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CRPF,
JKP indicted in Pahalgam firing episode From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, Oct 31: Like in the infamous Brakpora massacre, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu & Kashmir Police (JKP) have also been indicted — with varied responsibilities — by a Commission of Inquiry in the firing episode at Pahalgam in which 30 persons, including 22 Amarnath pilgrims, had got killed on August 1 this year. Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today announced that necessary legal action was being initiated against the officials found guilty in Brakpora as well as Pahalgam firing incidents in near future. He said that the State Government had accepted both the inquiry reports and recommendations "in toto" but added that Justice S R Pandian, a retired judge of Supreme Court of India, was being recalled to investigate the Chittisinghpura massacre as well as the Pathribal "encounter" which had rocked the entire world, in March last. At a hurriedly called but crowded news conference at his residence this afternoon, Dr Farooq Abdullah declared that the Government of Jammu & Kashmir had accepted the separate Inquiry reports — with all recommendations — on Brakpora and Pahalgam firing incidents "in toto". While as the one-man Commission of Inquiry, comprising Mr Justice S R Pandian, investigated the Brakpora firing episode for the last over five months, another Commission of Inquiry — comprising Commander of 15 Corps Lt Gen J R Mukherjee, State Home Secretary C Phonsung and Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag Gulzar Ahmed Pir — has just completed its report and submitted the same to the Chief Minister. Eight civilian processionists had got killed in the Brakpora (Anantnag) massacre on April 3 last while as 22 Hindu pilgrims, 6 civilians and 2 Police personnel, alongwith two "unidentified militants", had died in the Pahalgam shootout on August 1 this year. As regards the Brakpora incident, Chief Minister said that a special team of officials was being constituted soon for criminal investigation and prosecution of the Police and CRPF personnel who have been found responsible for the unjustified and unprovoked firing on a peaceful procession by the Pandian Commission. He said that the State Government would approach the Union Home Ministry for necessary action against the four paramilitary CRPF personnel who had been held guilty by the Commission while as similar action was being initiated against the three personnel of SOG Anantnag locally. Dr Abdullah said that then SSP Anantnag Farooq Khan as well as SHO Achhabal Gazanfar Ali had not been found responsible for the Brakpora firing and the Pandian Commission had recommended their reinstatement. He, however, added that Mr Farooq Khan’s reinstatement would be "held back" as the state Government would soon recall Mr Justice Pandian and request him to also investigate the Chittisinghpura and Pathribal episodes. On the basis of the Anantnag civilians’ complaints, Dr Abdullah said that Chittisinghpura, Pathribal and Brakpora were "links of the same chain". Even as Mr Khan has been exonerated in the Brakpora episode, Dr Abdullah recalled that he was the District Police chief when the two more controversial episodes occurred on March 21 and 26 last. He indicated that the suspended SSP’s reinstatement would come only when the latter would be absolved in the future inquiries as well. On March 21, as many as 35 members of the minority Sikh community were massacred at Chittisinghpura, in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag, allegedly by foreign militants. On March 24, five civilians were picked up from their respective residences allegedly by security forces. On March 26, troops and Police claimed to have eliminated "five foreign mercenaries" in an encounter at Pathribal (Panchalthan). Thereafter, the Anantnag civilians expressed apprehensions that the "five foreign mercenaries" could be the five "missing" persons. When they assembled at Achhabal, formed a 2000-strong procession and were heading for the Deputy Commissioner’s office on April 3, CRPF and JKP personnel at SOG camp Brakpora opened indiscriminate gunfire in which eight processionists died on and over 30 got injured. Dr Abdullah said that the State Government would distribute ex-gratia of Rs 2 Lakh each among the families of the civilians killed as it had been recommended by Pandian Commission. As recommended, the ex gratia would also be sanctioned in favour of the civilians injured in the shootout. As regards the Pahalgam shootout of August 1, Chief Minister said that the 3-member Inquiry headed by the Corps Commander, Lt Gen J R Mukherjee, had completed the report and submitted it to the Government which had also been accepted fully. He disclosed that CRPF personnel had been found responsible for "excessive firing" while as JKP officials had been found guilty of the "dereliction of duty". While referring to the abstracts of the report, Dr Abdullah said that the CRPF Commandant Hari Singh, JKP’s SP incharge of the Yatra arrangements at Pahalgam Tilak Raj Manotra, as also Dy SPs Abdul Qayoom and Preetam Singh were among those who had been identified and indicted by the Inquiry. Chief Minister said that, on the recommendations of the Inquiry, the State Government would soon constitute a committee — comprising Principal Secretary Home, Secretary General Administration Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and DC Anantnag — so as to ensure best possible security and other related arrangements for the Amarnath pilgrims. He said that all the recommendations would be implemented so that incidents like that of August 1, 2000, did not occur in future. Dr Abdullah clarified that plain murder cases would be registered against the personnel found responsible for the firing and they would be prosecuted accordingly while as their suspension would be ordered immediately. |
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Lara, Stewart,
Ranatunga, Waugh among several foreign players named NEW DELHI, Oct 31: In a damning expose, the CBI has alleged that Mohammed Azharuddin has "fixed" cricket matches with the help of Ajay Jadeja and Nayan Mongia for large sums, and has listed England’s Alec Stewart, Australia’s Mark Waugh as well as Sri Lanka’s Arjuna Ranatunga among the foreign players who were either offered or paid money by bookies. Azharuddin, who played 413 one-day and test matches for India before being dropped from the team in the wake of match-fixing allegations, has named his former team mates Jadeja and Mongia as being involved with him in fixing matches, according to the 162-page report submitted to the Government yesterday. Former international players Manoj Prabhakar and Ajay Sharma are the two other Indians named by the investigating agency which has warned that the underworld mafia was taking interest in the betting racket and could be expected to take "overall control of this activity". Prabhakar, who has accused other players of being involved in match fixing and who reacted to the CBI report by questioning the basis on which his name has figured, has been found by the agency as having introduced a number of foreign players to bookie M K Gupta alias M K Alias John "who either offered or paid money to them." Without indicating which of them turned down or accepted the offers from bookie Gupta, the CBI report names the former England captain Alec Stewart, now playing in Pakistan, star West Indian batsman Brian Lara, leading Australian player Mark Waugh and his former team mate Dean Jones, two Sri Lankan greats Arvinda D’Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga, disgraced South African skipper Hansie Cronje, former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe and former Pakistan skipper Salim Malik. Reached in Baroda tonight for his comment, Mongia, who has kept wickets for India for several years, said he had not not seen or read the CBI report. "Therefore, I have no comments," he said. Azharuddin, who is said to be in Hyderabad, could not be reached for his comment. Jadeja and Ajay Sharma are out of Delhi playing in Ranji Trophy matches and could not be contacted. In the past, all of them have denied any involvement in betting and match-fixing. The Indian team’s former phys- iotherapist Dr Ali Irani has been named by CBI as having "acted as a conduit for receiving payments on behalf of Azharuddin from M K and associates." Azharuddin also paid him money on each occasion that he received payments on his behalf, the report said. Irani, who was also with the team for several years, could not be reached for his comments on CBI’s allegations. "Azharuddin has fixed matches/performance for a bookie M K Gupta alias M K alias John and big time punters Ajay Gupta and associates, with the help of Ajay Jadeja and Nayan Mongia," according to the report. It further said "he (Azharuddin) has also received large sums of money running into lakhs from M K Gupta and Ajay Gupta and associates directly and also on a number of occasions through Dr Ali Irani who was well aware of the activities of Md Azharuddin and the reason for the payments." On ace-allrounder Kapil Dev, the CBI said the ‘bonafides’ of the allegations of Prabhakar that he was offered Rs 25 lakh by him to underperform in a cricket match against Pakistan during Singer Cup Tournament in Sri Lanka in 1994 "has not been established". The report found Ajay Jadeja was very close to bookies and bigtime punters like Uttamchand alias Topi, Rattan Mehta, Rajesh Kalra and Krishan Mumar who is facing prosecution in the Hansie Cronje case. Jadaja also passed on information to Uttamchand for monetary considerations, the report said adding he also met M K Gupta and offered his services for fixing matches and also received money from M K at this meeting. "He (Jadeja) is also named by Azharuddin as one of the players who was with him in fixing matches," the report said. Virtually expressing helplessness regarding initiation of prosecution against anyone on charges of match-fixing, the CBI said "the difficulties in gathering any concrete evidence to establish any of these facts in a court of law has been considerably accentuated by the lapse of time between the events and the investigation. "If the matters had been investigated contemporaneously, perhaps far more effective results could have been attained," the agency said. CBI said former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal was close to Mumbai bookie Anil Steel and on occasions he provided information about matches to steel and received gifts from him. The report said big time punter Rattan Mehta was "extremely close to the entire Pakistani team who have even visited his restaurant in Vasant Vihar, Delhi. "He (Mehta) claims he is particularly close to Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul Haq and Saeed Anwar. He also claims to have received opinion on matches from them and also having given `small gifts’ to Pakistani players on a few occasions," the report said. In its conclusions, the report said "there are clear signals that the underworld mafia has started taking interest in the betting racket and can be expected to take overall control of this activity, if not checked immediately with a firm hand." Tracing the match-fixing to betting, which started on a small scale long back turning to betting on a large scale only after India won the World Cup in 1983, the report said betting had been on the upswing ever since live telecast of cricket matches started on a regular basis. "Betting on cricket matches in India has attained a measure of sophistication and it has spread across the length and breadth of the country. The use of computer and mobile phones have given a major fillip to the racket," it said. The report said betting on cricket in India, in terms of monetary turnover and volume of transactions, "is perhaps the biggest organised racket". It said according to rough estimates the turnover on account of betting on any one-day international match any where in the world "runs into hundreds of crores". CBI said it appeared that what might have been small time wagering, which to some extent was inevitable, has now been replaced by an organised syndicate which has started interfering with the purity of the sport. "It has been the negligence of the police and the other regulatory authorities that has allowed wagering to turn into an organised racket, particularly with the underworld mafia," it said. Ruling that the game has already lost a considerable degree of credibility, the investigating agency said it would be a matter of national shame if the problems narrated in the report were "not immediately and decisively resolved". With a large amount of money at stake in the betting racket on cricket, the report said it made sense for both bookies and punters to manipulate matches. "This has resulted in their developing a close and unholy relationship with cricketers," it said. On Ajay Sharma, the report said he also introduced Azharuddin to bigtime punter Ajay Gupta. "Ajay Sharma received lakhs of rupees from M K and Ajay Gupta and associates for this service," the report said adding he also provided information regarding matches to M K Gupta and was "instrumental in getting a tailor-made pitch prepared for test match on the instructions of M K Gupta for monetary consideration. It said Manoj Prabhakar was close to a number of bookies and punters namely M K Gupta, Tipu Kohli, Anand Saxena, Rajesh Kalra, Sanjeev Chawla, Sunil Dara and Mashal. He introduced a number of foreign players and also provided information about test matches and one-day internationals and a Ranji Trophy match to bookie M K Gupta. "For introducing the foreign players and providing information regarding matches, he received large sums of money from M K and Tipu Kohli," it said. On Azharuddin, CBI said "the involvement of the captain of the cricket team is qualitatively different from the involvement of stray players such as Ajay Sharma or even other important players which destroyed the very ethos of the team event." In its "final word" in the report, the CBI said "the crisis facing cricket today is very different and far more sinister than the `bodyline’ controversy. Cricket, as it is played at present, does not appear to be the same game played by Sir Don Bradman or Neville Cardus wrote about. "The romaticism associated with the game is perhaps gone for ever. Increasingly, in the playing fields around the world, the music of a sweetly-timed stroke is being replaced by the harsh cacophony of ringing cell phone. "Both inducements and threats to players are bound to increase in view of the big money involved in gambling on cricket and the entry of the underworld. Major corrective steps need to be taken to put cricket back on rails," the report added. (PTI) |
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Changing LoC into IB only
solution to Kashmir dispute: Farooq From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, Oct 31: Pakistan-based chairman of Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Amanullah Khan has, among others, invited the Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah at the marriage ceremony of his daughter which is scheduled to be ceremonised in Rawalpindi on November 19 next. While making the revelation at his Press Conference, Dr Abdullah said that he would appraoch the Governments of India and Pakistan for necessary travel documents and other formalities. He said that in case the Government of Pakistan gave assurance of his security and India had no objection, he would like to attend the wedding from the bride’s side. Amanullah’s daughter Asma Khan will marry Sajad Gani Lone, son of the senior Hurriyat leader and chairman of J&K Peoples Conference Khwaja Abdul Gani Lone. Dr Abdullah said that he, however, had not been invited by the parents of the groom. Addressed as "president of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference and Chief Minister of India-occupied Kashmir", Dr Abdullah has been invited to attend the marriage ceremony at Al-Hamra Hall, Poonchh House Complex, Adamjee Road, Saddar, Rawalpindi Pakistan. Mrs and Mr Khan have invited him from their residence 144-Satellite Town, near Chandni Chowk, Rawalpindi Pakistan. Dr Abdullah had visited Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 1974 — days before his father late Sheikh Abdullah was installed as J&K Chief Minister after 22 years of unaccomplished struggle for plebiscite — and enjoyed the hospitality and company of the JKLF chief. However, later he grew as a stanch mainstream supporter. Interestingly, Amanullah Khan has carried a political message, through his invitation cards, to all the invitees asking for "concerted, sincere and selfless efforts" by Indi- an, Kashmiri and Pakistani people, Governments, political parties, journalists and intellectuals "to change Kashmir from its present position of a poisonous bone of contention into a bridge of friendship between India and Pakistan". However, he has not used his pet vocabulary of Azadi. On the other hand, Dr Farooq Abdullah stressed at today’s Press conference that conversion of Line of Control between India-administered and Pakistan-administered Kashmir into International Border would be the first and the last solution to the vexed Kashmir problem. "There’s going to be no other solution" he asserted and remarked that all those believing in other kind of solutions were living in a fool’s paradise. Meanwhile, Dr Abdullah said that his party National Conference had accepted the former Chief Minister and NC’s chronic antagonist Ghulam Mohammad Shah’s invitation to the formation of an all-party alliance for the resolution of the Kashmir crisis. He said that NC would participate in Gul Shah’s rally which may be organised later next month at Sher-e-Kashmir Park here. JKLF chief Amanullah Khan has already expressed similar willingness to join Shah’s initiative. |
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Pandian’s human heart for Brakpora victims Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 31: Justice S R Pandian, who investigated the Brakpora massacre by SOG Anantnag for the last over five months, left for his home the other day with no agenda of mundane preoccupations. A great philanthropist, Pandian has turned to full-time human service after his unique attainments in over 35 year-long career in judiciary. After his superannuation as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Pandian has handled a many important investigative and arbitrary assignments for the state and central governments. He was working on a central assignment on low-paid employees when Jammu & Kashmir Government’s Law Secretary Khursheed Ahmed Bhat called on him twice and motivated him, on behalf of the State Government, to conduct an inquiry into the Brakpora firing incident. "I was not here to earn money", says Pandian at Srinagar Airport as he is seen off by Law Secretary Khursheed, Secretary to Pandian Commission G Q Mughal, Administrative Officer B A Jallu and IGP Kashmir Ashok Bhan. Even as Pandian conducted the inquiry, few here knew that he had spent major portion of his honorarium on the refreshments of his staff, security as also the victims of Brakpora shootout. Not only that. He has donated 40 acres of his land in Tamil Nadu for setting up a residential colony for scheduled castes where a school, orphanage and hospital too have come up. Before his departure, Pandian went to Anantnag and distributed cashful of envelops among the family members of those who had died in the March 26 shootout. He also distributed 45 watches and other articles among his drivers, ITBP security staff and helpers. But all that amount came from his home. As regards the money he was paid here as head of the Commission, Pandian says that he would spend it on a charitable mission at Annana Nagar. The draft has been already sent there. "I’m happy and satisfied that I have worked here with full peace of mind and liberty", says he. Even after his departure, few here know that two of Justice Pandian’s sons are promising entrepreneurs in the United States, handling the computer business. Sources close to him said that their turnover was one Crore dollar a year. |
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GoM deliberates on Kargil panel recommendations NEW DELHI, Oct 31: A Group of Ministers (GoM), set up to study the recommendations of the Kargil review committee, today held in-depth discussions on the reports of the four task forces on different aspects concerning national security. The GoM would continue to hold discussions to finalise its recommendations, Defence Minister George Fernandes told reporters after over two-hour-long meeting. Besides Fernandes, the meeting, chaired by Home Minister L K Advani, was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Governor G C Saxena, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra and top officials. Official sources said the report of the GoM was likely to be finalised by the middle of November and submitted to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The task forces, which dealt with internal security, border management, intelligence apparatus and defence management, submitted their reports to Advani on October 1. The task force on intelligence set-up presented its crucial 224-page report after studying the functioning of all intelligence agencies in the country. It had chapters dealing with the role of intelligence in the changing security environment, besides functioning of agencies like intelligence bureau, armed forces Intelligence wings, Research and Analyses Wing and the Director General of Security. It also dealt with counter-intelligence, economic intelligence, psychological warfare and coordination between different agencies. The task forces on internal security and defence management have made a series of recommendations on restructuring of the national security system. The task force on internal security has dealt with the responsibility of the centre and the states to manage internal security and constitutional provisions relating to their respective responsibilities. It has also dealt with the constitutional position regarding deployment of armed forces, current internal security scenario, drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, functioning of state police forces, paramilitary forces and the role of the Union Home Ministry in national security management. The task force on defence management has dealt with higher defence management, procurement organisation and procedures, research and development, defence production and policy research, the sources added. (PTI) |
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Romeo Force kills 3 Pakistanis, civilian Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Oct 31: In a major success tonight, Romeo Force gunned down three Pakistani militants at village Nadli near Mirza Morh in Surankote tehsil. A civilian was also trapped in the exchange of firing and got killed. According to Defence sources, a patrol party of Romeo Force, which was on a routine night patrol in Nadli, was briefed by the civilians that three militants were seen moving in the village. Troops became alert and rushed towards the given area. They spotted three militants moving out of the village and opened firing on them after they refused to surrender. In the firing, army jawans killed one militant while two others fled from the spot, the sources said, adding the fleeing militants took shelter in an abandoned dhok. As after repeated warnings the militants didn’t come out and continued firing, army jawans blasted the dhok killing both the ultras inside. In the process, a civilian was also caught in the exchange of firing and got killed. Identity of neither civilian nor slain militants had been established so far as it became dark in the village after the completion of operation. However, bodies of all three militants have been recovered and markings on their rifles showed that they were Pakistanis. Recoveries made from the encounter site include three AK-56 rifles, 39 rounds and one wireless set besides some ammunition. More recoveries were expected during the searches tomorrow morning. Sources said the slain militants appeared to be the activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit and one was an ‘area commander’ for Surankote tehsil, involved in a series of killings. |
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Extortion bid from trader
foiled Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 31: Police have arrested an extortioner and an associate of gangster Sanjay Kumar alias Bakra from a shop in transporters’ hub Ware House where he had gone to extort money from a prominent businessman. Bakra, who enjoys protection of a BJP MLA and was scheduled to join mainstream at a police press conference on November 6, escaped when police raided his residence late last night. Giving a slip to police, Bakra jumped boundary wall of his house and disappeared. Police sources said a businessman Pawan Singh Manhas, a resident of Talab Tillo, who runs his business at Ware House told police that he had been receiving threatening letters from Bakra and his associates Narinder Gupta alias Gullu of Talab Tillo demanding Rs five lakh as extortion. Sources said Bakra group had earlier tried to forcibly capture the house of Pawan Singh at Canal Road but timely action by police had thwarted the attempt of gangsters. Bakra was subsequently arrested by police alongwith his other associates. A harassed Manhas took the help of Ware House police. Police laid a trap and asked Manhas to call Bakra and Gullu for receiving the amount of extortion last night. Late last night, Gullu alone came to the shop of Manhas at Ware House for taking the amount. An alert police party, which had laid a naka in plainclothes, arrested Gullu from the shop. Sources said Gullu told police party during preliminary questioning that he was sent to collect the sum of extortion by Bakra. The police party led by Ware House police post Incharge Ravinder Singh Parihar immediately planned a raid at Bakra’s residence. Seeing the police party approaching his house, Bakra fled from the house and disappeared in by-lanes. Police chased him but to no avail. A case against Bakra and Narinder Gupta alias Gullu has been registered at Ware House police post for further investigations. Police said raids were being conducted at different places to apprehend Bakra but he remained untraced. Police said that Bakra, who had recently been bailed out from Public Safety Act (PSA), had decided to join the mainstream. Even November 6 had been fixed as the date by police for the purpose. However, the latest incident could mar his prospects, the sources added. |
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Intrusion bid foiled in
Poonch Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Oct 31: Two army jawans were killed and seven others were injured, two of them seriously, when militants blasted a security vehicle with a rocket attack at village Dundak in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district last night. Meanwhile, troops of Poonch Brigade under the command of Ace of Spades Division (ASD) foiled an infiltration attempt on the Line of Control (LoC) in Sabjian area of Poonch sector killing one militant and wounding several others. Injured ultras fled back to Pakistan. According to official sources, a vehicle of Road Opening Party (ROP) of Romeo Force was hit by a rocket fired by the militants from atop a hill at village Dundak late last night. Rocket hit the target and exploded with a bang killing two army jawans on the spot and wounding seven others. Despite being injured, the jawans took positions and opened firing on the militants. However, the ultras managed to escape after a brief exchange of firing taking advantage of darkness and heights. Troops rushed to the spot after getting a report of the incident and rushed the injured to hospital where two of them were pronounced dead. They have been identified as Havildar Romesh Chander and Naik Narain Singh. Of seven injured jawans, two were referred to Military Hospital in view of their critical condition. Troops have launched a search operation in Dundak and surrounding areas to catch hold of the militants involved in the rocket attack. However, they remained untraced. Meanwhile, army jawans of Poonch Brigade noticed an infiltration attempt taking place from Pakistan side on the LoC in Sabjian area of Poonch sector early today. As the militants reached within the firing range, troops challenged them and opened firing. Exchange of firing between militants and army continued for an hour in which one militant was killed and three others were injured. The injured ultras managed to escape back to Pakistan alongwith their associates. One AK-47 rifle and Rs 1500 in Indian currency were recovered from the possession of slain militant, who couldn’t be identified but was suspected to be a Pakistani. There was no casualty on army side in the operation. Meanwhile, three militants killed yesterday by Romeo Force at village Sarian near Behram Gala in Surankote have been identified as Tariq Ahmed son of Maqbool Ahmed of Islamabad, Abu Maza alias Talib Hussain and Nazir Ahmed, all Pakistanis. |
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Two militants, jawan killed in Banihal Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 31: In two more successful operations conducted by Delta Force in Banihal tehsil of Doda district, two more militants were gunned down today. An army jawan also lost his life in one of the encounter. A Defence spokesman said the first operation was carried out by Rashtriya Rifles personnel of Delta Force in Chaknarwa forests, about four kms south east of Banihal. Troops started searches in the forest area early this morning and established contact with the militants at about 1230 hours. An exchange of gun-fight started which lasted half an hour. In the cross-firing, one militant was killed and another was seriously injured. However, there was no report of any casualty on army side. The injured militant managed to escape further deep in the forest area and was being chased by army jawans. Operation was on when the reports last came in. Slain ultra has been identified as Tariq Farookhi, a local. One AK-56 rifle with three magazines and two hand grenades were recovered from him. Another militant was killed in the continued operation by army jawans of Gorkha Regiment in Mangat area of Banihal. The militant, who was hiding in the forest fired upon the troops patrol party, who retaliated and killed the ultra. An army jawan also lost his life in the exchange of firing in true traditions of the army. Identity of killed militant hasn’t been established so far but he was suspected to be a foreigner. One rifle with ammunition and some grenades were recovered from him. The spokesman said that Delta Force has eliminated 29 militants during this month, which was the largest ever ever since its raising. The successes are being viewed as a major jolt to the militant organisation in the hilly district of Doda, he added. |
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JAMMU, Oct 31: Cricketer Ajay Jadeja tonight expressed ignorance about his name being mentioned in the CBI report on match-fixing and said he was totally innocent. "Whatever I’ve come to know is from the media only. I am innocent," Jadeja said here. Jadeja is one of the players named by CBI, in its report submitted to Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, in connection with match-fixing. Jadeja denied he had ever been questioned by CBI or been asked to appear before it. "(However) if CBI asks, I’ll not hesitate to appear before it. "If any charge is proved against me, I will respect law as I am a law-abiding citizen," Jadeja said. Jadeja, who was dropped from the team for the recent series in Kenya and Sharjah, however, said the cricket board had not put a ban on his playing. "I was dropped because of my poor performance and when I improve my performance I will be back in the team," he said. Jadeja criticised the media for sensationalising the whole issue. When allegations were being made against Kapil Dev, the newspapers carried them on the front pages but now that he has been found innocent, he has been relegated to the back pages, Jadeja said. (PTI) |
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1500 militants still active in North Kashmir: BSF Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 31: Around 1500 militants, mostly foreign mercenaries, are operating in north Kashmir districts of Kupwara and Baramulla, a BSF official said. "There are 1500 active militants, mostly foreigners, in north Kashmir and the largest group belong to Pakistan- based Lashker-e-Toiba, the local component is much less," Inspector General of BSF, B N Chatervedi told reporters at Baramulla, here, yesterday. He said though infiltration has declined in Kashmir region in view of stringent security measures adopted on the borders, militant activities have increased in Jammu region. Chatervedi, who was briefing reporters about the seizure of big cache of arms and ammunition from a militant hideout at Mangdon Forest, near Line of Control (LoC), said the hideout here served as a transit camp for the militants. "The arms and ammunition which were being smuggled from Pakistan used to be dumped in the hideout and later distributed to other areas of the Kashmir valley," he said. He said BSF troops raided the militant hideout on October 29 in which two militants including an Afghan mercenary was killed. The search of the hideout led to the recovery of huge cache of arms and ammunition including eight kgs of RDX, three AK assault rifles besides, food materials. |
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Beg warns promoters of terrorism, secessionism Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 31: National Conference (NC) leader and former Minister, Dr Mehboob Beg while warning the agencies promoting terrorism and separatist tendencies in Jammu and Kashmir State has asked them that instead of meddling in our internal affairs they should see where they themselves stand. Addressing a gathering of Kashmiri migrants here today, Dr Beg said that great setback has been given to centuries old brotherhood and communal amity by the promoters of terrorism. He said the composite culture is our past legacy and every member of majority community today feels that Kashmir is incomplete with out the Pandits who had played an important role in the all round development of the Valley. Reiterating that Kashmir is an integral part of India he said progress and prosperity we saw after independence is a reason enough that bond of accession is final. He said the situation in Kashmir is quite different now as it was few years back and the people of the Valley better understand that where the rest of country reached during past 11 years and what destruction and devastation we have suffered. Dr Beg asked the people to participate in the Panchayat elections which will be held in near future as this will strengthen the democratic process in the state and give a final blow to the forces inimical to our progress and prosperity. He said the unemployment is the main problem which the state of J&K is facing at present and stressed that it should be given the due attention. He appealed the Central Government to be flexible towards the State and come forward in establishment of some industries for eradicating the unemployment. Opposing the trifurcation of the state he said the integration of three regions of Jammu and Kashmir is vital for the country and a check on the separatist forces as Jammu and Ladakh can act as a balance. He also appealed the people to strengthen National Conference (NC) which has a historical role to its credit and the Party from accession till today has unchallengable leadership. |
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16 Bihar ministers to lose jobs after creation of Jharkhand PATNA, Oct 31: Sixteen Bihar ministers are likely to lose their jobs with the coming into existence of Jharkhand State on November 15. The 16 ministers, including 11 of Congress belong to the tribal plateau region which will constitute the new State. The Congress ministers who are likely to lose their berths are Furkan Ansari, the leader of CLP in the Assembly Bagun Sumbrui, Manoj Kumar Yadav, Chandrashekhar Dubey, Rajendra Prasad Singh (all Cabinet Ministers) Theodore Kiro, Niyal Tirki, Sawna Lakra, Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, Deo Kumar Dhan and Alamgir (Ministers of State). Rashtriya Janata Dal ministers who will be left without the trappings of power are Saba Ahmed, Annapurna Devi and Girinath Singh. Besides, Madhav Lal Singh and Joba Manjhi, independent MLAs and member of the Rabri Devi cabinet will also lose their jobs. However, with the National Democratic Alliance facing the threat of desertion by JMM-S, which is demanding Chief Ministerial post for its president Sibu Soren, the possibility of some of them securing berths in the new Government cannot be ruled out. The name of the first Chief Minister of the new State is eagerly awaited. BJP, which has the largest number of 32 MLAs in the 81-member proposed Jharkhand Assembly, is likely to announce the name on November six, party sources said. Outgoing Cabinet Secretary Prabhat Kumar was appointed the first Governor yesterday. (PTI) |
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Burglars decamp with Rs two lakh in cash Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Oct 31: In a broad day light theft case a bus driver was duped of Rs two lakh in cash by burglars who broke into his house yesterday. According to reports Mr Surinder Kumar alias Shandey a driver of Jammu, Kathua route bus was duped of the money which he had received after disposing off his old bus. The amount was kept by him in an almirah in the house and yesterday when both Mr Kumar and his wife were not in the house the burglars broke into and decamped with the money. Kathua Police has registered a case in this regard but could not get any clue as yet. According to reports in last one year over hundred theft cases have been reported in the town and police has not been able to make recovery in any case. The incident has generated a lot of resentment among the people of the town. |
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Rehman posted as Parliamentary Secy NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Government tonight carried out top bureacratic reshuffle involving key economic ministeries bringing in Ajit Kumar as Finance Secretary in place of Piyush Mankad, S Narain as Revenue Secretary and P Shankar as the new Petroleum Secretary. Mankad, who was also holding the additional charge of Revenue, has been shifted as Secretary in Industrial Policy and Planning Department to succeed Ajit Kumar. S Narain, Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary, has been posted as Revenue Secretary while P Shankar, Secretary Food and Public Distribution, takes the place of Narain. Vinay Kohli, at present Secretary for Minorities, was appointed as the Information and Technology Secretary in place of P V Jayakrishna who takes over as Environment and Forest Secretary. E A S Sarma, who was Secretary in Economic Affairs Department, has been shifted to Coal Ministry replacing V N Kaul who moves to Chemical and Petrochemical Ministry. Vishwanathan Anand Secy Environment and Finance posted as Secy Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries. M P Pinto, chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, is the new Shipping Secretary suceeding R Vasudevan who has been repatriated to his cadre in Maharashtra. R D Kapoor, Parliamentary Affairs Secretary, has been posted as Food and PDS Secretary. Mehmood-ur-Rehman, at present in the cadre of Jammu and Kashmir, has been posted as Secretary Parliamentary Affairs. (PTI) |
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