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Day
long encounter in RS Pura Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 28: A hitman of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and ‘second-in-command’ of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) chief Ranjit Singh alias Neeta was among three militants gunned down by police after an encounter at village Dablehar in RS Pura tehsil today. A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of militants, all of whom were Pakistanis. One of the slain ultra identified as Khuram Masih alias Manjit Singh alias Kala alias Akaal, a Christian-turned-Sikh and a close associate of Neeta was involved in atleast 20 explosions in Jammu, Punjab and New Delhi, DIG Jammu-Kathua range Dr S P Vaid said tonight after supervising the day long operation in which local people of Dablehar besides RS Pura police played a crucial role. Kala’s involvement has so far been established in Puja Express blast at Chakki Bank (Pathankote), a video coach bus explosion at Sirhind (Punjab) besides six blasts in trains and on railway track on Jammu-Pathankote line. Kala’s killing has dealt a crippling blow to Neeta group, Dr Vaid said describing the killing of three militants as a big success of police. Two other slain ultras have been identified as Iqbal alias Balbir Singh son of Jasi, a resident of Manu village in Sialkot and Mohd Naveed Tahir son of Mohd Akhtar of Sialkot. Kala hailed from Faisalabad. While Kala and Iqbal were affiliated with Neeta group, Mohd Naveed was an activist of Islamic Front. Police sources said the local people of Dablehar noticed three mysterious persons, two of whom were wearing headgears, moving in the village early today and became suspicious. While some villagers maintained a vigil on the trio, others approached police at RS Pura police station. A police party from RS Pura immediately rushed to the spot and cordoned off the village. All exit routes of the militants were sealed by police and suspects were asked to surrender. However, the sources said, all three militants took positions behind a cluster of trees in a field and opened firing on police party, which retaliated. An encounter followed which continued for about an hour. The alert police party eliminated one of the militant and succeeded in apprehe-nding two others alive from the scene of encounter. Local people also played a crucial role in successful operation by police, the sources said. The arrested militants were subjected to sustained interro-gation during which they disclosed that they had hidden a large consignment of arms and ammun-ition in two bags at village Islama Chak on the International Border in RS Pura sector. The arms had been dumped by them during their infiltration from Pakistan. Police party and a team of SOG Jammu led by SP Operations Sheikh Mehmood immediately swung into action and took the militants to border area for recovery. Reaching the site, one of the militant opened the bag, brought out a grenade and threw it on police party causing injuries to two police constables and a Special Police Officer (SPO). Taking advantage of the firing, both the militants tried to escape towards the border. At this, cops opened firing killing both the militants on the spot. A huge recovery was made from the spot which included two assault rifles, two pistols, ammunition, grenades, wireless set and some incriminating documents. According to police sources, a number of incidents of explosions have been worked out in Jammu, Punjab and Union capital of New Delhi with the killing of Kala, a most wanted militant in Jammu. He was one of the few trusted men of Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta, who was presently carrying out the activities of his outfit from Pakistan. Kala was an explosives expert and was aware of several traditional routes of infiltration on the International Border. Everytime, he used to return to Pakistan after planting explosive devices in trains, buses and railway track, which took heavy toll of civilians. Investigations revealed that militants had planned to cause explosions during today’s Eid festival and ensuing Gurpurab to create communal flare up in the region. A major plot of the ISI has been foiled by police with the killing of three militants, Dr Vaid said. Director General of Police (DGP) A K Suri has sanctioned a handsome reward for the police which killed three militants and villagers of Dablehar, who tipped off police about the presence of militants. Local people, whose alertness led to killing of one militant and arrest of two others, told visiting newsmen that the suspects were moving in the village right from the morning and ‘it appeared that they had sneaked into this side from the International Border late last night’. They said the militants tried to mix up with the locals in a bid to avoid people’s doubt and even went to a local religious place and had ‘parshad’ there. |
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LeT ‘comdr’, 3
body-guards escape Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Dec 28: A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, who had escaped police custody in Surankote on Tuesday night was among six dreaded militants gunned down by army and police across the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri overnight. Three army jawans were also injured in the gun-battles. A ‘commander’ of Lashkar escaped alongwith his three body-guards after exchange of firing with police in Phagla area of Surankote last night. DIG Rajouri-Poonch range Ram Lubaya said an LeT militant Mohd Tayab alias Abu Abdullah of Faisalabad, Pakistan, who had escaped from Surankote police station lock-up on Tuesday night attacked the police party with a sharp-edged weapon when he was being brought back to the police station in Draba area late last night. In the meantime, two more militants hiding in the area also opened firing on police personnel and tried to rescue Abu Abdullah. Police cops retaliated in which Abdullah was killed on the spot. A weapon, with which he had attacked a cop causing him injuries, was recovered from his possession. Abu Abdullah alongwith LeT ‘commander’ Mohd Afzal alias Abu Mohaz of Pattan, Lahore had escaped from the lock-up of Surankote police station on Tuesday night after coming out on the pretext of going to toilet. Abu Mohaz remained untraced till late this evening though a massive hunt was on to nab him. Sources said Abu Mohaz was also trapped in an encounter in Jharan Wali Gali (JWG) area of Surankote late last night. Mohaz had joined a group of three more militants and managed to escape alongwith his associates after a fierce hour long gun-battle with police and security forces. As reported, Abu Abdullah and Abu Mohaz had been arrested by Special Operations Group (SOG), Jammu with the assistant of Mumbai Police from Mumbai on November 23 alongwith two other associates. They were sent to Surankote police station early this month where they were wanted in a militancy-related incident. Meanwhile, another encounter took place between army and militants at village Saleri, about seven kms north of Sunderbani late last night. The encounter followed when troops rushed to the village after getting a report that a militants’ group had sneaked there and was harassing the villagers. As soon as troops entered the village, they were fired upon by army personnel. In the exchange of firing that followed, troops eliminated four dreaded militants. Two army soldiers were also injured and have been hospitalised. They were identified as Lakhwinder Singh and Nirmal Singh. Bodies of all four slain militants were recovered from the scene of encounter. One of them has been identified as Abu Ali son of Haj Mohammad Yusaf, a Pakistani and an activist of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit. Other three slain militants couldn’t be identified immediately but all of them were believed to be foreign mercenaries. Recovery made from the scene of encounter included two AK-56 rifles with six magazines and 257 rounds, four hand grenades, one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), two RS Kenwood sets and one identity card. Another militant was shot dead by army and police in retaliatory firing at Budh Khanari neat Darhal in Thanna Mandi sector at 1330 hours today. He has been identified as Abu Trab Mohd Khalid of HUJI’s 313 Brigade and an Afghan mercenary. One AK-47 rifle with three magazines, 64 rounds and two hand grenades were recovered from the possession of slain militant. An army jawan was also injured in the encounter. The injured was evacuated from the firing site and admitted to a hospital. Yet another encounter took place between militants and police at village Phagla in Surankote tehsil last night. A ‘deputy commander’ of Lashkar outfit Abu Harif was trapped in the encounter alongwith his three body-guards. However, all of them managed to escape taking advantage of darkness. An ex-serviceman Munir Hussain was kidnapped by the militants from his house at village Palangar in Thanna Mandi area last night and was released after severe thrashing. A woman Kaneez Bi was also beaten-up by the ultras in the same village, the sources said. |
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India likely to urge Britain again to tackle extermists LONDON, Dec 28: India is expected to make fresh attempts to persuade the British Government to crack down on extremist groups that use England as a safe heaven for raising funds, recruiting and training members for operations in Kashmir. The Indian authorities are expected to forward details to British officials about the suicide car bomb attack on Christmas day in Srinagar, an Indian official said, adding if a British connection to the attack can be established, then the Government will be expected to take action. "There is a fair amount of cooperation with British officials and as soon as the facts are established about who carried out this attack and which group was responsible, we will bring it to their attention," the official said. The Indians hope that the militant groups responsible for the current wave of attacks in Kashmir and their support groups among Pakistani and Kashmiri expatriates in Britain will fall foul of the new anti-terrorism legislation that will come into effect in the new year. Under provisions in the Terrorism Act 2000, the police and the Home Secretary have far wider scope for tackling foreign extremist groups operating in Britain. Till recently, if the groups did not break any British laws, these were free to continue fund-raising, recruiting and training under the guise of being religious or political movements. In future, groups can be banned, their assets confiscated and their members jailed if it can be proved that they conspired to commit a terrorist offence abroad. Such action has already been taken in the US against Pakistan-based guerrilla groups and Britain is expected to follow suit. "We are hopeful that soon it will be tougher for the terrorist groups to operate here," the official said. India is not the only country seeking a more robust approach to terrorism by the British authorities. Earlier this month, the Sri Lankan Government stepped up calls to have the Tamil tigers groups banned by the Home Secretary. In the past, other countries in particular Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Egypt have accused Britain of allowing suspected terrorists to operate freely in London and other cities. (PTI) |
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Police get leads about
Lashkar operations, NEW DELHI, Dec 28 : After making a breakthrough in a case relating to the December 22 Lashkar-e-Toiba attack at Red Fort, the Delhi Police today claimed to have gathered major leads about the Pakistan-based terrorist group’s operations in the Capital and hinted that more arrests are likely in the coming days. Addressing a press conference, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Ashok Chand said some information about Lashkar’s operat-ions in Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir had also surfaced and the respective police forces have been intimated. "We have got some specific leads, which expose Lashkar’s contacts. We are working on them. If we reach the right spot, some more arrests are likely," he said. The police are maintaining strict surveillance in a large number of localities in Central, South and East Delhi areas and at an appropriate time, search operations could be conducted, the senior police official said. The Special Cell, which is probing the case, has also identified the telephone booth in the Capital from where a call was made to the bbc office in Srinagar on the night of the Red Fort attack and would act upon it, he said, adding that the caller was one of the six terrorists who attacked the 7 Rajputana Rifles Camp. About the arrest of the two neighbours of slain militant Abu Shamal, he said Sajid and Mansoor Khan were helping the police in its investigation and they had been only detained for a brief period . They have been released. The third neighbour Rashid Khan, who allegedly introduced Shamal to Gyan Chand Gupta, the owner of the G-73 Batla House flat where the encounter between police and Shamal took place, was absconding. Asked why the militants did not fire upon the tourists watching the sound and light show on that night, Mr Chand said, "their aim was only to target the Army Camp." Police were still scrutinising the documents seized during investigation and also studing how Rs 35 lakh reached Ashfaq Ahmed, the arrested Lashkar militant, through hawala channel. The hawala operator, who supplied the money to the terrorist, has been located in an area in walled city. Ashfaq’s computer centre ‘knowledge plus’ has been sealed and the content in the hard disc was being verified to ascertain whether it contained any relevant information. Giving details about the interro-gation of Ashfaq, who was arrested from his in-laws place by the Special Cell late on Monday night, the police official said Ashfaq told the investigators that his other four accomplices left the capital in batches for Kashmir valley a couple of days after the Red Fort incident. However, Ashfaq did not know whether the militants have already crossed over to Pakistan. The Lashkar operator was sent re by his bosses across the border to coordinate the operation of the group in New Delhi, Mr Chand said adding that he was also supposed to provide logistics to the teams smuggled by the Lashkar from time to time to carry out attacks here. In an effort to intermingle with people and erode all suspicion, Ashfaq not only married an Indian girl but also arranged a ration card and a driving licence for himself. Police are inquiring how the Pakistani national managed to acquire the documents. Asked why Ashfaq did not flee the Capital after the Red Fort incident, Mr Chand said, "may be he was waiting for another Lashkar team to come to Delhi." About the interrogation of Ashfaq’s wife Rehmana who married the militant on the basis of a matrimonial advertisement, Mr Chand said she had complete knowledge of his activities. Refuting all claims of the encounter being a fake operation, the police officer said, Shamal was a terrorist of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and a resident of Lahore. "Their is no doubt about his identity." Even Sajid and Mansoor had told the police that they suspected Ashfaq and Shamal’s movement and therefore had informed the house owner about this. About the alleged links between Ashfaq and a Delhi councillor Asif Mohammed Khan, the Special Cell chief said the police would question Mr Khan if he was in any way associated with the activities of the Lashkar militant. He categorically ruled out the possibility of the militants receiving the support of an ‘insider’ for the Red Fort attack. Further, the power failure at the time of the group’s entry to the protected monument was also a coincidence, he added. Mr Chand said an inquiry is being conducted by Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) P Kamaraj into the Tuesday encounter in which Shamal was killed. The inquiry report is required to be submitted to the National Human Rights Commission. About the allegations of police accesses against innocent people, he said it was a controversy orchestrated by "a few anti-national elements" who are trying to spread rumour for creating tension in the Capital. A large number of people had gheraoed the Jamia Nagar Police Post yesterday claiming that police, instead of killing a militant had killed an "innocent," a man from Amroha (Uttar Pradesh) in the "fake encounter." Mr Kamaraj, who was also present during the press conference, said, "we have received reports of people calling UP newspaper offices and making the false claim. There seems to be a deliberate attempt to create tension in the capital." He said the police had identified certain anti-national involved in rumour mongering and would act against them. (UNI) |
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Docs strike enters
second day Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 28: The health care services in premier medical institution of the region—Government Medical College Hospital remained affected for second consecutive day today due to flash strike of the junior doctors protesting against the admission of 50 candidates of unrecognised Medical College (PRIME), Budgam, Srinagar to Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar. All junior doctors remained on strike for the second consecutive day today in protest against what they called gross violation of rules of Medical Council of India (MCI). Though the senior doctors conducted routine visit of the wards in the morning and attended the patients in the Out-Patient Department (OPD) yet the problems of the patients could not be minimised. Though Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and CCU were functioning normally, there were few number of patients in different wards. Barring Orthopedics and Surgery Wards, a number of patients in other wards had left the hospital finding it difficult to get proper medicare. "In the morning a group of doctor visited the ward but after that I have not seen any doctor excepting nurses", Dev Raj a patient in the Orthopedics Ward said, adding "had I been in condition of walking smoothly I too would have left the hospital". According to a senior officer of the Medical College, all operations except serious ones have been postponed due to the strike. "Only senior doctors can not perform all the operations as there is also need of junior medicos in different spheres", he said. Though the Emergency Ward has been running smoothly yet there was considerable decline in the number of patients. "As compared to routine days far less patients were reporting in the Emergency", Casualty Medical Officer (CMO) who was on duty in the evening said, adding the working in the operation theatres of the Emergency Ward was also normal and after 1 pm three operations were performed. The working in the SMGS Hospital also remained normal and the strike had little impact on its working as compared to Government Medical College Hospital. Earlier, in the morning the junior doctors gathered in the premises of Medical College and shouted slogans against the Government for showering undue benefits on the kith and kin of bureaucrats and ministers at the cost of deserving ones. They were demanding immediate cancellation of the said Government order. Meanwhile, one of the Dialysis machine was made functional while another one is expected to start functioning by tomorrow. The Medical College authorities have called Engineers from Delhi to repair all the dialysis machines immediately. |
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Birmingham terrorist used as suicide bomb in Kashmir LONDON, Dec 28: A British Muslim has been named in a newspaper as the suicide bomber who carried out a christmas day car bomb attack in Srinagar in Kashmir killing ten people. Mohammed Bilal is being eulogised by armed Islamic guerrillas across Pakistan and Kashmir as the "holy warrior" who packed a stolen maruti car with high-explosives and blew himself up outside an Indian Army barracks in Srinagar, killing up to six Indian soldiers and three Kashmiri students returning home to celebrate a Muslim holiday, the daily "The Times" reported today. According to the report, last night Bilal, 24, was "credited" with the attack by Jaish Mohammed, one of the newest and most active Islamic splinter groups in Kashmir. "He achieved martyrdom in the cause of Islam," a headline in a special edition of the group’s newspaper Zarb-i-Momin in Islamabad said. The identity of the bomber has not (not) been verified by British consular officials or the Indian Police, the report said. Jaish gave few personal details about Bilal except that he was a former college student in the Midlands and operated under the nom de guerre Abdullah Bai. The group’s founder, Maulana Masood Azhar, the Pakistan-based orator, cleric and fundraiser, published a tribute to him saying "he always aspired to martyrdom and god fulfilled his desire". Jaish claims that Bilal was born into a Pakistani family in Birmingham and was a "night-club-going lad" until he became a born-again Muslim at 18 after seeing the prophet Muhammad in a dream, the report said. Bilal is thought to have flown to Pakistan in 1994 to train with Harkatul Ansar, an Islamic faction declared a terrorist organisation by the US. In the 1990s after its alleged involvement in the kidnap of five European tourists. The militants claim that he went back to Britain briefly before returning to Pakistan in December 1995, becoming one among thousands of foreigners to train in camps across Pakistan and Afghanistan before slipping across the border into Kashmir. The report said there he fell under the influence of the cleric Azhar, a key figure in the Islamic separatist movement, who was freed from an Indian jail at Christmas last year in return for the release of 155 passengers aboard an Indian Airlines jet that was hijacked and taken to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Once released, Azhar resurfaced in Pakistan, where he has spent the past year openly recruiting for Jaish Mohammed. Bilal was apprently one of those to leave Harkat and join his new faction, the daily said. This is not the first time that Azhar has been associated with a British militant. Freed along with him after the Indian Airlines hijack was Ahmad Omar Sayyed Sheikh, from Epping Forest, Northeast London, who was jailed in 1994 for kidnapping three British tourists — Miles Croston, Rhys Partridge and Paul Rideout — in an earlier failed bid to secure Azhar’s release, the report said. (PTI) |
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Surrendered ultra shot
dead Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 28: Five civilians including three women were injured, one of them seriously, when a powerful explosion rocked an STD PCO at Seri Bazaar in the heart of Bhaderwah town in Doda district this evening. In another incident across the district, militants gunned down a surrendered ultra at his house in Dessa area. Official reports said a blast rocked Khajuria STD PCO in Seri Bazaar at 1815 hours today wounding five persons, who were making telephone calls. It was not immediately clear as to whether the blast was triggered by an explosive device, planted inside the PCO or a grenade was thrown on the shop. A police party from Bhaderwah police station rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to sub district hospital where condition of a young girl identified as Simran was stated to be serious. Four other injured admitted in the hospital with splinter injuries have been identified as Gulshan Begum, Nazia, Sher Singh and Farooq Ahmed, all locals. Police and para-military personnel cordoned off the Bazaar and carried out searches to track down the militants involved in the explosion. However, no arrest has been made so far. Local police was carrying out further investigations in the case. Meanwhile, a surrendered militant Bitta son of Samdu was dragged out of his house by three militants last night at village Batta Gaddi in Dessa area of Doda district and shot dead. Militants escaped after the killing. Police suspected the hand of Hizbul Mujahideen militants behind the killing as Bitta was affiliated with the same outfit before joining the mainstream. |
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Govt clears issuance of passports to Hurriyat leaders NEW DELHI, Dec 28: The Government today gave clearance for issuing of passports to four Hurriyat leaders following a request made by the amalgam leadership to travel to Pakistan, informed sources said here. The sources said the impounded passports of Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat will be restored and a fresh passport issued to Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yaseen Malik. The move follows a request made by these leaders through unofficial intermediaries for release of travel documents for travelling to Pakistan and hold talks with the militant leadership there. They said a decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of top officials of Home Ministry last evening which also discussed the ongoing ceasefire in the State. The sources said a fresh travel document would be issued to Malik, who has applied only in September this year. They said travel documents of Shia leader Maulana Abbas Ansari, whose passport was impounded recently after his visit to Doha, and Abdul Gani Lone, who had been issued a country-specific passport, would also be restored. Travel documents of fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islamia leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, which had been impounded after his separatist actions, has not been restored as he had not made any request for the same. Former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has already a travel document. The Government decision follows decision by Hurriyat Conference to send a delegations to Pakistan for holding talks with the militants there. Hurriyat executive on December 17 had unanimously decided to send a delegation on January 15 to initiate dialogue with the leadership of militants and other leaders there to carry forward the peace moves "initiated by India and Pakistan." About the proposed visit to Pakistan and possible outcome, Hurriyat chairman Bhat had said: "Hurriyat Conference has fairly and sufficiently expressed its willingness to travel to Pakistan not on a pleasure trip but to engage leaders of boys with guns. We will gleefully gear their throbing heart and trust that they too will appreciate our anxiety to resolve the dispute through negotiations across the table and thus make sure that the peace process is not derailed." Hurriyat insiders said "a consensus has been arrived on the names of Bhat, Farooq and Malik" for the Pakistan visit. (PTI) |
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Driver killed in
crossfire at Bemina Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 28: In their continued drive against counter-insurgents, Police and NC activists, militants have eliminated yet another Police constable, an SPO and a source of security forces in Kashmir valley, on occasion of Idd-ul-Fitr today. While as one militant of Hizbul Mujahideen has been shot dead by unidentified kidnappers at Narbal, the driver of a Matador got killed in exchange of gunfire between militants and security forces at Bemina this evening. Informed official sources told EXCELSIOR that a patrol of Rashtriya Rifles 02 Bn signalled a Matador to halt at Gari Mohalla locality of Bemina, on Bemina-Budgam road, at 1900 hours this evening. Apparantly the driver ignored the signal and sped away towards Srinagar city. Troops opened fire which was instantly retaliated by three militants travelling in the Matador. They jumped out and managed to escape alongwith their weapons. The driver, identified as Altaf Ahmed Bhat of Lawaypora, got killed in the crossfire. Troops conducted a cordon-and-search operation but the militants remained untraced till late tonight. Unofficial version of the incident was that it were civilian passengers who jumped out to escape after the troops opened fire. Residents of Garipora said that the driver could not hear the signal as a record-player was at high pitch in his vehicle. They said that the troops mistook it as a militants’ carriage and opened fire in which the driver got killed. Sources said that during last night, unidentified gunmen kidnapped two former SPOs—Abdul Hameed Ganai S/o Ama Ganai and Zahoor Ahmed Mir S/o Gaffar Mir—from Chak Kawoosa Khalisa village, near Narbal. While the former remained untraced by this evening, dead body of Zahoor Ahmed Mir was recovered from Narbal-Mirgund area this morning. Reports said that Zahoor had been recycled and was currently an active militant of Hizbul Mujahideen. Militants shot dead an SPO, namely Shakeel Ahmed Lone of Ranbirgarh, at Panzinara village of Sumbal on Shalteng-Sumbal road. Militants also shot dead constable Ghulam Rasool (902/A) at his in-laws’ house at Sofipora in Pahalgam area. Reports from Kupwara said that during last night militants shot dead Ghulam Mohammad Bhat S/o Ghulam Qadir Bhat R/o Setboyen Dardpora in Lolab area. Officials said that he had been suspected as an informer of security forces. Militants fired upon Javed Ahmed Pir S/o Ghulam Mohammad Pir R/o Hanga, Handwara at his home. He sustained injuries alongwith a girl, Asifa Maqbool D/o Mohammad Maqbool R/o Ananwan, Handwara. Both of them were rushed to Sub District Hospital of Handwara for treatment. |
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Pak must restrain militant outfits for talks: Advani NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Home Minister L K Advani today dismissed Pakistan’s claims that foreign militant outfits like Lashker-e-Toiba were not under its control and said Islamabad must restrain such groups if Indo-Pak talks were to be resumed. Acknowledging that cross-border Pakistani shelling and infiltration had come down after the declaration of ceasefire by the Indian Government last month, Advani regretted that foreign militant outfits, particularly the Lashker-e-Toiba continued to kill innocent people in this country. "Pakistan says we cannot do anything about them (foreign militant outfits). But nobody can trust this statement," he said addressing officers and jawans of the CRPF on the force’s 61st Raising Day. "These groups get all kinds of support, including finances and logistics, from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)," Advani said, adding "if Islamabad wants, killings by these militant outfits can end." He said India has already declared that it was ready to resume dialogue with Pakistan, "but only when Pakistan ends terrorism. If it wants, it can do it." The Home Minister said the world community had realised that violence in Jammu and Kashmir was sponsored by Pakistan and was backing India’s stand that Indo-Pak talks would not be fruitful till terrorism ceased. Stating that Pakistan had lost an opportunity to create conducive atmosphere when Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee ventured on the Lahore bus yatra last year by sending troops in Kargil, Advani said the ongoing ceasefire has provided another chance to Islamabad in this direction. "Through Lahore Bus Yatra, India demonstrated that it was willing to hold talks with Pakistan. But that country responded by betraying trust by sending troops to Kargil," he said, adding "I pray Pakistan does not miss this second opportunity. I hope militants and Islamabad respond positively to the gesture of the Indian Government." He said Pakistan had so far given a "small answer" by lowering cross-border shelling and "infiltration has also reduced". "However, killing of innocent people by militant outfits like Lashker-e-Toiba is continuing," he said, adding the current ceasefire will be reviewed after January 26. Referring to the militant attack inside Red Fort, the Home Minister said the aim was "just to create terror" and "show that they can reach Red Fort." "The follow up action by Delhi Police and other security agencies was swift," he said. Advani said there was a desire for peace in Jammu and Kashmir and the people of the State had realised that Pakistan was not their sympathiser. "As a result, the percentage of local youths (involved) in militancy has reduced considerably over the last three years," he said, adding this had made Pakistan "trust Kashmiris less" and "depend more on foreign militants, mostly Pakistanis." He said the current proxy-war by Pakistan was guided by Islamabad’s desire to seek revenge for its defeat in the 1971 war against India. The implementation of Pakistan’s plan to destabilise India has resulted in gradual worsening of internal security situation in the country, Advani said. Regarding the problems faced by CRPF, he admitted that housing of its personnel was a matter of concern but said the Planning Commission had agreed to earmark Rs 120 crore for housing of paramilitary forces. He said his ministry had also decided to contribute Rs two crore towards CRPF Welfare Fund to help the dependents of the personnel killed in action. Earlier, CRPF Director General Trinath Mishra said due to regular demands for deployment, the force’s personnel could not be spared for training programmes since 1995. He stressed on the urgent need to find a way out as necessity for training in all sectors had been felt to keep the efficiency at the highest level, particularly when the force was playing a key role in countering militancy and insurgency in many parts of the country. Advani also presented medals to CRPF personnel, including seven posthumously. (PTI) |
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ISI, not toeing Pak Govt’s line on Kashmir: Farooq LUDHIANA, Dec 28 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today said Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence did not toe the line of its Government on Kashmir which was not opposed to talks on the issue. "Pakistan is not opposed to the idea of a dialogue, yet the ISI and some militant organisations that control and direct ultra activities in J and K do not toe the line of the Government," Abdullah told reporters here. To a question, he said if Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had not extended the ceasefire, his detractors would have said sufficient time was not given in finding a solution to Kashmir problem. Asked how long the ceasefire would continue, Abdullah said it was up to the Prime Minister to decide. He said security forces would not be withdrawn from the State as demanded by militants. (PTI) |
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Tremors, impending cyclone confront PM KOTTAYAM, Dec 28: Safely ensconced in the idyllic surroundings at the Taj Garden Retreat at Kumarakom, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee is finding his holiday swamped by rains and slight tremors. A cyclone, moving towards Kerala after crossing the Tamil Nadu coast, would keep the Prime Minister indoors for the best part of his holiday, scuttling his plans for a boat ride on the Vembanad lake, but the picturesque settings at the retreat against the backdrop of rain-blanched mangroves could inspire poetry as Vajpayee himself is a poet. The tremors measuring about 2.5 on the richter scale might pose some concern for the security, but rains and quakes are things which no protection group can ward off. The Weather Bureau has predicted heavy rainfall over South Kerala during the next 48 hours. As regards the tremors, which have been occurring off and on since December 12, no prediction was possible, according to the Earth Sciences Department. According to sources at the Taj, for the time being the Prime Minister was biding his time indoors after a medicated bath in the morning. During the evenings he is being entertained by artistes performing cultural and folk programmes. (PTI) |
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Woman arrested for questioning PM’s security KOTTAYAM, Dec 28: A 27-year-old woman was arrested by the special branch police near Kumarakom for questioning the need for providing such a tight security to the Prime Minister, who is spending the year end at the Taj Garden retreat here. Police said Sakkeena hailing from Aluva in Ernakulam district was taken into custody for questioning the necessity for the tight security for the Prime Minister and the need to spend so much money on the PM’s visit. A law graduate, Sakkeena was later produced before a magistrate and remanded to custody under section 151 of the CrPC (apprehension of an unlawful act). (PTI) |
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Attack was aimed at opposing ceasefire' NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Suspected Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant Ashfaq Ahmed, arrested in connection with the Red Fort shootout, today said the attack on security forces inside the fort was aimed at opposing the Indian Government’s unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir. "The aim behind the attack is to oppose the ceasefire," Ahmed told `Aaj Tak’. He said their intention was not to harm any civilian, be it in Kashmir or anywhere else, but to target security personnel. Ahmed said the situation in India was much better than portrayed in Pakistan. "I wish to send a message to my colleagues that this is not a religious fight, but a war between two countries," he said. (PTI) |
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LONDON, Dec 28: Maulana Masood Azhar, head of Pakistan-based militant outfit "Jaish Mohammad", has vowed to continue suicide attacks in Kashmir, saying it is the most "potent weapon" of guerrilla fighting. "I will continue the suicide attacks as it is the most potent weapon in guerrilla fighting", Azhar told `The Times’ newspaper. Maulana Masood Azhar was freed from Jammu and Kashmir prison December last year in return for the safe release of passengers of Indian Airlines flight IC814 which was hijacked from Kathmandu to Kandahar last year. Jaish Mohammed is one of the dozen Pakistan-backed Muslim groups fighting Indian forces in Kashmir for the last one decade. (PTI) |
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