Five killed in Kashmir blast
Four Gujarati tourists and a Kashmiri girl were killed, while 20 others were injured in a powerful explosion in a tourist bus outside the famous Shalimar Garden here on Sunday, DHNS reports from Srinagar.
Among the four Gujaratis killed,  three were women. Eyewitnesses said the blast occurred when the vehicle was parked outside the garden. The explosion extensively damaged the vehicle and three passengers died on the spot, while two succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Naxalites go on rampage
Suspected naxalites damaged the signal system at Koneru railway station on the Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border in the wee hours on Sunday, partially affecting train services on the Waltair-Rayagada section of the East Coast Railway, PTI reports from Rayagada, Orissa.
About 20 armed ultras, including three women, raided the passenger halt and damaged its signal transmission system leading to snapping of the link with other stations including Vizianagaram.
They also ransacked the ticket counter and other equipment in the station and took away three VHF sets, sources said.
Youth eats 22 idlis in five min
By devouring 22 idlis in five minutes, a 22-year-old youth here on Sunday bagged the first prize in an eating competition, PTI reports from Coimbatore.
Senthil of Anna Nagar bagged the top place by eating 22 idlis with sambar, followed by Gopal who ate 21 idlis.
Mountaineering Institute closed
Internationally known Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling has been closed following an unrest among a section of employees,PTI reports from Siliguri. HMI Principal Colonel G S Dhilon said on Sunday that the decision was prompted after some ‘civilian’ employees dragged out the employees from the army by nailing the door. 
45,000 fowls culled in Manipur
Authorities have culled about 45,000 fowls so far in the bird flu-hit Manipur, UNI reports from Imphal. Veterinary and health officials continued to cull fowls for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday after confirmation of Avian Influenza at a farm in Chingmeirong here.
The Assam Rifles troops, local NGOs and women organisations had also extended help in culling.
Eleven die in road mishap in TN
Eleven persons were killed and 15 others, seriously injured in three separate road accidents in Tamil Nadu since late Saturday night UNI reports from Chennai. Police said, seven persons were killed and nine injured when a van in which they were travelling collided head on with a lorry at Chockanathanputhur on Madurai-Tenkasi National Highway in Virudhunagar district on Sunday morning.
The occupants of the van were on their way to Courtalam Falls, a tourist place, when the accident occurred.
CSF demands release of nuns
Mumbai-based NGO, Catholic Secular Forum (CSF), has strongly condemned the arrest of two nuns for allegedly converting two tribal girls from Bhayurbhanj district of Orissa on Saturday, UNI reports from Mumbai. Stating that such allegations were a part of the larger conspiracy being unleashed by certain “right wing” elements, a CSF statement said here on Sunday that the two girls, Sarojini Murmu (14) and Anjana Behera (11), were inmates for about a month.
Top Hizbul militant shot dead
A top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was shot dead by police in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday afternoon PTI reports from Srinagar. Farooq Ahmad Sheikh alias Ilyas was shot dead when he tried to attack a police search party at Namblibal village of Pampore, 16 km from here, official sources said.