Massacred family’s survivor also shot dead in Mendhar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 1: Gulzar Hussain Shah, a Forest guard whose wife and four children were massacred by the militants on Friday night, was also gunned down last night at village Kangra, about two kms away from his house at Nar Samoothi in Gursai area of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district.

Official sources said the same militants (involved in the killing of Gulzar’s five family members) spotted Gulzar, who was returning to his house from his place of duty at Bhimber Gali (BG) after getting a report of his family’s massacre.

The militants, numbering two, kidnapped Gulzar and took him to village Kangra where his eyes and ear were chopped off. After brutal torture, the militants were reported to have gunned down the 45-year old Forest guard and escaped.

Troops of Jharan Wali Gali (JWG) Brigade, who had been conducting searches in the entire Gursai area following the massacre, noticed the bullet-riddle dead body of Forest guard lying in Kangra village this morning. They called local people who identified the victim as Gulzar Hussain Shah.

After post-mortem, his body was buried by local people as there was no one in the family to perform his last rites. While Gulzar’s wife Begum Ashraf and four children (two male and two females) were killed, two other children were seriously injured and were undergoing treatment at district hospital of Poonch.

Sources believed that two local militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba, who massacred the family, were instrumental in the killing of Gulzar. They were still at large though JWG Brigade of Romeo Force have launched a massive search and cordon operation in the entire Gursai area to eliminate the militants involved in the brutal massacre.

As reported, the militants wanted Gulzar’s wife Begum Ashraf to handover her elder son 18-year old Tariq Hussain Shah to them for joining ‘jehad’. However, Begum refused to do so inviting militants’ wrath on her and her family members. Tariq and his sister were injured in the shoot-out.

Meanwhile, jawans of JWG Brigade today recovered an explosives consignment from village Dundhak under the jurisdiction of Surankote police station in Poonch district. The consignment had been concealed by the militants behind Government primary school in Surankote.

The seizure include 20 hand grenades and one five kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Army jawans carried out searches in the area but couldn’t make any arrest.

Eschewing violence best tribute to Gandhi, says Farooq

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 1: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has called for global response in ending cult of violence, discrimination and intolerance that posed a serious challenge to humanity in the new millennium.

Paying homage to the father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on his birth anniversary, the Chief Minister in a message said the menace of terrorism, if not combated, will continue to spread its tentacles jeopardizing peace and tranquility of one region after another and one day the entire world would be engulfed in this fire. Gandhiji, he said, had opposed all sort of violence in attainment of rights and preached non-violence that holds good for all times to come.

Remembering Gandhi should not be just an annual ritual but the best tribute to the saint-philosopher would be to further his mission by striving for harmony and brotherhood, Dr Abdullah said, adding that the 20th century saw a messiah of peace emerging from East who gave a new philosophy to humanity.

The Chief Minister said Mahatma Gandhi lived his life for strengthening secular bonds and even offered his martyrdom to uphold cherished ideals and unflinched faith in human values cutting across the barriers of religion or race.

During the dark days of partition, when the sub-continent was engulfed by communal frenzy, the Mahatma saw a ray of hope in Kashmir. What an irony, the proud land of Bapu’s vision is witnessing humanity bleeding at the behest of those who are insensitive to human values and forced partition on us by propounding 2-nation theory, he said.

Dr Abdullah expressed the hope that the people will work for making Jammu and Kashmir again an abode of tranquility, love and mutual existence by fighting the machinations of elements inimical to peace.

Panday takes stock of security situation in Leh, Kargil.

Excelsior Correspondent

Leh, Oct 1: The Union Home Secretary, Mr Kamal Panday took stock of the security scenario of Leh and Kargil districts at a high level meeting held here yesterday under his Chairmanship.

The Special Secretary, Home, (Kashmir Affairs), the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, the Deputy Inspector General security, Kashmir and Deputy Commissioners of both Leh and Kargil attended the meeting.

During an interview with the All India Radio, Leh soon after his meeting, the Home Secretary said that the purpose of his visit to Ladakh was to have an over all review of the prevailing security situation and to assess the developmental works of the region. In this connection, he said, two separate meetings were held with the senior Army and the State level civil officers including Deputy Commissioners of Leh and Kargil at Leh today.

The Home Secretary said that the developmental aspect of Ladakh region also came under discussion and he putforth several suggestions for bringing improvement in the developmental aspect of the region.

Replying to a question for bringing improvement in the telecommunication system in the region, the Home Secretary said that due to inaccessibility and vastness of the region, the telecommunication facilities for Ladakh should be accorded the priority and in this regard he assured to take up the matter with the Communication Ministry.

Replying to a question regarding recent incident of killing innocent Monks at Rangdum Monastery, by militants, the Home Secretary said that such inhuman acts were unfortunate and condemnable and he stressed to remain alert to avoid such incident in future.

PM hopeful about Trinamool support

NEW DELHI, Oct 1: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today expressed the hope that Trinamool Congress would continue support to the NDA Government at the Centre as BJP appealed to TC chief Mamata Banerjee to understand the compulsions behind the decision to hike the prices of petro products.

Vajpayee told reporters just before the meeting of BJP national executive here that "we hope their (Trinamool Congress) support will continue" and the Government was in touch with Mamata Banerjee.

Asked whether Mamata was a party to the decision to hike the prices of petroleum products, the Prime Minister said she was very much present at the NDA meeting which discussed the issue and even though she had expressed some reservation, there was consensus among other coalition partners on the decision.

After the meeting BJP vice president Jana Krishnamurthy said‘"the Government had taken this very difficult decision after due discussion in the Cabinet and in the NDA coordination committee meeting. We will only appeal to them (Trinamool) to see why the Government had to take this decision."

On Mamata’s protest over the petro price hike, Krishnamurthy said "none of us likes this hike as we realise the hardship caused to the people due to this rise. But, how can we manage when this has been thrust on us? Every country is reeling under the crisis. Even the United States had to draw from its oil reserves to deal with the crisis."

To a question that Mamata was resigning from the Government in order to align with Congress in the coming Assembly polls in West Bengal, he said "I don’t share your view."

Asked whether the Trinamool Congress decision to withdraw from the NDA was discussed at the meeting, Krishnamurthy said "the issue was not discussed."

On reports that UP BJP president Kalraj Mishra was also opposed to the hike and had sought a rollback, he said "I am not aware of it. But, once he realises the reason for this hike, I am sure he will not do so." (PTI)

Vaish appointed Secretary Labour

NEW DELHI, Oct 1: Mr Vinod Vaish, presently Secretary in the Department of Telecom Services, has been appointed as Secretary in the Labour Ministry.

He succeeds Mr L D Mishra who has taken voluntary retirement.

Mr Vaish is an Indian administrative officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre from the 1966 batch. (UNI)

Two militants killed in Rajouri; hideout busted

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Oct 1: Army gunned down two militants in two separate encounters at Sathraban forest area in Mandi and Larkuti in Budhal today while Special Operations Group (SOG) recovered an arms consignment from Kalaban forests.

According to Defence sources, a patrol party of Poonch Brigade under Ace of Spades Division (ASD) noticed three militants moving at a distance in Sathraban forest area of Mandi in Poonch district this morning.

Troops chased the militants deep in the forest area and engaged them in an encounter. In about 20 minutes exchange of firing, army personnel eliminated one of the militant while two others managed to flee deep into the forest area.

Army recovered three magazines and 90 rounds of AK rifle and two hand grenades from the encounter. Army didn’t suffer any casualty during the operation. Sources said more troops have been rushed to Sathraban forests to track down the absconding militants.

Another encounter took place between militants and troops of 10 Dogra and local police at village Larkuti in Budhal tehsil of this district in the afternoon. A group of four militants were trapped by army and police in the fierce exchange of gun-battle.

Militants, who had taken shelter inside a dhok opened firing on army and police personnel with assault rifles and launched grenade attacks. Army jawans fired back. In the fierce exchange of gun-fighting, security forces gunned down one militant and critically wounded another.

The injured militant managed to escape from the scene of encounter alongwith his other fleeing associates leaving behind his rifle. Body of slain militant was recovered from the scene of encounter. He has been identified as Mohd Nazir alias Mushtaq Bakerwal son of Mohd Khan, a resident of village Larkuti, Budhal. He was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

Two AK-47 rifles, their magazines, rounds, hand grenades and one wireless set were recovered from the encounter site. Police parties headed by SHO Budhal and army teams were carrying out searches in the village to trace the militants, who managed to escape during the exchange of gun-battle. Their number was stated to be four including the injured ultra.

Meanwhile, Special Operations Group (SOG) destroyed a militants’ hideout at village Kotli in Kalaban forest in the early hours of this morning. A Rocket Projectile Gun Launcher (RPGL) gun with ammunition and some explosive material was recovered from the hideout.

The hideout was being used by Hizbul Mujahideen militants. However, no militant was present in the hideout when it was raided and smashed by SOG jawans.

No roll back in petro prices: Naik

NEW DELHI, Oct 1: Government today ruled out a roll back in prices of petroleum products including kerosene and cooking gas with Petroleum Minister Ram Naik saying that given the international oil scenario the issue should not be ‘politicsed’.

"No roll back," he told PTI when asked if the Government would consider revising downward prices of petroleum products in the face of stiff opposition from Trinamool Congress and resignation of Mamata Banerjee from the Union Cabinet.

On NDA’s meeting prior to Government deciding on hiking petroleum product prices to bridge the burgeoning oil pool deficit of Rs 23,600 crore, Naik said Mamata Banerjee was present during the meeting on Saturday last but declined to comment on her resignation.

"It is for Prime Minister and NDA convenor to talk to her. Decision to hike prices was taken after discussions with Finance Minister, Union Cabinet and National Democratic Alliance," he said.

Naik, however, assured that petro product prices would be brought down if international crude prices came down to sustainable level of 22-23 dollars and oil pool deficit was wiped out.

Asked if he foresaw a dip in global price below 30 dollars a barrel, Naik said "no. Not in immediate future."

On criticism by Congress and Left Parties, Naik said "there are some issues which are beyond politics. Oil price hike should be seen in view of changes in international market conditions and should not be politicised."

Naik said Government had the target of dismantling administrative price mechanism by April 2002 and he would try to accomplish it.

As per the earlier Cabinet decision taken by the United Front Government in 1997, subsidy on cooking gas was to be contained to just 15 per cent while on kerosene to 30 per cent, he said and pointed out that the previous Government did not take any steps towards phasing out subsidies as per the dismantling of APM in phased manner by April 2002.

Prior to the hike in prices on September 30, subsidy on lpg was Rs 271 per cylinder, on kerosene - Rs 8.21 per litre, and on diesel - Rs 5.29. Ex-storage prices of these products were hiked by Rs 31, Rs 2.50 and Rs 2.30 respectively.

Before the hike, subsidies on these products was estimated at about Rs 32,000 crore a year, part of which was being managed through cross subsidisation from petrol, Ministry sources said.

The remaining subsidy level of these products even after adjusting the ex-storage price hike would still leave the subsidy at a whopping about Rs 20,000 crore a year, sources said.

Petroleum Ministry officials said the Government had put a price cap of Rs 5570 a tonne on domestic crude from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and this measure was helping them save another Rs 10,000 crore towards subsidy. (PTI)

Pak is ‘most dangerous place’
Gen Musharraf is playing a new game to please US

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Oct 1: Pakistan’s Chief Executive, Gen Parvez Musharraf, is said to have reached a secret understanding with the US State Department on the vital question of reducing, if not eliminating, the influence and impact of Muslim fundamentalist groups.

The unwritten ‘agreement’, according to diplomatic sources, followed two important developments in the Musharraf camp. First was the perturbation over Washington’s decision to ‘embrace’ India at Pakistan’s expense. Second, Gen. Musharraf’s think-tank made it clear to the Pak military ruler that tension-free survival of Pakistan cannot be ensured if Islamabad sought to forge new relationships, particularly with Russia.

Diplomatic sources say that Gen Musharraf’s renewed attempts to keep Washington in good humour have also been prompted by pro-US theories propounded, in recent weeks, by different schools of thought and even by some serving and retired Pak Army officers. In this connection, these sources made a pointed reference to the message conveyed to Gen Parvez Musharraf by former Pak Army Chief, Gen Mirza Aslam Beg: "During the Cold War, US foreign policy in South Asia was characterised by Nixon’s decision that the US tilt toward Pakistan during the 1971 war. But with the pull-out of Russian troops from Afghanistan and the Soviet empire’s collapse, both the US and India have decided to repair ties. That’s is not a good omen for Pakistan".

Diplomatic sources also revealed that Gen Musharraf appeared to have been "forced" by his think-tank to avoid antagonising America, after it was found that some elements in the US State Department had not appreciated Islamabad’s frantic efforts to improve relations with Moscow. Gen Musharraf, these sources pointed out, began to hold his stick from a different end after he received adverse comments for two developments, namely, the ISI Director-General having gone to Moscow for a meeting with the chief of the Russian Federal Security Service and the brief meeting Pak military ruler had in New York recently with Russian President, Mr Vladimir Putin.

Gen Musharraf’s request for a meeting with the US President, Mr Bill Clinton, in New York recently was turned down at a time when the country was called the "most dangerous place on earth". And the country is Pakistan. In fact, Pakistan-watchers have explained that like so many other post-colonial States, Pakistan is a cobbled-together, artificial nation.

Interestingly, just the other day, International Herald Tribune had a revealing comment: Pakistan has, since its birth in 1947, lived with the delusional dream that the Muslims could regain the hegemony over the Hindus that they enjoyed before the British came. It has squandered its vast potential, devoting almost all of its intellectual and material resources to the military-including its nuclear programme-and to servicing a growing debt in an obsessional and vain effort to keep up with a far larger India.

A write-up by Stanley Weiss had quite an interesting observation: "Even when it gained independence, Pakistan was more an acronym than the homeland for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. ‘P’ was for Punjab, ‘A’ was for the Afghan border region of the northwest frontier , ‘K’ for Kashmir, ‘S’for Sind, and ‘TAN’ for Baluchistan. More Muslims in Hindu-majority States of British India were left behind than were included in the new Islamic nation".

There is no denying - indeed, history bears testimony to the fact-that Pakistan, during the Cold War, became a satellite of the United States. It provided a base for American U2 planes to spy on the Soviet Union, helped the US establish relations with China and assisted the Afghans in ejecting the Soviet Army.

Islamabad’s support for radical Islamic groups dates back to this struggle, when the CIA helped Pakistan’s ISI create the Taliban-a Frankenstein’s monster for both countries. In the given situation, Gen Musharraf’s think-tank is reportedly of the view that Pakistan’s sole hope for survival is to take dramatic action. The think-tank, in fact, is, if latest reports from across the border are any guide, convinced that if anyone take such a revolutionary step is Gen Parvez Musharraf.

Diplomatic sources have attached much significance to the description even in certain political and official circles in Pakistan of Gen Musharraf as "secular-minded, level-headed" soldier who came to power in October last year in a bloodless coup.

And these sources have evidence to substantiate reports that Gen Musharraf, a mohajir, born in New Delhi and raised in Karachi and Turkey, is consolidating his power base by removing hard-liners with Islamist sympathies from decision-making positions and replacing them with moderates.

As important, Gen Musharraf, in spite of some differences he has with Mr Bill Clinton, has a close relationship with the American military, including his friendship with General Anthony Zinni, who just stepped down as US commander responsible for South Asia. General Zinni told the US Senate Armed Services Committee: "When the United States isolates the professional Pakistan military, we deny ourselves access to the most powerful institution in Pakistan society".

‘India should help stop spread of Talibanisation’

NEW DELHI, Oct 1: The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) of Pakistan today said India cannot afford to remain a silent spectator to the spread of talibanisation in the sub-continent and should try to ensure stability in its neighbourhood.

If democracy is not ensured in Pakistan and the domination of Punjabis over Baloochis, Pakhtoons, Sindhis and Mohajirs continued, "India cannot afford to sit idly by with an unstable Pakistan at its doorsteps in control of fundamentalists, with their finger on the nuclear button," MQM leader S A Tariq Mir said here.

MQM was recently in news when its chief Altaf Hussain categorically stated that the partition of India was the "greatest historic blunder".

To a specific question on the kind of response they wanted from the Indian Government, Mir, who is part of the first MQM official delegation to visit the Government "can respond very positively .... It has the responsibility to have a neighbour which is democratic.

"It can help by politically and morally supporting progressive and liberal forces in Pakistan," he told PTI at a workshop organised by private think-tank "Security And Political Risk Analysis" (SAPRA).

The MQM delegation, which also included its deputy convenor and a minister in Nawaz Sharif Government Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mohd Anwar (MQM’s chief organiser for the UK and Europe), reiterated their leader’s statement on partition saying "Pakistan is a failed state" as the country was being ruled by 46 families and over 130 million people were "being kept hostage".

Stating that the remark of Hussain on partition was a well thought out statement, Siddiqui said "whether the division of the Indian sub-continent was in fact a division of the Muslims living there".

He said the MQM chief would soon issue an appeal to the Indian Muslims to inform them about the atrocities being committed by the "Punjabi rulers" on the Mohajirs (immigrants) who had played a major role in development of Pakistan.

MQM’s deputy convenor said "continued social conflict in Pakistan can only delay the necessary reconciliation between India and Pakistan".

Describing nuclear weapons in both countries as a destabilising factor, Siddiqui, a minister in the suspended Pakistani national Assembly, said "only a Pakistan with its ethnic tensions channeled into democratic expressions can have the confidence to negotiate with an India, hopefully also free from similar tensions".

The MQM leaders said the Punjabis, who dominated the military and civil establishments, had an "insatiable appetite" to keep control of resources belonging to the smaller provinces.

"This is creating instability in the country. Smaller provinces want to see an economically stronger and prosperous Pakistan where all provinces are treated in equal footing and their rights respected," Mir said. (PTI)

Combing operation carried out
ISI pushes militants into HP from Doda district

NEW DELHi, Oct 1: Amidst reports that Pakistan’s ISI would try to disrupt life in Himachal Pradesh, a massive combing operation was conducted in the hilly region of the State recently to nab some suspected militants who had infilitrated into the State through Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here.

The sources said that militants of Lashker-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen had infiltrated into the Kair region of Chamba district through higher reaches of Doda.

They said militants have been following this practice to ease out the pressures from security forces in the Doda district besides regular combing operation by counter-insurgency Delta Force of the Army.

The search was first conducted by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and later jointly by State Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to avoid any attack by the militants.

However, no one was arrested and authorities believe that militants had fled back into the higher reaches of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir.

On August 8, 1998, Pakistani-sponsored militants had struck in Kalaban village of Himachal Pradesh and shot dead 35 labourers.

Some of the militants recently arrested by the security forces had revealed during interrogation that ISI had directed them to indulge in some disruptive activities in Himachal Pradesh or Delhi, the sources claimed.

The sources quoted them as having revealed that ISI wanted to ease out pressure in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible.

The sources said the ISI move came after militants started facing heavy casualties at the hands of security forces in the Valley and higher reaches of Jammu.

Security in the national capital has been tightened following intelligence reports that some Pakistan-trained militants, owing allegiance to Al-Badr outfit, might try to cause disturbance during the forthcoming festival season.

The sources said here that Pakistan’s ISI had trained a batch of 12 militants at Ogry in North West frontier province to carry out pin-point blasts in Delhi during the festival season.

Special surveillance was being maintained at Ram Lila ground where effigy of Ravana would be burnt at the conclusion of the Dussehra festival, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the ISI has formed a "Border Action Team" (BAT) which would indulge in swift actions at the border against Army to facilitate infiltration of militants, the sources quoted arrested militants as saying.

The sources claimed the BAT group had also received a special training from Islamic International Jehad force of Osama bin Laden at its Auttuck Camp. (PTI)

Woman saves 3, but drowns

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Oct 1: A housewife saved two children and a pregnant woman from drowning but met her watery grave at village Mai Chak this afternoon. Another woman drowned in Ujh river at Jasrota.

Police said Sunita Devi wife of Rajinder Kumar of Jasrota slipped into Ujh river while taking a bath and got drowned. Ujh barrage was unloaded to recover her body.

The unloading process gave sudden rise to water level in the river in which two children and a pregnant woman was trapped at Mai Chak. Without caring for her life a housewife Chanderkanta wife of Rangi Ram jumped into the river and rescued two children and pregnant woman in two attempts. As she was coming out of the river after rescuing woman, the water level rose further and Chanderkanta drowned. Local people have appreciated the bravery of Chanderkanta in saving three lives.

NCP not to rejoin ‘sinking Cong’

NAGPUR, Oct 1: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader P A Sangma today ridiculed reports that his party would go back to the Congress fold and said that the Sonia Gandhi-led party was "sinking".

"The question of NCP rejoining the Congress does not arise. On the other hand, Congress can come to the NCP fold", Sangma said addressing the party’s first national convention here.

Stating that the BJP was on the decline and Congress was sinking, he said that NCP president Sharad Pawar "can become Prime Minister" even after remaining out of Congress.

To drive home his point, Sangma cited the examples of Morarji Desai, V P Singh, Chandrashekhar and I K Gujral as ex-Congressmen who became Prime Ministers.

He claimed that NCP was the only organisation which has been recognised as a national party within a short span of time. (PTI)

For him honesty always pays

NOIDA (UP), Oct 1: Honesty always pays. This proved right in the life of a State Government employee in this satellite township.

Ali Mohammad, an Electricity Board employee at Muradnagar in Uttar Pradesh found a wallet containing Rs 2,000 and returned it to its rightful owner.

His honesty paid off. The owner of the purse, a renowned cardiologist Dr Subodh Chandra showed his gratitude by agreeing to treat Mohammad’s wife suffering from a kidney ailment.

Mohammad, with five children to look after, had been spending half of his meagre earning on his wife’s treatment. (PTI)

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