 |
Army goes
hi-tech By Neeraj Rohmetra JAMMU, Sept 2: Learning lessons from Kargil conflict, the Indian Army has also gone hi-tech and is now employing state of art equipment to maintain vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB). Highly placed sources revealed that stress is being laid on the use of gadgets and other electronic equipment to keep check on the porous frontiers in the sensitive border State. "The need was felt more, after a realisation crept the senior officials of the Defence Ministry following Kargil `war’ that it was not possible to virtually plug all the loopholes along the frontiers in view of the inhospitable terrain". Sources said that on earlier occasions also senior Army officials had taken the matter with the Defence Ministry and informed them in detail the fact that it was not possible to seal the entire border. The equipment, which is being used to maintain vigil include the Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), sensors and even the services of some satellites are being utilized to keep track of the happenings along the border. UAVs have turned out be an important instrument in keeping a check over the unreliable adversary on the side of the border. "Besides, at times it provides vital information about the enemy movement and the territory, which none other source can provide. The information and feedback provided by these vehicles is most reliable, authentic and very accurate", sources added. Dwelling further on the subject, sources that presently the UAVs being used by Army were purchased by the Ministry of Defence from Israeli and later on even from South Africa. However, the Israeli equipment is more reliable and advanced also in terms of technology as the same was being used frequently by them to keep check over enemy installations. "A proposal to purchase some more of them had also been mooted recently", sources maintained. Elaborating on the nature of the equipment sources remarked that the UAVs were handled by a highly powerful remote control devices. While some of them could be handled by a single person, others were to be controlled by few more. The equipment is nearly three meters in length but there are others, which are of bigger size. "The devices can also be used to pound enemy positions but usually this is not done because adding load to the UAVs reduces the covering range of the vehicle to a larger extent. It can provide more data and information, if it goes without load", sources said. The utility of the equipment, sources added can be gauged from the fact that it can give even minute information like the number of militants trying to percolate to the Indian side and even the weaponry, ammunition they are carrying. Another advantage of using them is that they cannot be normally detected by radars as only a bleak signal appear on the screen. Pakistan has also been using some of them along the International Border (IB) and even in Kargil sector for the same purpose. Asked if the intruding UAVs can be knocked down by artillery equipment placed along the frontiers, sources said, "the UAVs can be shot down immediately after detection, provided considerable ammunition is fired in the right direction and at the right time". Besides, their use new sensors have been installed intermittently along the IB and LoC to give information of any attempt to violate the sanctity of the borders. Another important decision, sources said has been the use of satellite images to keep track of the enemy movement. "Earlier there was a problem that satellite images could only be used to detect objects, which are of the height of six meters or more. To overcome this weakness, the Government of India has recently entered into agreement with Russian Government", sources said. Sources further emphasised that the services of some of the Russian satellites were also being utilised for this purpose and the results are quite encouraging. |
|
Two soldiers
seriously injured Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Sept 2: Thanna Mandi Brigade of Romeo Force eliminated two hardcore militants at village Saj this evening but lost one army jawan while two others were injured. Troops also destroyed three hideouts of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit in two separate search operations at Surankote and Mendhar areas today. Reports said troops of Thanna Mandi Brigade launched an operation in village Saj after getting a report from civilians that a group of three militants was hiding in a house of one Wazir Hussain. Troops had to trek through difficult terrain and grown up ‘sarkanda’ to reach the house. On seeing the approaching army personnel, one of the militant fled from the hideout while two others opened heavy firing. Army jawans returned the firing. In the fierce exchange of firing, troops eliminated both the militants. Three army jawans were seriously injured in the gun-battle, one of whom succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to a hospital. Two injured have been hospitalised but their condition was also stated to be critical. The deceased was identified as Rakesh Kumar. Identity of the slain militants haven’t been established so far but both of them were suspected to be foreign mercenaries. Two assault rifles, a large quantity of ammunition and explosive material was recovered from their possession. SHO Thanna Mandi police station also reached the scene of encounter. Army and police have launched a joint search operation to track down the absconding militant. Meanwhile, army, CRPF and SOG Surankote today carried out a joint operation in Dundak area of Surankote and smashed two hideouts of the militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. Twenty kg of RDX, 500 rounds of Pika gun, sealed in a box, five rocket boosters and four RPG rounds were recovered from the hideouts. A search operation continued in Dundak and adjoining areas to apprehend the militants, who were using the hideout, but no arrest could be made out immediately. Another hideout of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit was busted in a joint operation by Mendhar police, SOG Mendhar and army in Kasblari forest area of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district. Recovery made from the smashed hideout include 91 AK rounds, 17 pistol rounds and two hand grenades. Our Jammu correspondent adds: A patrolling party of Special Police Officers (SPOs), Sungli post in Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district came under heavy firing of militants late last night. SPOs returned the firing at all the places. Following retaliation, the militants disappeared in the forest area. There was no report of any casualty on either side in the exchange of firing. |
|
Thieves beat-up retired army major, rob house Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Sept 2: Unidentified thieves struck in the house of Major (retd) Pritam Singh, father-in-law of Principal Secretary S S Blooria at Sainik Colony in the early hours of this morning, thrashed the retired army officer and looted cash and jewellery from the house. Police sources said Major Pritam Singh, who was on bed rest after a by-pass surgery, was sleeping in his house alongwith other family members when thieves sneaked into the house at about 0400 hours. Thieves, whose exact number couldn’t be ascertained immediately, beat-up Major Pritam Singh and looted cash and jewellery from the house. Thieves continued their operation for about 15-20 minutes and then escaped from the house with atleast Rs 40,000 in cash and jewellery worth Rs 50,000. A police party from Sainik Colony police post visited the spot this morning after getting a report of the theft and started investigations. No clue could be gathered immediately about the group and identity of thieves, who could be numbering between three to four. Police have recorded the statements of Major Pritam Singh, who happened to be father of prominent Congress (I) leader Rani Blooria, and started further investigations. Police said they have detained four suspects in connection with the theft and were questioning them to reach to the accused. A case in the theft has also been registered at Sainik Colony police post for further investigations. Meanwhile, in a statement issued here Sainik Co-operation House Building Society voiced deep concern over the incident of theft. The handout said a number of theft have taken place in Sainik Colony in the past but no efforts was made by the authorities to protect lives and properties of the residents. "The police force, posted with the police post of Sainik Colony, have miserably failed to check the increasing incidents of theft and dacoity in Sainik Colony", the release added. |
|
WB President criticises India on power reforms WASHINGTON, Sept 2: World Bank President James Wolfensohn today criticised India for the ‘slow progress’ in power sector reforms and said conditions will have to be created for running power plants economically if New Delhi wanted to attract investment. To built a power plant in India is an "impossibility" as the structure is totally uneconomic, he said adding "if you do not pay for power, nobody invests in India, then you have no power at all, and then everybody screams". Power plants must broadly recover their costs. Indian power plants have line loss, which is basically stealing which is unknown in other countries, he told reporters. Wolfensohn, however, said the World Bank did not have any problem lending to india in the face of US sanctions imposed after the May 1998 nuclear tests as virtually all loans were under basic human needs category. "I don’t think we are having any problems lending to India.... There are very few of our loans that do not impact on the poor. We are trying to characterise most of our loans as basic human needs," he said. The bank is in fact engaged almost totally on the issues of poverty and basic human needs, he said, adding the very openness of the distinction has given the bank the possibility of having a very broad-ranging programme with India today. Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha is "very happy to leave it as it is. There are no crises in our lending programme," he added. In Andhra pradesh, where people have opposed power tariff hike, the annual subsidy was going to be 360 million dollars even with the new programme making the new operations also below cost, the World Bank chief said. He said the state was not doing anything dramatic, adding the bank would rather advise it to "... Have a tariff structure which will at least recover your costs. If you want to subsidize poor people, subsidize them directly." Wolfensohn, however, complimented India on its ability to take advantage of technology, pointing out that exports from the information technology and other high tech sectors from india were expected to rise from two billion dollars a year to 50 billion dollars in the next five years. (PTI) |
|
Azhar, Jadeja, Chopra axed; no decision yet on Kapil CHENNAI, Sept 2: The national selectors today axed former captains Mohd Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja along with off-spinner Nikhil Chopra - whose homes and offices were searched by Income Tax officials recently - out of the list of 23 probables for the ICC Knockout Tournament in Nairobi next month. A decision on whether Kapil Dev would continue as coach would be announced by the Cricket Board (BCCI) president A C Muthiah shortly, its secretary Jaywant Lele told reporters immediately after the selection committee meeting here. The decision on Kapil Dev would be made before the start of the conditioning camp here on September 14, Lele said and added that the final squad for the Nairobi Tournament would be selected on September 20. The camp will end on September 23. Pace spearhead Javagal Srinath was not considered at his own request that he be kept out of the one-day side, selection committee chairman Chandu Borde said. Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid continue as captain and vice-captain of the team respectively. The probables: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid (vice-captain), Sachin Tendulkar, S Ramesh, Vinod Kambli, Hemang Badani, S Sriram, Yuvraj Singh, Jacob Martin, Mohd Kaif, Ajay Ratra, Reuben Paul, Vijay Dahiya, Robin Singh, Sunil Joshi, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Amit Bhandari, Zakir Khan, T Kumaran and Debashish Mohanty. About the composition of the team, Borde said the selectors were not influenced by BCCI’s proposal to build a team for the 2003 World Cup, but had decided on their own to pump in new blood. "The board president Mr A C Muthiah met us and had a cup of tea (with us) but gave us no directive," Borde said. However, Lele contended "we had the future in mind and are looking at the 2003 World Cup. The 23 we have chosen will be the nucleus for the future. "But this does not mean that we have closed the doors on Azhar, Jadeja and Chopra. We do not think they would be in the best frame of mind (for Nairobi) and wanted to give an opportunity to youngsters," he said. Interestingly, the selectors chose as many as three uncapped wicket-keepers - Haryana’s Ajay Ratra, Tamil Nadu’s Rueben Paul and Delhi’s Vijay Dahiya. Reacting to Nayan Mongia’s exclusion, Borde said Mongia was an experienced stumper and did not need to be in the camp. The team is, however, short of quality allrounders and off-spinners, Borde said but added that Baroda’s left-arm seamer Zakir Khan had been reckoned by even Srinath as the fastest bowler in India. "It would be unfair to condemn Amit Bhandari and Kumaran after their failure in the Asia Cup in Dhaka earlier in the year," he added. The chairman of selectors also described Punjab’s Yuvraj Singh - son of former India paceman Yograj Singh - as an exciting talent. "He is a hard-hitting batsman and we wanted to give him a break." (PTI) |
|
‘Government sponsored
conversions going unabated’ By Dinesh Manhotra JAMMU, Sept 2: Expressing grave concern over increasing militant activities in the Ladakh region, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), Mr Tsering Samphel today said that Buddhists were the next target of the pan-Islamic groups to eliminate all ethnic minorities from the State. In an exclusive interview with EXCELSIOR, Mr Samphel revealed that Ladakh has now become the centre of international conspiracy hatched by the Islamic fundamentalists to change demography of this region. "The on-going militancy in the Kashmir is neither for Azadi nor for merger with Pakistan. It is rather a part of the deep rooted conspiracy to dismantle Northern Frontier of the country", LBA leader said. He was of the view that pan-Islamic groups want to convert this Himalayan Kingdom into a ‘launching-pad’ for Islamisation. Mr Samphel expressed his anguish over, what he called, ‘criminal silence’ of the successive Central Governments towards deteriorating conditions in Ladakh region. "Ours is a strategic important region but successive Central Government miserably failed to assess gravity of the prevailing situation in this region", he said and regretted that voice of this peace loving community was always stifled to appease those who have been propagating secession through violence. Dubbing ongoing demographic change in the Ladakh region as ‘Government sponsored conversion’, Mr Tsering Samphel accused the National Conference Government of aiding and abetting those who indulged in conversion. "Recently 28 Buddhist girls have been converted into Islam", he disclosed and added that Srinagar became sanctuary for all these converted Buddhist girls. He alleged that senior officials in the Government not only were giving shelters to these girls even attractive Government jobs were provided to these girls. LBA leader was of the view that demand of the greater autonomy for the State was also part of the ethnic cleansing conspiracy. "What ISI has been doing with Pakistani money, Farooq Abdullah is doing the same with Central funds", LBA leader alleged. Launching a scathing attack on those who have termed their agitation as ‘communal’, LBA leader said that it was National Conference which had divided Ladakh into two districts purely on communal line in 1979. Since 1992, 6 new mosques have been constructed in Buddhist majority Leh, the LBA said, and added that about 540 Muslim families have been settled down so far in Leh. "We have been providing every possible help to our Muslim brethren in Leh but in Kargil, Buddhists were denied of even their basic fundamental rights", he said, adding," Muslims brethren did not allow our Gompa to be repaired at Kargil. What to say of other things Buddhists are even not allowed to perform cremation at Kargil". Giving some glaring examples of the discrimination with Buddhist minority in Kargil district, LBA chief said that in 1997, 24 Patwari were appointed of which only one was Buddhist. " 40 Class IV employees were appointed in the Education Department with only one Buddhist, that too, on his conversation to Islam while all the rest were Muslims", he said. LBA leader, however, said that Muslims of Kargil have been realising that they were exploited by Kashmiri rulers for their interest. Giving reasons for their demand of the trifurcation of the State beside a homeland for Kashmiri Pandits, LBA leader argued that mind-set of the people of all the three regions was entirely different. "Successive State Governments have meted out step-motherly treatment with Jammu and Ladakh regions and these regions virtually became colonies of Kashmir", he said and added that trifurcation was the only and lasting solution of problems of the State. "Division of the State into three parts is the only way to get the people of Jammu and Ladakh rid from the yoke of cruel Kashmiri rulers", he said. He argued that after trifurcation militancy would be confined only to a very small part of the State. "The entire Ladakh region, constituting an area of 69.6 percent of the State and Jammu region are deadly against militancy and insurgency", he said and added that after trifurcation Centre would have to deal with militancy in Valley only, that too in some pockets. LBA chief was of the view that trifurcation would give a change to the Indian Government to depict real picture of Jammu and Kashmir at international fora. Giving another argument for division of State, Mr Samphel said that ethnic minorities in the State have been facing threat of vanishing due to the cruel domination of the Kashmiri rulers and division of the State would give them a chance to protect their lives and save their cultural identities. Strongly supporting separate Home Land demand for displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Mr Samphel said that Pandits were the sons of the soil and they have every right to raise demand for their safe and secure area. Criticising State Government for blatantly interferring in the functioning of the Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Mr Samphel said that constitutional crises have been developed in council as the State Government has neither notified the election schedule nor extended the life of the present of Council which is expiring on September 4. He said that this was delebrate move of the State Government to render the Council non-functional. |
|
BJP’s identity separate from RSS, says Vajpayee NEW DELHI, Sept 2: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has made it clear that BJP’s identity was separate from that of the RSS and that his Government should not be judged "through the prism of any other organisation." "The RSS and its front units have an identity of their own which is entirely separate from that of the BJP," Vajpayee said in an interview published in the recent issue of `India Today’. Describing BJP as a "political party that is involved in political activities on the basis of a political agenda", the Prime Minister said "we should be judged by how well we perform in office. We should not been seen or judged through the prism of any other organisation." About the BJP president Bangaru Laxman’s call to reach out to Muslims which was being interpreted as "saturation point" of the party, he said the call was meant to increase the party’s social base in the country and does not mean that the party has reached a saturation point in its support base among other communities. "Every party has a core support base. But that by itself is not enough. In a pluralistic society like ours, a political party has to constantly strive to expand its social base. As for Bangaru Laxman’s call to reach out to Muslims, it does not mean that the party has reached saturation point in its support base among other communities," Vajpayee said. Answering a question about his health, Vajpayee said apart from arthritis of the knee which was not very uncommon at his age, he had no other problem. There was very little he could do to prevent media speculation about his health. Expressing satisfaction over the proceedings in Nagpur at the BJP session recently, Vajpayee said it was a smooth transition with the new party president Bangaru Laxman taking charge of organisational affairs. The political resolution and the economic resolution that were discussed and adopted reflect the upbeat mood in the party. Admitting that there were "perceptional differences" between the party and Government, the Prime Minister, however, said "these never stood in the way of the party and Government playing complementary roles." "In any event, perceptional differences are by no means a negative factor in relations between party and the Government. On the contrary, had there been unthinking endorsement of everything that the Government does, it would suggest that the organisation has ceased to exist as an entity and become moribund," he said. About his much-hyped US visit, he said a single visit does not lead to a dramatic breakthrough or turnaround but relations between India and US have been steadily improving since US President Bill Clinton’s visit to India in March. However, Vajpayee said he hopes that his visit will give a new momentum to the ties between the two countries. (PTI) |
|
Jessica Lal’s murder
case Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Sept 2: Delhi Police today arrested a judicial clerk from his Karan Nagar house in Kathua town for his alleged involvement in making a fictitious license of a gun. The gun was used by former Minister Vinod Sharma’s son Manu Sharma in the murder of a famous model Jessica Lal in a Delhi bar in May 1999. Confirming the raid by Delhi Police and subsequent arrest of judicial clerk Surjit Singh from his house, police sources said Delhi Police had earlier also raided Singh’s house but couldn’t get him. Today, a team of Delhi Police led by an Inspector raided Singh’s house and after questioning him for an hour took him into custody. Singh was whisked away to a Delhi police station, where a case of Jessica Lal’s murder was registered earlier. Sources said Surjit Singh was posted as judicial clerk in the office of District Magistrate, Jammu when the gun license was reportedly issued in favour of Manu Sharma son of a former Minister Vinod Sharma. Manu is facing trial in connection with Jessica Lal’s murder alongwith his other associates. Accordingly, Surjit was responsible for issuing a gun license to Manu Sharma without any verification. The license was issued illegally, the sources said, adding a case was made up against the judicial clerk by Delhi Police during investigations of the murder case. Sources said Delhi Police have also sought the record pertaining to issuance of gun license to Manu Sharma from the concerned authorities. The request of Delhi Police was being considered by the authorities. It may be recalled that same gun, whose license was obtained illegally by Manu Sharma using the influence of his father, was used in the killing of Jessica Lal in May 1999. |
|
|
Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Sept 2: The Government today ordered more transfers and postings of officers. GN Wani, Addl Secretary to Government, Labour and Employment Department has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary to Government, Power Development Department while TP Singh, Deputy Commissioner Excise (Executive) Jammu was transferred and posted as Joint Director, Information in the Directorate of Information. MM Khan, Joint Director, Employment, Jammu under orders of transfer to Information Department has been ordered to continue in his present place of posting. GN Sofi, Special Assistant to Minister for Housing and Urban Development under orders of transfer as Addl Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama has been posted as Addl Secretary to Government, Industries and Commerce Department. Tasneem Maajid, Deputy Secretary to Government, Tourism Department has been transferred and posted as Deputy Secretary, Labour and Employment and GA Qureshi, under orders of transfer as General Manager, DIC Poonch is posted as Deputy Commissioner, Sales Tax, (stamps), Jammu against an available post. Abdul Majid Wani, Deputy Director Employment, Kupwara has been transferred and posted as Project Officer, DRDA, Srinagar against an available vacancy while Ajay Khajuria, Executive Officer, Jammu Municipality under orders of transfer as RTO Jammu will continue to work in his present place of posting. Charanjeet Singh, Special Assistant to Minister for Transport and Information has been transferred and posted as Regional Transport Officer, Jammu and ML Padha, under orders of transfer as Executive Officer, Jammu Municipality, is designated as OSD in Jammu Municipality till Ajay Khajuria proceeds on earned leave after completion of Census work. |
|
‘K oil licenses to
favourites’ Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Sept 2: Sleuths of the Vigilance Organisation today raided the office of Food and Supplies Department, Jammu and seized record pertaining to issuance of 76 kerosene oil licenses in clear violations of established rules and norms. Official sources said the Vigilance Organisation had been receiving a series of complaints regarding large scale irregularities in the issuance of kerosene oil licenses, especially in Jammu City during the year 1999 by the then Deputy Director Food and Supplies, Jammu D K Kapoor. A team of Vigilance Organisation headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) raided the office of Food and Supplies this morning. The raid was conducted after a Vigilance team prima-facie found the allegations of bunglings in the issuance of licenses as correct. Sources said it has been alleged that the then Deputy Director of Food and Supplies had allegedly charged hefty amounts as bribe from the dealers and issued kerosene oil licenses to them in utter violation of all established official rules and norms. During the raid, the sources said, some of the officers and officials of Food and Supplies Department, in a bid to shield the accused refuse to co-operate with the Vigilance team. The officials also refused to provide the relevant record to investigating agency. Acting tough, the Organisation officials seized most of the record pertaining to issuance of kerosene oil licenses to over 76 favourite dealers in Jammu City. The record is being investigated by the Vigilance team and some arrests were likely to be made shortly, the sources said. |
|
Youth killed over tiff on a bucket of water Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Sept 2: A young labourer hailing from Orissa was stabbed to death by his colleague over a minor issue of filling up a bucket of water at Kabir Basti, located along a nullah near MLAs hostel under the jurisdiction of Pacca Danga police station this morning. The victim has been identified as Pitbas Pillai son of Sangaya Pillai and the accused as Manu, both residents of village Asrupiya in Naya Ghar district of Orissa. Accused was absconding. Police said a group of 9-10 labourers were putting up in two rented rooms at Kabir Basti under Fly Over bridge. At about 0815 hours today Pitbas Pillai and Manu had a tiff over filling up a bucket of water from the tap. Heated exchanges between the two took a shape of clash following which, police said, Pitbas reportedly attacked Manu with a stick causing latter a wound on his head. Other labourers were reported to have worked out a patch between the two labourers. However, after sometime, Manu returned to the spot with a sharp-edged knife and stabbed Pitbas Pillai in the abdomen. Manu managed to escape from the spot. A police party led by DySP City Ashok Sharma rushed to the scene of crime immediately after getting a report and rushed the victim to Medical College hospital where he was declared as ‘brought dead’. His body was in the process of being shifted to his native town in Orissa after post-mortem. Police said raids were being conducted in labourers’ colonies at different places of Jammu to apprehend Manu but he remained untraced. Police parties have also been dispatched to Lakhanpur to trace the assailant. A case of murder has been registered against the accused by concerned police for further investigations. |
|
Major, 5
militants among 8 killed Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Sept 2: Inspector General of Police (Operations) P S Gill will inquire into yesterday’s mine blast at Sangrama in Baramulla district that left a former Minister and Shia leader injured and three others dead. Director General of Police Gurbachan Jagat told reporters that Mr Gill has been asked to probe the incident. He said no arrests have been made sofar. But, he claimed, a Pakistani militant Usman belonging to Hizbul Momineen, who was involved in the earlier attempt on the life of Mr Ansari by detonating blast at Gund Qasim in June this year, was seen in the same area recently. He said, IG Operations has almost completed the investigation in Gund Qasim blast and we have already arrested four militants responsible for it. One militant died while trying to escape, he said. Meanwhile, An Army Major and five militants were among eight people killed in three encounters between militants and security personnel in Kashmir since yesterday, an official spokesman said. Three militants, an Army Major and a civilian were killed in an encounter between militants and security personnel at Drahteng-Prang village on Srinagar-Leh National Highway today, he said. The security personnel were conducting house-to-house searches after sealing the village last evening when militants opened heavy fire on them. The troops retaliated and the exchange of firing continued till today, the spokesman said adding four civilians were also injured in the encounter. Two of the militants were identified as Farooq Master and Mohammad Shafi of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter at Mir Bazar village of Anantnag district today. The encounter took place when personnel of Special Operations Group of local police and Army were carrying out a joint operation in the village. Militants ambushed an Army patrol at Utrosu village of the district injuring a Junior Commissioned Officer and three civilians. The injured were rushed to hospital where one of the civilians succumbed to injuries. Security forces seized thousands of rounds of AK ammunition kept in nine sealed boxes near the Line of Control in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district yesterday, the spokesman said. The ammunition boxes, each containing 750 rounds, were smuggled from Pakistan by suspected arms couriers and dumped in the area to pump the ammunition into the Valley, he said. BSF smashed a militant hideout at Sheikh Mohallah on the outskirts of Srinagar and seized disposable rocket launcher with a rocket, 15 grenades, an AK assault rifle and three magazines with 59 rounds. The arms were kept in the hideout by the Al-Badr outfit militants reportedly to carryout attack on security camps. |
|
|
NEW DELHI, Sept 2: In minor Secretary-level changes, Government today appointed Urban Development Secretary Ashok Pahwa as the new Fertiliser Secretary and S B Mahapatra as Special Secretary in the Home Ministry and R R Shah as Special Secretary in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Pahwa, a 1965 batch IAS officer from Haryana cadre, would replace A B Gokak who has retired. Mahapatra, Additional Secretary in the Commerce and Industry Ministry, will fill in a vacant slot of Special Secretary in the Home Ministry. Shah, Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, has been promoted from the rank of Additional Secretary in the I and B Ministry, it was officially announced here. N N Mookerjee, Secretary in the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy, would take over from Pahwa as Secretary in the Urban Development Ministry. The appointments committee of the Cabinet also approved postings in key economic ministries with Subir Dutta, Additional Secretary in Defence Ministry, being appointed as Special Secretary and Mission Director of the Technology Mission on Oil Seeds. S D Dawra, a 1967 Punjab cadre IAS and Enforcement Director in the rank of Additional Secretary, has been promoted as Secretary in the same post. Kiran Aggarwal, presently on compulsory wait after she was shifted by the then Urban Development Minister Ram Jethmalani following sharp differences, has been appointed Adviser in the Planning Commission in the rank and pay of Secretary in place of K K Baksi who has retired. N Mishra, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, has been promoted as Special Secretary in the same department. J L N Srivatsava, Special Secretary and Mission Director Technology Mission on Oil Seeds, is the new Secretary in the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources. P K Mohanty, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Mines, has been made Adviser in the Planning Commission in the pay of Secretary by upgrading the post earlier held by S S Meenakshi Sundaram. Rathi Vinay Jha, who has been appointed as Chief Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation, in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary, has been upgraded as Secretary in the same post. The appointments committee has also approved repatriation of T N Srivatsava, former member-Secretary in the erstwhile 11th Finance Commission, to his Madhya Pradesh cadre. (PTI) |
|
PM likely to effect Cabinet reshuffle after US trip NEW DELHI, Sept 2: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is likely to undertake a reshuffle of his Cabinet after his trip to the United States next week as the exercise for finalising office-bearers by new BJP president Bangaru Laxman is still on. Laxman who held further consultations with Vajpayee, Home Minister L K Advani and his predecessor Kushabhau Thakre today is likely to finalise his team by next week, party sources said. Top party leaders, including Advani, are of the view that there is no hurry to undertake the exercise of Cabinet expansion before Vajpayee leaves on his US visit, the sources said. They said there was a dilemma for Prime Minister over making general secretary Venkaiah Naidu a Cabinet Minister because the party was finding it difficult to fill his spot. It was not just being his spokesman of the party but his handling of various party affairs that mattered, the sources said. In keeping with the new chief’s stress on attracting more Muslims into party fold, secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is likely to be elevated to the post of general secretary. K N Govindacharya, Narendra Modi and Sangha Priya Gautam are likely to be retained as general secretaries, the sources said. Meanwhile, indications are that Laxman’s new team is likely to include former president of Mahila Morcha Maya Singh as well as another Madhya Pradesh leader Laxmi Narayan Pandey. Singh is likely to be made general secretary while Pandey, who had been the State unit president and is fifth time MP, may be made vice president. Jana Krishnamurthy, currently senior-most vice president of the party, is likely to be inducted into the Cabinet and fielded from Tiruchi Lok Sabha seat which fell vacant following the death of P R Kumaramangalam. Among those whose names are doing the rounds for induction as Ministers of State are Master Mathan from Nilgiris, and Pon Radhakrishnan and C P Radhakrishnan from Coimbatore. (PTI) |
|
|
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Sept 2: Two women were injured in continued shelling and firing by Pakistan army on the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) overnight. A woman Sarfu Devi wife of Bholu Ram was injured in Pak firing at village Panjtoot near Pallanwalla in Chhamb sector this morning. Another woman Harbhajan Kour was injured in firing at forward village of Dub Soodan in Kanachak sector late last night. Both the injured women have been hospitalised. Pak firing was reported from Nanga, Mallu Chak and SH Pura in Ramgarh, Pital Post and Pindi in Arnia and Sangral, Mangral, Abdullian, Khatmarian, Khoud, Grana, Nawa Pind and Joura Farm in RS Pura. |
|
|
|
| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports | |