Two killed in Kashmir

JAMMU: An Indian Army major and a terrorist were killed on Wednesday in a gun battle between militants and security men in a Jammu and Kashmir, an army spokesperson said. The gun battle in Kalakot, 130 km north of Jammu, is still continuing, a 16 Corps spokesperson said. — HNS

Babbar chief held

NEW DELHI: Jagtar Singh Hawara, chief of the Sikh extremist group Babbar Khalsa International, was arrested in Haryana on Wednesday by Delhi Police for his alleged involvement in the twin cinema hall blasts here over two weeks ago. Hawara was caught along with the alleged mastermind of the blasts, Jaspal Singh, and his associate Vikas Sehgal. — HNS

Quake in Indonesia

JAKARTA: A strong earthquake struck off the Indonesian coast on Wednesday, seismologists said, but there were no reports of damage or casualties. The 6.3-magnitude tremor was recorded at 0634GMT, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. Indonesian seismologists put the magnitude at 5.8 and said the underwater quake was centered about 50 km southeast of Sinabang, the main town of Simeulue island. — AP