Over 30 injured in stoning, lathicharge
CRPF foils militants’ bid to escape from Kot Bhalwal jail

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 5: Para-military CRPF and jail staff today foiled a determined attempt by a number of foreign mercenaries and Kashmiri militants to escape from high security Kot Bhalwal jail after protesting routine searches and subjecting cops to heavy stone pelting wounding 14 jawans including a Deputy Superintendent of Jail.............more

Fernandes fails to bring truce
Strife-torn Samata Party splits

PATNA, Jan 5: The Samata Party in Bihar split today over the question of merger with the JD(U) with the rival factions holding parallel conventions and the rebels re-electing Raghunath Jha president of the breakaway group as a last minute bid by Defence Minister George Fernandes to bring about a truce failed......more

Cautions against lowering guard
BJP backs Kashmir initiative

NEW DELHI, Jan 5: The BJP national executive today fully backed the Centre’s "bold initiative" in Kashmir but cautioned against lowering guard against Pak-based terrorist organisations asserting that India’s "fitting reply" in Kargil must remain the "benchmark today and tomorrow"..........more

Militant killed, cop injured in Doda
3 ultras shot dead in Poonch

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Jan 5: Three hardcore militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit were gunned down by army at Gali Pindi in Saloonia area of Shahpur under the jurisdiction of Mandi police station in Poonch district this evening........more

Centre not serious: Hurriyat

NEW DELHI, Jan 5: Hurriyat leaders today said the Government did not seem serious about its peace initiative in Kashmir and criticised it for not issuing passports to them even though they had made their intentions very clear about visiting Pakistan for talks with militants outfits and political leaders.......more

‘Foreign outfits major hurdle in settlement
of Kashmir issue’

ISLAMABAD, Jan 5: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan has dubbed foreign militant groups as a "major hurdle" in the negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue, as several other leaders of the area urged militant outfits to support the peace process initiated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee..........more

Planning Commission finalises J&K plan

Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Jan 5: The annual plan for Jammu and Kashmir for this financial year was today finalised with its outlay fixed at Rs 1750 crore.........more

Troops pull-back complete: Pak....

6 hostages released....

Pak visit in jeopardy : Lone....

CM meets PM....