Minor girl drowns in pond

A minor girl drowned in a pond while playing outside her house in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, police said today.

Five-year-old Shaista Bano fell accidentally in the pond near her house at village Gujjar Pati Baderkaal in Handwara, 80 km from here, a police spokesman said.

He said the body of the girl was fished out from the pond and handed over to her family for last rites.

Meanwhile, 37-year-old Javid Iqbal was found dead in a field at Chursoo in Awantipora, 32 km from here, in Pulwama district of south Kashmir this morning.

Police has started inquest proceedings to ascertain the cause of his death, a police officer said.