Militant hideout unearthed

Following a tip off, security forces in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag smashed a cave-type hideout and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, UNI reports from Srinagar.

Official sources said on Saturday that the troops unearthed the hideout after a long search  at Ziz Bal in the district. They recovered arms and ammunition which included four grenades, 159 rounds of AK ammunition, three AK magazines, one RS Elinco and other related material.

Teenager beaten to death

Abid, a 13-year-old, was allegedly beaten to death by two of his friends in Madya village of the district, PTI reports from Azamgarh in UP.

The accused, Dinesh (15) and Irshad (17), were angry with Abid over an eve-teasing incident and also had an eye on his mobile, police said on Saturday. The duo told police that the deceased used to tease Irshad’s 12-year-old sister.

Panel of state FMs to meet

The Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers, which will meet at Kovalam on May 5, is likely to see finance ministers from Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Haryana, PTI reports from Thiruvananthapuram.

An official press release on Saturday said that the committee will discuss issues such as the proposed introduction of the goods and services tax. Following this, a seminar on Centre-State Relations, to be inaugurated by Kerala CM, V S Achuthanandan, will be held on May 6.

Two robbers die in gun battle

Two robbers were killed and two police constables injured before dawn on Saturday, during a gun battle in Hapur in UP, IANS reports.

The incident occurred after four robbers, about to escape with money and valuables looted from a house, came face-to-face with the police and opened fire. A reward of Rs 10,000 was announced for the police team that took part in the operation.

Bihar govt move upsets Kalam

The Bihar state government disassociated ítself from the Bihar Science Conference, to be attended by about 300 scientists from prestigious institutes around the world, and requested former president A P J Abdul Kalam not to attend it, IANS reports from Patna. The move embarrassed Kalam, who was expected to deliver the key-note address there.