Hotelier hurt, fidayeen attack fails
Terrorists strike in Billawar town
*Massive protests by people, bandh observed

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, May 3: For the first time, two terrorists struck in heart of Billawar town, about 80 kms from here last night and opened firing causing injuries to a hotelier and sending a wave of panic in the otherwise peaceful area. A complete bandh was observed in Billawar today with agitated people including shopkeepers and students taking to streets protesting first ever strike by the terrorists in the town...............more

IAF grounds 72 MiG Squadrons
8 killed as another MiG crashes on bank building

JALANDHAR, May 3: Getting no respite from a spate of MiG 21 accidents, a fighter jet of the IAF crashed into a bank building within five minutes of take-off killing eight persons on the ground and injuring 16 others, six of them seriously but the lone pilot bailed out safely............more

Priority to put Cong house in order: Azad

Excelsior Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, May 3: "Eggs with chicken would be put in one basket", this is how the recently appointed PCC chief Gulam Nabi Azad puts it about his forthcoming visit to the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri..........more

20 houses damaged, 3 more hurt in shelling
Two villages suffer huge devastation

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, May 3: Yesterday’s shelling by Pakistan army in Poonch sector had caused huge devastation in Jhalas and Khari Karmara forward villages. Over 20 pucca houses were reduced to rubble while more than three dozen cattle had perished in the shelling. Three more civilians, injured in the shelling, were hospitalised early today.............more

Two ultras killed in Gandoh

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 3: Special Task Force (STF) Gandoh today gunned down two terrorists at Polu Nali in Sawra area under Gandoh police station’s jurisdiction in Doda district......more

New Speaker likely to be elected on May 10

NEW DELHI, May 3 : The stage is now being set for the election of Lok Sabha Speaker on May 10 with BJP still not giving up on TDP for accepting the post despite the chill in relations between the parties on Gujarat issue. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will shortly talk to TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to renew the offer of the post over which TDP has not shown much enthusiasm..........more

Blast rocks Kishtwar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 3: Militants today made an abortive attempt to blow up a security post in Kishtwar town of Doda district by hurling a grenade which exploded without causing any damage.........more

Gill arrives but confusion prevails over his appointment ....