Day 2 of search ops, over 20 quizzed

Extensive efforts to track down terrorists involved in the attack on pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district continued on Tuesday, with 11 teams of security personnel working on the ground and a multi-directional cordon laid around the PoniTreyath belt, officials said. According to the officials, more than 20 people have been picked up for questioning.

"The search operation is going on today in and around the area (where the attack took place) with 11 teams working on the ground apart from a multi-directional cordon laid around the (PoniTreyath) belt," a senior police officer said. Sources said security forces suspect the Pakistani terrorists are hiding in the mountainous terrains of Rajouri and Reasi and are taking directions from Pakistan's ISI through secured communication.

Meanwhile, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah

Tuesday said though the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir was good, terrorism was still alive as the border with Pakistan remains permeable.

`50L compensation, jobs for relatives

Rajasthan government has announced Rs 50 lakh compensation each to the two families from the state who lost their members in Sunday’s terror attack, besides two contractual jobs to dependents and allocation of dairy booths, officials said on Tuesday. The decision

was taken after talks with protesting locals who held a dharna outside the Chomu police station on Tuesday.

Martyr status for driver sought

Sujan Singh, the owner of the private bus that was ambushed by terrorists in Reasi Sunday evening, has demanded the status of martyr for the driver Vijay Kumar and teenage conductor Arun Kumar for averting an even more terrible catastrophe by plunging the vehicle into a gorge to escape the raining bullets.