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Advani,
George review situation Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 22: Union Home Minister L K Advani tonight rejected the demand of RSS for trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir saying the Centre was not in favour of division of the border State. "We have made it amply clear so many times that we think the State as a whole should be thought of and we do not favour trifurcation," he told reporters after attending meetings of the Unified Headquarters, which is dealing with militancy, and State legislators here along with Defence Minister Geroge Fernandes and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. RSS leader in charge of the Kashmir affairs Indresh Kumar had recently asked the Chief Minister to bring a resolution in the Assembly for trifurcation of the State saying there was both logic and merit in such a move. Referring to the two meetings, Advani said they acquainted him and Fernandes with the problems being faced by the people, security forces and the Government in dealing with the situation in the State. "The meetings also gave us a sense of satisfaction that the State Government and the security forces have once again secured upper hand against militants in the State," he said. Advani said at the Unified Command meeting, all the three Corps Commanders, gave a very candid assessment of the situation they were facing. The Director General of Police also gave an account on the contribution of the State Police in the battle against militancy. On the role of state police, Advani said "in North-East and Jammu and Kashmir where we have this problem of militancy the ultimate analysis is it is the State Government and the State Police which have been the principal contributors in the battle against militants." "In the course of the discussions it was emphasised by everyone that this fight against militancy is accompanied by acceleration of the development process and third step has to be state’s willingness to hold a dialogue with the elements willing to leave aside their arms and come to the negotiating table," he said. The Home Minister said in the post-Kargil period the country has achieved remarkable success in mobilising international opinion against the "states indulging in cross border terrorism and states using terrorism as an instrument of policy. And Pakistan is one such State." "It is these various factors put together that have given us a sense of confidence that we will be able to deal with this menace effectively," Advani said. On talks with militants, Advani said though Pakistan subverted the talks, "the longing for peace among common people on both sides of the border has become very conspicuous." The incident also demonstrated that India is keen to free the region from violence and anarchy "inflicted on us from across the border," he said. Mr Advani said the Centre will have dialogue on the autonomy issue with the Chief Minister on the question of devolution of powers to serve the people better. Replying questions, the Union Home Minister said that devolution of power to states has been on the manifesto of the National Democratic Alliance and we are committed to give greater powers to the states replacing over centralised system. He said some formal discussions have already taken place with Chief Minister on the autonomy issue and we will move ahead. He, however, explained that resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir legislature on autonomy report seeking return to pre-1953 position was not acceptable to the Centre. The Prime Minister, however, had conveyed to Dr Abdullah that the Centre would like to have discussions on all issues related to devolution of power. Reiterating willingness of the Centre to hold dialogue with militants, Mr Advani said that we are ready for dialogue with those elements that lay down arms and come on the negotiation table. He said fight against militancy has to be complimented by acceleration of development process. This, he said, has been emphasised by everyone in today’s meetings. He said the State Government had discussions with the Planning Commission on various projects. The Centre will do all it can to see that expectations of the people about developmental activities are met. The Home Minister said that India is keen to emancipate this region (sub-continent) from violence and anarchy that has been inflicted by cross border terrorism. He referred to the initiative taken by Hizbul Mujahideen and the positive response given by the Centre and said that Pakistan saw to it that the dialogue is subverted. "Even though dialogue did not go ahead, one facet of the situation suraced that the longing for peace became conspicuous on the peoples of both sides of the border", he said. "In the post Kargil scenario, India was able to mobilise international opinion against states indulging in terrorism as an instrument and certainly Pakistan is one such state," Mr Advani said. The Union Home Minister expressed satisfaction over the State Government and the security forces have secured upper hand in their battle against militancy, and added that in North East and Jammu and Kashmir the State Government and the police are the principal contributors in people’s fight against insurgency and militancy. Replying to a question, the Home Minister said that security forces have to be humane and respect human rights. He said in today’s meeting of Unified Headquarter, all the three Corps Commanders laid lot of attention to this aspect and emphasised that cognizance of complaints of human rights violations are being taken followed by corrective steps. The Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes and the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah were present at the press conference. Earlier, the Union Ministers for Home and Defence had a detailed interaction with State legislators and acquainted themselves with the problems that people were grappled with especially in border areas. The legislators belonging to different political parties briefed the Union Minister about problems of their areas and sought Centre’s immediate help in their redressal. This is the first ever such interaction. The Governor and the Chief Minister were also present in the meeting. Later, the Home Minister chaired the meeting of the Unified Headquarter in which Army, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, State Police and intelligence chiefs gave assessment of the situation. |
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Inquiry ordered, 3 cops
suspended Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 22: A young woman, arrested by police on the charges of allegedly having illicit relations with the husband of her niece, committed suicide in a bath-room of Women Police Cell at Canal road this morning. Identified as Vimla Nayyar alias Vimi wife of Inder Nayyar, a resident of Jhullaka Mohalla, the 34-year old woman was taken into custody by Pacca Danga police station yesterday after a case against her under Section 306 RPC (abetment to suicide) was registered under an FIR No. 247/2000. Meanwhile, the district administration today ordered a magisterial inquiry into the custodial death of Vimi and ordered suspension of three police constables , posted at Women Police Cell. A board of doctors is being constituted to conduct post-mortem on the body in Medical College hospital tomorrow in view of allegations by Vimi’s family that she was tortured in custody leading to her death. Vimla Nayyar’s niece (sister’s daughter) Sonika Verma wife of Kamal Gupta, a resident of Bishnah had committed suicide by hanging herself with the ceiling of room at her paternal house in Jhullaka Mohalla on October 19. Sonika, who had married only about 10 months back, had left behind a letter written by her in which she had alleged that Vimi Nayyar and Kamal Gupta had illicit relations, which was forcing her to commit suicide. The letter, which was seized by Pacca Danga police during the course of investigations, was taken by police as a ‘sufficient evidence’ against Vimi and Kamal and both of them were booked under Section 306 RPC. They were formally taken into custody yesterday. Police said Vimi was shifted to Women Police Cell last evening. At about 0600 hours today, Vimi sought her ‘dupatta’ from a lady police constable on the ground that she had suffered menstrual period and wanted to go to bath-room. Though normally, a detenue is not given ‘dupatta’, Vimi was given as she cited the ground. She locked the door of bath-room and allegedly committed suicide by strangulating her with ‘dupatta’. As the woman didn’t come out of the bathroom for about 10 minutes, a lady cop became suspicious and informed the matter to Havildar. After sometime they broke open the door of bath-room and found the woman in unconscious condition but breathing. She was immediately rushed to Medical College hospital where she died after about 20 minutes of hospitalisation. Her body was kept in mortuary of the hospital. In view of sensitivity of the case and allegations by Vimi’s family that she was tortured to death, the administration decided to constitute a board of doctors for performing post-mortem. The post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow and after that her body will be handed over to family for cremation. Official sources said a head constable of Women Police Cell Dwarka Dass and two lady constables Jeeto Devi and Sushma Kumari have been placed under suspension for negligence of duty for giving ‘dupatta’ to the detenue. Authorities have also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the custodial death which will be conducted by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Mr Salim. Police, however, denied the allegations of Vimi’s torture in custody saying there were no marks of torture on her body. However, they said, the post-mortem by a board of doctors will establish whether she was tortured. "As of now, it appeared to be a case of a ‘guilty conscious’ woman ending her life", a senior police officer said but declined to comment further on the ground that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered and facts will come to fore. A number of family members and relatives of Vimi, who visited EXCELSIOR office this evening, alleged that Vimi was tortured in custody leading to her death and police was trying to make it a suicide. They said though Vimi was rushed to hospital at 0700 hours the family was informed about the incident at 12 noon. Vimi’s family members and relatives also called on Deputy Commissioner, Jammu and demanded a thorough probe into her custodial death. |
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Crucial meet today SRINAGAR, Oct 22 : Hurriyat Conference is holding a crucial two-day special session here from tomorrow to discuss the ways and means to broaden its base by including in its fold other groups active in Jammu and Kashmir, informed sources said today. Foreign diplomats, who visited the Valley in the past one month, have been asking the organization in clear terms to broaden the base of the umbrella organization so that all groups would come under one banner to represent people of the State in the proposed talks to find a solution to the Kashmir issue, the sources told PTI here. There are indications that the Hurriyat, which had till recently outrightly rejected expansion of the seven-member Hurriyat Executive Committee, might relent and give representation to other influential groups, including Hizbul Mujahideen, so as to present itself as the sole representative body of the people of the State. The special session is expected to discuss modalities of taking along other groups active in the Valley, they said. The Hurriyat had also been asked to drop the idea of Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan, as they could bargain with New Delhi only for an independent Kashmir, the sources said. There are other groups like the J and K peoples Democratic Freedom Party of Shabir Ahmad Shah, Qaumi Mushwarti Council of Mohammed Azam Inquilabi and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Aman Group) who are not in Hurriyat. The Hurriyat is also likely to discuss the proposal floated by former Chief Minister and president of Awami National Conference G M Shah to form a common platform for bringing about a consensus on achieving sustainable peace and settlement of the Kashmir problem. (PTI) |
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Lashkar militant among 3 killed in Kashmir valley Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 22: In two different operations, security forces have eliminated two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Al-Barq outfits in Kashmir valley since last evening. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on the basis of a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 14th Bn launched a cordon-and-search operation at Boothu village in Bandipore late last night. According to the tip-off, a group of three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were present at the house of Mohammad Sakhi Rishi S/o Wali Mohammad Rishi. As the troops zeroed in on the target house, militants opened fire and engaged security forces in an encounter. Two of the militants managed to escape but third one got killed in the gun-battle. One AK-56 rifle, two hand grenades and explosive one Kg were recovered from the site of encounter. The militant killed in the encounter was identified as Abdur Rasheed Rishi S/O Ghulam Qadir Rishi of the same village. On the basis of another specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 6th Bn intercepted a militant guide, namely Bashir Ahmed Najar S/o Ghulam Rasool Najar R/o Daril in Kupwara. According to official sources he was forcibly taking two boys — Mushtaq Ahmed Teeli S/o Akbar Teeli and Nazir Ahmed Teeli S/o Ghulam Rasool Teeli — for subversive training and induction into militant ranks. He ignored the challenge of troops and got killed in the encounter. One pistol and a wireless were claimed to have been recovered. Officials described him as a militant of Al-Barq. Meanwhile, an unidentified dead body was fished out from the Jhelum at Safakadal today. |
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From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Oct 22: Iran has turned down a proposal seeking its help and support for "liberation struggle" in Kashmir. According to diplomatic sources, Tehran has conveyed to Islamabad its refusal to offer material aid to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. More significant than this development is Tehran’s re-structured strategy vis-à-vis Pakistan-sponsored extremist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Broad contours of the new strategy have become evident with the "advice" tendered by Tehran to some Kashmiri Muslim leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, to avoid depending upon Pakistan for the solution of their problems. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is currently in Iran. The Iranian envoy to India is reported to have found him as the "only intellectual" in Kashmir’s Hurriyat. According to diplomatic sources, some Iranians of consequence have, in recent months, also counselled some other Kashmiri leaders belonging to the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to be "quite careful of Pakistanis". Recently, Islamabad, these sources said, made yet another attempt to woo Tehran on the question of building additional resources for the "Islamic fighters" in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan’s ISI had deputed a team of experts to Tehran for talks on the question. Significantly, the Pak team, sources added, failed to enlist Iran’s support for the anti-India jihad in Kashmir. The development was followed by two important events-one, Tehran’s move against the narco-terrorism and, second, the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi undertaking the task of cautioning the visiting Kashmiris to the chancery against total dependence on Pakistan. Reports in a section of media have, in fact, talked about Iran playing a "proactive" role in influencing Kashmir’s APHC to distance itself from Pakistan. These reports have quoted an Iranian diplomat--his identity has not been disclosed--as having insisted that Pakistan was not being fair or just about its claim to Jammu and Kashmir. Some members of the All Party Hurriyat Conference are known for their regular touch with the Delhi-based Iranian Embassy. "We have told them not to trust Pakistan", the Iranian diplomat has also been quoted as having said. According to these reports, the Iranian diplomat did not stop there. He was of the view that Kashmir’s Hurriyat leaders should talk to India as the first step towards resolving the Kashmir crisis. In fact, he was also quoted as saying that the Kashmiris required to be careful of Pakistanis "because they are not dealing straight" with them. Iran, recent history bears testimony to the fact, supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, but nearly 6 years ago Tehran decided to change its policy. The change in policy took place in 1994 when Tehran had urged Islamabad to drop an anti-India resolution on Kashmir at the UN Commission for Human Rights at Geneva. Iranians have strong reasons to be critical of Pakistan. There is no denying that following the release of 8 persons accused of killing an Iranian diplomat in Pakistan, relations between Tehran and Islamabad have hit an all-time low. The 8 accused were released a few days ago. The anti-Pakistan diatribe from the Delhi-based Iranian Embassy, obviously, has followed the go-ahead signal from Tehran. And if there was any doubt about it, it was set at rest by the Iranian diplomat himself in a media interview. Iran, the diplomat was quoted as having asserted, was "fully supportive" of India’s position on the Kashmir issue. India’s Foreign Office knows that the New Delhi-based Iranian chancery has an official looking specifically after Kashmir affairs. According to the reports, a signal has been sent out to Islamabad asking it to make amends if it wanted Tehran’s support on the Kashmir issue. Significantly, Tehran does not anticipate a friendly dialogue between India and Pakistan before the stoppage of Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism. |
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Blast under bridge in
Rajouri Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 22: Troops of Delta Force continued their onslaught against Pakistan-backed militants by killing four militants including two Pakistanis in Tantna area, about 10 kms north east of Doda this morning. In another militancy related incident in Rajouri, the militants made an unsuccessful attempt to blast a motorable bridge on Thanna Mandi road with an IED blast. A Defence spokesman said four columns of Delta Force were launched were launched in general area of Tantna forests in the wee hours of this morning after an information was developed about militants’ presence. Troops surrounded the area and started searches with the break of dawn by blocking all escape routes. The ultras, who were hiding in dense forests, observed the army personnel approaching their hideout and opened firing. Troops retaliated after taking positions and made tactical advance towards the hideout. By 1030 hours today, four militants were gunned down by army after a fierce fighting. Army didn’t suffer any casualty in the operation. Slain ultras have been identified as Sulfi and Iqbal Ahmed alias 22, both Pakistanis, Salim alias Osama of Kandwa, Udianpur and Ishtaq Ahmed Dar alias Moulvi son of Ghulam Qadir, a resident of Lower Sil. Sulfi was a tehsil commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit while other killed militants were activists of the same outfit, the spokesman said. He said three AK rifles with five magazines and 80 rounds, one pistol with two magazines and 15 rounds and two damaged radio sets were recovered from the possession of slain militants. This is the third consecutive day when troops of Delta Force have brought laurels to them by eliminating eight militants. In the current month, a total of 19 militants have been eliminated and one apprehended by Delta Force in Doda district. Meanwhile, militants triggered a powerful explosion under motorable Soura bridge linking Behrot with Gambhir Mugalan on Thanna Mandi road in Rajouri district late last night causing extensive damage. According to official reports received here, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), tied with one of the pillar of Soura bridge, exploded around 2335 hours last night with a big bang. Sound of the explosion was heard in the surrounding villages, which created panic among the people. However, the blast didn’t cause much damage to the bridge except for creating a big hole on the ground. In the morning, security forces and police teams visited the spot and carried out searches. After sanitising the area and minor repair work, they restored traffic on the bridge. Reports said the militants had planted IED under the bridge to blast it and snap a vital road link being used by both security forces and civilians between Behrot and Gambhir Mugalan villages. However, their attempt failed as IED caused damage to only a portion of the bridge. |
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PM discharged, confident of resuming normal routine soon MUMBAI, Oct 22: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who left for New Delhi today after his discharge from Breach Candy Hospital here, exuded optimism that he would soon be able to resume his normal duties. "I hope to start my routine activities very soon," a cheerful Vajpayee, who addressed newspersons in a specially created media enclosure at the hospital premises prior to his departure, said. ‘Time has come to leave this place after my 12 days’ stay’, Vajpayee, seated in a wheel chair, said. In his 10-minute address to the media, Vajpayee said his desire to return home before Deepawali was being fulfilled as doctors have discharged him from the hospital. He said his relationship with hospitals was very old. ‘Earlier also I have stayed in hospitals but now I hope that there will not be any need to get hospitalised again’. Vajpayee, who underwent a left knee replacement surgery at the hospital on October 10, said he met the world renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Chittaranjan Ranawat in New York and on his advice decided to undergo the knee surgery. Clad in cream colour Kurta and Khadi jacket, he expressed his gratitude towards the hospital management, doctors, nurses and other staff. He also thanked Ranawat who performed the surgery assisted by Dr Nandu Laud and Dr F C Udwadia. Vajpayee drove straight to the airport from hospital, cheered along the way by a large number of BJP activists, who thronged the hospital premises to greet him on being discharged. Vajpayee wished the people of the country a very happy Deepawali. He profusely thanked the media for their good wishes and said he would clear the media’s ‘debt’, which he owed to them. The Prime Minister was referring to implementation of Manisana Wageboard’s recommendations for journalists and non-journalists. An IAF special aircraft, carrying the Prime Minister, took off for Delhi at 3.37 pm from Chhatrapati Shivaji airport. The press enclosure was adorned with banners saying ‘accept the good wishes of Mumbaikars’, ‘Mumbaikar’s firmly believe that Atalji will lead the nation to prosperity’ and ‘Atalji we just love you’. Earlier, Union Information and Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan announced that Vajpayee will address the media sitting in a wheel chair. ‘This is not a regular press conference and there will be no question-answer session’, he had said. A sniffer dog, Labrador Steffi, was pressed into service before mediapersons were ushered into the press enclosure. Curious ward boys, nurses and hospital staff were seen on the hospital terrace at the time of Vajpayee’s departure. Onlookers from buildings adjacent to the hospital were also peeping to have a glimpse of Vajpayee. BJP activists, standing alongside the road and carrying balloons and flags, chanted slogans ‘Desh Ka Neta Kaisa Ho, Atal Behari Jaisa Ho' when the Prime Minister’s motorcade passed by. (PTI) |
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Divisions worry Pakistani militant rank and file NEW DELHI, Oct 22: Close on the heels of fatricidal clashes among factions of Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), reports are coming in of first serious split in mercernary group Harkatul Mujahideen, formerly the Harkatul Ansar. "The factors of pursuit of power, territory and resource allocation has led to a serious split in the frontline militant organisation", reports prominent Pakistani weekly `Friday Times’. The paper said Harkatul Ansar, declared a foreign terrorist organisation by United States and now re-christened as Harkatul Mujahideen, had now split into three factions with the parent organisation led by fiery fundamentalist leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil reduced to a non-entity. The paper’s correspondent reporting from militant training camp in PoK said the new breakaway group, Jaish-i-Mohammad formed by Maulana Masood Azhar, who was released in exchange for hijacked Indian Airlines passengers in Kandahar was attracting militant recruits from all over Pakistan and had succeeded in capturing the Harkat assets. "Following the American Ban Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and its sister organisation Harkate Jehad Islami split. Later a prominent Harkat commander Ilyas Kashmiri formed his own group. But the group suffered its most severe blow with the launch of Jaish", Friday Times reported. The paper said Azhar had managed to break up the Harkatul Mujahideen more effectively because of his sectarian links with ultra Sunni groups like Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and his close ties with Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban. Friday Times said that now ranks and file in numerous training camps in PoK were asking questions about the motive behind the groups and fast surfacing dissessions among the organisations. "They point out to the bloody feud between various factions of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Kotli in PoK" which had taken a heavy toll of lives from all sides, the paper quoted militants undergoing training in the camps as saying. They are now worried about the split in the Harkatul Mujahideen and wonder where the militancy is leading to. The paper said the network of Jehadi organisations has rapidly expanded like the pattern in Afghanistan saying that the idea was to create several groups to pitch them against Indian security forces, "in the hope they would bleed the enemy and simultaneously remain pliant and manageable as small entities". "The strategy worked well in Afghanistan until the Kabul regime collapsed. It has been working well in Kashmir but, for several factors internal and external may not work for very long", the paper said. (PTI) |
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IAF loses Rs 800 cr in crashes NEW DELHI, Oct 22: Indian Air Force lost 84 aircraft, most of them ageing MiG-21’s, in air accidents in the past five years causing a staggering loss of over Rs 866 crores to the exchequer, according to official estimates. Even as the Defence Ministry dithered over the induction of the Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT), the losses mounted. According to provisional estimates, 34 pilots, mostly young flying officers, were killed in the air accidents, which involved as many as 60 MiG-21 aircraft over a period from 1996-97 to end of September this year. Besides, the MiG-21 fighters, other aircraft involved in crashes included some state of art Mirage-2000, MiG-29’s, deep penetration Jaguars to MI-17 and MI-8 helicopters and transport planes. The MiG-21 aircraft have been likened to ‘flying coffins’ by aviation experts, which has been strongly disputed by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis, who said that air force would have to keep the MiG-21 in its inventory till the end of the decade. "MiG-21s are high-demand aircraft seeking skill and response of the highest order from pilots," Tipnis told newsmen recently. (PTI) |
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Blast at Lashkar convention kills 3 KARACHI, Oct 22: An explosion today at a rally of hardline Islamic militants in southern Karachi, killed three people and injured 30 others, police and hospital officials said. The death toll and number of injured may rise further because several of the wounded were in critical condition, hospital officials said. Information about the wounded was being accumulated slowly because those injured in the explosion were taken to several hospitals. In the confusion of the early moments, police had not located all the wounded. No one took immediate responsibility for the explosion that hit the stage where the leadership of militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba was to sit. There was some confusion about whether the explosion was caused by a grenade or a homemade bomb. Members of a bomb disposal unit at the site said they are investigating the possibility that it might have been a crude homemade bomb. The spokesman of Lashkar-e-Toiba said it was a grenade fired from a launcher outside the site of the rally. Lashkar-e-Toiba, which is holding a two-day workers’ convention in the southern port city of Karachi, is one of the largest Islamic guerrilla groups fomenting militancy in Kashmir. (AP) |
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President, family watch ‘Mission Kashmir’ NEW DELHI, Oct 22 : Taking time off his hectic schedule, President K R Narayanan alongwith the first family watched Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Bollywood thriller ‘Mission Kashmir’ at a special screening at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here last evening. The film’s Producer Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra and the Movie’s star cast including teenage hearthrob Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt and Sonali Kulkarni specially flew down from Mumbai for the exclusive screening. "It took us a whole day to put up the show. We had to install the DTS as the sound system and the projector in use at the President’s House is of Lord Mountbatten Vintage," Chopra told reporters later. Forty people were killed and 76 injured in a head-on collision between two buses in Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab today, witness and officials said. Two passenger buses collided when one tried to save a donkey and rammed into other at the city of Jhang, some 350 kilometres from capital Islamabad. The injured, 12 of them in critical condition, were rushed to hospitals in nearby towns. Ambulances from the nearby Faisalabad city rushed to the site to shift the injured to hospitals. Emergency was declared in hospitals for treatment to the injured. The collision was so severe that its impact was heard far away. Men, women and children living close to the site of the accident rushed and started relief operation. Volunteers dragged out some injured after cutting fronts of the two buses. Faces of some of the injured had become disfigured to such an extent that they were identified later on from their identity cards. The relatives of the dead having cuts on their necks, heads and other limbs were screaming for their departed relatives. (PTI) |
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40 killed in Pak road accident ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: Forty people were killed and 76 injured in a head-on collision between two buses in Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab today, witness and officials said. Two passenger buses collided when one tried to save a donkey and rammed into other at the city of Jhang, some 350 kilometres from capital Islamabad. The injured, 12 of them in critical condition, were rushed to hospitals in nearby towns. Ambulances from the nearby Faisalabad city rushed to the site to shift the injured to hospitals. Emergency was declared in hospitals for treatment to the injured. The collision was so severe that its impact was heard far away. Men, women and children living close to the site of the accident rushed and started relief operation. Volunteers dragged out some injured after cutting fronts of the two buses. Faces of some of the injured had become disfigured to such an extent that they were identified later on from their identity cards. The relatives of the dead having cuts on their necks, heads and other limbs were screaming for their departed relatives. (PTI) |
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BJP MLAs meet Governor, stake claim to form Goa Govt PANAJI, Oct 22 : A day after pulling the rug from Francisco Sardinha Ministry in Goa, the BJP tonight met Governor Mohd Fazal and staked claim to form a Government with the support of 21 MLAs in the 40-member State Assembly even as the beleaguered Chief Minister refused to step down setting the stage for a showdown. Sardinha also met the Governor but there was no official word forthcoming from either side about what transpired at the meeting. With the ball in the Governor’s court, there was no indication what Mohd Fazal would do. All that Raj Bhawan sources would say for now is that the Governor "is going through the papers placed before him." The BJP legislature group, led by Manohar Parrikar, called on Fazal at the Raj Bhawan and submitted to him a list of 21 MLAs to buttress the claim. The list consists of 18 BJP MLAs, two of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and one of Congress faction led by Sheikh Hassan, Parrikar told reporters after the meeting with the Governor. Earlier, the Chief Minister, soon after his return from abroad, told reporters that he would not quit claiming his Government still enjoyed majority and he would prove it on the floor of the House. "We are in majority and we will prove it," he said adding he would convey this to the Governor. Asked how he hoped to muster the required number with the combined strength of his GOA People’s Congress Party and Congress being 17, four short of the majority-mark, Sardinha did not specify the parties whose support he could rely on and merely said "there are lot of equations. After all, with these manipulations we can survive." The Congress held its cards close to its chest with the party spokesman Jiten Deshprabhu saying that "we will open the cards when the time comes. Whatever we do will be in the interest of Goa." He denied suggestions that Sardinha had sent feelers to the Congress, whose strength in the Assembly stands reduced to six following the latest split the party suffered yesterday. The BJP also gave in writing to the Governor its withdrawal of support to the Sardinha Ministry which it had helped to assume office 11 months ago after the Chief Minister had engineered a split in Congress. Parrikar said there were only two options before BJP: either to go back to the people "which we were not sure if it will not return the same fractured verdict or to allow the State to drift around." He admitted reaching even 21 mark in the Assembly in the circumstances was difficult. The political crisis in the State was triggered when three bjp ministers resigned from Sardinha Ministry and decided to stake claim to form Government with the support of Congress mlas. The partywise strength before yesterday’s development was: Goa peoples Congress Party of Francisco Sardinha (11), BJP (10), Congress (10), Congress Sheikh Hassan Group (5), MGP (2), NCP and independents one each.(PTI) |
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Young girl dies in
firing Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Oct 22: A youth died and four other members of his family were taken ill after they allegedly consumed a poisonous vegetable dish at their house in Rajbagh area of this district last night. Reports said five members of the family of Jarnail Singh fell ill after consuming a vegetable in their dinner last night. As they started complaining of vomiting and uneasiness, they were rushed to Medical College hospital by their relatives. A 20-year old youth Simple Kumar son of Padam Kumar died in the house itself. Four other family members, who were admitted in the Medical College hospital, have been identified as Jarnail Singh, Paramjit Kour, Rajan Singh and Dalip Singh. Police said the entire case was a mystery so far as a statement of the family members couldn’t be recorded. Jarnail Singh, however, told EXCELSIOR in Medical College hospital that they took a vegetable from someone and started falling ill after consuming it. He, however, declined to name the person from whom they took the vegetable. Police said they haven’t lodged a First Information Report (FIR) in the case so far as identity of the accused persons was yet to be established. Investigations were, however, being carried out by Rajbagh police station. Meanwhile, a young girl died in Pakistani firing at her house in village Chakla in Benglard area on the International Border in Kathua district today. She has been identified as Ram Kali, 23, daughter of Thoru Ram. Reports said the girl was watching television in her house when a bullet fired by Pakistan army fell inside her house through a window killing her on the spot. The girl was taken to a nearby BSF medical camp where she was declared dead. There was strong resentment among the villagers against unprovoked firing by Pakistan army which took the life of a young girl. |
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