Srinagar, May 9 (ANI): At least three militants have been killed in two separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander and his local militant associate have been killed in a fierce gun-battle with security forces early on Saturday.

LeT’s self-styled divisional commander Abu Sumama, resident of Pakistan, and his local aide Barkat Ali alias Yasir were killed by the counter-insurgency forces in Dhar Dashnan hills near Doda town early this morning.

A combing and search operation was launched by security forces in the area following specific information about the presence of militants, an official spokesman said.

”Contact with the militants, who were holed up in an isolated dhoke (cattle shed), was established at about 0100 hrs,” he added.

One AK rifle and a pistol were recovered from the site of operation.

Encounter of Sumama, who was active in the area for the past four to five years, is said to be a big blow to the LeT in Doda.

According to the spokesman, one army jawan also sustained wounds in the gun-battle.

In Ganderbal district, a militant has been killed in an encounter with security forces on Saturday, army sources said.

On Saturday morning security forces sealed Kangan area that is 40 kilometers from Srinagar.

As the troops zeroed in at a particular house, where the militants were hiding, the ultras opened fire at the forces and in the ensuing gunbattle a militant was killed.

The operation was still in progress when reports last came in, the sources said. (ANI)

New Delhi, May 9 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday alleged and criticised Congress party for influencing the Election Commission office to send a team to Bihar to discuss the prospects of re-polls in six constituencies of the State.

The Election Commission on Friday decided to send teams to Bihar to look into complaints of poll irregularities received during the Lok Sabha elections.

After meeting the Chief Election Commission in the national capital today, Senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra told media that in the history of independent India no re-poll had ever taken place after 25 days of Polls. If it happens, it would actually hamper the fairness of Indian democratic elections.

Malhotra termed such a consideration of re-polling as an instance of the Election Commission being influenced by the ruling party. He alleged that Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad and member of the UPA combine was feeling insecure about his political position in Bihar and hence the team has been sent to Bihar.

“The team was sent because of Lalu Prasad pressurising the Congress, as he feels he would be losing on two seats. Lalu did not attend the Cabinet meeting yesterday also. We said that if re-poll is to take place, it should have been two to three days later after polling but it hasn’t even happened after 25 days. No such committee (team to visit the state) was made in the past. If re-poll happens, then in future there wouldn’t be fair elections and it is of serious concern to us,” Malhotra said.

Lalu Prasad had recently alleged electoral malpractices in Bihar by his rival Rajiv Pratap Rudy of the BJP and the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) state government of Bihar.

The Election Commission teams would visit Saran Lok Sabha constituency,from where Lalu Prasad contested and Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Jamui, Maharajganj, Munger and Gaya. (ANI)

Melbourne, May 9 (ANI): When an Aussie jury found a man not guilty of rape after “sex sleep” was used as defence, the Northern Territory has decided to pass new laws.

Leonard Andrew Spencer was acquitted last May of having gotten into his 21-year-old guest’s bed at his home at Nhulunbuy, northeast Arnhem Land, in the early morning of June 2007.

Spencer, who claimed he had no recollection of the event, was accused of gross indecency and sexual intercourse without consent.

However, his lawyer argued that he was asleep at the time and depressed over his marriage break-up.

Towards the end of the trial, the defence called on psychiatrist Lester Walton who told the jury that Spencer might have suffered from the condition “sex sleep”.

The incident has prompted NT Parliament to pass laws that prohibit lawyers from calling expert witnesses without prior notice, and NT Attorney-General Delia Lawrie has said that the legislation would make Supreme Court trials “fairer and more efficient”.

“During the so-called “sexsomnia” case the defence called on an expert witness late in the trial and it can be argued that the prosecution was unable to prove its case,” the Courier Mail quoted Lawrie as saying.

“(They) didn’t have enough time to adequately challenge the expert’s testimony…,” she said.

“The Henderson government wants Supreme Court jury trials to be as fair as possible to allparties concerned, and that’s why we have introduced this legislation,” she added.

Lawrie said that the NT’s Criminal Code Amendment (Expert Evidence) Bill brought the NT into line with Victoria, South Australian, Western Australia and Queensland.

“While most defence lawyers do provide adequate notice, public prosecutors have certainly had experiences where they are told at the 11th hour the defence expert’s name but have had no real opportunity of challenging their expertise due to time or cost constraints,” she stated.

“The bill provides certainty and consistency,” she added.

Lawrie said that the bill amended the Criminal Code to make the trial process fairer, reduce trauma to witnesses and cut court time and costs. (ANI)

London, May 9 (ANI): British MPs have put in claims for items from the common to the bizarre. Now, The Sun has presented their own ABC list of greed.

A is for AGA: A Tory charged 160 pounds for his annual Aga service.

B is for BREAD BIN: Labour backbencher claimed for a 20 pounds one in 2007.

C is for CAT FOOD: One animal-loving female Conservative MP claimed 78p for two tins of Cesar Chicken and Turkey pet food and 3.69 pounds for Iams Senior.

D is for DYSON: Animal vacuum cleaner, 299.99 pounds, claimed by a meticulous Lib Dem MP in 2005.

E is for ELEPHANT LAMPS: Two for 134.30 pounds, bought by well-known Tory front-bencher and EYELINER: 2.50 pounds, from Boots, bought by female Lib Dem in 2005.

F is for FARROW AND BALL PAINT: Charged by a Tory shadow minister as part of a 1,775 pounds interior house painting claim for his home in the country.

G is for GINGER CRINKLE BISCUITS: 67p, bought by a peckish Labour backbencher in 2007.

H is for HORSE MANURE: One particularly wealthy Tory MP charged 10 pounds for a bag of manure for his country retreat.

I is for IKEA CARRIER BAG: 5p, claimed by a Labour MP in his Scottish constituency and ICE CUBE TRAY: 1.50 pounds, bought by a former Labour Cabinet minister from M and S in 2008.

J is for JAFFA CAKES: 1.60 pounds for two packs, charged by an outspoken junior minister in 2004 and JELLIED EELS: £1.31, claimed by Essex-based MP.

K is for KIT KAT: Bought from the minibar of a central London hotel by Labour minister Hazel Blears.

L is for LOO SEAT: John Prescott bought a pair in the space of a year for his constituency home.

M is for MAKE-UP MIRROR: 19.95 pounds, by Revlon, bought from John Lewis by a middle-aged female Labour MP and

MOLES: Tory grandee asked 35 pounds a quarter for a mole catcher at his country pile.

N is for NEEDLEPOINT RUG: Millionaire MP Barbara Follett claimed 528.75 pounds for cleaning and repair of the ornate Chinese floor covering. She was granted 300 pounds.

O is for ODD JOBS: A Lib Dem frontbencher claimed for 77 pounds paid for a handyman to fix a rope on his swinging chair and other small jobs.

P is for PIZZA WHEEL: 3 pounds, bought from a Bodum shop in Oxfordshire by Tory backbencher.

Q is for QUICHE DISH: Part of a 110-piece dinner set bought on eBay for 155 pounds by a Labour backbencher’s wife.

R is for RATS: A well-heeled Labour MP claimed 199 pounds a quarter for visits from Rentokil to deal with a rat and mouse infestation at her London home.

S is for SHAMPOO: 1.65 pounds, claimed by a balding Labour backbencher in 2007.

T is for TAMPAX: Two packs at 1.11 pounds each, claimed by a male Conservative MP who lost his seat in 2005.

U is for UTENSILS: Potato peeler, 4.50 pounds, claimed by a member of the Tory front bench.

V is for VILEDA SUPERMOP: 4.99 pounds, claimed by a moustachioed Labour MP in 2005.

W is for WEED KILLER: 3.49 pounds, from Focus DIY, bought by a Labour MP and part-time handyman.

X is X-RATED MOVIES: Ordered by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s husband Richard, two for 10 pounds.

Y is for YUCCA PLANT: 9.99 pounds from Homebase, bought by a home-loving Lib Dem member for his constituency home.

Z is for ZANUSSI OVEN: 337.18 pounds, bought by a knighted Conservative MP from B and Q in 2007. (ANI)

Washington, May 9 (ANI): A woman in New York has been accused of using a fraudulent Web ad to send sex clients to the mother of a girl, with whom her own 9-year-old daughter had had a clash.

Margery Tannenbaum, of Hauppauge on Long Island, has been booked for aggravated harassment after she allegedly posted a classified ad on Craigslist offering sex with men.

Police have revealed that whenever any reader of the ad sent Tannenbaum an e-mail, she gave out the phone number of the other mother, reports Fox News.

Tannenbaum and her attorney were unavailable for comment. (ANI)