Srinagar, India - Sajjad Lone, a prominent leader of the separatist movement in India-administered Kashmir, announced Saturday that he would be contesting the coming general elections. Lone, who heads the People Conference, one of the many separatist political organizations in Kashmir, announced he would be contesting from Baramulla constituency.

"This is the best way I could represent Kashmiri aspirations ... This is a change in strategy, not in ideology," Lone said at a press briefing in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir state capital.

Agra, Apr 11 : Fifteen sandalwood trees in the Shah Jahan garden near the Taj Mahal have been found axed here. Two employees of the garden have been accused of the act.

As per the Supreme Court orders the area near the Taj Mahal is declared as a `Green Belt' and gardens have been developed there.

Enquiries are being conducted into the matter.

Leh (Jammu and Kashmir), Apr 11 : Many self-help groups in Choshut village of Leh are working on various social issues to help women become self-sufficient.

Shashi Self-Help Group, one of the oldest self-help groups in the region, had started with only six members and now at present, there are more than 15 women members working in the group.

Shashi self-help group is actively promoting local handicrafts. The group is also conducting workshops and giving training to women of different villages. The group is also promoting local handicrafts at the district level and at the state level.

Islamabad, Apr. 11 : The North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government and the Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) have agreed to keep the Swat peace deal intact, The Nation reported.

Representatives of the NWFP government, which included provincial information minister Iftikhar Hussain, Commissioner Malakand Division Syed Muhammad Javed and other top officials, held a meeting with the TNSM delegates.

Both the sides unanimously vowed to keep the peace accord intact in the greater interests of people of the region.

Godavarikhani (Andhra Pradesh), Apr 11 : Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Saturday vowed to help the poor, despite opposition parties calling his initiatives political drama.

Lahore, Apr. 11 : Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) attitude towards the ICL players terming its decision to drop the three rebel players after initially selecting them for Twenty20 World Championship as `unprofessional behaviour'.

"One day they announced the list, and the next day they reversed it. This is the result of unprofessional thinking by the board and the selectors," The Daily Times quoted Haq, as saying.