*30 militant strikes to disrupt polling
* Allegations of coercion against forces
27% turnout amid IED blasts, Hurriyat boycott
*7 BSF soldiers killed in IED blast, 12 others injured

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Oct 1: With the militants using all means to keep the voters indoors and the security forces using the counter-mobilisation, phase-III of the polling was conducted today amid violence and boycott in Pulwama and Anantnag districts of Kashmir valley. Authorities claimed that inspite of the Hurriyat call for boycott and about 30 incidents of IED blasts, firing and grenade attacks, an average of 27% turnout was reported from the two highly-disturbed districts in south Kashmir. While as seven BSF soldiers got killed in a powerful landmine blast in Pulwama district, 12 persons sustained injuries in different incidents of violence.

Apprehensive of largescale violence by militants, the authorities today pushed phase-III of the polling successfully in 15 Assembly segments of Pulwama and Anantnag districts. As many as 30 attacks were carried out on polling stations and security forces by militants since last evening. Twelve persons, including an Assistant Commandant of BSF, sustained injuries in these stray strikes. However, the first election-related killings in Kashmir valley took place this evening when militants blew up a BSF vehicle in Pulwama district, killing seven soldiers.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that a unit of BSF 47 Bn was returning to Awantipora, after performing the election security duty, when militants targeted it at Graogund in Sangam-Awantipora belt of Pulwama district. The targeted vehicle was blown up in the powerful explosion. Three head constables and four constables got killed while as a radio operator sustained critical injuries. He was rushed to hospital.

Earlier in the day, militants caused IED blasts at Littar, Gulzarpora and Kellar in Pulwama district. Polling stations were the specific target. One Assistant Commandant of BSF, namely AK Yadav, sustained injuries in the blast at Littar while as two BSF personnel and a civilian got injured at Gulzarpora. Two more IED blasts occurred at Larnoo and Nelow in Kokernag and Kulgam segments of Anantnag district. However, there was no damage.

Incidents of grenade attacks and firing by militants took place at Saimoh, Machhahama, Midora, Pinglish, Khasipora, Naner, Shikargah, Lam, Kehlil (Tral), Kamaldan, Shopian, Kharwari (Shopian), Zampathri, Kellar (Rajpora), Arigo, Awdara (Kulgam), Telwani (Shangus), Bijbehara and Kokernag. Five civilians and three BSF soldiers sustained injuries in these incidents. Last evening, two BSF, one JKAP personnel and one polling official had sustained injuries in two militant attacks in Kulgam and Telwani.

Hizbul Mujahideen’s "chief commander of operations" Saiful Islam has claimed responsibility of all these incidents, saying that 15 armed forces personnel had been killed and many others wounded. However, till late this evening, no militant outfit had claimed responsibility of the Awantipora blast in which seven soldiers got killed.

There was tremendous fear in the electorate—particularly in Tral, Shopian, Kulgam, Noorabad, Kokernag, Dooru and Shangus segments—when polling began at 0700 hours this morning. Most of the militant strikes were also launched in the forenoon. Few voters had turned up at Pampore, Awantipore, Tral, Bijbehara, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama towns when EXCELSIOR correspondents visited these spots in the forenoon.

In the first two hours of the polling, not a single voter had turned up in the PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s Bijbehara town at polling station 45/22, which has 1041 voters. Out of 1405, just two had cast their votes at 49-Sadak Polling Station, in Anantnag town. The first voter appeared at 48-Lalchowk (B), in Anantnag town, at 9.00 a.m. Same was the situation at a number of other polling stations upto 11.30 a.m.

With dozens of foreign diplomats, scores of mediapersons and OB vans of a number of television news channels fanning out in south Kashmir, people boycotted polling on the Hurriyat’s call at several places. While as some of them alleged that the security forces had resorted to "coercion" to get them out for the polling, others maintained that elections were no solution to the 50-year-old Kashmir problem. They referred to "80,000 martyrs" and said categorically that nothing other than "freedom" was the political aspiration of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. There were pro-Azadi demonstrations at Shopian town where people pulled down posters and banners of the contesting candidates.

Similar sentiments were witnessed at several places in Anantnag district, particularly in Bijbehara. In parts of Bijbehara, Pahalgam, Tral and Shopian segments, as also at Dyalgam in Anantnag segment, people charged the security forces with using coercive means to ensure high turnout. At Dyalgam, Liver and Shopian, people put up resistance and refused to cast a vote.

Even as at several places people said that they were indoors due to severe threats by militants, at other places they asserted that their boycott to the polling was without any pressure or persuation from militants. Yet another section of the absentees maintained that there were "no good candidates" in the fray. Most of them complained of poor development in their localities and said that the politicians were "building their own fortunes" and making the poor people "sacrificial goats".

Inspite of the boycott by a thick chunk of the electorate, there was tremendous enthusiasm among the voters in at least five segments. In Pahalgam, both Rafi Ahmed Mir of National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti of PDP seemed to be icons for their supporters. Both are referred to as "educated, competent and assertive politicians". In Anantnag, most of the voters said that they had no love lost for the NC but Dr Mehboob Beig was "a great personality". In Kulgam too, many voters described the CPI(M) candidate, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, as "a very good legislator", though his arch rival, NC’s Ghulam Nabi Dar, seemed to be taking the maximum of votes.

The kind of enthusiasm, witnessed in the first two phases of the polling, was very much absent today. Still, long queues of male and female voters were seen in the afternoon at over two dozen polling stations in Pahalgam, Kulgam and Home-Shalibugh segments. Kakapora village, in Pampore, witnessed brisk polling as most of the people obliged the fellow villager, Mohammad Anwar Bhat of the Congress.

PDP activists swooped on the NC workers at Liver and damaged their bus. This correspondent saw a number of the NC activists bleeding and taking shelter behind the CRPF personnel. Residents alleged that the PDP musclemen thrashed a number of the Liver villagers. At Kulgam too, there was a clash between the CPI(M) and the NC functionaries.

Farooq castigates opposition
*Reviews security scenario

Excelsior Correspondent

Doda, Oct 1: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has castigated opposition for orchestrated campaign against National Conference, fearing inevitable defeat in the current hustings.

Addressing public meetings at Marmat in Doda and Kashtigarh in Ramban constituencies today, Dr Abdullah said that for achieving political mileage the parties like Congress and PDP could go to any extent, even hobnobbing with separatists. He said the people are aware about the political gimmickry of these parties and would get a befitting reply in the polls.

Dr Abdullah decried the demand for trifurcation, saying that it is against national interest. He expressed surprise over raising the bogey of discrimination during the elections. National Conference is committed to the equitable progress and development of all the regions and sub regions, he added.

Dr. Abdullah said that though the National Conference does not claim of having achieved everything, yet it can take pride in the efforts made to revitalize various sectors of economy, putting various services on rails and rebuilding infrastructure. A massive development effort has been launched, major roads constructed and closed schools re-opened.

The Chief Minister listed the achievements registered in different developmental sectors and said this endeavour will continue.

He hoped that the politically sagacious people of the State would give massive mandate to the National Conference.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today reviewed the situation arising after the killing of innocent civilians by militants at Hiranagar in Kathua district.

Immediately after arriving here, he held a meeting with the divisional administration and took stock of the overall security scenario.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr. Anil Goswami and IGP, Jammu, Mr. P.L. Gupta were present in the meeting.

Dr Abdullah was briefed about the condition of those injured.

He condemned the act and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.

Cong will restore peace within one year: Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

KISHTWAR, Oct 1: PCC (I) president Ghulam Nabi Azad today declared that the Congress (I), if voted to power, will crush Pakistan-sponsored militancy and restore peace in the State within one year.

Addressing election rallies at Chatru and Sarthal in Inderwal Assembly segment and Malothi in Bhaderwah constituency in Doda district today, he assured the people that within two years, the Government will provide job to one member of each family in the State. "The Congress Government will also provide old age pension to all widows of above 60 years of age", he said.

Reiterating his allegation that ruling National Conference was a ‘major obstacle’ in restoration of peace in the State, Azad told the gathering in all three rallies that the Congress was committed to restore peace in the State and will do so within one year of the Government formation.

He alleged the National Conference Government did nothing for welfare of people of the State in last 27 years. He appealed to the electorate of Doda district, a traditional bastion of the NC, to teach the party a lesson by routing it out. Doda goes to polls in fourth and final phase of polling on October 8.

The PCC (I) president exuded confidence that the Congress will win 28 out of 31 Assembly seats in Jammu region for which the polling had been held so far and asked the people of Doda to give all six seats to the party to enable it to form next Government in the State.

He sought votes on the name of peace, progress and development in the State. He promised the status of block to Bhalla, which, he said, was a long pending demand of the local people. He said the Congress Government will also introduce ‘day meal scheme’ for the school children.

Kathua records 60, Udhampur 57 pc turn-out
3 IEDs defused before CM's arrival
*3 jawans, 2 terrorists, 2 civilians killed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 1: Army defused three powerful Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at Baghwa helipad in Doda district this morning where Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah was scheduled to land in the afternoon to address an election rally. One army soldier lost his life while defusing one of the IEDs.

Terrorists attacked two polling stations in Mahore in Udhampur district killing two BSF jawans. Kathua district recorded 60 per cent turn-out and Udhampur 57 per cent, according to the reports received here tonight. In other militancy related incidents, two terrorists and two civilians were killed in Jammu region.

Official sources said three IEDs were detected by the troops of Delta Force led by Capt Sanjeev Verma of 10 RR (Rajput) at Bhagwa helipad at 0930 hours today. The IEDs were spotted when the troops were sanitising the helipad where the Chief Minister was scheduled to land at 0130 hours in connection with his election campaign.

While two IEDs were successfully defused by army personnel, third IED went off injuring three army jawans. One of the injured later succumbed to his injuries while being evacuated to hospital. Few minutes later, another IED went off on Doda-Bhagwa road but failed to cause any damage. Yet another IED blast took place near Chachwa polling station in Gool Assembly segment but there were no casualties.

Deceased jawan has been identified as Havildar Mahabir Singh. Injured included Capt Sanjeev Verma and Naik Kolekar Baba Saheb.

Dr Abdullah had to cancel his trip to Bhagwa. After addressing the election rallies at Gulna and Marmat, he flew to Kastigarh and Dessa.

The terrorists attacked polling booth No. 332-A at village Shikari in Mahore area of Gool Assembly segment at 1605 hours when the polling had concluded. Security forces came into action and shifting the polling party out of firing range. In the process, a BSF jawan was killed.

The terrorists escaped after about half an hour long encounter.

Another polling booth was attacked by the terrorists at Harole in Mahore late last night. In this attack also, a BSF jawan was killed, the sources said. Identity of two BSF jawans killed in Mahore was not disclosed by the Defence authorities.

Kathua district recorded an overall percentage of about 60 and Udhampur about 57. Bani Assembly segment in Kathua topped the percentage with 70. Basohli recorded a turn-out of 62 per cent and Billawar 60 per cent. Despite terrorists’ strike early today that killed eight civilians and wounded 10 others, Hiranagar Assembly segment recorded an impressive 56 per cent voting while Kathua had only 52 per cent voting.

In Udhampur district, Reasi constituency topped in the term of percentage with an approximate 63 per cent electorate exercising their franchise followed by the militancy-infested Gool segment with recorded 62 per cent polling. Polling percentage in four other Assembly segments of Udhampur was Chenani 58, Ramnagar 54, Udhampur 50 and Gulabgarh 46.

According to official sources, the voting percentage could go up by one to two per cent as exact figures were yet to come in from some segments.

Meanwhile, army today killed two terrorists—one each at Surankote in Poonch district and Mahore in Udhampur district. Identity of the slain terrorists hadn’t been established so far, Defence sources said. Recoveries from the encounter site included two AK rifles, two magazines, 25 rounds and one Chinese hand grenade.

Security forces arrested an overground worker of the terrorists identified as Ghulam Hussain from village Gundana in Doda. Ten kg RDX, 12 detonators and 15 meters wire was recovered from his house.

The terrorists kidnapped and killed a civilian Ghulam Qadir son of Abdul Gain at village Saran Khadi in Banihal tehsil of Doda district last night. Another civilian Gulla Bhat son of Lala Bhat R/o Behli, Doda was also kidnapped and killed by the terrorists. His wife, who had also been kidnapped, remained untraced.

An IED was detected by security forces at 0930 hours today outside J&K Bank branch at Gujjar Mandi in Rajouri. It was defused by a Bomb Disposal Squad.

Several I-card holders too denied right to franchise
In Basohli: Punjabis vote, locals don't

From Sanjeev Pargal

BASOHLI, Oct 1: This small and picturesque but neglected Assembly segment of Kathua district presented a different picture from other constituencies during the third phase of elections today. Punjabis were allowed to cast their votes. But several locals were denied their right to franchise, thanks to apathy of the Election Department and local authorities.

"Is this the democracy?. I have an identity card issued by the Election Commissioner but still I have been denied my right to franchise without my fault", says Neena Gupta, about 30, wife of Narinder Gupta, a resident of Ward No. 5 in Basohli town while displaying her identity card No. JK64 014917.

Very anxious to cast her vote, a highly agitated Neena Gupta stormed PWD Rest House in Basohli where Returning Officer for Basohli Parmod Bakshi, who also happened to be the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), was briefing the visiting mediapersons. Neena says she had been moving from one poling station to another for five hours but her name had been deleted from a polling station at Govt Girls High School, Basohli, where she had cast her vote in the previous elections.

And Neena Gupta was not the lone voter, who couldn’t cast her vote in Basohli town. There were numerous others, who confronted the SDM, Tehsildar Gian Chand Badan and BDO Pawan Singh Rathore as either their names had been deleted from the list and didn’t tally in Hindi and Urdu lists, for which the Polling officers didn’t allow them to cast their ballots.

Another young girl Nidhi Sharma daughter of Ved Parkash Sharma R/o Ward No. 5, Basohli wanted to use her right to franchise for the first time. But, despite having the Election Commissioner’s voting identity card No. JK64 009077, she too hadn’t been able to cast her vote till 1300 hours today.

Nidhi says she had visited all five polling stations in Basohli town but didn’t find her name in any of them. "For what purpose the Election Commissioner had issued me this document"? she angrily asked the SDM. A visibly upset SDM had no answer to the queries of Nidhi and many others, who had been chasing the civil officers from one place to another to seek their intervention in casting their votes.

"Two Punjabi women, hailing from Pathankote, had, however, been able to cast their votes in the polling station at District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) as they had managed the identity cards", alleges Rakesh Kumar, a polling agent of a political party. His allegation was admitted by a senior officer of the administration saying by the time the authorities came to know of Punjabi women’s voting, they had escaped from the town. The women, according to sources, hailed from Basohli but had been married to Punjab and, as per the State laws, they were devoid of the right to vote.

One entire family having eight voters, three of whom had the identity cards, was surprised to see their all votes missing. The reasons were neither known to the family nor the civil officers. This Gupta family, however, didn’t protest and returned to their house peacefully without casting a single vote. According to a retired Bank employee Jagdish Brahmi, atleast 60 inhabitants of Ward No. 1 had returned from DIET polling station alone in first four hours of polling due to faulty electoral lists.

"On one hand, the Government of India particularly the Election Commissioner was making all out efforts to increase voting percentage in Jammu and Kashmir and, on the other, their officers were bent upon to reverse their efforts", observers Suresh Kumar Sharma, who was ordered to be thrown out of the polling station by a CRPF official after he insisting on casting his vote, which he had been doing for last several years.

"I wasted two hours in queues at three polling stations but couldn’t trace my name in any of them", asserts Sharma while being physically evicted by the CRPF personnel, who too had become angry after facing hostile people returning without casting their votes. Two other family members of Sharma had also not been able to use their right to franchise.

While some of the dejected electorate blamed Election Department and local officials for the denial to use their democratic right, others shifted the blame on ‘goondagardi’ (goondaism) of the local legislator. "Names of several electorate had been deleted in Basohli town, which was overwhelmingly supporting a particular candidate. It appeared that the local authorities had connived with the legislator to ensure low turn-out in the town", alleges a woman Purno Devi wife of Sat Parkash having electoral No. 289 returning to her house with the identity card in her hands. Purno Devi’s name existed in an electoral list in the hands of a political party’s agent. However, in the list inside the booth, her name had been deleted.

"During previous elections, the electorate in Basohli town had never faced such problems", asserts Amit Sharma, a shopkeeper and local president of Bajrang Dal. "What a pity it is, the Punjabis are casting votes in Basohli, but the local people are being thrown out of the polling booths", he observes and regrets :"this is happening in the country which claims to be the world’s largest democracy".

In Reasi Assembly constituency, falling in Udhampur district, the similar problems existed. While in Basohli, the authorities were listening to grievances of the electorate, in Reasi, the Sub Divisional Magistrate Hardesh K Singh ordered police to arrest two persons, who had come to complain before him in the presence of press persons.

"The SHO put them behind the bars", Singh ordered when BJP Reasi Mandal president Subash Vaid and City president Sudesh Puri displayed several identity cards of the electorate, who were not allowed by the polling staff to cast their votes.

An agitated Subash Vaid displayed a voting identity card No. JK58 035612 belonging to Ram Rakhi wife of Krishan Lal saying Ram Rakhi is alive and waiting at polling station No. 24 in Reasi to cast her vote but she had been declared dead in the voters list.

"Just listen to me. This is grave injustice. An alive woman had been declared dead. Allow her to cast her vote", Vaid pleaded with the SDM only to get a harsh reply from the latter for police action against him and his associate Sudesh Puri.

A couple Sudershan Kumar and Sushma Sharma, hailing from Ward No. 6 in Reasi were also protesting outside SDM’s house as they too hadn’t been allowed to cast their votes despite having the identity cards. "What is out fault if our names didn’t tally in the list. We have the voter I-cards and must be allowed to cast our votes", they said, adding "even we had applied for correction before the Election Department".

Ashok Kumar of Talwara, falling in Reasi segment, alleges that his name had been cut off in voting list by the polling staff as he had his affiliation to a particular party.

Farooq will leave for Johnnesburg today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct. 1: Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah,is buoyant in his optimism. When he is, as expected by all and sundry,required to be present in his home State, he has planned to fly out to South Africa.

Dr Farooq is slated to leave for Johnnesburg on Wednesday, Oct. 2. On present indications, he will spend some days in South Africa. In other words, he is unlikely to be present in J&K when the last phase of polling in Doda district takes place on Oct. 8.

Dr Farooq, according to sources close to him, need not put off his journey to Johannesburg, considering the fact that he has done his job- that is,pre-poll canvassing in the Doda district.

It is not unknown that the J&K Chief Minister’s daughter and son-in-law are currently stationed at Johnnesburg. Obviously, their presence there is the principal attraction for Dr Farooq who is leaving early morning tomorrow in a flight to South Africa.

Narrow victory for PPP: Survey

ISLAMABAD, Oct 1 : A pre-poll survey has predicted a narrow victory for former Premier Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentarians in the October 10 general elections.

The survey, conducted by BBC Urdu.Com interviewed 2827 persons in 99 Pakistani towns and over hundred villages in the country’s four provinces, said PPP enjoyed popular support.

PPP, the electoral front of Bhutto’s PPP, was popular in Sindh Province while the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had lost ground in Punjab, long considered its bastion.

In what could be a blow to the PML (N) leader, serving exile in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf backed PML (Qaide Azam), a breakaway faction of the United PML, was expected to put up a strong showing in the state.

PML (Qaide Azam) is headed by Mian Azhar.

The survey has, however, not given exact percentage of votes to be polled by PPP and others. It has also not given the number of seats they are expected to win in the elections.

Majority of the people interviewed said former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif should have been permitted to contest the elections.

Both were debarred under the new rule brought in by Musharraf Government barring persons convicted by courts to contest the polls.

Fifty four per cent said Bhutto should have been permitted to return and participate in elections while 50 per cent favoured Sharif contesting the polls to the 342-member National Assembly, the pre-poll survey said.

It said in the absence of front-runners — Bhutto and Sharif — the race for premiership was still open. Azhar, who has emerged as the front runner for the top post polled only 17 per cent followed by PPP leader and Bhutto loyalist, Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

Former Pakistan President Farooq Laghari and cricketer -turned-politician Imran Khan lagged behind in terms of popular acceptability.

Bhutto has been rated both the best and the worst Prime Minister in the last two decades with Sharif emerging as both the second best and the second worst.

President Pervez Musharraf enjoys "considerable" support in NWFP and Baluchistan Provinces, according to the survey.

He polled 60 per cent in NWFP and 50 per cent in Baluchistan but lost out in the Punjab which sends majority members to the Parliament. The people interviewed by the web site considered found former military ruler Zia-ul Haq a better ruler than Musharraf. (PTI)

Diplomats satisfied with poll arrangements

SRINAGAR, Oct 1: Fourteen foreign diplomats, who today visited Pulwama and Anantnag districts to monitor the third phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, expressed their satisfaction over the arrangements made by the Government in conducting transparent polls.

The diplomats, mainly from the United States and European Nations, were allowed to visit all constituencies to witness the poll process.

This is for the first time that most of the diplomats travelled by road to see the voting pattern, ignoring militancy related violence. They were provided adequate security by the authorities. The Election Commission has issued special passes to officials from Delhi-based foreign diplomats to witness the polls.

Twenty-eight diplomats had witnessed the earlier two phases of the polls in the Kashmir valley.

The fresh batch of diplomats comprises three from France, two each from the United States, Britain and the European Commission and one each from Luxemburg, Spain, Greece, Italy and Germany, officials said.

The diplomats were seen talking to a number of people including voters at several booths.

They were briefed by Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir Pervez Dewan before they left for 16 Assembly segments spread in Anantnag and Pulwama districts.

India, while rejecting the role of international observers for the polls, had, however, allowed India-based diplomats of various countries to witness the elections in the State.

Besides, diplomats representatives of various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) made spot survey of the situation in the two districts. (UNI)

Gopalaswamy new Home Secretary

NEW DELHI, Oct 1: Culture Secretary N Gopalaswamy will be the new Home Secretary, succeeding Kamal Pande who has been elevated to the post of Cabinet Secretary, sources said today.

Gopalaswamy, a 1966 batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, is expected to take over his new assignment by the middle of this month. An official announcement regarding his appointment is expected shortly.

Pande, a 1965 batch IAS officer, will take over as Cabinet Secretary on November one for a two-year term succeeding T R Prasad, who would be retiring on October 31.

Pande will be officer on special duty in the Cabinet Secretariat from October 15 to October 31. (PTI)

Al-Mansoor claims responsibility for Hiranagar attack

SRINAGAR, Oct 1: A newly formed "Al-Mansoor" militant outfit, considered a shadow of the banned Lashker-e-Toiba, has claimed responsibility for today’s attack on a passenger bus on Jammu-Delhi National Highway in which twelve people were killed and scores others wounded.

Officials said militants wearing army uniform hurled grenades and opened indiscriminate firing on the passenger bus at Hiranagar shortly before polling had started in the constituency.

They said the attack was aimed to harass voters in order to achieve low polling percentage in the constituency.

The militants applied same modus operandi as they did in a Fidayeen attack at Kaluchack on May 14 when 32 people were killed. (UNI)

Lashkar, Hizb militants among 5 killed

SRINAGAR, Oct 1: Four militants including a self-styled district commander of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba outfit were killed in encounters with security forces in Kashmir valley since last night, an official spokesman said here today.

The Lashkar militant was killed in an ambush near Kalaroos in border district of Kupwara in north Kashmir early today. An AK rifle, three magazines with 23 rounds and two grenades were recovered from him, the spokesman said.

He said security forces killed two unidentified militants in separate gunbattles at Madmadoo and Nagrimalpora in Kupwara district today.

In another encounter, a local militant of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed by the security forces in a shootout at village Mangloora in Baramulla district of north Kashmir last night, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, a teenaged boy was killed and three others were injured when a bomb went off at Zachaldara in Kupwara today.

The cause of the blast was not known immediately, but it was suspected that the boys had found some explosive device in the field which exploded when they started fiddling with it, the spokesman said.

He said militants set ablaze a primary school building at Rafiabad in Baramulla causing damage to it. (PTI)

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