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PM can't talk to a person
holding gun in hands: CM Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today declared that the Central Government was ready for talks with the militants provided they leave the gun. As far as hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani is concerned, the Government has no hesitation in talking to him, he said. Replying to supplementaries to a question of NC MLA Ali Mohd Sagar during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly this morning, Mr Azad recalled his association with Mizoram, Assam and Punjab accords in his capacity as a Central Minister and said the Government of India has a national policy as far as talks with the militants are concerned. "The Government is ready for talks with the militants but they will have to abandon the gun. It will become a mockery if Prime Minister of India sits on dialogue table facing a man with a gun in his hands", he said in response to the demand of Mr Sagar that Hizbul Mujahideen should be invited for the talks. The Chief Minister recalled that even in 2000 the then Union Home Secretary Kamal Pandey had gone to Srinagar for holding talks with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. "Mr Pandey had to meet burqa clad people. Even, he didn’t know identity of the persons he was talking to", he said and observed: "such a situation made mockery of the talks. We will talk to them (the militants). Even the Prime Minister will hold dialogue with them but they should leave the gun". On the claim of Mr Sagar that Hizbul Mujahideen has dropped an open hint that they were ready to come to the negotiating table, Mr Azad averred: "we too extend an open invitation to them to give up the gun and join the dialogue process". "As far as the demand for involving Mr Geelani in the talks is concerned, there is no hitch on the part of Government of India to talk to him. He had been extended an invitation for Prime Minister’s roundtable conference. He will also be invited to second roundtable being called by the Prime Minister in Srinagar in May. If Mr Geelani wants a separate meeting with the Prime Minister, we are ready for that as well", Mr Azad said. He agreed with Mr Sagar that Mr Geelani did have an influence over the militant organisations. Noting positive change of thinking in the mind of Pakistan President (Gen Pervez Musharraf), Mr Azad appreciated his realisation after 16 years of bloodshed in the State that no solution can be arrived at without talks. "The United States has changed its policy. Pakistan is also changing and the militants should also change their stand now", the Chief Minister said. "There is no political prisoners in the jail. Only militants are in the jails", he told Usmaan Majid in response to another supplementary. Replying to a query by NC member Dr Mehboob Beg, he said the officials of Union and State Home Ministries are holding meetings and before March 30 "we will like to prepare a list for release of detenues against whom there are no serious crimes". This was agreed upon at the Prime Minister’s roundtable in New Delhi on February 25. Mr Azad expressed confidence that all those groups and organisation, who want a solution to Kashmir problem, will join the PM’s second roundtable conference in May in Srinagar. "By announcing second roundtable, the Prime Minister has cleared all doubts that the first roundtable was called for US President George Bush, who visited India few days after the talks. The peace process, which had started in 2000, is being taken forward which is evident from Uri-Muzaffarabad bus service, exchange of relief material by India and Pakistan after earthquake and opening of five points for movement of civilians", he said, adding two-three more points are to be opened and there is also a proposal to start trade from the route. In his supplementaries, Mr Sagar observed that impact of Indo-Pak peace process was not visible on ground despite launch of bus and rail services and holding of peace talks. Recalling that Hizbul Mujahideen had participated in talks in 2000 and their activists were described as "own children" by the then Union Home Minister L K Advani, he said there should be no problem to the Government of India in talking to them. He said the Government of India should also react positively to Pervez Musharraf’s changed stand that Kashmir is a bilateral dispute between India and Pakistan and that he wouldn’t allow his country to be used for terrorism. Without naming Salahudin, Mr Sagar said the head of United Jehad Council and Hizbul Mujahideen was the same person and Mr Geelani also has influence on the militants. "Our concern is that killings should be stopped. If for a larger cause, we have to take some steps forward, we must do so that the people get relief", he added. In written reply to Mr Sagar’s question, the Chief Minister, who also hold Home portfolio, said there has been a good impact of the dialogue process and the incidents of violence have decreased considerably. There has been no incident of unprovoked border firing in the recent past. Information provided in the reply revealed that a total of 39 political activists, 517 other civilians, 32 police personnel, 55 SPOs/VDCs and 157 other security forces personnel were killed in the year 2005. In 2006 (upto February 15), 18 civilians, three police personnel, 4 SPOs/VDCs and six security personnel were killed. Nine custodial killings were reported in 2004, seven in 2005 and two in 2006 (upto February 15). Three cases of custodial disappeared and 31 of rape/molestation were reported in 2004 while one case of custodial disappearance and 13 cases of rape/molestation were reported in 2005. No such case has been reported this year. |
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Uproar over SAC Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Legislative Assembly today with some members charging the State Accountability Commission (SAC) with spoiling image of the persons even before the charges are established. As soon as proceedings of the House began for the day, several MLAs of National Conference, JKNPP, PDP and Congress were on their feet supporting PDP MLA Ghulam Hassan Khan against whom a Kashmir based newspaper had carried a report that he had been issued a notice by the SAC for upgradation of a Government school in his constituency. Senior NC member Dr Mehboob Beg pointed out that Law Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig had already said in the House during last session that a "harassment drive" has been launched by the SAC. "Image of a person is tarnished and later nothing is established against him", he said urging Speaker Tara Chand to issue directions to the SAC not to name the legislators till charged are established. Another NC MLA Saifullah Mir charged the SAC with going "out of its jurisdiction" and suggested that the Commission should work within its jurisdiction. NC leader Ali Mohd Sagar said the SAC has been issuing frequent notices. "It has been published the newspapers that notices have also been issued to the Chief Secretary", he added and demanded a discussion on the issue after the Question Hour. JKNPP MLA Harshdev Singh said under Section 18 of the Accountability Commission, name of the complainant as well as the accused can’t be disclosed till a Preliminary Enquiry is completed against them. Mr Singh said a newspaper of Kashmir has published a report that Mr Khan has been issued notices by the SAC but he hasn’t received any notice. Sham Sharma (Congress) and Ashwani Sharma (JSM) described the issue as breach of privilege of the House. Supremacy of the House is being challenged, Sham Sharma observed. Intervening to pacify the agitated members, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the SAC has nothing to do with the opening or upgradation of the schools. "The Judiciary, Legislature and Executive have their own powers. The Accountability Commission and other anti-corruption agencies shall do their own work", he asserted. "Kuch Agencies Legislature Pe Kichar Uchalne Se Samjhate Hain Woh Aur Bade Ban Jayenge (some agencies think they will become a power by mud slinging on the Legislature)", the Chief Minister regretted. He said democracy will flourish if all agencies work within their defined powers in the Constitution. Meanwhile, Harshdev Singh has sought a two and a half hour discussion under Rule 208 in the Assembly on powers, privileges, immunity and breaches of the MLAs. A notice for the discussion has been given to Speaker Tara Chand, Mr Singh said. |
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Yasin, CG's kin among 60 appointed
through back-door Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: Amidst protests and shouting of slogans by the Opposition National Conference members and those from the People’s Democratic Party in the Upper House today, the Chairman of the State Legislative Council Abdul Rashid Dar announced constitution of a House Committee to probe the alleged 60 backdoor appointments including the relatives of Minister for CAPD Hakim Mohd Yasin in the Custodian Department. The uproar in the Upper House was witnessed for about 25 minutes after the question raised by PDP legislator Ved Mahajan during Question Hour regarding backdoor appointments made in the Custodian Department by the former Revenue Minister Hakim Mohd Yasin and the Custodian General (CG) Azad Lone. Minister for Transport Pt Mangat Ram Sharma while responding on behalf of Minister for Revenue, denied any recruitment made after 2004 in the Custodian Department. He said only a few employees were regularised under rules. Mr Mahajan turned agitated over the response of the Government and alleged that his question has been distorted deliberately to hide the facts as he had demanded details of any such appointments from 2002 onwards. He alleged that massive backdoor appointments were made in the department during the past four years including that of over two dozen relatives of Minister for CAPD and former Revenue Minister Hakeem Mohd Yasin, and Custodian General Azad Lone. He alleged that prime land of the Custodian Deptt was allotted in favour of the kin of the minister and a former Forest Minister and top officials of the Custodian department and high level inquiry be ordered into it. He also demanded cancellation of all the backdoor appointments and dismissal of officers from service who issued these orders. He presented the list of the backdoor appointments on the table of the Chairman and demanded constitution of House Committee for probe and recommending action in this regard. He alleged that most of the persons were appointed on consolidated pay for a period of four months and thereafter their services were regularised. The list indicated that the Minister Hakim Mohd Yasin’s son—Murtaza Yaseen was appointed as Field Inspector equivalent to the post of Naib Tehsildar in the Custodian Department through backdoor, his cousin Mohd Ashraf as Supervisor, Qamar-e-Nisa daughter of Minister’s sister as Jr Assistant, Shabir Hussain Shah another relative of minister as JA, Nazeeba Akhtar niece of Custodian General Azad Lone as Field Inspector, Wasim Mumtaz, son of retired Revenue Secretary (Mumtaz. Afzal) as Field Inspector, Mansoor Paul, relative of Ex-Custodian General as Field Inspector, Mufti Owais brother-in-law of Azad Lone as Rent Collector, Irshad Ahmed Malla, Hort Overseer relative of Azad Lone, Muzaffar Ahmed Nephew of Hakim Mohd Yasin, Khurheed Ahmed Khandey Jr Assistt brother-in-law of Majeed Wani Custodian Jammu, Javed Ahmed Mir-Architect, son of MLA Dillawar Mir, Nazir Ahmed Bhat, Hort Assistant, kin of Hakeem Mohd Yasin, Wazira Patwari, Jr Assistant, daughter of Gh Hassan Patwari Barzalla & a relative of Mohd Yasin, Gulzar Ahmed Bhat -House Servant of Abdul Majid Wani, Gulzar Ahmed Khandey House Servant of Azad Lone, a Jr Engg Elect, relative of Azad Lone, Wife of Naveed as Jr Assistant and related to Azad Lone. The list indicated that atleast a dozen relatives of minister and about a same number related to Custodian General and Custodians have been appointed in the backdoor besides 30 others as orderlies and on consolidated basis. It is interesting to note that all the 60 have been appointed from only one community. Those appointed on consolidated basis included Altaf Hussain as SE, Abdul Majid Mir as Executive Engineer, Mohd Ismail as Patwari and Abdul Karim Mir as Gardner. Twenty six others appointed as consolidated employees are-Shabroza Abas Wani, Javed Ahmed Lone, Farooq Ahmed Shah, Nissar Ahmed Teli, Mohd Ashraf Sheikh, Mushtaq Ahmed Sofi, Muktar Ahmed Khan, Bakhatwar Ahmed, Muzaffar Ahmed, Tanveer Fayaz Ganai, Siraj-u-Din, Lateef Ahmed Lone, Peerzada Mohd Tahir, Meraj-ud-Din, Mohd Jammat Khandey, Shabir Ahmed, Manzoor Ahmed Mir, Manzoor Ahmed, Jalal-u-Din, Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, Abdul Rashid Mir, Javed Ahmed Thokar, Azad Ahmed Parrey, Hakeem Shabir Ahmed and Mohd Altaf. As Pt Mangat Ram Sharma and T H Qarra requested the Chairman to listen to the response of the Minister for Revenue on the issue and then take a decision, this further provoked the NC members including Sakina Itoo, Bashir Naz, G M Shaheen, Nazir Ahmed Mir, Brij Mohan Sharma, Iqbal Bhat, Mohd Hussain and Mohd Rashid Qureshi who walked down to the well of the House and started shouting slogans. PDP members Gulam Nabi Lone Basharat Dar, Ved Mahajan and another Bilal Lodhi also launched pressure demanding constitution of House Committee. Prof Bhim Singh and Sofi Ghulam Mohd strongly demanded formulation of a House Committee as the matter was of serious nature involving backdoor appointment of minister’s relatives and top officers. Later, the Chairman termed the charges of very serious nature and said it is very sad and unfortunate that matter of this kind has come to notice. He announced the constitution of a House Committee to probe the issue, fix responsibility and recommend action in this regard. He said that members of the committee will be announced with in a day or two. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: Although some members contradicted reply of Qazi Mohammed Afzal, the grants for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control along with Roads and Building departments were passed without much debate in the Legislative Assembly. As many as 45 members spoke on grants of these two important departments so Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Tara Chand had to repeatedly seek permission from the members to extend time. PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister who was scheduled to give reply at 5 PM, stood up at 7.20 PM. Initially two National Conference members Mir Saifulla and Qasir Jamshed Lone contradicted reply of Qazi Mohammed Afzal and generated some heat in the House. But most of the members were in hurry. These two members, who represent Kupwara district, told the House that the Minister has been presenting wrong picture. "We will not listen to distorted and wrong reply of the Minister", they shouted and challenged the said that the Minister was not presenting right picture before the members. There was pandemonium in the House for a couple of minutes but majority of the members seemed to be not interested in participating in the debate. Gauging mood of the tired members, Qazi Mohammed Afzal himself wind-up his speech as early as possible. During his brief and comprehensive reply he told the House that an inquiry commission has already been set up to inquire how workers were allotted without tenders. "As soon as we received information that some workers have been sanctioned without tenders we have decided to constitute an inquiry committee", he said and further informed that some officers have been already placed under suspension. Tactically placating all members the Minister said " water is an essential commodity for human beings so keeping in view its importance I hope that members will pass the grants of my Ministry". Instead of demanding replies for their queries, most of the members were satisfied with brief speech of the Minister. Minister of Roads and Buildings (R&B) Gulchain Singh Charak was interested in giving replies to all queries but he was also interrupted by Ghulam Hassan Khan. "We are satisfied with your reply. Please wind up your speech so that we can go to our house", Mr Khan stated. Mr Charak turned towards other members who were also looking tired. "Keeping in view the aspirations of the members I will cut short my speech", he said. Mr Charak in his brief reply sought cooperation of the members in smooth function of the R&B Department which, according to him, was one of the important wing for development of a state. Pointing towards some issues raised by the members, Mr Charak assured the House that accountability and transparency will be established in the department. Earlier while participating in debate members raised some important issues. Ali Mohammed Sagar charged the Minister with ignoring elected representatives and playing in the hands of officers. He further said that the Minister has been using political tactics to cover scandals. He said that as many as 457 works have been sanctioned with out tenders. Pointing towards interview of the Minister, Mr Sagar alleged that power of politics has gripped the Minister to whom he charged with giving immature reply. Ashwani Sharma demanded that funds must be released for Songali-Bandrali bridge on Aik nullah which will cater needs of more than 50 villages. He demanded widening of Bishnah-Bari-Brahamana and Kunjwani-Bishnah roads. Abdul Rehman Veeri demanded that effective steps should be taken to provide raw material before beginning of working season in Kashmir province. He also demanded that technical sections should adopt easy procedure in sanctioning projects. Ghulam Hassan Mir, Harsh Dev Singh, Dr Chaman Lal, Moulvi Abdul Rashid, Abdul Majid Wani, Shanti Devi, Javed Rana, Dr Ramesh Chander, Kanta Andotra, Usman Majid, Mushtaq Bukhari, Dr Manhor Lal, Jugal Kishore of BJP, Jugal Kishore of Congress, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Mubark Gul, Garu Ram, Sarfaraz Khan, Yogesh Sawhney, Ajay Sadhotra, Sartaz Madani, Rashpal Singh, G M Saroori, Sayed Bashir Ahmed and A G Malik participated in the debate. |
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Centre approached for hike in
salary Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: A number of MLAs today demanded regularisation of the services of Special Police Officers (SPOs) and providing them facilities at par with the constables but Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said there is no proposal with the Government for regularisation of their services. However, he said, the State Government has taken up the matter with the Central Government for increasing their honorarium. "The issue for increasing honorarium of the SPOs has already been taken up with the Government of Indian. We will speak again to the Government to get the honorarium increased", Mr Azad said in reply to a written question of Mohd Sartaj Madni (PDP), Ajay Sadhotra and Abdul Gani Malik (NC) and GM Saroori (Congress) and subsequent supplementaries raised by the members. "Since the engagement of SPOs is purely temporary in nature on voluntary basis, there is no move for regularisation of their services. The SPOs are also not entitled for other benefits at par with rest of the regular police force. However, the SPOs whose performance is excellent on operational front are considered for their absorption in the Department on permanent basis", he told the House. Admitting that benefits under SRO 43 are also not applicable to the SPOs, Mr Azad said some cases are considered on humanitarian grounds. Lauding commendable work being done by the SPOs since 1995, he said 550 SPOs were killed in the operations. Eighty two SPOs were killed during last two years only. He added that 500 SPOs have been trained under Jammu Kashmir Volunteer Force while 500 others are in the process of training. Such SPOs are paid Rs 2500 per month. Even this much amount is not adequate keeping in view the sacrifices of the SPOs, he asserted. PDP MLA Sartaj Madni said 22,000 families were dependent on the SPOs, who work for 24 hours and at par with the constables. While a constable gets Rs 10,000 salary, a SPO is paid only Rs 1500 per month. "A constable’s family is paid Rs five lakh and given a job in case the cops is killed in the operation while a SPO’s family is paid Rs 2 lakh only", he lamented. Ajay Sadhotra (NC) said while the daily wagers are regularised after seven years, the SPOs have not been regularised even after 11 years. He wanted to know from the Government that whether the SPOs would be regularised on the pattern of daily wagers. Abdul Gani Malik (NC) observed that future of the SPOs appeared bleak following no by the Chief Minister to their regularisation. He lauded performance of the SPOs saying many of them have sacrificed their lives. GM Saroori (Congress) asserted that the SPOs should atleast be paid TA/DA and food allowance if they had not to be regularised. He also sought SRO-43 benefits for them. As per written information given to the question, there were a total of 22,319 SPOs working in the State. The largest number of 7200 SPOs were working in Doda district followed by 1850 in Baramulla. Number of SPOs working in other districts is 969 (Srinagar), 550 (Budgam), 1030 (Anantnag), 425 (Pulwama), 850 (Kupwara), 100 (Leh), 60 (Kargil), 440 (Ganderbal), 370 (Kulgam), 300 (Awantipora), 550 (Handwara), 1555 (Jammu, Border police district), 1010 (Kathua), 1000 (Udhampur), 790 (Reasi), 1050 (Ramban), 1100 (Poonch) and 1120 (Rajouri). |
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Qaiser threatens self immolation in Assembly Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: The State Assembly witnessed noisy scenes for over 20 minutes this morning with Opposition National Conference (NC) MLA from Lolab Qaiser Jamshed Lone threatening to set himself ablaze in the House against the alleged discrimination to which Kupwara district has been subjected to by the Government. Later all the four NC members from the district staged a walkout in protest. The trouble started soon after the Call Attention Motion of Mr Lone regarding the situation that has arisen as a result of casualty and property damage due to recent snow fall in Chentiwari Machil in Kupwara district was taken up by the House. Though the Minister of Power, Nawang Rigzin Zora replied it on behalf of Revenue Minister but the MLA showed his total dissatisfaction with the reply. Mr Lone alleged that the snow avalanche hit the area in January this year but till date no compensation has been paid to the affected people. This shows how serious the Government is towards the people of this district, he added. Supporting him, other NC members including Mohammed Sayeed Akhoon, Sharif -u-Din Shariq, Abdul Gani Malik, Qafil-ul Rehman and Mir Saifullah also stood up from their seats and lodged the protest. Taking the strong exception of what he termed the constant neglect of the Kupwara district in all spheres, Mr Lone threatened that he will set himself ablaze in the House if this discrimination with the district was not stopped. This is for the first time in the history of J&K Legislature in recent times that any Legislator has threatened to set himself ablaze in the House. Supporting him his Party colleague Mir Saifullah said that whether it is snow avalanches, snow Tsunami or the development, Kupwara district was facing discrimination. Meantime, all the MLAs from the district came to the well and protested. They warned that they will not allow the House to function and staged a walkout in protest. Taking serious exception of the Government’s role, NC MLA Qafil-ul-Rehman said "are not we public representatives. Turning towards the Speaker, Tara Chand, Mir Saifullah said that he (Speaker) being the custodian of the House should protect the rights of the MLAs. He alleged that people are dying in the district but nobody hears them. "You are the custodian of the rights of the members so you should give directives to the Government to end discrimination with the district", the MLA Kupwara told Speaker. He said how long the members will tolerate it and they are left with no alternative but to launch the protest. "Whether it is relief or development, the Kupwara district is facing the discrimination", said agitated MLA Lolab and "I have warned that if this continues I will set myself ablaze in the House", he reiterated. Supporting him his Party colleague and MLA Anantnag Dr Mehboob Beg said this is a serious issue. The Opposition leader, Ali Mohammed Sagar also stood up from his seat in support of the agitated members. He said the threatening given by the MLA shows his concern. He alleged that the reply given by the Government was not appropriate and the Government should respond seriously to the issues raised by members in the House. However the Minister Zora said that Government agenda is to give equitable, proper and fair treatment to every part of the State and there will be no discrimination with any district. But Mir Saifullah rebuffed him saying Kupwara has been discriminated in every sphere even new schools were opened but this district was discriminated. Later Speaker Tara Chand gave directives to Government that it should give a reply in the House on the issue. He also urged the Minister to issue directives to concerned Deputy Commissioner to look into the problems of Mr Lone and allegations of Dr Beg regarding the grabbing of Wakf Board land by the Government be probed. Dr Beg earlier, while displaying a copy of Valley based English Daily said that the paper has published a serious issue concerning the property of Wakf Board. He said the Wakf property is being grabbed by the Government. Even senior officers admitted that the land of the Board has been grabbed by the Government but not with bad intentions. He also handed over the copy of newspaper to the House. Meanwhile, MLA Billawar, Dr Manohar Lal also staged a walkout from the House. Mr Lal who tried to raise some issue through a point of Order could not do it as his words were lost in din. Earlier BJP MLA, Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLA Bishnah, Ashwani Sharma, NPP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, Qaifil-ul-Rehman and Mohammed Sayeed Akhoon of NC, Dr Ramesh Sharma, of Congress, MLA Vijaypur,Manjit Singh, Yash Paual Kundal and Faqir Nath of NPP and Usman Majid of PDF also expressed concern that no proper procedure is being followed by the House in taking up the routine questions. Supporting them Harsh Dev Singh of NPP said that the old system of taking up questions be adopted so that every member’s question is taken up in the House. |
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By-poll to 4 J&K seats on Apr 24 Excelsior Special Correspondent NEW DELHI, Mar 16: By-election to four Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on April 24. This was announced here today by the Election Commission. Nominations for four Assembly constituencies of J&K including Bhadarwah, Rafiabad, Sangrama and Pattan will open on March 31 and close on April 7. Scrutiny will take place on April 8 while last date for withdrawal of nominations is April 10. Counting will take place on April 27. By-election to Rafiabad and Pattan Assembly segments in the Kashmir valley was necessitated due to resignations of NC MLAs Dillawar Mir and Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari from the Assembly, who had subsequently joined the PDP while MLA Sangrama Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone, former Minister of State for Education was shot dead by the militants in his house at Tulsibagh, Srinagar in October last year. MLA Bhadarwah and Congress leader Mohd Sharief Niaz had recently resigned from the Assembly to pave the way for Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to contest the election to become a member of the Lower House. |
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Omar to take up case of Kashmiris NEW DELHI, Mar 16: National Conference president and MP Omar Abdullah will take up with the Centre the case of several Kashmiris who had gone to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir but wanted to return to their homes. "During my stay in Islamabad, scores of Kashmiri youths met me and other leaders from Jammu and Kashmir at several functions and expressed their desire to return to their homes," Omar, who returned from Pakistan, said here. The youths have understood futility of violence and narrated the treatment they got at the hands of militant groups in PoK. "I would like to take up their case with the Centre and try and work out some solution for their early return to their homes," the National Conference MP said, adding "one of the solutions could even be granting general amnesty to them." Thirty-six-year-old Omar was accorded a warm reception in Islamabad where he had gone to attend a conference on Kashmir being organised by Europe-based NGO Pugwash, and the leader of PoK Sikander Hayatt Khan and hosted a reception in his honour. "The youths and leaders wanted to take me to Mirpur (in PoK) but I could not make it. However, I have promised them that I will be returning soon and visit them," Omar, who was on his maiden visit to Pakistan, said. (PTI) |
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Newly married couple found dead Excelsior Special Correspondent Srinagar, Mar 16: A newly married couple, on honeymoon, was found dead in mysterious condition at a local hotel in Pahalgam resort last night. Sources said that a couple on honeymoon from Ludhiana was found dead in their rented room of a local hotel King Palace. Sources said that the waiter of the hotel went to wake up the couple, but there was no response. The door of the room was broke open and the couple was found dead in mysterious condition. Sources said that the couple had checked in only last night. The couple was identified as Pankaj Kumar and his wife Poornima Sources said that both husband and wife were found unconscious. They were rushed to the hospital, where both of them were declared brought dead. Official sources said that, couple had carried a gas heater inside the room last evening. They further said that couple might have died of suffocation. Meanwhile, two militants allegedly involved in several killings, including one Army jawan, have been arrested by security forces in Baramulla district, official sources said today. The duo identified as Mohammad Shafi Dar and Noor Mohammad Khan were captured by troops of 13 rashtria rifles and special operations group of the Sate Police, at Boniyar last evening, they said. Spokesman said body of one Liaqat Hussain was recovered from Kadder village in Kulgam. |
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Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: Parents-in-law of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, who had recently surrendered in Doda, were gunned down by two militants in their house at Bhajja, Chirala in Thathri area of Doda district last night while a Hizbul Mujahideen militant was arrested from a bus at Kud when he was travelling on way from Doda to Jammu. Official sources said two militants entered in the house of 52 year old Abdul Gani Malik at Bhajja, Chirala and shot him dead along with his 48 year old wife Shameema Begum. The militants escaped after the killing. The couple happened to be parents-in-law of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Mohd Amin Malik alias Yasin, who had surrendered before security forces on February 10 this year. Police arrested a militant from a video coach bus at Kud last night while he was travelling from Doda to Jammu. He has been identified as Ghulam Mohd, 18, a resident of Keshwan. He belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and was active for last about six months. The militant is being questioned by Doda police. Police recovered seven rusted hand grenades, eight AK magazines and 229 rounds from Nalli Mohalla in Darhal area of Rajouri district last night. |
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US, Iraqi forces launch air assault BAGHDAD, Mar 16: US forces today launched what was termed the largest air assault since the US-led invasion, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the US military said. The American troops were joined by the Iraqi Army. "More than 1,500 Iraqi and coalition troops, over 200 tactical vehicles, and more than 50 aircraft participated in the operation," the military statement said of the attack designed to "clear a suspected insurgent operating area Northeast of Samarra," 95 kilometers North of Baghdad. The military said the operation was expected to continue over several days against insurgent targets in Salahuddin province, where Samarra is a key city. The province is a major part of the so-called Sunni triangle where insurgents have been active since shortly after the US-led invasion three years ago. Saddam Hussein was captured in the province, not far from its capital, Tikrit. Waqas Al-Juwanya, a spokesman for Iraq’s joint coordination center in nearby Dowr, said "unknown gunmen exist in this area, killing and kidnapping policemen, soldiers and civilians." Near the end of the first day of the operation, the military said, "a number of enemy weapons caches have been captured, containing artillery shells, explosives, IED-making materials, and military uniforms." It said the attack began with soldiers from the Iraqi Army’s 1st brigade, 4th division, the 101st airborne division’s 3rd brigade combat team and the 101st combat aviation brigade conducting a combined air and ground assault to isolate the objective area. Air power backed the operation and delivered troops from the Iraq army’s 4th division, the rakkasans from 1st and 3rd battalions, 187th infantry regiment and the hunters from 2nd squadron, 9th cavalry regiment to multiple objectives. The military said forces from the 2nd commando brigade then completed a ground infiltration to secure numerous structures in the area. (AP) |
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NEW DELHI, Mar 16: As many as 159 Pakistan or ISI-backed terrorist modules have been busted in various parts of the country during 2001-2005, including 28 in 2005, the Union Home Ministry said today. As many as 488 persons were arrested and 86 terrorists, including 57 Pakistani nationals, were killed, according to the ministry’s annual report for 2005-06 released today. During 2001-05, 99 espionage modules (including 18 modules in 2005) were also neutralised leading to arrest of 199 espionage agents. The report said the terrorist outfits operating and indulging in acts of terror in India continued to be based in Pakistan or Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(PoK). "The infrastructure of terror remains largely intact in Pakistan or PoK," it said. It said the terrorists continued to be sponsored and infiltrated into India from across the border and also through other routes. The report said known anti-India elements and those declared as fugitives from the law in India, are sheltered in Pakistan. "The focus of the Pak-based or Pak-ISI sponsored terrorist outfits is also to promote disaffection and communal disharmony among the Indian people towards the stte with a view to destabilising the country," it said. The report said the main features of the ISI strategy in India included: intensification of low cost and proxy war operations in a wide area extending from Jammu and Kashmir to the hinterland, focussing on plans of coordinated atacks by militant outfits on security forces, mainly in J and K and increasing use of India’s immediate neighbourhood for executing its plans. Its strategy also included continued disinformation campaign to discredit India’s security forces for alleged violation of human rights, espionage, subversion, indoctrination and training of vulnerabale sections of society, provide direct and indirect support to the underworld elements operating in and outside the country and create communal disturbance in the country. (UNI)
Four Harkat-ul-Mujahadeen ultras killed in encounter Ahmedabad, Mar 17 : Four terrorists, having links with the Kashmir-based outfit Harkat-ul-Mujahadeen, were shot dead in a police encounter in Vatva locality of the city early this morning. Police also recovered one kg of explosive material, believed to be RDX, from their hide-out, besides literature and CDs following the encounter in which five policemen were also injured. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) P P Pande told reporters that "Prima facie it appears that the four terrorists gunned down in Vatva locality belong to Kashmir-based outfit Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen." "Police raided the Ganga Row House Colony after receiving intelligence input regarding suspected armed persons living in the area," Pande said. Pande said that the primary motive of the four accused appeared to be establishing a terror network in Gujarat and targeting VVIPs and places of worship in the state. It also appears that they were here to recruit youngsters for terrorist training, he claimed, adding that the police were investigating the contents of the "inflammatory" literature and CDs which were recovered from the house. The official said that nearly one kilogramme of what appears to be RDX has been recovered from the room in which the four were staying for the last three months. The four terrorists were killed in an operation conducted before the break of dawn at 0330 hrs, Pande said. Without clearly establishing their identities, Pande said the deceased were youngsters from "Northern part of India and surrounding regions" and were not above 30 years of age. Police have also seized three mobile phones, two having local SIM cards and one having an out-station card, the Joint CP said, adding that the mobile phones’ records were yet to be investigated. Pande said that Rs one lakh in cash was also recovered from their possession. The official said that police were also investigating whether the four accused were in anyway linked to the recent Varanasi blasts. "After the RDX explosion at the Ahmedabad railway station (on February 19) and the Varanasi blasts (March 7) we had increased our vigil and were on the look out for suspects," Pande said. (PTI) |
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