India, Pak may build more nuke weapons: Cohen

WASHINGTON, May 31: India, Pakistan, China and Russia may be encouraged to build more nuclear weapons if United States reduces the size of its nuclear arsenal below a certain level while pushing for a broad national missile defence shield, US Defence Secretary William Cohen has said. Cohen did not indicate what that level would be which would spark such a nuclear arms race but indicated he has in mind around 2,000. "That would be, I believe, the end result, because you can overwhelm defences by proliferating the numbers.........more

White Paper on financial conditions demanded
Farooq a stumbling block in solving Kashmir: Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 31: Dubbing Farooq Abdullah as ‘stumbling-block’ in peaceful solution of vexed Kashmir problem, the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today cautioned the Centre against nefarious designs of former who, according to him, wants continuation of the militancy to shield his ‘ misdeeds’. Taking a strong note of the statement of Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah in which he has contested representative........more

Curtailment schedule revised
Jammu areas continue to remain without power
as storm damages vital tower

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 31: Most parts of Jammu city today continued to remain without electricity and in absence of the supply, the people were forced to sweat in the scorching heat. The break-down in the supply was due to the yesterday evening’s heavy rains and storm that had damaged the vital steel tower of 132 KV Transmission Line between Miransahib and Canal...........more

‘Movement of militants to increase in Monsoon’
Chilla Danga people not satisfied with
security arrangements

From Avtar Bhat

SAMBA, May 31: Not satisfied with the security arrangements made by the Government to contain the movement of Pak militants, the inhabitants of Chilla Danga and surrounding hamlets pass sleepless nights ever since the November 1 encounter last year......more

MoU on Pant Hospital; Sub-Committee on SC/ST promotions
Cabinet amends Social Security Scheme rules
Spl Sub-Division for Mahore, Dharmari created

SRINAGAR, May 31: The State Cabinet that met here under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today, approved an amendment in J&K Integrated Social Security Rules to provide revalidation of sanctions of old age pension after expiry of five years of earlier sanction by the competent authority suo-moto subject to certain conditions.............more

Union Minister for Textiles, Mr Kashiram Rana laying the foundation stone of Urban Haat in Jammu on Wednesday. -Excelsior/Ashok

Foundation stone for India’s 8th " Urban Haat" laid
Central Govt keen to develop carpet industry
in J&K: Rana

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 31: Union Minister for Textiles, Mr Kashiram Rana today said that Central Government is keen to promote carpet industry in the Jammu and Kashmir state and it is contemplating to create carpet export promotion zone in the region...........more

Woman gunned down in Srinagar
4 militants soldier among 8 killed in Valley

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 31: Even as security forces have eliminated four militants in two different operations in Ganderbal-Bandipore belt of central Kashmir, unidentified gunmen have shot dead three civilians, including a woman, since last evening........more

20 Kg RDX, arms seized in Samb
2 LET militants killed in Gulabgarh encounter

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 31: The security forces eliminated two top Pak militants in the higher reaches of Pir Panjal in Gulabgarh area of Mahore today while the troops recovered a huge quantity of ammunition and explosive material including 20 kg RDX from border area of Samba sector today........more

Grade promotions to 7 IAS, 4 IFS officers

Talks should be within Constitution: Advani