Fiercest gun-battle in Rajouri
6 HUJI militants, Capt, 2 army jawans killed

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Dec 14: In a fiercest gun-battle which lasted throughout the day today, army gunned down six dreaded militants of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit at village Pawalgai in Kot Dhara area, about 12 kms from here. However, army also suffered three fatalities including Captain Amit Samyal and two jawans.......more

Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah

Package to be utilised on development works: CM

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec. 14: Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has said that major portion of the financial package to be released shortly by the Centre would be utilized on development works particularly in the rural areas........more

2 MLAs, MLC likely to be inducted as junior ministers
At last, Farooq refuses to be a weak CM

From Ahmed Ali Fayaz

SRINAGAR, Dec. 14: In Monday's reshuffle of the Council of Ministers, Dr Farooq Abdullah has ultimately refused to be known as a weak Chief Minister as the dismissal of seven Ministers has, among others, sealed the fate of the high-profile freelance politician Maulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari. The controversial 'stranger' in Dr Abdullah's Cabinet had, only last week, refused to tender his resignation and even threatened to 'expose the real thieves' in case he was terminated as a Minister......more

Girl killed in Pak firing, brother hurt
Police official kidnapped, shot dead in Surankot

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Dec 14: Militants kidnapped and gunned down a Guard Commander of SP (Operations) Surankot Mr Parbhat Singh at village Fagla while a young girl was killed and her brother seriously injured in heavy Pak firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in this border district overnight........more

INLD-BJP favour polls early next year
Haryana House dissolved

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14: In a dramatic development, the Haryana Assembly was dissolved today 18 months ahead of its term paving the way for mid-term elections barely four months after the Om Prakash Chautala Ministry supported by BJP assumed power ousting the Bansi Lal Government. Governor Mahabir Prasad dissolved the 90-member State Assembly one and half years ahead of its term on the recommendation of the Cabinet which unanimously favoured holding of fresh elections along with Bihar, Orissa and Manipur which are scheduled to go to polls early next year.......more

Reducing Cabinet indicates clearing of decks
for Central loan

NEW DELHI, Dec 14: With the downsizing of the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet, decks are being cleared by the State Government to avail of Central assistance to tide over the financial mess plaguing the State for long. ........more

Pak extremist groups threaten to unfurl flag on Red Fort

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14: Two Pakistan-based religious extremist groups, encouraged by the toughening of the military regime’s stand on Kashmir, have launched verbal offensives against New Delhi, with one going to the extent of warning that its ‘jehad’ in India was going to spread beyond the Kashmir valley and the Islamic flag would be unfurled on the Red Fort, media reports said today. ......more

Central team reviews situation

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec. 14: A Central team led by Special Secretary (J&K) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr T R Kakkar called on Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, here today. Mr Kakkar, who was accompanied by Director General, BSF, Mr E N Rammohan and other senior officers after his arrival in Srinagar, straight away drove to the residence of the Chief Minister and was with him for about half an hour........more