Top US navy official on five-day visit to India

NEW DELHI, Sept 20: Admiral Dennis Cutler Blair, Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Command today began a five-day visit to India making it clear that any military cooperation entirely depended on the lifting of sanctions by the US administration.

Admiral Blair told reporters "India knows what is required for the restoration of military cooperation and the supply of defence spare parts as well as technological capabilities for Indian submarines are on hold till the issue is resolved."

The Admiral, who arrived here this afternoon,,described India as an important country in this part of the world. He said he looked forward to working with the Indian defence officials for common cause and purpose.

He said that indicative of excellent bilateral relations between the two countries US Navy ship would visit India next spring but there would be no joint naval exercises.

Admiral Blair said the purpose of his visit was to discuss common challenges, besides combat of transnational crime and terrorism in which there can be interaction between the defence forces of the two countries.

He said the two countries are keen to cooperate in peace keeping operations such as the one in East Timor in which there was US involvement.

He said that the US felt there was need for tremendous cooperation with the countries of Asia-Pacific to build peaceful security enviornment. In this regard he referred to cooperation with India, China and Pakistan.

Admiral Blair will meet with Defence Minister George Fernandes and other senior officials.

The US Admiral will go to Mumbai on Friday where he will visit the Western Naval Command, Mazagaon Docks and tour ships and installations.

Before leaving for the Philippines on September 24, Admiral Blair will go to a Para Brigade at Agra on Saturday. (UNI)

Clinton fails to pacify prickly foes
Pak asked to make Kashmiri militants eschew violence

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Sept 20: US State Department has, in a fresh message to Islamabad’s envoy in Washington, called for "concrete" steps by Pakistan to help end terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan, the message reiterated, "has a role to play", both in resolving the Kashmir problem and in helping to diffuse tensions in J&K.

According to diplomatic sources, the message said that it was "important" that both Pakistan and India take steps to create a conducive atmosphere. The message, however, emphasised that Pakistan should use its influence with the militant outfits in Kashmir to halt their attacks.

The US State Department’s message surfaced at a time when public sentiment has been shipped up to such an extent in both countries that it is difficult to discuss a rational solution to the problem that all three parties can live with. Taking the situation as it is, it is clear that none of them will get what they want, but then that is what negotiations are about.

US President, Mr Bill Clinton, seems to have failed to resume the dialogue process between New Delhi and Islamabad. Even though his term of office is drawing to a close, Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen Parvez Musharraf, has just reiterated that Mr Clinton’s personal involvement in initiating a peace process will be crucial to kick-starting a dialogue between the two countries.

Whatever Gen Musharraf’s perception or expectations, there is no doubt that chances of early resumption of the dialogue process between the obdurate and prickly foes (India and Pakistan) have further receded in recent days. There is no denying that not a day passes without a bellicose statement by leaders at the highest level in both countries. Islamabad recently termed as "irresponsible" Indian Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes’ claim that India would win both a conventional war and a nuclear exchange.

In a significant turn of events following the reported unwillingness of Mr Bill Clinton to accept Gen Musharraf’s plea for a meeting with him during the latter’s visit to New York the other day, a section of pro-Pakistan lobbyists in the USA, diplomatic sources revealed, had "now begun to tell Islamabad that the mule-like obstinacy and unbending rigidity of Pakistan makes a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem virtually impossible".

These lobbyists have, in fact, communicated to Islamabad that while the deadlock continues, the likelihood of both sides (Pakistan and India) stumbling into war "increases". Pakistan’s stand has been reduced to an unshakable resolve to talk about Kashmir, "and only Kashmir". India, on the other hand, repeats the mantra "everything including Kashmir, and that too through bilateral negotiations".

Indian Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has, once again, refused to accept a third party playing a role on Kashmir on the grounds that problems with Pakistan must be resolved on a bilateral basis.

By the time Mr Vajpayee made it plain on the soil of USA that India opposed a third-party mediation, Pakistan’s influential English daily, Dawn, pronounced: "The Indians will not get all of Kashmir, and nor will Pakistan, short of an all-out war in which one side emerges as the undisputed victor. But in a nuclear war, there will be no winners. The Kashmiris will not gain complete freedom as most of them seem to want, although in an ideal world this would be the optimum solution".

Stating that both India and Pakistan "sink" billions of dollars into the black hole of defence expenditure year after year, the Pakistani publication lamented that both countries, at the same time, are at the "very bottom of the international ranking" for education, nutrition, health, housing and sanitation. It also lamented that successive Governments in New Delhi and Islamabad have consistently shown "a lack of will" to settle their outstanding differences through negotiations.

Rs 38 lakh misappropriated;one arrested
Corruption case registered against Beerwah docs,
treasury officials

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 20: Vigilance Organisation has registered a corruption case against various doctors of Health Department, who had functioned as Block Medical Officers (BMOs) in Beerwah of Badgam district. The case has also been lodged against the officers of Beerwah treasury, who in connivance with these doctors had misappropriated funds amounting to over rupees 38 lakh .

One doctor, claimed to be the principal accused in the scandal, has been arrested, while’s the remaining officials had gone underground.

According to the case, it had come to the notice that the BMOs posted in Beerwah, in connivance with the local treasury officers had resorted to bunglings and misappropriation, thereby causing loss of over 38 lakh to the State exchequer.

The primary enquiry disclosed that Dr Sheikh Abdul Samad, Chief Medical Officer Srinagar, Dr Muneer, Dr Ismail, BMO Khan Sahib and Dr Riyaz, who had functioned as BMOs in Beerwah, had entered into a criminal conspiracy with Ghulam Rasool Joo,the cashier BMO Office, Ghulam Matoo, a clerk in BMO office, Abdul Ahmad Ahanger, the then treasury officer in Beerwah treasury, Mushtaq Ahmad, the then treasury officer Beerwah and Abdul Ahad Tantry, the then auditor Beerwah treasury during the financial years of 1997-98 and 1998-99 and in furtherance of the criminal conspiracy, had fraudulently withdrawn this huge amount.

It was further revealed that these officers had withdrawn an amount of over rupees seven lakh in excess on account of monthly salary bills by manipulating the records. They had also indulged in double drawal of over rupees three lakh under one account. The scrutiny of the records revealed that over rupees two lakh had been drawn as Dearness Allowance fraudulently in respect of the daily wagers who were not entitled for the same. About rupees 46,000 were also drawn as allowance in respect of the sweepers who were engaged on consolidated basis and were not entitled for such allowances.

The Vigilance release issued here said that an interesting feature of misappropriating public funds was that Block Medical Officers had drawn over rupees 13 lakh fraudulently as salary for leave substitutes for the entire staff working in BMO Beerwah. Similarly, the enquiry had revealed that these officials had drawn over rupees 11 lakh illegally on account of special increments for promoting small family norms, LTC claims, besides the reimbursement of the medical claims in violation of all norms.

The enquiry had prima facie established that the State exchequer was subjected to the loss of rupees 38 lakh and in order to unearth the whole scandal, an FIR has been registered for thorough investigation.

The Vigilance release said that the arrest of one principal accused— Dr Muneer has been effected, while’s the remaining accused had gone underground. However, efforts are being made to arrest them also, the release added.

Maintain neutrality: Basu to Advani

CALCUTTA, Sept 20: West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu today urged Union Home Minister L K Advani to maintain "neutrality and not to be influenced by political considerations" and suggested him to restrain Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee from "inciting violence" in the State.

In a hard-hitting reply to Advani’s second letter on the state’s law and order, Basu said the Left Front Government was in power in the State on the basis of majority support and not by any "act of grace on the part of your Government".

Stating that Advani’s letter listing some incidents of political violence did not reflect the actual position and was "somewhat misleading", he said "your contention that political violence has been increasing in places where BJP-Trinamool Congress is gaining ground is incorrect and not based on facts."

Basu said the Trinamool-BJP combine resorted to violence and terrorised political opponents, particularly in Keshpur, Garbeta, Sabong and Pingla areas of Midnapore district,to win the Panskura Lok Sabha bypoll.

Denying the charge that clashes had communal and caste overtones, Basu said "it is good that you have realised that it is essential to protect the rights of the religious minorities and to maintain communal harmony in the country."

In an obvious reference to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister urged Advani to "restrain one of your cabinet colleagues from this State who has a propensity to incite people to take to the path of violence" through her speeches and activities.

Basu said it was most unfortunate that communal and caste dimensions were now sought to be added to these political confrontations.

It was known to the entire country that the Left Front Government attached utmost importance to the protection of the rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes and religious minorities, he said and claimed vast majority of them were with the LF Government.

Firmly refuting the allegation regarding involvement of a Minister of his Government in the disturbances, the Chief Minister described it as "totally baseless" saying "I do not appreciate your raising the issue".

In a point-by-point rebuttal, Basu mentioned the point of public order raised by Advani and said during the last 24 years his Government had always demonstrated its firm commitment to justice and fair-play in conducting affairs of the State.

This was borne out by the "neutral and peaceful" manner in which the State Government had been able to hold several elections to the Lok Sabha, State Assembly and local self-governing bodies, he said.

Referring to the point of his not meeting Defence Minister George Fernandes, Basu pointed out no appointment to meet him or his deputy was sought.

Reiterating that Fernandes’ visit was "purely a political one", he said the Defence Minister’s views were "biased and politically motivated".

Defending the role of District Magistrate and SP of Midnapore, Basu said they had acted in the "most correct manner".

They accompanied the Defence Minister during his visit to the areas and did not quite appropriately intervene when Fernandes was hearing complaints, he said.

But when Fernandes returned to Midnapore town, he did not choose to ascertain the views of local administration and only handed over a slip of paper to the SP asking him to provide a few police camps, Basu said.

Referring to the allegation that the people taking shelter in Ramakrishna Mission Ashram at Kotalpur in Bankura district were attacked with bombs, he said it was not based on facts.

About 1600 villagers, he said, panicked and took shelter in the Ashram following disturbances in Gopinathpur and Sihar areas at Kotulpur. All but two families left for home by the evening, he said adding a police picket and a magistrate were posted in the Ashram area to ensure the safety of the people.

Basu urged Trinamool Congress and BJP to eschew violence and follow peaceful means in their political activities and said their "terror tactics" had led CPI-M supporters in some areas to "retaliate".

Reiterating that political clashes were confined mostly to a few police station areas in Midnapore, Hooghly and Bankura, the Chief Minister said normalcy had been restored in the affected areas as a result of effective steps taken by his Government.(PTI)

‘Divisional Commander’ of Al-Badr killed by SOG
8 Pak, 2 Indian troopers killed in LoC clash

From Ahmed Ali Fayaz

SRINAGAR, Sept 20: While as SOG Srinagar claimed to have eliminated a Pakistani "divisional commander" of Al-Badr outfit in an encounter at Lawaypora, in the capital city outskirts, one Lieutenant and a Havildar of Indian Army got killed in a fierce clash between Pakistani and Indian troops in Nowgam sector of north Kashmir. Defence circles claimed that at least eight soldiers of Pakistani Army got killed when the attack on Indian outpost was repulsed.

Highly-placed Defence sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that Pakistani troops launched a heavy attack on the LoC in Nowgam sector late last night when they made an unsuccessful attempt to capture Indian Army’s Hoor outpost, manned by a platoon of 7-Guards. The attack came with the use of heavy artillery shelling and machine-gun fire and Pakistani troops drew close to the targetted post. Lt Himat Singh and Havildar Madhok Singh got killed while as Naik Samarial Mandal and Naik Amar Gurang sustained injuries. Sources said that the Lieutenant died on spot while as the Havildar succumbed when he was being rushed to hospital.

Defence sources claimed that eight to ten Pakistani Army personnel got killed while returning to their positions with the advantage of darkness and bad weather. However, none of the dead bodies had been seized by Indian troops by this evening. In another exchange of shelling between Pakistani and Indian troops, one Indian soldier got injured in Gurez sector.

Officials are expecting a spurt in militant activities in Baramulla district as also in Pakistani troops’ attempts to capture some Indian outposts and, accordingly, the security forces have been alerted and repositioned. Exchange of shelling between the hostile troops has become a routine feature in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, along LoC, in Kashmir valley since June this year.

Meanwhile, official sources here claimed that a Pakistani "divisional commander" of Al-Badr outfit, namely Syed Ishfaq Shah of Karachi, got killed in an exchange of fire between SOG Srinagar and militants, near Lawaypora, last night. Officials claimed to have recovered a gun from his possession. The shoot-out took place less than one Km from the headquarters of Army’s counter-insurgent Kilo Force at Sharifabad.

However, unofficial reports in the capital city insisted that the Pakistani militant had been arrested on Monday, interrogated and later eliminated in a "fake encounter" by SOG Srinagar. According to these reports, he had also apparantly associated himself with computer business and a gymnasium. Officials still maintained that the militant got killed in an encounter with SOG.

Meanwhile, reports available from south Kashmir said that militants caused an IED blast while targetting a vehicle of ITBP at Khodwani, in Anantnag district. It missed the intended target and exploded on road causing minor splinter to four young boys.

21 cops wounded in mishap

Official sources said that as many as 21 Police personnel of Anantnag District sustained injuries when their bus, No: JK-03 3937, skidded off the road and plummeted into a gorge, near Sempora. All the 21 personnel, travelling in it, sustained injuries, three of them critically. The patients with serious injuries have been admitted at SKIMS Soura. Sources said that the ill-fated bus was scheduled to pick up some detainees who were to be produced before a Magistrate at Anantnag.

20 kg RDX, explosives seized
Romeo Force kills 4 more militants, loses 2 jawans

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Sept 20: Troops of Thannamandi Brigade of Romeo Force today eliminated four dreaded militants of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami in two separate encounters at Argi and Saranu villages of this district but lost two of their jawans. Romeo Force also busted a militants’ hideout at Surankote and recovered a large quantity of explosives including 20 kg RDX.

DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range Ram Lubaya said troops of 20 JAK Rifles had a specific information about the presence of a group of militants in an isolated house on the slopes of village Argi. At 1500 hours today, Thannamandi Brigade dispatched troops to the target area.

When the troops were approaching the house, the militants opened firing. Army jawans retaliated killing one militant on the spot.

As troops were returning they got a tip off that two more militants were present in the village. Immediately, army jawans resumed the operation but this time the militants had alerted themselves. In the fierce exchange of firing, troops gunned down two more militants but lost two jawans, Lubaya said.

Deceased jawans were identified as Subedar Thappa and Rifleman Surinder Singh.

Bodies of all three militants have been recovered from the scene of encounter. Two of them were later identified as Haider Ali son of Abdul Rouf, a resident of Texla City, Garh Afghan in Rawalpindi and Mohd Ilyas son of Lal Khan of Hujan, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Identity of third slain ultra couldn’t be carried out.

Three AK-56 rifles, 13 magazines, 289 rounds, nine rifle grenade, 10 hand grenade, two Kenwood radio sets and a large quantity of incriminating documents were recovered from the possession of slain militants, who belonged to 313 Brigade of HUJI outfit.

In another incident, a militant was trapped by a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member Jagdish Kumar at village Saranu in Thannamandi area this morning. The VDC member engaged the militant in the gun-fight till army personnel of Romeo Force rushed to the spot.

Troops gunned down the militant in the maize field, where he had taken position. He was identified as Sajjad Syed Ahmed. He too belonged to 313 Brigade of HUJI. One AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 86 rounds, four rifle grenades, one hand grenade and a large quantity of ammunition was recovered from his possession.

Meanwhile, troops of Surankote Sector (RR) of Romeo Force busted a militants’ hideout at Khangar in Surankote this morning and recovered a large quantity of ammunition and explosive material.

Seizure include 20 kg RDX, eight hand grenades six remote control devices, five remote controls, 20 detonators, 800 rounds of Pika ammunition, one magazine and 50 rounds of AK.

Sources said a group of three militants tried to enter the house of one Akar Singh son of Kala Ram, a VDC member at Brow Nambal in Kalakote tehsil early today. Akar Singh opened firing in self-defence and was soon joined by other VDC members.

Militants fired about 10 rounds aiming VDC members before fleeing from the spot. However, they failed to cause any casualty. Militants left behind one AK-47 rifle with one magazine and 22 rounds, which were recovered by VDC members.

Generals, not politicians, corrupt: Sharif

ISLAMABAD, Sept 20: Deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has launched a scathing attack on the Army top brass, accusing it of taking "kickbacks and commissions" and resorting to corrupt practices.

Taking strong exception to military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf’s remarks that he will cleanse the country of corrupt politicians, Sharif said it were not the politicians, but the generals who were corrupt.

"His (Musharraf) statement is a matter of concern for all the politicians and political parties and even for the 140 million people represented by these politicians," he said in a three-page statement.

Criticising the ongoing accountability process, Sharif, who was deposed in a military coup last October, said in a democratic set-up the people held the politicians accountable through electoral process.

"It is the power of ballot through which the people reject the incompetent and corrupt rulers and this was the only popular way of holding the public representatives accountable," he said.

"The system of self-accountability of generals is only a fraud and amount to hoodwinking the public," Sharif said, adding "if genuine accountability process is to be ensured and if the hidden wealth is to be retrieved then most of it would come from generals." (PTI)

‘Indo-US ties have shifted from suspicion to understanding’

WASHINGTON, Sept 20: The Indo-US relations have shifted from "mutual suspicion" to "deepening understanding and cooperation" following the "very successful" visit by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Clinton administration has said.

"I think it was a very successful visit from the point of view of deepening our relations with India," White House spokesman Joe Lockart told reporters here yesterday.

"I think the President (Clinton) said it best when he talked about having turned this relationship around from one of mutual suspicion to one of deepening understanding and cooperation," Lockhart said.

He said Clinton "certainly hopes that this is the start of a more regular dialogue and reaching out between the nations, and we never go as long as we have in the past for a US President to visit India and for US to concentrate so much on an important relationship."

On the intrusion of a stranger at the Blair House where Vajpayee was a staying as a guest of the President, Lockhart said the secret service is investigating. He noted that the Prime Minister was not there at the time. (PTI)

India-Russia to sign accords during Putin’s visit

NEW DELHI, Sept 20: Russian President Vladimir Putin will sign several accords including a declaration on strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow during his four-day state visit to India from October two, it was officially announced today.

The declaration would elevate the multifaceted and comprehensive ties between the two countries to an "even higher and qualitatively new level," a foreign office spokesman told reporters here.

It would define the broad contours of bilateral relations between India and the Russian federation in the 21st century, he said.

Putin will address members of both Houses of Parliament in central hall on October four.

The Russian leader will hold wide-ranging discussions with President K R Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee besides other leaders, the spokesman said. During his stay, Putin will visit Agra and Mumbai.

Making the announcement simultaneously in Moscow, a Kremlin press service release said "the forthcoming state visit of the President of the Russian Federation to India will become a major event in the development of traditional Russian-Indian cooperation and would contribute in strengthening global and regional stability."

During his visit, Putin is likely to sign agreements on cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, civil aviation, culture, education and agriculture, Itar-Tass said. (PTI)

Illegal LPG agency unearthed in Kathua

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Sept 20: Hiranagar police today unearthed an illegal gas agency operating in Dayalachak area and arrested its owner Subash Singh.

Thirtysix LPG cylinders including 23 filled cylinders were seized from the agency, which was being run clandestinely by Subash Singh. Subash was arrested on the spot.

The raiding party was led by probationary DySP and SHO Hiranagar police station Benam Tosh.

Batohi asks Delhi Police to authenticate tape transcripts

NEW DELHI, Sept 20: South African Chief Prosecutor in the Edwin King Commission probing the match-fixing scandal, Shamila Batohi, today said she had asked Delhi Police to authenticate the transcript of the tapes containing conversation between the disgraced cricket captain Hansie Cronje and bookmaker Sanjeev Chawla.

"The tapes are in custody of the court and it could be obtained only after completing certain legal formalities. But as of now, I have asked the Delhi Police to authenticate the transcript of the taped conversation," Batohi told reporters outside the CBI headquarters.

Batohi, who arrived here last weekend, held meetings with the Special Crime Branch of the CBI on the issue of match-fixing.

She also made a courtsey call on director of the agency R K Raghavan.

Emerging out of nearly two-hour meeting, Batohi told reporters that "it was a fruitful discussion" and she was very satisfied.

Without divulging as to what transpired during the talks with the agency officials, she said "the meeting was a good one and both sides exchanged information."

She also said India and South Africa should cooperate with each other in order to get to the bottom of the match-fixing controversy dogging the cricket game.

"The only way to reach to the bottom of the entire episode is a good amount of cooperation between the two countries," she said.

About her today’s meeting with CBI, the South African prosecutor said the two sides discussed a host of issues.

"However, since I am under oath with the King Commission, I cannot divulge whatever transpired between me and the CBI officials as this could hamper my investigations back home," Batohi said with a convincing smile.

Later, CBI spokesman S M Khan told reporters the discussion was fruitful and "the agency would provide all necessary help permissible under the legal system."

Khan said the South African prosecutor had sought certain details and the agency was examining whether it could share these or not.

Earlier in the day, a meeting between senior Delhi Police officials and Batohi was held for the third consecutive day to discuss the modalities of overcoming legal hurdles in handing over the crucial tapes containing Hansie Cronje’s alleged conversation with bookie Sanjiv Chawla.

The South African lawyer has been asking for the tapes so that they could be used in the Edwin King Commission, which resumes hearing next month.

Delhi Police is also demanding that the South African side make available voice samples of Cronje and South African bookmaker Hamid Banjo Cassim.

However, Batohi said such a request could be looked into by the authorities in South Africa only after a request was made through proper channel. (PTI)

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