a Congress activist were among 11 killed in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours.

Indian, Pak troops exchange fire
SRINAGAR, Sept 23 — Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire in the Teetwal sub-sector of Kupwara in North Kashmir, official sources said here today.

Farooq may speak at UN session
JAMMU, Sept 23 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, is likely to join the Indian delegation to the UN General Assembly session.

Minister unhurt in attack

SRINAGAR, Sept 23 (UNI) — Jammu and Kashmir Minister of Haj and Auqaf Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad and a senior Congress leader Peerzada Mohammad Syed escaped an attempt on their lives while six foreign militants and a Congress activist were among 11 killed in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman said militants attacked the motorcade of Mr Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad at Babapora Kulgam village in Anantnag district last evening. The guards of Mr Ahmad returned the fire. Mr Ahmad who was going to address an election rally in the nearby village escaped unhurt. A massive hunt was launched to nab the militants.

This was the fourth attack on leaders of different parties during the campaigning for the Anantnag constituency which goes to the polls on October 4.

The spokesman said militants attacked the vehicle of Mr Peerzada Mohammad Sayed, a senior Congress leader, and former minister at Tangwara in Anantnag. However, he escaped unhurt after his special police officer returned the fire. The militants escaped.

Official spokesman said militants intercepted a passenger bus from Badgam to Khansahib at Kalshipora and shot dead a Congress activist Haji Ghulam Mohammad Mir last evening.

Militants fired at the house of Saif-ud-Din Gujjar at Haihama in the frontier district of Kupwara, resulting in the death of his daughter, Zarina. The house owner and his brother were injured.

He said militants kidnapped and later killed Abdul Majid at Budimohra while another person Manzoor Hussain was shot dead at Kandi village.

He said in an encounter between militants and security forces at Hanjipora Trehgam in the frontier district of Kupwara five foreign militants were killed. Four AK rifles, one rocket-launcher and 16 grenades were recovered from the slain militants.

He said a foreign militant was gunned down by security forces at the Nowgam forest in Baramula district during a search operation last evening. Three remote-controlled devices, one magazine and two rounds of ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Militants hurled a hand grenade at a security force vehicle parked near Naaz Cinema last evening. Seventeen persons, including three BSF men, were injured. One of the injured, identified as Ghulam Ahmad, later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, the spokesman said and added that the BSF vehicle was damaged in the blast.

He said security forces, however, averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) in a urinal outside a hotel on the Boulvard road last evening.

At least, two security jawans were injured when militants hurled a hand grenade on their picket near Punjab National Bank, M.R. Gunj, in downtown last evening.

He said gunmen entered the house of Ghulam-ud-Din Sheikh at Kanlibagh in Baramula and looted gold ornaments and cash worth Rs 1 lakh.

He said security forces averted a major disaster when they recovered a 15 kg improvised explosive device (IED) kept under the stones in the permises of high school at Tral in Pulwama district. The device was later defused by the bomb disposal squad.

Indian, Pak troops exchange fire

SRINAGAR, Sept 23 (PTI) — Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire in the Teetwal sub-sector of Kupwara in North Kashmir, official sources said here today.

However, no one was injured in the firing which began last night and was continuing till reports last came in, the sources said.

Although no one was injured in the cross firing which began after the Pakistani troops shelled Indian positions, villagers living in the forward areas left their homes in panic and moved to safer places, official sources said.

Farooq may speak at UN session
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 23 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, is likely to join the Indian delegation to the UN General Assembly session.

Informed sources said that Dr Abdullah has already been sounded by the Central leaders to get ready for his trip to New York where he could plead India's case on Kashmir. He is yet to receive a formal invitation.

Since the UN General Assembly session will focus on terrorism and with Pakistan having decided to raise the Kashmir issue again, the Government of India has thought it prudent send Dr Abdullah, who has made a mark at several international conferences and seminars, including the one in Geneva.

It is learnt that Dr Abdullah was scheduled to visit Tazikistan on an official tour. However, the visit has been postponed because of his required presence at the UN session. Where he is expected to the be main speaker from India.