Businessman gunned down in Anantnag
4 Hizb militants killed in Pulwama encounter

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, July 23: While as Special Operations Group (SOG) and BSF have eliminated four militants of Hizbul Mujahideen in a fierce encounter at Trisal in Pulwama district, unidentified gunmen have shot dead a businessman at Anantnag today.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on the basis of a specific information, SOG Pulwama and BSF 104 Bn launched a joint operation at Trisal village in Pulwama district this evening. According to the tip-off provided to the SOG, four local cadres of Hizbul Mujahideen were present at the residential house of one Mohammad Ramzan Dar. As the troops laid the siege and zeroed in on the target house, militants opened heavy gunfire and engaged the SOG and BSF personnel in an encounter that lasted for three hours. During the gunbattle, troops destroyed the house and all the four militants got killed. Two BSF personnel, including an Assistant Commandant, sustained injuries.

The militants killed in the encounter were identified as the "company commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen Shabir Ahmed Sheikh S/O Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh, Riyaz Ahmed Ganai S/O Abdur Rasheed Ganai and Hilal Ahmed Dar S/O Mohammad Akbar Dar (all residents of Tahab) and Bilal Ahmed Magray S/O Abdul Gani Magray of Chhatripora, Pulwama. Four AK-56 rifles and a quantity of grenades and assorted ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. Preliminary reports said that the operation was neat and clean and there was no inconvenience to the civilian population.

According to the official inputs, the militants killed in the encounter at Trisal had been responsible for a large number of attacks on Police and security forces besides assassination of several political activists. They had caused an IED blast at Lassipora and left five persons killed in an ambush on the Taxi of a counter-insurgent.

Reports available from Anantnag said that last evening unidentified gunmen appeared at Kreei village in Dooru locality and shot dead one Mohammad Yusuf Najar S/O Abdul Gani Najar, at his house. He was reportedly a businessman.

Earlier on Saturday, troops of 1-Mihar posted at LoC in Machhil sector, had eliminated three foreign militants in an ambush at Black Rock, Sonapindi. Two AK-56 rifles, one Pika gun and a quantity of assorted ammunition had been recovered from the spot. One more militant, believed to be a foreigner, was eliminated by troops of 8-Grenadiers at Nainkot, Kalaroos, in Kupwara district on Saturday itself. One AK-56 rifle was recovered from the spot.

Bodies of the four unidentified militants, believed to be foreigners killed in an encounter in Nowgam sector, were buried by the local Auqaf management at Handwara today.

Meanwhile, an SPO posted at NGOs’ mess at Shivpora, was reportedly injured this evening. According to the official reports, he got injured due to a misfire from his gun. Identified as Mohammad Afzal of Uri, he has been admitted for surgery at SMHS Hospital.

Watch out for eves droppers on internet, warn experts

NEW DELHI, July 23: The E-mail revolution in the internet era has increased the risk of eves dropping making the experts opine that a law should be enacted to curb intrusion into one’s right to privacy especially as the new Information and Technology Act is silent on this aspect.

The right to privacy has been held by the Supreme Court as an integral part of fundamental right to life under article 21 of the constitution but sadly most of the internet users, as in the real world, are ignorant of the safeguards against violation of privacy, the experts say.

According to them, with internet making forays into every nook and corner of India and on-line crime multiplying, there is an legislation vis-a-vis privacy, before the cyber menace really takes an alarming proportion.

"Internet is an anonymous medium. Nobody wants one’s privacy on internet to be disturbed," says cyber law expert Pavan Duggal.

He says "India’s first cyber law, the it act, does not deal with this crucial issue. The act does not define privacy nor addresses the critical issue of protecting privacy on-line."

Agrees Sanjay Dhawan, director, information risk management in global consultancy firm KPMG. He says "when it is universally recognised that people are entitled to privacy on internet, the Government should take steps to incorporate a clause or two to protect the privacy of internet user."

Microsoft spokesperson says her company has realised the importance of the right to privacy and provides products with standardised security features which could take care of spamming as well.

Dhawan says some of the reputed websites have started taking precautions to protect consumers from these cyber crimes but feels untill the Government comes out with a stringent clause, small and less reputed websites will not stop their illegal practice of eves dropping into net talks.

A special law on privacy, he says, will definately act as a deterrent and keep the confidence of the citizens.

Duggal says it is a pity that it act only makes a passing reference to the net surfers’ privacy and that too indirectly in section 71.

Section 71 provides for punishing those who having secured access to any electronic record, information,... Without the consent of the person concerned disclose such information, document or other material to any other person.

"It has been drafted in constricting manner," says Duggal and adds it does not address the violation of individual’s privacy in the cyberspace.

Both Duggal and Dhawan say cyber law on the issue of privacy is still evolving and individual should be given liberty to move court for monetary damages for violation of their individual privacy.

Unfortunately, in India, they say awareness about privacy is at a very low level in the actual world, leave aside the cyber space. (PTI)

Rain disrupts Yatra for 4th day
18,000 pilgrims stranded in Pahalgam-Amarnath zone

Excelsior Special Correspondent

PAHALGAM, July 23: Even as intermittent rainfall disrupted the pilgrimage on the the fourth consecutive day today, as many as 6,710 Yatris had the darshan today at the holy Amarnath cave. While as 11,000 pilgrims are waiting for the upward journey at Pahalgam, about 7,000 were reportedly stranded at the Cave and three transit stations of Panjtarni, Sheshnag and Chandanwari this evening.

By all evidence, the Nitish Sengupta committee recommendations seem to have been trampled as thousands of pilgrims are pouring in, far above the stipulated figure of 2800 only from Pahalgam side. The committee, which had been set up by the Government after the 1996 calamity, had recommended that a total of 3500 pilgrims be allowed to the Cave every day—2800 from Pahalgam and 700 from Baltal side. Officially the Yatra stood "closed" today due to heavy rush of pilgrims in Pahalgam-Cave zone, still, according to the Yatra Officer and DC Anantnag Mr G A Pir, as many as 8,890 people reached here from Jammu today.

On the evening of the 8th day of the staggered Yatra today, as many as 68,000 people had performed the pilgrimage. As the Yatra remained "closed" for two days, the figure should have been just 21,000. Given the unending rush of pilgrims from Jammu and the inclement weather on the 48 Km track from Pahalgam to the cave, a 1996-type catastrophe could befall any time.

According to official figures this evening, as many as 11,136 yatris are camping at Pahalgam while as 3,000 were at the Cave, 1,000 at Panjtarni, 1,560 at Sheshnag and 1,730 at Chandanwari. About 10,000 people had darshan today as 5000 of them returned from Baltal track and 4,993 from Panjtarni-Sheshnag side. According to the authorities, maximum of 15,000 pilgrims can be accommodated at one point of time at Pahalgam, 2,000 at Chandanwari, 6,000 at Sheshnag and 4,000 at Panjtarni. Even as nobody is supposed to stay at the cave before or after the darshan, still 3000 people were present there this evening.

The authorities have formulated a contingency plan and seems to be best possible coordination between different Government departments, agencies and security forces. Still, the authorities are baffled how thousands of Yatris were pouring in from Jammu inspite of bad weather conditions and the Yatra having been declared as "closed" by the administration in Jammu. According to an official, over 6,000 people are on way to the cave everyday against the stipulated figure of 2800 from Pahalgam side.

The authorities have set up a joint control room at Pahalgam where the meeting of all concerned departments and agencies does take place everyday at 1900 hours. SP Anantnag Munir Khan and Additional DC Mr Thokar are permanently camping here while as Brigadier Panikar, GOC of 73-Mountain Brigade, is personally supervising the security-related arrangements. The brigade of regular Army has been pressed into the special duty alongwith BSF, CRPF, ITBP and J&K Police. Seven persons have died till this evening, all of them a natural death. They included a Junior Engineer of Pahalgam Projects Organisation (PPO) Nazir Ahmed Ved of Kolar, Pahalgam, whose dead body could not be traced or fished out from the furious Sheshnag nullah during the last eight days.

Yatra Officer G A Pir makes an appeal to the aspiring pilgrims at Jammu and other places that they should not be impatient as this year there is the biggest ever Lingam and there is no possibility of its getting melted early. He wants the pilgrims to abide by the regulations as per the Sengupta Committee recommendations. They should also keep with them good stock of woollen clothes. Very old aspirants and those not fit for high-altitude journey should avoid the pilgrimage as this year weather has been inclement from day one.

Our Jammu correspondent adds: Utter administrative mismanagement coupled with the inclement weather has added to the woes and hardships of thousands of stranded Amarnath pilgrims here.

The unprecedented number of Yatris reaching City of Temples daily for their onwards journey to Cave Shrine to have the darshan of the Icy Shivlingam are totally worried over the chaotic and confused situation that prevails here.

No Yatri was allowed to leave for the Pahalgam Base Camp by the authorities today due to heavy rainfall that lashed the Amarnath track from both Pahalgam and Baltal sides.

Over 5000 Yatris who were allowed to enter the high security M A Stadium yesterday staged a day long demonstration inside the stadium today in protest against the inadequate arrangements made by the administration.

Late in the evening the irate yatris blocked B-C Road at Dogra Chowk paralysing the movement of vehicular traffic.

These Yatris shouted slogans against the State Government and administration whom they blamed was purposely trying to sabotage the yatra.

The agitating Yatris continued to hold the demonstration in presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu who visited the Stadium to ascertain the problems.

Police also resorted to lathicharge on the pilgrims at Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) today where a group of Pilgrims led by Mr Sanjeev Bharadwaj president Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti resorted to fast unto death in protest what they alleged the anti Hindu policies of State and Central Governments. Some leaders of the Samiti including Mr Bharadwaj were later forcibly lifted by the police.

The protestants shouted slogans against the Government and warned it of dire consequences if it continued to maltreat the pilgrims coming from different parts of the country.

There was a total horrible condition at M A Stadium where over 200 stranded vehicles including 60 video coaches are lying. The insanitation has gripped the Stadium and the Yatris apprehend spread of epidemic.

Some pilgrims have taken refuge beneath the video coaches and light vehicles while others were lying in open ground.

The protesting pilgrims who were highly critical of the inadequate arrangements made by the State Government told this Correspondent that had the free langers not been opened at the Stadium by some philanthrophist organizations they would have died of starvation.

We are here like prisoners as both the gates have been closed by the administration said Mr Gouri Shanker a pilgrim from Delhi.

What can be more apathetic attitude of the administration towards these pilgrims that they were not allowed entry inside the Stadium to protect themselves from the heavy rains during the night hours yesterday.

The another resentment among the yatris and various Hindu organizations is stopping of the vehicles carrying the langer goods.

The yatris also alleged that they are being cheated by some touts who also charge high rates from them. Even the genuine yatris are ignored and the registrations are being made by some agents through backdoor. An official spokesman said that no Yatris will be allowed to leave for the Base Camp from Jammu tomorrow also in view of the damage caused to 48 kilometre Pahalgam, Holy Cave track at Santsingpuri, Peso Top and kilometre 9 of Chandanwari.

The spokesman said no Yatri was permitted to proceed further from the Base Camp to Holy Cave today.

He said the restoration work is on war footing and the track will be opened for the Yatris within couple of days.

Meanwhile, the pilgrims who were stranded at different places due to blockade of National Highway yesterday reached the Pahalgam Base Camp today, the spokesman said.

He said two pilgrims also died enroute to Holy Cave yesterday after cardiac arrest. They have been identified as Lalit Gupta, 24, son of Niwas Gupta of Rohtak Haryana and Phool Chand Gupta, 60, son of Duni Ram of Ranipur UP. Their dead bodies were handed over to their family members for performing the last rites. Lalit Gupta breathed his last at Ramban while Phool Chand died at Sheshnag.

Meanwhile to take the stock of the problems being faced by the stranded pilgrims at Jammu, a joint Committee of senior officers , representatives and various organizations and legislators visited these places where Yatris are staying today.

The Committee included Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Administrator, Jammu Municipality, president Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Messrs Tilak Raj Sharma, Hans Raj Dogra, MLA, Ram Sahai, president Chamber of Commerce, Rajinder Motial and president J&K Sewa Samiti, Surinder Saran.

They met the pilgrims and listened their problems. They suggested the stranded pilgrims to visit Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine at Katra, Shiv Kohri near Reasi, Utter Behni and Purmandal during this period.

The Divisional Commissioner said at present 20,000 pilgrims have arrived at Jammu for their onwards journey to Holy Cave and it will take two to three weeks to send them all for their onwards sojourn.

The Yatra Committee has also set up a Nodal Office at MAM College here to coordinate different arrangements for the Yatris. The Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Mr B D Sharma will be the Nodal Officer.

Release funds before expiry of working season: Abdullah

NEW DELHI, July 23:  Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today asked the Planning Commission to release plan funds for the State in toto as the wo rking season for utilisation of such funds was very limited.

"My ministers and secretaries have written to the Planning Commission for releasing funds as we have a working season till only October," Abdullah, who is in the Capital on "mission" consensus over autonomy report, told PTI here.

The Centre has already released Rs 400 crore to the State pending the finalisation of annual plan for Jammu and Kashmir.

He said "we have stressed that the funds could only be used for development before the onset of bitter winter in the State."

The Chief Minister said the working season in Ladakh district was almost going to end next month and the funds meant for the development of this district would serve no purpose, if delayed.

"Now if allotment of funds continued to be delayed, then its utilisation in the Valley could also be difficult due to the end of working season," Abdullah said.

The State has submitted a plan proposal for Rs 2,250 crore this year against Rs 1,750 crore passed last year.

However, the Chief Minister heaved a sigh of relief over the finalisation of power projects by the Centre and said "tapping the natural resources for power could help the State to contribute more to the Northern Grid besides catering to its own needs."

Jammu and Kashmir Government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Government for implementation of seven hydroelectric projects in the State aggregating 2798 mw.

State-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) would implement the 330 mw Kishanganga hydel project, 280 mw Uri Stage-II, 1020 mw Bursar, 120 mw Sewa Stage-II, 1000 mw Pakal Dul, 30 mw Nimmo Bazgo and 18 mw Chutak Hydel projects on Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis.

The MoU transferring the projects to NHPC was signed by Power Minister P R Kumaramangalam and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Abdullah on Thursday.

Central Government would be chipping in with 15 per cent of the project cost while the remaining cost would be funded through market borrowings.

The State would get 12 per cent free power from these projects besides its normal share and an additional 15 per cent central share of unallocated power to meet its need.

Stating the Kishenpur-Wagoora 400 kv line would be executed by Powergrid, he said J&K Government would consider Powergrid for taking over the existing 220 kv line with adequate safeguards. (PTI)

PoK leader calls for cease-fire in Kashmir

NEW DELHI, July 23: A London-based Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) leader, Khawaja Mushtaq Husain, after a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, has called for working towards enforcing a ceasefire and initiating a broad based dialogue for a final settlement of the Kashmir issue.

"Now please give peace a chance", declared the European convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir National Liberation Front (JKNLF) as he called for starting a ``multi-channel’’ dialogue on both sides of the Line of Control.

Permitted to visit the Valley and Jammu, Mushtaq Husain appealed to the Indian Government to "set the ball rolling by starting a serious dialogue with the Hurriyat leaders". He said later the negotiations could be expanded to include other groups like Kashmiri Pandits, people from Jammu, Ladakh and Kargil.

Mushtaq Husain, who heads late Maqbool Bhat’s JKNLF wing in London is the second PoK leader after Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights convenor Nazir Geelani to be allowed to visit Kashmir. He said efforts should be made to persuade Pakistani leaders to withdraw foreign militants from Jammu and Kashmir.

The JKNLF leader said withdrawal of foreign elements from the State would help in working towards a ceasefire. "The time has come for guns to be silenced and working towards a negotiated settlement.

Khawaja Mushtaq said a dialogue should not be confined to Jammu and Kashmir, a similar process should also be allowed to people in Pakistan held Kashmir in Muzzaffarbad, Mirpur, Gilgit, Hunza, Baltistan and Rawalakot.

"Why should people from these areas of the undivided State be kept away from negotiation process? these people have been deprived of their rights for a long time too", the JKNLF leader said adding that authorities in India and Pakistan should allow wider interaction of the people across the Line of Control.

He suggested that Pakistan and India should thin troop presence from the border belt and allow crossing points at four places like Chinari facing Uri sector and in Poonch, Rajouri and Bhimbar Gali.

The PoK leader said that talks with Hurriyat leaders should be held "without any conditions" and a conducive atmosphere created by declaring general amnesty in the State by release of all political prisoners and youths.

Mushtaq Husain said during his stay in the Valley and Jammu, he had met the new Hurriyat chairman, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, Amir Jamaat G M Bhat, Democratic Freedom Party leader, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Azam Inquilabi, Naim Khan and others.

He said his organisation was totally against any kind of division of the State on communal or religious lines. "For JKNLF, Jammu and Kashmir is as it existed on August 13,1947". (PTI)

Attorney General refutes charges
Jethmalani blames Sorabjee for exit from Ministry

NEW DELHI, July 23: Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, who resigned from the Cabinet following a directive from Prime Minister, today squarely blamed Attorney General Soli Sorabjee for his ouster but the top law officer shot back saying he was himself responsible for his exit.

"He (Sorabjee) is the singlemost factor responsible for the resignation", Jethmalani told reporters in Pune and accused him of not coming to his defence in the Supreme Court on Friday during the hearing on the report of Srikrishna Commission which probed the 1992-93 riots in Mumbai.

Jethmalani, whose resignation was accepted by President K R Narayanan, said he was "unhappy" with Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had to choose between "a pliant Attorney General and a no-nonsense Law Minister".

The Prime Minister sought Jethmalani’s resignation after he hit out at the Supreme Court Chief Justice A S Anand for criticising some Union Ministers for speaking at variance with the stand of Union Government on the Bal Thackeray case.

Jethmalani said "I cannot exist in the Cabinet with an Attorney General like this. Right from the day I became the Law Minister, he had started giving pinpricks."

However, Sorabjee rejected Jethmalani’s charges saying the former Law Minister having an "inexhaustible store of pinpricks" was himself to blame for his ouster.

Sorabjee said "Jethmalani knows the reasons for his resignation. He did not require my help for his exit from the Ministry. Jethmalani has an inexhaustible store of pinpricks, the recent example of which is his intemperate criticism of the Chief Justice of India and the Supreme Court in his press statement issued after the court proceedings."

He said "my resignation had nothing to do with the observations made by the Chief Justice or the case against Bal Thackeray."

Refuting Jethmalani’s charge that he did not defend him properly in the court, Sorabjee said "in fact, I retrieved the situation by reiterating the Government’s previous stand on the affidavit and persuaded the court not to record its oral observations in the order."

Jethmalani said he has "many disappointments with the Prime Minister but I don’t want to express them now".

Authoritative sources said Vajp-ayee’s decision to ask Jethmalani to resign was the culmination of his displeasure over the former Minister’s "continuous problems" with the top tier of the judiciary over a period of time.

Vajpayee had in the past conveyed his displeasure to Jethmalani about his continuing problems with the Chief Justice of India A S Anand, they said.

The latest one being on the language used by Jethmalani in his series of correspondence with the Chief Justice over appointment of Justice B M Lal as the Chairman of Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission.

However, the open criticism of the Chief Justice by the Law Minister in a statement from Mumbai was "the clincher" which made the Prime Minister very angry and seek Jethmalani’s resignation, they said. (PTI)

Sena boycotts NDA meet

NEW DELHI, July 23: A sulking Shiv Sena tonight stayed away from the NDA coordination committee meeting here on the eve of Parliament session beginning tomorrow, apparently to express its resentment over Centre’s "hands off" policy on the move to prosecute Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.

"There was no message from them. I spoke to one or two Shiv Sena leaders. It was obvious they were unable to come for the meeting", committee convenor George Fernandes told reporters after a 90-minute meeting of the committee here.

Asked whether Maharashtra Government’s move to prosecute and arrest Thackeray as well as the State Government’s request for Central forces figured at the meeting, he said "the issue did not figure at the meeting."

Shiv Sena has pulled out its three Ministers from the Vajpayee Government demanding Centre’s intervention.

Fernandes said the issue of resignation of Law Minister Ram Jethmalani also did not come up at the meeting "as it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister". He said none of the NDA partners asked any explanation from the Prime Minister on Jethmalani’s resignation.

Fernandes said the NDA partners felt that all the constituents should work in a coordinated manner and there should not be any deviation from the national agenda of governance (NAG).

He said the states reorganisation bill, which has been listed on the agenda, was discussed at the meeting.

On Uttaranchal bill, Fernandes said the three-member committee headed by him would have one more meeting before finalising the report.

The committee was set up in the wake of protest by Akali Dal (Badal), one of the constituents, against the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed State of Uttaranchal. The other members of the committee are Chief Ministers of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

According to sources, Lok Tantrik Congress had objected to the inclusion of Haridwar in Uttaranchal.

Asked whether the autonomy issue figured at the meeting which was attended by National Conference members, Fernandes said that it did not.

He said a variety of issues including foreign policy with specific reference to developments in Fiji and India’s role in peacekeeping operations in Sierre Leone were also likely to be discussed during the five-week long monsoon session.

Among those who attended the meeting were BJP president Kushabhau Thakre, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, Murasoli Maran (DMK), Ramadoss (PMK), Arjun Sethi (BJD), Ali Mohd Naik (NC), Ajit Panja (Trinamool Congress), R K Hegde, Vaiko (MDMK), and Parkash Singh Badal (SAD). (PTI)

Farooq's new role as autonomy resolution distributor
Naidu rejects demand for pre-53 status

From B L Kak in Hyderabad

Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has cautioned his Kashmir counterpart, Dr Farooq Abdullah, against making any move which can disturb Kashmir’s relationship with the Indian Union.

"Dr Abdullah is my friend. He met me on Thursday. Our meeting lasted nearly an hour. As you know, his main purpose was to discuss with me his autonomy resolution", Mr Chandrababu Naidu said in an interview.

When asked to divulge the main points raised by the J&K Chief Minister during the meeting, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister remarked: "This time Dr Abdullah spoke. Next time he will find me speaking on the Centre-State relations".

Asked to elaborate on it, Mr Chandrababu Naidu said: "When he (Dr Farooq) came to me to explain his case, I was to act mostly as a patient listener. He spoke and I heard him. When he insisted for my views, I told him that I can be able to frame my opinion only after I go through the autonomy resolution passed by the Kashmir Assembly and the document prepared by the J&K Autonomy Committee".

Mr Chadrababu Naidu had an interesting comment: "Dr Abdullah, as usual, demonstrated promptness by presenting a copy of the autonomy resolution to me during the meeting itself. And as I obtained the copy, I also demonstrated promptness by telling him that I will get back to you after I study it".

What exactly did the Kashmir Chief Minister want from his Andhra Pradesh counterpart? Mr Naidu’s reply: "The J&K Chief Minister obviously sought to dispel misgivings over the autonomy resolution adopted by the State Assembly. Yes, I had a few queries as the discussion progressed. Dr Abdullah told me that his autonomy proposal was within the Constitutional framework".

In his reply to another question, the Andhra Chief Minister divulged that Dr Farooq appeared interested in two things-first, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) should take up with the Centre the demand for greater autonomy to J&K and, secondly, the TDP should support Kashmir’s National Conference party by raising the autonomy issue during the coming session of Parliament.

When asked as to how did he react to Dr Farooq’s pleadings, Mr Chandrababu Naidu said: "I was very honest, very frank and very sincere when I told him that my party will firm its stand on autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir after studying the report which was presented to me by him".

Dr Farooq Abdullah, thus, failed to get an immediate support from his Andhra Pradesh counterpart on the controversial autonomy issue, with the latter remaining non- committal. Dr Farooq told Mr Naidu that he (Dr Farooq) had been thoroughly misquoted and misunderstood on the demand for restoration of pre-1953 position in Kashmir.

When asked if he was willing to support his ‘friend’ (Dr Farooq) by justifying the cry in favour of the pre-1953 status, Mr Chandrababu Naidu pronounced: "No, I am not for the pre-1953 position. I straightaway reject this idea. Our consistent stand has been that we will not agree to any suggestion that J&K is not an integral part of India".

During his discussions with Mr Naidu, Dr Farooq was reported to have stated: "We only wanted that the Centre should take into consideration the events that took place before and after 1953. We asked the Centre to honour three main events that took place before 1953: Kashmir’s accession to India, total implementation of Article 370 as envisaged in the Constitution of India and the Jawaharlal Nehru-Sheikh Abdullah accord of 1952. We never demanded more".

The Andhra Chief Minister had also an interesting piece of information: "I have started going through the autonomy report. I have to frame my opinion well before my next encounter with Dr Abdullah in New Delhi. In fact, Dr Abdullah has let it be known that he will have another session with me in Delhi on August 5 at the Chief Ministers’ conference on the security of the country".

Mr Naidu said, in reply to another question, that Dr Abdullah had given him a lot of information about Kashmir issue. Asked whether he was agreeing with the kind of autonomy his ‘friend’ (Dr Abdullah) wanted, Mr Naidu remarked: "True, Kashmir is completely different from all other States. But it has to be ensured that the cry for more powers to this particular State did not unleash forces of disruption and separatism".

Jaitley given addl charge of Law & Justice Ministry

NEW DELHI, July 23: Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley has been given the additional charge of Law and Justice Ministry after Law Minister Ram Jethmalini resigned from the Union Cabinet, highly placed sources said today.

In view of Jaitley being given the additional charge of Law and Justice Ministry, Public Grievances Minister Arun Shourie is likely to be allotted the disinvestment portfolio which was till now with Jaitley, the sources said.

Jaitley, a renowned lawyer and student leader during the emergency period had joined the Union Council of Ministers last year. (PTI)

Narcotics seized from ultras hideout in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 23: For the first time in the history of decade long militancy, army have recovered a consignment of narcotics from a hideout in general area of Dadpeth and Waithana in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district.

A Defence spokesman said troops of the elite Delta Force carried out a search operation in Dadpeth and Waithana area of Kishtwar this morning after obtaining a specific information about the presence of a group of militants hiding in the village.

Troops launched a swift operation and carried out searches in the village for more than six hours. Though the militants remained untraced, army personnel succeeded in detecting a consignment of explosives and narcotics from the area.

Recovery include five grenades, a hand held grenade launcher and approximated two kgs of high grade charas. The cost of seized narcotics was valued around Rs two lakhs in the local market, the spokesman said.

He said the charas was meant to be sold in the district for funding of the militant activities. "In the history of decade long terrorism, this is the first time when narcotics have been recovered from the militants", he said, adding the recovery of narcotics once again proved the ongoing nexus between smugglers and militants and their connection outside.

After recovery of explosives and narcotics consignment, troops continued searches in the area to track down the absconding militants. However, they remained untraced.

Home Secretary reviews security situation

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, July 23 : The Union Home Secretary, Mr Kamal Panday reviewed the security scenario in the State at a high level meeting chaired by him here last evening.

Mr Kamal Pandey who alongwith the Special Secretary Home, Mr T R Kakkar reached here yesterday on a day visit took stock of the measures taken to check infiltration from across the border, the coordination of various forces in anti-militancy operations and their successes.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to Government, Home, Mr C Phunsog, Director General of Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, Corps Commander, Lt General, Mr Mukerji, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Mr Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Dr Ashok Bhan, Inspector General, Border Security Force, Inspector General, CRPF and Inspector General, ITBP.

The Union Home Secretary also reviewed the arrangements made for Shri Amarnath yatra and its regulation. He also stressed need for regulating the pilgrims influx as per the existing infrastructure and agreed to the State Government’s request to create awareness among intending pilgrims through doordarshan, AIR and other electronic media from New Delhi to follow the guide lines in terms of registration etc.

Mr Pandey also visited Hazratbal shrine, Shankracharaya temple and Kheer Bhawani temple and paid obeisance.

BJP leader’s kin abducted by party leader’s son

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 23: Son of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has allegedly kidnapped his neighbourer and kin of another BJP leader from Muthi village under the jurisdiction of Domana police station. The alleged kidnapper was a TATA Sumo driver.

Though Domana police was tight-lipped over the kidnapping incident due to involvement of two prominent BJP leaders’ kins, reliable sources said son of BJP women cell leader Surekha Chowdhary, a resident of Muthi was involved in the kidnapping.

The kidnapped girl was identified as Mumica alias Micky, 22 and a Graduate. She was daughter of a retired teacher and kin of another prominent BJP leader.

Despite searches carried out by police at different places, both boy and girl remained untraced. Sources said initially police couldn’t carry out its investigations in the absence of a formal report of kidnapping from the family of abducted girl. However, few days back, Micky’s family lodged a report of missing with Domana police station facilitating police investigations.

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