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Demonstrations,
arson, curfew in Valley Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 4: The slain Shia political leader, Aga Syed Mehdi, was laid to rest with a hero’s send-off today at his home-town of Budgam where over 50,000 people participated in the funeral procession. Even as curfew remained imposed in half of the capital city, angry demonstrators indulged in stone-pelting and arson at several places in Budgam, Srinagar and Baramulla districts. While wailing and shouting anti-Pakistan slogans, over 20,000 followers of the Aga Sahib of Budgam had converged at Budgam town last evening itself after coming to know that the reverred Anjuman-e-Sharie supremo Aga Syed Mustafa’s son had been eliminated by militants in a landmine blast, alongwith his driver and Police guards, near Magam. For the whole night, there was mourning and protests against the killing as unprecedented tension gripped all Shia-dominated localities in Kashmir valley. Men, women and children from near and far localities thronged Budgam from early this morning. There was total shutdown in Shia villages, towns and several localities in Srinagar downtown. Curfew remained imposed in the area of five Police stations in the capital city as Police and paramilitary forces disallowed every movement of people towards Budgam. Angry demonstrators indulged in stone-pelting at several places. However, DC Srinagar Vipul Pathak as well as IGP Kashmir Ashok Bhan claimed that nobody was injured. Srinagar-Baramulla highway remained disrupted for traffic for the full day as at least two major demonstrations came out at Bali Heran and Singhpura. About three thousand people of a community participated in the funeral of a youth at Hartrath, Singhpura, and resorted to stone-pelting and sloganeering. The young man had been lynched to death by the angry and outraged group of another community last evening after Radio Kashmir and Doordarshan confirmed Aga Mehdi’s death in a landmine blast. DIG North Kashmir, Dilbagh Singh, told EXCELSIOR that Police swung into action and rounded up about 40 miscreants were bent upon creating trouble and sectrarian flare-up. He claimed that situation was tense but under control everywhere in North Kashmir. However, reports of stone-pelting were received from Ganasthan and other villages in Sumbal Sonawari. Inspite of restrictions, over 50,000 people assembled at Budgam and participated in Aga Mehdi’s funeral and daylong mourning at the historic Imambara as well as the Agas’ residence. Incoming people, carrying black flags atop their buses and other modes of transport, were heard shouting loud slogans against Pakistan and holding the militants responsible for the assassination. However, at the district headquarters, it remained restricted to "Down with the killers", "Punish Aga Mehdi’s killers", "Hussainiyat Zindabad, Yazeediyat Muradabad" and "Narai Takbir Allah-o-Akbar". As a good sign, hundreds of people from the Sunni Muslim villages of Budgam district also participated in the funeral and a complete shutdown was observed at all the major Sunni townships like Ompora, Ichhigam, Chadoura, Nasrallapora, Sholipora, Gondipora, Beerwah and even the Hizbul Mujahideen supremo Syed Salah-ud-din’s home-town of Soibug. That eased tension to a large extent and facilitated the participation of several Hurriyat leaders in the funeral. Hurriyat Chairman Prof Abdul Gani, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammad Yaseen Malik, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Javed Ahmed Mir and Dr Ghulam Mohammad Hubbi besides Maulvi Abbas Ansari’s brother, Maulvi Mustafa Ansari, attended the Namaz-e-Janaza at Imambara of Budgam. Later, they participated in the funeral procession upto the Agas cemetry at Budgam Karewa. The Namaz-e-Janaza was performed at Budgam Bus Stand where Police and security forces had made tight security arrangement to foil any trouble. Still, a 2000-strong group of people protested against the curfew restrictions in Srinagar and objected to the authorities’ decision of not allowing the Agas followers towards Budgam. The unruly mob shouted slogans against Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and senior NC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar while setting on fire the office complexes of DRDA. BDO’s office, PDD complex, the Court of District and Sessions judge, Tehsil office, J&K Bank complex and Police Station of Budgam were subjected to heavy stone-pelting. While the DRDA office gutted and guards saved the Court from a blaze with firing in air, several structures suffered extensive damage. The petition writers’s wooden stalls at the Court complex were also destroyed by the mob. Police invoked lathi-charge and firing in air to disperse the crowds. However, majority of the people avoided to damage the public property and chanting of objectionabale slogans. Late in the afternoon, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Omar Abdullah drove all the way to Budgam and called on the crestfallen Aga Syed Mustafa whose first son, Aga Syed Hussain, had died way back in 1983. Even as his followers do not find themselves bereft in spiritual leadership, all of them interviewed told EXCELSIOR that they were now "politically orphans". Aga Syed Mustafa has his elder son, Aga Syed Hassan Budgami, in Hurriyat but he has few takers to his slogan of Azadi. The Aga’s followers have been performing prayers in Aga Hassan’s leadership but they have all along demonstrated themselves as high-spirited voters of Aga Syed Mehdi, who contested several elections on Congress mandate. Dr Abdullah and his son Omar — who defeated Aga Mehdi in the last two Lok Sabha elections — extended their condolences to the bereaved Aga Syed Mustafa, other family members and particularly, the slain leader’s 14-year-old, Aga Syed Ruhullah, who reached here this afternoon from Aligarh. The Chief Minister described Aga Mehdi as a great maintream political leader who served Shias and Sunnis alike and had no narrow-minded considerations. Earlier, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Autar Singh Gill, Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, Ghulam Rasool Kar, Taj Mohi-ud-din and others participated in Mehdi’s funeral and also conveyed the Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s condolences to the bereaved family. PDP leaders G Q Pardesi, Tariq Hameed Qara and Advocate G N Lone also attended Aga Mehdi’s last rites at Budgam. Late this evening, DC Srinagar said that he would assess the situation in the capital city on Sunday morning and, accordingly, take decision with regard to continuing or lifting the curfew. |
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SUNDAY SPECIAL From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, is not physically fit enough to adopt the style of ‘morning exercise’ religiously pursued by his ‘physically fit’ contemporary, Mr LK Advani. But Mr Vajpayee has established, beyond doubt, his improved mental faculty and skills, relatively superior to Mr Advani’s, in scheming things. Prime Minister, in other words, has emerged as an ace schemer and strategist, leaving behind his Home Minister, Mr Advani. Gone are the days when Mr Vajpayee could not conveniently go to his bed without personally interacting with Mr Advani even for a short while. And gone are the days when Mr Advani was considered as the ‘number one’ in the list of confidants of Mr Vajpayee. This ‘number one’ position, insiders point out, has been occupied by the Minister for External Affairs, Mr Jaswant Singh, immediately followed by the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes. That Mr LK Advani does not appear, in the altered scenario, to be all-important Minister is borne out by the virtual takeover of policy-making and decision-taking in respect of Kashmir by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). In the initial stages, Mr Advani, undoubtedly, asserted as the man in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs. However, with the passage of time, the PMO, obviously at the behest of Mr Vajpayee himself, began to act in a manner as to make others understand that the Home Ministry alone will not handle J&K affairs. Mr Advani may have a grievance or two against unwarranted interference by some people in his Ministry’s working. But he has so far acted in a manner as to make these very people understand that he has already learnt not to discuss in public official matters, particularly the ones relating to certain sensitive regions. For reasons best known to Mr Vajpayee himself, Mr Advani was not openly involved in all the crucial decisions during the past one year. At no stage so far did Mr Advani’s "beloved" Prime Minister go public with his grievance against those who sought to intensify the discussion on the issue of succession in view of Mr Vajpayee’s poor state of health. Again, at no stage so far did Mr Vajpayee make public the ‘demand’ made by even some of his partymen for the allotment of a new portfolio to Mr Advani, instead of the present one, namely, Home Affairs. All that was allowed to happen in recent months was the periodic transmission of the signal vis-à-vis the growing importance of Mr George Fernandes and Mr Jaswant Singh. Certain issues, particularly in respect of the law and order situation in Kashmir and West Bengal, which in normal course should have been handled by the Union Home Minister himself, were taken care of by the Defence Minister. And Mr George Fernandes simply could not have ventured to do so in the absence of the go-ahead signal from the Prime Minister’s Office. There is no denying that the Prime Minister has the right to approve or reject any decision taken by the Home Ministry, say, in respect of the selection of Governors. The practice has all these years been to involve the Home Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office-Prime Minister himself, to be precise-in this regard. Defence Ministers in the past generally avoided getting themselves entangled in political issues such as selection and appointment of Governors. But India’s present Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, has, on more than one occasion, proved his aptitude more for politics and politicking than for defence matters. No wonder, Mr LK Advani was outwitted by Mr Fernandes when the first Governor for the newly-created State of Chhatisgarh was to be appointed. Mr Advani had been approached by a top RSS leader in favour of Mr DN Tiwari, member of the Planning Commission. According to insiders, Mr Advani himself seemed inclined to send Mr Tiwari as the Governor of Chhatisgarh. But the Prime Minister’s ‘man’ (Mr George Fernandes) eventually succeeded in getting his man, Mr DN Sahaya, to be appointed as the Governor. |
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New Members take oath From Tashi Morup LEH, Nov 4: Amid loud cheers of over a thousand people, the 26 elected members from various parties were sworn in as the new councilors of second Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council by Deputy Commissioner Dheeraj Gupta at the new Council complex today at about 11 AM. The oath took by the fresh councilors read as: "I having been elected as a candidate to fill a seat in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the State as by-law established and that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India". Haji Abdul Qadir of NC party from Turtuk constituency was the first to take the oath from Dheeraj Gupta. He read the oath in Urdu. And then followed other elected members who chose to read out the oath either in Urdu, Hindi or English. Dressed in mostly Ladakhi traditional ‘Kos’ the elected members took the oath on a stage outside the building in presence of several dignitaries including Lama Lobzang, Member National Minority Commission, senior citizens of Leh and district officials besides the large public. The most favorite Thupstan Chhewang, whose double-victory announcement yesterday had virtually turned the sweeping victory of Congress I over its nearest rival NC into a public ecstasy, chose Hindi to read out the pledge. Another one to read in Hindi was a Ladakh Scouts' retired personal Chewang Rinchen of Congress I who won from Skyu-Markha constituency. His soldierly style of reading (of adding ‘sir’) broke the public laughter. Later everybody presented ‘Khataks’ (white scarves) to the elected councilors. This followed by a brief round table meeting in the exquisite New Confrence Hall of the complex between the elected members Indian National Congress and the lone independent candidate Dawa Tsering from Skyurbuchan constituency. Dawa promised to work in co-operation with the majority party. However, he expressed his desire to take the consent of the people of his constituency before accepting any proposal to join the major party. Also during this meeting the Congress members put forward their unanimous decision to claim Thupstan Chhewang once again as the Chairman of the Council. However, refusing to continue on this post Thupstan Chhewang said a new member should hold the post as he would now like to focus more on the issues that the party promised to take up before the public while campaigning. And as a Chairman he would be devoid of that chance. But others were firm on having Thupstan Chhewang himself leading the new Council and thus he had to agree. In the formal meeting afternoon after getting the majority's consensus Deputy Commissioner Dheeraj Gupta, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, LAHDC, declared Thupstan Chhewang as the Chairman of the second Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council according to the Council Act. In his first address to the new Councilors Chhewang reiterated his firm wishes to keep up to the people's hope. He also confirmed to make all effort including seeking co-operation of both Central and State Government for the development of the entire district without any bias especially those remote areas which are devoid of benefits of the development. Later talking to media Thupstan Chhewang said, it was due to the great influence of Kushok Bakula, whose service to the people of Ladakh is lasting, the Congress party won the election. He said, the Council would focus more on agriculture, education, and infrastructure including read and communication sectors during its term. He appealed the State Government to release the funds in time so that the Council can smoothly function. Next formal meeting of the Council has been called on November 13. Meanwhile, the District Congress Committee Leh in a communication addressed to the Governor, has recommended a penal of 4 members for nomination as a member of the LAHDC. They are Mr Ashraf Ali, former Executive Councillor, as a member of principal minority community, Mr Mohd Yokof Bijal as a member from minority Muslim Community, Mrs Tsetsu Lamo, member from weaker section and Mr Sonam Targais as administrator and social worker. It may be mentioned here that the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, has total 30 member, of which 26 elected and 4 nominated members by the Government. |
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Join mainstream to lead
normal life Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: For the first time in the history of underworld in the State, two prominent gangsters Sanjay Kumar alias Bakra, leader of Bakra group of gang and his deputy Brahamjot alias Sittu, involved in some criminal activities, today shunned the path of violence and joined mainstream before Divisional Commissioner and IGP Jammu pledging to lead a normal life. Bakra, whose name once spelt terror in the business markets of the City, besides being involved in some activities, had old rivalry with Billo Group, another gang in the underworld. Bakra was arrested by police from Canal Road sometime back, then booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) but was later bailed out. Sittu used to assist Bakra. A police handout issued this evening said that Bakra and Sittu, wanted to police in several cases in Jammu City and surrounding areas, had desired to live with honour and spend a crime free life. Accordingly, they appeared before civil and police officials this morning in a pre-planned function. Besides Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Anil Goswami and IGP Jammu Radha Vinod Raju, other officials present on the occasion include DIG Jammu-Kathua range S P Vaid, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu U K Goel and SSP Jammu Rashmi Ranjan Sawain. The handout said DIG Vaid was instrumental in motivating the two criminals to leave the underworld and lead a life of peaceful law abiding citizens. The duo had pledged to do so. Police have directed the two former gangsters to keep their area’s police station and other senior officers including SSP Jammu informed about their sources of livelihood and about their other activities in the future. Both of them agreed. According to the handout, both the former gang leaders will have to face trial in the court of law for the criminal cases in which they were involved in different areas earlier. The handout confirmed that they were involved in criminal activities in the City and outskirts earlier but said both of them have assured police officials not to take law in their own hands in future. This is probably for the first time in the history of crime here that prominent gangsters have given up the path of violence and joined mainstream. As already reported, the ground for bringing Bakra to mainstream had been prepared by the police about a fortnight ago after hectic parleys between Bakra’s supporters and police officials. |
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Civilian killed in blast Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Nov 4: Troops of Bhimber Gali Brigade under the command of Ace of Spades Division (ASD) today foiled a major infiltration attempt by Pakistan-sponsored militants, backed by enemy troops, in forward area of Nerli in Keri sector killing seven foreign mercenaries and forcing others to flee back. In other incidents across the district, Romeo Force gunned down a militant at Gali Nar in Surankote while a civilian was killed in an explosion at village Darkari under the jurisdiction of Dharamshal police station in Kalakote tehsil. Defence sources said at about 0400 hours today, troops of Sikh Regiment of BG Brigade noticed a large group of militants, heavily armed with weapons, trying to sneak into Indian territory alongwith the bushes. As the group came within the firing range, troops asked them to surrender and opened firing after they refused to do so. In the meantime, Pakistan army also resorted to heavy firing and shelling to give a cover to infiltrators. In the fierce exchange of firing, army jawans gunned down seven militants without suffering any casualty on their side. Three to four militants managed to escape back to Pakistan taking cover of Pak firing and shelling. Till this afternoon, enemy troops didn’t allow the Indian side to lift the bodies of slain infiltrators with continued shelling. It was only in the evening that army recovered all seven bodies of the militants when the shelling stopped and handed them over to local police. Sources said all seven slain ultras were believed to be foreign mercenaries, probably Pakistanis. So far, army had recovered four AK rifles with seven magazines and six grenades from the scene of encounter while more recovery was expected to be made during the searches. Slain militants were suspected to be the activists of Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit of Masood Azhar. One of them could be a ‘group commander’ of the outfit. This was the first major intrusion bid by hardcore foreign mercenaries from the Line of Control (LoC), which has been foiled by Indian army effectively. Killing of seven militants in a single encounter was a major blow to the militant outfit, the sources said. Meanwhile, in another encounter, Romeo Force jawans gunned down a militant at Gali Nar in Jharan Wali Gali (JWG), about 15 kms from Surankote this evening. A Defence spokesman said army jawans of JWG Brigade noticed two militants in Gali Nar and chased them. In the gun-battle that followed, army liquidated one militant while his associate fled into an adjoining forest area and remained untraced. Identity of slain ultra hasn’t been established so far. He was an activist of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Pir Panjal Regiment (HMPPR), which was established from a rifle of the outfit recovered from him alongwith magazines and ammunition. Meanwhile, a powerful explosion occurred in Soli bridge in Kalakote tehsil this evening in which a civilian identified as Mohd Latief son of Alam Din, a resident of village Darkari was killed. The bridge suffered minor damage in the explosion. A police party visited the spot and sealed the area. Further investigations were being conducted. |
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‘Islamabad to fail in
its sinister designs’ Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Warning Islamabad against its sinister designs in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that "Pakistan cannot annex even an inch of our soil and is destined to meet the same fate in the proxy war as it faced during previous wars. Addressing the 24th North West Zone and 6th North Zone Conference of Association of Otto-Rhino-Laryngolorologist of India (AOI) in Government Medical College here this morning, the Chief Minister said the people of Muslim majority Jammu and Kashmir opposed two nation theory in 1947 and reject it rightly even now. Pakistan is continuing with its machinations for the past over half a century under mistaken belief that the decision of the people of the State to tie their destiny with India was wrong, he said, adding that they are doomed to fail in their nefarious designs. Charging the neighboring country of engineering sectorial clashes and flaring up communal passions in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Abdullah said the killing of Shia leader and others in yesterday’s mine blast in Mazhama, Kashmir is an attempt in this regard. Earlier also the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt on the life of a Shia leader for furthering their agenda but the people have and will foil their evil designs unitedly with fortitude, he said while cautioning the peace loving citizens to be vigilant against such acts. He, however, regretted that some elements were trying to make political capital out of the happenings occurring at the behest of enemy from across the border and said the people will not allow themselves to be divided on religious and regional lines. He said India is an abode of all those who take pride in calling themselves Indians. The Chief Minister advised Pakistan to shun hostility and reciprocate Indian initiative of friendship that was amply demonstrated during the historic Lahore Sojourn of Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. Instead of extending hand of friendship, Pakistan engineering institution in Kargil. In friendship and normalization of relations between the two neighbours lie the prosperity and progress of the peoples of these two nations. He said the vast chunk of scarce funds being utilised on defence could be diverted to the welfare schemes tailored to ameliorate the lot of poor and needy people. Dr Abdullah said the State has been passing through a very difficult phase with violence being perpetrated against its people by the enemy every day. "We will overcome all these difficulties and usher in an era of progress and peace", he hoped. |
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Jamiat hails Lashkar for Mehdi’s killing Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 4: Even as several circles are making unsuccessful attempts to blame the Police and security forces for Aga Syed Mehdi’s assassination and the slain leader’s brother in the Hurriyat has no explanation on the murder of his sibling, radical militant outfit Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen today described Mehdi as a "pro-India Congress leader" and complimented Lashkar-e-Karbala for causing the mine blast. In a Press statement faxed to CNS from Pakistan, Jamiat-ul- Mujahideen spokesman Jameel Ahmed warned those elements of dire consequences who were communalising Aga Syed Mehdi’s killing. "Mehdi was India’s supporter to who the blood of martyrs and Muslims of Kashmir was always white", remarked the Jamiat statement and claimed that only those people were getting killed at the hands of militants who were "in league with the evil". Being Shia or Sunni was no consideration, it added. "Aga Syed Mehdi was a Congress leader and dead against the current armed struggle. It were his actions which took him to the bizarre end", the Jamiat statement said and added that only the anti-movement elements were raising the sectarian passions on Aga Mehdi’s death. It warned the Shia community of Kashmir "not to fall in the trap and not to take any such step which the movement would never forgive them". It complimented Lashkar-e-Karbala outfit for "killing a pro-India leader". According to CNS, a never-before-known militant outfit "Lashkar-e-Karbala" has claimed responsibility for the explosion in which Aga Mehdi and five others got killed near Magam on Friday. Meanwhile, in a statement today, an Army spokesman claimed that Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad outfits — which he claimed were both under the influence of Sunni-dominated Sipah-e-Sahaba — had caused the landmine blast and eliminated the Shia leader. |
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3 more cops succumb
in Sheeri blast Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 4: While as Central Kashmir’s most dreaded militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Nazir Ahmed Malik of Kralpora, died a mysterious death at Bemina this morning, security forces claimed to have eliminated nine militants in different operations in the Valley since last evening. Besides, two young girls have died in the 60-hour-long Wathora encounter, one civilian has been killed in Bandipore and three more trainee constables have succumbed to injuries in last evening’s mine blast at Sheeri, Baramulla. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that a group of Hizbul Mujahideen militants fell into the ambush of Army and Police in Sirigufwara forest area of south Kashmir early this morning. Troops of Rashtriya Rifles 3rd Bn and SOG Anantnag’s Sirigufwara camp had laid the ambush after learning that a group of the Hizbul Mujahideen top functionary Aamir Khan alias Saifullah Khalid would make movement from Tral area towards Pahalgam. A group of 6 militants fell into the trap at Sang-naar forest in Khiram area and found themselves engaged in an encounter with the security forces. During 2-hour-long encounter, troops eliminated all the six militants. They were identified as Mohammad Afzal Wagay S/o Ghulam Mohammad Wagay of Khiram, Fayaz Ahmed Shah S/o Ghulam Nabi Shah of Sirigufwara, Muzaffar Ahmed Thokar of Shal-Gol Kanelwan, Bilal Ahmed Bhat of Bon-Gund, Abdur Rasheed Bhat of Batkoot and Farooq Ahmed Shahbaaz of Waghama. Five AK-56 rifles, three wireless sets, two grenade-launchers and an IED were claimed recovered from the site of encounter. Officials claimed that neither anybody from security forces nor any civilian suffered any damage. Reports from Kupwara said that on the basis of a specific information, troops of 10-Madras and SOG Kupwara destroyed a militant hideout at Hitnoor,in Kandi area, and eliminated two unidentified militants in a fierce encounter today. One was believed to be a foreigner and another a local. However, their identities were not available immediately. Two AK-56 rifles were claimed to have been recovered. Reports from Bandipora said that the dead body of a civilian, namely Basharat Ahmed Khan, was recovered today from Kudara forest area. Cause of death was not available immediately. 2 girls killed in encounter Today’s reports from Chadoura and Budgam said that the 60-hour-long fierce encounter between militants and security forces at Wathora had claimed two civilian casualties as the dead bodies of two young girls had been recovered from the debris of devastated structures. The girls killed in exchange of fire have been identified as 10-year-old Masrooma D/o Mazir Ahmed Bhat and 14-year-old Shazia D/o Abdul Ahad Bhat. Five militants as also four security forces personnel and two civilians have died in the encounter during the last two days as 20 residential houses have perished in the blaze. Officials said that the operation was still in progress as a couple of militants were still retaliating fire from the cordoned area. Budgam District Police and 6-Sikh had launched the operation on Thursday evening after learning that a group of 15 militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba, led by the dreaded Nazir Ahmed Malik of Kralpora, had been trapped. However, residents insist that only four militants had got trapped and later killed while as three militants had managed to escape. Top Lashkar ultra killed According to the residents of Boat Colony Bemina, an unidentified persons received two shots from a mysterious hitman on his body and collapsed in a pool of blood. As some people drew close to him and offered him help, he took out a grenade and asked them to keep away. Suddenly, troops from the nearby camp of BSF 60 Bn rushed towards the stop and the injured person blew himself up with a hand grenade. Later, he was identified as Lashkar’s Nazir Ahmed Malik, resident of Kralpora, Chadoura. However, official sources insisted that troops of BSF 60 Bn eliminated the militant while he was planning to launch a grenade attack.They described Malik as Lashkar’s "Divisional Commander" for Central Kashmir who had earlier worked with SOG Budgam as an SPO and later deserted alongwith his gun. Prior to his surrender, Malik had worked for Hizbul Mujahideen. After his deserting the SOG, he joined Lashkar-e-Toiba and carried out major subversive actions and attacks on security forces and National Conference. Malik was also known for having beheaded six counter-insurgent Ikhwanis at an Army camp, at Bagh-e-Mehtab, in 1995. 3 cops succumb Today’s reports said that three more critically injured trainee constables of Mendhar, Poonch, succumbed to injuries at hospital raising the death toll of last evening’s landmine blast, at Sheeri, to four. As already reported, 27 trainees had sustained injuries when a powerful landmine blast occurred at Police Training Centre at Sheeri on Friday evening. Later, one of them, namely Constable Zaheer Ahmed (961/Poonch) had breathed his last while being rushed to a hospital. Since late last evening, three more trainee constables have succumbed to injuries. They have been identified as Naseer Ahmed, Sultan Ahmed and Mohammad Afzal. Condition of 15 injured trainees is still being described as serious. |
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Cop killed in ambush Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Nov 4: The Village Defence Committee (VDC) and Special Operations Group (SOG) eliminated two militants during a joint search operation at village Bagalkote in Mahore tehsil of Udhampur district while a police constable was killed in another encounter in Madana, Surankote in two separate militancy-related incidents today. According to official sources, SOG and VDC personnel carried out a search operation in Bagalkot this morning on the basis of an information developed by VDC members that two militants had entered the village last night with a plan to kill or kidnap some civilians of a particular community. During the searches, both the militants fled from their hideout and disappeared in an adjoining forest area. However, police and VDC men gave a hot chase to the militants and during half an hour encounter eliminated both of them. Two AK-56 rifles with magazines and ammunition, two hand grenades, four detonators and a radio set were recovered from the possession of slain militants, whose identity hasn’t been established so far but they were suspected to be locals. VDC and SOG men didn’t suffer any casualty in the operation. Meanwhile, militants ambushed a patrol party of police personnel at village Madana in Surankote tehsil this morning. The patrol party, which was returning to its base camp after night patrolling, was fired upon with heavy fire arms and grenades. Police party also retaliated. In the cross-firing, a police constable identified as Mohinder Singh, a resident of Mahore tehsil in Udhampur district, got killed. Militants managed to escape. Body of Mohinder Singh was sent to his village this evening after post-mortem. |
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Govt examining links between mafia & cricketers NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Government is examining cbi charges of links between mafia and leading cricketers and a decision will be taken on the issue after consultations with the Law Ministry, Home Minister L K Advani said today. The report is being examined and a decision on the issue will be taken in consultation with the Law Ministry, he told reporters here. Advani was replying to a question on the allegations contained in CBI’s report on betting and match-fixing that the underworld was taking over betting syndicate and had links with certain cricketers. The glimpses of underworld mafia’s involvement is borne out from the testimonies of former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin and the team’s former physiotherapist Ali Irani where names of mafia dons Anees Ibrahim, Abu Salem and Sharad Shetty find mention. CBI said Azhar during his questioning had stated that Abu Salem had rung him up on a couple of occasions to fix matches but he had refused. Advani explained that any prosecution launched by the Government should be able to stand scrutiny of the judicial system and it could not just move ahead on the basis of its own assessment. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: The forward village of Garkhal in Akhnoor tehsil suffered third casualty in last about 10 days in Pakistani firing today when a woman was hit by a bullet in the house of her relative and got killed. She has been identified as Purno Devi wife of Sant Choudhary, a resident of Gho Manasan. She had gone to the house of her relative in Garkhal where she was hit in the head by a Pakistani bullet and was critically injured. She was shifted to Medical College hospital where she was declared dead. Two civilians including a youth had been killed in Garkhal during lady 10 days. Other places where Pakistan army continued firing include Malu Chak, SM Pura in Ramgarh, Pindi, Pital Post, SH Way, Budhwar, Kotekuba, Mehta Post and Zero Point in Arnia, Sangral, Mangral, Gharana, Joura Farm, Nawa Pind, Abdullian and Khatmarian in RS Pura. |
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Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 4: A suspected harbourer of the militants was arrested by the police today from hilly Lohai Malhar area of Billawar tehsil. He has been identified as Ishaq Ahmed Bhat. Police sources here said Ishaq used to give shelter to the militants and arrange food supply for them in the hilly areas of Lohai Malhar. His arrest was made on the basis of a specific information. Ishaq Bhat was being questioned to extract clues about militants’ hideout in the area. |
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Bhaderwah blast toll rises to 2 Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Death toll in last evening’s grenade attack at Seri Bazaar in Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district rose to two today with one more victim succumbing to his injuries. Reports said Sadiq Hussain Shappoo died in the hospital this morning. A Government teacher Akhtar Hussain Peer had died in the blast on the spot. Three seriously injured blast victims were today referred to Medical College hospital. They have been identified as Bal Krishan Sharma, Jameel Ahmed Bhat, Riaz Ahmed. Condition of Bal Krishan was stated to be critical. |
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PM’s sister sore over denial of ticket to her kin AGRA, Nov 4: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s sister Kamla Dixit, is sore over the denial of ticket for Municipal elections to her daughter-in-law and the treatment meted out to her by the local BJP and RSS leaders. Vajpayee’s sister who maintains a close relation with him told reporters that her daughter-in-law, Nirmala Dixit, was denied Agra Municipal elections ticket even after the state BJP president Kalraj Mishra had asked the party observer Pyarelal Pande, to allot the ticket from ward number 71 of the Corporation. Nirmala Dixit said she had gone to the Collectorate on November 2 to file her nomination papers after getting a call from Mishra. But after filing the nomination, the requisite form of sponsorship was not issued to her by the local party officials. The form, she alleged was issued to another woman candidate at the influence of some RSS officials. Nirmala Dixit told reporters that she would take up the matter to the Prime Minister and had already informed Mishra about whole episode. Meanwhile, reports said that Mishra has taken the issue seriously.(PTI) |
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