The Tribune – Militants target Srinagar hotel, kill 1; Attack an Army convoy on highway before forcing their way into hotel; 2 employees hurt in firing

Majid Jahangir, Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 19. Suspected militants today fired at an Army convoy near a hotel on the outskirts of Srinagar city killing a hotel employee and injuring two others. “Initial investigations into the firing incident have shown that the militants had planned an attack on the highway. They did not succeed and tried to enter a nearby hotel. They opened indiscriminate firing, killing Farooq Ahmad, a bellboy, and injuring two others, Anees Ahmed and Bilal Ahmed,” a police spokesman said.

Police sources said at least three militants armed with assault rifles attacked an Army vehicle near Nowgam on the Parimpora-Panthachowk bypass at 4.30 pm in which the vehicle was damaged.

“No security man was injured. After carrying out the attack, the militants forced their way into the hotel premises and started shooting indiscriminately, killing the bellboy and injuring two others. After the firing, the militants fledthe hotel,” sources said.

Anees, who got a bullet embedded in his abdomen, was shifted to Sri Mahraja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, where his condition is stated to be serious. Bilal Ahmed, who also had a bullet in his arm, was shifted to Bone and Joints hospital for treatment.

A hotel employee said the militants also fired at the reception counter. One report said the armed militants entered the hotel creating panic among the staff and guests. In the melee, the armed militants dragged the bellboy. Before fleeing, they shot him dead.

Initially, police thought that the militants had hid themselves inside the hotel and a search was launched. After almost two hours, the hotel was declared safe and the guests were allowed to move in. “Bullet marks were visible near the hotel reception. All the guests and employees of the hotel are safe,” said a hotel employee. “It was not an attack on the hotel. The militants took the hotel route to escape after attacking the Army convoy,” he added.

Inspector-General of Police (Kashmir) S M Sahai termed it a militant attack. When asked to clarify whether it was an attack on the hotel or the highway, he said it was too early to comment. “Nothing seemed to have been targeted by the militants in the hotel,” Sahai said.

Soon after the shootout, police along with paramilitary troopers launched a manhunt to nab the militants.

“The entire area has been cordoned off and search for the militants is on,” police said.

Militants had carried out an attack on CRPF at Rainawari in May-end in the heart of city in which seven CRPF personnel were injured.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121020/main1.htm

The Hindu – Record voter turnout in Punjab

Sarabjit Pandher

One person dies in group clash in Ferozepur Rural constituency   Barring a few incidents, the single-phase polling for the 117-member Punjab Assembly on Monday remained peaceful as initial estimates indicated a record turnout, which is likely to surpass the 75.45 per cent registered in 2007. When reports last came in, one person was killed and nine cases of poll-related violence were registered.

Talking to journalists, Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu said one person died of bullet injuries when rival groups clashed in the Ferozepur Rural constituency. An old woman suddenly collapsed and died inside a polling station of the Anandpur Sahib constituency.

Thanking the people and those involved in the process for the smooth conduct of the elections, Ms. Sidhu said the final turnout figures would be compiled after the returning officers sent the reports from the constituencies separately. The commission had not ordered repoll anywhere across the State.

Polling across the State began at a brisk pace and there was no let up throughout the day. She said long queues were reported at polling stations after 5 p.m.

Journalist manhandled

A woman journalist of a leading Punjabi daily was manhandled in Nabha, while a scribe was allegedly slapped by Akali Dal legislator Amarpal Singh Bony in Ajnala. The police registered cases in both incidents.

The authorities replaced 70 malfunctioning electronic voting machines, though early reports said an attempt was made to tamper with a machine in Mansa district.

There were interesting reports of people using the 49-O facility to reject all the candidates in their constituencies. At Garhshankar in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, as many as 80 citizens of a locality opted for the facility to voice their resentment against apathy by the authorities in providing basic civic amenities since Independence.

Ms. Sidhu said six television channels — Aaj Tak, Star News, Zee News, PTC, Times Now and NDTV — along with three newspapers — Ajit, Dainik Jagran and Jagbani — were issued notice for violating code of conduct on poll day.

On a complaint, the media monitoring committee scanned the content of the PTC coverage and found that the channel had interviewed more Akali Dal-BJP leaders than Opposition leaders. However, a final decision would be taken by the Election Commission, she said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2845575.ece

BBC News – Afghan truck bomb hits US troops in Wardak

11 September 2011

Almost 80 US troops have been injured and two Afghan civilians killed by a suicide truck bomber on a military base in the eastern Wardak province.

None of the injuries are life-threatening, Nato says.

Rockets were also fired at the US military base in Bagram.

News of Saturday’s attacks came as the US embassy in Kabul marked the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks which prompted the US military operation to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker acknowledged that many in the US were “tired” of the 10-year war in Afghanistan but said the US troops must remain in the country.

“We’re here so there is never again another 9/11 coming from Afghanistan’s soil,” the AFP news agency quotes him as saying.

The Taliban, which gave sanctuary to al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden during its rule in Afghanistan, has said it carried out the attack on the base in Wardak.

It accused the US of using the 9/11 attacks as a pretext to invade Afghanistan.

“Each year, 9/11 reminds the Afghans of an event in which they had no role whatsoever,” the Taliban said in a statement emailed to the media.

“American colonialism has shed the blood of tens of thousands of miserable and innocent Afghans.”

US Army spokesman Major David Eastburn said the explosives “detonated near the entry point at a combat outpost, resulting in 89 wounded in action and a 20-foot [six-metre] hole in the wall”.

“Fewer than 25″ Afghan civilians were also injured in the attack, the Nato-led International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf) said.

A three-year-old girl reportedly died on her way to a clinic.

Following the attack in Bagram – the largest US military base in Afghanistan – a run by members of the US military to mark the 9/11 attacks was cancelled.

The US has about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, with some 33,000 due to leave within the next year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14871666