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Geelani is new APHC chairmanSRINAGAR: Rightwing Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, replaced 25-year-old Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, as ...

Geelani is new APHC chairman

SRINAGAR: Rightwing Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, replaced 25-year-old Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, as chairman of the secessionist APHC. Geelani said the Hurriyat conference will be made 8220;more effective8221; and ruled out talks with the Government within the framework of the Indian Constitution as suggested by Union Home Minister L K Advani during his recent visit to the State.

5 kidnapped

AGARTALA: At least 15 passengers were kidnapped from a Agartala bound bus at Pathalia ghat in West Tripura district today. Official sources said here that heavily armed militants waylaid the bus and forced the driver to drive to a jungle from where the ultras abducted the passengers. The bus was coming from Udaipur, the South Tripura district headquarter. A combing operation has been launched. This is the second incidence of kidnapping this month.

Mishap kills 11

KALIMPONG: At least 11 persons,including two women were killed and 32others injured when a Sikkim government bus overturned and plummetted 200-ft off National highway 31A into River Teesta in Darjeeling district of North Bengal on Friday. Of the dead four of the victims identified so far were Tegbahadur Chettri, the helper of the bus, Tara Rai, N K Rai and Prasanta Dey.

Session ends

MUMBAI: Both Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature were prorogued with the end of the budget session on Friday night. The Governor8217;s message proroguing the Houses was read out in the Assembly by Speaker Dattaji Nalawade and in the Council by Deputy Chairman N S Pharande. The Monsoon Session of the legislature will commence on July 20.

Jain report

NEW DELHI: The Jain Commission report on the conspiracy aspect of Rajiv Gandhi8217;s assassination will be tabled in parliament only after the Action Taken Report ATR is ready, Union Home Minister L K Advani said on Friday. The one-man panel had submitted its final report in February and as per statutory norms, it has tobe tabled in parliament within six months ending August.