Gunmen on 11 October targeted Shiite pilgrims in Kabul, killing at least 14 people as they gathered to celebrate Ashura, one of the most important festivals on the Shiite calendar.

Some 36 people were wounded and at least one attacker killed, interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said, adding that the assault was over.

Special forces had briefly entered the Karte Sakhi shrine near Kabul University to see if any more gunmen were sheltering inside, with police evacuating people from the area, officials said.

Of the 14 killed, 13 were civilians and one a police officer. Three police were among the wounded, Seddiqi said.

One terrorist was reportedly killed as the gun battle among security forces and terrorists entered the third day on 12 October. At least 2 militants are reportedly holed up inside a government building in Pampore area on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

An army official had said yesterday that the area around the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) premises has been cordoned off and an exchange of fire was ongoing.

The security forces are currently making efforts to flush out the terrorists as the operation has been on for the past 48 hours.

Terrorists on 10 October attacked police party at Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI) building in Pampore district.

Tamil Nadu governor C. Vidyasagar Rao on 11 October allocated the portfolios held by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who is still in the hospital, to finance minister O. Paneerselvam. However, the Rao said that Jayalalitha will continue to be the Chief Minister.

"Under Clause (3) of Article 166 of the Constitution of India, the governor of Tamil Nadu today allocated the subjects hitherto dealt by chief minister J Jayalalithaa to O Paneerselvam," a Raj Bhavan press release said.

Paneerselvam, who holds the administrative reforms portfolio, in addition to finance, "will also preside over cabinet meetings", it said.

This arrangement has been made as per the advice of the chief minister and will continue until the chief minister J Jayalalithaa resumes her duties," it said. "Jayalalithaa will continue to be the chief minister," the release added.

Hitting at the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Congress spokesperson Sandeep Diskshit on 12 October said that the most of the people who were found creating menace in the name of Gauraksha belonged to one of the RSS affiliated groups.

"We all know that there are a few good people, the problem is that the bad ones the few hooligans are dominating all. What happened to Akhlaq's family? These were the people who committed wrong. We have a problem with those creating trouble in the name of Gauraksha. And whenever we catch such people it is found that they belonged to one of the RSS afiliated groups," Sandeep told ANI.

The jibe comes a day after Mohan Bhagwat addressed his party workers on 11 October at the Reshimbagh Ground in Nagpur and said gaurakshaks are people who operate within the law, while people who break the law should not be termed as gaurakshaks.